The National Weather Service in Tulsa rated the tornado that destroyed approximately 58 homes in Owasso-Rogers County on Thursday afternoon as an EF-1, according to NWS officials.
But, the preliminary rating could be upgraded after NWS officials re-visiting the area to get a track and better estimate of the tornado.
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale rates tornadoes in six categories, EF-0 to EF-5, which is used to measure the wind speed of tornadoes.
According to that scale, Thursday afternoon’s tornado reached speeds up to 100 mph, and caused considerable damage to areas of 106th Street North, N. 173rd E. Ave and 168th East Avenue, as well as a few others.
NWS meteorologist Ray Sondag, who has seen a several tornadoes develop in his 15-year career, said this tornado developed within a few minutes.
“It developed very fast. There was hardly any time at all before it became a tornado,” Sondag said.
Once NWS issues a tornado warning, all precautions need to be taken at that point, he urged.
NWS issues a wide range of weather-related warnings and watches multiple times a year.
Sondag said a tornado warning is actually one that has been indicated by radar or is actually occurring. A watch means the conditions are favorable for a tornado to happen.
Damage included roofs torn from well-constructed homes, collapsed structures, RVs flipped on their sides, large trees snapped or uprooted, carports blown over or moved to another part of the property.
No injuries have been reported according to Rogers County Emergency Management (RCEM) director Scotty Stokes, who conducts assessments of property after disasters occur throughout the county.
One house damaged by the tornado belongs to two NWS trained storm spotters who volunteer for the RCEM during severe weather situations.
Storm spotter Chris Pate, who is also a Rogers County Sheriff’s Office Reserve deputy, said his wife, was home during the tornado when she took cover with their pets.
“It is pretty ironic that here we are — both storm spotters — and our house gets hit. But we have learned to remain calm since we actually look for storms like this,” Pate said.
The main concern for Pate was to remove the tree from his house, tarp his roof and spend time cleaning up. The front part of the house sustained substantial damages, which will take time to repair.
by Diana Dickinson
May 12, 2017
