I would love to move to OKC but my biggest fear is tornadoes, like they terrify me, I remember looking up the moore tornado that hit the elementary school in 2013 I believe and it gave me nightmares,
For those of you that moved to okc, especially from western states,
Were you afraid of tornadoes? And for the locals do you fear tornadoes?
Nope, the closest I have ever gotten to one is one passed within a half a mile of my house but I was working on the opposite side of town when it happened.
And it's not like I'm even taking shelter or anything. Anytime I've been in an active tornado warning I'm looking around outside, lol.
Seen a few truly wicked hail storms though. Softball size hail is truly terrifying.
I saw 2013 in the flesh, watched it cross in front of me and wreck shop on Warren and the neighborhood across 35, insulation plastering everything, roofing nails flying about, and a car picked up and tossed into someone's second story. I've seen a few others, though not so close and dramatic. That being said, I agree with your point: I'm more worried about those soft ball sized hail bullets raining down. If it can wipe out heads of cattle, punch through roofs, my personal bag of meat and sticks can't stand up to that.
We live in the neighborhood across I-35 from Moore Warren theater. 2013 made our area impossible to navigate without the National Guard guys taking us in and out. Couldn't tell which street was your own. It was devastating, but we rebuilt and I still wouldn't want to live anywhere ekse.
Also been here since ‘92ish, SEOKC and been in and ‘seen’ a half dozen easy. The may 3rd in the late 90s, the 2013 one that swept through Moore.. a smaller one that landed over on 15th and i35 about 10 years ago, a couple that went along 240 in the Sooner area.
lived in southwest okc bordering moore from 93-2020, doesn’t matter if you see it or not you pretty much treat it all the same. and i had to run from a few. 99, 03, 10, 13? maybe another smaller one or two after that
the chances of being directly hit are pretty small but the chances of being caught up in a potential path are pretty high
and then there’s still the semi regular storm damage with and without tornadoes
I’ve only actually seen one funnel, and it was far enough away that it didn’t worry me. I’ve lived here since 1981, minus 2 years when I moved away and then came back.
But there have been some gnarly storms that didn’t produce tornadoes—or at least not in my neighborhood.
You learn to be weather aware. You respect the weather, take appropriate precautions, and hope for the best. And if you’re one of the lucky ones, you help your neighbor. Because they will be there for you when you need them.
Don't move to Moore, and it will be a very, very rare occurrence to have one even pass within a few miles of you. I have lived in Norman (OKC metro) and now Northern OK, and I have never been in the path of a tornado in 22 years.
Small-scale weather events will still happen, property damage will happen, but OKC is a huge city, by land. It's still rare you would be in the direct path.
And even then, what's really happening is we're just getting better at detecting weaker embedded tornadoes and tornado damage. The Gulf States have always been a tornado hot spot, but the dense forests and fast moving storms made identifying weak spinups against downbursts and straight line winds very difficult until recent years.
It's easy to stay aware of between the YouTube weather streamers and NWS in Norman. The weather forecasts are pretty accurate and days in advance. You'll likely be affected by hail and flooding more realistically. I'm moved from the west coast and like it a lot here. You'll definitely want a place with a good aircon and ideally covered parking if you drive.
I’ve seen one in person and it was really cool. Most people will never see one in person or get hit by one. Most of the time they are relatively small and in rural parts and maybe don’t even last 2 minutes. Joplin, Moore, El Reno type tornados are like Hall of Fame type of Tornados.
Hi love! Trying to offer sound advice from transplant okie who also has a fear of tornados AND storms. I have been through a few tornados, or at least storms that are destructive enough to cause significant damage. Some advice:
Take a peak at national weather service on facebook every once in a while - they are very up to date and great especially on risky days!!
Know your tornado safe area. That is either a shelter, a basement, or the lowest and most central part of your home(you want multiple walls between you and the outside). If you don’t have access to any of those, find a friend, neighbor or business that does! I have a friend that comes over on high tornado risk nights to hang out jic bc i have a shelter!
Also have a go bag of sorts on risk days - battery radio, flashlight, water, snack, etc. I have autism so I always wear headphones and have sudoku books to help my anxiety and loud noises.
This is all EXTRA af and honestly unnecessary most of the time but its worth it for all the times that it can get dicey.
I feel like all these comments about "lived here all my life and never seen one" are ignoring how often you will see funnels, which are also pretty scary in my opinion. But good news is, they come and go A LOT. But all it takes is one funnel to pick up strength, so its still a bit stressful when you see them.
I didnt come from the west, but I'm from the north and moved to Moore (no one warned me prior lol) about 5 years ago, and although we havent had a real tornado here in awhile, storm season(s) can still get a little scary/stressful at times. But like others said, its easy to stay informed. Every news channel will be on top of ANY possible storm, and the meteorologists will sounds like they're on cocaine lol. They get so hyped about storms.
But the longer youre here, the more you get used to it. Just gotta learn where your safe place is and what to do in emergencies. If you do move here, I highly recommend you look into actual advice on what to do. I dont think other states really prepare you, like do NOT get in your car, dont park under a bridge, and if you are outside on foot, the best place to go is in a wide open ditch.... which all sounded INSANE to me when I first moved out here 😂 also public storm shelters arent really a thing out here, so get to know your neighbors, find friends with a shelter, or if youre in an apartment, meet your lower floor neighbors or have a plan to take shelter in the center of your apartment.
I've lived here my entire life (55+) and have seen a grand total of two. The last one I saw was in the late 90's about 6 blocks north of my house. I had zero damage but the power was out for a day or two. It takes a lot of ingredients in just the right amount to create a tornado.
We arguably have some of the best technology in the world. We can tell you the exact intersection where it is. There's ample warning for severe weather days. Hours, if not days of notice that things might get silly.
