Moore and Norman since the May 20, 2013 tornado

Cleveland County by the numbers

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 258 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Cleveland County from 2016 through 2025 (NCEI). Thirty-eight of them reached 2 inches, more than the 24 logged in larger Oklahoma County over the same years, and the county also recorded 35 tornadoes and 158 thunderstorm wind events.

• The biggest stone on the county's record since 2000 was a 4.6-inch hailstone measured in Moore on May 10, 2010, with other stones reported up to 5 inches.
• Within the last decade, hail reached 3.41 inches near the Lake Thunderbird dam on May 4, 2020 and 3 inches in Norman on October 10, 2021.
• On May 6, 2024, straight-line winds estimated at 91 knots hit far northwestern Cleveland County near Southwest 93rd Street, where at least two homes had their garage doors fail or collapse.

The tornado of May 20, 2013

The database rates the Newcastle-Moore tornado an EF5 in Cleveland County, with 24 direct deaths, 207 injuries and a $2 billion damage estimate for that county alone; the segment that began near Newcastle in McClain County is logged as an EF4.

The NWS Norman event summary adds the detail a homeowner remembers. The tornado was on the ground from 2:56 to 3:35 PM CDT, with a preliminary maximum width of 1.1 miles. More than 300 homes along the path took EF4 or EF5 damage, Briarwood Elementary took EF5 damage, and seven children were killed at Plaza Towers Elementary when a wall collapsed. FEMA's major disaster declaration for the storms, DR-4117, is dated the same day.

Moore had been here before. The Bridge Creek-Moore tornado of May 3, 1999 crossed north Moore on its way to Del City, and an F3 on May 8, 2003 started at Northwest 5th Street and Santa Fe Avenue in Moore. Since 2013, an EF2 on March 25, 2015 cut an 11-mile discontinuous path through Moore into north Norman, and an EF2 on February 26, 2023 raced through southern and eastern Norman, passing less than a mile from the National Weather Center.

What Moore changed in its building code

According to the City of Moore's CDBG disaster recovery action plan, the Moore City Code was updated in 2014 to add wind resistance features to design and construction, with the wind resiliency requirements taking effect June 2, 2014. The plan says the revised code for new construction was considered the toughest tornado building code in the country when the city adopted it, and that a privately funded program subsidized 1,614 safe rooms or shelters.

The city's 2024 Annual Action Plan describes the code as requiring structures to withstand an F3 tornado at 135 mph. The 2017 plan frames these as rules for new construction. If your Moore house predates June 2014, a re-roof is the moment to add wind features on your own terms; our guide to tornado-resistant roofs covers the FORTIFIED standard and the state grant that helps pay for it.

The city's permit office says building permits are required for most residential remodels, additions and improvements, and handles contractor registration through its online portal. At the state level, the roofer still needs a current Construction Industries Board registration, which you can confirm with the CIB roofing search.

McClain County next door

McClain County, across the Canadian River from Norman, recorded 94 hail events of 1 inch or larger and 27 tornadoes from 2016 through 2025 (NCEI). On June 5, 2025, thunderstorm winds estimated at 104 knots left extensive damage for at least 18 miles from the Grady County line. The Cole-Goldsby tornado of April 19, 2023, an EF3, was the most destructive of that day's outbreak, and FEMA's DR-4706 covered Cleveland, McClain and Pottawatomie counties.

Roofers in Moore and Norman

The National Roofing Directory lists roofers in Moore and roofers in Norman.

Frequently asked questions

Does Moore's 2014 wind code apply when I replace my roof?

The city's recovery plan describes the wind requirements as part of the code for new single-family construction. For a re-roof on an existing house, ask the City of Moore permit office what applies to your project before you sign.

How large has hail gotten in Moore?

The largest measured stone in Cleveland County's record since 2000 is the 4.6-inch hailstone photographed in Moore on May 10, 2010. Some reports that day put stones at up to 5 inches.

Is there help paying for a stronger roof in Cleveland County?

Yes. The Oklahoma Insurance Department's Strengthen Oklahoma Homes grant opened statewide in January 2026 for homeowners with a homestead exemption on file, and covers up to $10,000 toward a FORTIFIED roof built by an approved contractor.