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{{Infobox tornado

| name = Sulphur, Oklahoma

| image = {{multiple image

| border = infobox

| perrow = 1/2

| total_width = 250

| image1 = Sulphur, OK tornado.jpg

| image3 = Sulphur Tornado Radar Image.png }}

| image alt =

| caption = {{Unbulleted list|'''Top:''' The tornado as it was impacting East Tulsa Avenue|'''Bottom:''' NEXRAD scan of the tornado as it hit Sulphur}}

| type = Tornado

| formed = April 27, 2024, 10:25 p.m.

| active = 12 minutes

| dissipated = April 27, 2024, 10:37 p.m.

| fujitascale = EF3

| enhanced = yes

| highest winds = 165 mph

| hail = 2-inch+

| damages = $5,500,000

| power outages = 1, affected [[Sulphur, Oklahoma]] and [[Hickory, Oklahoma]]

| fatalities = 1 killed, 30 injured

| affected = [[Sulphur, Oklahoma]]

| season = [[tornado outbreak sequence of April 25-28, 2024]] and [[tornadoes of 2024]]

| notes = <ref>https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/archive/event.php?date=20240427</ref>

}}{{Short description|Destructive tornado in Oklahoma}}

During the late evening hours of April 27, 2024, an extremely destructive tornado moved through the town of [[Sulphur, Oklahoma]], [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-28 |title=New: Deadly and damaging tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma |url=https://kfor.com/news/deadly-and-damaging-tornadoes-ripped-through-oklahoma/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=KFOR.com Oklahoma City |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[National Weather Service]] rated the most-severe damage from the tornado was high-end EF3 on the [[Enhanced Fujita scale]] with winds estimated at 165 miles per hour (266 km/h).<ref>{{Cite web |last=akrherz@iastate.edu |first=daryl herzmann |title=IEM :: PNS from NWS OUN |url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSOUN&e=202404282010 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=mesonet.agron.iastate.edu |language=en}}</ref>

The tornado prompted the issuance of 5 [[Tornado warning|tornado warnings]] and 3 [[Particularly dangerous situation|Particularly Dangerous Situation]] (PDS) warnings, the most ever active in that area. The tornado was part of the [[tornado outbreak sequence of April 25–28, 2024]], and produced some of the most intense damage seen during entire outbreak.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yablonski |first=Steven |date=2024-04-27 |title=At least 2 dead, catastrophic damage reported after tornadoes tear across Oklahoma |url=https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/tornado-outbreak-expected-plains-texas-oklahoma-kansas-april-27-severe-weather |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=FOX Weather |language=en-US}}</ref>

One person was killed, 30 were injured,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greco |first=Jonathan |date=2024-04-28 |title=At least 2 dead in Holdenville; Search and rescue underway in Sulphur after tornadoes: What we know |url=https://www.koco.com/article/sulphur-holdenville-oklahoma-tornadoes-deaths-injuries/60628038 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=KOCO |language=en}}</ref> and US$7,500,000+ in damages were recorded.<ref>{{Cite news |last=<!--Staff byline--> |date=2024-04-28 |title=Injuries reported, widespread damage in Southern Oklahoma tornado outbreak |url=https://www.kxii.com/2024/04/28/injuries-reported-southern-oklahoma-tornado-outbreak/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=[[KXII]] |language=en}}</ref> Many businesses and homes were completely destroyed, and Sulphur is still rebuilding.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Speck |first=Emilee |date=2024-04-29 |title=Sulphur, Oklahoma, business owners cope with catastrophic tornado damage |url=https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/sulphur-oklahoma-businesses-catastrophic-tornado-damage |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=FOX Weather |language=en-US}}</ref> The Oklahoma government declared a [[state of emergency]] for Sulphur.

== Meteorological synopsis ==

{{Main|Tornado outbreak sequence of April 25–28, 2024|List of tornadoes in the tornado outbreak sequence of April 25–28, 2024}}

Multiple tornadic supercells developed ahead of the main line of storms on April 28, resulting in havoc, as multiple large, intense tornadoes were confirmed in south and eastern Oklahoma, causing significant damage and prompting new [[Particularly dangerous situation|PDS]] warnings for the towns of [[Ardmore, Oklahoma|Ardmore]], [[Holdenville, Oklahoma|Holdenville]], [[Marietta, Oklahoma|Marietta]], [[Okemah, Oklahoma|Okemah]] and [[Sulphur, Oklahoma|Sulphur]].

