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A tornado outbreak occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of the May 20, 2013, and was the last day of a three-day stretch of significant severe weather from May 18-20, 2013. This event also produced the most deadly and devastating tornado of the year for Oklahoma and the the United States.
Several supercell thunderstorms developed during early afternoon of May 20th along a dryline in central Oklahoma. One of these storms developed near Chickasha and rapidly intensified, producing a tornado which touched down at 2:56 PM CDT on the west side of Newcastle. The tornado became violent within minutes, then tracked east-northeastward across the city of Moore and parts of south Oklahoma City for about 40 minutes before finally dissipating near Lake Stanley Draper. The tornado caused catastrophic damage in these areas, and was given a maximum rating of EF-5. The tornado claimed 24 lives, injured scores of people, and caused billions of dollars in damage.
Several other tornadoes also occurred in Stephens and Lincoln Counties during the afternoon of May 20. In addition to the tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds caused damage in many areas.
This photo was taken around 3:00 pm CDT on May 20, 2013 from Carrington Lane in the Carrington Place addition in northwest Norman, which is located between 36th Ave NW and 48th Ave NW, and south of Franklin Road. The view is looking northwest towards the corner of Franklin Road and 48th Ave NW. This photo was provided courtesy of Jenny Hamar. |
Year | Total |
2019 | 25 |
2013 | 15 |
1977 | 14 |
2001 | 12 |
1957 | 11 |
Immediately after the Moore EF-5 event, the city of Moore and Cleveland county emergency management officials quickly set up an Incident Command (IC) Post in the parking lot of the Warren Theater. The NWS office was in immediate contact with the Moore IC using the 800 mHZ radio providing continuious weather updates and forecasts. The following day (Tuesday May 21st), the NWS office provided a forecaster on site at the Moore IC, which was then moved to the Fire Station on SW 19th. The Moore IC was staffed with a NWS meteorologist from Tuesday - Saturday, providing on site weather support to the Incident Commanders and First Responders. The following meteorolgists took turns serving the IC, Lead Forecaster Scott Curl, General Forecaster Bruce Thoren, and Lead Forecaster Michael Scotten. These meteorologists were the liaison between the meteorologists at the forecast office and the IC. They staffed the IC for 12 hour shifts from 7am to 7pm. Here are some of the photos they collected during there time at the Command Post.
Checkout the Incident Command Structure here, courtesy of FEMA.
Photo of the May 20, 2013 Newcastle-South OKC-Moore EF-5 Tornado was provided courtesy of Gabe Garfield.
Below are images with the preliminary damage path of the Newcastle-South OKC-Moore EF-5 Tornado. Contours delineate the extent of EF-0 (light blue), EF-1 (green), EF-2 (yellow), EF-3 (orange), and EF-4 (red), and EF-5 (magenta) damage from the survey.
A tornado outbreak occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of the May 20, 2013. Several tornadoes occurred from central Oklahoma down through south central Oklahoma near the Red River. The strongest tornado touched down near Newcastle and traveled through Moore and south Oklahoma City. This tornado caused catastrophic damage in these areas, with a maximum rating of EF-5. The tornado claimed 24 lives and caused billions of dollars in damage. In addition to the tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds cause damage in many areas.
The violent Newcastle-South OKC-Moore tornado was first observed at 1:56 PM CST (2:56 PM CDT) developing about one-half mile south of Oklahoma State Highway 37 in northwest Newcastle to the east of Rockwell Avenue. EF-4 damage was observed soon after the tornado crossed State Highway 37. The tornado continued to expand in size as it approached the Canadian River and moved into Cleveland County.
The tornado then moved into Cleveland County at 2:04 PM CST from McClain County as it moved northeast across the Canadian River near U.S. Interstate Highway 44. The tornado then turned more east and then east-northeast after crossing I-44. Violent EF-4 damage was again observed as it began to move into progressively higher density residential areas approaching May Avenue.
The center of the large tornado path passed near SW 149th Street and Western Avenue. After crossing Western Avenue, numerous buildings were destroyed and horses killed at Orr Family Farm. Two storage tanks estimated to weigh approximately 10 tons were lifted from Orr Family Farm and landed about one-half mile east.
