Moore, Oklahoma tornado second in its history

Residents of Moore, Oklahoma, are digging out after a devastating F4 tornado struck the small town south of Oklahoma City.

This is the second time that Moore has experienced a tornado of this scale.

On May 3, 1999, 60 tornadoes struck the state of Oklahoma. The tornado that hit Moore was one of 14 that day and was an F5 — the strongest tornado on the Fujita scale which measures tornado strength. The winds were measured at 512 km/h — the highest wind speed ever recorded.

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The tornado weakened to F2 or F3 and narrowed, but then widened and regained its strength.

The tornado killed 36 people (which includes 5 in Moore and 31 in surrounding areas). There were 583 people injured, 1800 homes were destroyed and 2500 homes were damaged. It caused $1.5 billion in damages.

That tornado was the 100th to hit the Oklahoma City area since 1890.