A total of 23 [[Particularly dangerous situation|PDS]] tornado warnings were issued as the intense storms caused damage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Saturday April 27, 2024 |url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/archive/event.php?date=20240427 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=www.spc.noaa.gov}}</ref> The areas around Sulphur were heavily monitored, and a hook was visible on radar at approximately midnight. Shortly before this storm became tornado the SPC issued mesoscale discussion 0555 highlighting the potential for strong tornadoes due to SRH values near 600 m2/s2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Storm Prediction Center Mesoscale Discussion 555 |url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0555.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=www.spc.noaa.gov}}</ref>

The 00:00 UTC upper-air [[Atmospheric sounding|sounding]] from Norman, Oklahoma, depicted very strong shear, with storm-relative helicity in the 0–3 kilometer layer of 400 m²/s² and mixed-layer [[Convective available potential energy|CAPE]] of around 2300 J/kg. As the lower-level jet further increased 0-1km SRH was observed at 600 m²/s² which is unusually intense.

Over the course of the successive hours, new tornadic supercells developed ahead of the main squall line and produced multiple large and intense tornadoes in southern and eastern Oklahoma. These tornadoes caused significant damage and prompted PDS tornado warnings for the towns of [[Ardmore, Oklahoma|Ardmore]], [[Holdenville, Oklahoma|Holdenville]], [[Marietta, Oklahoma|Marietta]] and [[Okemah, Oklahoma|Okemah]]. Sulphur was also put under multiple tornado warnings, and eventually 3 PDS warnings.

== Tornado summary<ref>{{Cite web |title=ArcGIS Web Application |url=https://apps.dat.noaa.gov/stormdamage/damageviewer/ |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=apps.dat.noaa.gov}}</ref> ==

The tornado began to form over Cats Eye Road, before touching down and immediately crossing Veteran's Lake Drive. It crossed Veterans Lake, picking up water as it went, and then hit Southwest Perimeter Road, causing an unknown amount damage. It began tracking toward Rock Creek, narrowly missing a large residential area. It then crossed Northwest Perimeter Road and West Tishomingo Avenue, hitting houses at low intensity. The tornado crossed Rock Creek again, and began to track slightly more upward, directly hitting West Broadway Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-28 |title=Tornadoes kill 4 in Oklahoma as governor issues state of emergency for 12 counties {{!}} VIDEO |url=https://abc13.com/deadly-tornado-outbreak-in-hughes-county-ok-prompts-calls-to-take-cover-as-severe-storms-threat-continues-from-missouri-texas/14740439/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=ABC13 Houston |language=en}}</ref>

It immediately began to move northeastward in the direction of downtown Sulphur. The tornado directly impacted West 1st Street, slightly damagingthe [[The Artesian Hotel|Artesian Hotel]], causing the collapse of an interior wall and roof damage.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kliewer |first=Addison |date=2024-04-28 |title=Officials say search-and-rescue mission underway in Sulphur after tornado |url=https://www.koco.com/article/sulphur-oklahoma-tornado-damage-news-conference/60628671 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=KOCO |language=en}}</ref> Nobody was injured.<ref name=":0" /> The Chickasaw Visitor Center and the Mary Parker Memorial Library were both heavily damaged as the tornado began to track into the downtown area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=At least 4 killed in Oklahoma tornado outbreak, as threat of severe storms continues from Missouri to Texas |url=https://www.kake.com/story/50724190/at-least-4-killed-in-oklahoma-tornado-outbreak-as-threat-of-severe-storms-continues-from-missouri-to-texas |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=www.kake.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reports |first=Staff |date=2024-04-28 |title=Chickasaw recreation area closed due to weather |url=https://www.theadanews.com/news/local_news/chickasaw-recreation-area-closed-due-to-weather/article_17cd947e-0567-11ef-9407-2bd496148d3a.html |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=The Ada News |language=en}}</ref>

The tornado hit West Muskogee Avenue almost instantly after entering downtown Sulphur, destroying Raina's Sports Bar at EF3 intensity<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=The April 27-28, 2024 Tornado Outbreak and Flash Flooding Event |url=https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-20240427 |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref>, killing 1 person and injuring multiple others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--staff byline--> |agency=CNN |date=2024-04-30 |title=Woman killed when tornado tears through sports bar, burying patrons in rubble |url=https://www.wafb.com/2024/04/30/woman-killed-when-tornado-tears-through-sports-bar-burying-patrons-rubble/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=[[WAFB]] |language=en}}</ref> Across the street was a well-built Rusty Nails restaurant, which was also destroyed.

