See the top 5 deadliest Oklahoma tornadoes
Phrases like "tornado season," "severe weather season" and "'nado time" are all synonymous with one thing: Oklahoma springs.
It's that time of the year when Oklahomans begin cleaning out and stocking their storm shelters, and making sure their favorite weather apps are updated "just in case."
Because, in Oklahoma, tornado season is no joke.
Since 1950, the state has been hit by 4,641 tornadoes, including preliminary 2023 numbers, resulting in more than 5,300 injuries and more than 350 deaths.
More: A history of twisters: See a map of tornadoes in Oklahoma since 1950
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has records dating back to the late 1800s, though data from that far back can only be considered estimates due to lack of reporting, recording and technology.
More recent Oklahoma tornado outbreaks are, understandably, fresh in Okies' minds. Like the May 1999 onslaught that decimated much of Moore and took 36 lives. But, believe it or not, there are five even deadlier tornadoes in our state's history.
The NOAA said in 2001 that "improved forecasting, communications, spotter networks, and construction has provided significant mitigation of the life-threatening consequences of tornadoes."
That said, here are the five deadliest tornadoes to ever hit Oklahoma.
5. Tornado kills 52 in Pryor in April 1942
The tiny town of Pryor was torn asunder April 27, 1942, when a tornado tore through Main Street. It ended up destroying a third of the town. More than 340 people were injured and 52 people died.
4. Tornado kills 69 in Antlers, overshadowed by presidential death in 1945
Antlers is a tiny town situated a couple of hours southeast of Oklahoma City. On April 12, 1945, a tornado skipped through town, killing 69. It then continued traveling for another 20 miles, according to the NOAA:
The tornado moved to the northeast and struck Antlers, passing from the southwest corner of the town through the northeast portion. It produced a damage swath a half mile wide through both business and residential areas, and devastated about a third of the town. Some areas were swept completely clean of all debris. The tornado then continued for another 20+ miles, striking the One Creek area before dissipating near Nashoba, OK.
Interestingly enough, the centerpiece in the following day's edition of The Oklahoman wasn't about the tornado, but about the unexpected death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
3. Tornado kills 71 in Peggs in 1920
This was a monster of a twister. Before it struck Peggs on May 2, 1920, the town has a population of 250. After the tornado finished roaring through, about one-third of Peggs' population — 71 — had died.
2. Tornado kills an estimated 97 in Snyder in 1905
The EF5 tornado that struck Snyder on May 10, 1905, entered town on the southwest side, made its way north and left nothing standing north of the railroad tracks.
Since it was the early 1900s and because a large storm had engulfed the area, communication to emergency personnel and journalists was all but nonexistent. Because of that, fatality estimates varied wildly, some even as high as 500, which was half the town's population at the time.
Official numbers reported by the OSAA state 97 people died.
1. Deadliest Oklahoma tornado kills more than 100 in Woodward in 1947, prompts change
The deadliest tornado to ever tear through Oklahoma began its path of destruction in Texas and ended it in Kansas, completely devastating Woodward in the process.
A total of 116 people died and more than 780 more were injured when the massive tornado ripped through in the cover of night, without warning, April 9, 1947.
It was this event that prompted the Weather Bureau — now the National Weather Service — to begin its tornado watch and warning program in the late 1950s.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: These were the 5 deadliest tornadoes in Oklahoma history
