The 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak was a severe weather event that lasted from May 3rd until May 6th, and brought violent storms to Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Tennessee.
In this episode of Storm Stories, we focus on the May 3rd tornado that struck the Bridge Creek/Oklahoma City area. It was the most significant tornado of the outbreak, causing more than $1.1 billion in damage. Forty-eight people died during the outbreak.
This tornado was truly amazing.
Researchers from the University of Oklahoma announced that their radar measured 318-mph winds in the tornado while it was near Bridge Creek. With these incredible wind speeds, some speculated the tornado should have been rated an F6. But that's not how it works.
F-scale ratings are assigned based on the severity of the damage caused, *not* on wind speed. Although some of the damage was incredible, the most severe damage from the May 3rd tornado was comparable to, but not worse than, other documented F5 tornadoes.
Even if the F-scale wind speed ranges were reliable estimates, the University of Oklahoma measurement of 318mph is still in the F5 range (261-318mph) as defined by Dr. Fujita.
Still, was the May 3rd tornado the strongest, most violent tornado ever?
Experts say probably not. But we also really have no way of knowing. You have to consider different factors like inflation, varying population, and property density over time and space, and the lack of direct wind speed measurements from all but a very few other tornadoes.
Other tornadoes have been wider, many have been more deadly, some have lived longer, and many have produced longer damage tracks.
But the May 3rd tornado is the most expensive tornado ever recorded, costing more than one billion dollars. Also, the May 3rd tornado likely has the highest recorded tornado wind speeds.
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