SERVICE IS NOW SAYING. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NOW SAYS THAT THIS WAS AN EF THREE, THAT CAME THROUGH COLE ON WEDNESDAY. YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME JUST THE DAMAGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING. COMPLETELY DEVASTATING. WHAT WE’RE SEEING THIS MORNING IS A BRICK WALL ON THE GROUND, JUST IN PIECES IN FRONT OF US, A TON OF SIDING, ALL OVER THE PLACE. YOU CAN SEE THERE’S EVEN A WELCOME SIGN THAT WAS PULLED OFF OF THIS HOUSE AND NOW JUST SITS IN FRONT OF THE PROPERTY. AND EVEN BEHIND THAT, THE REFRIGERATOR, IT LOOKS COMPLETELY GUTTED WITH A VACUUM ON THE GROUND. NEXT TO IT. AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU’RE LOOKING INTO THE LIVING ROOM OF THEIR HOUSE RIGHT NOW, DINING ROOM TABLES AND CHAIRS JUST COMPLETE STREWN ACROSS THIS SCENE. SO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, OF COURSE, TAKES ALL OF THIS INTO ACCOUNT WHENEVER THEY RATE THESE TORNADOES. ANY EF3 HERE IN COLE IS WHAT WE SAW. THIS TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND HERE FOR AN IMPRESSIVE NUMBER OF YARDS. AND WE ALSO SAW MANY OTHER TORNADOES ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL, INCLUDING SHAWNEE, TWO EF TWOS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING SHAWNEE AND ETOWAH. ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THINGS ABOUT THIS SHAWNEE TORNADO I WANT TO NOTE IS THAT IT WAS 2300 YARDS WIDE. NOW THIS IS OVER A MILE WIDE ON THE GROUND FOR 37 MINUTES. AND F0 AT TINKER AND AN EF ONE IN PINK OKLAHOMA AS WELL. THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL COUNT FOR THE FOR THIS WEDNESDAY TO FIVE TORNADOES AND 23 TORNADOES. SO FAR HERE IN 2023. SO, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS THE SCENE NOT ONLY HERE IN COLE, BUT FOR MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.
Preliminary reports rate Cole tornado EF-3, Shawnee tornado EF-2; NWS still surveying damage
The surveys are just beginning, and the National Weather Service said they will take some time to complete
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Updated: 12:44 PM CDT Apr 20, 2023
The preliminary tornado ratings from Wednesday's deadly storms were updated Thursday as crews continue to assess damage across the state. Crews have found evidence of EF-3 damage in Cole after Wednesday night's tornado outbreak. Although, the tornado still has some sport which need further examination and investigation. | MORE | Tornadoes, severe storms in Oklahoma leave three dead, widespread damageThe National Weather Service said they found a home in the McClain County town with EF-3 damage. Crews are still surveying damage in the area.KOCO 5 Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane says winds were recorded at 165 mph in Cole.Authorities said at least eight tornadoes touched down Wednesday night, killing three people.The McClain County Sheriff's Office confirmed that two residents from the county died because of the storms. A third person also died, but where they're from hasn't been confirmed. | MORE | Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks as he tours Shawnee tornado damageThe National Weather Service also said they found EF-o damage just south of Tinker Air Force Base, and this survey is complete. EF-2-type damage was reported near Etowah, although the investigation is still ongoing. It appears that there were at least two distinct tornadoes. The Shawnee storm has been preliminarily rated an EF-2. The surveys are just beginning, and the National Weather Service said they will take some time to complete. Top Headlines Tornadoes, severe storms in Oklahoma leave 3 dead, widespread damage Sky 5 shows damage left behind following Oklahoma tornado outbreak Preliminary Report: Several tornadoes confirmed Wednesday night in Oklahoma Oklahoma Baptist University sees extensive damage during severe weather, tornado outbreak Shawnee assisted living center hit by tornado, leaves dozens without shelter
COLE, Okla. — The preliminary tornado ratings from Wednesday's deadly storms were updated Thursday as crews continue to assess damage across the state.
Crews have found evidence of EF-3 damage in Cole after Wednesday night's tornado outbreak. Although, the tornado still has some sport which need further examination and investigation.
| MORE | Tornadoes, severe storms in Oklahoma leave three dead, widespread damage
The National Weather Service said they found a home in the McClain County town with EF-3 damage. Crews are still surveying damage in the area.
KOCO 5 Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane says winds were recorded at 165 mph in Cole.
Authorities said at least eight tornadoes touched down Wednesday night, killing three people.
The McClain County Sheriff's Office confirmed that two residents from the county died because of the storms. A third person also died, but where they're from hasn't been confirmed.
| MORE | Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks as he tours Shawnee tornado damage
The National Weather Service also said they found EF-o damage just south of Tinker Air Force Base, and this survey is complete.
EF-2-type damage was reported near Etowah, although the investigation is still ongoing. It appears that there were at least two distinct tornadoes.
The Shawnee storm has been preliminarily rated an EF-2.
The surveys are just beginning, and the National Weather Service said they will take some time to complete.
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