The El Reno tornado struck central Oklahoma on Friday, May 31, 2013. This massive storm system tracked across Canadian County, near the city of El Reno, causing devastation that went far beyond typical wind damage. The impact was measured by the storm’s physical power, substantial economic disruption, and profound loss of life. Understanding the destruction requires looking at the storm’s unprecedented characteristics, the financial toll, and the tragic human consequences.
Defining the Storm’s Scale
The physical size of the El Reno tornado contributed directly to the expansive nature of the destruction. At its peak, the tornado reached a record-breaking width of 2.6 miles, making it the widest ever measured on Earth. This enormous scale was combined with extreme intensity, categorized as a powerful, rain-wrapped, multiple-vortex system.
The official rating assigned to the tornado was an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, based on the limited damage to structures on the ground. Mobile Doppler radar measurements captured extreme wind speeds within the tornado’s sub-vortices. These measurements indicated rotational wind speeds reaching up to 296 to 302 miles per hour, consistent with the highest classification of an EF-5 tornado. The official rating remained lower because the most violent winds did not strike a damage indicator required for a higher ground-based rating.
Financial Tally of Destruction
Despite the tornado’s enormous size, its path over mostly rural terrain limited widespread structural damage. The total estimated economic damage from the tornado was between $35 million and $40 million. This cost reflects the destruction of property and infrastructure across its 16.2-mile track.
Damage was concentrated on agricultural properties and non-residential structures south of El Reno. Survey teams documented damage to 112 oil tank batteries, numerous outbuildings, and rural homes. The tornado also destroyed buildings and damaged wind turbines at the Canadian Valley Technology Center’s campus.
The storm system caused extensive crop damage, wiping out agricultural yields across Canadian County. Repairing public infrastructure, including roads and power lines, added significantly to the financial burden on local governments. Federal disaster aid was later allocated to cover costs like debris removal and the rebuilding of damaged public facilities.
Human Cost and Tragic Losses
The El Reno tornado resulted in 8 fatalities and injured 151 people. All deaths occurred as victims were traveling in vehicles, either attempting to flee the storm or caught by its sudden, erratic shifts in direction. This high number of vehicular deaths highlighted the danger of being on the road during such a rapidly moving and unpredictable event.
The human toll included the first known deaths of active, professional storm chasers in the field. Tim Samaras, a renowned engineer and storm researcher, his son Paul Samaras, and his research partner Carl Young were killed when their vehicle was struck by a sub-vortex. The unexpected turn and the massive, rain-wrapped nature of the storm caught even these experienced professionals off guard.
The deaths of the researchers, who were dedicated to improving tornado warnings, sent shockwaves through the scientific and storm-chasing communities. This loss prompted an immediate re-evaluation of safety protocols and tracking strategies within the field. Beyond the physical harm, the event left a deep psychological and emotional impact on the community, with memorials established to honor the lives lost.