Official: MWC Tornado Sirens Did Not Sound Due To No Advance Warning

The tornado sirens in Midwest City did not sound because the National Weather Services' radar did not pick up the tornado, the Midwest City emergency management director told News 9.

The City of Midwest City Emergency Management office was monitoring the severe thunderstorm warning when they received a 911 call at 8:30 a.m. about multiple vehicles overturned near SE 29 and Air Depot, said Mike Bower, Midwest City emergency management director. 

The arriving police officer said he thought a tornado had hit the area, Bower said.

The office contacted the National Weather Service and they initially said they had some weak rotation move through the area but had no indication of a tornado occurring, Bower said.

The NWS later determined the EF-1 tornado had developed but was not picked up on the radar. 

"There was no advance warning of the tornado, and it passed through so quickly, it was gone before sirens could be sounded," Bower said. 

Bower said the reported sirens which sounded about 8:40 a.m. were probably for areas of Oklahoma City.