Little in the national Storm Prediction Center’s summary of U.S. tornado activity through April suggested Oklahoma was about to suffer a tornado assault.
With a preliminary count of 87 tornadoes at EF1 level or stronger in the first three months, “the year is off to a slow start with about half the average number of tornadoes for this period of the year. If the preliminary count stands, 2013 will rank 49 out of 60 in tornado activity level (through April) since 1954.”
Every year, thousands of tornadoes develop in Oklahoma, the vast majority causing no deaths, injuries or damage to structures or crops. But according to the National Climatic Data Center, from 1991 to 2010 Oklahoma had one of the the highest rates of tornadoes rated EF3 through EF5. Oklahoma’s rate was 0.4 per 10,000 square miles, which tied with Kansas and Mississippi. Arkansas had the highest, at 0.5.
The interactive map below locates the touchdown point of every tornado in the state from 1990 to 2013, through May 20. Some tornadoes traveled short distances, others many miles. Each dot is colored according to EF level; the larger its size, the greater the number of fatalities. Click on a dot to see details about each tornado. A chart showing all tornadoes year by year is below the map.
LEGEND FOR DOTS
The Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates the strength of tornadoes, runs from 0 to 5. Before 2007, a similar Fujita scale was used.
EF0-EF2: blue
EF3: purple
EF4: orange
EF5: red
Source: National Weather Service
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