zpostcode
'You certainly don't see this every day': Ultra-rare backward-spinning tornado formed over Oklahoma
May 8, 2026 3:36 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 >
Industrials sector: Investing in big companies that do big things
     When envisioning the pillars of American industry, numerous products and services come to mind: heavy machinery for transportation, farming, and defense; building products, electrical equipment, and machine parts; and an array of functions, from supply chain consulting to basic facility services, like plumbing and janitorial duties.   What is the industrials sector?The industrials sector comprises companies that produce capital goods—products...
List of religious populations
  List of religious populations Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/List-of-religious-populations Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/List-of-religious-populations Written by Charles Preston Charles Preston is Associate Editor for Religion at Encyclopædia Britannica. Charles Preston Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge,...
Do U.S. college athletes get paid?
  Do U.S. college athletes get paid? Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/sports/Do-US-college-athletes-get-paid Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/sports/Do-US-college-athletes-get-paid Written by Thad King Thad King was an editor at Encyclopædia Britannica for 15 years. Thad King Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they...
Consumer staples sector: Investing in stocks that provide the basics for living
     Some things you just can’t live without. Consumer staples are products that are essential or that you’re likely to purchase regardless of your personal finances or how the economy is performing. Food, drinks (including alcoholic beverages), tobacco, and household and personal care items are all considered consumer staples.   The sector comprises a broad swath of companies that make, market,...
Information Recommendation
Anne Lamott
  Anne Lamott American author Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anne-Lamott Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anne-Lamott Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's...
Anna Meares
  Anna Meares Australian cyclist Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anna-Meares Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anna-Meares Also known as: Anna Maree Devenish Meares Written by Joan Hibler Joan Hibler is a senior editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. Joan Hibler Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas...
The Tête à Tête
  The Tête à Tête painting by William Hogarth Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Tete-a-Tete Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Tete-a-Tete Also known as: “Marriage A-la-Mode: 2, The Tête à Tête”, “Shortly After the Marriage” Written by Ana Finel Honigman Ana Finel Honigman is a New York- and London-based critic, curator, and...
desi
  desi South Asian culture Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/desi Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/desi Written by Ethan Teekah Ethan Teekah is an Assistant Editor for Encyclopædia Britannica. He covers topics primarily related to Asia and Asian Studies. Ethan Teekah Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors...
Leslie Jones
  Leslie Jones American actress Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leslie-Jones Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leslie-Jones Also known as: Annette Leslie Jones Written by Leigh Goldstein Leigh Goldstein is a feminist media researcher based in Montreal. Leigh Goldstein Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas...
...
Carlo Maria Viganò
  Carlo Maria Viganò Italian archbishop Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carlo-Maria-Vigano Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carlo-Maria-Vigano Written by René Ostberg René Ostberg is an associate editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. René Ostberg Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge,...
...