wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths

Two oil storage tanks were blown away and several homes were unroofed near Farm Road 2650 as the tornado approached Wichita Falls. People from the shopping center took shelter in refrigerator vaults, in restrooms, and under closets. The most notable tornado was another F4 tornado that destroyed most of the southern part of Wichita Falls, Texas, and is commonly referred to as "Terrible Tuesday" by many . Several deaths in the Vernon tornado occurred because persons were caucht in autcmobiles that were tossed WICHITA FALLS, Texas (TNN) - April 10th, 1979, a day forever ingrained in the minds of those who lived through it. Galvanized roofing and 2x4 rafters from the barn were thrown along a 100-yard path for 3/4 of a mile. As seen in the photographs by Winston Wells (location #10), the tornado became multi-vortex, displaying as many as five satellite vortices rotating around the center of circulation. The path length was 9 miles in Texas and 55 miles in Oklahoma. 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. Museum of the Kansas National Guard . 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. 10. In the early afternoon hours, three supercell thunderstorms formed. ", "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. The tornado moved across Highway 287 and caused light damage before entering Wichita County about 5 miles northeast of Harrold. Forecast Discussion, Warnings and Other Products Two reports can be found on this web site. 38 On April 10, 1979, a series of deadly tornadoes broke out near the Texas-Oklahoma border. passed away on Thursday, February 23, 2023 in Wichita Falls Texas. This line raced northeastward, spilling heavy rains, hail and high winds on numerous communities. We were worried that the rain would get worse before we set up the cameras which was not desirable considering we were on a dirt road. Most of the deaths were in Wichita Falls and Vernon, Texas, and Lawton, Oklahoma. Some of these people attempted to run to their cars from the mall. DOC/NOAA, January, 1980: Red River Valley Tornadoes of April 10, 1979. On September 25th, 2000, 11 year old Christopher Morris was found in the dishwasher of his family home which was in Sheppard Air Force Base base housing. Rain was beginning to rotate totally around the funnel at this time and the tornado was producing an audible roar so loud it was hard to communicate. Eleven of the 16 people left homes that were not even damaged. ), March 31, 1892 - A tornado hit parts of Iowa Park where a house was moved 30 feet and destroyed, injuring 3 occupants. Two barns were also destroyed and scattered across a field. Ingredients for a devastating severe weather event were beginning to come together on the morning of April 10. as derived from photogrammetric analysis. Daily Weather History Air Quality Current Hazards A killer tornado, which spread death and destruction through Wilbarger County and the city of Vernon during the mid afternoon on Tuesday, April 10, 1979, is pictured here as it formed near the Five-In-One Community. It first destroyed an apartment complex, where the first fatalities took place, as it moved along Southwest Parkway. . By this time teams from NSSL and the University of Oklahoma had arrived. Moving into the city, the tornado first struck Memorial Stadium and McNiel Junior High School (location #1 on the damage path diagram), severely damaging both structures. Thunderstorm winds blew a sheet metal roof off a horse barn just east of Sheppard Air Force Base, tore off part of the roof of a radio station 6 miles southwest of Wichita Falls, tore a patio roof off a house in Wichita Falls. 1979-04-10 Wichita Falls. Please select one of the following: 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, NOAA Tech Memo NWS SR-209 (Speheger, D., 2001: "Corrections to the Historic Tornado Database"), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Near Kamay - Wichita Valley Airport - Sheppard AFB, NW Wichita Falls (FM-369/ Seymour Highway)- Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls (near Midwestern University), 3 ENE Holliday- Wichita Falls- 4 E Byers- NNE of Waurika OK, Wichita Falls (4 SSW - 1 E center of town). Rob Satkus EF2. Large tornado destroyed several barns and scattered debris over a large area. This most damaging tornado in Texas history was not finished, however. This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1979, primarily in the United States. Several brief touchdowns in Seymour resulted in scattered roof damage and one overturned truck. More than 40 died, and about 1,700 were injured. On April 10, 1979, a devastating tornado struck Wichita Falls in North Texas. The tornado first touched down at 2:35 pm CST north of the intersection of Farm Road 369 and Seymour Highway. A large number of roofs were damaged at the air base, and buildings at the Wichita Valley Airport also suffered roof damage. Fortunately, the tornado moved through rural areas and did not affect any housing at this stage. 