The Calumet-El Reno-Piedmont-Guthrie, OK EF5 Tornado – May 24, 2011

This tornado began very close to the Caddo/Canadian County border and quickly became a strong/violent tornado. The tornado destroyed numerous trees, many of them were debarked, before crossing U.S. Interstate Highway 40. Three people died in vehicles near the I-40 Calumet exit, and two other fatalities occurred just northeast of that location. Cars were thrown thousands of feet off the roadways. It is believed that the tornado reached its maximum intensity just after crossing I-40, and it was here that a mobile radar measured winds of greater than 210 mph just off the surface.

The highest wind gust ever recorded at an Oklahoma Mesonet site was measured near El Reno, as an EF-5 tornado tore a path through Canadian County. The wind speed increased from 61 mph at 4:18 PM CDT, to 66 mph at 4:19 PM CDT, to 131 mph at 4:20 PM CDT, to 151 at 4:21 PM CDT, and then to 91 mph at 14:22 PM CDT. The tornado caused considerable damage to the area surrounding the Mesonet as it moved northeast.

As the tornado continued northeast, it narrowly missed the town of Piedmont. Widespread EF-3, occasional EF-4 damage occurred between El Reno and Piedmont. More widespread EF-4 damage was seen west and north of Piedmont. Especially hard hit was the Falcon Lake neighborhood, near the Kingfisher County border. Two children were killed at this location. The tornado continued into southeastern Kingfisher County.

The tornado entered far southeast Kingfisher County before moving into Logan County. However, EF-3 damage occurred just over the Kingfisher county border, debarking trees and significantly damaging buildings. As the tornado continued northeast, the damage was mainly considered EF-2, with damage to mostly outbuildings and trees.

The tornado moved into Logan County and resulted in two additional fatalities (both of whom were outside when the tornado struck) near Cashion. The tornado destroyed several manufactured homes (both double and single-wide) after entering Logan county. Large high-transmission line tresses collapsed. Trees were debarked with only stumps remaining. Several buildings had most of their exterior walls collapse, with only the inner walls remaining. EF-2 to occasionally EF-3 damage occurred as the tornado neared Guthrie. Luckily, most of the town of Guthrie was spared to the tornado as it moved west and then north of the center of the city. Finally, the tornado dissipated northeast of Guthrie with some minor tree damage. After it was all said and done, the tornado continued for 63 miles, and lasted around an hour and 45 minutes. Monetary damage estimates were not available.