Wewoka/Yeager, OK Tornadoes of June 8, 1998

Summary of Severe Weather Events

Severe thunderstorms developed and moved across much of Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of the 8th, producing hail as large as softballs, wind gusts to 70 mph, and 3 tornadoes.

Wind gusts were estimated as high as 70 mph near Wellston and Warwick in Lincoln County. Significant thunderstorm wind damage occurred throughout Lincoln County, in Purcell in McClain County, and near Calumet and El Reno in Canadian County.

The three tornadoes were spawned by a single storm between 6 and 715 pm CST in Pottawatomie and Seminole Counties. The first tornado (an F1) touched down 3.5 miles west-southwest of Maud in Pottawatomie County, moved east into Seminole County, lifting about 11 miles west-southwest of Wewoka. The second tornado (rated F2) touched down 2.5 miles southwest of Wewoka in Seminole County, moved east through Wewoka, and crossed into Hughes County. Meanwhile, the third tornado (also an F2) developed about 4.5 miles west-southwest of Yeager in Hughes County. These two tornadoes then merged about 3.5 miles southwest of Yeager and continued east until they lifted 4 miles east of Yeager as seen in the map below.

This tornadic thunderstorm also produced hail as large as softballs southwest of Seminole in Seminole County. Baseball sized hail was reported with a different storm in Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County. Widespread hail and wind damage occurred in Ponca City in Kay County and in Norman in Cleveland County.

The Maud Tornado

(Not shown on map) A narrow tornado touched down around 711 pm 3 miles west-southwest of Maud destroyed a barn... then moved east destroying another barn about one-half mile south of Maud as it crossed into Seminole county. It lifted 1/2 mile east of the county line at around 715 pm. The tornado was rated F1.

Other Pictures:

Tree damage south of Maud

The Wewoka Tornado

At about 735 pm, a tornado touched down about 1/2 mile southwest of the intersection of US-270 and SH-59, or about 2.5 miles southwest of Wewoka. The storm moved east through the south side of Wewoka causing damage in a neighborhood in the southwest side of Wewoka and along state highway 56 in the south part of town. The tornado continued moving east destroying two mobile homes southeast of Wewoka before crossing into Hughes County. It caused minor damage to a couple of homes and unroofed a mobile home near state highway 48. The tornado turned northeast and apparently merged with the Yeager tornado just northeast of the intersection of state highway 48 and county road EW129.

This tornado was on the ground for 8 miles and had a maximum width of 1/3 of a mile. The tornado was rated F2 (winds estimated between 113 and 157 mph) based on damage in southwest Wewoka including a brick house unroofed and the south exterior wall blown in. Eyewitness reports indicate that this was likely a multiple vortex tornado.

Other Pictures:

Trees down near initial touchdown location

A large (about 6' diameter) tree downed. The property owner is standing just in front of it.

Outbuilding damaged southwest of Wewoka

Downed trees and the same outbuilding

F1 damage to a house in Wewoka

F2 damage to a house in Wewoka

Roof damage and tree damage

Mobile home destroyed southeast of Wewoka

Mobile home destroyed southeast of Wewoka

The Yeager Tornado

This tornado formed about a mile east of the intersection of state highway 48 and county road EW129. About one mile after touching down, the Wewoka tornado apparently merged with it. The tornado damaged a house and destroyed numerous pecan trees shortly after the merger. The tornado moved east passing one-half mile south of the town of Yeager, but overturning a mobile home and downing power lines along a railroad just south of town. The tornado began moving east-northeast as it moved south of Yeager. It then completely destroyed a mobile home and toppled an oil pumping jack and storage tank east of Yeager. The last damage was a barn damaged 4 miles east of Yeager and the tornado lifted at 815 pm.

The Yeager tornado was also on the ground for 8 miles with a maximum width of four-tenths of a mile. This tornado was also rated F2 (winds estimated between 113 and 157 mph) based on the destruction of a mobile home east of Yeager.

Other Pictures:

Trees downed near point of apparent tornado merger

More trees downed

Roof damage to house (3 miles west of Yeager)

Trees snapped (3 miles west of Yeager)

Mobile home overturned south of Yeager

Mobile home completely destroyed and tree damage (3 miles east of Yeager)

The survey team is very grateful to Hughes County Sheriff Houston Yeager for taking time to show us the areas of damage in Hughes County. Thanks also to Herb Gunter (Seminole County Emergency Manager) and Mark Hill for their valuable information.