25 Years Since One of Oklahoma’s Most Infamous Tornadoes

Several Oklahomans alive today will always remember May 3, 1999. And that's because Oklahoma was struck by nearly 60 tornadoes, and one of them turned out to be one of the state's most violent and deadly tornadoes in the state's history.

This year will make the 25th anniversary of the infamous tornado that struck parts of Bridge Creek, Newcastle, Moore and Oklahoma City.

What happened on May 3, 1999?

Like most Oklahoma spring days, the day started out cloudy but the threat for severe weather was imminent. During the morning hours, the Storm Prediction Center had indicated a "slight risk" of severe weather. Severe weather possibilities, including hail, damaging winds and tornadoes, were being monitored by meteorologists and storm spotters across the state.

Before the afternoon, an unstable air mass was beginning to form and the possibility for severe weather increasing. The risk level rose to moderate for the state by noon. Into the middle of the afternoon, the National Weather Service in Norman, launched a weather balloon that indicated that the weather was conducive for tornadoes.

According to the National Weather Service in Norman's official account of that day, it was stated that the day's weather "became more obvious something major was looming."

F5 Tornado Strikes Oklahoma City Metro

As the evening drew closer, the severe weather risk was increased to a high risk for the state. By 5 p.m. supercells began forming in southwest Oklahoma and soon moved towards the Oklahoma City metro.

The tornado that struck Oklahoma City was an F5 tornado that was the 9th out of 14 tornadoes that was formed by that one supercell. It formed around 5:26 p.m. two miles south of Amber, Oklahoma, and "grew rapidly to monstrous proportions" as it headed northeast along I-44.

It first moved through Bridge Creek and then rural parts of northwest Newcastle. It weakened in intensity as it moved into southwest Oklahoma City but it regained strength and widened as it moved across Oklahoma City and into Moore.

The tornado then began to turn left and entered into southeastern Oklahoma City and Del City, and continued on it's north-northeast path through the northwestern part of Tinker Air Force Base. By 6:48 p.m. the tornado had rapidly weakened.

Fatalities and Injuries

The National Weather Service in Norman documented 36 direct fatalities, including 12 in Bridge Creek, one in Newcastle, nine in southern/southeastern Oklahoma City, five in Moore, six in Del City and three in Midwest City.

There were five indirect fatalities during or after the tornado, plus 583 injuries, numerous indirect injuries, 1,800 homes destroyed and 2,500 homes damaged, with a total of estimated damage at $1 billion.

The tornado was one of 60 tornadoes that struck Oklahoma that day. It was the 118th tornado to hit Oklahoma City since 1890.