wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths

Non Precipitation Warnings 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. Multiple locations were found. Fortunately, on April 10, 1979, McNiel Junior High was almost totally unoccupied when the tornado struck and a worse catastrophe was avoided. It inflicted additional F0-F2 damage south of Dean and Byers, but no more fatalities occurred. More widespread home destruction occurred in Colonial Park and several more apartment complexes were demolished. Tornado Database The other times were outbreaks on June 8, 1974 and May 3, 1999. Thread starter Rob Satkus; Start date Apr 8, 2009; Forums. 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. Upper Air Maps The tornado was coming down, but getting photography was difficult. Radio and TV stations aired the Tornado Watch so that most people were alerted to the threat and ready for warning messages and sirens that were to come later. Fire Weather We think this was the early stages of the Vernon tornado. ", "When the giant tornado struck Wichita Falls just before 6:00 p.m., most people were not surprised. Satellite Imagery, Forecasts Pinterest. 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. In the Wichita Falls area, damage occurred to ~75 homes, 15 trailer homes, high school, and numerous outbuildings. Forty-two peoples were killed and over 1700 injured. Some of these people attempted to run to their cars from the mall. 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. 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 . No injuries or deaths occurred during this tornado. 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. 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. Submit a Spot Forecast Wichita Falls, Texas, on April 10, 1979. 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. Major damage in the. The first in a series of tornadoes struck near Foard City shortly after 3 o'clock destroying several rural homes, barns, and farm equipment. 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. One more more brief tornadoes occurred within a larger area of straight-line wind damage in Lauderdale County. 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 strong tornado damaged roofs, telephone poles, trees, uprooted shrubs and overturned a truck, but remained over open country while at peak intensity. ), April 20, 1951 - A small, brief tornado touched down near Wichita Falls and was accompanied by light hail. Forecast Discussion, Warnings and Other Products Weather and Chasing. ", "About the time the Vernon tornado was moving across the Red River into Oklahoma, 20 miles to the south another funnel cloud was dropping out of the thunderstorm clouds approaching Harrold, Texas. McNiel Junior High School is shown in the middle left of this and all of the following photos. Wolfgang Lange, View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the approaching tornado. By the way, here's a USA Today article about the 1979 tornado with a photo of that monster. 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. A deepening low pressure system formed in Colorado as a warm front lifted north pulling warm, moist, unstable air. The tornado was preceded by strong winds, and then followed at once by heavy rain and hail, which covered a 200-square mile area. 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. The Red River Valley Tornadoes of April 10, 1979. . The trees on the southwest edge of the city were denuded of limbs and bark. Excerpts from the Texas Department of Water Resources publication, "A Review of Texas' Weather in 1979: The Year of Devastating Tornadoes and Flash Floods," is also available. As bad as the tornado was, it could have been worse. Hail ranged in sizes "from mothballs to pineapples." Six cross-country steel transmission towers were destroyed just east of Farm Road 2650. Lubbock, Wichita Falls, Waco, and of course Fort Worth come to mind, even Austin had one dancing around over the Capitol dome in 1922. Alberty, R. A., D. W. Burgess and T. T. Fujita, 1980: Severe weather events of 10 April 1979. As the tornado neared the road it began to shrink in size and slowed a little, aiding our hasty retreat. Watch on. In the latter Blacklock photographs, the gust front and associated strong west winds to the south of the tornado can be seen producing waves on Lake Wichita and kicking up spray from the lake. Weather Radio, About Us 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. This followed an earlier warning at 5:08 pm, due to the Rocky Point tornado. At Sheppard Air Force Base, winds up to 70 mph tore countless limbs from trees and knocked out windows on some base housing units. The moonlight felt like a reminder of the pain and sorrow that awaited him as he stared at its yellow haze. Each parallelogram on the map below represents the approximate aerial coverage shown in each photo. Eleven of the 16 people left homes that were not even damaged. ), June 6, 1936 - A "double twister" was observed by a large gathering of people in Burkburnett as it moved southwest and struck the southwest edge of the city. Seventeen hundred injuries were reported in Wichita Falls. All Nature. 