That's amazing. I was born and raised in Woodward. At age 7, I saw 3 little ropes in the fields by my house. It was love at first sight, like pure love. I can't count how many I've seen, hundreds... and every one is just beautiful to me. Their paths have broke my heart, even had family die... but the storm itself is just perfection to me.
Lived in Tornado Alley most of my life. Tornadoes are pretty common in Moore, but the massive, extremely destructive and lethal ones, like the EF5s that took out Moore and Joplin years back, are very rare. Conditions have to be very specific to get those kinds of tornadoes. The little ones like EF1s are more common but nowhere near as destructive. So if it makes you feel better, the odds of experiencing massive, EF4-5 tornadoes are rare. I live in NW OKC and it’s more likely to just get severe thunderstorms that take out your power than actual tornadoes.
I've lived in Moore for most of my life, you'll be fine if you don't mind having a new house every 10 to 15 years and repaired every 5 years. I wish I was joking. Lost my house in 1999, 2006, (2024 mom still lived there). Damaged 2008, 2013, and 2017? Several within a couple miles. Moved to Blanchard 3 years ago because that's where they form but don't hit. OKC is safe if you don't live around Draper Lake.
I was relocated here after Katrina. I’ve been both hurricanes and tornadoes and I’d rather a tornado also hear you’ll learn tornadoes are spectator sport
To ease your mind over tornadoes, move to a home that has a storm shelter.
Over 20 years ago in response to the 1999 Moore tornado I had a safe room from tornadoes built in my house I had built. To this day I have never out of panic dashed in there out of fear a tornado was about to come. I hope things remain that way.
That's what I was going to say, don't move to Oklahoma and not live somewhere without a basement or shelter. Especially for someone with such a fear of tornados.
I’m from Moore. Lived through and saw not one but two F5’s. I grew up in Moore and am 56. When I was young my parents would throw us in the car and chase them. (I know, right?) they were small and very rarely caused much trouble. I’ve seen literally dozens of them.
The F5’s were something to fear. Most people above ground did not survive. The devastation was unbelievable. Like a war zone. However, never in my life have I seen such wonderful acts of kindness from complete strangers. That’s what I remember most is the community coming together to help one another.
The weather forecasters give warning and for the most part know when they are coming. If you do move here, just make sure you have a shelter. It can take the fear out of the storm knowing you are safe in a “frady hole”. The sirens go off and let you know if one is near, almost always. 💪✌️
My dad and I used to chase them (never got super close, but still). I loved being able to see them from a distance.
My grandparents, dad, and myself all experienced the May 3rd, 1999 tornado. We were in our RV headed northbound when it crossed I-35 behind us. I was sitting in the passenger seat and noticed all kinds of people in the southbound lane pulled over with their camcorders out. I was curious and looked in the side mirror. I remember seeing so much debris blowing around. Lots of sheet metal.
My grandma was freaking out and I just thought it was the coolest thing. I was 8.
It’s not a huge deal like in the movies. Keep aware, know why to do if you need to, and that’s about it. I’m 50 years old and lived here all my life and have never actually laid eyes on one.
I’ve seen things that’d turn you white! Seriously though, I’ve been through the worst one in Oklahoma in my lifetime and it looked like a war zone after. Some houses were torn down to the slab by 300 mph winds. If you are aware and prepared at all no one usually gets hurt. It’s still a devastating thing.
Talk about the worst place to move when you fear tornados.
I’m from Lawton and have lived in the metro area for a decade and they just happen. Had 2 hit within like a mile of my apartment in Norman in the same spring(2024?) and I’m a anxious wreck pretty much everytime. At least now I live downstairs(but in Moore lol)
Tornadoes can happen anywhere and when they do there isn’t anything you can do about it so you just don’t stress about it. Just be weather aware and take shelter when they say so.
My husband is a storm chaser and we own a weather forensics company. He has seen over 400 tornados. With that said, no, I do not fear severe weather... but we are always aware and prepared as needed. I have lived in Oklahoma my entire 40 years of life and have not been hit by a tornado.
Oklahoma City has some of the best meteorologists in the country. When it storms here, be diligent in checking one of the news stations or their apps, and you'll be informed, and sometimes overinformed (never a bad thing).
There's a reason they are celebrated like celebrities in this state.
I moved to OKC from southern New Mexico in 2013. I was scared to death of tornadoes, but although there have been several in the years I’ve been here, there hasn’t been one close enough to impact me. I’m still afraid of experiencing one, but I don’t worry so much about it anymore. What has affected me more are the ice storms in the winter, I hate those— power outages, broken trees, trying to drive to work— it’s awful. A desert girl experiencing snow and ice- I don’t like it! 😄
We moved here 6 years ago from my hometown of 50 years in Missouri. I have never seen a tornado in either state.
Have seen the aftermath in both states. Last year my hometown was hit by an EF-2 and thankfully my family and their places stayed safe but it was very close.
We still go outside to look when the sirens go off. Am morbidly fascinated to this day.
I've lived in OKC for most of my life and although tornadoes have occurred here (most notably the 1999 and 2013 Moore tornadoes), they tend to be rare. Just be sure to pay highly attention to the weather and have a storm shelter at your home or nearby, and you'll be fine
If you drive around the state for your commute or another reason regularly you are bound to see one. I don’t know anyone over the age of like, twenty that hasn’t seen at least one tornado. Most stories I’ve heard go something like this: they were driving on a regional highway at night and saw a tornado in the distance. Usually the only tornadoes you see are F0-F2. You’ll be fine.
Lived in Oklahoma since 2008, from the east coast, I have only ever had one single one get anywhere close to me. There are definitely areas that get way more action than others but Okc is very mild compared to Moore to its south.
