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Oklahoma Twister One of the Strongest

By AP

Norman, OK – NWS: Oklahoma tornado upgraded to EF-5

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) The National Weather Service has upgraded a tornado that tore through central Oklahoma last week to EF-5, the highest rating given to tornadoes.

The weather service in Norman said Wednesday the May 24 tornado that started in Binger and traveled 75 miles to Guthrie had maximum winds of 210 mph.

Nine people died in the storm, which traveled across four counties.

Two other tornadoes were rated EF-4, one was an EF-3, another an EF-2 and the other an EF-1. One twister is unrated.

This is the fifth EF-5 tornado in the United States this year. Three EF-5 twisters hit the South during an April outbreak and a tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., also was rated EF-5.

Before April, the last time an EF-5 tornado occurred was in 2008.