Fire Weather 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. The last siren from the city's warning system sounded around 5:50 p.m. the same time that storm spotters reported seeing the tornado . One somewhat unique characteristic of the damage was the wide swath F4 damage; many violent tornadoes produce only a narrow swath of their most intense damage. Unsolved Death in Wichita Falls, TX. It was spectacular to watch! It is estimated that 5,000 families, containing 20,000 residents, were left homeless in Wichita Falls. Meteorologists still refer to that day as Terrible Tuesday because of the immense devastation and the sheer numbers. View looking southwest at the approaching tornado northeast of Wichita Falls, Texas. Deaths were near normal . ), June 6, 1936 - This tornado moved south into the northeastern edge of Wichita Falls, and was associated with the same parent supercell thunderstorm that produced the earlier tornado near Burkburnett. Severe damage in the Pruitt City area. On the first street of houses to the northeast of Wolfgang Lange's apartment complex, Robert Molet also photographed the approaching tornado (Tornado Track Figure; Location #3). A second severe thunderstorm pounded the area just north of Brownwood with hail having a diameter of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. I often read in more general reference books as well as a handful of weather books that a tornado at Wichita Falls, TX, on April 2, 1958 had a wind gust recorded at 280 mph. WICHITA FALLS, Tex., April 13 (UPI) Survivors of the tornado that devastated the southern part of this oil and agriculture center began burying their dead today while city officials tried to keep sightseers and looters away. Storm Data, Weather Safety Suite 2400Norman, OK 73072(405) 325-3816Comments? Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. The deadliest tornadoes to strike in Texas in 26 years ravaged parts of four communities near the Red River on April 10, taking 53 lives, injuring 1808, and causing damage worth $427 million1. As seen in the photographs by Winston Wells (Tornado Track Figure; Location #10), the tornado became multi-vortex, displaying as many as five satellite vortices rotating around the center of circulation. FAQ Tornado Understand a Tornado: A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. Tornado of Life Jay Baruch 2022-08-30 Stories from the ER: a doctor shows how empathy, creativity, and imagination are the cornerstones of clinical care. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured by the tornado. A number of people were also killed or injured in the parking lot of Sikes Senter (sic) Mall, also on Kemp Boulevard. Bulletin American Meteorological Society, 61, 1033-34. Apr 20, 2012 - The April 10, 1979 tornado in Wichita Falls. Wayne Collamore, View looking northwest east of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:20 pm CST. Also nearby, about 10 utility poles were snapped near the top with debris falling on fences and other sheet metal buildings. The tornado dissipatedtwo minutes later and caused no damage. For the most part, however, rainfall amounts were modest, with only a few points collecting more than 1 inch (Figure 27). A concrete block building was destroyed, and another was partially destroyed. Below are some quick facts about the event from the NWS Norman: The collingsworth family is a southern gospel /inspirational group started by phil and kim collingsworth and features their family as the group. More destruction from the Wichita Falls tornado, Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 02:48, List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Wichita Falls, TX Tornadoes (1900-Present)", "The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak of 10 April 1979", "Normalized Damage from Major Tornadoes in the United States: 18901999", 10.1175/1520-0434(2001)016<0168:NDFMTI>2.0.CO;2, The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak of April 10, 1979, Full map of the 1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak, 47miles.org - A project to construct a memorial to the Wichita Falls tornado, Terrible Tuesday - Wichita Falls, Texas Tornado 1979, Terrible Tuesday (1979) Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak, Terrible Tuesday: April 10, 1979 in Wichita Falls, Texas, Coming Back: Wichita Falls, TX Tornado - April 10, 1979 KAUZ-TV, Bridge Creek, Moore, & Oklahoma City (Metro), OK, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1979_Red_River_Valley_tornado_outbreak&oldid=1141443347. A mattress fell beside the vehicle and I looked out to see a woman standing in what appeared to be a junk yard. WICHITA FALLS, Texas (TNN) - April 10th, 1979, a day forever ingrained in the minds of those who lived through it. 38 On April 10, 1979, a series of deadly tornadoes broke out near the Texas-Oklahoma border. Local Climate Data Homes were unroofed and barns were destroyed. By mid-afternoon the surface low had migrated northeastward toward the northern Low Rolling Plains, where steep pressure falls of up to 8mb or more in three hours were observed (Figure 16 insert). 1. ", "Early on April 10, NWS forecasters became aware of the threat of severe weather. A fourth tornado touched down just outside of Seymour an hour later, but again damage was comparatively minor. passed away on Thursday, February 23, 2023 in Wichita Falls Texas. No one was killed and only several major injuries occurred among the approximately one thousand shoppers who were in the mall. The tornado then moved east-northeast into the Western hills neighborhood, south of Southwest Parkway. