1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado facts for kids
| F5 tornado | |
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The tornado near peak intensity
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| Formed | May 3, 1999, 6:23 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
| Duration | 1 hour, 25 minutes |
| Dissipated | May 3, 1999, 7:48 pm. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
| Max rating1 | F5 tornado |
| Highest winds |
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| Damage | $1 billion (1999 USD) $1.3 billion (2021 USD) |
| Total fatalities | 36 fatalities (+5 indirect), 583 injuries |
| Areas affected | Grady, McClain, Cleveland and Oklahoma counties in Oklahoma; with the worst impacts occurring in the towns/cities of Bridge Creek, Moore, Oklahoma City, Del City, and Midwest City |
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1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale Part of the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak |
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The 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado was a very violent F5 tornado that hit the Bridge Creek and Moore areas of Oklahoma on the evening of May 3, 1999. It had the highest wind speed ever recorded at 301 miles per hour (484 km/h). It killed at least 36 people and hurt 583 others. It caused $1 billion in damage. The tornado's strength led to the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Norman issuing the first-ever tornado emergency. In 2013, Moore was again hit by an EF5 tornado, but fewer people were killed even though there was more damage.
Images for kids
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A map of the meteorological setup of the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak. The map displays surface and upper level atmospheric features associated with the outbreak.
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Visible satellite loops of supercells A (yellow arrow) and B (blue arrow)
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F5 damage to a house in Bridge Creek, with severe debarking and ground scouring visible on the property.
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Approximate tracks of the supercells during the outbreak. The supercell that spawned the F5 tornado is marked "A" in green.
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Overhead view of damage in Oklahoma City.
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Urban search and rescue teams were deployed to help search for missing persons in the wake of the tornado.
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Residents search for belongings in the remains of their homes.
