High Risk Day - Mangum, Oklahoma EF-3 Tornado

EF-3 Tornado

Mangum, Oklahoma - May 20 2019

This day had us all worried. We started off in Childress, TX in the morning and the Storm Prediction Center had issued a very rare "high risk" outlook, and the tornado potential was also at a rare 45% hatched forecast. We were expecting a large outbreak of tornadoes, but luckily, only a few were reported that day, including the one we witnessed in Mangum, Oklahoma.

We got up early to ensure we were prepared and spent a long time waiting around in Childress. Eventually a PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Tornado Watch was issued for the region. We headed west and south out of Childress where a couple of storms had fired up.

Eventually one storm became dominant and we followed along with it north and east from north-central Texas into southwest Oklahoma. As we approached the storm from the south nearing Mangum, OK, it was producing a large cone tornado. Unfortunately visibility was very poor with a lot of moisture/haze in the atmosphere and may hills and trees, so it was low-contrast at points. As we got to Mangum, the tornado became thinner and started to rope out. We split from the other chasers and continued north through the town as the tornado clipped a few structures on the north side of town.

We continued with the storm as it was still looking good toward Granite, OK. It produced strong circulation that passed the road in front of us and into the field beside us.

The storm as it was maturing. There were many trees and hills that obscured our view much of the time. Tornado approaching Mangum. It had already been on the ground for a while, in the shape of a large cone. The tornado is now doing damage in Mangum. Debris can be seen flying through the air at the base of the tornado. Later, on the same storm, another strong circulation passes right in front of us, crossing the road. It was difficult to tell if it touched down though. Be believe it probably was on the ground. The Storm Prediction Center's "High Risk" outlook for the day. The SPC issued a very rare 45% hatched zone for large, damaging tornadoes. Preliminary Radar imagery from the Doppler On Wheels of the Mangum tornado Nexrad radar imagery of the Mangum storm.

Tornado Damage in Mangum, Oklahoma


The storm as it was maturing. There were many trees and hills that obscured our view much of the time.	Tornado approaching Mangum. It had already been on the ground for a while, in the shape of a large cone.


The tornado is now doing damage in Mangum. Debris can be seen flying through the air at the base of the tornado.	Later, on the same storm, another strong circulation passes right in front of us, crossing the road. It was difficult to tell if it touched down though. Be believe it probably was on the ground.


The Storm Prediction Center's "High Risk" outlook for the day.	The SPC issued a very rare 45% hatched zone for large, damaging tornadoes.


Preliminary Radar imagery from the Doppler On Wheels of the Mangum tornado	Nexrad radar imagery of the Mangum storm.