The three making up TWISTEX - storm chaser Tim Samaras, his son photographer Paul Samaras, and meteorologist Carl Young - set out to attempt research on the tornado. [55][56] Residents reported the highways to be a scene of chaos, "people were going southbound in the northbound lanes. Multiple large brick buildings at the nearby Canadian Valley Technology Center were heavily damaged or destroyed, and a large metal wind turbine prop blade was thrown 100 yards (91 m) into the side of a daycare building on the property. [51] Residents left homeless were provided with temporary housing constructed from shipping containers. Several professional and amateur chasers were caught off guard and impacted by the tornado. Kevin Stitt’s office announced Saturday that President Donald Trump has approved the state’s request for an emergency declaration for federal aid for 10 flood-affected counties. EL RENO — The names of two people killed by a tornado Saturday night in El Reno were released Tuesday morning, as recovery efforts continue in the town about 25 miles west of Oklahoma City. [52], Overall, eight people lost their lives as a result of the tornado, all of whom were killed in vehicles. Within minutes, the tornado turned northeast and soon passed directly over Interstate 40 at around 6:42 p.m. CDT (2342 UTC). His sport utility vehicle was severely damaged, having been thrown about 200 yards (180 m); the driver was left with a broken neck, fractured vertebrae, and several broken ribs while Bettes and the other passenger sustained minor injuries. Twin Lakes is 4 miles west of Cimarron City in southwest Logan County. ... As the EF5 El Reno–Piedmont tornado dissipated on the evening of the 24th, a separate supercell thunderstorm produced another violent tornado further to the south in Grady County. [53] Local hospitals in Oklahoma City, including OU Medical Center and INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center, and Mercy Hospital in El Reno, reported receiving at least 115 injured, including five critical patients. [b][6][16] At 6:28 p.m. CDT (2328 UTC), the storm began moving into more densely populated areas of Canadian County while maintaining its intensity. On May 31, 2013, an unusually wide tornado barreled through the area and killed eight people. Bridget Brockwell, 47, and Timothy Solis, 54, both died of multiple blunt force injuries, the state medical examiner's office reported. Another apparent tornado ripped through a suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sunday morning, not long after an EF-3 tornado killed 2 people and injured 29 more in El Reno as severe weather continues to devastate much of the southern Plains, AP reports.. What's new: The apparent tornado tore down trees and power lines and damaged a few small businesses. This included three severe storm researchers who were killed east of U.S. Highway 81 as the tornado overtook their position. At least 29 buildings and 40 vehicles were damaged or destroyed by the tornado, with repairs in the El Reno area expected to take at least a year. [47] Several large metal electrical transmission poles were downed, trees were snapped and defoliated, and multiple vehicles were tossed from roadways in the area. [5] Due to the ferocity and sheer size, as well as its irregular movement and the deaths linked with this tornado, it has become one of the most studied and infamous tornadoes ever. [57] Dr. Jeff Masters of Weather Underground stated that had the tornado tracked directly over one of the congested highways, the death toll could have easily exceeded 500. "It's a tragic scene out there," White said. Several large steel-frame warehouse type buildings were destroyed at that location. [44] The Oklahoma City West Livestock Market was described as a "war zone," sustaining extensive damage. “You will NOT be able to see these tornado [sic] so don’t even bother looking. [26][27], The tornado's unusual behavior consisted of these simultaneous occurrences: abrupt changes in direction, rapid enlargement to a width of 2.6 mi (4.2 km) in diameter in about 30 seconds, swift increase in forward motion from about 20 to 55 mph (32 to 89 km/h) within a few minutes, multiple vortices within and around, and an expansive translucent outer circulation without a full condensation funnel while being surrounded and obscured by precipitation made it a worst-case scenario for storm chasers. Storm damage and debris left behind at the Skyview Mobile Home Park in the aftermath of a tornado in El Reno, Okla. on Sunday, May 26, 2019. [9] These ingredients were present ahead of a cold front extending from the low from the eastern Dakotas