Last Monday evening at about 5:40 pm on April 1st several funnel clouds were spotted near the south edge of Kingfisher. According to a press release from Kingfisher County Emergency Management they stated they were not certain that it ever touched down to become a tornado and they are not aware of any damage or other evidence on the ground. If it did become a tornado, it was likely only in contact with the ground for less than a minute.
Despite its fleeting appearance, the storm raised questions about the lack of warning sirens sounding. The release stated our warning system is connected to the National Weather Service, which did not issue a tornado warning for our region. As a result, no notification was sent out via Kingfisher Alerts.
The National Weather Service stated the technical term for a tornado like this is a landspout, and they’re different from most tornadoes we’re used to seeing. They’re typically very brief and very weak, with winds likely in the EF0 category (less than 85 mph). Because of that, and the fact that they are often difficult to see on radar, tornado warnings may not always be issued for these types of funnels.
Kingfisher County Emergency Management had a team of 5 experienced spotters on the ground, in constant communication with the National Weather Service. If any potentially destructive structures were spotted by our team or on radar, we would have immediately sounded the storm sirens to protect lives and property.
The release stated, please keep in mind that storm sirens are one source to receive information and you should have more than one to keep you informed. Our department is currently taking steps towards increasing readiness and enhancing communication for our county, and we are grateful for the community’s interest in these situations. Photo provided by Brooke Davis