The rotation of the tornado began to intensify, reaching peak speeds or 165 mph. A brick USPS building was destroyed on West Venita Avenue, and an unknown number of people were injured.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-29 |title='It's too good of a town not to rebuild': Sulphur family searches for hope |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/its-too-good-of-a-town-not-to-rebuild-sulphur-family-searches-for-hope/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=KFOR.com Oklahoma City |language=en-US}}</ref> It tracked through multiple other streets, destroying many brick-clad buildings and throwing cars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daylight Reveals Devastation in Sulphur, Oklahoma - Videos from The Weather Channel |url=https://weather.com/storms/severe/video/daylight-reveals-devastation-in-sulphur-oklahoma |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=The Weather Channel |language=en-US}}</ref> The Rock Creek Apartments were heavily damaged,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-29 |title=NEW: Weekend tornado outbreak impact report |url=https://kfor.com/news/update-ok-dept-emergency-mgmt-latest-storm-impact/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=KFOR.com Oklahoma City |language=en-US}}</ref> and a 5 AM Donuts store was heavily damaged<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oklahoma |first=Associated Press and CNHI News |date=2024-04-29 |title=UPDATED: 4 die as tornadoes leave destruction across Oklahoma |url=https://www.enidnews.com/news/state/updated-4-die-as-tornadoes-leave-destruction-across-oklahoma/article_b03b2b1a-05a6-11ef-9ac3-e72f11d8957d.html |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Enidnews.com |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:2024 Sulphur Tornado Damage Tight 04.png|left|thumb|332x332px|EF3 damage to brick buildings on Woodruff Boulevard (left), West Marietta and West 2nd Street]]

Even though the tornado never directly hit West Wynnewood Avenue, moderate damage was documented and observed there. The Chickasaw Nation Senior Center and multiple other buildings were damaged, and a car was thrown onto a roof. The tornado then crossed East Tulsa Avenue, debarking trees and causing damage to small structures at EF3 intensity<ref name=":1" />. As it left downtown Sulphur, it hit East June Avenue and Hickory Street, destroying multiple houses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=PoncaCityNow.com |title=HEAVY DAMAGE, AT LEAST 20 INJURED IN SULPHUR AFTER TORNADO |url=https://www.poncacitynow.com/heavy-damage-at-least-20-injured-in-sulphur-after-tornado/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=PoncaCityNow.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

The tornado then curved upward, narrowly missing Tull Crest Lake, before impacting Ball Park Road, tossing cars. One or more people were injured here. It tracked through uninhabited hills, debarking trees at an unknown intensity<ref name=":1" /> before impacting the Platte Valley Trolley Railway, destroying the rails. It narrowly missed Petty Road, and curved upward, hitting Koller Road and East 1700 Road. It again began to track through open hills, damaging trees and adopting a rain-wrapped shape, making it virtually invisible. It almost directly hit Cochran Creek, but curved slightly upward, instead hitting East Palmer Road at an unknown intensity.

[[File:Sulphur, OK Tornado Damage 2024.png|thumb|300x300px|The tornado's path through Sulphur. High-end EF3 damage can be seen.]]

As the tornado tracked through hills, it again came within a close proximity of Cochran Creek, but this time directly hit it at an unknown intensity. It crossed the creek 3 more times as it tracked close to Hickory. After a minute, it directly impacted [[Chickasaw Turnpike]], which was damaged but no injuries occurred. It also hit County Road 1670 at unknown intensities and narrowly missed Boss Road.

As it tracked toward Hickory, it started to rapidly lose speed and velocity, and eventually began to rope out while still moving in a straight line northeastward, and eventually completely dissipated, at 10:37 P.M. The tornado was reported to have attempted to reform, but was unsuccessful.

In all, the tornado tracked an estimated 6.65 miles, destroying hundreds of homes and other structures, while retaining EF3 intensity for most of the path length<ref name=":1" />. If the tornado had not lifted when it did, it would have been directly on track for Hickory, and would have crossed paths with the route of another tornado that had touched down earlier.

