SPC Stats

Path length: 6 miles

Width:  500 yards

Fatalities:  0

Injuries:  9

Rating:  F3

County:  Washita

The strongest tornado outbreak in Oklahoma for the month of October occurred on October 9, 2001.  Per the NWS Norman, five supercells produce a total of 19 confirmed tornadoes.  Three of these were given a rating of F3 and all three moved through a part of Washita County.  

Image via NWS Norman.

The first F3 formed in NE Beckham County near Elk City.  It tracked NE for 11 miles through parts of Washita and Custer Counties.  The second F3 hit in Washita County near Cordell.  We look more closely at this event in this summary.  The last F3 developed in Kiowa County near Gotebo and moved into Washita County.  

Per the NWS survey, the Cordell tornado developed on the southwest side of town.  In this area, a mobile home and metal warehouse were “blown into a farmhouse.”  The tornado tracked through the south, east and northeast parts of Cordell.  The survey states that the damage south of Main Street was mainly rated F0 or F1.  North of Main street, the tornado had a wider path (approximately 500 yards).  From this area north of Main Street to 12th Street, hundreds of homes were damaged with most receiving an F1 or F2 rating.  

The worst damage (F3) was found at several homes on 9th Street just west of Crider Road.  This was on the northeast side of town.  Per the NWS Norman, “An F4 rating was considered; however, the structural integrity of most structures was at or below average, and was taken into consideration.”  Eyewitnesses report that the tornado “was widest and contained the most violent-looking winds” in this area.  The tornado ended 3.5 miles northeast of Cordell.

Per the Oklahoma State Emergency Management Office, approximately 477 single-family homes were damaged, 132 considered uninhabitable.  40 businesses were damaged, 22 considered uninhabitable. Damage was estimated near 100 million dollars, and nine injuries were reported. (Information directly from the NWS survey).  


Tornado Path

Click map to enlarge.

SPC coordinates:  Start: 35.28 / -99.00      End: 35.35 / -98.97

Note:  Exact tornado path may not be straight and/or continuous.

Tornado Photos via NWS Norman Summary

Photo taken by a resident of Cordell at ~5:10 PM CDT on 10/09/2001 as this F3 tornado approached the town from the southwest.

These 3 photos were taken by Kiowa County Deputy, Doug Beamon, 1 mile north of Cordell.

Damage Photos via the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University

This document was a part of the NWS Norman Summary.

Motel 41 (719 E. Main)

Newspaper Clippings

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