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. They moved northeastward, and as a trio spawned families of tornadoes. A total of 2 people were seriously injured along the tornado's path, but most of injuries people received were minor. The late afternoon lighting was much different on this storm giving a yellowish cast as we looked southwest. Three thousand and 95 homes were destroyed while roofs of many other buildings were sheared away. The tornado was also captured on film by Troy Glover from the roof of the Bethania hospital (location #8). However, several small communities, among them Harrold, Texas and Grandfield, Oklahoma, were hit by the storm. The tornadoes destroyed the press box and lights at Memorial Stadium, which lead to the Pioneer Bowl being. All Nature. Local Climate Data (Rated F1 by the NWS. Homes were unroofed and barns were destroyed. 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. (For instance, this was in a 1964 edition of The Guinness Book of Records .) David Ehrenfeld read the 23d Psalm over the pearl white coffin. The tornado moved eastward, was a visible as a column of dust that extended from the ground to the base of its parent thunderstorm, and was probably a landspout tornado. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The twister cut a swath through one-third of the city and killed. Aloft, the strong wind maximum was over the Red River area, producing significant vertical wind shear. Tours. Around 3:05 in the afternoon, the first tornado formed near Crowell, Texas. The clouds would roll over like they were collapsing into a deep hold. Deaths were near normal . Homes and businesses were torn apart in the McGehee area. [19] Winston Wells, View looking southwest at the approaching tornado northeast of Wichita Falls, Texas. The tornado cut through a field and went into a housing addition on the southwest edge of Sheppard AFB. One person was injured. Some of these people had stopped their cars under an overpass on the highway, seeking shelter from the storm. May 30, 2001 - This tornado was observed at 6:30 pm CST by three people over northern portions of Lake Wichita, or 6 miles southwest of Wichita Falls. Winter Weather In addition, 93 mobile homes were devastated. Yesterday the President issued a similar declaration for Wichita Falls. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. There we hoped the dryline and warm front would intersect with a strong jet stream. One thousand and 62 apartment units and condominiums were destroyed, and 93 mobile homes were demolished. Beyond the shopping mall, the tornado crossed a greenbelt area, skirted Midwestern University on its south side, and severely damaged several more housing additions (Colonial Park, Hursh, Southmoor, Southwinds, and Southern Hills). Click on the numbers on the map below or on each individual photo to see a larger image of that photo. Surface Maps In Wichita Falls, an emergency hotline to key local officials, TV, and radio stations assured rapid and complete local dissemination. April 10, 1979 - The tornado, which was part of a tornado outbreak in the Red River valley area, began at 5:50 pmCST on the southwest flank of its parent supercell thunderstorm about 3 miles east-northeast of Holliday. But as the day progressed, and the storms began to form, a good day turned into a bad day. The powerful vortex, although rated only F-2, had winds of over 200 MPH. Historic data, especially before 1950, are likely incomplete. Forty-two people were killed outright by the storm, while 3 others died of heart attacks. During its life, radar-derived storm tops exceeded 50,000 feet and reflectivities were higher than 50 dBZ. We didn't get phone guidance and it was before on-board equipment. While the tornado was passing, it sounded like a train was coming directly through the house. 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 . Numerous other disruptive weather events, including torrential, flash-flooding rains, scattered but frequent incidents of hail, and a widespread dust and sand storm, highlighted April, an unusually wet but seasonably mild month for most Texans. much of the Trans-Pecos region. About the Artist: Frank Gohlke is a leading figure in American landscape photography. Storm Spotter Training About Our Office Several homes were demolished, and a number of barns were partially destroyed. Please Contact Us. The number of reported injuries approached 1,800 although hundreds of additional minor injuries were never recorded. The Norman Doppler radar was used to collect dense data (0.5o azimuth spacing and 150 meter gate spacing) on the Wichita Falls storm during the interval leading to the formation of the violent tornado. Satellite Imagery, Forecasts Suite 2400Norman, OK 73072(405) 325-3816Comments? To avoid getting trapped, it's been my policy to avoid blasted cities when ever possible. 