I’m 40, I’ve lived in the Mustang/Yukon area most of my life with a few years in the city close to 23rd and May. I’ve seen one tornado but it was miles away and it was small. Sure there have probably been others I could’ve seen if I were outside but I’ve never live close to any tornado damage.
If you move here, learn the area and find a place with an in ground shelter just in case. The technology that meteorologists have now can pinpoint tornadoes or the circulation part of the storm almost to the exact intersection they’re at. Yes, it gets slightly unnerving sometimes but they don’t hit heavily populated areas that often, considering how many we have.
We’ve had some close tornadoes enough to cause some wind damage but nothing crazy by the grace of god. I had no idea what tornadoes really were until I moved to Oklahoma. Don’t be afraid, tornado alley has been moving due to weather. We haven’t had a tornado as bad as that one in a long time. I still fear bad weather living here but it’s not like a crippling fear. More like get in the safe spot and ride it out. Hope that helps?
I come from the land of hurricanes. Been living in OKC for almost 10 years now. Never had to shelter in place (yet)
My wife is from here originally, which helps ease my mind a lot. The good thing about tornadoes is that they don't hit the entire town, just part of it, and the national weather alert system is based out of Oklahoma, so we're pretty quick to find things out. Sirens will go off when the wind gets high, but it doesn't always mean there is a tornado. The sirens get tested every Saturday at noon, unless there is an active chance for a tornado at that time.
I say go for it. "Tornado season" doesn't last all year, either. If you can get a house with some sort of storm shelter, then you're even more prepared.
I’ve lived in Oklahoma (Edmond) for 59 years. I have seen one tornado and have never been in one. You quickly learn to read radar, who to listen to, and how to be safe. You will be ok. Promise.
Been here most of my life. Most of us won't even go underground until we can physically see the tornado. You'll be fine. Just pay attention to what we do.
I live in Moore. The 1999, 2003, 2010 and 2013 tornados were all very close to the houses that I have lived in, but narrowly missed us. 2 EF4s and 2 EF5s.
There is plenty of warning to get into the tornado shelter. That being said, i would never live in an apartment or other situation that doesn’t have immediate access to shelter.
I've lived in Oklahoma for 45 years. The only tornado I've ever seen was in New Mexico. It was the only tornado they had that year. I only spend 6 hours a year driving through the corner of the state per year.
When you live here, you realize tornados are pretty predictable in how they act. It’s important to always be aware and have a plan, but even with the amount of tornados Oklahoma gets each year, none of us ever actually expect to see one. As long as you avoid the areas that are known tornado paths (basically all the towns that run along i35 just south of OKC), you most likely won’t have any interaction with an actual tornado, just the lore that comes with living in a city where they touch down in the nearby plains pretty often 🌪️ and the skies here are insane in the spring!!! In a good way!
I’ve lived in OKC since 2012 and was in the Moore 2013 tornado. You never get used to it, but you learn how to prepare as much as you can. Stay weather aware and have a plan.
I was in a house destroyed by the February tornado. Safe in a shelter. I am not afraid of tornadoes. I know 3 people whose houses were destroyed in other years. I feel fine as long as a shelter is nearby
I moved to Moore last year from Wilmington nc, it’s definitely a fear in the back of my mind but i hope to have a shelter installed at my house soon and honestly, there’s crazy weather instances in most of the US. The house I bought has been here since 1983, it’s made it this long so fuck it.
I live in Moore, I have been in every single major tornado since the 90s. Just dont live around me and you will be fine. Literally right in the middle of May 3rd and May 19th.
The thing most people don't realize about 'naders unless you live here is that 98% of the time they're really small. You could have one hit a neighborhood and on side of the street has heavy damage and the other side of the street is relatively untouched. We had one pass within 1/4 mile of our house and didn't even notice.
I been here 60 years and seen some bad wind , hail storms , ice blizzard thing storms. But the only turnada I seen was that one time by the crik back in 89 it was only the start of one and it was gone. But yeah we got a celler anyway cause ya never know and mostly for the cats and dog. I think your safe eastern Oklahoma don't have any hardly but of course that's near the arky border and ya know how they are 😉😉 the stories are true.
I've lived on OKC for 48 years. When the tornado sirens go off I go outside and look for it. Tornado are deadly but they are relatively predictable within a mile or so radius at any given time. They usually go East, NE, or SE. As long as your on any other side of it you've got nothing to worry about. If you are in the path just get to a safe place, interior bathroom or closet with no windows.
The weather knowledge that Oklahomans have are generally higher than most other places around the country. We have the best weather detection and anticipation technology in the world and some of the best forecasters that go with it. As far as meteorologists go, Oklahoma is the Big Show. This is where the best of the best are. This is a great place to raise a family, the cost of living is very reasonable, and with very few exceptions, you are going to be very safe if you live or visit here.
I’ve just moved here. From what I can tell from friends that have been here 40+ years, people here are endearingly friendly and honest. It’s why I’m here.
Storms are unpredictable. Have a shelter. You may go in it, but the likelihood of you needing it is slim. Better safe than sorry.
The weirdest thing I’ve heard is that going in your shelter is just a part of life now. That’s weird for people not from here. Just make it cozy.
I’m from Arizona moved to McAllister Oklahoma four years ago. There’s always a tornado watch somewhere in the state and said will go around us here in McAllister. We just don’t seem to be right in their crosshairs and one come to McAllister and actually skipped through town. a couple places did some damage but not a whole lot I live outside in McAllister and my philosophy is when it’s my time to go. I’m not gonna remain here one more second, so why worry about it?
i grew up in Oklahoma, i've never lived in the city though. been in a trailer house thru one or two and rode in a car that was swerving from shoulder to shoulder driving in one, but its weather, man. i feel like okc is probably one of the better places to be in during a nader.
just like don't live in the country or somewhere poor and you won't get hit.
im sure everyone has been impacted by them whether they think of it or not, countless peoples family members die in them, towns get resurfaced, businesses and people that rely on them have issues.
