Oklahoma, the well-known epicenter of the nation’s “Tornado Alley,” is experiencing one of the fiercest seasons in recent times. According to the National Weather Service, there have been 38 tornado touchdowns in Oklahoma during 2026. As many as 22 tornadoes were reported in the month of March in Oklahoma, breaking all previous records, while 11 more tornadoes have been witnessed in April.
This season has proved to be highly active, and the month of April is not over yet.
The Human Cost: Lives Lost and Communities Shattered
Storm season has been terrible for people in Oklahoma. Tornadoes have been happening in Oklahoma since the beginning of the year, and four people have already died. The last 30 years this is the second deadliest season. After 30 years, more than 2,100 storms have hit Oklahoma, killing 166 and injuring over 2,500.
Early this season, the saddest things that happened were two terrible accidents involving families in March. A tornado hit the car that Jodie Owens, 47, and her daughter Lexi Owens, 13, were in on March 5. One day later, Todd and Becky McClellan were killed when a storm hit their home in Beggs, which is south of Tulsa.
Two more injuries were recorded in Okmulgee County in March. Both people are expected to recover, but they have lost much in their lives, including their entire home, cars, computers, phones, and clothes.
Key Tornado Events of 2026
January: The Season Kicks Off Early
Some tornadoes hit Oklahoma early in the morning on January 8 and caused five storms. In the southwest part of Purcell, an EF2 tornado tore off the roof of a house. One person was hurt when the same storm rolled over a truck on Interstate 35.
A tornado in Purcell damaged trees, power lines, and the roofs of nine homes. It also cut power to a lot of people. Because of it, another semi-truck flipped over on I-35. Over 7,300 people lost power during the worst parts of this storm.
The January 2026 storm had the same number of tornadoes as the previous record.
March 5–7: A Deadly Multiday Outbreak
At the start of March, a bunch of storms hit all at once. It was the worst weather of the season. From March 5 to March 7, 2026, the storms hit parts of the Midwest and central United States. In Oklahoma and Michigan, most of the damage took place.
Near Jet, an EF2 tornado hit, and west-northwest of Cleo Springs, an EF1 tornado went. During the same day, a tornado hit places close to Wakita.
Areas around Beggs were hit by a strong EF2 tornado. Two people died when a weak EF3 tornado hit the town and damaged homes and buildings in its path.
April: The Storm Continues
The spring season brought no relief. A significant tornado outbreak took place from April 17–18, with a moderate risk of severe weather issued for significant winds of up to 90 mph, along with a risk of very large hail up to 3–3.5 inches, stretching from northern Oklahoma into southeastern Kansas and western Missouri.
Oklahoma’s Long History With Tornadoes
Oklahoma’s history of destruction by twisters is well known, from the deadly Moore tornado of 1999 to the many others that have occurred since. Oklahoma is located where the warm, wet air of the Gulf meets the cold, dry air of the Rockies — a combination that results in supercells that spawn destructive twisters each spring.
How to Report Damage & Stay Safe
People in Oklahoma who have had property damage from bad weather or floods are being asked by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to report it through damage.ok.gov. Sending in your report will help emergency management workers work together better on both reaction and recovery services. For disaster-related help that isn’t an emergency, people should call 2-1-1.
Sources & Further Reading
- NWS Norman — 2026 Oklahoma Tornadoes
- OKC Fox — 38 Tornadoes in Oklahoma 2026
- Wikipedia — Tornado Outbreak March 5–7, 2026
- Wikipedia — Tornadoes of 2026
- Yahoo News — Oklahoma’s 2026 Season Already Second-Deadliest
- Oklahoma OEM — January 8 Situation Update
