Texas was extremely unstable early in the evening (Figure 25). After dark, another jet stream wind maximum moved northeastward into west central and northern Texas, sparking a second round of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. The North Texas town of Wichita Falls has seen three major tornadoesin 1958, 1964, and another in 1979. Toggle navigation. 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). Norman, OKNational Weather Center120 David L. Boren Blvd. A small home was swept away in the affected area, and factories and warehouses were unroofed. Graphical Forecasts Barns were destroyed and homes sustained roof damage. Wolfgang Lange, View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the approaching tornado. Storm Spotter Training Wildfire Safety 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. Gene is a graduate of Oklahoma University who photographed storms when he lived in Norman, Oklahoma during the 1970s. The thunderstorm that fostered that tornado also produced hail up to 3 inches in diameter west of Harrold. All the storms this day exhibited violent cloud motions. Another tornado swept the community of Harrold soon thereafter, causing much less extensive damage. Preprints, 12th Conference Severe Local Storms, American Meteorological Society, Boston, 441-443. Tornado was well documented on film and by NSSL storm researchers. Mr. Molet continued to take photographs until the wind blew him into his garage. Please Contact Us. The Wichita Falls tornado of April 10, 1979 was one of thirteen tornadoes which rampaged across parts of north Texas and Oklahoma that "Terrible Tuesday." This over one mile-wide beast. Fortunately, its long path on the ground was mostly over open farmland so that it caused relatively few casualties and small total property damage. Eddie was trying to tell me something; finally with some tugging, he got my attention. 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. 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. Updated: Feb. 23, 2023 at 7:25 AM PST. Two barns were also destroyed and scattered across a field. Forty-two peoples were killed and over 1700 injured. Total damage in the city was estimated at $400 million; five thousand families (or about 20,000 people) were left homeless. (For instance, this was in a 1964 edition of The Guinness Book of Records .) The southern supercell, the Wichita Falls storm, produced its first tornado at 1653 CST (4:53 PM) near Seymour, TX. Does Wichita Texas get tornadoes? The tornado blew many of those vehicles off those roadways, inflicting numerous fatalities. The inner hallways would have been the only relatively safe shelter in the building. The following table includes data and summaries from the tornadoes that occurred in the area since the late 1800's. Home; Exhibits and Displays Several vehicles, including a bus, were flipped and tossed. At the Iowa Park Fairgrounds, wind damage covered a 4-block area. This most damaging tornado in Texas history was not finished, however. Forecast Discussion, Warnings and Other Products Crossing into Oklahoma, the tornado inflicted additional damage near Waurika before dissipating. 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 awesome "freight train like sound" was audible from the Weather Bureau Airport Station. 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. The tornado then crossed over Kemp Boulevard and destroyed several commercial businesses, including a restaurant, resulting in several additional fatalities. I'm surprised he got the tornado in the frame. Winston Wells, Current Hazards Joe Landon Haney. During its life, radar-derived storm tops exceeded 50,000 feet and reflectivities were higher than 50 dBZ. NOAA Disaster Survey Report 80-1, Chapter 1. View looking west-northwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at wall cloud on the southwestern edge of the thunderstorm. At 1730 CST (5:30 PM), a core of greater than 50 dBZ and two mesocyclones were seen with the storm. After the tornado, a thorough investigation of the damage was performed by Texas Tech University, Institute for Disaster Research, and the University of Chicago. Several got extra protection by covering themselves with mattresses and pillows. Several homes were demolished, and a number of barns were partially destroyed. Anyone can read what you share. Non Precipitation Warnings A woman was injured when her truck rolled into the ditch in which she was taking cover. Fifty mph sustained inflow winds were occurring at this time. The F5 storm tore through Wichita and Andover, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. 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." 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. 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. The tornado first touched down at 2:35 pm CST north of the intersection of Farm Road 369 and Seymour Highway. On April 3, 1964, a devastating F5 tornado hit the northern region of Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base. Pinterest. Questions? The killer tornadoes that ravaged parts of three Texas communities near the Red River late in the afternoon stemmed from a wave of very intense thunderstorms that developed shortly after noon when a dry line advanced rapidly eastward out of the High Plains ahead of an approaching Pacific cold front. While the tornado was passing, it sounded like a train was coming directly through the house. The maximum F-scale rating was F1, however most damage was rated F0. To avoid getting trapped, it's been my policy to avoid blasted cities when ever possible. Special Weather Statements 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. '", "When the day had ended, the tornadoes had left in their wake a tragically high toll -- 56 dead and 1916 injured. One mobile home was completely destroyed on Bobby Point Road, prompting an F1 rating. 