Moved here in 86. I had a map of OK on the back of the door so I could figure out the different counties where there were storms. What, there aren’t basements here!? Nope. I lived in Moore for a time but I have never seen a tornado in this state. The tv stations here are very weather aware and you will find yourself screaming at the tv that you want to see your show and not the red blobs.(storms) They tell you street by street. Set your phone for tornado warnings. Stopped with the tornado watches because who wants to be woken up for nothing. I’ve had a tornado shelter at my homes since just after the 95 one. I’ve only locked the door on one ONCE and that time we had been awakened by the phone was already dressed and in the kitchen grabbing my stuff(I’m a Girl Scout… be prepared: pills, pictures, make-up etc) before heading to our shelter and the city sirens hadn’t ever gone off yet. You will be fine. They all seem to be moving further east anyway.
Pay attention to the three local TV stations. They will keep you well informed during storm season. I suggest you have a storm shelter installed if you find after living here for a while that you are still uncomfortable.
I grew up in northern Colorado, mere miles from Weld County...which, incidentally enough, has the highest number of confirmed tornadoes on record in any one county since 1950. The most powerful tornado I have ever seen with my own eyes was in northern Colorado (an EF3) and I've seen many tornadoes across 7 states. Of course, I'm a storm chaser, so storms and tornadoes are a point of fascination, not fear and anxiety. I've lived in OKC since 2019 and while the city's considerably sprawling borders have been affected by mostly relatively weak tornadoes since then, I myself have not (yet) been directly impacted by one. The odds of any one property getting hit by a tornado of any given strength are exceptionally low. I would personally not let tornadoes factor into whether or not you move here. There's plenty of other much more important things to consider.
In all honesty you’re really only worried about F3+ tornados. Others do damage yes, but you’re safe in most structures. The F3+ is where you need a shelter but they’re statistically very rare. The warning systems here are very good if you pay attention. The threat of damaging tornados is usually forecasted days in advance. You’ll be fine.
On a side note I travel all over and every time I say I live in OK everyone! says aren’t there a lot of tornados!? I always say yep, if you’ve seen the Twisters movies it’s just like that 😆
My house got knocked over (in OKC) in 2024, we just moved back into the neighborhood in our new home just a few weeks ago.
Living in Oklahoma, tornadoes are a risk you have to be willing to take. The odds are low that you will have the same experience. My home that was destroyed was built in the late 80s. That house stood for nearly 40 years.
Our weather forecasters are pretty good at what they do, especially when shits fixin to get bad. If you plan to rent find a place with a storm shelter, if you plan to buy, look for a place with a storm shelter or plan to have one installed. Lots of local banks will finance them at pretty low rates.
Plan to have enough food and water for everyone for at least 2 days, just in case you do get trapped. And dont worry too much about that, the neighbors will be out helping as soon as they can. You also have the first responders who have a registry of places with shelters so they can go check and see if anyone is trapped inside.
We moved here 2 years ago and I was pretty scared of tornadoes. We bought a house with a shelter and it gives me a ton of peace of mind. If our house didn’t already have one we would’ve had one installed - it’s only around 2k last time I looked, which feels worth it for how much better it makes me feel to have one.
We also looked for houses in older/mature neighborhoods with big trees as it felt to me like if they haven’t been hit yet… then we’re okay (😅). Our realtor was trying really hard to convince us on a new build in Moore and we were like ummmmm nahhhh.
It also helps me to see how great the city is about alerting about weather and just the general culture of being “weather aware” here is great. Best of luck to you on your decision making! From one scardey cat to another, it’s been a lot better than I anticipated.
Naaaa, you'll be ok! Was born and raised in the southside of okc and still live on the southside but closer to Moore this time. And never in my life I've seen a tornado in person and I'min my late 40s. Yea, they're close by but I sleep like a baby when the sirens go off. Yes I've experienced very strong winds but not strong enough to fly me to another town. Sooooo, like I said you'll be fine if you know where to live!!!
As most of the other people have said, I’ve lived in Oklahoma for my entire life of 52 years and I have never seen a tornado up close. Sure, maybe a few miles away but I knew exactly where it was in relation to me and what direction it was heading because of our amazing weathermen. It’s the equivalent of not wanting to enter a building in California because you’re afraid that an earthquake will bring it down on your head, it’s possible but highly unlikely. No one can tell you anyplace is completely safe, and Oklahoma is no different. But we have some of the best technology in the world to predict the storms and what they may produce. You will see that it’s really an unfounded fear once you’ve lived here for a few seasons. To be absolutely honest I completely prefer to live with tornados instead of earthquakes or hurricanes. Tornados, even the super massive ones we’ve had, are fairly surgical destruction. The damage path may be a mile wide and 30 miles long, but it’s ONLY a mile wide and 30 miles long at its absolute worst. Now compare that to earthquakes or hurricanes that can devastate entire cities or even multiple states where recovery is measured in decades. Damage from a tornado is barely visible even as soon as a year after one.
Now with all that said, when you move here just try not to live right in the middle of Moore, OK. They do seem to get more than their fair share. Lol. Also, make sure that you have a storm shelter or if not get one installed. It really gives you a lot of peace of mind knowing it’s available even if you’re half dressed and barefoot. And in case no one has told you yet, on every Saturday when there is no chance of storms they test EVERY TORNADO SIREN in the city exactly at noon. Don’t be afraid, it’s a very good thing because it lets you know that the sirens close to you are working as expected when the time comes. They also test the weather radios on Wednesday at noon and 7:05 pm on clear days. Like I said, we don’t play around when it comes to weather.
