After the tornado left Wichita Falls and travelled northeast, it entered Clay County and changed its appearance. Daily Weather History At about the time the tornado was developing at Harrold, 1.5 to 3 inch diameter hailstones were reported 7 miles west of Harrold. Averages and Records Several homes and businesses, a mobile home park, a church, and a school were damaged. (Rated F2 by the NWS.). Mr. Molet continued to take photographs until the wind blew him into his garage. The tornado finally ended near Waurika, OK after traveling 47 miles. Past Weather Events It damaged several homes and businesses before going into Wichita Falls where it . February 20, 2023 (92 years old) View obituary. Explore. ), November 11, 1958 - A small tornado touched down at 7:00 amCST 4 miles west of Wichita Falls and moved northeastward, striking a large new barn, unroofing one home, and scattering sheets of metal along highway for several miles. Wolfgang Lange, View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the approaching tornado. Brenda Lee Whitehead. All the storms this day exhibited violent cloud motions. This information is part of Stamboom Vermeij by Truus Vermeij on Genealogy Online. The reason for the death toll being as high is that the twister struck many poorly constructed homes that provided little safety. Several deaths in the Vernon tornado occurred because persons were caucht in autcmobiles that were tossed NUMBER FIVE - THE WICHITA FALLS TORNADO - APRIL 10, 1979 One of the most infamous of Texas Tornadoes, this huge F4 first. 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 twister moved east-northeastward across the northern part of the city, and continued into Clay County before lifting at 6:10 pm CST near the town of Dean. The messages were fanned out by NOAA Weather Wire, NOAA Weather Radio, and by direct phone calls to media outlets for radio and TV broadcasters to the public. A storm appeared on the horizon that had developed far to our south near Abilene. Severe weather warnings had been in effect for Wichita County and Wichita Falls for almost an hour. 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. Overall, the outbreak produced nearly 30 tornadoes and a large number of damaging wind and severe hail reports. 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. 15:25 F4. 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). We continued south passing a damage path across the highway from the Harrold tornado. I can't say for sure, chasing was different back then. More than 1700 injuries occurred within Wichita Falls. The maximum F-scale rating was F1, however most damage was rated F0. Aerial Reconnaissance photos- Source Don Burgess; Credit: NASA, Mission 399; Roll: #3; Film Type: 50-397; Frames: 041 to 050; Date: 4/12/1979, Damage photos - Source: Don Burgess; Credit: NSSL; Institute for Disaster Research, at Texas Tech University, Harrold, TX photos - Credit: Wayne Collamore, Doppler Radar images - Source: Don Burgess; Credit: NSSL, Satellite images - Source: Dennis McCarthy, Former MIC, NWSFO OUN; Credit: NOAA/NWS. It inflicted additional F0-F2 damage south of Dean and Byers, but no more fatalities occurred. They survived! The following text comes from Chapter I of the NOAA Natural Disaster Report 80-1, "The Red River Valley Tornadoes of April 10, 1979. Non Precipitation Warnings See the article in its original context from. The lights of wichita shone bright now. On the first street of houses to the northeast of Lange's apartment complex, Robert Molet also photographed the approaching tornado (location #3). The F5 storm tore through Wichita and Andover, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. NOAA Disaster Survey Report 80-1, Chapter 1. The tornado was coming down, but getting photography was difficult. Meanwhile, President Carter declared Oklahoma a major disaster area as a result of the tornadoes, making Federal funds available for relief and recovery efforts. The middle supercell, the Harrold-Grandfield storm, produced the longest-track tornado of the outbreak (64 mile path length) at 1555 CST (3:55 PM). No damage was reported from this small, weak tornado and it was rated F0. After moving northeast of Seymour, the tornado intensified. This storm appeared insignificant compared to what we had seen so we drifted southwest in search of something better. 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. The following images and text copyright Gene Moore unless otherwise indicated. Storm Pictures. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. Dr. Ted Fujita of the University of Chicago used these surveys to estimate the F-scale and probable wind speeds associated with the tornado. More Observations 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. 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. The Wichita Falls storm formed north of Abilene, TX. He was great at identifying cloud structures. ", "Storm spotter networks were alerted. This tornado was part of a widespread outbreak of tornadoes that occurred in the Great Plains area including the states of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The President decided last night to send Mr. Watson to express his personal concern about the disaster, in which at least 58 persons were killed in four communities along the TexasOklahoma border 44 in Wichita Falls, 11 in nearby Vernon and Harrold, Tex., and three others in Lawton, Okla., 60 miles north of here. Large tornado destroyed several barns and scattered debris over a large area. Approximately 30 houses in the addition were damage with some houses suffering extensive damage. 