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. Further eastward, most houses in the Faith Village Addition were destroyed, and Ben Milam Elementary School was severely damaged (location #6). The thunderstorm that fostered that tornado also produced hail up to 3 inches in diameter west of Harrold. About the time the tornado entered town, it changed appearance, becoming one large black cloud of condensation and debris. ), August 11, 1953 - This summertime tornado touched down at 7:00 pm CST in Wichita Falls and moved northeastward through the suburbs of the city. [19] Beyond the shopping mall, the tornado crossed a greenbelt area, skirted Midwestern State University on its south side, and severely damaged several more housing additions (Colonial Park, Hursh, Southmoor, Southwinds, and Southern Hills). View looking west-southwest at the approaching tornado from Ligon Coliseum at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. This tornado was part of an outbreak of tornadoes that occurred on May 25-26, 1955 across the southern Great Plains, and included the deadly F5 tornadoes at Blackwell, OK and Udall, KS. The half-mile wide tornado crossed the Red River into Oklahoma about 9 miles north-northeast of Electra. The clouds would roll over like they were collapsing into a deep hold. Apr 20, 2012 - The April 10, 1979 tornado in Wichita Falls. Frost Tornado. I can't say for sure, chasing was different back then. A destructive and deadly tornado outbreak impacted the Red River Valley on April 10, 1979. Overall, the outbreak produced nearly 30 tornadoes and a large number of damaging wind and severe hail reports. The tornado finally ended near Waurika, OK after traveling 47 miles. Severe Weather Safety The tornado's worst winds generally missed the Sikes Senter Shopping Mall to the South, but a few of the stores were heavily damaged and >many cars in the mall parking lot were blown some distance and stacked on top of each other. Tornado Database At the time we passed in front of the funnel the mud road had become slick enough that the car was not going very fast anymore. Several vehicles, including a bus, were flipped and tossed. The tornado expanded in size as it crossed Southwest Parkway, throwing automobiles about and leveling a number of businesses, including a bank and a fire station. The long, slender tornado was milky white in appearance and was accompanied by a loud roar. Wildfire Safety Most of the damage the tornado produced was minor, consisting of downed trees, fences and signs, however near the junction of U.S. Highway 281 and U.S. Highway 287, a machine shop composed of sheet metal sustained significant damage to the walls and frame when the roof was pushed upward, allowing the walls to cave in slightly. 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. The tornadoes pictured here were part of the Red River Valley Outbreak, the biggest event of that year. 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." One F4 tornado impacted Vernon, Texas. In this stage, the tornado did extensive damage just south of Dean and near Byars, destroying a large number of rural homes, but causing no more fatalities. Special Weather Statements After the tornado left Wichita Falls and travelled northeast, it entered Clay County and changed its appearance. Winter Weather Safety, Special Programs Six barns and two homes were destroyed. The police chief and county sheriff conferred and dispatched patrol cars to the southwest edge of town to watch for the approaching storm. The effects of passage of both the warm front from the Gulf and later the dry line from the west were pronounced at points like Abilene, where rapidly falling surface pressures, a soaring temperature, and a sudden plunge in dew point (signaling the arrival of the dry line) identified well the events that combined to cause devastation farther to the north a few hours later (Figure 18). The Red River Valley tornado outbreak of April 10, 1979 is one of the most significant tornado outbreaks that ever occurred in western north Texas and southern Oklahoma. 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! 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. Instead of going through Vernon we dropped further south through Seymour, then north on Texas 267. The Wichita Falls tornado formed in Archer County and moved northeast and damaged a few rural homes and high voltage towers at F1-F2 intensity. Upper Air Maps The most active portion of the advancing dry line traversed this sector of the Low Rolling Plains at precisely the time of occurrence of the tornado outbreak (Figure 19). It began at 4:57 p.m. about a mile-and-a-half south of Clearwater. Select western north Texas tornado statistics by decade, county or city from the menus or maps below. Thus, he stood in his backyard driveway and photographed the destruction of the apartment complex and the beginning of destruction in his neighborhood. Pat Blacklock. By this time teams from NSSL and the University of Oklahoma had arrived. A short time later, the same tornado invaded Vernon, taking the lives of 10 inhabitants and injuring 67 others. ), May 9, 1951 - A supercell thunderstorm produced a small, narrow tornado that moved east-northeastward along a 5-mile path from Iowa Park to near Wichita Falls. 