Friday night May 12, 2023 Tonkawa had a dose of severe spring weather.The first storm brought heavy rain and pea size hail to the city. Rain gauges measured 1.25 of much needed rain.As the first storm moved to the northeast a second formed on the dryline lying on the Kay county Grant county west of Tonkawa. The National Weather Service contacted Emergency Management Director and Tonkawa Chief of Police Nick Payne to make sure Tonkawa has its spotters in place for the second storm which was showing signs of low level circulation.At 8:10 pm the first reports of a tornado west of Tonkawa started being received by the Communication Center. Nixel alerts and storm sirens were sounded for local residents.Local business owner Todd Ross recorded the first video of the tornado 2 miles west of I 35. The tornado was fairly short lived, but not before many rural residents captured the tornado in its various stages.No injuries or immediate damage was reported from the second storm.