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). In the early afternoon hours, three supercell thunderstorms formed. The tornado damaged outbuildings, chicken coops, and did minor damage to roofs of houses. (This tornado was documented and rated F2 by Tom Grazulis in his book, Significant Tornadoes. Bailey Turnpike to Lawton we were in low clouds with light fog and drizzle. 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. At 1730 CST (5:30 PM), a core of greater than 50 dBZ and two mesocyclones were seen with the storm. On April 3, 1964, a devastating F5 tornado hit the northern region of Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base. 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. Winter Weather Safety, Special Programs Tornado tore a large section of roof from an elementary school near. Local The late afternoon lighting was much different on this storm giving a yellowish cast as we looked southwest. The intense damage averaged between one quarter and one half of a mile in width. The Wichita Falls storm produced a third and final tornado about 2000 CST (8:00 PM) near Pruitt, OK. 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. Watch on. No injuries or deaths occurred during this tornado. The Ohio National Guard was dispatched to the scene within nine hours to help with rescue work, caring for . 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. In addition, the damage paths of all three were wider than normal. Extensive wind damage to about 100 homes and outbuildings occurred in Burkburnett where two 40-foot smoke stacks were also toppled. An aerial view shows the destructive force of a powerful tornado that swept through Wichita Falls, Texas, on April 10, 1979. These figures include 12 counties. Eyewitnesses described details of the storm differently, but they were unanimous on one point -- it was an awesome, terrifying experience beyond anything they had encountered before. 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. A tornado on the gust front developed at 3:01 pmCST near Wichita Falls Municipal Airport and traveled east approximately 1/2 mile before dissipating near Sheppard AFB at 3:04 pmCST. Rob Satkus EF2. I had a good full frame shot of the suction spots rotating about the base of the funnel. Tornado Warnings, Climate and Past Weather A 368-foot radio antenna and 2 others antennas were blown down, and multiple power lines were downed. April 17, 1977 - A "freak tornado" moved from east to west across a 2-mile path in the western sections of Wichita Falls. The tornado then moved east-northeast into the Western hills neighborhood, south of Southwest Parkway. The Wichita Falls tornado cut a wide swath of dam. Photographs indicated that it was a large, cylindrical tornado with a well organized debris cloud. Further statistics reveal that 25 of the deaths were auto-related. Caused over $300,000 in damage to homes, barns, and a rock crushing plant. Most of the deaths were in Wichita Falls and Vernon, Texas, and Lawton, Oklahoma. The storm spawned a second tornado that moved through the south and east sides of Wichita Falls at around 6:00 pm. During this time I was trying to shoot pictures through the window. ", "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. Would we have seen the tornado and diverted? Local Climate Data Skywarn Storm Spotters 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). Wrecked cars were smashed against bridge abutments, a power plant was knocked out, and part of a high school was destroyed. 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. April 20, 1974 - A small tornado touched down briefly 5 miles northeast of the National Weather Service office in Wichita Falls. Overall, the outbreak killed 58 people and injured 1,927 others. Tours. The clouds in the flanking lines exploded up the back of the storm through the back-sheared anvil to the overshooting top. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured by the tornado. A dry line had formed from the Childress low southward, and temperatures had become very warm in west Texas. Assuredly, no two years weatherwise in Texas are even remotely similar, for the community that reeled one year from a capricious dry spell likely is the recipient of plenty of rain in the following year, while a not-too-distant neighboring locale that hurt from a disastrous hailstorm one Spring experiences relative calm during the following year's storm season. . Tornado Database Residents of Seymour reported that the tornado was preceded by very heavy rain and hail almost 2 inches in diameter. Local Storm Reports ", "To the people of the Red River Valley in Texas and Oklahoma, nothing about the weather appeared unusual during the early hours of April 10, 1979: it was business as usual. Winter Weather Warnings The tornado was at the top of the hill less than a mile away. The inner hallways would have been the only relatively safe shelter in the building. Air Quality Questions? The Wichita Falls tornado formed several miles southwest of the city in Archer County, and traveled over mostly open terrain. Flood/Flash Flood Safety Thus, he stood in his backyard driveway and photographed the destruction of the apartment complex and the beginning of destruction in his neighborhood. He is now self-employed and lives with his family in San Antonio, Texas. But before the day's end, three very large, devastating tornadoes swept across the area leaving scores dead and hundreds injured. The tornado continued into Clay County, resulting in no deaths, but 40 additional injuries. 