Oklahoma County, Oklahoma


Weather News Stories

1896 Oklahoma County Tornado
Source: OKC Metropolitian Library

This photo was made by photographer Thomas Croft on May 12, 1896 in Oklahoma City in which two tornado's touched the ground. While not the oldest photograph of a tornado, it was the first to be widely published and described as an active tornado.

Weather Bureau records on that day indicate that the tornado touched down at 4:00 PM and said the "twisting serpent-like cloud detached itself from the southern bank (of clouds)". No significant damage was reported. Bureau records also indicate that at 4:30 PM a second funnel passed 2 miles south of Britton. Four farms were hit and a barn was destroyed, as well as the kitchen from a farmhouse. It is estimated to have been an F2 twister.



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