Numerous severe thunderstorms were observed over western Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of the 17th and early morning of the 18th. Four tornadoes were confirmed, and there were several reports of very large hail, even one report of softball size hail (4.5 inches in diameter). The tornadoes were at night with the largest tornado, believed to be up to one mile wide, causing a maximum of F2 damage over a 34 mile path across northwest Oklahoma. Another tornado resulted in F3 damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in ALFALFA, OKLAHOMA
From 18-APR-02 01:00:00 to 18-APR-02 01:00:00 (CST)
Location: BYRON
Property damage: .5K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

An eight to ten inch diameter tree was blown over.

Hail in ALFALFA, OKLAHOMA
From 18-APR-02 00:30:00 to 18-APR-02 00:30:00 (CST)
Location: CHEROKEE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in WASHITA, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 21:00:00 to 17-APR-02 21:00:00 (CST)
Location: CANUTE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in WASHITA, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 21:15:00 to 17-APR-02 21:15:00 (CST)
Location: CANUTE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:19:00 to 17-APR-02 20:19:00 (CST)
Location: SAYRE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:22:00 to 17-APR-02 20:22:00 (CST)
Location: SAYRE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 19:00:00 to 17-APR-02 19:00:00 (CST)
Location: ERICK
Magnitude: 4.50 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in DEWEY, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 19:25:00 to 17-APR-02 19:25:00 (CST)
Location: VICI
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in HARMON, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:25:00 to 17-APR-02 20:25:00 (CST)
Location: HOLLIS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 17:35:00 to 17-APR-02 17:35:00 (CST)
Location: MOORELAND
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 21:05:00 to 17-APR-02 21:05:00 (CST)
Location: ELK CITY
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

The roof and sign of a motel along Interstate 40 were damaged, and power lines were downed.

Hail in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:17:00 to 17-APR-02 20:17:00 (CST)
Location: SAYRE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 17:13:00 to 17-APR-02 17:13:00 (CST)
Location: MOORELAND
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in WOODS, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 17:40:00 to 17-APR-02 17:40:00 (CST)
Location: FREEDOM
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 16:10:00 to 17-APR-02 16:10:00 (CST)
Location: FT SUPPLY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Hail in HARPER, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 16:15:00 to 17-APR-02 16:15:00 (CST)
Location: BUFFALO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in WOODS, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 16:55:00 to 17-APR-02 16:55:00 (CST)
Location: LOOKOUT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in WOODS, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 17:45:00 to 17-APR-02 17:45:00 (CST)
Location: CAMP HOUSTON
Magnitude: 2.75 
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Hail in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 19:05:00 to 17-APR-02 19:05:00 (CST)
Location: MAYFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 19:00:00 to 17-APR-02 19:00:00 (CST)
Location: ERICK
Magnitude: 1.50 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in WOODS, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 17:50:00 to 17-APR-02 17:50:00 (CST)
Location: CAMP HOUSTON
Magnitude: 2.75 
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Hail in DEWEY, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 18:10:00 to 17-APR-02 18:10:00 (CST)
Location: LEEDEY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in ROGER MILLS, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 18:45:00 to 17-APR-02 18:45:00 (CST)
Location: CHEYENNE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado in WOODS, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 23:32:00 to 18-APR-02 00:05:00 (CST)
Location: WAYNOKA
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 35K
Reported by: STORM CHASER

This tornado is a continuation of the tornado that moved out of Major County at 0032 CST. The tornado curved to the right as it crossed the Cimarron River and moved northeastward for 15 miles before entering Alfalfa County at 0005 CST on April 18th. In Woods County, about 2 miles southwest of the intersection of State Highway 45 and the Woods County line, the roof of a trailer house was completely removed, and an exterior wall on the northeast side of the house was badly damaged and partially removed from the structure. The owner of the house received minor abrasions to his arm. Across the road from the house, a barn was unroofed, and most of the walls were destroyed. Otherwise, only tree damage was observed across Woods County.

Tornado in WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 22:41:00 to 17-APR-02 22:47:00 (CST)
Location: MUTUAL
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

This is a continuation of the tornado that exited Dewey County at 2241 CST. In Woodward County, a well constructed metal barn, 40 x 60 ft, cemented to the ground, was picked up and moved about 3.5 ft. Also, hay bales were blown around, and trees were damaged.

