zpostcode
'You certainly don't see this every day': Ultra-rare backward-spinning tornado formed over Oklahoma
Apr 19, 2026 8:15 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 >
Battle of Trincomalee
     Comte Pierre Andre de Suffren de Saint-Tropez (1729–1788) Comte Pierre Andre de Suffren de Saint-Tropez (1729–1788), the commander of the French fleet at the Battle of Trincomalee, c. 18th century. © Fine Art Images/Heritage Images—Hulton Fine Art Collection/Getty Images. (more) Battle of Trincomalee Anglo-French War [1782] Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort...
First French Empire
     Greatest extent of Napoleon I's empire, 1812 (more) First French Empire historical empire, Europe Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study...
Bret Easton Ellis
     Bret Easton Ellis American writer Bret Easton Ellis, 2019. (more) Bret Easton Ellis American author Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Nicholas Gisonna Nick Gisonna started writing online in 2010 on his own website writing reviews of burgers and diners in New Jersey. Since then, he has contributed to video game, movie, and...
major figures in Roman mythology
  major figures in Roman mythology Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Alicja Zelazko Alicja Zelazko is Associate Editor, Arts and Humanities, covering topics in the visual arts, architecture, music, and performance. Before joining Encyclopædia Britannica in 2017, she worked at the Art... Alicja Zelazko Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors...
Information Recommendation
State and local taxes you paid: Are they tax deductible?
     If you itemize, strategize.© Stone's Throwe Photo/stock.adobe.comGovernment services like roads, schools, and social programs don’t come free. To fund these necessities, federal, state, and local governments rely on taxes. Whether it’s income, property, or sales taxes, you and everyone else must contribute their share.   Because you pay taxes at the state and local level, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)...
pacu
     Ichthyochory: dispersal by fish A black pacu, or tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), swimming in the Amazon River in Brazil, may disperse seeds and nuts it has eaten. (more) pacu name of several South American fish Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Isabel Brodsky Isabel Brodsky is a Chicago-based journalist, playwright, and comedian. Isabel Brodsky,...
director of national intelligence
  director of national intelligence United States government official Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Adam Volle Adam Volle is a freelance writer and editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Adam Volle Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience...
Battle of Freiburg
     Henri, Viscount of Turenne During a period of the Thirty Years' War, the commander of the French armies in Germany was Henri, Viscount of Turenne, an experienced soldier. Joining him to help retake Freiburg was Belgium's Duke of Enghien. © Kean Collection—Archive Photos/Getty Images. (more) Battle of Freiburg European history [1644] Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print...
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
     Padmanabhaswamy Temple One of the richest temples in the world, holding valuables estimated to be worth about $22 billion, is the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala, India. (more) Padmanabhaswamy Temple Hindu temple, Thiruvananthapuram, India Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Charles Preston Charles Preston is Associate Editor for Religion at Encyclopædia Britannica....
How to recover lost cryptocurrency—and how to keep it safe
     Where will the next security vulnerability pop up?© bong/stock.adobe.com, © reshoot/stock.adobe.com; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Cryptocurrency scams are constantly evolving and growing more sophisticated, but you can take preventive measures to avoid ever becoming a victim. And if your crypto is stolen, there are ways to recover it.   Whether your goal is to recover your crypto or ensure that...
Jasprit Bumrah
  Jasprit Bumrah Indian cricketer Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Jasprit Jasbirsingh Bumrah Written by Sanat Pai Raikar Sanat Pai Raikar is a quizmaster and writer based out of Bangalore, India. His first quiz book, Three's A Quiz, was written from memory. Sanat has cofounded Quizarre, which provides quiz, crossword,... Sanat Pai Raikar...
Philippine eagle
     Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) The Philippine eagle is considered to be critically endangered. (more) Philippine eagle bird 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...