The tornado that touched down near Newcastle and traveled through Moore and south Oklahoma City was part of three day outbreak of tornadoes that ravaged the plains May 18-20, 2013.
This particular tornado occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of the May 20, 2013. There were multiple tornadoes that occurred from central Oklahoma down through south central Oklahoma near the Red River.
This was the deadliest and most tornado of the year not only for Oklahoma, but also for the United States. It touched down at 2:56pm on the west side of Newcastle and gained intensity as it tracked tracked east northeastward across Moore, Oklahoma. At it's maximum intensity it was rated an EF-5.
It was on the ground for nearly 40 minutes, and it left a trail of catastrophic damage in these areas. Among the hardest hit areas were two schools: Briarwood Elementary and Plaza Towers Elementary-- where 7 children succumbed to injuries from the twister.
In total, 24 lives were lost in Oklahoma, with an additional two deaths related to the storm system. At least 212 people were injured, with 1,150 homes completely destroyed. Damages were estimated at nearly $2 billion.
*pictures courtesy of the National Weather Service @ Norman*
