From June 8–10, 1974, a significant tornado outbreak affected portions of the southern Great Plains and the Upper Midwest. The outbreak produced 42 tornadoes, at least 24 of them significant or intense, and is the second-deadliest June tornado event in Oklahoma history, with 16 deaths reported in the state, second only to the 35 people killed by an F4 tornado on June 12, 1942, in Oklahoma City. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak was a powerful F4 that struck the town of Drumright in Oklahoma, killing 14 people, 12 of whom were killed at Drumright. Another deadly and destructive F4 tornado struck the town of Emporia in Kansas, killing six more people. The outbreak also produced two F3 tornadoes in the Tulsa metropolitan area that, combined with flooding, produced the costliest natural disaster in that city's history up to that time—a disaster worth $30,000,000 (1974 USD). Tornadoes hit Oklahoma City five times, a single-day record for the city as of 2010.

Confirmed tornadoes

In addition to confirmed tornadoes, a possible tornado occurred at 8:15 p.m. CST (02:15 UTC) approximately south of Cullison in Kansas, producing intermittent damage, but is not officially listed as a tornado.

Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.

June 8 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, June 8, 1974F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F3Southwestern Oklahoma City (1st tornado) to W of Forest ParkOklahomaOK19:42–?This tornado formed over Will Rogers World Airport, just feet from a National Weather Service (NWS) office. As it did so, a gas leak forced NWS officials to vacate the office and transfer duties to the NWS in Tulsa. The tornado then unroofed a hangar before hitting the NWS office and damaging 672 homes, 42 of them severely. It also destroyed a few trailers, five small businesses, and 11 homes. 14 minor injuries were reported.Multiple sources: F2Northern Spencer to western JonesOklahomaOK20:11–?This tornado damaged several small businesses, farms, and power lines. According to Grazulis, an unoccupied two-story home was "leveled", suggesting F4 intensity, but may have been poorly built. F3NNE of Spencer to S of LutherOklahomaOK20:18–?This tornado downed a quartet of steel transmission towers, all able to survive winds. F1NNE of BreckinridgeGarfieldOK20:30–?A tornado hit a small farm, felling trees and damaging sheds. F0SW of Leon to NNW of LathamButlerKS21:15–?A tornado damaged wheat fields. F0S of Lyons to WNW of MitchellRiceKS21:30–?Only fences and trees were damaged. F1Southwestern Oklahoma City (2nd tornado)OklahomaOK21:35–?A tornado did mostly modest damage to trees and roofs. F3ESE of Nicoma Park to N of HarrahOklahomaOK21:48–?This tornado destroyed or damaged utilities and farms. Power poles, outbuildings, and an Oklahoma Gas & Electric plant were impacted. F0FloraClayIL21:50–?Observers spotted a brief tornado, but did not report any damage. F4SW of Drumright to Olive to NW of SkiatookPayne, Creek, Pawnee, OsageOK21:55–?14 deaths – This violent tornado first hit a school in the Oak Grove community, then impacted northwestern Drumright, claiming half a dozen lives in a nursing home. Sirens sounded in time, but barely, though more deaths might have occurred had the tornado hit minutes later, when the dining hall was crowded. Across Drumright the tornado badly damaged or destroyed 100 homes—many of them costly and sturdy—killing six more people and leaving about 1,000 homeless. At Olive it caused another death, partly destroying a school and wrecking a pair of trailers; it leveled many frame homes there as well. On Lake Keystone it damaged a pier, and destroyed more trailers nearby, mortally injuring a woman. The tornado then damaged some brick homes before dissipating. 150 people were injured. F0SW of CarmiWhiteIL21:55–?No damage occurred. F3SW of Davenport to StroudLincolnOK22:46–?A tornado struck Davenport and Stroud, causing severe damage. In Davenport it badly damaged or destroyed 27 homes and slightly damaged 233 others. In Stroud it damaged a couple of businesses and 100 homes, while destroying a service station. Eight people were injured, half of them by airborne glass. F1N of DavenportLincolnOK22:55–?This tornado slightly damaged a pair of outbuildings. F4Northwestern Emporia to SW of AuburnLyon, Osage, ShawneeKS23:00–00:046 deaths – A large, violent tornado—occasionally up to wide—hit Emporia, where it badly damaged or destroyed the Flint Hills Shopping Center, homes, apartments, trailers, and a nursing home. The tornado wrecked all 20 shops in the center, where 75 or more cars were thrown and mangled. Five of the six deaths, along with most of the injuries, occurred in a sprawling trailer park, while the sixth took place in an apartment complex. F4 damage affected portions of Emporia, and 80 hospitalizations were reported. Beyond Emporia, the tornado continued intermittently, destroying 10 or more farms. Estimates of the injured ranged from 177 to 220, with Storm Data listing 200. F2NNW of StroudLincolnOK23:03–?This tornado destroyed some barns, while damaging outbuildings and farmhouses. F0N of GrenolaElkKS23:10–?No damage was observed. F3ENE of SparksLincolnOK23:20–?A short-lived tornado wrecked trailers and barns, while damaging trees and outbuildings. F2SSW of Bellvue to WSW of HeyburnCreekOK23:35–?According to Storm Data, a narrow tornado damaged outbuildings and "two or three" barns. Grazulis did not rate it F2 or stronger. F2NNW of Owasso to N of CollinsvilleTulsaOK23:40–?This tornado damaged a pair of farms. Grazulis did not rate it F2 or stronger. F2NNE of Earlsboro to Little to NW of SylvianSeminoleOK23:45–?This tornado extensively damaged several homes and a school. It destroyed half a dozen other homes as well, while killing a cow and four horses. Grazulis rated it F3. F3W of Tulsa to W of VinitaTulsa, Rogers, Mayes, CraigOK23:50–?1 death – One of two major tornadoes to hit metropolitan Tulsa, this tornado tracked east-northeast through town, hitting the Brookside and other neighborhoods. As it did so, it fatally injured a girl and caused "considerable damage", according to NWS Tulsa. Leaving Tulsa, it damaged areas in or near Catoosa, Claremore, and Big Cabin before dissipating. 80 people were injured. Some sources list path lengths of and a second death, but the latter was flood-related. Prolific rainfall, along with flash floods, attended this and the next tornado, causing one of Tulsa's "worst natural disasters" to date, Grazulis noted. F3W of Sapulpa to S of Sportsman AcresCreek, Tulsa, Wagoner, Rogers, MayesOK23:50–?The second F3 Tulsa twister extensively damaged Oral Roberts University (ORU) as it tracked northeast, generating winds of "for several minutes" at Tulsa Riverside Airport, Storm Data reported. At ORU the tornado destroyed a pair of unfinished buildings and damaged a few dormitory roofs. It also unroofed homes in the Park Player, Southridge Estates, and Walnut Creek subdivisions. Beyond Tulsa, it damaged the towns of Broken Arrow, Inola, and Chouteau before dissipating. 42 people were injured. This and the previous event combined with flooding to produce $30 million in losses. Both Tulsa F3s damaged about 300 homes and numerous businesses, leaving more than 1,500 Tulsa residents homeless. F3WSW of Keokuk Falls to NNW of TuskegeeSeminole, OkfuskeeOK00:05–?An intense tornado destroyed many farmhouses, ending south-southwest of Slick. F2S of NewallaPottawatomieOK00:50–?This tornado damaged outbuildings and destroyed a trailer. F0NNW of OreanaMaconIL00:55–?Forming near Argenta, this brief tornado did no damage. F0WNW of StanberryGentryMO01:00–?A short-lived tornado pulled up roof shingles. F2WSW of Kiefer to NNE of BixbyCreek, TulsaOK01:30–?This tornado extensively damaged farms, destroying buildings. F0S of Beulah to SW of RadleyCrawfordKS02:00–?Power lines and trees were damaged. F3SSE of EuchaDelawareOK03:14–?According to Storm Data, this tornado extensively damaged bridges and roads. It also hurled a pair of houseboats, while unroofing and destroying many homes. Grazulis rated it F2, but noted "near-F3" damage to a brick home. F1NeoshoNewtonMO03:30–?Half the city was left powerless. F2W of BerniceCraigOK03:30–?This tornado hit trees, roofs, and utility poles, doing significant damage. A rural electric association plant incurred a loss of $100,000. Grauzlis listed a path length of , starting near Ketchum and ending near Grove. F0SarcoxieJasperMO03:40–?Only a brief touchdown occurred. F1WSW of DiamondNewtonMO03:40–?This tornado hit the George Washington Carver National Monument, felling 200 trees. F1W of Graham to WNW of ArkoeNodawayMO04:00–?This tornado uprooted trees and badly damaged a farm, dissipating south of Maryville. F1SSE of IndianolaPittsburgOK04:24–?No damage occurred. The tornado may have hit north of Bugtussle.

