Highway Overpasses as Tornado Shelters: Fallout from the 3 May 1999 Oklahoma/Kansas Violent Tornado Outbreak

During the late afternoon and evening hours of 3 May 1999, supercell thunderstorms produced several long-tracked, violent tornadoes that struck parts of central Oklahoma and southern Kansas. During the course of this event, many people sought shelter from approaching tornadoes under highway overpasses. This event has motivated a re-examination of the current tornado and severe storm safety guidelines, especially concerning people in vehicles and in open country. Currently, it appears that there is considerable public perception that highway overpasses offer sound shelter from tornadoes and other severe weather phenomena, which is likely due to several factors. The events of 3 May 1999 in central Oklahoma provide powerful evidence that highway overpasses offer, at best, questionable shelter from tornadoes: three people in Oklahoma lost their lives while seeking shelter near or under overpass bridges. In addition, evidence will also be presented from several other severe weather episodes throughout the country, to demonstrate that highway overpasses, in general, are not acceptable severe storm sheltering areas for a variety of reasons. However, rather than focusing attention on what NOT to do, the challenge for meteorologists and broadcasters is to provide sound, useful and practical information of what TO do for motorists and others in open country. In order to reduce the perception that overpasses are potential severe storm sheltering locations, proposed revisions and improvements to the current vehicle and open country tornado and severe storm safety guidelines will be presented, as well as possible ways to communicate this new information to the public.