Oklahoma Tornado Path Map 2023

Tornadoes in Oklahoma: Understanding the Path Length Statute

The Impact of the 80 to 85 mph Path Length Statute

### Introduction On April 19, 2023, a series of severe thunderstorms developed along a dryline in southwestern and central Oklahoma, leading to the formation of several tornadoes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been tracking tornado activity for decades, and their data provides valuable insights into the behavior and impacts of these storms. ### National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Tornado Tracking NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is responsible for monitoring and forecasting tornado activity in the United States. When a tornado is reported, SPC meteorologists issue tornado warnings to alert people in the affected areas. The SPC also maintains a database of tornado path information, which includes data on the length of the tornado's path, the width of the path, and the F-scale rating of the tornado. ### The 80 to 85 mph Path Length Statute One important metric that NOAA uses to track tornadoes is the path length. The path length is defined as the distance traveled by the tornado from its point of origin to its point of dissipation. In the United States, the 80 to 85 mph path length statute is used to determine the official path length of a tornado. This statute states that the path length of a tornado is the distance traveled by the tornado at a speed of 80 to 85 mph. ### Importance of the 80 to 85 mph Path Length Statute The 80 to 85 mph path length statute is important because it provides a consistent method for measuring the path length of tornadoes. This allows NOAA to compare tornadoes of different sizes and strengths, and to track changes in tornado activity over time. The path length information is also used to develop tornado warning systems and to assess the risk of tornado damage. ### Conclusion The 80 to 85 mph path length statute is an important tool that NOAA uses to track and assess tornado activity. By understanding the path length of a tornado, NOAA can better predict the potential impact of the storm and provide warnings to people in the affected areas.