== Damage ==

Much of downtown Sulphur sustained significant damage, including Sulphur High School, which sustained minor structural damage,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kliewer |first=Addison |date=2024-04-28 |title=Sulphur cancels class after tornado devastates town |url=https://www.koco.com/article/sulphur-oklahoma-tornado-cancels-class-damage-schools/60630014 |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=KOCO |language=en}}</ref> and Sulphur Public School's bus fleet,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-29 |title=Sulphur Public Schools’ bus fleet destroyed by tornado, district working to get students back to class |url=https://www.kgou.org/education/2024-04-29/sulphur-public-schools-bus-fleet-destroyed-by-tornado-district-working-to-get-students-back-to-class |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=KGOU |language=en}}</ref> which was destroyed. Roads were damaged or destroyed, and multiple brick buildings collapsed at EF3 intensity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Speck |first=Emilee |date=2024-04-29 |title=EF-4, EF-3 tornadoes lay ruin to Oklahoma communities during deadly tornado outbreak |url=https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/deadly-oklahoma-tornado-outbreak-april-2024 |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=FOX Weather |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:2024 Downtown Sulphur Tornado Damage.png|left|thumb|345x345px|EF3 damage in Sulphur. The Artesian Hotel is on the far right, while the Sulphur Schools Bus Fleet and Sulphur High School are on the far left.]]

There was severe structural damage to businesses as a direct result of the tornado. Aaron's Automotives, which was located on West 1st Street, was heavily damaged. The Mix Mercantile, which was located on West Muskogee Avenue, was also heavily damaged. Flower Bluff Manor, a steak restaurant, sustained structural damage as the tornado hit Muskogee Avenue at EF2 intensity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spillyards • • |first=Allie |date=2024-04-29 |title=‘The place I called home is gone': Tornado ravages town of Sulphur, Oklahoma |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/sulphur-residents-react-after-tornado-rips-through-oklahoma-town/3526914/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth |language=en-US}}</ref>

Stone Creek Wines and Spirits, a winery, was located on the corner of Division Street and West Tahlequah Avenue. The building was destroyed as it was hit at EF3 intensity. Sulphur Abstract & Tile and Bates Tag Agency were both located at the building on 209 West Vinita Avenue, where intense EF2 damage was documented.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-29 |title=Oklahoma towns hard hit by tornadoes begin long cleanup after 4 killed in weekend storms |url=https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-oklahoma-sulphur-5fa3a64e552ab91e8d76dabe21f70fd6 |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

Philips 66, a gas station located on the corner of West 1st Street and West Oklahoma Avenue, sustained EF2 damage. An Opps gas station store was also located on the same plot of land, which took a direct hit.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=The Associated Press |date=2024-04-28 |title=Tornadoes kill 4 in Oklahoma, leaving trail of destruction and thousands without power |url=https://www.kplctv.com/2024/04/28/tornadoes-kill-2-oklahoma-governor-issues-state-emergency-12-counties-amid-storm-damage/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=[[KPLC-TV]] |language=en}}</ref>

Many residences suffered major damage, and the Rock Creek Apartments located at 1021 West 2nd Street sustained severe structural damage. In total, damage costs have been estimated to be in the range of US$5,000,000-US$10,000,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=May |first=Payton |date=2024-04-29 |title=Sulphur native's fortitude shines in the wake of devastating Oklahoma tornado |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/sulphur-natives-fortitude-shines-in-the-wake-of-devastating-oklahoma-tornado-okcwx-okwx-holdenville-storm-weather-severe-raina |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=KOKH |language=en}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==

A few hours after the tornado, on April 28, Oklahoma governor [[Kevin Stitt]] issued a state of emergency in 12 [[Oklahoma]] counties due to the large amount of damage and ongoing [[search and rescue]]. These include [[Carter County, Oklahoma|Carter]], [[Cotton County, Oklahoma|Cotton]], [[Garfield County, Oklahoma|Garfield]], [[Hughes County, Oklahoma|Hughes]], [[Kay County, Oklahoma|Kay]], [[Lincoln County, Oklahoma|Lincoln]], [[Love County, Oklahoma|Love]], [[Murray County, Oklahoma|Murray]], [[Okfuskee County, Oklahoma|Okfuskee]], [[Oklahoma County, Oklahoma|Oklahoma]], [[Payne County, Oklahoma|Payne]] and [[Pontotoc County, Oklahoma|Pontotoc]] counties. Aid and disaster response was also sent to Sulphur, and rescue/search and rescue operations are still ongoing. Many business owners were left with their buildings destroyed, which has affected Sulphur's economy to an extremely negative extent.