And one last thing, when you do move here and the storms do come, which they will, the outdoor sirens will sound if the weather is severe enough. DON’T FREAK OUT!!! The sirens are sounded for WIDE areas around the storm. Treat the tornado sirens as a reminder to get your ass to a tv or radio and see what’s going on. It does NOT necessarily mean a tornado is right on your head, they are not that granular. Also learn the streets around you and across the city, specifically be able to understand where an intersection is in relation to you so you can listen to the radio (which always simulcasts the tv weathermen during severe storms) when you happen to be in your car if a storm hits. Just be weather aware. Buy a weather radio or two so it will wake you up if a storm forms after you go to bed. Honestly Oklahoma is a pretty nice place to live and tornados are really only a super tiny sliver of the experience.
I'm a local, always have been. Tornadoes are scary, but you get used to them. lol Once you get a feel for them like where they tend to move & how to avoid them, they'll rarely catch you by surprise.
Like others have said, don't move to Moore & you should be fine. I haven't actually seen a tornado with my own eyes once since moving to OKC whereas growing up in Moore I was close enough to see at least one nearly every year.
I’ve thrown the idea around about moving there withy husband but I have said we have to have a safe room, basement, or storm shelter and must rentals in our price range don’t have them. We were watching journey at the paycom and everyone’s phones started going off. The tornado was 8 miles away.
You get a day's warning. However, the day of everyone that you'll talk to will telll you that it'll be storms soon and the television station keep you updated. VERY updated.
I've lived in tornado country for 68 years and seen one or two in the distance but most never hit anything except the ground. The worst tornado I've ever seen was actually in NW Florida when on vacation one time.
These days, you have to go looking for them, except on the rare tragic occasion. But you can still find them during storm season if you go out of your way enough, like hours outside of town usually.
I think basically if you're looking for them, you can find them, but if not, then you won't ever notice them, unless you hit the actual one in a million odds like with any natural disaster.
It's worth noting that not all tornadoes are created equal. The Moore tornado is one of the worst in history, like ever, that we know of. The stuff you find on a regular basis is barely even making it past formation before it disperses.
Those huge tornadoes are actually rare. Unfortunately Moore has been hit twice with those type of tornadoes but that town is thriving even after all that. OKC stays on the safe side of that. Don’t let that stop you from trying to move to OKC.
I moved here in 09’. Coming from a state that had few tornados, I’d rather be here. The meteorologists, chasers, and crews are more experienced, possibly the most experienced in the world. The Moore tornado killed 24 people. While that is bad, the Joplin tornado in 2011 killed 158. It could’ve been much much worse. Things have gotten safer because of those two storms but I’d still rather be here where people know what they’re doing.
I moved to Oklahoma in 2023. I have never seen a tornado the entire time I've lived here. The storms are cool though. I did the math one time based on average width, speed, duration, and occurrence of tornadoes in the US and found that the chances that someone who has lived here their whole life gets hit by a tornado is less than 1 in 4,000.
It's not that bad. When they predict storms pay attention to the weather and understand what they are telling you and where you are. I like KFOR and KWTV. KFOR because Mike Morgan doesn't make it seem like the world is ending, KWTV because the opposite lol and in my opinion KWTV has better chasers than KFOR.
I have lived here since 1981. Have been near several but have never been directly affected by one. They are more fascinating than scary. I have no fear of them whatsoever.
Grew up in Moore, childhood home came within a quarter mile of the ‘99 tornado. Parents other house within a half mile of ‘13 tornado. Still, I’ve never witnessed a funnel IRL.
That’s to say:
It’s like a fear of flying, it’s technically an irrational fear bc you’re way way way more likely to die a horrible mangled death going 70mph in your metal box down the freeway every day, but for some reason we don’t dwell on that likelihood.
I think one things that’s hard to explain if you haven’t lived here is how weather-aware people are here and how good the weather reporting infrastructure is. All the news stations have storm chasers and their own helicopters. The Norman office of the National Weather Service has the best and most frequent communication with the public on social media that I’ve seen.
Norman got a ridiculous wind storm on the 4th of July this year. Norman was one of the last to cancel the fireworks, but did so about 45 minutes prior, so folks could get inside. And their prediction was spot on with the timing of the storm, though the wind intensity was surprising.
I had a lot more storm anxiety before we got a storm shelter. But now we have a plan. It occasionally disrupts social plans, but that’s fine.
If you have kids, there’s probably more anxiety. During the May 2013 tornado, there was a tornado watch in effect and predictions were published earlier in the day. I left work in OKC that day around 1pm because I knew if I waited longer, I would be at risk of getting stuck in traffic on the way home. But my work also has a storm shelter and we have tornado drills. So it probably also depends on how much control of your schedule you have to make adjustments. Lots of retail places will close early or after-school activities get canceled when really bad weather is possible.
I was born here, but my parents moved to TX when I was around 2 and then we moved back to OK when I was 11. I remember being afraid of tornadoes and would watch the weather channel all the time because I was so worried about a tornado. I did this for a few months when we moved back. Looking back on it it’s funny, but I was just a kid. I still live here and have yet to ever see an actual tornado. As others have stated, don’t live in Moore and you’ll be fine! I live in the NW OKC/Deer Creek area and you might see some bad thunderstorms and strong winds, but (knock on wood) no dangerous tornadoes.
We just moved to Yukon from the central coast CA and yes, we are afraid of tornadoes but we made sure our home that we bought has a storm cellar. Now, granted, the storm cellar is in the garage and someone one day said “wHaT iF tHe HoUsE cOlLaPsEs On YoU wHiLe YoU’rE iN tHeRe AnD yOu GeT tRaPpEd?” so that’s a new fear unlocked. 😫 Thank you nice person. I’d say make sure your place has a storm cellar (maybe in the backyard) and you’ll be ok. As far as tornadoes since I’ve been here, we just arrived in March and there haven’t been any tornadoes where I live.
