Final tornado count: 58
LAST UPDATE: 8/ 5/01 (minor fixes to A9, A14, B5, D1, added missing acknowledgements)
F0F1F2F3F4F5
2814 7 6 2 1
Maps: Norman warning area, Extended into ICT,TUL areas
NWS May 3 page

Warnings/Statements: TOROKC products, SVROKC products, SVSOKC products.

Chronology of modifications
Unconfirmed reports
Storms A-I (excluding F) were assigned based on the chronological order of the first echo of the storm as seen from KTLX radar (0.5 degree tilt).
Storm Time of first echo Location of first echo Time of first Tornado Time (first echo- first tornado)# of tornadoes from storm
A 3:27 pm near Grandfield, OK 4:51 pm 1:24 14
B 4:06 pm west of Quanah, TX 5:36 pm 1:30 20
C 5:29 pm just east of Mountain View, OK 6:58 pm 1:29 2
D 6:31 pm just south of Bray, OK 8:34 pm 2:03 4
E 7:32 pm near Colony, OK 8:21 pm :49 7
F Not used
G 8:51 pm between Anadarko and Stecker, OK 9:56 pm 1:05 6
H 8:56 pm between Geary and Dover, OK 9:22 pm :26 4
I 9:41 pm just north of Eagle City, OK 10:28 pm :47 1
NOTE: Storm H formed in close proximity to Storm E (perhaps on Storm E's flanking line).

