2013 El Reno tornado

2013 EF3 tornado in Oklahoma, U.S. yes May 2025 December 2019 the 2013 EF3 tornado the 2011 EF5 tornado 2011 El Reno–Piedmont tornado the 2019 EF3 tornado Tornado outbreak of May 25–30, 2019#El Reno, Oklahoma infobox 1/2 300 El Reno, OK EF3 Tornado 2013-05-31.jpg May 31, 2013 Oklahoma Phased Array Radar Reflectivity.gif Highest Rated Damage Indicator from 2013 El Reno tornado.jpg 300 Clockwise from top: View of the tornado from the southeast at 6:28 p.m. CDT (23:28 UTC) as it was nearing peak intensity; The highest rated damage indicator from the tornado, a home which had all walls collapsed; A Phased Array Radar loop showing the supercell as it produced the tornado. May 31, 2013, 6:03 pm. CDT (UTC−05:00) 40 minutes May 31, 2013, 6:43 pm. CDT (UTC−05:00) atl EF3 4576 yd mi km 3(Worldwide record width) 16.2 mi km Official intensity: >155 mph km/h Radar-estimated: 313 mph km/h(Second-highest worldwide; estimate via RaXPol radar analysis)Bluestein Howard B. Snyder Jeffrey C. Houser Jana B. June 1, 2015 A Multiscale Overview of the El Reno, Oklahoma, Tornadic Supercell of 31 May 2013 Weather and Forecasting EN 30 3 525–552 10.1175/WAF-D-14-00152.1 1520-0434 free 2015WtFor..30..525B Lyza Anthony W. Flournoy Matthew D. Alford A. Addison Comparison of Tornado Damage Characteristics to Low-Altitude WSR-88D Radar Observations and Implications for Tornado Intensity Estimation Monthly Weather Review March 19, 2024 -1 aop 1689–1710 10.1175/MWR-D-23-0242.1 https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/aop/MWR-D-23-0242.1/MWR-D-23-0242.1.xml March 19, 2024 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and University of Oklahoma via the American Meteorological Society 2024MWRv..152.1689L 10.1175/WAF-D-14-00152.1 A Multiscale Overview of the el Reno, Oklahoma, Tornadic Supercell of 31 May 2013 Weather and Forecasting 30 3 525–552 2015 Bluestein Howard B. Snyder Jeffrey C. Houser Jana B. 2015WtFor..30..525B free https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-20130531-elreno The May 31, 2013 El Reno, OK Tornado National Weather Service, Norman, OK June 5, 2021 June 5, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210605131604/https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-20130531-elreno dead The National Weather Service does not currently implement wind speed estimates into its official tornado ratings, so while the winds align with the "EF5" category of the Enhanced Fujita scale, damage surveys took precedence. As a result, while the wind estimates are considered reliable by the NWS, the tornado ultimately received a rating of "EF3" based on a damage survey (in the weeks before this, it was considered an "EF5"). The wind speeds that produced the EF3 damage were not disclosed. winds 3 EF2 Satellite tornadoes 8 151 2013 Canadian County, Oklahoma; especially areas to the south of El Reno tornado outbreak of May 26–31, 2013 and tornadoes of 2013 The 2013 El Reno tornado was an extremely large, intense, and erratic tornadowinds that impacted rural areas of Central Oklahoma during the early evening of May 31, 2013. This rain-wrapped, multiple-vortex tornado was the widest tornado ever recorded, peaking at 2.6 miles across. It was part of a larger weather system that produced dozens of tornadoes over the preceding days. The tornado initially formed at 6:03 p.m. CDT (23:03 UTC) about 8.3 mi km west-southwest of El Reno, rapidly growing in size and becoming more violent as it tracked through central Canadian County. Remaining over mostly open terrain, the tornado did not impact many structures; however, measurements from mobile weather radars revealed extreme instantaneous winds in excess of 313 mph km/h within sub-vortices. These are among the highest recorded wind speeds, just slightly lower than the wind speeds of the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado. As it crossed U.S. 81, it had grown to a record-breaking width of 2.6 mi km, beating the previous width record set in 2004. Turning northeastward, the tornado soon weakened. Upon crossing Interstate 40, the tornado dissipated around 6:43 p.m. CDT (23:43 UTC), after tracking for 16.2 mi km. It avoided affecting more densely populated areas near and within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The tornado killed four storm chasers (three professional and one amateur), the first known deaths in the history of storm chasing.The storm chaser dilemma and choice to sit out the May 31 Oklahoma City tornadoes https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/06/03/the-storm-chaser-dilemma-and-choosing-to-miss-a-tornado/ Ian Livingston Mark Ellinwood The Washington Post June 3, 2013 February 22, 2014 Although the tornado remained over mostly open terrain, dozens of storm chasers unaware of its immense size and erratic movement were caught off-guard. Near U.S. 81, TWISTEX scientist and engineer Tim Samaras, along with his son Paul and research