The First Tornadoes of the Year in Oklahoma: Analysis

Here's how they happened...

Storms beat most models and ended up producing a couple/few QLCS driven tornadoes across Oklahoma. Here’s what happened…

1. Analysis of Oklahoma Tornadoes

Two tornadoes tore through Central Oklahoma, leaving behind damage this morning. Above you can see a pair of radar images of both twisters.

Initial environmental analysis shows an uncapped low-level warm-sector with extremely low LCLs (cloud bases). This, combined with very strong low-level shear (EIL SRH at 279) created an environment that was favorable for this QLCS line to produce quick spin-up tornadoes. These tornadoes don’t form the way a supercell tornado does, with a deep mesocyclone and persistent supercell; they tend to be more transient and form quickly as conditions in a local area spin up along the line just enough to create a tornado.