Tornado outbreak of May 24–25, 1957

{{short description|American natural disaster}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox storm

| name = Tornado outbreak of May 24–25, 1957

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| type = Tornado outbreak

| active = May 24–25, 1957

| lowest pressure =

| lowest temperature =

| tornadoes = 45 confirmed{{cite report|author=National Weather Service|editor1-last=Grazulis|editor1-first=Thomas P.|editor2-last=Grazulis|editor2-first=Doris|date=30 September 2019|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/custom/33740789|title=Tornado History Project: Maps and Statistics|website=Tornado History Project|publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films|accessdate=14 January 2021}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

| fujitascale = F4

| tornado duration = 1 day, 19 hours, 45 minutes

| highest winds =

| hail = {{convert|2 + 1/2|in|cm|abbr=on|lk=on}} in Kansas on May 24{{cite report |author=National Weather Service |date=September 2020 |title=Events reported between 05/24/1957 and 05/25/1957 (2 days) |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Hail&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=24&beginDate_yyyy=1957&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=25&endDate_yyyy=1957&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL|website=Storm Events Database |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=14 January 2021 }}

| gusts = {{convert|70|kn|mi/h km/h|abbr=on|lk=on}} in Missouri on May 25{{cite report |author=National Weather Service |date=September 2020 |title=Events reported between 05/24/1957 and 05/25/1957 (2 days) |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Thunderstorm+Wind&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=24&beginDate_yyyy=1957&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=25&endDate_yyyy=1957&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL |website=Storm Events Database |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=14 January 2021 }}

| maximum snow =

| power outages =

| casualties = 4 fatalities, 10 injuries

| damages = $2.269 million (1957 USD){{refn|group=nb|name=Losses|All losses are in 1957 USD unless otherwise noted.}}{{cite report |author=National Weather Service |date=September 2020 |title=Events reported between 05/24/1957 and 05/25/1957 (2 days) |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=24&beginDate_yyyy=1957&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=25&endDate_yyyy=1957&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL |website=Storm Events Database |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=14 January 2021 }}
${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|2269000|1965|r=-4}}}} ({{CURRENTYEAR}} USD)

| affected = Central United States

| current advisories =

| enhanced =

| notes =

| partof = the tornado outbreaks of 1957

}}

On May 24–25, 1957, a tornado outbreak primarily affected the Western High Plains, Central Great Plains, and Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains of the United States.{{refn|group=nb|name=Outbreak|An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.{{cite conference |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/schneider/otbrkseq.pdf |title=Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875-2003) |last1=Schneider |first1=Russell S. |last2=Brooks |first2=Harold E. |last3=Schaefer |first3=Joseph T. |author-link2=Harold E. Brooks |date=2004 |publisher=American Meteorological Society |location=Hyannis, Massachusetts |conference=22nd Conference on Severe Local Storms |conference-url=https://ams.confex.com/ams/11aram22sls/techprogram/programexpanded_230.htm |accessdate=17 September 2019}}{{cite journal|last1=Hagemeyer|first1=Bartlett C.|title=Peninsular Florida Tornado Outbreaks|journal=Weather and Forecasting|date=September 1997|volume=12|issue=3|page=400|location=Boston|publisher=American Meteorological Society|doi=10.1175/1520-0434(1997)012<0399:PFTO>2.0.CO;2|bibcode=1997WtFor..12..399H|s2cid=120588681 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1234629|doi-access=free}} {{open access}}{{harvnb|Hagemeyer|1997|p=401}}{{cite conference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016213739/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/PDFs/agnes30.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2008 |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/PDFs/agnes30.pdf |title=Thirty Years After Hurricane Agnes: the Forgotten Florida Tornado Disaster |last1=Hagemeyer |first1=Bartlett C. |last2=Spratt |first2=Scott M. |date=2002 |publisher=American Meteorological Society |location=Melbourne, Florida |publication-place=San Diego, California|conference=25th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology |conference-url=https://ams.confex.com/ams/25HURR/webprogram/25HURR.html |accessdate=24 November 2019}}{{cite book|last1=Grazulis|first1=Thomas P.|authorlink1=Thomas P. Grazulis|title=The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm|url=https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz|url-access=registration|date=2001|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|location=Norman|isbn=978-0-8061-3538-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz/page/206 206]}}}} 45 tornadoes touched down over the area, most of which took place across northern and western Texas, in addition to southern Oklahoma. Overall activity initiated over eastern New Mexico and spread northeastward as far as southwestern Wisconsin. The strongest tornado, which occurred in southern Oklahoma on May 24, was assigned a rating of F4 near Lawton.{{refn|group=nb|name=Fujita|The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.{{cite book |last1=Grazulis |first1=Thomas P. |authorlink1=Thomas P. Grazulis |title=Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events |date=July 1993 |publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films |location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont |isbn=1-879362-03-1 |page=141 }}{{cite book|last1=Grazulis|first1=Thomas P.|authorlink1=Thomas P. Grazulis|title=The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm|url=https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz|url-access=registration|date=2001|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|location=Norman|isbn=978-0-8061-3538-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz/page/131 131]}} While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,{{cite web|last1=Edwards|first1=Roger|title=Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html|website=The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)|publisher=Storm Prediction Center|access-date=25 February 2016|date=5 March 2015}} Canada utilized the old scale until April 1, 2013;{{cite web |title=Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) |url=https://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 |website=Environment and Climate Change Canada |access-date=25 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220706/http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |date=6 June 2013 |url-status=dead }} nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.{{cite web|title=The International Tornado Intensity Scale |url=http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php |website=Tornado and Storm Research Organisation |access-date=25 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305120332/http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php |archive-date=5 March 2016 |date=2016 |url-status=dead }}}} Anomalously, some tornadoes touched down during the early morning hours, rather than late afternoon or early evening, when daytime heating typically peaks.{{cite web |last1=Finch |first1=Jonathan D. |title=The May 24, 1957 Tornado Outbreak |url=http://www.bangladeshtornadoes.org/UScases/052457/24may1957.html |website=Bangladesh Tornadoes |access-date=19 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323104655/http://www.bangladeshtornadoes.org/UScases/052457/24may1957.html |archive-date=23 March 2019 |date=9 April 2018}}

