Tornado damage confirmed in northeastern Pittsburg County
May 23—The National Weather Service confirmed storm damage in the Quinton area on Wednesday was from a tornado — making it the third confirmed tornado in Pittsburg County this year.
Video shared on social media and with media outlets showed the tornado on the ground north of State Highway 31 and west of State Highway 71 near Yance Road.
The tornado was rated an EF-1 by the NWS with estimated peak winds between 85-95 mph.
NWS Meteorologists said the tornado was on the ground for 2.9 miles with a maximum width of 300 yards.
"This tornado developed west of Quinton, to the north of Highway 31," the NWS said in a public information statement. "The tornado uprooted trees, snapped large tree limbs, and damaged the roofs of homes as it moved east across town. It continued to snap large tree limbs as it crossed into Haskell County, dissipating north of Highway 31 and Highway 2."
A tornado warning was first issued at 9:22 a.m. Wednesday for southwestern Haskell, northeastern Latimer, and northeastern Pittsburg County after radar indicated rotation was observed in a storm near Arrowhead State Park.
The NWS' statement estimates the tornado began at 9:37 a.m. and stayed on the ground for seven minutes before dissipating at 9:44 a.m.
A second tornado warning was issued for the area at 9:40 a.m. as the storm was over Quinton.
"The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data," the weather service said.
Tree damage caused by damaging winds from the same storm was also reported in the Crowder area Wednesday.
The Quinton tornado is the third tornado confirmed in Pittsburg County this year by the NWS.
Pittsburg County's first tornado was an EF-1 tornado in McAlester on April 26. The second tornado touched down south of Crowder on April 28 and was rated and EF-unknown due to the tornado staying over the water of Lake Eufaula.
More severe weather is in the forecast for the area on Friday with a higher risk on Saturday.
"The greatest severe weather risk during this forecast period will come late Saturday afternoon and especially Saturday evening as a strong upper level disturbance moves into the area," the NWS said Thursday. "A very unstable airmass will be in place by late Saturday afternoon and evening, and storms that develop in central Oklahoma will quickly become severe and move into our forecast area. All severe hazards will be possible with these storms."
Pittsburg County residents who sustained damage from Wednesday's storms are asked to report damage by contacting the Pittsburg County/McAlester Emergency Management Office at 918-423-5655.
Choctaw Nation tribal members can also report damage to the Choctaw Nation's Emergency Management Office at 1-844-709-6301, or by email at OEM@choctawnation.com.