Storm identifier F not used as not to be confused with F-scale ratings.
Storm identifiers J and L were given to tornado producing storms in NWS/Tulsa area.
Storm identifier K was given to tornado producing storms in Kansas (Wichita area)
May 3 Tornadoes
_Date_Time (CDT) Len Wid F k i County Location source/ notes
(A) CHICKASHA - BRIDGE CREEK - OKC - MOORE - CHOCTAW STORM
A1 5/ 3/99 1651-1652 0.5 25 F0 0 0 Comanche 7 ENE Medicine Park ham report of 1 minute touchdown 2 miles north of I-44 on US-62. lsr says 5 ne lawton. Keith Brown saw 2 tornadoes near Lawton without specific information. no known damage
A2 5/ 3/99 1655 0.1 25 F0 0 0 Comanche 3 W Elgin stmt/lsr (ham report of brief touchdown). roberts received report of a tornado near Porter Hill (~5 W Elgin) with time given as 502 pm (seems a bit late). possible tornado from ladue video at 1654 in roughly same area. no known damage.
A3 5/ 3/99 1720-1735 6 100F3 0 3 Caddo 3 E Apache - 2 NE Steckerf/wid: ferree survey (with location as 1.5 E - 2 NE Stecker). times: erik's vortex status message and keith brown video. lsr and stmt had ~3 w cyril (from ham report). extended back to Apache per vortex message and reports. probe2 log 1724-1736
A4 5/ 3/99 1726 0.1 25 F0 0 0Caddo 3 NW Cyril LaDue, probe2 videoes. brief tornado at same time as A3. stmt, ham reports (1725:just w of sh-8 aprrox. 8 S Anadarko (ham report), 1726: 3w and 2 n cyril, 1728: 3n and 3w cyril). probe2 log reported funnel east at 1728 and tornado at 1730 [their watch here was 4 mins fast]. some reports probably part of A3, and some of A4
A5 5/ 3/99 1738 0.1 25 F0 0 0 Caddo 2 S Anadarko (Indian City Hill)ham report and svs. Scott Currens photograph
A6 5/ 3/99 1746-1810 9 880
(max)
F3 0 4Caddo/ Grady 2 WSW Laverty - 4 S Verden - 2.5 WNW Downtown Chickasha Stumpf survey. beginning location/time moved sw from 4 s verden per roger e report and dow map with stumpf's blessing. [1746-1752,F2 in Caddo; 1752-1810,F3 in Grady]
A7 5/ 3/99 1807-1808 ~1 75 (F0) 0 0 Grady 5 W Downtown Chickasha Stumpf survey/video; location estimate from Roger Edwards; satellite tornado around A6. probe2 log at 1807 around A6. damage not discernable from A6
A8 5/ 3/99 1812-1821 4 500
(max)
F2 0 4 Grady 2.5 NW Downtown Chichasha - Chickasha Airport (NW edge of Chicakasha) - 4 NNE Downtown Chickasha Stumpf survey. original tornado (A6) split into two per david sohl and todd crawford videos. [Chickasha Airport ~1816]
A9 5/ 3/99 1826-1948 371760
(max)
F5 36583Grady/ McClain/ Cleveland/ Oklahoma 2 SSW Amber - far N Newcastle - SW Oklahoma City - N Moore - S Del City - W Midwest City stumpf/ladue, floyd/roberts, branick, burgess/magsig surveys. [1823-1900,F5 (12k) in Grady; 1900-1912,F4 (1k) in McClain; 1912-1930,F5 (11k) in Cleveland; 1930-1948,F4 (12k) in Oklahoma.; SE edge of Amber ~1828; Bridge Creek ~1847; Newcastle (I-44/SH-76) ~1902; I-44 near SH-37 ~1909; SW OKC ~1912; (West)Moore ~1922; I-35/Shields 1927; crossing Eastern 1929; Del City (crossing 44th) 1938; NW edge of Tinker AFB 1940; Midwest City (29th/Sooner) 1941; crossing I-40 ~1941] End time based on jeff piotrowski video.
A10 5/ 3/99 1910 0.2 20F0 0 0 McClain North Newcastle satellite tornado seen on Jeff Piotrowski's video as A9 crosses the Canadian River. other videos suggest this probably occurred in far north Newcastle. time inferred from timing of Fleming video
A11 5/ 3/99 (1931-1932)0.5 60F0 0 0 Oklahoma SE 80th and Sooner Road (.4 S of I-240)dmg, rpt. perhaps F1 house damage. time: when A9 was west of I-35 and south of I-240
A12 5/ 3/99 1953-2007 7 220F2 0 4Oklahoma 3 SW Choctaw - Choctaw - 4 SE Jones (near NE 50th/Triple XXX) burgess survey. [Downtown Choctaw ~2000]
A13 5/ 3/99 2009-2015 2 50F0 0 0 Oklahoma 4 ESE - 3 E Jones (just NE of 63rd/Triple XXX - just NW of Britton/Triple XXX) Fleming video, Burgess survey version 3 (after reviewing).
A14 5/ 3/99 2017-2025 3 50F1 0 0 Oklahoma 3.5 ENE - 6 NE Jones (~.5 SSW of 122nd/Triple XXX - I-44/ Triple XXX) Fleming video, Burgess survey (version 3), stmt, e-mail report of damage to houses just south of Memorial/Triple XXX.
(B)ANADARKO - MINCO - UNION CITY - PIEDMONT - CIMARRON CITY - MULHALL - PERRY STORM
(G)EL RENO - CASHION - CRESCENT - MULHALL 2 STORM
B1 5/ 3/99 1736 0.1 25 F0 0 0 Kiowa Just W of Tom Steed Lake/ 3 S Rooseveltstmt/lsr (ham report of brief td). no known damage
