When was Oklahoma’s Last Tornado: A Report on the Latest Tornadoes in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is located in the Tornado Alley. Consequently, this state is frequently hit by this hazard. Each year, more than 60 tornadoes occur in this region. They mostly hit this area from the spring to early summer. When was Oklahoma’s last tornado?

The new year has just been celebrated in Oklahoma, yet tornadoes have already struck several cities in this state. Tornadoes in January are uncommon in Oklahoma. However, climate change has made this region more prone to tornadoes year-round.

When Was Oklahoma’s Last Tornado?

On January 8, 2026, people in several counties of Oklahoma received tornado warnings. From roughly 6.30 a.m., the NWS broadcast 7 tornado warnings. However, only five of them were confirmed. In other words, residents must face an outbreak of five tornadoes at once the last time Oklahoma had a tornado.

1. Purcell Tornado

The first tornado that hit Oklahoma in 2026 was the Purcell Tornado. This storm struck Purcell and part of Lexington on 07.24. The spiraling storm lasted for about 10 minutes.

This tornado travelled 9.4 miles at 59 mph and had a peak wind speed of between 120 mph and 130 mph. Moreover, this hazard moved across Purcell and the northeast of Lexington. Authorities categorized this storm as an EF2 tornado.

This hazard caused a power outage in Purcell, which led to public school closures. Moreover, the tornado also damaged the roofs of multiple homes and commercial buildings. Thankfully, no fatalities were reported after this storm. However, the report said that the tornado injured a person.

2. South Stella Tornado

A brief tornado touched down south of Stella, near Lake Thunderbird, on the same day. The touchdown occurred approximately 10 minutes after the Purcell tornado. Moreover, the South Stella Tornado only lasted for about 2 minutes.

Due to its short duration, the path of this tornado was only 1.8 miles. Furthermore, this EF0 tornado did not cause significant damage or injuries. Residents of southern Stella only reported fallen trees that led to road blockage and isolation after the twister.

3. Near-Stella Tornado

At 07.52, about 6 minutes after the South Stella Tornado, a touchdown occurred east of Stella. This storm is slightly more intense than the previous. The near-Stella tornado had an intensity of EF1.

Moreover, the spiraling wind travelled along 4 miles at roughly 48 mph. Furthermore, the wind speed reached between 90 and 95 mph. Fortunately, the Near-Stella Tornado did not cause significant damage, injuries, or fatalities.

4. Shawnee Tornado

At 08.06 the same day, a brief tornado struck the north side of Shawnee. This EF1 tornado only lasted 3 minutes and moved along 2.6 miles in that area. The storm travelled at approximately 60 mph with a peak wind speed up to 95 mph.

There were no reports of casualties and fatalities from the Shawnee Tornado. However, the storm damaged a hotel roof and some outbuildings.

5. Wynona Tornado

When was Oklahoma’s last tornado? The latest one in the Oklahoma tornado outbreak occurred at 08.41 a.m. and lasted only one minute. 

Thus, the path of this storm was short, roughly 0.8 miles. This EF1 tornado has a maximum wind speed of 88 mph, but did not cause injuries, fatalities, or damage.

Unusual Tornadoes in January: Why Did They Happen?

How many tornadoes has Oklahoma had in January? The average tornado in January in Oklahoma is fewer than 1. Thus, tornadoes in January are a rare occurrence in this state. 

However, the last Oklahoma tornado outbreak in January was not the first. On January 2, 2023, a tornado outbreak consisting of EF0 and EF1 twisters occurred. The report also recorded an increased trend for winter tornadoes since 2021

Why did tornadoes occur in January and other winter months in Oklahoma?

• Warmer Temperature: This winter, Oklahoma experienced warmer temperatures. The normal temperatures in winter in Oklahoma is 49^oF on average. However, this January the temperatures reached 70^oF. 

• Collision of Air Masses: That moist and warmer air mass from the Gulf of Mexico blew to the north and collided with the cold air mass from the Arctic. This collision triggered the development of storms and tornadoes.

• La Nina Effect: The La Nina weather pattern affected the winter in Oklahoma in 2026. This phenomenon moved the jet stream closer to this state. Consequently, this region experienced high wind speeds and drastic temperature changes. 

• Stronger Wind Shear: This winter, Oklahoma also experienced stronger wind shear. This condition can turn even a small storm into a tornado.

 When was Oklahoma’s last tornado? This region experienced 5 tornadoes on the morning of January 8, 2026. Before these tornadoes, Oklahoma’s emergency warning system disseminated 7 tornado warnings via cell broadcasts and other channels. Other countries with high tornado risks can imitate this system if they purchase cell broadcasters from smsbroadcaster.com.