Background

class="wikitable" style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;float:right;"

|+Outbreak death toll{{cite book |last1=Grazulis |first1=Thomas P. |author-link1=Thomas P. Grazulis |title=Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events |date=July 1993 |publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films |location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont |isbn=1-879362-03-1 |page=1008 }}{{cite journal |author1=U.S. Weather Bureau |title=Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena |journal=Climatological Data National Summary |date=May 1957 |volume=8 |issue=5 |pages=195–200 |ref={{harvid|USWB|1957}} |publisher=National Climatic Data Center |location=Asheville, North Carolina}}

State

!Total

!County

!County
total

rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|Oklahoma

|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|4

|Cotton

|4

bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|Totals

|bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|4

|

|

colspan=4 align=center| All deaths were tornado-related

The week of May 20–26, 1957, was the most prolific in terms of tornado activity recorded to date.{{cite journal |last1=Dunn |first1=Carlos R. |title=THE WEATHER AND CIRCULATION OF MAY 1957: A Month with Severe Floods and Devastating Tornadoes in the Southern Plains of the United States |journal=Monthly Weather Review |date=May 1957 |volume=85 |issue=5 |page=180 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493-85.5.175 |url=ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/mwr/085/mwr-085-05-0175.pdf |access-date=20 November 2019 |publisher=American Meteorological Society |location=Washington, D.C.|doi-broken-date=21 January 2025 |doi-access=free }} {{open access}} On May 20–21, an upper-level trough traversed the Central United States. As it did so, a significant tornado outbreak took place over portions of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Cold upper air temperatures and marginal surface dew points produced severe weather across the southern and central Great Plains. On May 21, the vigorous shortwave trough, co-located with a deep surface low, produced a violent tornado in Minnesota, while additional tornadoes killed fifteen people in Missouri. At the time, a potent mid-level jet stream produced winds of {{convert|70|to|80|kn|mi/h km/h|lk=on|abbr=on}}, providing ample wind shear for tornado-producing supercells.