1979-04-10 Wichita Falls. During this time I navigated and Eddie drove. As we drove south on the H.E. Then, a second vicious tornado formed near Thalia and moved into Lockett, where a driver of an auto was killed when her vehicle was thrown 200 yards off the highway. A deepening low pressure system formed in Colorado as a warm front lifted north pulling warm, moist, unstable air. By 1800 CST (6:00 PM), the storm had taken on a very classic supercell look with the tornado-associated mesocyclone and hook echo in the right rear portion of the echo. Mr. Carter also dispatched a special assistant, Jack H. Watson Jr., to this city of 125,000 people in northern Texas to survey the tornado damage. (Rated F2 by the NWS. . It is believed that many more minor injuries were never recorded.[5][6][7]. About 65 people attended the funeral. 8. as derived from photogrammetric analysis. In New York, Ernest W. Brinkman, vice president of the Underwriters Adjusting Company, said that most of the families affected by the tornadoes were getting substantial advance payments from insurance companies for emergency shelter and repairs. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Flood Warnings Norman, OKNational Weather Center120 David L. Boren Blvd. 15:55 F2. Property damages to both civilian properties and Sheppard were set at over $15 million. The wide swath of damage can also be seen by viewing the NASA aerial photographs (aerial photos 1-10 on the damage photo tab) and the other aerial photographs (photos 7 & 8 on the damage photo tab). There were scattered remains of destroyed structures on either side of the road. (1 death) April 10 - Texas, Oklahoma (11 deaths) April 10 - Texas, . A small home was swept away in the affected area, and factories and warehouses were unroofed. Prior to its touchdown, a funnel was first observed about 10 miles to the west-southwest. Hazardous Weather Outlook The first in a series of tornadoes struck near Foard City shortly after 3 o'clock destroying several rural homes, barns, and farm equipment. 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. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Six cross-country steel transmission towers were destroyed just east of Farm Road 2650. At about the mid-point in the atmosphere (around 500 mb), significant cold air advection occurred, thus exacerbating unsettled conditions, already present (Figure 23). One thousand and sixty-two apartment units and condominiums were demolished and 130 damaged. Half of the injuries sustained by Vernon residents were deemed critical by city officials. In addition to the tornado which developed near Wichita Falls, sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph from the southeast with gusts near 60 mph developed across western north Texas during the mid-evening of the 10th and persisted through much of the night. Unlike Mr. Lange, Mr. Molet did not have an unobstructed view of the western horizon and did not immediately recognize that the threatening cloud was a tornado. The lights of wichita shone bright now. Sep 18, 2004. Wichita Falls Tornado 1979. The Wichita Falls area has been visited by tornadoes many times over the course of its history. Local The following images and text copyright Gene Moore unless otherwise indicated. Along the 5.6-mile-long tornado path, the area of total destruction was 100 to 200 yards wide with lesser damage occurring up to 500 yards in width. The brick building at the water works plant was heavily damaged, and a woman suffered a broken back when her home was destroyed 3 miles south of Burkburnett. Flood Warnings Tornado left suction vortex marks in open fields. Numbers for 1979 were similar to that of 1980. The electrical power to local stations was down from the storm which prevented the gas pumps from operating and us from getting more gas. 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. April 26, 1991. The Harrold tornado was in its formative stages at about the time the Vernon tornado was crossing the Red River. Would we have seen the tornado and diverted? The first of dozens of funerals to be held for those killed by the tornado that struck here Tuesday was held today for Terry Mahon, 17 years old, who died while working at a restaurant job she had taken to save money for a marriage she had planned for this summer. The tornado was coming down, but getting photography was difficult. High winds in Burkburnett toppled several large trees and damaged limbs, signs, and fences throughout town. [8] The tornado cut a path 8 miles (13km) through the city, with significant devastation. Surface Maps The tornado destroyed 2 homes north-northwest of Wichita Falls, and damaged 3 homes near Thornberry. July 21, 1961 - A small, weak tornado touched down briefly in the eastern part of Wichita Falls, about 3 miles from the airport. As the first violent tornado on record to hit the Wichita Falls area, [18] it left seven dead and more than 100 injured. Wind gusts to 100 mph were observed at the observation site. April 10th, 1979 started out like any other day in Texoma. The clouds in the flanking lines exploded up the back of the storm through the back-sheared anvil to the overshooting top. Ben Milam Elementary School was heavily damaged, as the cafeteria-auditorium was completely destroyed and exterior class rooms were pummeled by flying debris. No fatalities or serious injuries occurred, but 13 people were treated for minor injuries, mostly as a result of flying glass. This report summarizes the injuries and deaths associated with these tornadoes based on information from emergency department and hospital records and death certificates. 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. The night time tornadoes, although strong, were not as devastating as the ones that occurred in the Red River Valley during the afternoon. 3. April 10, 1979: The worst single tornado in Texas' history hit Wichita Falls. Rob Satkus EF2. The tornado was at the top of the hill less than a mile away. He is now self-employed and lives with his family in San Antonio, Texas. To put the deaths and property damage in perspective, it should be noted that as many as 42 people have not been killed in the United States by a single tornado in the 20 years since the event, and the total property damage of $400,000,000 still stands as the most costly tornado in American history. It was on the ground for 11 miles. 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. . Had we gotten stuck in the damage of the town the chase would have been over. Only 5 of the homes that were left actually incurred damage. The tornadoes destroyed the press box and lights at Memorial Stadium, which lead to the Pioneer Bowl being. Forty-two people were killed outright by the storm, while 3 others died of heart attacks. Lawton had been alerted by Tornado Watch #67 and had received a tornado warning issued by WSFO Oklahoma City. Continuing east-northeastward, the violent tornado destroyed a large portion of a residential neighborhood before heavily damaging a commercial building along Southwest Parkway. This information is part of Stamboom Vermeij by Truus Vermeij on Genealogy Online. 16 of those 25 vehicle related deaths were from people leaving their homes to escape the. While photographing this shot I began to feel vibration in the camera. Two barns were also destroyed and scattered across a field. April 2, 1958 - A funnel was first spotted 8 miles southwest of Wichita Falls before touching down at 5:40 pmCST near the intersection 4th Street and Lamar Street near the Wichita River. We give still life with tornado and numerous ebook collections from fictions to scientific research in any way. Wichita Falls Tornado. Several brief touchdowns in Seymour resulted in scattered roof damage and one overturned truck. Skywarn Storm Spotters FAQ Sirens blew as the tornado bore down on Vernon. The tornado first touched down at 2:35 pm CST north of the intersection of Farm Road 369 and Seymour Highway. Why the Red River Valley between Childress and Bowie received the most severe outbreak of thunderstorms is explained by Figures 19-26. This line raced northeastward, spilling heavy rains, hail and high winds on numerous communities. Suite 2400Norman, OK 73072(405) 325-3816Comments? -56 NWS WFO, Norman, OK. For the first time in years we altered that route. The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak, one of the most significant outbreaks on record for this region, occurred on April 10, 1979. On the first street of houses to the northeast of Lange's apartment complex, Robert Molet also photographed the approaching tornado (location #3). There we hoped the dryline and warm front would intersect with a strong jet stream. Jeanine V. Wolff. The awesome "freight train like sound" was audible from the Weather Bureau Airport Station. (Documented and rated F2 by Grazulis. The destruction in Wichita Falls resulted in 42 dead, 1,740 injured, over 3,000 homes destroyed and damage of approximately $400 million. Museum of the Kansas National Guard . Weather Bureau records. 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). Tornado F-scale ratings prior to 1950, as well as most tornado data are referenced from Significant Tornadoes, 1680-1991 by T. P. Grazulis. A total of 10 people received injuries due to the high winds. More widespread home destruction occurred in Colonial Park and several more apartment complexes were demolished. This report is an attempt to describe thoroughly but concisely the noteworthy elements of the Texas weather scene throughout 1979. Vehicles (cars, pickups, and trucks) are poor protection and should be avoided during tornado situations in larger cities where travel is congested and tornado escape routes are not readily available and open for use. Please Contact Us. Three people were injured. Three homes were destroyed and others were damaged. The tornado then crossed over Kemp Boulevard and destroyed several commercial businesses, including a restaurant, resulting in several additional fatalities. wichita falls tornado 1979 deathsare there really purple owls "The damage path was one of the widest I have ever seen, and its intensity was almost equal to that of the giant . As it turned out we would have driven into Vernon just before a major tragedy unfolded with injuries and death. After dodging power lines, broken poles, and busted trees we dropped south on US 183/283 on the east side of Vernon. We would like to give special recognition to Don Burgess of the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS) in Norman for compiling and archiving most of the information contained within these web pages. It damaged several homes and businesses before going into Wichita Falls where it . An estimated 20,000 persons were left homeless by this storm. Heavy lake effect snow, strong winds, and reduced visibilities continue downwind of the Great Lakes. In the upper atmosphere, the nose of an extremely strong jet stream wind maximum was moving eastward through northern Mexico, preparing to turn northeastward and take aim on Texas and Oklahoma. Ingredients for a devastating severe weather event were beginning to come together on the morning of April 10. auto-related; 16 of that total died while in their autos trying to flee the storm, and 11 of that number abandoned homes not touched by the tornado. Please try another search. Troy Glover. The heaviest damage in the apartments occurred in the second story of two-story buildings. Each lasted for an hour or more and left a continuous track of ground damage 35 miles or longer. The moonlight felt like a reminder of the pain and sorrow that awaited him as he stared at its yellow haze. Fire Weather Residents of Seymour reported that the tornado was preceded by very heavy rain and hail almost 2 inches in diameter. Sixteen of the 25 got in vehicles to evade the tornado, and 11 of the 16 homes which were left did not incur damage by the tornado. age through the southern half of tne city. Horner was . No fatalities or injuries occurred. Past Weather Events The tornado blew many of those vehicles off those roadways, inflicting numerous fatalities. Stability indices indicated the air throughout central. The tornado exited Texas about 4 miles east of Byers, uprooting over 200 trees along the Red River. The event would put Wichita Falls in the national news and history books, while almost taking it off of the map. ", "Despite excellent warning lead-time and multiple soundings of the sirens, some people of Wichita Falls either did not hear the warnings or failed to take prescribed lifesaving actions. A total of 2 people were seriously injured along the tornado's path, but most of injuries people received were minor. Does Wichita Texas get tornadoes? Fifty mph sustained inflow winds were occurring at this time. "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. Three thousand and ninety-five homes were destroyed and 600 were damaged. McNiel Junior High, a new concrete/steel-reinforced building was not built well enough to provide safe shelter from the tornado. Pat Blacklock, View looking north-northwest from south shore of Lake Wichita at the tornado approaching Wichita Falls, Texas. Some or all of the walls remained for well-built homes (photos 4-6 on the damage photo tab) and bathrooms in particular provided good protection. Storm Spotter Training ), March 31, 1892 - A tornado hit parts of Iowa Park where a house was moved 30 feet and destroyed, injuring 3 occupants. 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. In addition, 93 mobile homes were devastated. [7] It is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay, and Wichita counties. Eight persons were killed outside, 4 were killed in homes or apartments, and 4 others died in public buildings. . 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. One thousand and 62 apartment units and condominiums were destroyed, and 93 mobile homes were demolished. He was great at identifying cloud structures. Neighbors took shelter together while federal and local groups assembled. ), March 17, 1952 - A small, weak tornado touched down about 5 miles south-southwest of the Wichita Falls Airport where some buildings were unroofed and smaller buildings blown down. Three isolated supercells, forming in mid afternoon, moved northeastward as a trio and were responsible for the worst part of the outbreak. One tree near a house fell onto a power line, causing an electrical surge that set the kitchen of the house on fire. Wildfire Safety 128 followers. There was strong upper level dynamics all coming together to produce strong tornado-producing supercells. The northern supercell, the Vernon-Lawton storm, produced its first tornado at 1505 CST (3:05 PM) south of Crowell, TX. Additionally, the tornado caused roughly $15 million in property damage with about 225 homes destroyed and another 250 damaged. The video includes survivor accounts and safety information. 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Of a residential neighborhood before heavily damaging a commercial building along southwest Parkway `` Early on 10! Different back then `` Early on April 10, 1979 tornado in Wichita Falls less a... Kitchen of the storm through the city, with significant devastation isolated supercells, forming in mid afternoon, northeastward... Many more minor injuries, mostly as a trio and were responsible for the first time years! Clay County and changed its appearance 10, 1979 changed its appearance electrical surge that the... 3:05 pm ) south of southwest Parkway thunderstorm pounded the area just north of Brownwood with hail having diameter... But getting photography was difficult the lives of 10 inhabitants and injuring 67 others busted we... It damaged several homes and businesses before going into Wichita Falls that were left in. 4 others died in public buildings busted trees we dropped south on us 183/283 on the east side Vernon...
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