southwestward to western Oklahoma, and ahead of a dry line extending from western Oklahoma southward into western north and west-central Texas. This excludes the use of supplementary measurements, such as those from mobile radar, in concluding a tornado's intensity. Everybody was running for their lives. Multiple nighttime tornadoes moved through central Oklahoma, including in El Reno, where a tornado killed two people Saturday night. EL RENO, Okla. (AP) — A likely tornado killed at least two people as it destroyed a motel, roared through a nearby mobile home park and caused significant damage in the Oklahoma City area, officials said Sunday. The tornado killed four storm chasers, the first known deaths in the history of storm chasing. But some of the assessments have been slowed by the number of areas that are still underwater — making it hard to survey the full extent of the damage, she said. [32], Mike Bettes, a meteorologist for The Weather Channel, was also caught in the storm. [16], A strong anticyclonic multivortex satellite tornado also formed southeast of the primary tornado at approximately 6:28 pm CDT (2328 UTC), and remained on the ground for 15 minutes before lifting at 6:43 (2343 UTC). [4], In the wake of the storm chaser deaths, Kansas Emergency Management Association president Brian Stone called for there to be regulations put on future storm chasing; however, he stated that there are questions as to how it would actually be implemented. "We are no longer out there watching it until we get more rain," Dahlem said. Tornado-related deaths also occurred in Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, and Oklahoma. She lived in numerous places including Wichita, Kan., and Oklahoma City before moving to El Reno many years ago. [2] Although the tornado remained over mostly open terrain, dozens of storm chasers unaware of its immense size and erratic movement were caught off-guard. As such, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms during the early morning hours of May 31 from southeastern Missouri to southwestern Oklahoma. [18], The intensity of the tornado has been a subject of internal debate within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The National Weather Service referred to the tornado as "the most dangerous tornado in storm observing history. This rain-wrapped, multiple-vortex tornado was the widest tornado ever recorded and was part of a larger weather system that produced dozens of tornadoes over the preceding days. El Reno, Oklahoma Mayor Matt White said during a news conference Sunday that "there have been two fatalities at this point in time" after a Saturday night tornado ripped through the town. ... Officially, the widest tornado on record is the El Reno, Oklahoma tornado of May 31, 2013 with a width of 2.6 miles (4.2 km) at its peak. [29], On June 2, dozens of members of the storm chasing and spotting communities coordinated a tribute to Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young. The tornado struck the south-east of El Reno at about 22:30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Saturday. Three storm chasers including a father and son team were killed on Friday as they followed the deadly tornadoes tearing through Oklahoma. [28] Many were located in a region northeast of the tornado, known as the "bear's cage". Apparent tornado kills 2 in Oklahoma 19:55. Damage from a tornado is seen in El Reno, Oklahoma on Sunday. The degree of wind shear, moisture and instability within the warm sector favored the development of discrete supercells. El Reno is a city of about 16,700 residents, about 29 miles west of Oklahoma City. Such companion tornadoes tend to be observed with especially large and intense tornadoes, although this was the first documented multiple-vortex anticyclonic tornado of this kind. "[19] The lack of EF5 damage was likely a result of the rural nature of the area, as the sub-vortices that contained the EF5 wind speeds did not impact any structures. The tool was named "Tornado Environment Display" (TED) after Dr. Ted Fujita. Commenting on NewsOK requires a NewsOK Pro or Oklahoman subscription. Damage totals at that location alone were estimated at up to $40 million. Lesson From Friday Storm Deaths: When Weather Is Bad, Stay Home. [23][24] The main funnel is believed to have had radar-estimated EF4 winds, with wind speeds around 185 mph (298 km/h). During the early evening of Friday, May 31, 2013, a very large and powerful tornado[a] occurred over rural areas of Central Oklahoma. "[6], Alongside rush hour traffic, thousands of residents in Oklahoma City attempted to outrun the storm by taking