OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — This winter has been more like spring with temperatures soaring above normal. The spring-like weather continued Thursday morning with a round of severe storms that produced a number of tornadoes.
Tornado Season Starts Early. (KOKH)
As of Thursday night, we are at four confirmed tornadoes from Thursday morning.
Average Tornadoes Per Month. (KOKH)
Not only is four significantly higher than the January average, but it is also already close to the statewide record of five January tornadoes set in 2023.
Thursday Morning Tornado Damage Survey. (KOKH)
As of Thursday night, the four tornadoes are one EF-0 near Lake Thunderbird and three EF-1s in Shawnee, Shawnee Lakes, and Purcell. The Purcell one currently stands as our strongest storm. Here’s the official report from the NWS after one day of damage surveys:
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
827 PM CST Thu Jan 8 2026
…NWS Damage Survey for 1/8/26 Tornado Event…
.Purcell Tornado…
Rating: EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 105 to 110 mph
Path Length /statute/: 9.4 miles
Path Width /maximum/: To be determined
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 01/08/2026
Start Time: 07:24 AM CST
Start Location: 5 SW Purcell / McClain County / OK
Start Lat/Lon: 34.97 / -97.44
End Date: 01/08/2026
End Time: 07:34 AM CST
End Location: 2 NNE Lexington / Cleveland County / OK
End Lat/Lon: 35.05 / -97.31
Survey Summary:
This tornado developed near 180th Street and Ladd Road southwest
of Purcell and moved northeast. One home about 3 miles southwest
of Purcell had the roof removed. The tornado moved through
Purcell causing roof damage to a few homes and damaging utility
poles and trees. Moving out of the northeast side of Purcell, the
tornado crossed the Canadian River into Cleveland County. One
outbuilding was significantly damaged north of Lexington.
.Lake Thunderbird Tornado…
Rating: EF0
Estimated Peak Wind: 80 to 85 mph
Path Length /statute/: 1.8 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 50 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 01/08/2026
Start Time: 07:44 AM CST
Start Location: 1 NNW Lake Thunderbird Dam / Cleveland County / OK
Start Lat/Lon: 35.24 / -97.23
End Date: 01/08/2026
End Time: 07:46 AM CST
End Location: 3 N Lake Thunderbird Dam / Cleveland County / OK
End Lat/Lon: 35.26 / -97.21
Survey Summary:
This tornado likely developed over Lake Thunderbird, and moved
northeast producing tree damage southwest of 156th Avenue
Northeast and Tecumseh Road.
.Tornado near Shawnee Lakes…
Rating: EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 90 to 95 mph
Path Length /statute/: 4 miles
Path Width /maximum/: To be determined
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 01/08/2026
Start Time: 07:52 AM CST
Start Location: 4 E Stella / Cleveland County / OK
Start Lat/Lon: 35.32 / -97.14
End Date: 01/08/2026
End Time: 07:57 AM CST
End Location: 3 NNW Bethel Acres / Pottawatomie County / OK
End Lat/Lon: 35.35 / -97.09
Survey Summary:
This tornado developed just west of the Cleveland-Pottawatomie
County line where trees and a flag pole were damaged. The tornado
moved northeast into Pottawatomie County damaging an outbuilding
and trees. Roofs were damaged to at least two additional houses
between the Shawnee Lakes.
.Shawnee Tornado…
Rating: EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 86 to 90 mph
Path Length /statute/: 2.6 miles
Path Width /maximum/: To be determined
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 01/08/2026
Start Time: 08:06 AM CST
Start Location: 2 NNW Shawnee / Pottawatomie County / OK
Start Lat/Lon: 35.37 / -96.94
End Date: 01/08/2026
End Time: 08:09 AM CST
End Location: 3 S Aydelotte / Pottawatomie County / OK
End Lat/Lon: 35.40 / -96.91
Survey Summary:
This tornado developed just north of Shawnee Regional Airport and
moved northeast damaging a couple of homes southwest of 45th
Street and Kickapoo Street. The tornado then crossed Interstate 40
and damaged the roof of a hotel and damaging a business as it
approached Harrison Street.
Thursday Morning Storm Reports. (KOKH)
Strong Mesonet Winds. (KOKH)
We also had a number of high wind reports from the storms, including an 88 mph wind gust at the Wynona Mesonet site.
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