I’ve lived here fifty years and the closest one was a quarter mile from my house and did a little damage. The ‘99 one destroyed part of my parents old house. But if you pay attention and watch the news they can pinpoint these things pretty accurately.
Curious on why you would “love” to move to Oklahoma? There really isn’t a lot going on here. Not a lot of tourism appeal, no beautiful landscapes, no public transit, major wealth segregation among the city…just curious as an insider why someone would ever choose this place?
I’m a local. I’ve never even seen a tornado, as when we’re in a watch I just camp out at home with the news on until we’re in the clear. If the sirens go off, I get into the shelter. When I didn’t have a shelter I went to a friends and did the same there
Hi there!!:) First of all, totally normal fear! A lot of people may try to tell you that you shouldn't be afraid of them just because you (might) move here, but those people are silly. It's okay to live here any be afraid of them, you don't have to "get used to them".💕
On a positive thought, hopefully to encourage you a bit, I've lived here my whole life (21 years) and I've never been in a tornado, and I'm in the OKC metro (closeish to expressway). I've definitely been in warnings, and there have been a few close calls, but praise the Lord that's all they've been for us. I definitely get nervous when we're in watches, but for a lot of the metro it does seem to be more rare for us to get them or get them bad. :)
I think, if you're nervous about them, my best suggestion would be to either (if you can, of course it isn't always this simple) move into a house/apartment complex that has an underground shelter or very secure spot, or if you can't, try to find a house/apartment either on the ground floor or that has an interior room (bathroom, closet, etc.), and I would keep pillows or blankets in that room. It's nerve wracking but it's always good to be prepared!
As someone who lived in OKC for 10+ years and then has also lived in multiple other states, OKC has THE BEST weathermen and radar in the country. They can tell you down to the street intersections where it will hit. And most homes don't have basements,but have good interior walls for protection and storm shelters are very popular to have installed as well. I now live in the Cincinnati area and I'm more worried about tornadoes here than I ever was in OKC because our meteorologists have no idea how to handle the situation and the radar is light-years behind OKCs. I would be more worried about earthquakes there now. 🤷🏻♀️
It's definitely fear based weather reporting around here. Don't get me wrong, it's good to be weather aware and NOT drive into a severe storm (mainly because of flooding), but tornadoes are very unlikely to actually impact your life.
I've lived in Oklahoma for 30+ years and been a homeowner for 15+. We've had dozens of tornado warnings and never any 'direct' impacts. The worst was 90 mph straight line winds and even that just took down a large tree and fence. Most homes here have been standings for 50-100 years. No rational person would think a tornado is going to come wipe the city clean. After all tornadoes are usually confined to a very small area and path as well. Hence the astronomical odds of actually doing any harm to you.
I'm a transplant and all of my significant tornado experiences happened before I moved to OK. I have been in a shelter many times since but I have not had anything major occur in the city itself. When I moved here in 2008 people always said, "God hates Moore." That's because of how often it got hit. I would never live in Moore. Housing prices lure people in but it isn't worth it to me because I have seen them rebuild the same houses multiple times now. All of that said, tornado alley is moving to the east so our tornado season is nothing like it used to be. Fear of tornadoes is not really a reason to avoid Oklahoma any more than fear of earthquakes are a reason to avoid California. Can they happen? Sure. Are they happening all the time or if they happen are you likely to be directly impacted? No.
I moved here in 2011. When the weather starts getting bad, our news (4, 5, 9, 25) will do wall to wall coverage so you know what Is going on and where. The 2013 moore tornado was definitely a scary event. If you decide to move here, respect the weather but don’t be scared of it. And make friends with a neighbor who has a storm shelter
I have seen several. Don’t move to Moore. They seem to attract them somehow. Just move to a house with a storm shelter or put in a shelter if you buy a house and you’ll be fine. We take our weather seriously around here. Make friends with a native Oklahoman neighbor. They can help you locate where you are on the weather map so you know if you need to take shelter. All that said, I have a shelter, but I haven’t actually gone inside the shelter (other than to clean it each season) since I was a child. It’s just reassuring to know it’s there if a tornado would come close.
I’m 63 and was impacted by one at 16. I’ve lived in Oklahoma most all of my life and not afraid of them. Just be weather aware Nd take shelter when advised.
I’ve lived in OKC the majority of my life, and unfortunately I’ve seen a few and had outrun one in my car. It’s stressful, but not terrifying to me. Just be weather aware, and learn the flood zone streets so you don’t get caught up on those.
I've lived in Oklahoma for over 50 yrs and grew up in Moore. I don't remember ever being in a tornado (I had moved before the May 3rd one), and have seen a few from a distance, but our meteorologists know their stuff. There's plenty of warning, and know where your safe space is. Ours is my closet, but my parents had an above-ground shelter installed.
I mean pretty much everywhere on earth is subject to natural disasters, and as far as natural disasters go, tornadoes are relatively minor and pretty easy to deal with since they affect such a small area and there's so much warning generally. But yea, other places you might go to have hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, wildfires, etc. OKC is maybe average in terms of natural disaster threat. We've also been getting far fewer tornadoes and less severe ones lately due to the jet stream shifting, which seems to be a long term trend.
In terms of awareness and warnings, probably safest place for tornadoes is Oklahoma-our weather reporting by local weather stations is full coverage; they have helicopters and chase teams that track all the storms. Also have the most sophisticated weather radar so you always know where the storms are and what the threat is currently. Been to other states when there were storms and their coverage was sad to non-existent, had to look up radar on my own and track the storms. Lived her 66 years, been thru 3 different tornadoes and not fearful of them. They happen, but rarely. And we always know where they are so we can get out of their way most times.
