Quick Answer:
El Reno, Oklahoma has experienced several significant tornadoes, including the May 24, 2011 EF5 and the record-setting May 31, 2013 EF3, which reached 2.6 miles wide. El Reno was also struck by a deadly EF3 in 2019. Sprague’s Backhoe installs both above-ground and below-ground storm shelters for El Reno families.
Few Oklahoma communities are as closely connected to tornado history as El Reno.
The Canadian County city has experienced multiple significant tornadoes, including a violent EF5 in 2011 and the widest tornado ever documented in the United States in 2013. Then, in 2019, another deadly EF3 struck El Reno.
Here’s a look at some of the most notable events in El Reno’s tornado history and what they show about severe weather preparedness in central Oklahoma.
May 24, 2011: The El Reno-Piedmont EF5 Tornado
On May 24, 2011, a violent tornado developed near the Caddo and Canadian County line and traveled northeast through Canadian, Kingfisher, and Logan counties.
The National Weather Service officially lists the 63-mile tornado as the Calumet-El Reno-Piedmont-Guthrie EF5. It reached a maximum width of 1,760 yards and caused 9 deaths and 181 injuries along its path.
The tornado reached some of its greatest intensity after crossing I-40. Mobile radar measured winds greater than 210 mph just above the surface.
It also passed near the Oklahoma Mesonet station about five miles west of El Reno, where a 151 mph wind gust was recorded.
The tornado continued northeast toward Piedmont, Cashion, and eventually Guthrie before dissipating.
May 31, 2013: The Widest Tornado Ever Recorded
Just two years later, El Reno became the site of another historic tornado.
On May 31, 2013, a tornado developed southwest of El Reno and eventually reached a maximum width of 2.6 miles. The National Weather Service identifies it as the widest tornado ever recorded in the United States.
The tornado followed a complex path and changed both speed and direction as it moved around El Reno. The city and airport were spared a direct hit, but homes and businesses around El Reno were damaged.
Eight people were killed and 26 were injured.
Among those killed were storm researchers Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young.
Why Was the 2013 El Reno Tornado Only Rated EF3?
This is one of the most interesting parts of El Reno’s tornado history.
Mobile radar detected winds exceeding 200 mph just above the ground, but the tornado received an official rating of EF3.
That’s because Enhanced Fujita ratings are based on observed damage to structures and other damage indicators, not simply the highest wind speed measured by radar.
The 2013 tornado crossed largely rural areas around El Reno. The damage documented during the official survey supported an EF3 rating, even though radar detected much stronger winds within portions of the circulation.
So when you see the May 31, 2013 El Reno tornado described as an EF3, that isn’t a mistake. EF3 is its official rating.
May 25, 2019: Another Deadly EF3 Strikes El Reno
El Reno experienced another significant tornado on May 25, 2019.
The EF3 tornado developed south of the city and traveled approximately 2.2 miles. According to National Weather Service records, it killed two people and injured 29.
The tornado struck parts of El Reno during the nighttime hours, another reminder that Oklahoma tornadoes don’t always arrive during the afternoon when they’re easy to see approaching.
Other Tornadoes in El Reno’s History
The 2011, 2013, and 2019 tornadoes are the best-known events, but they aren’t the only tornadoes documented around El Reno.
National Weather Service records include an F3 beginning just northeast of El Reno on May 3, 1999, along with tornadoes near or within El Reno in 2006 and 2007.
Historical tornado records become less complete the farther back we go, particularly before 1950, so they shouldn’t be treated as a perfect record of every tornado that has ever occurred near the city.
What El Reno’s Tornado History Teaches Us
El Reno’s history doesn’t mean the city sits on a fixed tornado path. Past tornado tracks don’t determine where the next tornado will travel.
What the record does show is that El Reno and Canadian County have experienced tornadoes of very different sizes and strengths over many decades.
The 2013 tornado is also an important reminder that tornado ratings are assigned after the storm based on damage. You won’t know the eventual EF rating while a tornado warning is happening.
When a tornado warning includes your location, the important question is much simpler: Where are you going to shelter?
Storm Shelters in El Reno, Oklahoma
Sprague’s Backhoe installs both above-ground and below-ground storm shelters in El Reno.
Above Ground Storm Shelters in El Reno Oklahoma provide level entry without interior stairs and are installed directly on suitable ground using steel anchors driven into the ground.
El Reno is also within Sprague’s Backhoe’s normal service area for below-ground storm shelters. Available options include Slope Front and Easy Access models.
Both shelter styles can provide tornado protection when properly designed and installed. The storm shelters installed by Sprague’s Backhoe are designed to meet or exceed FEMA safe room guidelines.
Sprague’s Backhoe has been locally owned since 2013, and Jack brings more than 20 years of storm shelter industry experience to every installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the widest tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma?
The May 31, 2013 El Reno tornado reached a maximum width of 2.6 miles. The National Weather Service identifies it as the widest tornado ever recorded in the United States.
Was the 2013 El Reno tornado an EF5?
No. The May 31, 2013 El Reno tornado was officially rated EF3 based on its documented damage. Mobile radar detected winds exceeding 200 mph within the tornado, but EF ratings are based on damage indicators rather than radar wind measurements alone.
Has El Reno ever had an EF5 tornado?
Yes. The May 24, 2011 Calumet-El Reno-Piedmont-Guthrie tornado was rated EF5. It traveled 63 miles through Canadian, Kingfisher, and Logan counties and caused 9 deaths and 181 injuries.
Was there another tornado in El Reno in 2019?
Yes. An EF3 struck El Reno on May 25, 2019. The tornado traveled approximately 2.2 miles, killing two people and injuring 29.
Does El Reno have a higher chance of being hit because of its tornado history?
Past tornado tracks do not create a permanent tornado corridor or tell us where future tornadoes will occur. El Reno’s history shows that significant tornadoes have affected the area, but tornado preparedness is important throughout Oklahoma.
Does Sprague’s Backhoe install storm shelters in El Reno?
Yes. Sprague’s Backhoe installs both above-ground and below-ground storm shelters in El Reno and surrounding Canadian County communities.
Key Takeaways
- The May 24, 2011 El Reno-area tornado was officially rated EF5 and traveled 63 miles.
- The May 31, 2013 El Reno tornado reached a record-setting width of 2.6 miles.
- The 2013 tornado was officially rated EF3 despite much stronger winds detected by mobile radar.
- Eight people were killed and 26 injured in the 2013 tornado.
- Another EF3 struck El Reno in May 2019, killing two people and injuring 29.
- Past tornado tracks do not predict where the next tornado will occur.
Looking for storm protection in El Reno? Contact Sprague’s Backhoe for a free quote on an above-ground or below-ground storm shelter for your property.