B2 5/ 3/99 1820-1824 ~2 25 F0 0 0 Caddo 12 WNW Apache Keith Brown video. estimated location (had been estimated at 1 N - 2 NE Boone). position estimated from video azimuth and radar echo location
B3 5/ 3/99 1838-1859 7 150F1 0 0 Caddo 8 S Fort Cobb - 1 W Washita f: ferree survey (which put end location at 2 W Apache Wye. moved farther NE per mark hill survey and roberts 2nd hand report); moved even farther NE per John Finch e-mail and information; time: keith brown video; mark hill survey; follow-up ferree email est 80 yds wide (from memory though initial report indicated ~50 yds. used larger per videoes).
B4 5/ 3/99 1856 0.1 25F0 0 0 Caddo 5 W Anadarko stmt; mark hill survey: small damage path. Adams video.
B5 5/ 3/99 1912-1913 1 25 F0 0 0 Caddo 4 NNW - 5 NNW Anadarko stmt saying 5 n anadarko: brief td that has now lifted at 1914; mark hill survey puts about 5 NNW Anadarko
B6 5/ 3/99 1920 0.1 25 F0 0 0 Caddo near north part of Lake Chickasha (~4 ESE Gracemont) stmt. dev multvort; mark hill survey says 4 E Gracemont. Roger E sighting @1922 estimating ~7 ESE of Gracemont.
B7 5/ 3/99 1934-1935 0.5 25 F0 0 0 Caddo 9 E - 10 ENE Gracemont Roger E reports brief psbly multvort spinup estimated at 2 NNE Dutton but prob just farther per mark hill surveys. ham report. dave floyd report
B8 5/ 3/99 1937-1940 2 300F1 0 0 Grady 8 WSW - 6 WSW Minco mark hill survey. roger edwards report. There were apparently two at the same time (B8 and B9)
B9 5/ 3/99 1937-1948 5 50F1 0 0 Caddo 5 S - 1 E Cogar location from zaras report. time from probe2 log. ham report of tornado from ~1944 to 1950. mark hill survey places dmg approx 7 E - 11 ENE Gracemont - curving NW to 12 E Binger (this probably encompasses B6, B7, B9)
B10 5/ 3/99 1947-2000 4 60F1 0 0 Grady 5 W - 4 NW Minco loc: ferree survey. time: keith brown video. lrg multvort. roger e video from 1952-1958 (in progress and then beyond) and estimates from 4 WSW - 2 NW Minco. Adams video. [crosses SH152 at 1950]
B11 5/ 3/99 1955 0.1 50F1 0 0 Grady 5 SW Minco Roger Edwards. probe3 on sh152 and says 0.25mi s of probe. F rating from Rich Thompson
B12 5/ 3/99 2003 0.1 25F0 0 0 Canadian (~2.5 WNW Union City) Keith Brown video. an e-mail report of three brief tornadoes (likely B12-B14), McPherson video. location estimated from various videos
B13 5/ 3/99 2013-2014.75 100F0 0 0 Canadian 2 NNE Union City ewoldt video. brief multvort
B14 5/ 3/99 2016-2018 1 75F0 0 0 Canadian 4 NNE Union City - 5 NNE Union City ewoldt video. keith brown video(as 2015-2017)
B15 5/ 3/99 2025 0.1 25 F0 0 0 Canadian 3 ESE El Reno ewoldt video
B16 5/ 3/99 2034-2046 6 150F1 0 0 Canadian 6 WNW Yukon - 3 W Piedmont hane/ schurr survey. time: stmt. end time: ewoldt video.
B17 5/ 3/99 2044-(2100) 8 200F2 0 0 Canadian/ Kingfisher1.5 W Piedmont - 6 NNW Piedmont hane/ schurr survey. beg time from ewoldt video. [2048-2100,F2 in Canadian; 2100-2100,F1 in Kingfisher]
B18 5/ 3/99 2058-2122 10 150F1 0 0 Canadian/ Kingfisher N side of Piedmont (~4 N center of town) - 2 W Cashion - 4 NW Cashion hane/schurr partial survey (one F1 data point on the south edge of the track); mark hill survey; end time: roger e.; zittell/wood survey (one F1 data point 2 W Cashion) with estimated time of 2110; lsr of torn 2 NW Cashion at 2122; width from hane/schurr point on south end of damage track. [2058-2101,F1 in Canadian; 2101-2122,F1 in Kingfisher]
B19 5/ 3/99 2110-2112 1 100F1 0 0 Logan 2 SSE - 1 SE Cashion air survey
B20 5/ 3/99 2125-2245 39 1760
(max)
F4 2 26 Logan/ Payne/ Noble 3 SW Cimarron City - Cimarron City - Mulhall - 3 ENE Perry zittell/wood survey; mark hill survey; beg time from roger e video near cimarron city; stmt of 1/4 mi wide torn 2 se crescent at 2136. 1k in Logan County. 1k at i-35 bridge in XNW Payne County. modified beginning somewhat after compositing information and discussing with zittell. combined with previously seperate tornado (B21) per DOW data. width inferred from description of damage along 74c. originally had 1250 yd width (max). lsr of wind damage of power lines downed 5 e perry at 2255: either end of this tornado or rfd damage adjacent [2125-2220,F4 in Logan; 2220-2227,F2 in Payne; 2227-2245,F2 in Noble; Cimarron City ~2133; Mulhall ~2208; I-35 bridge (@ EW60 Road) ~2225]
G1 5/ 3/99 2156-2158 1 50F0 0 0 Canadian SW Edge of El Renoewoldt survey. skoff video.