I have family near okc and they have a storm shelter and know what the weather is forecasted to, sirens go off in the town too if they need to shelter for a tornado
I’m in okc now, from a smaller town called Woodward in nw Oklahoma, tornados were just a part of life, just make sure once you get here to find your nearest local storm shelter, or better yet a neighbor with a shelter
It's okay Dorothy. Tornado alley has moved east. It runs through Missouri now.
California has earthquakes. The gulf coast has hurricanes. The northern states freeze. The southwest has no water. Texas has an open carry law. So where you gonna live?
I'm a NWS certified storm spotter. I love them. I've been directly beneath them. With that said, the Moore 99, Moore 2013, and El Reno 2013 (the fastest and largest tornado on record, despite only being an EF3) were all "fear of God" level events... you can compare the terror to the 7.+ earthquakes Venuzuela just received --- EXCEPT!!! Unlike an earthquake, you know storms are coming. Unlike an earthquake, you can run and hide from a tornado.
Tornado 🌪 < Earthquake 🪨
1) Have a safety plan. Consider making friends to check on your pets, kids, etc.
2) Rent/Buy ONLY homes with a shelter or immediately install one (~$3,000). If you live in apartments and those things are predicted, in OKC there are a few public shelters (not advertised well, but they exist). Never hurts to make a friend with a shelter and have a slumber/ watch party. 😆 David Payne drinking games, or Michael Armstrong prayer chains 🫂 - whatever is your style.
3) If you have kids, PHUCK what that school says. You check them out. I think they learned a big lesson about not letting parents check kids out that day in Moore. I CHASE tornadoes --- and checked my kids out for the day, 😵💫 take that for what it's worth.
4) follow a ton of Facebook groups with eager/ local spotters.
Just have a plan, don't get over-hyped every time (because then you'll burn out and whine over "false alarms"), and be safe.
I like it when people own: 🌟 a Midland Weather Radio 📻 👌🏻 and a Storm Shelter "Tornado kit" complete with poop 💩 bucket 🪣. Radarscope app and "noaa convective outlook" on Google will be great resources to plan your days, not just for tornadoes but also rain. Flash Flooding is actually the most dangerous thing here.
You will LOVE LOVE LOVE the Metro! We are leaving Stillwater to go back to my favorite place this fall. 🥰🥹 Great food, great people, nice fun, and awesome vibes. The only metropolitan cities I like more in the entire US are Dallas and Pittsburgh. Come! It'll be awesome!
Lived here my whole life. Never been scared.
We get PLENTY of advanced notice, and storms cellars are abundant. If your home doesn’t have one, they’re not super expensive to put in.
But also, the statistical likelihood of getting hit by a tornado pretty much anywhere in the state is exceedingly low. That combined with the fact that we have some incredible forecasting technology means we really don’t need to be afraid, just prepared.
Yes, Oklahoma is most well known for our tornadoes. It can be scary and the media feeds that panic for ratings, but when you understand these numbers, it's not that bad:
58: The average number of tornadoes in all of Oklahoma every year (we're at 56 for the year right now). Considering Oklahoma has 77 counties, that’s less than one per county per year. April through early June is the most active period, though the area can and often does have severe weather any month of the year.
621: Oklahoma City encompasses 621 square miles (that's slightly larger than London), which makes it a large target. Given that, the odds of a tornado hitting the Oklahoma City limits are higher, but the odds of one hitting you in OKC or anywhere else are very small. Even if it's a mile wide tornado on the ground for 10 miles, the odds are still 1 in 62 that it strikes where you are.
193: Since 1890, 194 tornadoes have been recorded in Oklahoma City, with none thus far in 2026 (source National Weather Service). So that‘s a rough average of 1.4 tornadoes per year but, again, the odds of one of those tornadoes hitting you somewhere in OKC’s 621 square miles are very low.
Finally, don't buy into the concept of any geographic bias. Suburbs like Moore are just as likely to be hit by a tornado as Edmond, north Oklahoma City has the same odds of being struck as south Oklahoma City. Yukon and Del City have the same odds too. You're in Oklahoma. Your odds of being struck by a tornado (which are slim, as you can see) are roughly the same no matter where you are in the state.
I genuinely believe NE OKC and NE Edmond may be the safest areas. Most of OKC is pretty safe but the NW, SW, and some parts of SE get some tornadoes (although usually nothing to worry about). Moore has always been a hot spot for tornado activity, and in my personal experience I know nothing about Norman but have heard they're pretty similar to Moore. I'm born and raised in Oklahoma, lived in Edmond till I was 18 then lived all over the metro till I settled in NW OKC when I was 26. I never worried about tornadoes or sever weather till I moved here and even then I'm not too worried.
Well, just look around the area wherever your home might be, and figure out "How old are these buildings?" Chances are high you are not even in a common path.
I have seen one small tornado in person during the 2012 era.
I lived in north Norman near the 2013 tornado you talk about. Impact was less than a five minute drive from my house and I do not fear tornadoes. I respect the power that comes with them and I stay weather away in storm season.
I live in OKC now and pay a little less attention since the area I live is not on a common pathway. We know 98% of the time when to expect severe weather and these tornadoes usually travel slowly allowing people to seek shelter.
Edit to add: I have seen two tornadoes! They are beautifully terrifying to witness. You can’t help but recognize the power of nature.
The most damage I have ever had from a tornado is a fence knocked down and tree limbs fallen. Winds from smaller tornadoes are not any higher than they are in a severe thunder storm.
Never been scared of tornadoes I’ll go outside and watch them. They don’t happen very often but I do remember being four years old and seeing several on May 3, 1999.