June 9 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, June 9, 1974F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F2Sarepta to PortervilleWebsterLA16:05–?This tornado unroofed a lumber company and damaged over 12 homes. Grauzlis did not rate it F2 or stronger. F1E of Dakota CityHumboldtIA17:30–?This tornado damaged a few farms. F2W of WesleyKossuthIA19:30–?A low-end F2 tornado destroyed garages and a barn. It also damaged four farms and almost unroofed three homes. Grauzlis listed a path length. F1Southeastern LeolaAdamsWI20:30–?This tornado damaged three homes, while destroying outbuildings and a barn. F1NNW of BancroftPortageWI20:45–?This tornado slightly damaged trees. It also damaged a porch, barn, and chicken coop. F1Northwestern RochesterOlmstedMN20:57–?This tornado unroofed of an IBM plant. It also tipped a trailer onto its side and bent a large sign. F1Eastern Seymour to SSW of CadottEau Claire, ChippewaWI22:45–?This tornado felled trees, while slightly damaging a shed, corncrib, and garage. FUOak ForestCookIL22:55–?Minor damage occurred. F0Northeastern PeoriaPeoriaIL23:15–?Minor damage occurred. The NCEI incorrectly list the date as June 8, but Storm Data indicates June 9. F1S of Sleepy HollowKaneIL00:40–?Little or no damage occurred, other than to power lines and trees. F0NE of SomersKenoshaWI00:55–?A brief tornado caused much tree damage and tore the roof off a barn, hurling it into a steel shed; both structures incurred severe damage, along with machinery. The tornado injured livestock as well. F2Big RapidsMecostaMI01:10–?A strong tornado hit Ferris State University (then College), tearing loose a wall and smashing windows. It then shifted a nearby home off its foundation, while damaging the windows and roof of a gym at Riverview Elementary School. Several other homes received similar wall and roof damage, while a trailer was wrecked. Two injuries occurred. F1BradleyKankakeeIL01:44–?A brief tornado damaged power lines. FUMarkhamCookIL02:17–?Minor damage occurred.

June 10 event