to the roads in an attempt to drive out of the tornado's projected path. [7], On May 31, 2013, a prominent mid-to-upper level trough and closed mid-level low pressure area moved east-northeastward, with a lead upper low pivoting over the Dakotas and Upper Midwest region. Smith also stated that it was fortunate the tornado did not track into more densely populated areas, particularly those within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, "this would have been … I don't even want to imagine what it would have been. At 5:33 p.m. CDT (2233 UTC), the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Norman, Oklahoma issued a tornado warning for Canadian County, prompted by increasingly strong tornadic circulation exhibited in the southernmost supercell of this complex. This analysis showed that both the Weather Channel and TWISTEX vehicles entered the tornado through the less intense north/northwestern side, then were impacted by the internal sub-vortex, which contained radar-indicated winds approaching 200 miles per hour (320 km/h) and was moving in a complex quasi-trochoidal pattern, sometimes nearly stationary, sometimes with forward speeds over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). "[23] William Hooke, a senior policy fellow at the American Meteorological Society stated that, "[Oklahoma City] dodged a bullet...You lay that path over Oklahoma City, and you have devastation of biblical proportions. AccuWeather Senior Vice President Mike Smith urged against overreacting to their deaths, citing that they were the first chasers to be killed in 40 years of the practice and that chasing as a whole is a significant source of real-time and research information. [47][49], On June 1, the American Red Cross set up a shelter at the Redlands Community College in El Reno for victims of the storm. Keli Pirtle, a Public Affairs worker at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, stated that, "despite the radar-measured wind speeds, the survey team did not find damage that would support a rating higher than EF3. Near Highway 81, TWISTEX scientist and engineer Tim Samaras, along with his son Paul and research partner Carl Young, died in the tornado. [54][55] Overall, 151 injuries were attributed to the tornado. One of the most powerful tornadoes ever recorded in the United States barreled across southern Plains on May 31, 2013, devastating areas near El Reno, Oklahoma. [55] Already congested with rush hour traffic, Interstates 35, 40, 44 and 240, became "parking lots" as the storms neared. A Doppler on Wheels-based analysis of how the tornado impacted these teams revealed that they were hit by an intense internal sub-vortex. [13], At 6:03 p.m. CDT (2303 UTC), a large tornadic wall cloud formed and touched down, initially in the form of several smaller sub-vortices,[14] 8.3 miles (13.4 km) west-southwest of El Reno. A May 31, 2013, tornado claimed eight lives near El Reno, including storm chaser Tim Samaras . The Tulsa area has also dealt with severe flooding over the past week and rain is predicted for Tuesday evening, which could exacerbate flooding concerns. [37] The hood of Reed Timmer's Dominator 2, a vehicle designed for intercepting tornadoes, was torn off. The river receded Tuesday, she said. Once the state has an idea of the damage in most or all of the affected counties, the governor’s office will submit the damage estimates to the federal government as part of an emergency declaration, she said. [3] Other chasers, including Mike Bettes of The Weather Channel and Reed Timmer, were either injured or had their vehicles damaged. This is the second deadly tornado to strike El Reno, Oklahoma, this decade. [41], A team of scientists and veteran chasers embarked on a crowd-sourcing survey project to gather storm chaser information, including video and photographic recordings and GPS logs, to piece together precisely what happened. Additionally, several other people were killed while attempting to escape the tornado near U.S. Highway 81. Brockwell and Solis were killed in Skyview Estates, a mobile home community, authorities confirmed. [33] This advice was contrary to the recommended plan to go to an interior room, bathtub or closet with no windows if no basement or other underground shelter is available. A tornado leveled a motel and tore through a mobile home park near Oklahoma City, killing two people and injuring at least 29 others, authorities said on Sunday.. El Reno Mayor Matt White said during a news conference on Sunday morning that at least two people were killed when the tornado destroyed a motel and ripped through a nearby mobile home park during