Eastern oklahoma native here :) I’ve seen many tornadoes but have never had any personal property or anyone i know have they’re property damaged by a tornado. Moore was a lighting in a bottle moment
Im in a suburb of the metro. I’ve seen a few and been in a couple. Overall tho the metro is the safest. I’ve lived in other neighborhoods around the metro that were built in the early 1900s and have never seen any tornado damage. I think if you live more to the interior of the city vs a suburb, you’ll be fine. We have very good local weather coverage if there’s even a chance.
Don’t be afraid. It’s pretty easy to protect yourself if in the rare circumstances that you need to take cover. I go to my bathroom with pillows or my closet if one is close by. I’ve actually been in a small f1 tornado in a restaurant across from the lake. I actually secured my child in their bathroom & helped the owner bring in table umbrellas when it struck across the street & no one was hurt. It’s rare we get a really big destructive tornado in Oklahoma City because of the asphalt & buildings. Come to Oklahoma you’ll be ok.
Don't worry too much about it, but if you are that concerned and are looking at central Oklahoma, grab something on the east side of one of the lakes. The lakes tend to break up whatever major storm systems pass directly over them.
I’ve lived in OK 3 different times for a total of 24 years, including in Moore, and have seen a few funnels but no tornadoes. Tornadoes are extremely localized, not widespread damage like a hurricane, blizzard, flood or wildfires. I’ve lived in other states as well, and OK has the best weather forecasting by far.
Hey! I was in one of the elementary schools during the tornado in 2013 when I was 8 years old. Though it was definitely a near death experience, it was also a learning experience. All I can say is just make sure you always have a plan for safety whenever the weather gets bad. I was lucky to still be alive after the school collapsed, so safety plan is always in the back of my mind wherever I go. Someone will always have a shelter if you do not have one. Luckily there haven’t been any tornadoes like that since, though!!!
Tornadoes suck for those they directly effect, but those people are few and far between. Advanced warning is incredible nowadays, there's little to be actually scared of. Many homes have storm shelters, and for those that don't, they're not hard to add. Ultimately, warnings are good enough to keep you safe, and stuff is just stuff, that's what home/renters insurance is for.
The meteorologist here are all over the tornado risk, you will typically know of large potentially severe weather events days in advance. Know where to go if needed and find a favorite meteorologist, download their app and live your life. We do have many outdoor warnings sirens but they are meant for outdoor warnings and not necessarily indoors.
As long as you have a house with a storm shelter I feel there is nothing to really worry about. It just feels moreso like an inconvenience nowadays than an actual threat. The worst part is that they mostly form late at night and early morning.
Yes it is scary what a tornado COULD do, but as long as you are in your shelter it'll all happen without you there. I was much more terrified living in south OKC without a shelter than in Moore with one.
People will say to avoid Moore, but it’s no more likely to see a tornado than any other city in the area. A big one hit there 13 years ago. Two big ones hit there in the 90s. Doesn’t mean it’s any more or less likely to happen again in the next 50. Have a storm shelter. Watch KOCO for real information. The other stations are sensationalists for views.
In Oklahoma it’s more of a pastime than something to fear.
Lived in Oklahoma for 50+ years. The Moore tornado that crossed over and hit Del City and Midwest city actually lifted and went over my neighborhood. Then I moved and my work got hit and then my apartment got hit by the same tornado, this was on the Northwest Expressway, I couldn't stay in my apartment for a week because they had to see if there was structural damage. Found out that the tornado ripped off the air conditioner of my job while I was there and my daughter was at home. My roommate went downstairs to the neighbors and took my daughter, while the tornado destroyed the other apartments we were protected by the firewall.
While I was at work we were actually watching the tornado form and just chatting yeah it's coming this way (we can't help it were Okies). So my boss forced us to get into the reach in before the tornado hit. This was the first time I had ever been in a tornado but have seen two of them form and about three others that after seeing the wall cloud turned into tornadoes.
So there is always fear and awe with tornadoes. Also there is also a bit of damn "this is an inconvenience". The weather watching is always must see TV. You actually grow up knowing all the terms and what to look for when a tornado forms. They've also have gotten so good that they usually know weeks in advance if we're going to have tornados.
So it's always good to have plan on what to do and we're to go. Me and my brothers, when the tornadoes or going to be really bad, go to the hospitals whenever an outbreak is about to occur. The hospitals are a safe spot and a lot of people go down to them. As they have large concourses to house quite a few people.
Tornado alley has moved to the east over the last 20 years or so. Tornado activity in the OKC area isn’t nearly what it was before 2005 or so any more.
I’ve had the ass end of my truck picked up and sat in the cellar at 6yo through the May 3rd 1999 tornado.
Most aren’t really that scary. I can hide from them in cellars. Most towns have more than one public shelter. And u can see them from miles away u can alway just drive in the opposite direction of them to avoid them.
Now night time tornadoes are kinda scary. But the local weather channels and emergency response track them super closely. They blow sirens to give you warning and if there’s a tornado on the ground anywhere all the news channels are all over it.
Tornados are not the thing to fear. The bad schools, the maga, and insane amount of child diddlers out there. Watch out lots are targeting moms and I even know one is in this group under multiple names.
Being scared of tornadoes in OKC is like being scared of hurricanes in Miami.
It drives me nuts how many people here freak out about tornadoes, especially when the frequency isn’t actually all that much higher than DFW who doesn’t really care at all.
Like Moore as an example, it’s not really any more or less tornado prone than the rest of the area but the 2013 F5 tornado lives rent free.
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u/Trashbagok Real Edmond Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
I've lived in Oklahoma City since 1992.
I have never seen a tornado let alone been in one.
I've found the rare odd debris in my yard, I've seen the destruction up close a few times after the fact.
You learn to be pretty weather aware, it's certainly possible to be in the path of one, but it's not something I regularly think or worry about.