EF3 Tornado Strikes Enid, Oklahoma: April 23, 2026
A confirmed tornado moved through Enid, Oklahoma, on the evening of April 23, 2026, causing property damage and multiple minor injuries. The storm, part of a severe weather system affecting several states, resulted in the closure of Vance Air Force Base and prompted emergency response operations.
Event Details
The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado moved across the far-southeastern parts of Enid at approximately 8:40 p.m. on April 23. Preliminary assessments classified the tornado as an EF3. A tornado emergency was declared for parts of the city and surrounding area.
Enid, a city of approximately 50,000 residents located about 65 miles northwest of Oklahoma City in north central Oklahoma, reported significant damage in the Gray Ridge neighborhood and southern parts of the city.
Damage and Injuries
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reported 10 to 15 injuries and no fatalities. Enid Mayor David Mason stated that homes sustained significant damage with no fatalities and only minor injuries.
The Garfield County Sheriff's Office confirmed:
- Damage to roofs and destruction of homes
- Downed power poles
- Extensive damage in affected areas
- Phone lines were down due to tornado damage
- Door-to-door checks were conducted in some neighborhoods
The Enid Police Department reported early accounts of people trapped and extensive damage.
Vance Air Force Base
Vance Air Force Base, located in the southwestern part of Enid, announced it would remain closed until further notice due to ongoing power and water restoration efforts.
The base stated:
- Only mission-essential personnel should report for duty
- All other personnel should remain at home and monitor official communication channels
- All personnel have been accounted for
- The fitness center will open for personnel requiring assistance
- Damage assessment is ongoing
Emergency Response
Oakwood Christian Church in Enid opened as a shelter for affected residents. The Red Cross staged operations on the west side of the Chisholm Trail Expo Center on Thursday night.
The Garfield County Sheriff's Office directed residents with emergencies to call 911 due to downed phone lines.
Official Statements
Garfield County Sheriff's Office: "First responders are continuing secondary searches of locations impacted by the tornado."
Enid Mayor David Mason: "While homes have sustained significant damage, there have been no fatalities and only minor injuries sustained."
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt: "Please join me in praying for the Enid community, which has been severely impacted by tonight's tornado."
Senator James Lankford: "Cindy and I are praying for all Oklahomans in harm's way tonight as severe storms, damaging winds, and tornadoes move across our state."
Broader Weather System
The National Weather Service reported 18 tornado reports on April 23, including the Enid tornado. Tornadoes were reported in Oklahoma, Iowa, and Kansas.
On April 24, a cluster of thunderstorms with frequent lightning, heavy rain, and gusty winds was moving through Arkansas, northwest Mississippi, and western Tennessee.
Weather Forecast: The severe weather was expected to continue throughout the weekend:
- April 24: 13 million people at risk from eastern Texas to the Mississippi/Alabama border, with threats of hail, wind gusts up to 60 mph, and tornadoes
- April 25: 7 million people at risk from north central Kansas to central Arkansas
- April 26: 12 million people at risk from Nebraska to northern Texas
- April 27: 32 million people expected to experience severe storms from southern Wisconsin to northern Mississippi
Additional Damage
In Kay County, Oklahoma, northeast of Enid, Sheriff Steve Kelley reported downed trees and power lines, with one home and barns among the structures damaged.