G2 5/ 3/99 2203-2237 22 350F3 0 0 Canadian/ Kingfisher1 NNE El Reno - 8 SE Kingfisher ewoldt survey. stmt of large tornado reported betw Okarche and Cashion at 2234. [2203-2227,F2 in Canadian; 2227-2237,F3 in Kingfisher]
G3 5/ 3/99 2238-2244 3 150F0 0 0 Kingfisher/ Logan2 SW - 0.5 N Cashion zittell/wood survey which estimated at 2235. a stmt said torn rptd in cashion at 2244. width est from survey text. modified begin point per phone report. [2238-2244,F0 in Kingfisher; 2244-2244,F0 in Logan]
G4 5/ 3/99 2240-22410.5 50F0 0 0 Kingfisher8 E Kingfisher ewoldt survey
G5 5/ 3/99 2256-2318 13(880)
(max)
F3 0 13Logan 2.5 S Crescent - 4 E Crescent - 4 SW Mulhall zittell/wood survey. mark hill survey. confusing with some of G5 damage track laid on top of Mulhall #1 (B20) damage track between Crescent and Mulhall. width estimated from zittel/survey description of damage along 74c. lsr of 12-15 houses destoyed 7 NE Cresent at 2337.
G6 5/ 3/99 2333-2336 2 440F2 0 0 Logan 3 SSW - 2 S Mulhall zittell/wood survey.
(C) OKARCHE STORM
C1 5/ 3/99 1858-1907 4 100F0 0 0 Canadian/ Kingfisher1.5 W Okarche - 4 N Okarche ewoldt survey. Satkus report [1858-1858,F0 in Canadian; 1858-1907,F0 in Kingfisher]
C2 5/ 3/99 ~1900 0.1 25 F0 0 0 Canadian/ Kingfisher Okarche ewoldt information [F0 in Canadian; F0 in Kingfisher]
(D) PINK - SHAWNEE - STROUD STORM
D1 5/ 3/99 2034-2052 9 30F1 0 0 Cleveland/ Pottawatomie1 N Etowah - Pink - 2 NNE Pink speg/lq survey. [2034-2041,F0 in Cleveland; 2041-2052,F1 in Pottawatomie; Pink (along SH-9) 2049]
D2 5/ 3/99 2105-2120 7 250F2 1 10Pottawatomie 2 N Bethel Acres - NW Shawnee (Clarks Heights Addition at I-40/US-177) - 7 E McLoud (Acme Rd/Mocassin Trail) speg/lq survey [Shawnee (Clarks Heights Addition) ~2111]
D3 5/ 3/99 2120-2145 11 100F1 0 0 Pottawatomie/ Lincoln6 NNW Downtown Shawnee (just outside Shawnee City Limits; Wolverine Rd/ Leo St) - SE Meeker - 4 NE Meeker speg/lq survey [2120-2128,F1 in Pottawatomie; 2128-2145,F1 in Lincoln; Meeker ~2133]
D4 5/ 3/99 2210-(2248) 15 750F3 0 13Lincoln/ Creek 3 NNE Sparks - Davenport - Stroud - 1 S Stroud Lake speg/lq survey [2210-2246,F3 in Lincoln; 2246-(2248),probably F0/F1 in Creek; Davenport ~2220; Stroud (Far West Side; Sygma Warehouse) ~2233; Stroud (Outlet Mall Area) ~2238]
(E) DOVER STORM
(H) HENNESSEY - MARSHALL STORM
E1 5/ 3/99 (2021) 0.1 25 F0 0 0 Blaine 3 W Geary rpt @2029/ no dmg found by ewoldt
E2 5/ 3/99 2029-2041 9 150 F1 0 0 Canadian/ Blaine/ Kingfisher 3 NNE Geary - 7 S Omega (= 1 SW Altona) ewoldt survey (which has 75 yd dmg path). width adjusted from Satkus video/obs (which shows wedge). [2029-2035,F1 in Canadian; 2035-2037,F1 in Blaine; 2037-2041,F1 in Kingfisher]
E3 5/ 3/99 2041-2106 12 450 F3 0 4 Kingfisher7 S Omega (1 S Altona) - 6 SSE Omega (2 ENE Altona) - 11 WSW Kingfisher (3 ENE Altona) - 7 NW Kingfisher fresch/hales survey which indicates time of 2100-2110 for surveyed segment (adjusted when combined with ewoldt survey tornado #3 and first segment of ewoldt survey tornado #4 (up to SH3/33), and based on Satkus video and radar data).
E4 5/ 3/99 2055-20560.5 50 F0 0 0 Kingfisher6 W of KingfisherRob Satkus video: satellite tornado at same time as E3.
E5 5/ 3/99 2103 0.1 25 F0 0 0 Kingfisher6 WNW Kingfisher Rob Satkus video: satellite tornado at same time as E3
E6 5/ 3/99 2110-213815 880 F4 1 11 Kingfisher4 SSW Dover - Dover - 3 NE Dover - ~ 7 ESE Hennessey fresch/hales survey. surv team says 2115-2140 (adjusted per satkus video and radar data). Dover struck at 2120.
E7 5/ 3/99 2130-2137 4 440 F1 0 0 Kingfisher3 NE Dover - 4 SE Hennessey fresch/hales survey. tornado split?
H1 5/ 3/99 ~2122 0.8 50 F0 0 0 Kingfisher2 ESE Omega Rob Satkus
H2 5/ 3/99 2150 0.2 30 F0 0 0 Kingfisher 3 NW Dover Rob Satkus report. Saul/Lee survey found damage labeled as wind damage but consistent with location of Rob's report and time of meso track.
H3 5/ 3/99 2157-2202 1 150 F2 0 0 Kingfisher1 ESE Hennessey fresch/hales survey which indicated 0.5 mile path length. length added based on satkus video and duration of event.
H4 5/ 3/99 (2218-2228) 8 440 F2 0 0 Logan/Garfield 3 SW Marshall - 9 SSE Covington (5 NE Marshall)Garfield EM damage report. [F2 in Logan; F2 in Garfield]
(I) RINGWOOD STORM
I1 5/ 3/99 2228-2230 1 200F1 0 0 Major 6 S Ringwood Major County EM

