Remembering May 3, 1999

By News 9 Meteorologist Nick Bender

Today, Saturday, marks the nine-year anniversary of the Oklahoma May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak, in which 66 tornadoes ravaged parts of Oklahoma and Kansas causing insurmountable damage and taking the lives of 48 people.

Amid the handful of strong F3 and F4 tornadoes was the Moore-Bridgecreek-Oklahoma City F5 tornado. This twister boasted measured winds of over 300 mph, was over a mile wide at times, claimed the lives of 36 people, and caused more than $1.1 billion in damage, making it the costliest single tornado in U.S. history.

Many lessons were learned that day; what atmospheric conditions could birth such a monster, do's and don'ts when a killer tornado is bearing down on you, and how warnings given out well in advance of the onslaught saved countless lives. All of these topics will be covered in News 9's "Tornado Week", May 5-9 at 5PM & 10PM.