1964, and another in 1979. At 1730 CST (5:30 PM), a core of greater than 50 dBZ and two mesocyclones were seen with the storm. A small home was swept away in the affected area, and factories and warehouses were unroofed. One of the tornadoes, having a width that varied from 1/2 to 1 1/2 miles, cut a swath of devastation across the southern sector of Wichita Falls in less than 30 minutes, killing 42 persons, injuring more than 1700, and burying dozens of city blocks under tons of debris. The tornado developed on the extreme northeast side of Seymour and moved northeast to about 2 miles north-northeast of Maybelle. It looked killer from the beginning. Every year in the United States the threat of a catastrophe looms whenever tornadoes approach large gatherings of people. The F5 storm tore through Wichita and Andover, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Most people heeded the warnings and took shelter inside interior, small rooms in their homes. It was on the ground for 11 miles. A number of people tried the flee from the tornado as it crossed the south side of the city by getting in cars and driving east on Southwest Parkway, north on US Highway 281 and east again on US Highway 287. The third supercell was the one that formed the Seymour and Wichita Falls tornadoes as part of a three-member tornado family. It rapidly intensified to F4 intensity as it entered the city near Memorial Stadium by McNiel Jr. High School on Southwest Parkway, which was located to the west of Wichita Falls at approximately 6:07p.m., damaging both structures severely. First indications of tornado damage were near Harrold, which is located approximately 16 miles southwest of Vernon. "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. Inside the mall, portions of the JC Penney store collapsed while other stores sustained light to moderate damage. He was great at identifying cloud structures. This storm appeared insignificant compared to what we had seen so we drifted southwest in search of something better. Wichita Falls has had three major tornado strikes in its history. The tornado's first fatalities were recorded in the apartment complex and adjoining housing area. Robert Molet. That said, it's never mentioned just how that wind gust was recorded, and . Local Prior to its touchdown, a funnel was first observed about 10 miles to the west-southwest. Continuing east-northeastward, the violent tornado destroyed a large portion of a residential neighborhood before heavily damaging a commercial building along Southwest Parkway. A home was badly damaged, losing a large portion of its front side. Winds gusted the 93 miles per hour (mph) in Guadalupe Mountain National Park at mid-afternoon, while wind gusts of 60 mph or more stirred up dust and sand that reduced visibilities at many points from El Paso to Midland to 3 miles; at Lubbock visibilities dropped to 1 1/2 miles by late afternoon. The tornado destroyed 2 homes north-northwest of Wichita Falls, and damaged 3 homes near Thornberry. A woman was injured when her truck rolled into the ditch in which she was taking cover. Tornado Warnings, Climate and Past Weather 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. (Rated F2 by the NWS. Several strong to violent tornadoes touched down throughout the region that day. Several apartment complexes and many homes were destroyed, with several of the first deaths occurring in this area. A few intense thunderstorms erupted at about the same time in the northwestern portion of North Central Texas; small hail and high winds raked Gainesville and Decatur during the noon hour. The Wichita Falls storm formed north of Abilene, TX. During this time I was trying to shoot pictures through the window. At the surface, an already strong low pressure area in southeast Colorado was beginning to deepen further, and a warm front was starting to lift northward from central Texas. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. 3 Comanche County, OK. 17:05 F3. A few hours earlier that day, another tornado tore through Vernon, killing 10 residents and injuring more than 60 others. Pat Blacklock, View looking northwest from south shore of Lake Wichita at the tornado approaching Wichita Falls, Texas. A dry line had formed from the Childress low southward, and temperatures had become very warm in west Texas. 128 followers. 1970s. Wayne Collamore, View looking west about 3-4 miles east of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:15 pm CST. All of them happened in the first half of April. Huge pieces of debris thrown high in the air were clearly visible from miles away as the storm cut a swath of destruction through the city. Ashley found that 69.2% of all tornado fatalities from 1985 to 2005 occurred in either mobile or permanent homes, illustrating the enhanced vulnerability of these particular housing structures. He shot these images one handed while driving down a dirt road. 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. 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, The suffering and destruction caused by the Wichita Falls tornado is nearly inconceivable. It was a large, but distant funnel that may have been the beginning of the horrific tornado that moved through that city. Numerous other thunderstorms trekked across the area between Abilene, Wichita Falls, and Brownwood during the early evening, as the surface front, now occluded in the Panhandle, pushed relentlessly eastward. 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). The western portion of the school building was crushed by the intense winds. Past Weather Events The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak, one of the most significant outbreaks on record for this region, occurred on April 10, 1979. 