[[Sulphur, Oklahoma#Education|Sulphur Public Schools]] have also been closed as a result of the damage sustained to the high school during the tornado,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharfman |first=Alexandra |date=2024-04-30 |title=Sulphur and Marietta schools close after tornadoes; Oklahoma School for Deaf goes virtual |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/sulphur-and-marietta-schools-close-after-tornadoes-oklahoma-school-for-deaf-goes-virtual-storm-damage-class-canceled-cleanup-safety-students |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=KOKH |language=en}}</ref> and many school buses were put out of service.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-29 |title=Sulphur Public Schools' bus fleet destroyed by tornado, district working to get students back to class |url=https://www.kosu.org/education/2024-04-29/sulphur-public-schools-bus-fleet-destroyed-by-tornado-district-working-to-get-students-back-to-class |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=KOSU |language=en}}</ref> [[File:Sulphur Oklahoma 5 Tornado Warnings.jpg|left|thumb|304x304px|5 tornado warnings overlapping above Sulphur]]

== Warnings ==

The tornado touched down as 5 different and separate tornado warnings were active over Sulphur, [[Gene Autry, Oklahoma|Gene Autry]], [[Mill Creek, Oklahoma|Mill Creek]] (which would get hit by a tornado early the following morning), [[Roff, Oklahoma|Roff]], [[Springer, Oklahoma|Springer]] and Hickory. 3 of these warnings were upgraded to [[Particularly dangerous situation#PDS tornado warning|Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) warnings]], 2 of which were directly above Sulphur.

Many residents of these towns were unaware of these warnings due to a large power outage that directly affected the area, caused by a mixture of flooding and a confirmed tornado that touched down near Hickory that may have damaged power lines and transformers.

Many of these warnings stayed in place for up to an hour, as more tornadoes and supercells developed in the general area of Sulphur and Mill Creek. Many [[Tornado watch|tornado watches]] and [[Severe thunderstorm warning|severe thunderstorm warnings]] were issued the following morning, although none produced anything significant or severe. In total, 11 PDS warnings were issued for areas in Oklahoma, many of which were issued before violent tornadoes hit the region.

==Causalties==

This tornado killed one person and injured 30 others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Griffin |title=1 Dead, At Least 20 Injured In Sulphur After Tornado Damages Town |url=https://www.news9.com/story/662e062d099d21064cd99609/1-dead-at-least-20-injured-in-sulphur-after-tornado-damages-town |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=www.news9.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Saturday April 27, 2024 |url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/archive/event.php?date=20240427 |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=www.spc.noaa.gov}}</ref> Damage caused by this tornado is so extreme that rescue efforts have been delayed. One person has been confirmed missing, near the sports lounge in the center of Sulphur.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kliewer |first=Addison |date=2024-04-28 |title=Officials say search-and-rescue mission underway in Sulphur after tornado |url=https://www.koco.com/article/sulphur-oklahoma-tornado-damage-news-conference/60628671 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=KOCO |language=en}}</ref> A woman who was visiting Raina's Sports Lounge was also killed when the building took a direct hit and collapsed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Montgomery |first=Shelby |date=2024-04-29 |title=Crews continue to clean up after deadly tornado hits Sulphur |url=https://www.koco.com/article/sulphur-oklahoma-tornado-rating-ok-cleanup/60634642 |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=KOCO |language=en}}</ref>

Multiple people were injured in residential areas of Sulphur, including 2 injuries near a laundromat which was destroyed. Flash flooding in Sulphur may be a contributing factor to the death toll due to high water levels making it harder to evacuate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greco |first=Jonathan |date=2024-04-30 |title=Map shows where tornadoes were reported during Saturday's outbreak in Oklahoma |url=https://www.koco.com/article/map-of-tornadoes-in-oklahoma-sulphur-marietta-holdenville/60638723 |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=KOCO |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[2023 Rolling Fork–Silver City tornado]], a tornado which caused similar damage

* [[2023 Pasadena–Deer Park tornado]], a tornado of similar size and intensity

* [[Tornado outbreak of May 7–10, 2016|2016 Davis-Sulphur-Roff tornado]], a tornado which affected the same areas 8 years prior

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{2024 tornado outbreaks|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Tornadoes of 2024]]

[[Category:2024 meteorology]]

[[Category:Tornadoes in Oklahoma]]

[[Category:F3 tornadoes]]