On May 22, surface weather analysis indicated another low-pressure area over southwestern Oklahoma. In attendance, a series of cold fronts affected western Texas and eastern New Mexico. During their passage, outflow from thunderstorms affected the warm sector, farther to the southeast. On May 23, dew points rose across western Texas, and temperatures reached {{convert|77|F|C|abbr=on}} in the warm sector. By 06:00 UTC (1:00 a.m. CDT/midnight MDT) on May 24, dew points of {{convert|60|to|65|F|C|lk=on|abbr=on}} surged into southeastern New Mexico on both sides of a warm front. A new surface low-pressure area also developed over New Mexico. Nine hours later, lifted index values increased to -11, coincident with surface-based convective available potential energy (CAPE) values near 3,500 J/kg. Based on observations from weather stations, the first thunderstorms developed by 16:30 UTC (11:30 a.m. CDT/10:30 a.m. MDT).{{cite web |title=North America Tornado Cases 1950 to 1959 |url=https://bangladeshtornadoes.org/UScases50to59.html |website=bangladeshtornadoes.org |access-date=21 April 2022}}

Confirmed tornadoes

{{Tornado Chart | Total=45 | FU=0 | F0=15 | F1=18 | F2=8 | F3=3 | F4=1 | F5=0 |notes="FU" denotes unclassified but confirmed tornadoes.}}

  • In addition to these tornadoes, there were at least three unconfirmed events. One tornado, sighted around 11:17 a.m. CST (17:17 UTC), occurred {{convert|20|mi|km|abbr=on}} northwest of Wildorado, Texas, and may have developed in Deaf Smith County. It remained over rural areas and inflicted no damage. Additionally, at least one undocumented tornado was reported southeast and east of Midland around 6:30–7:15 p.m. (00:30–01:15 UTC). A brief tornado also may have touched down near Moore in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, breaking tree branches and windows. None of these tornadoes was officially recorded in the National Weather Service database.

{{clear}}

=May&nbsp;24 event=

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"

|+ Confirmed tornadoes – Friday, May 24, 1957{{refn|group=nb|name=Date/Time|All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.}}{{refn|group=nb|name=Width|Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.{{cite journal |last1=Brooks |first1=Harold E. |authorlink1=Harold E. Brooks |title=On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity |journal=Weather and Forecasting |date=April 2004 |volume=19 |issue=2 |page=310 |doi=10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2 |publisher=American Meteorological Society |location=Boston|bibcode=2004WtFor..19..310B |doi-access=free }}}}

! scope="col" style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|F#

! scope="col" style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County / Parish

! scope="col" style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|State

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Start
{{abbr|coord.|Coordinates}}

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time (UTC)

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|{{abbr|Max.|Maximum}} width

! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:48%; text-align:center;"|Summary

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|WNW of St. Vrain to E of Hollene

|Curry

|NM

|{{Coord|34.43

103.55|name=Bellview (May 24, F2)}}

|11:00–?

|{{convert|36.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|37|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This long-tracked tornado family likely consisted of as many as six tornadoes, each of which generated narrow swaths of damage. It began west of Clovis and ended southeast of Bellview. Intermittent damage to farms occurred between Grier and Hollene, including the destruction of two barns.{{cite report |author=National Weather Service |date=May 2019 |title=New Mexico Event Report: F2 Tornado |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10080600 |website=Storm Events Database |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=20 November 2019}}{{harvnb|USWB|1957|p=195}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|SW of Brown

|Bryan

|OK

|{{Coord|34.07

96.50|name=Brown (May 24, F1)}}

|16:40–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A brief tornado struck twenty stanchions and mangled several boats.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|S of Bovina to SE of Bushland

|Parmer, Deaf Smith, Potter

|TX

|{{Coord|34.43

102.88|name=Bovina (May 24, F2)}}

|16:45–?

|{{convert|70.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|33|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This long-lived tornado family traveled northeastward to a point near Bushland, west of Amarillo. After damaging an orchard and farmland near Bovina, the tornado lifted near Hub before reforming near Friona. Near Friona and Black, the tornado damaged several homes, and destroyed structures on eight different farms. Funnel clouds in the parent storm instigated traffic accidents in Hereford that injured some people.{{cite report |author=National Weather Service |date=May 2019 |title=Texas Event Report: F2 Tornado |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10120022 |website=Storm Events Database |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=20 November 2019}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|N of Enochs

|Bailey

|TX

|{{Coord|33.95

102.77|name=Enochs (May 24, F0)}}

|17:20–?

|{{convert|0.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|50|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Rural power poles and electrical wires sustained damage.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|Hereford area

|Deaf Smith

|TX

|{{Coord|34.82

102.40|name=Hereford (May 24, F0)}}

|17:30–?