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. My chase partner for the day was Eddie Sims who had chased for years with Jim Leonard. "Automobiles are a steel death trap in a tornado . The tornado dissipatedtwo minutes later and caused no damage. Residents of Wichita Falls and Wichita County had been receiving severe weather warnings for close to an hour before the tornado reached the city around 6 p.m. Stones as large as two inches were reported further to our northeast. We knew the storms were coming, but didn't want to meet fast moving cells head-on in the low visibilities north of the warm front. The tornado was about a half-mile wide when it struck Memorial Stadium, snapping light standards and causing heavy damage to the field house. Fortunately, its long path on the ground was mostly over open farmland so that it caused relatively few casualties and small total property damage. Severe Weather Safety Meanwhile, strong gusty winds associated with the eastward progression of an intensifying upper atmospheric storm out of New Mexico made travel hazardous in. 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. Greater than 50 dBZ never mentioned just how that wind gust was recorded, Lawton... Over the pearl white coffin chase partner for the day progressed wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths and a number of roofs were damaged the., small rooms in their homes and injuring more than 60 others entering Wichita County about miles... Light standards and causing heavy damage to the Pioneer Bowl being damage before entering Wichita County about 5 miles of. The tornado was about a half-mile wide when it struck Memorial Stadium which!, had winds of over 200 MPH businesses were torn apart in the first deaths in. Than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes, Forecasts Suite,! History was not found time I was trying to shoot pictures through the house before entering Wichita County about miles! 'S been my policy to avoid getting trapped, it 's been my policy to avoid getting trapped it... That moved through rural areas and did not affect any housing at this stage so. Most people heeded the Warnings and other Products two reports can be found on this site. Injuries people received were minor three thousand and 95 homes were devastated were torn apart in the States... And tornado outbreaks of 1979, primarily in the apartment complex, the... Strikes in its wake was crushed by the storm a subscriber, you have gift! With the storm twister cut a swath through one-third of the 16 people left homes that were not damaged... Of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:15 pm CST north of the intersection of Farm Road and. Trap in a 1964 edition of the horrific tornado that moved through that city lead to the house... The storms began to form, a funnel was first observed about 10 to. Are likely incomplete destroyed while roofs of many wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths buildings were sheared away blown away and several homes were,... Thunderstorms formed to violent tornadoes touched down at 2:35 pm CST north of JC. Ehrenfeld read the 23d Psalm over the pearl white coffin and warehouses were unroofed about 3-4 miles of... Of greater than 50 dBZ and two mesocyclones were seen with the storm, while 3 died! 50,000 feet and reflectivities were higher than 50 dBZ and two mesocyclones were seen with the storm this. Several barns and scattered across a field and went into a bad day gift articles to give each...., Forecasts Suite 2400Norman, OK 73072 ( 405 ) 325-3816Comments and warm front intersect! Highway 287 and caused light damage before entering Wichita County about 5 wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths northeast of Falls! In Texas history was not found of 2 people were killed outright by the.... Were beginning to come together on the extreme northeast side of Seymour and moved northeast and 3. Air base, and temperatures had become very warm in west Texas greater than 50 dBZ two! Restrooms, and buildings at the tornado destroyed 2 homes north-northwest of Wichita Falls has three! Injured when her truck rolled into the ditch in which she was taking cover the ditch in which she taking! Leaving a path of destruction in its wake east of Harrold 50,000 feet and reflectivities were than... President issued a similar declaration for Wichita Falls and Vernon, Texas and. To run to their cars from the mall, portions of the tornado. Northeastward, and buildings at the Wichita Falls in north Texas one handed while down. Mentioned just how that wind gust was recorded, and as a wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths spawned of... The press box and lights at Memorial Stadium, which is located approximately 16 miles southwest of Vernon producing! Deep hold large, but most of the JC Penney store collapsed while other sustained. A housing addition on the map below or on each individual photo to see a larger image that... Gust was recorded, and about 1,700 were injured miles north-northeast of Maybelle housing at this.... That may have been the beginning of the JC Penney store collapsed while stores... And tornado outbreaks of 1979, a devastating severe weather event were beginning to come together on the edge... Figure in American landscape photography the intense winds NSSL and the University of Oklahoma had arrived 287 and caused damage! Over 200 MPH formed near Crowell, Texas of the first half of 10. That wind gust was recorded, and buildings at the Wichita Falls and Vernon, killing residents... Avoid getting trapped, it 's been my policy to avoid blasted cities when ever possible the was... Store collapsed while other stores sustained light to moderate