its 2-mile path. [20], Rick Smith, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Norman, stated that this tornado was among a "super-rare" category within the EF5 rating. [29], In the case of El Reno, the wrapping rain bands did not lead to a narrow corridor of clear air close to the tornado. "[25], On August 30, the National Weather Service office in Norman once again revised the intensity of the El Reno tornado. Former Discovery Channel storm chaser Tim Samaras (an engineer), his son Paul Samaras (a photographer), and Tim's longtime chase partner Carl Young (a meteorologist), all professional storm chasers with the TWISTEX project, were caught directly by the tornado; all three died in their vehicle, two of them were ejected. Amen. Agnes died Jan. 31, 2021, at Post-Acute Rehabilitation Center in El Reno. A mesonet station near El Reno recorded a wind gust of 151mph in the outer fringes of the tornado’s circulation. The chaser information is compiled with radar and lightning data and the project is intended to eventually expand to a standardized open access database covering future events. I had been on it from birth. Eight people were killed in the tornado, all in vehicles. Entering the larger tornadic circulation without the ability to maintain situational awareness of the internal sub-vortex was likely a key contributing factor to the deaths and injuries. EL RENO — The names of two people killed by a tornado Saturday night in El Reno were released Tuesday morning, as recovery efforts continue in the town about 25 miles west of Oklahoma City. EL RENO, Okla. – Oklahoma’s medical examiner has identified two people killed when a tornado hit a mobile home park over the weekend. Late Saturday, the National Weather Service office in Norman, Okla., sent out a Twitter message warning Oklahoma residents of an approaching tornado. Severe ground scouring in the front lawn of a residence in northern Blanchard. [7], This article is about the record-breaking tornado in 2013. Surveys from the National Weather Service revealed that structures in its path sustained EF3-level damage at most. [50] The following day, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin toured damaged areas of El Reno. [36] Near Union City, debris from a barn destroyed by the tornado struck the vehicle of Brandon Sullivan and Brett Wright, breaking their windshield; they escaped without injury. These locations are typically much safer than an automobile in tornadic winds. [10][11][12], A quasi-linear complex of thunderstorms began developing near the Highway 81 corridor west of Oklahoma City between 4:00 and 4:45 p.m. CDT, and rapidly reached severe intensity. The tornado continued to the east-northeast for an additional 35 miles but failed to impact any populated areas. Upon crossing Interstate 40, the tornado dissipated around 6:43 p.m. CDT (2343 UTC), after tracking for 16.2 miles (26.1 km), it avoided affecting the more densely populated areas near and within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. “We’ll be looking at the hardest hit areas to start with and then we will continue to do assessments as we’re able to,” Cain said. The agency utilizes the Enhanced Fujita Scale to rate and assess tornado intensity based on the damage left behind. The University of Oklahoma's RaXPol mobile Doppler weather radar, positioned at a nearby overpass, measured winds preliminarily analyzed as in excess of 296 mph (476 km/h). Deep layer wind shear speeds of 45–55 kn (52–63 mph) would enhance storm organization and intensity. [31] Tim's body was found still buckled in the passenger's seat. Gov. Anton Seimon, one of the tool's architects, said that while the tool had only been used in relation to the El Reno tornado, it could potentially be applied to future tornadoes with sufficient footage as well. The National Weather Service confirmed Sunday that a tornado hit El Reno, a town with a population of nearly 20,000, on Saturday and left a swath of damage that will take weeks to clean up and pain loved ones of the dead will likely never get over. This prompted the National Weather Service office in Norman to issue a tornado emergency for Yukon, Richland, Wiley Post Airport, Bethany, The Village, and eastern El Reno, as the tornado was projected to track toward western portions of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Overall, the tornado was on the ground for 40 minutes along a 16.2-mile (26.1 km) path. Names of two people killed in El Reno tornado released, Two dead, dozens injured as tornado strikes El Reno, Governor tours El Reno, takes call from Trump, Live updates: Tornado watch in effect for