Fast Facts about the May 8, 2003 Oklahoma City Tornado

• The tornado was first reported by a spotter on the west side of I-35 at Hwy. 37 in Moore, near the intersection of Santa Fe Ave. and 149th St. at about 5:10 p.m. It then tracked across I-35 at 12th St., through south Oklahoma City, across I-240 at Sooner Road, across Tinker Air Force Base, across I-40 into SE Midwest City, and into Choctaw.
  
  
• Approximately 21 minute lead time for Moore in Cleveland County and approximately 30 minute lead time for Oklahoma County.
  
  
• Preliminary estimates indicate the tornado path was about 19 miles long.
  
  
• The tornado outbreak was forecast several days in advance.
  
  
• For the first time ever at the NWS Norman office, a live weather briefing was given at 2:30 pm CDT on 5/8/2003 concerning the developing severe weather situation. This briefing was broadcast through the 10 weather radio stations operated by NWS Norman.
  
  
• The first tornado warning of the day was for Grady County at 4:33 p.m.
  
  
• The warning issued for the metro area, including Cleveland, McClain and south Oklahoma Counties was issued at 4:49 p.m.
  
  
• The NWS Forecast Office issued a regional weather discussion at 4 p.m. that specifically mentioned the risk for severe storms in the Oklahoma City metro area between 4:30 and 6 p.m.
  
  
• The NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center issued a tornado watch for south central Kansas and central Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma City metro area, at 1:35 p.m.
  
  
• Staff members from the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office are conducting surveys of the damage. An F-scale rating will be released when the surveys are completed, possibly as soon as Friday afternoon.
  
  
• Preliminary total tornadoes in central Oklahoma - 3.
  
  
• About the time the metro area tornado was dissipating, a new tornado started near Harrah and moved into southern Lincoln County north of Meeker.
  
  
• An additional tornado occurred in Noble County.
  
  
• While the tornado was on the ground, the NWS FO provided continuous live coverage of the storm track on NOAA Weather Radio.

For more information contact:

Keli Tarp
NOAA Weather Partners Public Affairs
405-366-0451 or 405-203-4839