|{{convert|1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This brief tornado formed over open land near Hereford and produced no damage.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | F3

|Sudan to Olton

|Lamb

|TX

|{{Coord|34.18

102.85|name=Olton (May 24, F3)}}

|18:38–18:45

|{{convert|1.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|200|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This strong tornado first struck Sudan, then lifted and touched down in Olton. The tornado destroyed a total of 77 homes in and near Olton, a number of which were sited on farms outside town. The southern section of Olton received the most severe damage. The tornado lofted a vehicle {{convert|1/2|mi|km|abbr=on}} as well. Three injuries were attributed to the tornado.{{harvnb|USWB|1957|p=196}}{{cite report |author=National Weather Service |date=May 2019 |title=Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10120026 |website=Storm Events Database |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=20 November 2019}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | F3

|ENE of Tahoka to NE of Ralls

|Lynn, Lubbock, Crosby

|TX

|{{Coord|33.17

101.78|name=Tahoka (May 24, F3)}}

|19:00–20:00

|{{convert|37.3|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|200|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This strong, long-tracked tornado family impacted Tahoka, Wilson, Slaton, and Savage, damaging, destroying, or unroofing more than 120 structures. Two homes and two barns were also destroyed west and north of Ralls. The tornado eventually dissipated east of Cone. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis listed the total path length as being {{convert|50|mi|km|abbr=on}} and classified the tornado as an F2. One injury occurred along the path.{{cite report |author=National Weather Service |date=May 2019 |title=Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10120027|website=Storm Events Database |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=20 November 2019}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|NW of Cotton Center to ENE of Hale Center

|Hale

|TX

|{{Coord|34.00

102.00|name=Cotton Center (May 24, F1)}}

|19:30–?

|{{convert|10.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|One home, located north of Cotton Center, was moved {{convert|100|ft|m|lk=on|abbr=on}} off its foundation and torn apart. Three homes were unroofed or destroyed near the end of the path, southwest of Plainview. Nine homes also sustained minor damage. Four funnel clouds were reported nearby. Grazulis listed this tornado as an F2.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|N of Amarillo

|Potter

|TX

|{{Coord|35.32

101.83|name=Cliffside (May 24, F0)}}

|19:50–?

|{{convert|0.3|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|50|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|{{unk}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|E of Edmonson

|Hale

|TX

|{{Coord|34.28

101.88|name=Halfway (May 24, F0)}}

|20:00–?

|{{convert|0.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Houses, barns, and trailers were destroyed near Halfway. Several livestock died as well. The tornado formed from the same storm as the Olton tornado.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | F3

|NNE of Lenorah

|Martin

|TX

|{{Coord|32.32

101.87|name=Lenorah (May 24, F3)}}

|20:45–?

|{{convert|1.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|83|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|In Lenorah, this tornado impacted five homes, one of which was destroyed. This was one of two or three tornadoes in a {{convert|30|mi|km|adj=mid

long|lk=on}} family. Grazulis listed this tornado as an F2. One injury occurred.{{cite report |author=National Weather Service |date=May 2019 |title=Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10120034|website=Storm Events Database |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=21 November 2019}}
bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|NNW of Yoder

|Goshen

|WY

|{{Coord|41.93

104.30|name=Yoder (May 24, F1)}}

|21:00–?

|{{convert|2.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|13|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Numerous funnel clouds and/or tornadoes were reported, but only one touchdown was confirmed. A tornado damaged or destroyed a mobile home and outbuildings near Yoder and south of Torrington.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|NE of Swink

|Otero

|CO

|{{Coord|38.05

103.58|name=Swink (May 21, F1)}}

|21:30–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A brief tornado uplifted a rural outbuilding.{{harvnb|USWB|1957|p=199}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|E of Pierce

|Weld

|CO

|{{Coord|40.63

104.67|name=Pierce (May 24, F1)}}

|22:00–?

|{{convert|4|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|An empty farmhouse was destroyed, along with haystacks and machinery.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|N of Burlington

|Kit Carson

|CO

|{{Coord|39.43

102.27|name=Burlington (May 24, F1)}}

|22:00–?

|{{convert|0.4|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Related to the Swink event, this small tornado destroyed a chicken coop.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|WSW of Pierce

|Weld

|CO

|{{Coord|40.63

104.77|name=Pierce (May 24, F1)}}

|22:00–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A brief tornado destroyed a deserted farmhouse.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|S of Davidson to S of Frederick

|Tillman

|OK

|{{Coord|34.20

99.07|name=Davidson (May 24, F1)}}

|22:30–?