Hail in DEWEY, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 18:51:00 to 17-APR-02 18:51:00 (CST)
Location: CESTOS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Tornado in ALFALFA, OKLAHOMA
From 18-APR-02 00:05:00 to 18-APR-02 00:28:00 (CST)
Location: CARMEN
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 75K
Reported by: STORM CHASER

This tornado is a continuation of the tornado that developed in Major County and moved through Woods County. The tornado tracked for another 15 miles in Alfalfa County before dissipating 2 miles southwest of Ingersoll. As the tornado entered Alfalfa County, damage was sustained to outbuildings, trees and power lines, along State Highway 45 to the west of Carmen. Large trees were uprooted or snapped, and a windmill was destroyed along EW 25 Road to the east of NS 253 Road, or about 4.5 miles southwest of Lambert. Along the west side of NS 255 Road, between EW 23 Road and EW 22 Road (about 2.5 miles west of Lambert), a barn roof was removed as was the west section of the barn. Numerous power poles were snapped along EW 22 Road in a ½ mile area to the east of NS 255 Road. Several high-tension power poles were damaged or destroyed west of NS 256 Road and south of EW 21 Road. Significant tree damage and a couple of destroyed outbuildings were observed at the northeast corner of EW 20 and NS 256 Roads, about 5.5 miles southwest of Cherokee. The tornado continued north-northeast with the last damage observed along EW 17 Road just east of NS 257 Road, 2 miles southwest of Ingersoll, or about 4 miles west-northwest of Cherokee.In total, the tornado persisted for 62 minutes and traveled 34 miles.

Hail in ELLIS, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 15:46:00 to 17-APR-02 15:46:00 (CST)
Location: ARNETT
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Hail in WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 16:00:00 to 17-APR-02 16:00:00 (CST)
Location: FT SUPPLY
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in HARPER, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 16:30:00 to 17-APR-02 16:30:00 (CST)
Location: BUFFALO
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 16:33:00 to 17-APR-02 16:33:00 (CST)
Location: WOODWARD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Hail in WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 19:30:00 to 17-APR-02 19:30:00 (CST)
Location: MUTUAL
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in MAJOR, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:00:00 to 17-APR-02 20:00:00 (CST)
Location: CHESTER
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 21:15:00 to 17-APR-02 21:16:00 (CST)
Location: ELK CITY
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 40K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

This tornado was observed by the Elk City Fire Dept., near Highway 34, in northeast Beckham County. A sw-ne oriented, anchored mobile home was blown 50 yards northward with only the foundation remaining. A 16 foot stock trailer, oriented n-s, was twisted 180 degrees, and barns were destroyed.

Tornado in ALFALFA, OKLAHOMA
From 18-APR-02 00:39:00 to 18-APR-02 00:40:00 (CST)
Location: CHEROKEE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

The Cherokee Police Department observed this brief tornado south of Cherokee with no known damage.

Hail in GRANT, OKLAHOMA
From 18-APR-02 00:30:00 to 18-APR-02 00:30:00 (CST)
Location: WAKITA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado in DEWEY, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 22:33:00 to 17-APR-02 22:41:00 (CST)
Location: SEILING
Tornado F-scale: F3
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

This tornado formed in northern Dewey County, near Cestos, and moved northward, entering Woodward County at 2241 CST. In Dewey County, an old, abandoned farm house, constructed of wood, with broken windows and no doors, was leveled, about 2.5 miles east-southeast of Cestos. Huge cottonwood trees nearby were uprooted. A 15 ft long bus, with no engine, was lofted over a chain-link fence and dropped on its side about 50-75 ft away, and a 1/2 ton pickup trailer bed, detached from the front of the truck, was picked up and carried about 1/2 mile, and crumpled.

Hail in DEWEY, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 19:30:00 to 17-APR-02 19:30:00 (CST)
Location: SEILING
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:50:00 to 17-APR-02 20:50:00 (CST)
Location: ELK CITY
Magnitude: 52 E
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Hail in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:45:00 to 17-APR-02 20:45:00 (CST)
Location: ELK CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:50:00 to 17-APR-02 20:50:00 (CST)
Location: ELK CITY
Magnitude: 2.75 
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Hail in WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 16:39:00 to 17-APR-02 16:39:00 (CST)
Location: WOODWARD
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Tornado in MAJOR, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 23:27:00 to 17-APR-02 23:32:00 (CST)
Location: ORIENTA
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 0K
Reported by: STORM CHASER

This tornado was captured on video by a storm chaser, approximately 2 miles south of Highway 412 in northern Major County. The tornado moved northward for 4 miles before crossing the Cimarron River into Woods County. No structures were affected in Major County.

Hail in BECKHAM, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:15:00 to 17-APR-02 20:15:00 (CST)
Location: CARTER
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in ROGER MILLS, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:15:00 to 17-APR-02 20:15:00 (CST)
Location: ROLL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in ROGER MILLS, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 20:30:00 to 17-APR-02 20:30:00 (CST)
Location: ANGORA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in WOODS, OKLAHOMA
From 17-APR-02 22:30:00 to 17-APR-02 22:30:00 (CST)
Location: WAYNOKA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC