There we hoped the dryline and warm front would intersect with a strong jet stream. Wichita Falls, Texas, on April 10, 1979. (Rated F1 by the NWS. This was the most spectacular event I had ever witnessed to date. (Rated F3 by the NWS. By dusk a strong of new, very intense thunderstorms formed farther south in Texas. Witnesses saw several small twisters during the formation. Wolfgang Lange, View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at wall cloud on the southwestern edge of the thunderstorm. Prior to its touchdown, a funnel was first observed about 10 miles to the west-southwest. Approaching Harrold, Texas from the southeast on Highway 287 - view is looking west at 4:00 pm CST. To commemorate this event, the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma has compiled a large amount of information including: tornado photos of the Wichita Falls, Vernon, Seymour, and Harrold, TX tornadoes; damage photos; images of radar and satellite data; other maps and diagrams of the event; and storm data for Oklahoma and western north Texas. The tornado was preceded by strong winds, and then followed at once by heavy rain and hail, which covered a 200-square mile area. Those sources of meteorological data used in this report consist of: official rainfall, snowfall, temperature, wind, sunshine, and moisture data as provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the publications, "Climatological Data: Texas," "Local Climatological Data" (for selected cities), "Storm Data, and "Daily Weather Maps;" weather teletype reports (circuits "A" and "C") from the National Weather Service surface and upper-air observing network; surface and upper-air facsimile charts provided by the National Meteorological Center of NOAA; newspaper accounts; and photographic data obtained by the author. In many years at least some portions of the Lone Star State experience destruction or severe damage from an untimely freeze, a debilitating drought, or a lengthy spell of excessive rains. The tornado was associated with a line of thunderstorms that produced very heavy rains in the Wichita Falls area. Wildfire Safety Final totals across three states were 181 killed and 970 injured. The tornado killed 42 Wichita Falls residents and caused over $200 million in damages, leaving 20 percent of the city's population homeless. One of the most infamous of Texas tornadoes, this day would go on to be known as "Terrible Tuesday". Nationwide, Current Conditions By the way, here's a USA Today article about the 1979 tornado with a photo of that monster. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured by the tornado. The width of the F4 damage in the Wichita Falls tornado approached 0.5 miles in the area of Faith Village and Ben Milam Elementary School (location #6). A detailed mapping of each house and public/commercial building in the city led to the construction of an F-scale map. We examined the circumstances of death and injury among victims of the tornado that struck Wichita Falls, Texas, on 10 April 1979. 5) The Wichita Falls Tornado - April 10, 1979. Deaths An Estimated 42 people died During this time I navigated and Eddie drove. Robert Molet. Rampaging killer tornadoes and devastating floodwaters brought unparalleled tragedy to groups of communities in the Low Rolling Plains and the Upper Coast of Texas during April. April 26, 1962 - This tornado initially touched down at 10:45 pmCST on the Sheppard Access Road near Sheppard AFB, damaging several cars, and destroying a a 100 x 30 foot metal building at a motor company. Still at F4 intensity as it moved east-northeastward, the tornado moved over a greenbelt area, passing just barely south of Midwestern State University as it severely damaged several more housing additions. [19] (Rated F2 by the NWS. Preprints, 12th Conference Severe Local Storms, American Meteorological Society, Boston, 441-443. Hail to 1.75 inches was also reported south of the city. A number of people were also killed or injured in the parking lot of Sikes Senter (sic) Mall, also on Kemp Boulevard. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. Our path across the Red River was always through Lawton; then we usually took a short cut on OK 36 and OK 5 through open wheat country to Fredrick and Vernon. There were at times five separate vortices visible within the tornado. Extensive wind damage to about 100 homes and outbuildings occurred in Burkburnett where two 40-foot smoke stacks were also toppled. Severe Weather Safety Mr. Molet continued to take photographs until the wind blew him into his garage. Large tornado destroyed several barns and scattered debris over a large area. Small buildings were damaged or destroyed, and roofs, signs, oil field derricks and tanks were damaged. Lawton was as ready as a community could be for the tornado. Also, the second story of the press box at the high school football stadium was blown off and scattered across the playing field. A thunderstorm that pelted the Coleman area with golfball-size hail also generated a tornado that caused considerable damage to power lines and outbuildings north of the city. |. The twister was almost a mile wide when it entered the Faith Village neighborhood on the north side of the east-west oriented Southwest Parkway. have just been raked by debris from rear flank downdraft surge wrapping around the tornado - tornado now in a sunlit position relative to us - getting really spectacular! To the south of the warm front, moist, unstable air was streaming northward. I'm surprised he got the tornado in the frame. The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak, one of the most significant outbreaks on record for this region, occurred on April 10, 1979. "The common notion, born in the aftermath of the 1979 Wichita Falls tornado, that being in a vehicle during a tornado warning is synonymous with injury and death can no longer be assumed or promoted. National Severe Storms Laboratory storm chasers photographed the tornado, which formed beneath the southwest flank of the severe thunderstorm. The majority of the fatalities were in vehicles, and a number of those victims left homes that were undamaged by the tornado only to be caught in its deadly path as they tried to flee. Fortunately, on April 10, 1979, McNiel Junior High was almost totally unoccupied when the tornado struck and a worse catastrophe was avoided. Tornado Pictures. When it was all over, an 8 mile swath of the city over a mile wide was . Overall, mobile homes and permanent homes lead fatality location totals with 44.8% and 26.2% of all deaths occurring in these structures, respectively. 25 of the 42 fatalities from the tornado were vehicle related, 16 of which were of people who left their homes to evade the massive tornado. 38 On April 10, 1979, a series of deadly tornadoes broke out near the Texas-Oklahoma border. Winter Weather Safety, Special Programs Scary stuff. Damage as severe as F4 was found along most of the track across the city. ), May 26, 1955 - A small tornado touched down briefly at 1:38 am CST, moved northeastward along a narrow, 1-mile path and demolished a "washateria" and produced severely damaged several utility poles, business structures, homes, and trees. Note that the 50 dBZ core was no longer evident. Explore. Although his house was completely destroyed, Mr. Molet escaped with only minor injuries as his pickup truck was blown over him, protecting him from the worst winds and debris. Severe weather warnings had been in effect for Wichita County and Wichita Falls for almost an hour. The tornado moved to the north-northwest during its life before lifting 2 miles from Burkburnett. A very intense spring storm shifted out of the Rocky Mountains on April 10, generating lines of severe thunderstorms that swept across the northern portion of the State. Wind gusts to 100 mph were observed at the observation site. Tornado was well documented on film and by NSSL storm researchers. We also assessed the protective measures taken by a representative sample of community residents who suffered no major injury in order to estimate the relative risk of injury to people directly in the tornado's path . The moonlight felt like a reminder of the pain and sorrow that awaited him as he stared at its yellow haze. Flood/Flash Flood Safety Casualty data were supplied by the Texas and Oklahoma NWS offices. The Vernon tornado destroyed a restaurant, motel, a farm implement store, and more than a dozen homes; damage totaled $27 million. apartments in dallas that allow airbnb Uncovering hot babes since 1919. The formation of the tornado and its movement toward the Memorial Stadium and McNiel Junior High School were captured by Wolfgang Lange from the front of his apartment complex which was across the street from school building (Tornado Track Figure; Location #2). Summer Weather Safety The tornado was coming down, but getting photography was difficult. Troy Glover. Non Precipitation Warnings While the families and friends of the victims mourned, National Guard troops manned barricades outside devastated neighborhoods and stopped people who tried to enter the area, turning back any without essential business. It was produced in 1984 and has a run time of 19 minutes, 30 seconds. View looking west-northwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at wall cloud on the southwestern edge of the thunderstorm. (Documented and rated F2 by Grazulis. Local Enhanced Radar (Central Oklahoma-KTLX), Local Standard Radar (KTLX-low bandwidth), Local Enhanced Radar (Southwest OK/Western North TX-KFDR), Local Standard Radar (KFDR-low bandwidth), Local Standard Radar (KVNX-low bandwidth), Averages and Records for OKC, Wichita Falls & Lawton, radar-derived storm tops exceeded 50,000 feet and reflectivities were higher than 50 dBZ, a core of greater than 50 dBZ and two mesocyclones, tornado-associated mesocyclone and hook echo in the right rear portion of the echo, its movement toward the stadium and junior high, >many cars in the mall parking lot were blown some distance and stacked on top of each other, Map of the Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak in North Texas and southern Oklahoma by (Fujita and Wakimoto), Map of Significant Weather Events which occurred between 6 AM CST April 10, 1979 and 6 AM CST April 11, 1979 (Burgess), Tornado Watch Box #67 issued by the National Severe Storms Forecast Center - valid 230 PM to 700 PM CST, April 10, 1979, Storm Track of the Wichita Falls, Texas Supercell on April 10, 1979 (Burgess), Time/Height Profile of the Wichita Falls, Texas Supercell on April 10, 1979 (Burgess), Map of Radar Reflectivity and Mesocyclone Positions of the Wichita Falls, Texas Supercell at 530 pm CST, April 10, 1979 (Burgess), Map of Radar Reflectivity and Mesocyclone Position of the Wichita Falls, Texas Supercell at 600 pm CST, April 10, 1979 (Burgess), Approximate Damage Path of the Wichita Falls Tornado on April 10, 1979 (, Map of the Red River Valley Area of Oklahoma and Texas Showing Communities and Counties Affected by the April 10, 1979 Tornadoes (NOAA Natural Disaster Report 80-1), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Fifty mph sustained inflow winds were occurring at this time. After dark, another jet stream wind maximum moved northeastward into west central and northern Texas, sparking a second round of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. By the end of the day we had seen four tornadoes, Thalia, Vernon (although not well), Lake Kemp, and Seymour. May 23, 1888 - A tornado moved northeastward and passed 6 miles west of Wichita Falls during the evening of May 23, 1888. Known as the Red River Valley tornado outbreak or "Terrible Tuesday," 30 tornadoes ran rampant. Sixteen of these 25 were people who entered their cars trying to evade the tornado. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings At about the mid-point in the atmosphere (around 500 mb), significant cold air advection occurred, thus exacerbating unsettled conditions, already present (Figure 23). Total damage in Wichita Falls was estimated at $400 million (in 1979 dollars). NOAA Disaster Survey Report 80-1, Chapter 1. Continuing at F4 intensity, the now massive wedge tornado, which was at its maximum 1.5 miles (2.4km) wide, cut a 2.5-mile (4.0km) swath of destruction through the south side of town. A furniture warehouse was also destroyed when severe winds tore the back wall and roof off of the building. Wolfgang Lange, View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the time of tornado touchdown. A mobile home was destroyed near Faxson, resulting in two serious injuries. In addition, the author hopes that the analyses will serve as a handy source of reference to those who seek to recall the past and those whose research work attempts to relate the weather to other aspects of human existence. Apr 20, 2012 - The April 10, 1979 tornado in Wichita Falls. Thus, he stood in his backyard driveway and photographed the destruction of the apartment complex and the beginning of destruction in his neighborhood. Several strong to violent tornadoes touched down throughout the region that day. For example, the police chief called the city manager out of a meeting with county commissioners. They moved northeastward, and as a trio spawned families of tornadoes. Used by permission of author Don Burgess. Daily Weather History Apr 20, 2012 - The April 10, 1979 tornado in Wichita Falls. Aloft, the strong wind maximum was over the Red River area, producing significant vertical wind shear. On the evening of April 10th 1979 an F4 tornado touched down outside Wichita Falls TX and carved a 47 mile long path of destruction that would become the costliest Tornado in United States History. There is no doubt that hundreds of lives were saved by the news media and siren warnings. Multiple locations were found. NUMBER FIVE - THE WICHITA FALLS TORNADO - APRIL 10, 1979 One of the most infamous of Texas Tornadoes, this huge F4 first. As a result of the early warning, the casualty list of 3 dead and 109 injured was relatively small despite the destruction of several hundred homes and businesses. Losses eligible for Federal disaster relief totaled $63 million, but Federal disaster assistance did not cover additional millions in damages. The mall was on the north side of the tornado path and appeared to escape the most violent winds. The tornado moved northeastward as was described as a "dirty green funnel." With surface pressures in the southern High Plains plunging rapidly, a low pressure center formed in the vicinity of Lubbock around noon (Figure 15). 5. The passage of a violent tornado through an 8-mile section of a city is an almost unheard-of natural disaster. (Rated F2 by the NWS. The atmosphere in the Low Rolling Plains was highly unstable (with a Totals Index above 50 and a strong positive K Index extending southward out of western Oklahoma); very vigorous lifting of such unsettled air by the advancing dry line seemed sure to trigger violence (Figure 14). Soon thereafter tornadoes were spotted near Crosby ton and Plainview and golfball size hail fell near Tulia, Afton, and Washburn (High Plains). Several got extra protection by covering themselves with mattresses and pillows. Homes and businesses were torn apart in the McGehee area. The Wichita Falls area has been visited by tornadoes many times over the course of its history. Tornado Warnings, Climate and Past Weather Elizabeth was born on January. NWS We didn't get phone guidance and it was before on-board equipment. One thousand and 62 apartment units and condominiums were destroyed, and 93 mobile homes were demolished. Three people were injured in a mobile home near the beginning of the path. Forecast Discussion, Warnings and Other Products The third supercell was the one that formed the Seymour and Wichita Falls tornadoes as part of a three-member tornado family. Half of the injuries sustained by Vernon residents were deemed critical by city officials. Fortunately, the strong and wide Harrold-Grandfield tornado spent its entire life in rural areas not striking any towns, but coming close to Harrold, TX (one fatality) and Grandfield, OK. This most damaging tornado in Texas history was not finished, however. It first destroyed an apartment complex, where the first fatalities took place, as it moved along Southwest Parkway. . Today. NWS Hail ranged in sizes "from mothballs to pineapples." The tornado dissipatedtwo minutes later and caused no damage. Further to the northeast we could see a very large tornado with reddish suction spots rotating about the circulation. ", "The three main storms in the Red River Valley outbreak were giant tornadoes. Horner was . 45 people died in the Wichita Falls tornado. Perennially the State perseveres through frequent bombardments of hail, high winds, and flash floods, often with the accompaniment of tornadoes-as well as the threat of being struck on its coastal flank by a hurricane or intense tropical cyclone. One F4 tornado impacted Vernon, Texas. It began at 4:57 p.m. about a mile-and-a-half south of Clearwater. Weather Radio, About Us The storm's second tornado, the terrible Wichita Falls tornado, formed at 1755 CST (5:55 PM) to the southwest of the city and moved through the southern and eastern sides of Wichita Falls shortly after 1800 CST (6:00 PM). Deaths were near normal . Some of these people had stopped their cars under an overpass on the highway, seeking shelter from the storm. The video includes survivor accounts and safety information. Daily Weather History Wayne Collamore, View looking west about 3-4 miles east of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:15 pm CST. Local Storm Reports Fire Weather Wolfgang Lange, View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the approaching tornado. Weather Radio, About Us Local Homes were unroofed and barns were destroyed. An explanation of both the causes and effects of the many and varied weather systems that affected Texans during the year has been the central objective of this endeavor. The tornado then swept through the Southmoor area, destroying homes and a shopping center. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Radar warnings and alerts from the Weather Bureau office were credited with saving many lives. About 65 people attended the funeral. This image was taken as the tornado widened and approached our position. Last year the Wichita Falls Museum of Art featured a show by the acclaimed American landscape photographer Frank Gohlke of his photographs of Wichita Falls in the aftermath of a massive tornado that destroyed so much of the town in 1979. It seems that almost every major Texas city has had to deal with a tornado at least once. The number of reported injuries approached 1,800 although hundreds of additional minor injuries were never recorded. About $15 million of damage occurred as the tornado destroyed homes immediately south of TX State Highway 79, from Wichita Falls into the Dean and Petrolia areas. WICHITA FALLS, Texas (TNN) - April 10th, 1979, a day forever ingrained in the minds of those who lived through it. The tornado was photographed from the south during this period by Pat Blacklock location #5). From the blizzards that traditionally pound the Panhandle each winter to the enduring heat that scorches vast sections of Texas later in the summer, Texas in the meteorological sense truly is the "Land of Contrast." Two trailers were destroyed, and three homes were damaged. Wichita Falls Tornado. No fatalities or serious injuries occurred, but 13 people were treated for minor injuries, mostly as a result of flying glass. Nationwide, Current Conditions The following text comes from Chapter I of the NOAA Natural Disaster Report 80-1, "The Red River Valley Tornadoes of April 10, 1979. In addition, the damage paths of all three were wider than normal. Science And Nature . A small home was swept away in the affected area, and factories and warehouses were unroofed. The Terrible Tuesday video can be viewed via the NWS Norman YouTube Channel or below. The twister did level a number of telephone poles along Highway 283, before dissipating just east of 283 near Maybelle. #1. Moving into the air base proper, the tornado destroyed 5 unoccupied 2-story barracks, damaged a hanger, power installations, transformer station, paint shop, and the base's 10-story control tower. Would we have seen the tornado and diverted? Most of the deaths were in Wichita Falls and Vernon, Texas, and Lawton, Oklahoma. 2 All times in Central Standard Time. Wayne Collamore, Approaching Harrold, Texas from the southeast on Highway 287 - view is looking west at about 4:05 pm CST. Beyond that point, three more tornadoes were spawned with the fifth and last tornado doing severe damage to the southern portion of Lawton, OK (three fatalities). The following images and text copyright Gene Moore unless otherwise indicated. Satellite Imagery, Forecasts During this period, large hail was occurring in the central and northern portions of Wichita Falls as the tornado devastated the southern portion of the city. Witnesses say the several distinct, small vortices were visible during the formative stage of the tornado as it moved along the Fort Worth and Denver railroad into Wichita County. The tornadoes caused 32 injuries, 29 deaths, and an estimated $20 million in personal and commercial insured losses. Tornado Warnings, Climate and Past Weather those all. Graphical Forecasts Pat Blacklock, View looking north-northwest from south shore of Lake Wichita at the tornado approaching Wichita Falls, Texas. Galvanized roofing and 2x4 rafters from the barn were thrown along a 100-yard path for 3/4 of a mile. Before leaving the east side of the city, the tornado destroyed the Sun Valley housing area, the Sunnyside Heights Mobile Home Park, and several large commercial businesses, including the Levi Strauss Plant. Wayne Collamore, View looking northwest east of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:20 pm CST. Forecasters at the National Severe Storms Forecast Center in Kansas City1 had to decide only how soon tornadoes would develop and how large an area would be threatened. StormReady Hazardous Weather Outlook Flash Flood Warnings There was strong upper level dynamics all coming together to produce strong tornado-producing supercells. The tornadoes destroyed the press box and lights at Memorial Stadium, which lead to the Pioneer Bowl being. The highly unsettled atmosphere out ahead of the advancing dry air is illustrated by the sounding taken at Stephenville just as the gargantuan tornado was hitting Wichita Falls; the lowest 300 mb of the atmosphere was highly convectively unstable (Figure 24). Five bus passengers were injured when they took shelter in a ditch, only to have the bus roll onto them. We were rushed to get into position. We Graphical Forecasts The Southwest National Bank Building was totally destroyed except for its concrete vault, a proxy for an above-ground shelter. No fatalities or injuries occurred. These figures include 12 counties. We couldn't make it into Wichita Falls because we almost ran out of gas. The Ohio National Guard was dispatched to the scene within nine hours to help with rescue work, caring for . Tornado data and F-scale ratings for tornadoes from 1950 to the present are referenced from NWS records. Forty-two people were killed outright by the storm and 3 others died as a result of heart attacks. Several homes were demolished, and a number of barns were partially destroyed. This line raced northeastward, spilling heavy rains, hail and high winds on numerous communities. Flood Warnings Within 30 minutes the tornado, with a track that varied between 1/2 and 1 1/2 miles wide and 8 miles long, had sped across the southern portion of Wichita Falls. -11 Wilbarger County, TX. Three homes were destroyed and others were damaged. Lange, View looking northwest east of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:05 pm CST about mile-and-a-half! 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April 2
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