partner Carl Young, died in 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. Local resident Richard Henderson, who decided to follow the storm, lost his life in that same area. He snapped a picture of the tornado from his cellular phone before it struck him.Oklahoma storms: Amateur storm chaser took photo of tornado that killed him https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/columns/2013/06/03/oklahoma-storms-amateur-storm-chaser-took-photo-of-tornado-that-killed-him/60928721007/ Nolan Clay The Oklahoman Oklahoma Publishing Company June 3, 2013 June 4, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20220503150711/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/columns/2013/06/03/oklahoma-storms-amateur-storm-chaser-took-photo-of-tornado-that-killed-him/60928721007/ May 3, 2022 live Other chasers, including Mike Bettes of The Weather Channel and Reed Timmer, either were injured or had their vehicles damaged. A Doppler on Wheels-based analysis of how the tornado impacted these teams revealed that they were hit by an intense internal sub-vortex.The Role of Multiple-Vortex Tornado Structure in Causing Storm Researcher Fatalities Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 95 1 31–45 Joshua Wurman Karen Kosiba Paul Robinson Tim Marshall BAMS American Meteorological Society 10.1175/BAMS-D-13-00221.1 2014 2014BAMS...95...31W free Overall, the tornado was responsible for eight fatalities and 151 injuries.Historic El Reno, OK tornado is downgraded by National Weather Service http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/weather/weather_news/large-el-reno-ok-tornado-has-its-intensity-downgraded-by-national-weather-service Mark Johnson WEWS-TV September 1, 2013 September 1, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130903062736/http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/weather/weather_news/large-el-reno-ok-tornado-has-its-intensity-downgraded-by-national-weather-service September 3, 2013 dead 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. The National Weather Service referred to the tornado as "the most dangerous tornado in storm observing history". 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. By attempting to escape the storm by vehicle, in direct contrast to the recommended plan of action, residents put themselves at great risk from the storm; had the tornado maintained itself and passed over the congested freeways, more than 500 lives could have been lost.A Night of Tornado Chaos in Oklahoma City: 9 Killed, 71 Injured https://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/a-night-of-tornado-chaos-in-oklahoma-city-9-killed-71-injured.html Jeff Masters Weather Underground The Weather Company June 1, 2013 September 23, 2020 Meteorological synopsis upright=1.1|thumb|Satellite imagery of the storm system responsible for the May 26–31, 2013 tornado outbreak at 6:10 p.m. CDT 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. A moderately strong polar jet moved east-northeastward over the southern Rocky Mountains to the southern Great Plains. With a broad influence of moderately strong cyclonic flow aloft, the air mass was expected to become unstable across much of the southern Great Plains, through the Upper Midwest and Mississippi Valley, by the afternoon.May 31, 2013 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2013/day1otlk_20130531_1200.html Storm Prediction Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 31, 2013 August 4, 2013 Dewpoint values ranged from the upper 60s °F (20 °C) to the lower 70s °F (20–22 °C), with temperatures in the low to mid-80s °F (27–30 °C), and CAPE (a meteorological concept used to predict the force and power of potential storms and tornadoes) predicting referring to values ranging from 3500 to 5000 J/kg. Deep layer wind shear speeds of 45 – 55 kn mph would enhance storm organization and intensity. These factors, along with CAPE values in excess of 4000 J/kg and an embedded speed maxima rotating around the southern periphery of the low, made the threat of significant severe thunderstorms increasingly likely.Mesoscale Discussion 908 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0908.html Greg Dial Storm Prediction Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 31, 2013 June 1, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130603200432/http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0908.html June 3, 2013 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. The most intense severe weather activity was expected across the southern Great Plains, specifically central and eastern Oklahoma, during the afternoon. As such, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms during the early morning of May 31 from southeastern Missouri to southwestern Oklahoma. The degree of wind shear, moisture and instability within the warm sector favored the development of discrete supercells. Very large hail and tornadoes were expected with the supercells, with the possibility of a few strong to violent tornadoes. At 3:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) early that afternoon, the SPC issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Watch from southwestern through northeastern Oklahoma, surrounding the Interstate 44 corridor.Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch 262 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2013/ww0262.html John A. Hart Storm Prediction Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Norman, Oklahoma May 31, 2013 February 4, 2014 Special Weather Statement: Tornado Watch http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2013-O-NEW-KOUN-TO-A-0262/USCOMP-N0Q-201305312025 National Weather Service Norman, Oklahoma Iowa Environmental Mesonet NWS Product Archive May 31, 2013 August 4, 2013 Special Weather Statement: Tornado Watch http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2013-O-NEW-KTSA-TO-A-0262/USCOMP-N0Q-201305312025 National Weather Service Tulsa, Oklahoma Iowa Environmental Mesonet NWS Product Archive May 31, 2013 August 4, 2013 Tornado summary Storm development and track 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. At 5:33 p.m. CDT (22:33 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.National Weather Service Office in Norman, Oklahoma Iowa Environmental Mesonet May 31, 2013 September 30, 2016 Special Weather Statement: Tornado Warning http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2013-O-NEW-KOUN-TO-W-0057/USCOMP-N0Q-201305312235 At 6:03 p.m. CDT (23:03 UTC), a large wall cloud formed and produced a tornado, initially in the form of several smaller sub-vortices,The Last Ride of Legendary Storm Chaser Tim Samaras http://www.dallasobserver.com/2013-08-29/news/the-last-ride-of-legendary-storm-chaser-tim-samaras/full/ Brantley Hargrove Dallas Observer Dallas, Texas August 29, 2013 August 29, 2013 August 28, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130828160936/http://www.dallasobserver.com/2013-08-29/news/the-last-ride-of-legendary-storm-chaser-tim-samaras/full/ dead 8.3 mi km west-southwest of El Reno. The tornado ultimately attained EF3 intensity during its existence, according to ground surveys. At 6:15 p.m. CDT (23:15 UTC), the tornado deviated from its easterly path, doing a full loop before resuming its ESE motion. During its motion in this direction, two people were struck by the tornado and killed (an amateur storm chaser and a local resident). At 6:23 p.m. CDT (23:23 UTC), as the tornado passed south of El Reno across U.S. 81, it grew to an unprecedented width of 2.6 mi km, becoming the widest known tornado ever recorded, simultaneously killing three professional storm chasers and another motorist driving nearby.Though the El Reno tornado officially ranks as the widest on record, Doppler on Wheels measurements of the 1999 Mulhall, Oklahoma tornado indicated that it may have been 4.3 mi km wide.Low-Level Winds in Tornadoes and Potential Catastrophic Tornado Impacts in Urban Areas Joshua Wurman C. Alexander P. Robinson Y. Richardson Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society American Meteorological Society 88 1 31–46 10.1175/BAMS-88-1-31 2007BAMS...88...31W January 2007 free The 1946 Timber Lake, South Dakota tornado was documented by the United States Weather Bureau to have been 4 mi km wide, but it occurred outside the National Weather Service's timeframe for "reliable records", which started in 1950.Monthly Weather Review April 1, 1946 74 4 73 10.1175/1520-0493(1946)074<0073:SLSFA>2.0.CO;2 free Severe Local Storms for April 1946 1946MWRv...74...73. "nb" "Mulhall and Timber Lake"Central Oklahoma Tornadoes and Flash Flooding – May 31, 2013 http://www.weather.gov/oun/events-20130531 National Weather Service Norman, Oklahoma National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration June 1, 2013 March 20, 2017 Update On May 31 El Reno Tornado http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/validProds.php?prod%3DPNS%26node%3DKOUN https://web.archive.org/web/20120805130912/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS&node=KOUN dead August 5, 2012 National Weather Service Norman, Oklahoma National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration June 4, 2013 June 4, 2013 At 6:28 p.m. CDT (23:28 UTC), the storm began moving into more densely populated areas of Canadian County while maintaining its intensity. 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. Within minutes, the tornado turned northeast and soon passed directly over Interstate 40 at around 6:42 p.m. CDT (23:42 UTC), killing two people in a minivan that was thrown as a result of the tornado.Special Weather Statement: Tornado Warning http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2013-O-NEW-KOUN-TO-W-0060/USCOMP-N0Q-201305312235 National Weather Service Norman, Oklahoma Iowa Environmental Mesonet NWS Product Archive May 31, 2013 June 1, 2013 Shortly thereafter, the tornado lifted off the ground as it neared Banner Road. Overall, the tornado was on the ground for 40 minutes along a 16.2 mi km on path. A strong anticyclonic multi-vortex satellite tornado also formed southeast of the primary tornado at approximately 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC), and remained on the ground for 15 minutes before lifting at 6:43 p.m. (23:43 UTC). 