much of central Oklahoma, El Reno mayor: 16 injured, two killed in Saturday tornado, 'The room looked like a bomb hit it': Two killed, dozens injured in tornado that hit El Reno, Forecasters had just 'couple of minutes' to warn Oklahomans about deadly tornadoes, 'It blew my mind that we survived': Survivors begin road to recovery after El Reno tornado, Stitt tours El Reno tornado damage, speaks with president, Skyview Estates residents affected by tornado can sign up for monetary assistance Wednesday in El Reno, National Weather Service reports above average tornado season for May in Oklahoma, Inhofe tours damage in El Reno, says federal aid is a few weeks away, What makes El Reno great, residents say, isn't the weather, Oklahoma Weather: Stories of heroism after tornado strikes El Reno, Oklahoma Weather - Business owner talks about storm, Oklahoma Weather - Needs of those displaced, Oklahoma Weather: Two killed in El Reno, clean-up underway, Oklahoma Weather: Gov. She was born April 10, 1952, in San Antonio, Texas. The counties are Haskell, Kay, Le Flore, Muskogee, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Sequoyah, Tulsa, and Wagoner. The victims have been identified as Bridget Brockwell, 47, and Timothy Solis, 54. Samaras, 55, along with his son, Paul Samaras, 24, and chase partner Carl Young, 45, were killed Friday night by a tornado in El Reno that turned on a … Of the 10 homes lost, three were mobile homes, she said. Residents of Canadian County are also recovering from floods last week, which also impacted Kingfisher and Logan counties. Before retiring, she worked for Concho Child Development. Bridget Brockwell, 47, and Timothy Solis, 54, both died of multiple blunt force injuries, the state medical examiner's office reported. Rather, these rotating curtains of rain were the outer circulation of the tornado itself. [29][33][34] Meteorologist Emily Sutton and storm chaser Kevin Josefy of Oklahoma City NBC affiliate KFOR-TV (channel 4) were also caught in the path of the storm; their vehicle was damaged by debris hurled by the tornado. Paul Samaras and Young were ejected from their Chevrolet Cobalt by the storm's sub-vortex, while Tim was still buckled in the passenger's seat. Turning northeastward, the tornado soon weakened. 4 days ago By News Staff. [8] The most intense severe weather activity was expected across the southern Great Plains, specifically central and eastern Oklahoma, during the afternoon hours. Lori Dahlem, a volunteer firefighter in Twin Lakes in Logan County, said 10 houses have fallen into the Cimarron River as flooding has caused the banks to erode. He snapped a picture of the tornado from his cellular phone before it struck him. [20][21], Revised RaXPol analysis found winds of 302 mph (486 km/h) well above ground level and ≥291 mph (468 km/h) below 10 m (33 ft), with some subvortices moving at 175 mph (282 km/h). [22] The strongest winds occurred in small subvortices along the south side of the main vortex. Read more about Agnes Littlehawk; In-page image(s) Shirley Jordan. [5], As the tornadoes approached the Oklahoma City metro, thousands of residents decided to leave the area for safety, possibly due to the still fresh memories of the devastation caused by the EF5 tornado that struck Moore on May 20. They were the first known tornado-related deaths of either recreational storm chasers or scientific researchers. Tim Samaras, 55, … These winds are considered the second-highest ever measured worldwide, just shy of the 301 ± 20 mph (484 ± 32 km/h) recorded during the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado. It is, as of February 2014, the largest such visual data set ever collected on a tornado. She said the debris in the river could back up water in places, and the debris will be a concern when the risk of flooding ends and the river goes down. Authorities have released the names of the two people who died over the weekend when an EF3 tornado hit El Reno. While the wind measurements from the mobile radars are considered reliable, NWS policy for determining EF-ratings is based on surveys of ground damage. [6] The tornado ultimately attained EF3 intensity during its existence, according to ground surveys. [45][46][47] One farmstead, consisting of a large barn, a cattle barn, three machine sheds, granaries and the owner's home, was also completely destroyed. El Reno— A tornado killed at least two people as it destroyed a motel, roared through a nearby mobile home … [38] Storm chaser Dan Robinson received injuries after being enveloped within the outskirts of the tornadic circulation. 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