2008 Picher–Neosho tornado
The tornado at EF4 intensity in Picher, where it would kill six people | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 10, 2008, 5:20 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
| Dissipated | May 10, 2008, 6:55 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
| Duration | 1 hour, 35 minutes |
| EF4 tornado | |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 175 mph (282 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 21 (second-deadliest of 2008) |
| Injuries | 350 |
| Areas affected | Eastern Oklahoma and portions of Western Missouri |
Part of the Tornado outbreak sequence of May 7–11, 2008 and Tornadoes of 2008 | |
In the afternoon and early evening hours of May 10, 2008, a large and violent tornado moved through Eastern Oklahoma and western Missouri, striking the communities of Picher, Quapaw, Racine and Granby. Twenty-one people were killed by the tornado and over three hundred more were injured. The tornado produced damage that would later receive an EF4 rating. It was one of nine to receive this rating worldwide in 2008, and was the second-deadliest of the year.
The tornado first touched down near Chetopa before rapidly intensifying and hitting Picher at EF4 intensity. The community was devastated, and was hit so hard that it would become an unincorporated community. The tornado extensively damaged Picher, collapsing wooden buildings and loft several cars while tracking through the southeast portions of the town. The tornado then passed to the north of Quapaw, which avoided a direct hit. The tornado then crossed state lines into Missouri, hitting Racine and killing several people in mobile homes and other poorly-built structures. The tornado lifted some time after crossing Route 59.