zpostcode
'You certainly don't see this every day': Ultra-rare backward-spinning tornado formed over Oklahoma
May 7, 2026 3:42 AM

An ultra-rare backward-spinning tornado was spawned Tuesday (April 30) from a powerful supercell thunderstorm that formed over the Oklahoma-Texas border.

This backward tornado burst to life in the wake of another odd twister, which was unusual in that it looped back over its own path, CNN reported. Tornadoes tend to travel from west to east, because the prevailing winds in the U.S. travel in that direction and thus push storm systems that way. However, tornadoes can sometimes turn back on themselves as they lose strength; in this case, the tornado completed a full loop over its original path before dying out.

This looping tornado had formed north of Loveland, Oklahoma, around 10 p.m. local time. It traveled east before heading north, west and then east again, over the same area it had already hit.

To be clear, in this loop we have a westward moving, dissipating cyclonic tornado AND and newly developed anticyclonic tornado also moving west-southwest with a debris signature. This is so incredibly rare its hard to describe. pic.twitter.com/SCpnyWXOgAMay 1, 2024

"You certainly don't see this every day," Rick Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Norman, Oklahoma, told CNN.

Related: 'Wedge tornado' in Mississippi is the deadliest in more than 50 years

As the looping tornado died down, the backward-spinning twister appeared a few miles southeast of Loveland, just before 10:30 p.m. Smith told CNN that both tornadoes were likely active for a brief period.

A weather service warning called the tornado "large and extremely dangerous" and noted that it was "nearly stationary or moving very slowly south." It warned people located in Loveland, Grandfield and Devol that "This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!"

RELATED STORIESDeadly cyclone 'Freddy' may be the longest-lived and most energetic storm ever recorded

How the 'deadly December tornado' carved a 250-mile path through 4 states

Most powerful solar storm in 6 years caused auroras all over the US. And nobody saw it coming

According to the NWS, nearly all tornadoes in the Northern Hemisphere have winds that whip counterclockwise around a central point; this motion is known as "cyclonic." But in about 1% of cases, twisters spin in the opposite direction; these are called anticyclonic. (In the Southern Hemisphere, cyclonic tornadoes spin clockwise, while anticyclonic ones spin counterclockwise.)

It was unusual enough to see a backward-spinning tornado, but the cyclone's lack of movement was also odd, Smith told CNN. And radar suggested the storm was strong enough to chuck debris thousands of feet into the air, even though anticyclonic tornadoes are often relatively weak.

Thankfully, the tornadoes mostly traveled over farmland, according to recent updates issued by Tillman County Emergency Management on Facebook. There have been no injuries, deaths or extensive structural damage reported, according to CNN.

Oklahoma has seen more than two dozen tornadoes this week. On April 27 and 28, a "slow-moving, but potent" storm triggered at least 27 tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas, with 24 confirmed in Oklahoma, the NWS reported.

Comments
Welcome to zpostcode comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Recommend >
Five Great Political Comebacks
     On the comeback trail Donald Trump campaigning with his running mate, J.D. Vance, in 2024. That year Trump became only the second U.S. president to win nonconsecutive terms. Trump's 2024 victory is seen as one of the greatest political comebacks of all time. (more) Five Great Political Comebacks Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to...
Broadcom Inc.
     Broadcom Inc. Broadcom has grown from its beginnings in semiconductors. (more) Broadcom Inc. American company Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Broadcom-Inc Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction...
Brewing up volatility: Why and how triple witching days can shake up markets
     Watch out for the witching hour.© pe3check/stock.adobe.com, © TSViPhoto/stock.adobe.com; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Halloween comes just once a year, but Wall Street types don’t mind a good scare more often—in the form of a financial market phenomenon known as triple witching. It happens on a certain date every quarter, and even though everyone knows it’s coming, triple witching can...
American goldfinch
     American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) These songbirds are native to North America, and males are known for their distinctive, bright yellow plumage that contrasts with their black tail, cap, and wings. (more) American goldfinch bird Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/American-goldfinch Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if...
Information Recommendation
Hayʾat Tahrir al-Sham
     Syrian Civil War reignited A fighter waving the flag of Hayʾat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) while standing on top of an armored vehicle in Saraqib, Syria, on December 1, 2024. (more) Hayʾat Tahrir al-Sham Syrian militant group Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hayat-Tahrir-al-Sham Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us...
arak
     “Lion's milk” Arak, an anisette liquor popular in the Levant region, turns a milky-white color when diluted with water, as it is traditionally served. (more) arak alcoholic beverage Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/arak-beverage Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this...
BYD Co. Ltd.
     BYD Co. Ltd. BYD manufactures electric vehicles, batteries, and public transportation systems. (more) BYD Co. Ltd. Chinese company Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/BYD-Co-Ltd Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual...
Stephen Miller
     Stephen Miller American political adviser Stephen Miller at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), 2023. (more) Stephen Miller United States political adviser Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print print Print Please select which sections you would like to print: Table Of Contents Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may...
Prabowo Subianto
     Prabowo Subianto Former general and businessman Prabowo Subianto became Indonesia's eighth president, in October 2024. (more) Prabowo Subianto president of Indonesia Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Prabowo-Subianto Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a...
Most Popular Baby Names in the U.S.
  Most Popular Baby Names in the U.S. Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Most-Popular-Baby-Names-in-the-US Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback...
Shannon Sharpe
     Shannon Sharpe Former NFL player Shannon Sharpe, 2019. (more) Shannon Sharpe American football player Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print print Print Please select which sections you would like to print: Table Of Contents Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate...
Thea Bowman
     Sister Thea Bowman Thea Bowman was a Roman Catholic nun and teacher whose work involved evangelizing to Black American Catholics and raising awareness about racism in the church and American society. (more) Thea Bowman Roman Catholic nun and teacher Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thea-Bowman Feedback Corrections? Updates?...