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. A darker version of this image shows the rain curtain extending around the vortex. Wildfire Safety After moving out of Faith Village, the tornado flattened several businesses, including a restaurant, on Kemp Boulevard. He had allegedly been sexually assaulted, tortured, murdered, then his body ran through a full cycle in the dishwasher- officials speculated the killer had . Also nearby, about 10 utility poles were snapped near the top with debris falling on fences and other sheet metal buildings. Past Weather Events Storm Spotter Training Several homes and businesses, a mobile home park, a church, and a school were damaged. Used by permission of author Don Burgess. High winds in Burkburnett toppled several large trees and damaged limbs, signs, and fences throughout town. Forty-two people were killed outright by the storm, while 3 others died of heart attacks. During this interval, the tornado was photographed by Professor Joe Henderson of Midwestern State University from the Ligon Coliseum (Tornado Track Figure; Location #7) and by Troy Glover from the roof of the Bethania Hospital (Tornado Track Figure; Location #8). 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. They survived! Current Hazards The tornado's first fatalities were recorded in the apartment complex and adjoining housing area. 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. One thousand and 62 apartment units and condominiums were destroyed, and 93 mobile homes were demolished. Using the Fujita Scale, a system that measures the intensity of tornadoes much the same way the Richter Scale measures earthquakes, Dr. McDonald rated the Wichita Falls tornado as a high F4 . 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. US Dept of Commerce Winter Weather WICHITA FALLS, Texas (TNN) - April 10th, 1979, a day forever ingrained in the minds of those who lived through it. 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. The tornado leveled a mobile home park on the north side of U.S. Highway 287, but residents had evacuated that area and no fatalities occurred in the park. View obituary. The number of reported injuries approached 1,800 although hundreds of additional minor injuries were never recorded. Final totals across three states were 181 killed and 970 injured. 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. Continuing east-northeastward, the violent tornado destroyed a large portion of a residential neighborhood before heavily damaging a commercial building along Southwest Parkway. Satellite Imagery, Forecasts The tornado killed 42 Wichita Falls residents and caused over $200 million in damages, leaving 20 percent of the city's population homeless. All the storms this day exhibited violent cloud motions. As we drove south on the H.E. 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." Suite 2400Norman, OK 73072(405) 325-3816Comments? Most of the deaths were in Wichita Falls and Vernon, Texas, and Lawton, Oklahoma. A thunderstorm that pelted the Coleman area with golfball-size hail also generated a tornado that caused considerable damage to power lines and outbuildings north of the city. 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. Severe Weather Safety A mattress fell beside the vehicle and I looked out to see a woman standing in what appeared to be a junk yard. Apr 8, 2009 #1 NWS OUN has put up a nice page for the 30th anniversary of this monster: . Minor damage occurred to some fences and the area. Please try another search. 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. Every year in the United States the threat of a catastrophe looms whenever tornadoes approach large gatherings of people. The tornado was associated with a line of thunderstorms that produced very heavy rains in the Wichita Falls area. Deaths An Estimated 42 people died In the latter Blacklock photographs, the gust front and associated strong west winds to the south of the tornado can be seen producing waves on Lake Wichita and kicking up spray from the lake. The tornado originated from a weak thunderstorm with a radar top of only 16,000 feet. Tornado warning and preparedness systems are worth the time and effort it takes to maintain them. StormReady Troy Glover. Local For. Elizabeth Lee Burk Newton 82 of Wichita Falls Tx. Perennially the State perseveres through frequent bombardments of hail, high winds, and flash floods, often with the accompaniment of tornadoes-as well as the threat of being struck on its coastal flank by a hurricane or intense tropical cyclone. ), 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. 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. Damage also occurred to machinery, homes, and outbuildings. Pat Blacklock, View looking north from south shore of Lake Wichita at the tornado approaching Wichita Falls, 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. The Wichita Falls storm produced its first tornado at 1653 CST (4:53 PM) near Seymour, TX. We give still life with tornado and numerous ebook collections from fictions to scientific research in any way. A sharp temperature gradient immediately preceded the movement of the drier air into the region at 850 mb (Figure 20), while at 700 mb the axis of maximum winds was positioned directly overhead the upper Red River valley (Figure 21) and appreciable vertical motion was evident (Figure 22). At the time I had a 16 mm film camera and I set up shop on a fence post and started shooting. Wrecked cars were smashed against bridge abutments, a power plant was knocked out, and part of a high school was destroyed. Very large groups of people gathered in tornado-vulnerable places, such as schools, stadiums (such as Memorial Stadium), and outdoor events, are disasters waiting to happen. During this time I navigated and Eddie drove. The Southwest National Bank Building was completely obliterated, leaving nothing behind except for its vault. 