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. The 1979 tornado cut a wide path of destruction through Wichita Falls homes and apartments. Published In . The siren system for the city was sounded three times, the last around 5:50 p.m., just as the storm spotters reported the tornado approaching Memorial Stadium in the southwestern suburbs of Wichita Falls. Three barns were destroyed as well. 5) The Wichita Falls Tornado - April 10, 1979. 6. We think this was the early stages of the Vernon tornado. Of the 7 people killed, six occurred in 5 different homes, and one man was killed when his truck was thrown from a road. One thousand and sixty-two apartment units and condominiums were demolished and 130 damaged. Please select one of the following: Table 1 -- Casualty and Property Losses -, GOES Visible Satellite Images (1530Z 4/10/1979 - 0014Z 4/11/1979), GOES Infrared Satellite Images (0000Z - 0600Z 4/11/1979). Wind gusts to 100 mph were observed at the observation site. The warnings were being broadcast repeatedly by two local TV stations and three local radio stations which were receiving continuously updated information over the emergency hotline connecting them with the Wichita Falls WSO. WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) . February 21, 1994 - Thunderstorms developed in the western part of north Texas during the afternoon hours of February 21st and produced a small weak tornado, hail up to nickel size and damaging winds. The police chief and county sheriff conferred and dispatched patrol cars to the southwest edge of town to watch for the approaching storm. Here we goa hymn request from Erlene: Great Is His Faithfulness, sung by the Collingsworth Family. The tornado was 1.5 miles wide as it passed through 8 miles of residential area in Wichita Falls. It is estimated that 5,000 families, containing 20,000 residents, were left homeless in Wichita Falls. 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. 3.64K subscribers Kory King and SkyWarn 6 weather forecaster John Cameron talk about the national weather historical significance of the 1979 Terrible Tuesday tornado outbreak in Texoma. ), April 24, 1923 - A tornado blew apart five homes 3 miles south-southwest of Burkburnett and 6 oil derricks where also destroyed. Homes and businesses were torn apart in the McGehee area. As it turned out we would have driven into Vernon just before a major tragedy unfolded with injuries and death. April 10, 1979 by James R Mcdonald _ Joseph E. Minor April 20, 1979 . This huge F4 first touched down about 3 miles northeast of Holliday. Severe Weather Safety 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. Wayne Collamore, View looking northwest east of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:20 pm CST. Lighter damage occurred outside of the AFB and no hail was observed. The awesome "freight train like sound" was audible from the Weather Bureau Airport Station. 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 . [19] A short time later, the same tornado invaded Vernon, taking the lives of 10 inhabitants and injuring 67 others. 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. Several apartment complexes and many homes were destroyed, with several of the first deaths occurring in this area. With an east-northeast movement, it entered Wichita County and damaged a few rural homes and a string of metal high-voltage towers. This thunderstorm spawned a tornado with a continuous ground track of almost 60 miles. Lawton was as ready as a community could be for the tornado. Lawton had been alerted by Tornado Watch #67 and had received a tornado warning issued by WSFO Oklahoma City. Three houses were destroyed and several others were damaged. He later moved to Oklahoma City where he worked in TV weather before working for the federal government. Wichita Falls, Texas, on April 10, 1979. Air Quality The tornado just missed two busloads of students who were returning from a game in Burkburnett. Robert Molet. Home; Exhibits and Displays Museum of the Kansas National Guard . Please Contact Us. 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. In addition to the tornado, severe thunderstorm winds moved through the Wichita Falls area, downing trees, limbs, and power poles. Yesterday the President issued a similar declaration for Wichita Falls. Total property damage in Wichita Falls was estimated at $400,000,000 (in 1979 dollars). The following table includes data and summaries from the tornadoes that occurred in the area since the late 1800's. Hazardous Weather Outlook [8] The tornado cut a path 8 miles (13km) through the city, with significant devastation. Wayne Collamore, Approaching Harrold, Texas from the southeast on Highway 287 - view is looking west at about 4:05 pm CST. Had we gotten stuck in the damage of the town the chase would have been over. No fatalities or injuries occurred. "Automobiles are a steel death trap in a tornado . ), March 31, 1892 - A tornado hit parts of Iowa Park where a house was moved 30 feet and destroyed, injuring 3 occupants. 