Moving east, the tornado destroyed much of Briarwood Elementary School, where the NWS storm survey team rated damage as EF-5. Despite the destruction of this elementary school during school hours, no fatalities occurred at the school. As the tornado continued to move east and east-northeast, it moved through much more densely populated suburban neighborhoods of southwest Oklahoma City and Moore where violent destruction was widespread.
The width of EF-4 and greater damage was up to 250 yards wide as the tornado moved through neighborhoods east of Western Avenue. The first two fatalities occurred in a house in the neighborhood just east of Briarwood Elementary, with another fatality in a house as the tornado approached Santa Fe Avenue.
After crossing Santa Fe Avenue, the tornado moved through more suburban neighborhoods and toward Plaza Towers Elementary School. Damage to the school was extensive and seven children were killed when a wall collapsed at the school. Nine other people were killed in eight different neighborhood homes within one-quarter mile of Plaza Towers Elementary, most occurring just south of the school.
The tornado turned northeast as it approached Telephone Road, made a loop near the intersection of Telephone Road and 4th Street, then moved southeast crossing the interstate. Three people were killed when a convenience store along Telephone Road was destroyed. Crossing Telephone Road, the tornado inflicted significant damage to the Moore Medical Center, a post office and numerous businesses along Telephone Road and U.S. Interstate Highway 35.
Although the tornado was more narrow after crossing I-35, it continued to produce EF-4 damage in neighborhoods east of the interstate as it curved east and then again east-northeast. One fatality occurred at a business just east of the interstate, and one final fatality occurred in a home between Eastern Avenue and Bryant Avenue. Consistent EF-4 damage continued until the tornado passed SE 4th Street just east of Bryant Avenue.
Moving east from Bryant Avenue, the tornado continued to produce EF-2 damage with isolated EF-4 damage noted. The density of housing also decreased east of Bryant as the tornado moved east and east-northeast before dissipating at 2:35 PM CST east of Air Depot Blvd. between SE 119th Street and SE 134th Street in southeast Oklahoma City. Overall, over 300 homes experienced EF-4/EF-5 damage along the tornado path.
Surveys conducted by crews in the NWS Norman and NWS Tulsa forecast areas revealed that 15 tornadoes occurred during the afternoon and evening of May 20, 2013. A total of 5 tornadoes occurred in the NWS Norman forecast area in McClain, Cleveland, Lincoln, Stephens, and Coal Counties in central and southern Oklahoma. A total of 10 tornadoes occurred in the NWS Tulsa forecast area in Osage, Washington, Rogers, Ottawa, Adair, and Le Flore Counties in eastern Oklahoma.
# | Date | Time (CST) |
Path Length (miles) |
Path Width (yards) |
F-Scale | Killed | Injured | County | Path |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 05/20/2013 | 1356-1435 | 14 | 1900 | EF5 | 24 | 212 | McClain/ Cleveland | Newcastle (3 NW US-277/SH-130) - 3 WNW Stanley Draper Lake Dam |
2 | 05/20/2013 | 1358-1401 | 1 | 30 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Stephens | 7 SSE Marlow |
3 | 05/20/2013 | 1407-1422 | 4 | 200 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Stephens | 4 SSE Marlow - 4 W Bray |