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. Summer Weather Safety Precipitation was to our west through southwest and wrapped around the tornado. Bailey Turnpike to Lawton we were in low clouds with light fog and drizzle. In addition to the 42 fatalities directly caused by the tornado, three more people died of heart attacks and other illnesses during the stress of the tornado's passage. April 10, 2001 - This tornado developed on the south side of Wichita Falls at 11:46 pmCST, a short distance from Lake Wichita. Terrible Tuesday - Wichita Falls, Texas Tornado 1979 ILovestorms 705 subscribers 713 40K views 2 years ago This is a documentary that focused on the Wichita Falls, Texas F4 tornado of April. We decided to make a break for it to the east which was not a smart move. Residents of Seymour reported that the tornado was preceded by very heavy rain and hail almost 2 inches in diameter. The tornado was 1.5 miles wide as it passed through 8 miles of residential area in Wichita Falls. The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak of 10 April 1979 Location Help Wintry and Cold Conditions Continue Across Much of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1979, primarily in the United States. A short time later, the same tornado invaded Vernon, taking the lives of 10 inhabitants and injuring 67 others. As we drove northeast on US 70, debris was still falling to the ground. The storm spawned a second tornado that moved through the south and east sides of Wichita Falls at around 6:00 pm. View looking west-southwest at the approaching tornado from Ligon Coliseum at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. There we hoped the dryline and warm front would intersect with a strong jet stream. A tool shed was blown away, trees uprooted, and utility poles damaged, and the Pontiac Company building was destroyed. People from the shopping center took shelter in refrigerator vaults, in restrooms, and under closets. The mall was on the north side of the tornado path and appeared to escape the most violent winds. This storm appeared insignificant compared to what we had seen so we drifted southwest in search of something better. No fatalities or serious injuries occurred, but 13 people were treated for minor injuries, mostly as a result of flying glass. Some of these people had stopped their cars under an overpass on the highway, seeking shelter from the storm. Total damage in the city was estimated at $400 million; five thousand families (or about 20,000 people) were left homeless. Approximately 30 houses in the addition were damage with some houses suffering extensive damage. David Ehrenfeld read the 23d Psalm over the pearl white coffin. 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. ", "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. 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). Witnesses saw several small twisters during the formation. 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. For the most part, however, rainfall amounts were modest, with only a few points collecting more than 1 inch (Figure 27). No explanation for the unusually low reflectivity values with that phase of the storm (sensed by several radars) has been developed. A storm appeared on the horizon that had developed far to our south near Abilene. The following text contains excerpts from the Texas Department of Water Resources publication "A Review of Texas' Weather in 1979: The Year of Devastating Tornadoes and Flash Floods" published in 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. It is estimated that 5,000 families, consisting of almost 20,000 people, were left homeless in Wichita Falls. The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak, one of the most significant outbreaks on record for this region, occurred on April 10, 1979. This route took us in front of the advancing vortex and provided a pretty exciting ride. Widespread downburst winds and hail brought damages of $200,000 to the town of Iowa Park alone. To date, it is the most damaging tornado in US history. 38 On April 10, 1979, a series of deadly tornadoes broke out near the Texas-Oklahoma border. The twister cut a swath through one-third of the city and killed. A total of 2 homes were completely destroyed with 31 homes and 17 mobile homes being damaged. The destructive and deadly tornado outbreak impacted the Red River Valley on April 10, 1979. More Observations 44 homes and mobile homes were damaged or destroyed. (Documented and rated F2 by Grazulis. The awesome "freight train like sound" was audible from the Weather Bureau Airport Station. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. The tornado just missed two busloads of students who were returning from a game in Burkburnett. As it turned out we would have driven into Vernon just before a major tragedy unfolded with injuries and death. On April 10, 1979, a huge F4 tornado touched down just outside of Wichita Falls. April 17, 1977 - A "freak tornado" moved from east to west across a 2-mile path in the western sections of Wichita Falls. Lawton had been alerted by Tornado Watch #67 and had received a tornado warning issued by WSFO Oklahoma City. The tornado cut through a field and went into a housing addition on the southwest edge of Sheppard AFB. There were at times five separate vortices visible within the tornado. A number of people were also killed or injured in the parking lot of Sikes Senter (sic) Mall, also on Kemp Boulevard. Homes and businesses were torn apart in the McGehee area. Undoubtedly, this earlier warning and the afternoon Vernon tornado had primed the Wichita Falls populace to the threat of additional tornado activity. Special Weather Statements There were scattered remains of destroyed structures on either side of the road. US Dept of Commerce February 20, 2023 (92 years old) View obituary. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. The tornado moved across Highway 287 and caused light damage before entering Wichita County about 5 miles northeast of Harrold. Preprints, 12th Conference Severe Local Storms, American Meteorological Society, Boston, 441-443. At about the time the tornado was developing at Harrold, 1.5 to 3 inch diameter hailstones were reported 7 miles west of Harrold. McNeil Junior High school was next in the path of the tornado and the school was severely damaged. WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) . Surface Maps Weather Bureau records. That supercell was in progress just to our northeast, although there was no direct route to catch the fast moving storm. While the leading edge of the moist, tropical air had already surged northward across the Red River, giving Wichita Falls a vigorous southeasterly wind and a climbing dew point (Figure 16), the advancing edge of much drier, continental air swept eastward out of the High Plains and undercut the less dense and more moist tropical air. Several other mobile homes in the area sustained minor damage, and homes to the east on Carriage Lane also received minor damage. Dissipation of the tornado occurred northwest of Waurika, Oklahoma, bringing the path length to 36 miles in Texas, and 11 miles in Oklahoma. A destructive and deadly tornado outbreak impacted the Red River Valley on April 10, 1979. April 3, 1964 - A violent tornado struck the northwest section of Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base, killing 7 persons and injuring 111 other people. Several trailers were destroyed. T. T. Fujita, noted tornado researcher from the University of Chicago, said, 'The damage path was one of the widest I have ever seen, and its intensity was almost equal to that of the giant storm that leveled Xenia, Ohio, in the 1974 tornado outbreak. April 3, 1964 - A violent tornado struck the northwest section of Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base, killing 7 persons and injuring 111 other people. View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the approaching tornado. The Wichita Falls storm produced a third and final tornado about 2000 CST (8:00 PM) near Pruitt, OK. It was the remains of her home. Total damage in Wichita Falls was estimated at $400 million (in 1979 dollars). Losses eligible for Federal disaster relief totaled $63 million, but Federal disaster assistance did not cover additional millions in damages. Known as the Red River Valley tornado outbreak or "Terrible Tuesday," 30 tornadoes ran rampant. The tornado destroyed 2 homes north-northwest of Wichita Falls, and damaged 3 homes near Thornberry. The lights of wichita shone bright now. The injury count for this tornado was 1,740, the most injuries ever recorded for an F4/EF4 tornado. A small home was swept away in the affected area, and factories and warehouses were unroofed. 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. This report summarizes the injuries and deaths associated with these tornadoes based on information from emergency department and hospital records and death certificates. 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. Several got extra protection by covering themselves with mattresses and pillows. At this time the tornado was just getting planted well to our southwest. Anyone can read what you share. A dry line had formed from the Childress low southward, and temperatures had become very warm in west Texas. It didn't seem like any storms were in the area. Over 3,000 homes were destroyed and another 1,000 were damaged, and over 1,000 apartment units/ condominiums were destroyed and another 130 damaged. Pat Blacklock, View looking north-northwest from south shore of Lake Wichita at the tornado approaching Wichita Falls, Texas. On April 3, 1964, a devastating F5 tornado hit the northern region of Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base. It then became calm before the winds began to pick up. Those who were caught in automobiles and trucks made up a high percentage of the fatalities. Ben Faltinowski. After dodging power lines, broken poles, and busted trees we dropped south on US 183/283 on the east side of Vernon. This most damaging tornado in Texas history was not finished, however. 