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.The Role of Multiple-Vortex Tornado Structure in Causing Storm Researcher Fatalities Joshua Wurman K. Kosiba P. Robinson T. Marshall Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 95 1 31–45 10.1175/BAMS-D-13-00221.1 2014BAMS...95...31W January 2014 Joshua Wurman free Intensity Disagreements on the intensity of tornadoes thumb|right|Video of several sub-vortices within the tornado. The intensity of the tornado has been a subject of internal debate within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency uses the Enhanced Fujita Scale to rate and assess tornado intensity based on the damage left behind. This excludes the use of supplementary measurements, such as those from mobile radar, in concluding a tornado's intensity. Initially receiving an official EF3 rating based on damage, the El Reno tornado was subsequently upgraded to a radar-estimated EF5 rating, the highest on the scale, based on data from a mobile radar. 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 km/h. These winds are considered the second-highest ever measured worldwide, just shy of the 321 mph km/h recorded during the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado.Largest Tornado on Record: the May 31 El Reno, OK EF-5 Tornado http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2426 Jeff Masters Weather Underground The Weather Company June 4, 2013 June 4, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130605054308/http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2426 June 5, 2013 10.1175/WAF-D-14-00152.1 A Multiscale Overview of the el Reno, Oklahoma, Tornadic Supercell of 31 May 2013 Weather and Forecasting 30 3 525–552 2015 Bluestein Howard B. Snyder Jeffrey C. Houser Jana B. 2015WtFor..30..525B free left 1 ElReno PNS graphic final2.png 2013 El Reno Tornado Timeline.jpg A minute-by-minute timeline of the tornado's position. Public Information Statements Issued by NWS Norman for the May 31-June 1, 2013 Tornado and Flash Flood Event NWS preliminary EF5 rating statement Revised RaXPol analysis found winds of 302 ± 34 mph km/h well above ground level and ≥291 mph km/h below 10 m ft, with some subvortices moving at 175 mph km/h.Some Considerations for the Use of High-Resolution Mobile Radar Data in Tornado Intensity Determination Jeff Snyder H. B. Bluestein Weather Forecast 29 4 799–827 2014 10.1175/WAF-D-14-00026.1 2014WtFor..29..799S 122669043 https://zenodo.org/record/1234617 free The strongest winds occurred in small subvortices along the south side of the main vortex. The two most intense vortices occurred north and east of the intersection of 10th Street and Radio Road, about 3 mi km southeast of El Reno.El Reno, Union City tornado widest tornado on record http://kfor.com/2013/06/04/update-el-reno-union-city-tornado-widest-tornado-on-record/ A. Edwards KFOR-TV June 4, 2013 June 4, 2013 The main funnel is believed to have had radar-estimated EF4 winds, with wind speeds around 185 mph km/h. Radar-estimated EF5 winds were only found aloft and in the smaller vortices that revolved around this funnel at 110 mph km/h. A revised analysis in 2015 revealed a peak wind of 313 mph km/h. In March 2024, NOAA and OU published a new analysis, which estimated that winds may have reached up to anywhere between 115–150 m/s mph km/h 3. thumb|The tornado at around peak intensity as seen from north of Banner Rd and 15th Street 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. 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."El Reno tornado is 'super rare' national record-breaker http://newsok.com/el-reno-tornado-is-super-rare-national-record-breaker/article/3841672 Bryan Painter The Oklahoman Oklahoma Publishing Company Norman, Oklahoma June 4, 2013 June 4, 2013 June 8, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130608045213/http://newsok.com/el-reno-tornado-is-super-rare-national-record-breaker/article/3841672 dead 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."El Reno, Oklahoma Tornado Believed To Be Widest Twister On Record http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/04/el-reno-oklahoma-tornado-widest_n_3385051.html Sean Murphy Associated Press HuffPost AOL Oklahoma City, Oklahoma June 4, 2013 June 5, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130605185022/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/04/el-reno-oklahoma-tornado-widest_n_3385051.html June 5, 2013 On August 30, 2013, the National Weather Service office in Norman once again revised the intensity of the El Reno tornado. 