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 meteorologists. NWS 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. The Wichita Falls tornado alone killed 42 people and caused $400 million in damage ($1.93billion in today's dollars). [7] It is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay, and Wichita counties. Storm Data, Weather Safety April 17, 1977 - A "freak tornado" moved from east to west across a 2-mile path in the western sections of Wichita Falls. There were at times five separate vortices visible within the tornado. ", "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. 5) The Wichita Falls Tornado - April 10, 1979. The funnel was quite close at this time and large black crows were caught up in the outer circulation. Apr 20, 2012 - The April 10, 1979 tornado in Wichita Falls. Watch. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration A destructive and deadly tornado outbreak impacted the Red River Valley on April 10, 1979. In slightly more than 10 minutes, the tornado passed across the southern tip of the city leaving 11 dead, more than 60 injured, and several hundred homes destroyed or damaged. 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. Surface Maps The tornado's first fatalities were recorded in the apartment complex and adjoining housing area. 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). DOC/NOAA, January, 1980: Red River Valley Tornadoes of April 10, 1979. Deaths An Estimated 42 people died The huge thunderstorm that yielded the Seymour tornado also pounded Holliday with baseball-size hail and an area west of Iowa Park with golfball-size hail. Rivers and Lakes The storm spawned a second tornado that moved through the south and east sides of Wichita Falls at around 6:00 pm. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Prior to its touchdown, a funnel was first observed about 10 miles to the west-southwest. 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. 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 . It is interesting to note that the Seymour and Wichita Falls tornadoes both formed during periods of relative decline in storm-top height and reflectivity values, a characteristic that has been noted for a number of supercell storms that have produced several cycles of tornadoes. 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. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. The tornado then crossed a short span of open fields before moving into the Colonial Park area. Tornado Warnings, Climate and Past Weather Of the 7 people killed, six occurred in 5 different homes, and one man was killed when his truck was thrown from a road. Meanwhile, strong gusty winds associated with the eastward progression of an intensifying upper atmospheric storm out of New Mexico made travel hazardous in. For. 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. Tornado caused $3,500,000 to the downtown business district in. 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. Using spotter and radar reports, Lawton officials sounded the siren system to warn the people of the approaching storm. Golfball-size hail fell prior to and immediately after the tornado passed along a track that took it into Oklahoma (where it dissipated near Waurika). Losses eligible for Federal disaster relief totaled $63 million, but Federal disaster assistance did not cover additional millions in damages. More widespread home destruction occurred in Colonial Park and several more apartment complexes were demolished. Around 3:05 in the afternoon, the first tornado formed near Crowell, Texas. During the morning, closely monitored air mass movements, temperatures, dew points, and winds had all been shifting towards critical values indicative of severe thunderstorms and potential tornadoes. WICHITA FALLS, Texas (TNN) - April 10th, 1979, a day forever ingrained in the minds of those who lived through it. This line raced northeastward, spilling heavy rains, hail and high winds on numerous communities. They moved northeastward, and as a trio spawned families of tornadoes. A second severe thunderstorm pounded the area just north of Brownwood with hail having a diameter of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. Flood/Flash Flood Safety 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. 45 people died in the Wichita Falls tornado. 1. The strongest wind measurement logged on the USWB equipment located 1 mile south of the air base was a 55-knot peak gust. The intense damage averaged between one quarter and one half of a mile in width. ), 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. The tornado damaged outbuildings, chicken coops, and did minor damage to roofs of houses. The northern supercell, the Vernon-Lawton storm, produced its first tornado at 1505 CST (3:05 PM) south of Crowell, TX. 