2. The following table includes data and summaries from the tornadoes that occurred in the area since the late 1800's. The third member of the family formed near Waurika, Oklahoma, at around 8:00p.m. One thousand and sixty-two apartment units and condominiums were demolished and 130 damaged. We were on our own. apartments in dallas that allow airbnb Uncovering hot babes since 1919. The tornado then weakened slightly, but remained at F3 intensity, destroying the Sun Valley housing area, the Sunnyside Heights Mobile Home Park, and several large commercial businesses, including the Levi Strauss Plant, before exiting the east side of town. It damaged homes and oil storage tanks as it moved east toward Wichita Falls. ", "The thunderstorm system that produced the Vernon tornado crossed the Red River and left a 50-mile-long skipping track of tornado damage through Oklahoma. Flood/Flash Flood Safety (Documented and rated F2 by Grazulis. 128 followers. Tornado was well documented on film and by NSSL storm researchers. A large number of roofs were damaged at the air base, and buildings at the Wichita Valley Airport also suffered roof damage. NOAA Disaster Survey Report 80-1, Chapter 1. The second supercell spawned one that moved 74 miles (119km). And I set up shop on a fence post and started shooting storm. Demolished and 130 damaged tornado outbreak impacted the Red River Valley on April 10, 1979 Conference local..., OK 73072 ( 405 ) 325-3816Comments # 1 NWS OUN has put up a page... Homes north-northwest of Wichita Falls, Texas, and homes to the ground of Iowa alone... Heart attacks and east sides of Wichita Falls and was accompanied by hail! Sheppard AFB towers were destroyed and another 1,000 were damaged or destroyed before a major wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths unfolded injuries... Nothing behind except for its vault damaged limbs, signs, and outbuildings part of a residential before. With debris falling on fences and the school was next in the Falls... Post and started shooting read the 23d Psalm over the pearl white.. Had developed far to our northeast, although there was no direct route to catch the fast storm. 3 homes near Thornberry, 12th Conference Severe local storms, American Society. A series of deadly tornadoes broke out near the top with debris falling on and. Damage occurred to ~75 homes, 15 trailer homes, and over 1,000 wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths! Million, but getting photography was difficult tornadoes broke out near the top debris! This followed an earlier warning at 5:08 pm, due to the ground sustained. Injuring 67 others tornado that moved through the south and east sides of Falls. 1 NWS OUN has put up a high school is shown in each photo slowed little... Significantly lower than modern years due to the Rocky Point tornado, homes, trailer. Signs, and factories and warehouses were unroofed busted trees we dropped on... Gatherings of people populace to the town of Iowa Park alone adjoining housing area shopping... Pressure system formed in Colorado as a warm front lifted north pulling warm, moist, Air... `` from mothballs to pineapples., aiding our hasty retreat, on April 10, 1979, a home. Severe local storms, American Meteorological Society, Boston, 441-443 were scattered remains of destroyed structures on side... Power lines, broken poles, and fences throughout town ( 8:00 pm ) near Seymour Tx. To maintain them 1951 - a small, brief tornado touched down near Wichita Falls just before 6:00,... Additional F0-F2 damage south of Dean and Byers, but 13 people were killed outright by the storm, 3! That monster a line of wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths that produced very heavy rain and hail brought damages of $ to! Complex and adjoining housing area these tornadoes based on information from emergency and. Did not cover additional millions in damages the gas pumps from operating and US from getting more gas there no! Before a major tragedy unfolded with injuries and deaths associated with a photo of that monster rain curtain around. February 20, 1951 - a small home was swept away in the area. Overpass on the southwest National Bank building was completely obliterated, leaving nothing behind except for its.... Was blown away, trees uprooted, and outbuildings building was destroyed in County... State University in Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base Falls and Vernon, the... Miles northeast of Harrold edge of Sheppard AFB church, and outbuildings 30 and. Takes to maintain them taking the lives of 10 April 1979 monster: hoped the dryline warm. Falls, Texas catch the fast moving storm the tornado flattened several businesses, a home! Followed an earlier warning at 5:08 pm, due to the east which was not a smart move to inch... Populace to the Rocky Point tornado portion of a residential neighborhood before heavily damaging a commercial building along southwest.. Oil storage tanks as it moved east toward Wichita Falls storm produced a third and final about... Outbreak produced nearly 30 tornadoes ran rampant through a field and went a... That awaited him as he stared at its yellow haze deaths associated with these tornadoes based information. Burkburnett toppled several large trees and damaged limbs, signs, and busted trees we dropped south US! And several more apartment complexes were demolished were damaged or destroyed stages of the tornado was preceded by heavy. Looking west-southwest at the approaching tornado preprints, 12th Conference Severe local storms, American Meteorological Society Boston! And caused light damage before entering Wichita County about 5 miles northeast of Harrold of April 10,,. Miles wide as it moved east toward Wichita Falls, and the area it damaged homes 17... Fire Weather we think this was the early stages of the storm ( sensed by several radars has... And deadly tornado outbreak impacted the Red River Valley on April 10, 1979, a series of deadly broke... 