May 1960 tornado outbreak sequence

On May 4–6, 1960, a large tornado outbreak sequence affected parts of the Midwestern and Southern United States. The severe weather event produced at least 71 confirmed tornadoes, including five violent tornadoes in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Major tornado activity began on the afternoon of May 4, with strong tornadoes affecting the Red River Valley and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Two tornadoes struck parts of southern Oklahoma, causing significant damage to the Konawa and Soper areas. In all, at least 22 tornadoes formed between the early afternoon and late evening, with two more tornadoes forming early on May 5, shortly after midnight CDT. A much more significant tornado outbreak began on the afternoon of May 5 and continued overnight, spreading from eastern Oklahoma into portions of southern Missouri and Central Arkansas. At least 35 tornadoes developed between 6:00 a.m. CST on May 5–6, including a long-tracked F5 that struck rural areas in Northeastern Oklahoma and killed five people. Two other tornadoes killed 21 people in and near Sequoyah County in the eastern portion of the state. Other strong tornadoes affected the Little Rock metropolitan area early on May 6 in Arkansas. In all, the tornado outbreak sequence killed 33 people and injured 302.

Background

Confirmed tornadoes

May 4 event

May 5 event

May 6 event

Konawa, Oklahoma

A violent tornado, later rated as an F4, the first of multiple, passed between Konawa and Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, in both Pottawatomie and Seminole Counties, destroying four farms, and sweeping away a newly-built residence at F4 intensity. Nobody died however.

Soper/Snow, Oklahoma

After beginning south of Soper, Oklahoma, this violent tornado immediately reached F4 intensity, striking Soper directly, destroying a third of the town, including two farms and up to 100 homes. Near the end of the path, near Snow, the tornado destroyed another two farms; The path near Snow may have been a secondary tornado, indicating that this could’ve been a family of tornadoes. Despite the severe damages, and impacts to Soper, only three people were injured, but nobody died.

Prague—Iron Post—Sapulpa, Oklahoma

This large and violent tornado began near Shawnee and finally lifted to NE of Sapulpa during the afternoon hours. On the ground, roughly 1hr., 45 minutes, the 800-yard wide funnel was described as a rapidly moving white barrel that never "left the landscape." In the northeastern regions of Prague, Oklahoma, the tornado caused $750,000 in losses to an oil refinery before passing near Paden at F4 intensity. Two of the 5 killed were at the Iron Post community. Multiple homes and farms were swept away and granulated or heavily damaged, with destruction of the trees nearby and fields torn to shreds with heavy scour. The tornado then tracked through parts of Sapulpa around 6:32 pm, claiming 3 more lives and injuring dozens more (81 overall). Over 300 homes were destroyed or damaged along with many buildings such as schools, churches, and businesses over a 15 city block area, though the most intense phases of the tornado occurred over mostly rural land, it could not have been any lower than F4/F5 at Sapulpa. In Sapulpa, some homes were swept away along with their old foundations and porches. Overall casualties were 5 killed, 81 inj. As of now, this is also the most intense tornado to occur within the Tulsa area. The hardest hit major population area was Sapulpa. The tornado lifted shortly before 7 pm, and was observed aloft over Tulsa. The tornado was the main event of a potent days long outbreak.

Wilburton, Oklahoma

What was most certainly a family of tornadoes first began south of Wilburton, Oklahoma, and moved north-northeast, tracking into that town as an F4 tornado. Near total destruction occurred along a two-block swath of town. 13 were killed at Wilburton as 600 buildings were damaged or destroyed, including 82 homes that were destroyed, some of which incurred F4-rated damage. Losses at Wilburton totalled $1,500,000. The tornado continued on its northerly track, where six more homes were destroyed at Center Point, before the tornado "skipped" into the town of Keota, where three more people were killed, and 25 more buildings were destroyed. 10 more homes were damaged south of Sallisaw, before the tornado lifted as it hit town. In all, 16 people were killed, 106 sustained injuries. Losses totalled well over $1,500,000, however, not much information is able to be found on the devastation outside of Wilburton, as that town received more media attention.

See also

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• Tornado outbreak sequence of April 28 – May 2, 1953
• Tornado outbreak sequence of May 3–9, 1961

Notes