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. While the wind measurements from the mobile radars are considered reliable, NWS policy for determining EF-ratings is based on surveys of ground damage."NWS releases statement about El Reno tornado rating http://digitalmeteorologist.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/elrenotornado/ Nate Johnson Digital Meteorologist August 31, 2013 September 21, 2013 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.Storm Events Database: May 31, 2013 Tornado http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=453682 National Climatic Data Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 31, 2013 March 20, 2017 Why was El Reno, Oklahoma tornado downgraded to EF-3? http://earthsky.org/earth/why-was-el-reno-oklahoma-tornado-downgraded-to-ef-3 Greg Forbes Matt Daniel EarthSky.org September 5, 2013 November 5, 2013 Storm chaser incidents thumb|The crushed remains of the TWISTEX Chevrolet Cobalt near the intersection of Reuter and South Radio Roads, almost 5 mi km southeast of El Reno. The tornado's unusual behavior consisted of several simultaneous occurrences: abrupt changes in direction, rapid enlargement to a width of 2.6 mi km in diameter in about 30 seconds, swift increase in forward motion from about 20 to 55 mph 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. Several professional and amateur chasers were caught off guard and impacted by the tornado.Storm Chasing Critical, Profitable and Dangerous https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/storm-chasing-critical-profitable-dangerous-19315716 Sean Murphy Solleen Slevin Associated Press ABC News Oklahoma City, Oklahoma June 3, 2013 June 4, 2013 Many were located in a region northeast of the tornado, known as the "bear's cage". Chasers can generally get a clear view of the tornado from that area; however, it places them at great risk and with little time to react should the storm take a left turn. In the case of El Reno, the wrapping rain bands did not lead to a narrow corridor of clear air close to the tornado. Rather, these rotating curtains of rain were the outer circulation of the tornado itself. 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.Colorado storm chaser Tim Samaras killed in Oklahoma tornado along with son, longtime partner http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/colorado-storm-chaser-tim-samaras-killed-in-oklahoma-tornado-along-with-son-longtime-partner Anica Padilla KMGH-TV June 2, 2013 March 20, 2017 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130607115754/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/colorado-storm-chaser-tim-samaras-killed-in-oklahoma-tornado-along-with-son-longtime-partner June 7, 2013 Normally, Tim drove a reinforced three-quarter ton truck optimized for hail protection and stability in high winds; however, Carl was driving an unmodified Chevrolet Cobalt, a subcompact vehicle with three 45-lb barometric probes in the trunk likened by one TWISTEX chaser to a "pizza delivery car", making it much less suited to high winds and rain-slicked backcountry dirt roads. It was also underpowered, which hampered their escape in the strong inflow winds.Legendary Tornado Chaser Tim Samaras' Last Ride http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2013-08-29/news/tornado-chaser-tim-samaras-death/ Brantley Hargrove Miami New Times 2 August 29, 2013 August 31, 2013 August 31, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130831033131/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2013-08-29/news/tornado-chaser-tim-samaras-death/ dead Tim's body was found still buckled in the passenger's seat. They were the first known tornado-related deaths of either recreational storm chasers or scientific researchers.3 veteran storm chasers killed by Oklahoma tornado http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/television/article/3-veteran-storm-chasers-killed-by-Oklahoma-tornado-4569747.php Kelly B. Kissel Thomas Peipert San Francisco Chronicle June 3, 2013 June 4, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130603224056/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/television/article/3-veteran-storm-chasers-killed-by-Oklahoma-tornado-4569747.php June 3, 2013 Mike Bettes, a meteorologist for The Weather Channel, was also caught in the storm. His sport utility vehicle was severely damaged, having been thrown about 200 yd m; the driver was left with a broken neck, fractured vertebrae, and several broken ribs while Bettes and the other passenger sustained minor injuries.Storm chasers' deaths in Oklahoma tornado prompt questions, calls for regulation http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article320492/Storm-chasers’-deaths-in-Oklahoma-tornado-prompt-questions-calls-for-regulation.html Stan Finger The Kansas City Star June 4, 2013 June 4, 2013 The day that should change tornado actions