The May 6, 2024 tornado

EF4Osage and Washington counties, Oklahoma

An EF4 tornado on a 40.8-mile path that killed 2 and injured 33. It was one of 41 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day.

Watch how it happened Part of the outbreak of May 6, 2024: 41 tornadoes in 7 states

EF4 tornado · May 6, 2024

How it happened

Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.

About this replay

Local time (CST)—Historical replay — logged times

Distance—of 40.8 miles

Now in—

RatingEF4

The tornado

Rating: EF4; Enhanced Fujita scale
Path length: 40.8 mi; Width up to 1,700 yards
Killed: 2; Along the whole path
Injured: 33; Along the whole path
Date and time: Monday, May 6, 2024; 8:12 PM CST
That day: 41; tornadoes in the U.S.; every one, with a replay of the day

The National Weather Service account

Written by the local Weather Service office after its damage survey.

This is the first segment of a two-segment tornado. This tornado developed just north of County Road 1701 southeast of Hominy, where trees were uprooted and snapped. The tornado moved northeast and crossed Highway 20, snapping numerous trees and snapping seven metal power poles. The tornado continued to snap and uproot numerous trees between Highway 20 and Barnsdall. Significant tree damage was found in several locations. A well-built home was destroyed just southwest of town. Multiple vehicles were thrown and rolled, and trees were stubbed and debarked in this area. The tornado then moved into Barnsdall, causing severe damage to the wax plant on the southeast side of town. More than 110 homes and businesses were damaged, 65 of those were destroyed. Numerous trees were stubbed in the area of some of the higher end damage. Two fatalities and at least 33 injuries occurred in Barnsdall. Significant tree damage continued northeast of Barnsdall, a few homes were damaged, and outbuildings were destroyed between Barnsdall and the county line. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 170 to 180 mph. The tornado continued into Washington County.

The storm system that day

Severe thunderstorms developed over western Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 6th, as a dry line sharpened over the area. These storms developed eastward across central Oklahoma during the afternoon, and then moved into eastern Oklahoma during the evening. Very strong instability developed ahead of the storms, and wind shear became very strong during the mid to late evening, as wind fields strengthened over the region with the approach of a strong upper level disturbance. As a result of this very strong instability and wind shear, supercell thunderstorms evolved as the storms moved east of the dry line. Strengthening low level wind shear promoted the development of tornadoes, one of which became violent as it moved through Osage County. Large hail up to golf ball size and damaging wind gusts also occurred.||A squall line organized as the storms moved into eastern Oklahoma, with several supercells maintaining their structure within the squall line. Damaging wind gusts, large hail to quarter size, and several tornadoes occurred with the squall line as it moved through the area into the early morning of the 7th. One tornado became strong as it moved across portions of Adair County. Locally heavy rainfall resulted in some flash flooding.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Counties on its path

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.