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. (Rated F3 by the NWS. Aviation Weather Brenda Lee Whitehead. age through the southern half of tne city. Only three times in my chase career have I seen vertical storm tower velocities this strong. Robert Molet. Then the supercell spawned one that killed three people in Lawton, Oklahoma. The Wichita Falls storm formed north of Abilene, TX. Despite city officials' contentions that security measures were adequate, some survivors armed themselves and slept in their cars or makeshift shelters to protect their property. After taking his last picture of the approaching tornado, Mr. Lange retreated to the apartment complex laundry room and hid between heavy commercial washers and dryers, escaping with only minor injuries. The Wichita Falls storm produced a third and final tornado about 2000 CST (8:00 PM) near Pruitt, OK. Wayne Collamore, View looking west about 3-4 miles east of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:15 pm CST. A strong tornado damaged roofs, telephone poles, trees, uprooted shrubs and overturned a truck, but remained over open country while at peak intensity. To the north of Southwest Parkway, the tornado destroyed many houses in the Western Hills Addition. The tornado was photographed from the south during this period by Pat Blacklock location #5). 8. Winter Weather Warnings Further statistics reveal that 25 of the deaths were auto-related. The tornado was about a half-mile wide when it struck Memorial Stadium, snapping light standards and causing heavy damage to the field house. The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak of 10 April 1979 Location Help Wintry and Cold Conditions Continue Across Much of the U.S. (Rated F2 by the NWS.). (Documented and rated F2 by Grazulis. A total of 2 homes were completely destroyed with 31 homes and 17 mobile homes being damaged. We were under an extensive rain free updraft area on the southeast side of the storm. Fire Weather It was on the ground for 11 miles. The most recent exceptionally destructive storm to hit the Wichita Falls area occurred on April 3, 1964, when a tornado killed 7 people, injured 111, and caused $15 million in damages, including 225 homes that were completely destroyed. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. It's the day an F-4 tornado ravaged the city of Wichita Falls. Some of these people attempted to run to their cars from the mall. 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! The lights of wichita shone bright now. Suite 2400Norman, OK 73072(405) 325-3816Comments? 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. 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. A deepening low pressure system formed in Colorado as a warm front lifted north pulling warm, moist, unstable air. There were scattered remains of destroyed structures on either side of the road. 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. Wichita Falls Buries the First of 44 Tornado Victims, https://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/14/archives/wichita-falls-buries-the-first-of-44-tornado-victims.html. It was the costliest tornado in history until the F5 Moore-Oklahoma City tornado struck in 1999. . By the way, here's a USA Today article about the 1979 tornado with a photo of that monster. Just minutes later all counties included in Watch Area #67 were being alerted through statements by the NWS Forecast Offices (WSFOs) at Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. Tornado Watch #67 was issued at 1:55 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST)2 calling for tornadoes, large hail, and damaging thunderstorm winds in portions of a 30,000-square-mile area in north central Texas and southwest Oklahoma. February 16, 2023. It moved northeastward across U.S. Highway 287 into the Sunset Terrace addition, and then crossed the Red River Expressway (U.S. Highway 277) into the Lincoln Heights addition and eventually Sheppard Air Force Base. It began at 4:57 p.m. about a mile-and-a-half south of Clearwater. Heavy lake effect snow, strong winds, and reduced visibilities continue downwind of the Great Lakes. After the tornado left Wichita Falls and travelled northeast, it entered Clay County and changed its appearance. In Wichita Falls, an emergency hotline to key local officials, TV, and radio stations assured rapid and complete local dissemination. By RAEGAN SCHARFETTER, ANNIE GIMBEL. This means that those people who moved to the center part of their houses, got down low, and covered themselves, by-in-large escaped with their lives, sustaining injuries instead of death. Two oil storage tanks were blown away and several homes were unroofed near Farm Road 2650 as the tornado approached Wichita Falls. 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'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. Wolfgang Lange, View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at wall cloud on the southwestern edge of the thunderstorm. Final totals across three states were 181 killed and 970 injured. 16 of those 25 vehicle related deaths were from people leaving their homes to escape the. 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 . When was the last time there was a tornado in Wichita? Other ingredients for a volatile weather situation were also present: a major upper-air trough extending from the southern Rockies into northern Mexico, migrating eastward into western Texas and deepening significantly at the same time (Figure 11); a strong wind shear from the surface to 500 millibars and a thin layer of very moist air at the surface with rapid drying immediately above at about 700 mb (Figure 12 and Figure 13). Severe damage in the Pruitt City area. 10. Alberty, R. A., D. W. Burgess and T. T. Fujita, 1980: Severe weather events of 10 April 1979. Hail ranged in sizes "from mothballs to pineapples." By the end of the day we had seen four tornadoes, Thalia, Vernon (although not well), Lake Kemp, and Seymour. In Texas: Clay, Foard, Wichita and Wilbarger; and in Oklahoma: Carter, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson, Pottawatomie, Stephens and Tillman. Twenty-five of the deaths were. The school building was totally destroyed by the tornado. 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. 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