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Tornado in Pawnee County, Oklahoma
34 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 34 tornado events in Pawnee County, Oklahoma, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 24 years.
April is the busiest month, with 12 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 5,054 tornado events recorded in Oklahoma; its 6.0 per 100 square miles compares with 7.4 statewide.
NCEI attributes 4 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 16 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 5 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Oklahoma
| Measure | Pawnee County | Oklahoma | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 34 | 5,054 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.0 | 7.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 21.6 | 12.7 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 4 | 364 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
4Apr
12May
7Jun
5Jul
1Aug
1Sep
1Oct
1Nov
1Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 34 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 2016 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Mar 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $800K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 5 | County |
| 21 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | 5 | County |
| 29 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | 15 | County |
| 26 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 3 | 37 | County |
| 26 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1979 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1977 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1971 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1970 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 1963 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 1959 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | 1 | County |
| 22 May 1957 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1957 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1956 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 12 Apr 1955 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1954 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Pawnee County had?
34 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Pawnee County?
26 Apr 2016 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Pawnee County?
The tornado of 29 Apr 1984, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Pawnee County compare with Oklahoma for tornado?
6.0 events per 100 square miles against 7.4 statewide; the county holds 34 of the state's 5,054 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.