Tulsa World: Tornado showed its power

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Tornado showed its power
Within 63 minutes, the F5 twister killed 36 people

A tornado estimated to be one-half mile wide passes through Mooreon May 3, 1999. In all, 44 people died from the May 3-4 tornadoes in Oklahoma. Paul Hellstern / The Oklahoman file

By KEN RAYMOND NewsOK.com
Published: 5/3/2009 2:30 AM
Last Modified: 5/3/2009 3:47 AM

It wasn't the deadliest tornado ever.

Wasn't the biggest, either, or the longest-lived.

No one can say for certain, but the National Weather Service says it probably wasn't the most powerful tornado. Somewhere in the past, before there were measuring devices and wind-speed estimates, other twisters likely produced higher winds.

But the F5 tornado, and the 50 or so others that swept through Oklahoma on May 3, 1999, was plenty bad.

Picture the F5 — a churning pillar of swirling debris as much as a mile wide, wrapped in clouds, rain and lightning and crawling blindly across 38 miles and four counties, devouring everything in its path. With top wind speeds in excess of 300 mph, the tornado was so strong it peeled asphalt from roads, toppled deep-rooted trees and turned brick homes into acres of rubble.

Against such force, fragile humans stood little chance. Thirty-six people died as a result of the F5 tornado that tracked across Grady, McClain, Cleveland and Oklahoma counties. In all, 44 people died from the May 3-4 tornadoes in Oklahoma. Many more were injured.

According to the weather service and The Oklahoman archives, here's how it played out:

About 6:25 p.m., an F3 tornado descended to the ground south of Amber in Grady County, sprawling to cover three-quarters of a mile as it tracked toward Bridge Creek. The area was sparsely populated, and most damage was to trees and barns.

The tornado grew in ferocity as it entered Bridge Creek about 6:45 p.m. The F5 tornado tore houses — mainly trailer homes — to bits and killed a dozen people. Five died in the Southern Hills area. Seven died in the Willow Lakes trailer park. Among the dead were 3-year-old Asheton Darnell and his grandmother, Lucille Darnell, 53.

Past Bridge Creek, the tornado temporarily decreased in intensity. Its winds dropped to F2 levels before screaming back to the 300 mph range as it entered southwest Oklahoma City. Once again an F5, the tornado charged through the Country Place addition near SW 138 and Pennsylvania, toppling about half the homes there. About 7:20 p.m., the twister struck Westmoore High School and the Eastlake addition, destroying as many as 200 homes. Many people were injured. Some didn't survive.

The F5 tornado moved into Moore, carving through the Regency Park area and destroying or damaging churches, businesses, hotels and an apartment complex. It dropped to F4 intensity, leveling more homes and ripping apart the Lakeside golf course before entering southeast Oklahoma City, killing two people at a Bryant Avenue trucking company.

The tornado's final act took it into Del City and Midwest City, where it claimed businesses, a motel and several homes. Five people died. About 7:48 p.m., the tornado dissipated near Air Depot and NE 10.

kraymond@opubco.com

By KEN RAYMOND NewsOK.com

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	Report Comment ajohnb, Jenks (5/3/2009 7:49:49 AM) A tragic tornado. But the way people pulled together afterwards restores a lot of faith in people. Many emergency workers went beyond the call of duty and did thousands of volunteers. It affected a home of mine and destroyed homes of several of my employees. We are all grateful for the effort put in by the workers and volunteers.
	Report Comment sauerkraut, Columbus (5/3/2009 1:19:54 PM) It was a very grim storm. It's even harder for people to survive a F-5 when homes don't have basements and/or storm shelters. The pictures show alot of damage.

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