Cookietown-Walters, OK F3 Tornado – November 17, 1958

34 tornadoes are a part of the SPC Database for November 17, 1958. Most were in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. We look at an Oklahoma tornado from this day in this summary. There is a huge discrepancy in the record on the path length. The SPC Database records a path length of 65.8 miles. The Climatological Data National Summary (CDNS) and Thomas Grazulis in Significant Tornadoes only have a path length of 10 miles. The rest of the stats match.

When you plot the SPC coordinates, the track starts in Wilbarger County, TX and moves into OK through Tillman and Cotton Counties. Based on the CDNS narrative this is incorrect.  I have provided a map showing the SPC coordinates and one that maps out what is written in the CDNS.

Per CDNS, the tornado moved from three miles east of Cookietown to three miles east of Walters. Four farms were destroyed. A mother and three children were in their home. It was picked up and carried 50 feet and then fell to the ground. The mom and two of the children were injured. A man was injured at another farm.