OKLAHOMA — Four tornadoes have been confirmed across central Oklahoma following a round of early-morning severe storms on January 8, 2026, according to preliminary National Weather Service damage surveys. The tornadoes affected areas near Purcell, Shawnee, Shawnee Twin Lakes, and Lake Thunderbird, with investigations still ongoing into additional damage paths.
Four Tornadoes Confirmed Across Central Oklahoma
Weather officials confirmed three EF1 tornadoes and one EF0 tornado across multiple counties in central Oklahoma. Each tornado occurred within a short time window during the morning hours as a strong storm system moved through the region.
Based on survey data available as of 9 p.m. January 8, the confirmed tornadoes include:
- Purcell area (McClain County)
- EF1 tornado
- Time: 7:24–7:34 a.m.
- Path length: 9 miles
- Lake Thunderbird area (Cleveland County)
- EF0 tornado
- Time: 7:44–7:46 a.m.
- Path length: 1.8 miles
- Near Shawnee Twin Lakes (Pottawatomie County)
- EF1 tornado
- Time: 7:52–7:57 a.m.
- Path length: 4 miles
- Northeast of Shawnee (Pottawatomie County)
- EF1 tornado
- Time: 8:06–8:09 a.m.
- Path length: 2.6 miles
What the Damage Surveys Show So Far
Survey teams identified tree damage, power line impacts, and structural damage consistent with EF0–EF1 intensity tornadoes. The strongest tornado, near Purcell, carved the longest track of the morning at approximately nine miles, cutting across rural and semi-developed areas.
The Lake Thunderbird tornado, while weaker, was still clearly identifiable through convergent tree fall patterns and localized wind damage…