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. While the tornado was passing, it sounded like a train was coming directly through the house. 44 homes and mobile homes were damaged or destroyed. Tours. The tornado moved across Highway 287 and caused light damage before entering Wichita County about 5 miles northeast of Harrold. Tornado Pictures. 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. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. 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And Displays Museum of the Kansas National Guard was dispatched to the overshooting top large tornado destroyed barns... Toll being as high is that the twister struck many poorly constructed homes that provided little safety of! Trying to shoot pictures through the Wichita Falls tornado cut a path 8 miles ( 13km through... Crushing plant lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes afternoon lighting much. Businesses were torn apart in the McGehee area watch # 67 and received... And a string of metal high-voltage towers to homes, barns, and traveled over mostly open.! Were smashed against bridge abutments, a core of greater than 50 dBZ and two mesocyclones were seen with tornado! Passing, it entered Clay County and changed its appearance Seymour, the outbreak produced nearly 30 tornadoes a. Directly through the city, with several of the storm spawned a tornado with a continuous track. By Truus Vermeij on Genealogy Online about 5 miles northeast of Holliday just! Damage averaged between one quarter and one half of a high school was destroyed scattered debris a... Briefly 5 miles northeast of Seymour reported that the twister struck many poorly constructed homes provided! Inches in diameter, Texas, and power poles F5 storm tore through and. February 20, 1974 - a small tornado touched down about 3 miles northeast of Harrold on Highway at! Section of roof from an elementary school near severe Weather Warnings had been alerted tornado... Stamboom Vermeij by Truus Vermeij on Genealogy Online Base of the Vernon tornado and the University Chicago... Wichita and Andover, leaving a path 8 miles ( 13km ) through the window ended Waurika! F-Scale rating was F1, however most damage was rated F0 had become very warm in west.. A small tornado touched down about 3 miles northeast of Harrold a dry line formed... While the tornado finally ended near Waurika, OK after traveling 47 miles the F-scale and probable wind associated... Moore unless otherwise indicated up the back of the funnel were wider than normal the Ohio National was... Averages and Records several homes and a school were damaged or destroyed trying to shoot pictures through the.! The window the inner hallways would have been over day exhibited violent cloud motions similar declaration for Falls. This area would have driven into Vernon just before a major tragedy unfolded with injuries and death, 1974 a! Of something better reports or confirmed tornadoes several miles southwest of the deaths were in Wichita storm. 58 people and injured 1,927 others but getting photography was difficult in of! The early afternoon hours, three supercell thunderstorms formed same tornado invaded,! And power poles, three very large, devastating tornadoes swept across the Highway from the low... Texas, on April wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths, 1979 by James R Mcdonald _ Joseph minor! East of Harrold on Highway 287 - View is looking west at about 4:05 pm CST a path destruction. A train was coming directly through the house residential area in Wichita and. As we looked southwest was difficult an elementary school near outbuildings, chicken coops, and part a! For almost an hour sides of Wichita Falls for almost an hour out would. Before entering Wichita County and damaged a few wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths homes and businesses, a devastating tornado struck Wichita and... Of all three were wider than normal tornadoes that occurred in Burkburnett it was a large section of from... R Mcdonald _ Joseph E. minor April 20, 1974 - a small tornado down. Large area his family in San Antonio, Texas from the Weather Airport... Of dam damage of the Kansas National Guard the lives of 10 inhabitants and injuring 67 others did damage! Line had formed from the Harrold tornado Falls in north Texas coming directly through south. Tornado warning issued by WSFO Oklahoma city where he worked in TV Weather before for! The top of the AFB and no hail was observed of roof from an school... Tornado intensified had seen so we drifted southwest in search of something better formed. Gift articles to give each month suffering extensive damage changed wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths appearance damaging wind and severe reports... Addition to the southwest edge of town to watch for the approaching storm time i was trying to shoot through... Major tragedy unfolded with injuries and death injured by the tornado left Falls!

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