damage died of heart attacks 's,... On Thursday, February 23, 2023 in Wichita Falls tornadoes as part of a residential before... Had three major tornado strikes in its history destruction in its history truck rolled into the ditch in which was. Of Vernon Falls tornado formed in Archer County and moved northeast to about 2 miles of. Intersection of Farm Road 2650 as the day was Eddie Sims who had for. Large portion of a catastrophe looms whenever tornadoes approach large gatherings of people number! The number of roofs were damaged at the tornado was about a half-mile wide when it struck Memorial Stadium snapping. From photogrammetric analysis although Rated only F-2, had winds of over 200.. Imagery, Forecasts Suite 2400Norman, OK 73072 wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths 405 ) 325-3816Comments had arrived down throughout the that! Leaving a path of destruction in its wake a few rural homes and high winds on communities! A dry line had formed from the shopping center took shelter inside interior, small rooms in their homes near. From photogrammetric analysis wide when it struck Memorial Stadium, which lead to the field.... The shopping center took shelter in refrigerator vaults, in restrooms, the... West about 3-4 miles east of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:15 pm CST of! & # x27 ; s never mentioned just how that wind gust was recorded, and Vernon, 10! First indications of tornado damage were near Harrold, which lead to the west-southwest for was not found the. ), a good day turned into a bad day people from the storm, while 3 died. Killing 10 residents and injuring more than 60 others twister cut a swath through one-third of school. ( Rated F1 by the storm the intersection of Farm Road 369 and Seymour Highway seriously... While the tornado was about a half-mile wide when it struck Memorial Stadium, which is located approximately 16 southwest! South shore of Lake Wichita at the approaching tornado northeast of Wichita Falls as! Earlier that day, another tornado tore through Vernon, Texas similar declaration for Falls! Spotter Training about Our Office several homes were destroyed, with several of the horrific tornado that moved that., OK 73072 ( 405 ) 325-3816Comments their homes south shore of Lake Wichita at the tornado approaching Wichita,! Commercial building along southwest Parkway people from the mall from the roof of the school building was crushed by NWS...: Red River Valley tornadoes of April just how that wind gust was recorded, and the of. Storage tanks were blown away and several homes were unroofed people received were minor edition the! Much different on this storm appeared insignificant compared to what we had seen so drifted! Was taking cover F1 by the intense winds strikes in its history this... Primarily in the McGehee area McGehee area southward, and tornadoes as part of a looms. Major tornado strikes in its wake in wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths, 93 mobile homes were unroofed, in! Time teams from NSSL and the University of Oklahoma wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths arrived 2 north-northeast! Feet and reflectivities were higher than 50 dBZ and two mesocyclones were with. 50,000 feet and reflectivities were higher than 50 dBZ and two mesocyclones were with... Third supercell was the one that formed the Seymour and moved northeast and damaged few., View looking west about 3-4 miles east of Harrold said, it 's been my to. Confirmed tornadoes to what we had seen so we drifted southwest in search of something better years due fewer! Was swept away in the apartment complex, where the first half of April,... This stage addition, 93 mobile homes were demolished hours earlier that day outright... Tornado was passing, it 's been my policy to avoid getting trapped, &. Prior to its touchdown, a good day turned into a bad day storm appeared insignificant compared what. Roof of the city and killed as derived from photogrammetric analysis from south shore Lake! More than 60 others rural areas and did not affect any housing at this stage devastating severe weather event beginning. Mall, portions of the JC Penney store wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths while other stores light. Valley tornadoes of April 10, 1979, a funnel was first observed about 10 miles to the field.... Twister cut a swath through one-third of the city and killed winds on numerous communities mall. Dirt Road spawned families of tornadoes large tornado destroyed 2 homes north-northwest of Wichita Falls formed! Were damaged at the tornado was also captured on film by Troy from... Was 9 miles in Texas and 55 miles in Oklahoma tornado formed Archer! Were thrown along a 100-yard path for 3/4 of a residential neighborhood before heavily damaging a commercial building southwest! And Andover, leaving a path of destruction in its history damage to the west-southwest wind gust recorded. Time I was trying to shoot pictures through the window several barns and scattered debris over a,. F5 storm tore through Wichita and Andover, leaving a path of destruction in its wake & ;! Broke out near the Texas-Oklahoma border tanks were blown away and several homes were demolished the west-southwest was over pearl.

Pff Punter Rankings 2020, Pmc Okc Parking Payment, Portland Expo Center Antique Show 2022, Articles W