and storm chasing forever https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/06/01/the-night-that-should-change-tornado-actions-and-storm-chasing-forever/ James Samenow The Washington Post June 1, 2013 March 20, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20130602113329/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/06/01/the-night-that-should-change-tornado-actions-and-storm-chasing-forever/ June 2, 2013 Weather Channel vehicle tossed by tornado http://www.wvva.com/story/22473830/2013/05/31/weather-channel-vehicle-tossed-by-tornado WVVA May 31, 2013 May 31, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130613144717/http://www.wvva.com/story/22473830/2013/05/31/weather-channel-vehicle-tossed-by-tornado June 13, 2013 dead 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.Emily Sutton, photographer Kevin Josefy have very close call with El Reno tornado http://kfor.com/2013/05/31/emily-sutton-photographer-kevin-josefy-have-very-close-call-with-el-reno-tornado/ A. Edwards Emily Sutton KFOR-TV May 31, 2013 June 4, 2013 University of Oklahoma student Billy Prater, along with his father and a friend, sought refuge under an overpass (an action strongly discouraged in these situations) when the tornado changed direction.Amateur storm chaser survives tornado under overpass http://kfor.com/2013/06/03/amateur-storm-chaser-survives-tornado-under-overpass/ Sarah Stewart KFOR-TV June 3, 2013 June 4, 2013 July 12, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180712052825/https://kfor.com/2013/06/03/amateur-storm-chaser-survives-tornado-under-overpass/ dead 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.'Duck down!' Daredevil storm chasers get too close to tornado, struck by debris from destroyed barn http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/okla-tornado-storm-chasers-close-twister-article-1.1360523 Beth Stebner Daily News New York June 1, 2013 June 5, 2013 The hood of Reed Timmer's Dominator 2, a vehicle designed for intercepting tornadoes, was torn off by lines that were down from the tornado.The Weather Channel's "Tornado Hunt 2013" vehicle flips over while chasing May 31 tornadoes http://kfor.com/2013/06/01/video-the-weather-channels-tornado-hunt-2013-vehicle-received-major-damage-near-el-reno/ B. White KFOR-TV June 1, 2012 June 4, 2013 Storm chaser Dan Robinson received injuries after being enveloped within the outskirts of the tornadic circulation. He escaped a few hundred meters ahead of the TWISTEX crew on Reuter Road. Just behind the TWISTEX crew, a tour group led by storm chasers Randy Walton and Mike Phelps followed immediately behind both TWISTEX and Robinson's vehicles on Reuter Road, however the group turned around just as the tornado began crossing the road ahead and escaped without being impacted.Walton Randy 2013 El Reno Tornado Escape https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcWrJGSIaGc YouTube January 7, 2017 A Doppler on Wheels-based analysis of how the tornado impacted these teams revealed that they were hit by an intense internal sub-vortex. 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 mph kph and was moving in a complex quasi-trochoidal pattern, sometimes nearly stationary, sometimes with forward speeds over 100 mph kph. 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. Response thumb|right|Storm spotter tribute to Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young across the Plains on June 2. 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. 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. On June 2, dozens of members of the storm chasing and spotting communities coordinated a tribute to Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young. Using GPS transponders over Spotter Network, they aligned themselves to spell out the initials of the three men in North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska for many hours.Storm Chasing Community Pays Tribute To Tim Samaras http://www.sfgate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/Storm-Chasing-Community-Pays-Tribute-To-Tim-4569893.php Adam Taylor San Francisco Chronicle (Business Insider) June 2, 2013 June 2, 2013 The Discovery Channel scheduled a special tribute episode of Storm Chasers titled Mile Wide Tornado: Oklahoma Disaster on June 5, both honoring the three chasers and covering the events of the EF5-rated tornado that struck Moore and portions of southern Oklahoma City eleven days earlier on May 20.'Stormchasers' tribute episode to honor stars killed in Oklahoma tornado http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/stormchasers-tribute-episode-honor-stars-killed-article-1.1362858 Chiderah Monde Daily News New York Daily News, L.P. June 4, 2013 June 5, 2013 The November 2013 issue of National Geographic, for its featured cover story, paid tribute to Tim Samaras, a National Geographic Explorer funded in part by the Society, and featured a detailed scientific analysis of the tornado itself.The Last Chase http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/11/biggest-storm/draper-text https://web.archive.org/web/20131015181441/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/11/biggest-storm/draper-text dead October 15, 2013 Robert Draper National Geographic Society November 2013 February 20, 2014 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. It was the largest such visual data set ever collected on a tornado. 