4 | 05/20/2013 | 1451-1505 | 6.5 | 500 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Osage/ Washington | 4.5 S Avant - 5.3 W Vera |
5 | 05/20/2013 | 1521-1530 | 4.5 | 400 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Washington | 3 SSE - 5 E Ramona |
6 | 05/20/2013 | 1533-1547 | 6 | 500 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Washington/ Rogers | 5.6 ENE Ramona - 3.9 NNW Talala |
7 | 05/20/2013 | 1540-1542 | 1.2 | 100 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Lincoln | 6 NE Meeker - 3.1 SSE Sparks |
8 | 05/20/2013 | 1725-1740 | 10 | 800 | EF2 | 0 | 0 | Ottawa | 3.6 SW Ottawa - 3.9 ENE Wyandotte |
9 | 05/20/2013 | 1732-1743 | 9 | 600 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Ottawa/ Newton MO | 2.4 WNW Wyandotte - 1 SSW Seneca MO |
10 | 05/20/2013 | 1732-1734 | 2 | 150 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Adair | 2 SE Proctor - 1.9 WNW Christie |
11 | 05/20/2013 | 1735-1737 | 2.5 | 300 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Adair | 1.7 WSW - 1.3 N Christie |
12 | 05/20/2013 | 1740-1747 | 8 | 500 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Adair/ Washington AR | 1.2 NE Addielee OK - 2.2 NNW Cincinnati AR |
13 | 05/20/2013 | 1749-1757 | 6 | 250 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Coal | 4 WSW - 2 E Lehigh |
14 | 05/20/2013 | 1933-1934 | 0.7 | 260 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Le Flore | 2.1 S - 1.8 SSE Milton |
15 | 05/20/2013 | 1944-1955 | 8.5 | 500 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Le Flore | 0.7 ENE Neff - 1.8 S Rock Island |
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 858 PM CDT WED MAY 22 2013 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0154 PM HAIL 6 N MARLOW 34.73N 97.96W 05/20/2013 E1.75 INCH GRADY OK PUBLIC 0156 PM HAIL 1 S RUSH SPRINGS 34.76N 97.96W 05/20/2013 E1.00 INCH GRADY OK EMERGENCY MNGR 0202 PM HAIL 6 W DUNCAN 34.52N 98.07W 05/20/2013 E1.00 INCH STEPHENS OK AMATEUR RADIO 0215 PM HAIL 1 W SHEPPARD AFB 33.98N 98.52W 05/20/2013 E1.25 INCH WICHITA TX TRAINED SPOTTER 0220 PM HAIL SHEPPARD AFB 33.98N 98.50W 05/20/2013 E1.75 INCH WICHITA TX TRAINED SPOTTER 0227 PM HAIL YUKON 35.51N 97.75W 05/20/2013 E3.25 INCH CANADIAN OK NEWSPAPER 0228 PM HAIL WILL ROGERS AIRPORT 35.39N 97.60W 05/20/2013 E1.00 INCH OKLAHOMA OK NWS EMPLOYEE 0256 PM TORNADO NEWCASTLE 35.25N 97.60W 05/20/2013 MCCLAIN OK BROADCAST MEDIA LIFTED AROUND 336 PM. ESTIMATED PATH LENGTH OF 20 MILES THRU NEWCASTLE, MOORE, AND SOUTH OKC. PRELIMINARY DAMAGE RATING OF AT LEAST EF4. 0306 PM HAIL 3 NNW MOORE 35.38N 97.50W 05/20/2013 E2.50 INCH OKLAHOMA OK TRAINED SPOTTER 0412 PM HAIL WILL ROGERS AIRPORT 35.39N 97.60W 05/20/2013 M2.00 INCH OKLAHOMA OK OFFICIAL NWS OBS 0415 PM HAIL WAURIKA 34.17N 98.00W 05/20/2013 E1.00 INCH JEFFERSON OK PUBLIC 0430 PM TORNADO 1 W MEEKER 35.50N 96.91W 05/20/2013 LINCOLN OK BROADCAST MEDIA REPORTED BY KWTV 0436 PM HAIL WHITEBEAD 34.77N 97.30W 05/20/2013 E1.75 INCH GARVIN OK AMATEUR RADIO 0440 PM HAIL WICHITA FALLS 33.91N 98.50W 05/20/2013 E1.75 INCH WICHITA TX PUBLIC 0445 PM HAIL CORNISH 34.16N 97.60W 05/20/2013 E2.50 INCH JEFFERSON OK PUBLIC 0452 PM HAIL 6 W STRATFORD 34.80N 97.07W 05/20/2013 E1.75 INCH GARVIN OK PUBLIC 0453 PM HAIL WICHITA FALLS 33.91N 98.50W 05/20/2013 E1.75 INCH WICHITA TX PUBLIC 5 MILES WEST OF FISHER RD 0543 PM HAIL 2 SSE TURNER FALLS 34.40N 97.14W 05/20/2013 E1.00 INCH