1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak
The 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak was a significant tornado outbreak that affected much of the Central and parts of the Eastern United States, with the highest record-breaking wind speeds of 301 ± 20 mph (484 ± 32 km/h). During this week-long event, 154 tornadoes touched down (including one in Canada). More than half of them were on May 3 and 4 when activity reached its peak over Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and Arkansas.
A tornado near Anadarko, Oklahoma, on May 3, 1999 | |
| Duration | May 2–8, 1999 |
|---|---|
| Highest winds |
|
| Tornadoes confirmed | 152 |
| Max. rating1 | F5 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 6 days, 1 hour and 35 minutes |
| Largest hail | 4.5 in (11 cm) in diameter (multiple locations on May 3) |
| Fatalities | 50 fatalities (+7 non-tornadic), 895 injuries |
| Damage | $1.5 billion (1997 USD) 2.76 Billion (2024 USD) |
| Areas affected | Central and Eastern United States |
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 1999 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
The most significant tornado first touched down southwest of Chickasha, Oklahoma, and became an F5 before dissipating near Midwest City. The tornado tore through southern and eastern parts of Oklahoma City and its suburbs of Bridge Creek, Moore, Del City, Tinker Air Force Base and Midwest City, directly killed 40 people and 45 people total, destroyed more than 8,000 homes, and caused $1 billion in damage. With a total of 72 tornadoes, it was the most prolific tornado outbreak in Oklahoma history, although not the deadliest.