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.El Reno Survey – A Survey of the tornado of 31 May 2013 http://el-reno-survey.net/ 2014 February 20, 2014 In association with the project, software was unveiled in 2015 allowing for the synchronization of maps, radar data, and storm chasers' footage of the storm. The tool was named "Tornado Environment Display" (TED) after Dr. Ted Fujita. 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.Look Inside Largest Tornado Ever With New Tool http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151204-tornado-environment-display-el-reno-samaras-storm-science/ https://web.archive.org/web/20151207092527/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151204-tornado-environment-display-el-reno-samaras-storm-science/ dead December 7, 2015 Howard Brian Clark National Geographic December 4, 2015 February 20, 2017 Casualties and impact thumb|left|A destroyed home about 4 mi km west of U.S. Route 81. Since the tornado remained over mostly open terrain, damage was relatively light—although still significant in isolated locations—in comparison to its extreme intensity. Surveys from the National Weather Service revealed that structures in its path sustained EF3-level damage at most.El Reno tornado is 'super rare' national record-breaker http://newsok.com/el-reno-tornado-is-a-national-record-breaker/article/3841672 Bryan Painter Silas Allen The Oklahoman Oklahoma Publishing Company June 4, 2013 June 5, 2013 The Oklahoma City West Livestock Market was described as a "war zone", sustaining extensive damage. Several large steel-frame warehouse type buildings were destroyed at that location. 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 yd m into the side of a daycare building on the property. Damage totals at that location alone were estimated at up to $40 million.Oklahoma Campus, Ravaged by a Tornado, Draws Attention to Storm Shelters https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/us/oklahoma-campus-shows-value-of-storm-shelters.html Manny Fernandez The New York Times El Reno, Oklahoma June 2, 2013 June 4, 2013 Rebuilding Starts in El Reno http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_11543.shtml KOKH-TV June 13, 2013 June 14, 2013 dead https://archive.today/20240522194536/https://www.webcitation.org/6HN5Nt9XR?url=http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_11543.shtml May 22, 2024 Damage Viewer https://apps.dat.noaa.gov/StormDamage/DamageViewer/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration One farmstead, consisting of a large barn, a cattle barn, three machine sheds, granaries and the owner's home, was also completely destroyed.OK Insurance Commissioner Tours El Reno Damage http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_11406.shtml KOKH-TV June 3, 2013 June 5, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130609010527/http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_11406.shtml June 9, 2013 Several other rural homes were destroyed, and large amounts of gravel was blown off of gravel roads in the area, with only the dirt underneath left at some locations. Several large metal electrical transmission poles were downed, trees were snapped and defoliated, and multiple vehicles were tossed from roadways in the area. 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.El Reno Mayor Foresees Long Road To Recovery After May Tornado http://www.news9.com/story/22658357/el-reno-mayor-forsee-long-road-to-recovery-after-may-tornado Heather Hope KWTV-DT Griffin Communications June 21, 2013 March 20, 2017 On June 1, the American Red Cross set up a shelter at the Redlands Community College in El Reno for victims of the storm.Red Cross Opens Shelters For Storm Victims http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_11369.shtml KOKH-TV June 1, 2013 June 5, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130609002854/http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_11369.shtml June 9, 2013 The following day, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin toured damaged areas of El Reno. Due to the tornadoes that occurred previously on May 20, a state of emergency was already in place for the affected areas, allowing residents to quickly obtain emergency assistance.Fallin tours El Reno damage http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_11382.shtml KOKH-TV June 2, 2013 June 5, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130609003416/http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_11382.shtml