Episode
NOVA: Oklahoma's Deadliest Tornadoes
Overview
On May 20, 2013, a ferocious EF5 tornado over a mile wide tore through Moore, Oklahoma, inflicting 24 deaths and obliterating entire neighborhoods. It was the third time an exceptionally violent tornado had struck the city in 14 years. Yet predicting when and where these killer storms will hit still poses a huge challenge. Why was 2011—the worst ever recorded tornado season that left 158 dead in Joplin, Missouri—followed by the quietest ever year of activity prior to the Moore disaster? Can improved radar and warning technology explain why so many fewer died in Moore than in Joplin? And will tornadoes get worse as Earth's climate heats up? In this NOVA special, we meet scientists in the front ranks of the battle to understand these extreme weather events. We also meet storm survivors whose lives have been upended and learn how we can protect ourselves and our communities for the uncertain future.
Details
- Series
- NOVA
- Season
- Season 40
- Episode
- Episode 20
- Air date
- 2013-05-29
- Runtime
- 55 min
Episode context
Oklahoma's Deadliest Tornadoes is Episode 20 in Season 40 of NOVA. It aired on 2013-05-29. The runtime is 55 min.
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