|{{convert|9.7|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Farms were extensively damaged. Utility lines and power poles were downed.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|WNW of Belle Plaine

|Sumner

|KS

|{{Coord|37.40

97.30|name=Belle Plaine (May 24, F1)}}

|23:05–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A brief tornado touched down and then lifted.{{harvnb|USWB|1957|p=197}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | F4

|W of Cookietown to S of Lawton

|Cotton, Comanche

|OK

|{{Coord|34.27

98.50|name=Cookietown (May 24, F4)}}

|23:30–?

|{{convert|21.6|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|880|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|4 deaths – This large, violent tornado destroyed 12 homes, some of which were levelled. The swath of F4 damage occurred south of Lawton. One car was transported {{convert|100|yd|m|abbr=on}}; although the vehicle crashed in a pond, the driver was not injured. The tornado damaged or destroyed several farms as well, and numerous farm animals died in its path. Two couples died and five people sustained injuries.{{cite report |author=National Weather Service |date=May 2019 |title=Texas Event Report: F4 Tornado |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10096545|website=Storm Events Database |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=21 November 2019}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|SSW of Wynnewood to SE of Pink

|Garvin, Pottawatomie

|OK

|{{Coord|34.62

97.18|name=Wynnewood (May 24, F2)}}

|00:00–01:45

|{{convert|30.8|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|440|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This damaging tornado family first destroyed a barn, then impacted an oil refinery in Wynnewood. Subsequently, the tornado wrecked four homes, a school, and many barns southeast of Pauls Valley. The tornado may have lifted until it encountered and destroyed frame buildings in Wanette. The tornado finally destroyed a barn northwest of Macomb before dissipating. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F3.{{cite journal |last1=Dye |first1=Lucius W. |title=Oklahoma – May 1957 |department=Weather Summary |journal=Climatological Data |date=May 1957 |volume=66 |issue=5 |page=66 |publisher=National Climatic Data Center |location=Kansas City, Missouri |publication-place=Asheville, North Carolina}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|NNW of Midland

|Martin

|TX

|{{Coord|32.15

102.13|name=Midland (May 24, F2)}}

|00:28–?

|{{convert|2|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This brief tornado downed utility poles near State Highway 158 and reportedly destroyed farmhouses northwest of Stanton.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|N of Brandon

|Perkins

|NE

|{{Coord|40.88

101.93|name=Brandon (May 24, F1)}}

|01:30–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Tornado reported.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|NW of Cache

|Comanche

|OK

|{{Coord|34.70

98.70|name=Cache (May 24, F0)}}

|02:00–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado formed over remote, hilly country in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|E of Goree

|Baylor

|TX

|{{Coord|33.48

99.40|name=Goree (May 24, F1)}}

|02:30–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado was witnessed southwest of Seymour.{{harvnb|USWB|1957|p=198}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|WSW of Purcell

|McClain

|OK

|{{Coord|35.00

97.40|name=Purcell (May 24, F1)}}

|03:00–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado unroofed a barn, blew down trees, and damaged outbuildings on a farm.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|W of Marlow

|Stephens

|OK

|{{Coord|34.65

98.00|name=Marlow (May 24, F2)}}

|03:00–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A strong tornado struck the community of Denton, killed 100 turkeys, and destroyed a chicken coop, a barn, and a home. Several farms reported extensive damage, and {{convert|2|by|4|in|mm|adj=mid|lk=on}} boards pierced a house as well. Additionally, a bus transporting 20 passengers was cast into a ditch, but none of the passengers was injured.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|Baxter Springs area

|Cherokee

|KS

|{{Coord|37.02

94.73|name=Baxter Springs (May 24, F0)}}

|04:00–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|{{unk}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|WSW of Quapaw

|Ottawa

|OK

|{{Coord|36.95

94.80|name=Quapaw (May 24, F1)}}

|04:00–?

|{{convert|1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado caused minor damage in Quapaw and destroyed a derrick at a mine east of Picher. An EF4 tornado later hit the Picher area on May 10, 2008.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|SE of Mulvane

|Sumner

|KS

|{{Coord|37.45

97.22|name=Mulvane (May 24, F0)}}

|04:00–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|{{unk}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|SSW of Duncan

|Stephens

|OK

|{{Coord|34.47

97.97|name=Duncan (May 24, F2)}}

|04:25–?

|{{convert|2.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This tornado splintered trees, destroyed television antennas, and badly damaged a mobile home in Duncan. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|NE of Morris to N of Boynton

|Okmulgee, Muskogee

|OK

|{{Coord|35.63

95.83|name=Boynton (May 24, F0)}}

|04:25–05:10

|{{convert|10.8|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado affected unpopulated areas near Morris and Boynton.

