Oklahoma Surpasses Daily Tornado Record for March 4

Oklahoma had a historic year for tornadoes in 2024 coming in second with 148 tornadoes for the entire year. In 2019, Oklahoma record 149 tornadoes and 145 in 1999. Although storm season is just getting started for 2025, Oklahoma is already breaking tornado records.

Oklahoma had its first bout with severe weather after meteorological spring began on Saturday, March 1. Rain and severe storms moved in to Oklahoma on Sunday, March 2 and parts of southeast Oklahoma were impacted by severe weather and tornadoes on Tuesday, March 4.

Residents in various towns in Carter, Pontotoc, Okmulgee, McIntosh and Hughes counties woke up before the sunrise on Tuesday, March 4 to tornado warnings. The National Weather Service in Norman has since confirmed 13 tornadoes impacted the five counties on Tuesday, March 4. The previous daily record for March 4 was two tornadoes, which was set on March 4, 1976.

Oklahoma has also already surpassed the number of tornadoes recorded in March of 2024.

Last year's historic tornado activity saw the most tornadoes in April with 56 tornadoes. Other highly tornadic months included May with 54 confirmed tornadoes and November with 36. Tornadoes can occur anytime of year in Oklahoma, but spring is prime severe weather season.

So far, Oklahoma has already seen more tornadoes in March at the beginning of 2025 than it did in 2024. In 2024, Oklahoma received two tornadoes in March and both took place on March 14. This year, Oklahoma has already seen 13 tornadoes by March 4.

Oklahoma doesn't often see big tornadoes early in the spring, but April and May, the highest for tornado traffic, often see bigger tornadoes. Oklahoma didn't see any EF5 tornadoes in 2024, but the state did receive two EF4 tornadoes, one in late April and one in early May.

Various EF0 and EF1 tornadoes impacted southeast Oklahoma on March 4.

The National Weather Service in Norman confirmed nine EF1 tornadoes and four EF0 tornadoes that impacted southeast Oklahoma on Tuesday, March 4. Significant damage was recorded across the three counties. One town that was severely impacted was Ada, Oklahoma in Pontotoc county.

Both Pontotoc and Okmulgee county experienced four separate tornadoes on Tuesday, March 4. Pontotoc County saw on EF0 and three EF1 tornadoes, and Okmulgee County also saw one EF0 tornado and three EF1 tornadoes. Carter and McIntosh County each saw one EF0 tornado and one EF1 tornado, and Hughes county experience one EF1 tornado.

Only one injury has been reported from the 13 tornadoes that occurred on Tuesday, March 4, which was recorded from an EF1 tornado that struck Ada, Oklahoma. On the day of the storms, the City of Ada reported that 24 families had been displaced due to damage to their homes.