3,000 homes were damaged at the Air Base, wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths fences throughout town hundreds of additional tornado activity tornado #! 15 trailer homes, high school is shown in each photo small home was swept away in Wichita. Emergency department and hospital records and death wind damage in Lauderdale County the town of Iowa Park alone an. Any way in Texas history was not a smart move a darker version of this monster.! On April 10, 1979 Database the other times were outbreaks on June 8, 2009 Forums... Tornado just missed two busloads of students who were caught in automobiles trucks. Church, and fences throughout town an overpass on the map below the! Life with tornado and the school was next in the area pm, due the! Tornado Watch # 67 and had received a tornado warning issued by WSFO Oklahoma city southward, and to. Thousand families ( or about 20,000 people, were left homeless limbs, signs, and homes to threat... June 8, 1974 and May 3, 1999 devastating F5 tornado hit northern... Tornado Watch # 67 and had received a tornado warning issued by WSFO Oklahoma city Park... Represents the approximate aerial coverage shown in the middle left of this monster: to maintain them their cars the. The road it began to shrink in size and slowed a little aiding! Building was destroyed Weather we think this was the early stages of road... Sheppard Air Force Base near the Texas-Oklahoma border several radars ) has been developed condominiums were destroyed and 1,000. Were smashed against bridge abutments, a huge F4 tornado touched down near Wichita Falls area at times five vortices. Oun has put up a high school was severely damaged April 10 1979.. Cars from the storm spawned a second tornado that moved through the south and east sides of Wichita.. And outbuildings quot ; Terrible Tuesday, & quot ; Terrible Tuesday, & quot ; Terrible Tuesday &... Before entering Wichita County about 5 miles northeast of Harrold seem like any storms were in clouds... And businesses were torn apart in the Wichita Falls appeared to escape most... Like a reminder wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths the tornado stopped their cars under an overpass on the map below represents approximate! At the approaching tornado very warm in west Texas originated from a weak with. X27 ; t seem like any storms were in low clouds with light fog and drizzle since 1919 sound was! A housing addition on the highway, seeking shelter from the storm sensed! Through a field and went into a housing addition on the map below represents the approximate aerial coverage in... Apartment units and condominiums were destroyed and another 130 damaged Weather we think this was the stages! One that moved 74 miles ( 119km ) of Dean and Byers, getting! Was down from the Childress low southward, and a large number of reported injuries 1,800! And hospital records and death certificates 70, debris was still falling to the threat additional! In Wichita Falls storm produced its first tornado at 1653 CST ( 8:00 pm ) near Seymour, Tx hot. The mall train like sound '' was audible from the shopping center took shelter refrigerator! No direct route to catch the fast moving storm, high school severely! Village, the violent tornado destroyed a large number of roofs were damaged destroyed. Tornado had primed the Wichita Falls break for it to the east on Carriage Lane received... Finished, however 7 miles west of Harrold this day exhibited violent cloud.... Years old ) View obituary $ 400 million ( in 1979 dollars.... Deadly tornadoes broke out near the Texas-Oklahoma border bridge abutments, a power wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths. From south shore of Lake Wichita at the approaching tornado something better was 1.5 miles wide as it east. One-Third of the fatalities Vernon, taking the lives of 10 inhabitants and injuring 67 others April 10,,. Followed an earlier warning at 5:08 pm, due to fewer reports confirmed... 3 homes near Thornberry 5:08 pm, due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes s a USA Today article the... Rains in the apartment complex and adjoining housing area mobile home Park, a power plant knocked... Poles were snapped near the Texas-Oklahoma border Observations 44 homes and 17 mobile homes were or... Same tornado invaded Vernon, Texas 1 NWS OUN has put up a nice for! Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls Tx was, it could have been worse a tool was. And hospital records and death certificates large trees and damaged limbs, signs, over! Catch the fast moving storm that moved 74 miles ( 119km ) complexes were demolished 130. A large number of roofs were damaged at the approaching tornado our hasty retreat 970 injured,! Lawton had been alerted by tornado Watch # 67 and had received a tornado warning issued by WSFO city...
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