MURRAY OK EMERGENCY MNGR 0545 PM TSTM WND DMG GENE AUTRY 34.28N 97.04W 05/20/2013 CARTER OK EMERGENCY MNGR EM REPORTS ROOF BLOWN OFF OF OLD GENE AUTRY GYM. 0630 PM HAIL HENRIETTA 33.82N 98.19W 05/20/2013 E1.00 INCH CLAY TX AMATEUR RADIO 0639 PM TSTM WND GST 2 WNW WAPANUCKA 34.38N 96.46W 05/20/2013 M80.00 MPH JOHNSTON OK TRAINED SPOTTER SPOTTER REPORTED TREE BRANCHES DOWN IN AREA 0800 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 W DURANT 33.99N 96.39W 05/20/2013 BRYAN OK EMERGENCY MNGR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTS TREES DOWN AND POWER LINE DOWN IN WESTERN DURANT. 0805 PM TSTM WND GST 7 WNW ARDMORE 34.21N 97.24W 05/20/2013 M62.00 MPH CARTER OK MESONET 0824 PM HAIL MARIETTA 33.93N 97.12W 05/20/2013 E1.00 INCH LOVE OK EMERGENCY MNGR 0909 PM HAIL 4 S LITTLE CITY 34.02N 96.62W 05/20/2013 E2.75 INCH MARSHALL OK PUBLIC 0958 PM HAIL 7 NNW DURANT 34.08N 96.42W 05/20/2013 E1.00 INCH BRYAN OK EMERGENCY MNGR AT INTERSECTION OF SH-22 AND ALBERT PIKE ROAD 1025 PM HAIL GERONIMO 34.48N 98.38W 05/20/2013 E1.75 INCH COMANCHE OK FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 1025 PM HAIL 2 SW GERONIMO 34.46N 98.41W 05/20/2013 E1.25 INCH COMANCHE OK TRAINED SPOTTER 1126 PM HAIL DUNCAN 34.52N 97.97W 05/20/2013 E1.25 INCH STEPHENS OK LAW ENFORCEMENT AT STEPHENS COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 1127 PM HAIL WYNNEWOOD 34.64N 97.16W 05/20/2013 E1.00 INCH GARVIN OK PUBLIC PUBLIC REPORTED HAIL COVERING GROUND...DIMES TO QUARTERS. 1134 PM HAIL EMPIRE CITY 34.46N 98.04W 05/20/2013 E1.75 INCH STEPHENS OK BROADCAST MEDIA FROM KSWO 1226 AM HAIL ADA 34.78N 96.66W 05/21/2013 E1.00 INCH PONTOTOC OK BROADCAST MEDIA 1230 AM HAIL ADA 34.78N 96.66W 05/21/2013 E1.25 INCH PONTOTOC OK PUBLIC 0400 AM HAIL 1 E PURCELL 35.01N 97.35W 05/21/2013 E1.00 INCH MCCLAIN OK NWS EMPLOYEE 0517 AM TSTM WND GST 2 W CYRIL 34.90N 98.24W 05/21/2013 M77.00 MPH CADDO OK AMATEUR RADIO 0520 AM TSTM WND DMG CYRIL 34.90N 98.20W 05/21/2013 CADDO OK EMERGENCY MNGR TREE DAMAGE AND POWERLINES DOWN. 0525 AM HAIL CYRIL 34.90N 98.20W 05/21/2013 M1.00 INCH CADDO OK AMATEUR RADIO 0526 AM TSTM WND DMG CEMENT 34.94N 98.14W 05/21/2013 CADDO OK AMATEUR RADIO ROOF OFF OF BUILDING BY HIGHWAY 277...BLOCKING ROADWAY. 0546 AM HAIL NINNEKAH 34.95N 97.92W 05/21/2013 E1.75 INCH GRADY OK TRAINED SPOTTER 0549 AM TSTM WND DMG CEMENT 34.94N 98.14W 05/21/2013 CADDO OK AMATEUR RADIO TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN 0550 AM TSTM WND GST 2 NNW NINNEKAH 34.98N 97.93W 05/21/2013 M60.00 MPH GRADY OK MESONET 0953 AM HAIL REED 34.90N 99.68W 05/21/2013 E1.00 INCH GREER OK EMERGENCY MNGR 1000 AM HAIL 6 N MANGUM 34.97N 99.50W 05/21/2013 E1.75 INCH GREER OK EMERGENCY MNGR 1016 AM HAIL 1 S LONE WOLF 34.98N 99.25W 05/21/2013 E1.75 INCH KIOWA OK AMATEUR RADIO 1017 AM HAIL GRANITE 34.96N 99.38W 05/21/2013 E1.25 INCH GREER OK PUBLIC 1019 AM HAIL LONE WOLF 34.99N 99.25W 05/21/2013 E1.75 INCH KIOWA OK AMATEUR RADIO 1114 AM HAIL EAKLY 35.31N 98.56W 05/21/2013 E1.75 INCH CADDO OK AMATEUR RADIO 1120 AM HAIL BINGER 35.31N 98.34W 05/21/2013 E1.75 INCH CADDO OK AMATEUR RADIO 1140 AM HAIL 2 E NILES 35.43N 98.21W 05/21/2013 E1.50 INCH CANADIAN OK PUBLIC 0208 PM FLASH FLOOD ATOKA 34.38N 96.13W 05/21/2013 ATOKA OK PUBLIC 900 BLK OF W 6TH STREET AND 700 BLK OF E 6TH STREET CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING. VIA PUBLIC WORKS 0225 PM FLASH FLOOD 7 NE COALGATE 34.61N 96.13W 05/21/2013 COAL OK EMERGENCY MNGR WATER OVER ROADWAY HWY 37 AT KEEL CREEK BRIDGE && $$ JPIKE |
