NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) records 83 tornadoes that touched Kingfisher County from 1950 through 2025. USDA soil data rates about 22% of its mapped land high for shrink-swell. The deadliest was the EF5 of May 24, 2011.

Cutaway illustration of a house with a storm shelter below the garage floor and a separate underground shelter in the back yard
Two common placements: below the garage floor and underground in the yard.

The 2011 EF5 and 1999 F4 tracks

The EF5 of May 24, 2011 ran 63.1 miles. Its path also crossed Canadian County and Logan County. Along the whole path it killed 9 people and injured 181.

The F4 of May 3, 1999 was shorter, at 15 miles, and stayed inside Kingfisher County. It killed 1 person and injured 11.

Together they account for all 10 deaths on the county’s record. As elsewhere on this site, ratings and casualties cover each tornado’s full path.

Most tornadoes here were weak

Of the 83, 38 were rated F0/EF0 and 21 were F1/EF1. Another 15 were F2/EF2. Three have no known rating. In 2016–2025 the county had 14 tornadoes, and none was rated EF3 or stronger. Early records missed more weak tornadoes, so the strong-tornado count is the fairer way to compare decades.

Who watches the weather

Kingfisher County Emergency Management handles county-wide storm spotting and tornado alerting. Flood watches and road closings are also part of its county-wide duties. It helps the towns in the county with disaster training and mitigation. On storm days, follow the National Weather Service and county emergency management.

Soil across the county

The USDA survey maps 579,923 acres in Kingfisher County. About 22% are rated high for shrink-swell, clay that swells when wet and shrinks as it dries. No mapped acres reach the very high rating. The surface-layer rating is high on 3.9% of mapped land; the broader rating also includes deeper soil. The largest high-rated area is Renthin clay loam, about 49,660 acres. The Masham-Rock outcrop complex adds about 17,557 acres on 3–20% slopes. If you are pricing an in-ground shelter, ask how the installer will handle clay or rock at your spot. The map is county-wide and does not describe one lot.

Floodplain permits

The county posts its own floodplain permit form. As of its July 18, 2024 fee list, residential development costs $100. The form calls for a FEMA Elevation Certificate signed by a licensed surveyor or engineer. No development may start in the floodplain before the permit is issued. Have the installer confirm which permit office covers your property. Inside Kingfisher city limits, the city’s own flood rules apply, with its building official handling flood permits.

The city of Kingfisher

For permit fees, setbacks and inspections in town, see storm shelters in Kingfisher and foundation repair in Kingfisher. Compare published installation prices on the Oklahoma shelter cost page.

Pricing a shelter for your property

Use the form to ask an installer to look at the spot you have in mind. Ask the installer to confirm any permit, city or county, and put its fee in the quote. The itemized price should list:

  • the shelter and its size
  • digging, and any rock work
  • delivery and dirt haul-off