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EF-3 Tornado Hits Enid, Vance Base; No Fatalities

4/25/2026

26 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The tornado temporarily closed Vance Air Force Base, accounting for all personnel without injuries.
Around 40 homes in Enid, Oklahoma were damaged, with only minor injuries and no deaths.
Mayor David Mason said the worst damage occurred in Gray Ridge and urged residents to stay away.
The National Weather Service gave the tornado an EF-3 rating and opened shelters at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center and Oakwood Christian Church.

History

Historical Context

The May 3 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore F5 tornado killed 36 people, injured 583 and caused about $1 billion in damage, prompting the first NWS tornado-emergency and a massive Red Cross response. Decades of repeated strikes, including today’s EF-3 that shut Vance Air Force Base, have kept Oklahoma officials focused on warning upgrades and stricter building codes.

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Story summary

The tornado temporarily closed Vance Air Force Base, accounting for all personnel without injuries.
Around 40 homes in Enid, Oklahoma were damaged, with only minor injuries and no deaths.
Mayor David Mason said the worst damage occurred in Gray Ridge and urged residents to stay away.
The National Weather Service gave the tornado an EF-3 rating and opened shelters at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center and Oakwood Christian Church.

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