Acknowledgements:

This list has been compiled by Doug Speheger of the NWS/Norman with a lot of help from Mike Branick, Steve Kruckenberg, and Kenny James (all of NWS/Norman).
There are many people who contributed to the information given in this report. Thanks to everybody who contributed, including:

Ground Surveys conducted by:

Mike Branick, David Floyd, Johnny Roberts, and Doug Speheger of the National Weather Service in Norman;
Don Burgess, John Ferree, Mark Fresch, Jim LaDue, Bob Lee, Mike Magsig, Liz Quoetone, Major Scott Saul, Andy Wood, and Dave Zittel of the Operational Support Facility;
Mark Darrow and Jack Hales of the Storm Prediction Center;
Carl Hane, Christine Hannon, Janelle Janish, Terry Schuur, and Greg Stumpf of the National Severe Storms Laboratory;
David Ewoldt (OKC Fire Dept.), R. J. Evans, Mark Hill (KWTV), and Mike Honigsburg (Garfield County Emergency Management), Oklahoma City Department of Public Works (thanks to J. C. Reiss)

Air survey information from Doug Crowley (NWS/Amarillo), John Jarboe (NWS FAA Academy), and the United States Air Force

Videos provided by: Shane Adams, Chuck Doswell, Roger Edwards, Don Fleming, Jim LaDue, Jeff Piotrowski, Rob Satkus, David Sohl, Rich Thompson

E-mail reports and logs provided by: Brian Crumpler, David Ewoldt, John Finch, David Floyd, John Hammond, Tom Pastrano, Erik Rasmussen, Daphne Zaras

Further information provided by: Mike Armstrong, Harold Brooks, Keith Brown, Stan Collier, Todd Crawford, Scott Currens, Tim Marshall, Renee McPherson, Randy Peppler, Dan Skoff, David Sohl, Herb Stein, and Josh Wurman

Thanks to the many emergency managers, law enforcement personnal, amateur radio operators and storm spotters who also provided vital real-time information during this historic event.