What caused the 1999 Oklahoma tornado?
The Parent Supercell Thunderstorm – Storm A Storm A (see the Storm Data tab) produced 14 tornadoes over a period of about 3.5 hours and was eventually responsible for the F5 tornado (A9) that struck Bridge Creek, Oklahoma City, and Moore. The storm began around 3:30 PM CDT (2:30 PM CST) in Tillman County, OK.
When was the May 3rd tornado in Oklahoma?
1999
May 3,1999: On this date in 1999, a large tornado developed near Amber,Oklahoma and moved north into Bridge Creek and then into South OKC and Moore.
How long did the 1999 Oklahoma tornado last?
1 hour, 25 minutes
1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado
| F5 tornado | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 hour, 25 minutes |
| Dissipated | May 3, 1999, 7:48 pm. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
| Highest winds | 135 ± 10 m/s (302 ± 22 mph) (as measured by mobile Doppler radar) |
| Max. rating1 | F5 tornado |
What is the fastest wind speed ever recorded in a tornado?
Tornado: Highest Recorded Wind Speed in Tornado (via Doppler Radar)
| Record Value | 135 m/s (302 mph) |
|---|---|
| Date of Event | 3/5/1999 |
| Length of Record | ~1996-present |
| Geospatial Location | Bridge Creek Oklahoma [35°14’N, 97°44’W, elevation 416 m (1365 ft)] |
What is the fastest tornado in history?
The 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado (locally referred to as the May 3rd tornado) was a large and exceptionally powerful F5 tornado in which the highest wind speeds ever measured globally were recorded at 301 ± 20 miles per hour (484 ± 32 km/h) by a Doppler on Wheels (DOW) radar.
Why is Oklahoma called Tornado Alley?
According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) FAQ, “Tornado Alley” is a term used by the media as a reference to areas that have higher numbers of tornadoes. A study of 1921–1995 tornadoes concluded almost one-fourth of all significant tornadoes occur in this area.