=May&nbsp;25 event=

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"

|+ Confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 25, 1957{{refn|group=nb|name=Date/Time}}{{refn|group=nb|name=Width}}

! scope="col" style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|F#

! scope="col" style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County / Parish

! scope="col" style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|State

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Start
{{abbr|coord.|Coordinates}}

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time (UTC)

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|{{abbr|Max.|Maximum}} width

! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:48%; text-align:center;"|Summary

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|NNE of Hanna

|McIntosh

|OK

|{{Coord|35.30

95.83|name=Hanna (May 25, F0)}}

|05:43–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Highway patrol sighted a tornado southeast of Henryetta.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|WSW of Checotah

|McIntosh

|OK

|{{Coord|35.43

95.60|name=Checotah (May 25, F0)}}

|05:45–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado was sighted, but no damage was reported.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|Coleman area

|Johnston

|OK

|{{Coord|34.27

96.42|name=Coleman (May 25, F2)}}

|06:05–?

|{{convert|1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|200|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A new school was partly unroofed and damage was extensive to buildings and trees. Two funnel clouds were seen. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|W of Lehigh

|Coal

|OK

|{{Coord|34.27

96.42|name=Lehigh (May 25, F1)}}

|06:10–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado destroyed sheds and damaged a house and a barn.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|ESE of Steedman to SE of Atwood

|Pontotoc, Hughes

|OK

|{{Coord|34.80

96.42|name=Steedman (May 25, F1)}}

|06:15–?

|{{convert|11.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|150|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Near Allen, the tornado unroofed a home and destroyed a barn. Trees and outbuildings were prostrated near Atwood, and a number of farmsteads were damaged along the path. Grazulis listed this tornado as an F2.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|SW of Mountain Valley (1st tornado)

|Garland

|AR

|{{Coord|34.60

93.10|name=Mountain Valley (May 25, F0)}}

|12:00–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Intermittent, slight damage occurred.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|SW of Mountain Valley (2nd tornado)

|Garland

|AR

|{{Coord|34.60

93.10|name=Mountain Valley (May 25, F0)}}

|12:06–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|See previous event.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|NW of Oak Trail Shores

|Hood

|TX

|{{Coord|32.53

97.90|name=Oak Trail Shores (May 25, F0)}}

|20:00–?

|{{convert|0.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado briefly struck a ranch east of Lipan.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|E of Maple Lake

|Wright

|MN

|{{Coord|45.23

93.98|name=Maple Lake (May 25, F1)}}

|20:38–?

|{{convert|0.7|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|20|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A short-lived tornado levelled a barn and felled a number of trees.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|NW of Grover

|Codington

|SD

|{{Coord|44.82

97.28|name=Grover (May 25, F1)}}

|20:45–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|{{unk}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|S of Fredericksburg

|Chickasaw

|IA

|{{Coord|42.95

92.20|name=Fredericksburg (May 25, F0)}}

|21:30–?

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A brief tornado damaged farmsteads and cropland.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|N of Bloomington to NE of Fennimore

|Grant

|WI

|{{Coord|42.90

90.92|name=Bloomington (May 25, F2)}}

|22:30–?

|{{convert|15.6|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|400|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|ENE of Lometa

|Lampasas

|TX

|{{Coord|31.22

98.38|name=Lometa (May 25, F1)}}

|00:15–?

|{{convert|0.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|50|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A carport was unroofed.{{harvnb|USWB|1957|p=200}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0

|SE of Stanton

|Montgomery

|IA

|{{Coord|40.92

95.12|name=Stanton (May 25, F0)}}

|05:15–?

|{{convert|4.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|1000|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado, large but weak, damaged a grandstand and farm buildings.{{cite report |author=National Weather Service |date=September 2020 |title=Iowa Event Report: F0 Tornado |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10019209|website=Storm Events Database |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=14 January 2021}}

{{clear}}

See also

Notes

{{Reflist|group=nb}}

References