May 8, 2003 Moore-OKC Area Tornado
Preceded by Smaller Tornado in South Oklahoma City

The tornado damage path can be viewed on this map.

A follow-up damage survey has identified another tornado damage track across south Oklahoma City from the storms on the afternoon of Thursday, May 8, 2003. It now appears that the tornado that caused F3 and local F4 damage on the south and east sides of the Oklahoma City area was the second, and possibly the third, tornado produced by that storm.

Based on eyewitness accounts, delayed storm spotter reports, and damage accounts provided by local residents, the National Weather Service revisited several areas in far south Oklahoma City early Monday. The areas re-examined were from the general region of South 140th and Pennsylvania, east northeastward to Highway 37 between Western and Santa Fe.

Preliminary results of this survey indicate that an F0 tornado began at 5:04 pm CDT about 1/2 mile northwest of 149th and Pennsylvania. It moved east northeast for nearly 2 miles, lifting just southeast of 134th and Western. This damage track is parallel to and about 1/4 mile southeast of the track of the F5 tornado of May 3, 1999.

Damage was first observed near the intersection of Jamie Drive and Libb Street, where several trees and large branches were snapped off. Structural damage was limited to minor fence damage, several canoes tossed 100 feet or more, a pontoon boat overturned, and several pieces of lawn furniture and recreational equipment destroyed. The weak tornado moved almost due east along Jamie Drive for several hundred yards before turning more to the northeast.

The tornado crossed Pennsylvania Avenue about 50 to 100 yards south of 140th street. Several outbuildings were damaged at a ranch and horse stable. Most of the damage again was to large trees, which were uprooted, either snapped off, or lost large branches. A resident reported that winds in the area went dead calm at about 5:02 pm CDT, just before the tornado struck at around 5:05 pm CDT.

At this point, the tornado turned more to the east again, with damage limited to trees in the mostly rural area between Pennsylvania and Blackwelder. As it approached Blackwelder, it curved more to the east-northeast again, causing some minor damage to one residence and several nearby outbuildings near 140th and Blackwelder. The pattern of tree damage in this area, along with an account from one resident of tree limbs from the east side of his home being found on the west side after the event, confirm the presence of rotation in this area.

Continuing to the east-northeast, the tornado crossed mostly open land between Blackwelder and Western. It crossed Western just south of 134th Street (State Highway 37), downing several power poles along Western and causing some minor damage to the Villa Teresa School. Spotter reports indicate that a rotating dust bowl, occasionally with debris, could be seen along much of the track from near Pennsylvania Avenue to Blackwelder and Western. A brief condensation funnel appeared just southeast of 134th and Western, but dissipated before reaching 134th.

Sporadic minor damage was found along and near 134th between Western and Santa Fe. Due to the scattered nature of the damage in this area, the relatively weak intensity of the damage, and the lack of any concentrated damage track, it is determined that this damage was not tornadic. As discussed in an earlier statement, the damage along 134th is more likely the result of a form of straight-line wind known as a rear flank downdraft (RFD). Several large power lines were downed along 134th between Western and Santa Fe, but based on assessment of other nearby damage and reports from spotters, these power lines also appear to have been downed by straight-line winds.

Spotter reports also suggest that another brief tornado may have occurred farther southwest in the area of Highway 37 and Interstate 44, in northern McClain County. No damage has been reported in this area so far, but this event also may be confirmed as a separate tornado later on, pending review of additional spotter reports and available photo and video documentation.