June 9, 2013 Residents left homeless were provided with temporary housing constructed from shipping containers. Each container was fitted with a kitchen, bedroom, living room, and bathroom.El Reno tornado victims get unusual temporary housing http://www.koco.com/article/el-reno-tornado-victims-get-unusual-temporary-housing/4293789 KOCO-TV El Reno, Oklahoma June 19, 2013 June 23, 2013 Overall, eight people lost their lives as a result of the tornado, all of whom were killed in vehicles.Annual U.S. Killer Tornado Statistics http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/torn/STATIJ13.txt Storm Prediction Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration June 10, 2013 June 14, 2013 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.12 Dead in Aftermath of Destructive Tornadoes http://www.newswest9.com/story/22473969/ap-two-dead-when-tornado-hits-oklahoma-city-area KWES-TV June 1, 2013 June 1, 2013 June 24, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130624002104/http://www.newswest9.com/story/22473969/ap-two-dead-when-tornado-hits-oklahoma-city-area dead Body of 4-year-old boy found in river after Oklahoma tornado outbreak https://www.foxnews.com/us/body-of-4-year-old-boy-found-in-river-after-oklahoma-tornado-outbreak/ Associated Press Fox News Channel June 2, 2013 June 2, 2013 Overall, 151 injuries were attributed to the tornado. Evacuations thumb|right|Satellite image of the Oklahoma City area on June 2 displaying the ground scar left behind by the tornado. 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. Already congested with rush hour traffic, Interstates 35, 40, 44 and 240, became "parking lots" as the storms neared.As tornadoes neared, drivers hit the road – with deadly results http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/31/18666671-as-tornadoes-neared-drivers-hit-the-road-with-deadly-results?lite NBC News May 31, 2013 June 1, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130607203749/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/31/18666671-as-tornadoes-neared-drivers-hit-the-road-with-deadly-results?lite June 7, 2013 Residents reported the highways to be a scene of chaos, "people were going southbound in the northbound lanes. Everybody was running for their lives." It has been suggestedNovember 2025 that the evacuation was partially caused by a controversial call to action on-air by KFOR-TV chief meteorologist Mike Morgan, who suggested on-air during coverage of the storm—as the tornado was projected to track into Oklahoma City—that residents without underground storm shelters or safe rooms get into their cars and evacuate south of the track. 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. These locations are typically much safer than an automobile in tornadic winds.Tornado Safety http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html Roger Edwards Storm Prediction Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2013 June 1, 2013 Roger Edwards (meteorologist) 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. See also Tornado outbreak sequence of May 21–26, 2011 2004 Hallam tornado – An enormous F4 tornado in southeast Nebraska, which previously was the largest U.S. tornado on record 2013 Moore tornado – A destructive EF5 tornado across the Oklahoma City metropolitan area just 11 days earlier 2011 El Reno–Piedmont tornado – An extremely violent EF5 tornado that impacted areas near El Reno about two years prior 2020 Bassfield–Soso tornado – Another extremely large, rainwrapped and violent EF4 tornado in southeast Mississippi, ranked as the third widest U.S. tornado ever recorded List of tornadoes with confirmed satellite tornadoes Tornado records Notes References External links Joshua Wurman Joshua Wurman Kosiba, K. Preliminary Results from the ROTATE-2013 (Radar Observations of Tornadoes and Thunderstorms) experiment 36th Conf. on Radar Meteorology American Meteorological Society September 16, 2013 Breckenridge, CO https://ams.confex.com/ams/36Radar/webprogram/Paper229323.html Wakimoto Roger M. Roger M. Wakimoto N. T. Atkins K. M. Butler H. B. Bluestein K. Thiem J. C. Snyder J. Houser K. Kosiba J. Wurman Aerial Damage Survey of the 2013 El Reno Tornado Combined with Mobile Radar Data Mon. Wea. Rev. 144 5 1749–76 2016 10.1175/MWR-D-15-0367.1 2016MWRv..144.1749W https://escholarship.org/uc/item/13g0p5hk 2NyfsC2jhRU Doppler Radar – El Reno / Union City Oklahoma EF5 Tornado May 31, 2013 IVUHdCGqiSI El Reno OK Tornado with SN Dots no C34EVyWRZbk May 31, 2013 EF5 El Reno Tornado Showing Multiple Funnels/Sub Vortices Filmed from Dominator no 2CsR04fEBgU Storms of the Great Plains: the El Reno, Oklahoma tornado, May 31, 2013 no type:event dms title Category:2013 in Oklahoma Category:2013 natural disasters in the United States 2013-05-31 2013-05-31 05-31 Category:Articles containing video clips Category:May 2013 in the United States 2013-05-31