NEWS 9 Remembers May 3 Tornado Coverage

Ten years ago a storm unlike any NEWS 9 had ever seen before changed Oklahoma forever. Neighborhoods were leveled and the destruction on May 3, 1999 was unparalleled.

Sunday, May 3rd 2009, 8:51 pm

By: News 9


NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY - Ten years ago a storm unlike any NEWS 9 had ever seen before changed Oklahoma forever. Neighborhoods were leveled and the destruction on May 3, 1999 was unparalleled.

"The thing that stands out about May 3 is the sheer number of tornadoes, 60 plus, the sheer number of tornadoes and the duration," said NEWS 9 Chief Meteorologist Gary England. "It went on for 10 hours. They were big and dangerous and deadly. A lot of people think we had a tornado in Moore, no brother we had them all over the place."

Gary England and NEWS 9 Content Producer Jenny Monroe remember that May 3 was different. No one had seen video or radar like they saw that day. It was stunning to watch.

"Probably my most vivid memory was when SkyNEWS 9 was over Interstate 44. It was a little off level and straightening up. It was a huge tornado and it was approaching Bridge Creek," Gary said.

" We were looking up at the monitors and Gary asked one of the storm trackers to widen out his shot because the tornado was engulfing the entire screen and the storm tracker radioed back that was as wide as his camera would go," Jenny said.

"It was about a mile across. It was the most ungodly shot that I've ever seen in my life," Gary said.

Jenny recalls the color draining from Gary's face because that's when everyone realized the tornado was headed toward the metro.

Gary said he used phrases and warnings he'd never used before because it was imperative that people understand how dangerous and deadly the storm was.

"It was the first time I ever said you need to be below ground level to survive," Gary said.

"I promise you everyone in the weather center, we believed it. We were watching this storm tear up the metro. He's never said that since," Jenny said.

More than 60 twisters hit our state that day, killing 40 Oklahomans. The May 3 storm coverage has changed the way we forecast weather today.

"I think May 3 is the day that made us realize it could happen here, that we do need to be prepared," Jenny said.

"We haven't had anything like May 3. Eventually it will happen again. We'll have a huge number of tornadoes. Hopefully, we have learned our lessons and haven't forgotten them by the time that happens," Gary said.

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