From Indian Hills Road looking North - Photos courtesy of Gabriel Garfield | |
This photo was taken around 3:00 pm CDT on May 20, 2013 from Carrington Lane in the Carrington Place addition in northwest Norman, which is located between 36th Ave NW and 48th Ave NW, and south of Franklin Road. The view is looking northwest towards the corner of Franklin Road and 48th Ave NW. This photo was provided courtesy of Jenny Hamar. |
The following photos show damage produced by the May 20, 2013 EF-5 tornado. These photos were taken by NWS meteorologist Doug Speheger during a damage survey of the Moore, OK area on May 21, 2013.
Looking N at professional building at SW6/Classen |
Looking SW at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking at damage at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking SE at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking SW at Plaza Towers Elementary |
View of tornado damage |
View of tornado damage |
View of tornado damage |
View of Briarwood Elementary School |
View of Briarwood Elementary School |
Looking SSW at Tinker Federal Credit Union & Warren Theatre |
Looking ENE at background: Moore Medical Center |
Looking SW at Tinker Federal Credit Union |
Looking S at west side of Tinker Federal Credit Union |
Looking S at west side of Tinker Federal Credit Union |
Looking NW at background: Moore Medical Center |
Looking SE at west side of Tinker Federal Credit Union |
Looking NW at background: Moore Medical Center |
Looking S at west side of Tinker Federal Credit Union |
Looking SE at west side of Tinker Federal Credit Union |
View of tornado damage |
Looking at Tinker Federal Credit Union |
Looking NW at west side of TFCU; Moore Medical Center |
View of tornado damage |
Looking SSE at AMF Moore Lanes |
Looking NW at Moore Medical Center |
Looking NNW at Moore Medical Center |
Looking N at Moore Medical Center |
Looking NW at Moore Medical Center |
Looking NW at professional building at SW6/Classen |
Looking NW at professional building at SW6/Classen |
Looking NW at professional building at SW6/Classen |
Looking SE at 7-11 at SW4/Telephone |
Looking SE at 7-11 at SW4/Telephone |
Looking S at 7-11 at SW4/Telephone |
Looking W at 7-11 at SW4/Telephone |
Looking SE at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking ESE at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking SSW at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking SW at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking S at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking SW at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking SE at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking SE at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking ESE at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking WSW at Plaza Towers Elementary |
Looking WSW at Plaza Towers Elementary |
View of tornado damage |
View of tornado damage |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Briarwood Elementary School |
View of damage at Orr Family Farm |
View of damage at Orr Family Farm |
View of damage at Orr Family Farm> |
View of damage at Orr Family Farm |
View of damage at Orr Family Farm |
View of damage at Orr Family Farm |
View of damage at Orr Family Farm |
View of tornado damage |
View of tornado damage |
View of tornado damage |