Losses eligible for Federal disaster relief totaled $63 million, but Federal disaster assistance did not cover additional millions in damages. In Texas: Clay, Foard, Wichita and Wilbarger; and in Oklahoma: Carter, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson, Pottawatomie, Stephens and Tillman. Other homes in the area were damaged. A very intense spring storm shifted out of the Rocky Mountains on April 10, generating lines of severe thunderstorms that swept across the northern portion of the State. On April 10, 1979, a devastating tornado struck Wichita Falls in North Texas. 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. Earlier on the same day, several tornadoes hit farther west. A number of people were also killed or injured in the parking lot of Sikes Senter (sic) Mall, also on Kemp Boulevard. One thousand and sixty-two apartment units and condominiums were demolished and 130 damaged. The sun had set, and the moon was now a crescent. The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak of 10 April 1979 Location Help Wintry and Cold Conditions Continue Across Much of the U.S. In 1978 Wichita Falls was the host of the first NCAA Division I-AA championship game. View looking west-northwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at wall cloud on the southwestern edge of the thunderstorm. ), May 26, 1955 - A small tornado touched down briefly at 1:38 am CST, moved northeastward along a narrow, 1-mile path and demolished a "washateria" and produced severely damaged several utility poles, business structures, homes, and trees. Tornado Warnings, Climate and Past Weather Sixteen of these 25 were people who entered their cars trying to evade the tornado. 3 Comanche County, OK. 17:05 F3. 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. They survived! 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. Wolfgang Lange. The police chief and sheriff later said the approaching storm did not look like a normal twister, but appeared as a thick, dark mass of clouds low to the ground and difficult to see because of the heavy rain, hail, and low cloud base. Wayne Collamore, View looking west about 3-4 miles east of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:15 pm CST. FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 0 10 19 . A storm appeared on the horizon that had developed far to our south near Abilene. It seems that almost every major Texas city has had to deal with a tornado at least once. National Severe Storms Laboratory storm chasers photographed the tornado, which formed beneath the southwest flank of the severe thunderstorm. ), June 6, 1936 - This tornado moved south into the northeastern edge of Wichita Falls, and was associated with the same parent supercell thunderstorm that produced the earlier tornado near Burkburnett. Radar warnings and alerts from the Weather Bureau office were credited with saving many lives. We continued to drive east on a dirt road from Mabelle, Texas which is basically an intersection with a couple of old buildings. About 1540 CST (3:40 PM), a tornado devastated the southeastern portion of Vernon, TX (11 fatalities). Wayne Collamore. Here we goa hymn request from Erlene: Great Is His Faithfulness, sung by the Collingsworth Family. This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1979, primarily in the United States. A total of 2 people were seriously injured along the tornado's path, but most of injuries people received were minor. Forecasters at the National Severe Storms Forecast Center in Kansas City1 had to decide only how soon tornadoes would develop and how large an area would be threatened. '", "When the day had ended, the tornadoes had left in their wake a tragically high toll -- 56 dead and 1916 injured. Apr 20, 2012 - The April 10, 1979 tornado in Wichita Falls. An estimated 20,000 persons were left homeless by this storm. ", "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. 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). Wolfgang Lange, View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the approaching tornado. For the first time in years we altered that route. A large number of roofs were damaged at the air base, and buildings at the Wichita Valley Airport also suffered roof damage. This report is an attempt to describe thoroughly but concisely the noteworthy elements of the Texas weather scene throughout 1979. Bailey Turnpike to Lawton we were in low clouds with light fog and drizzle. There were a total 42 tornado fatalities in Wichita Falls, of which 25 were vehicle related. Storm Pictures. (Rated F3 by the NWS. 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. Tornado tore a large section of roof from an elementary school near. The first tornado formed near Crowell, Texas, at around 3:05p.m. About 35 minutes later, the first killer one of the outbreak ripped through Vernon and killed 11 people. First indications of tornado damage were near Harrold, which is located approximately 16 miles southwest of Vernon. Also, the second story of the press box at the high school football stadium was blown off and scattered across the playing field. Minor damage occurred to some fences and the area. Wayne Collamore, View looking northwest east of Harrold on Highway 320 at about 4:20 pm CST. But before the day's end, three very large, devastating tornadoes swept across the area leaving scores dead and hundreds injured. ), 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. Several got extra protection by covering themselves with mattresses and pillows. Large tornado destroyed several barns and scattered debris over a large area. Daily Weather History 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. This followed an earlier warning at 5:08 pm, due to the Rocky Point tornado. All who have looked at and studied the event agree that the death toll would have been much larger had there not been not been such systems in place and functioning on April 10. Upper Air Maps The tornado first touched down at 2:35 pm CST north of the intersection of Farm Road 369 and Seymour Highway. February 18, 2023 (64 years old) View obituary. Tornado Understand a Tornado: A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. A large number of cars were smashed and some people were killed along U.S. Highway 287. 15:55 F2. It was a large, but distant funnel that may have been the beginning of the horrific tornado that moved through that city. The following severe weather account is by Gene Moore. Driving north on Texas 267 we witnessed the Thalia tornado. Only three times in my chase career have I seen vertical storm tower velocities this strong. After moving out of Faith Village, the tornado flattened several businesses, including a restaurant, on Kemp Boulevard. The tornado was also captured on film by Troy Glover from the roof of the Bethania hospital (location #8). During its life, radar-derived storm tops exceeded 50,000 feet and reflectivities were higher than 50 dBZ. Another tornado swept the community of Harrold soon thereafter, causing much less extensive damage. 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 Wichita Falls storm produced a third and final tornado about 2000 CST (8:00 PM) near Pruitt, OK. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Caused $190,000 in damage. 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. Additional tornadoes were reported across the Southern Plains as well as in the Mississippi River Valley on April 1112. The first of dozens of funerals to be held for those killed by the tornado that struck here Tuesday was held today for Terry Mahon, 17 years old, who died while working at a restaurant job she had taken to save money for a marriage she had planned for this summer. 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. The Southwest National Bank Building was completely obliterated, leaving nothing behind except for its vault. The first in a series of tornadoes struck near Foard City shortly after 3 o'clock destroying several rural homes, barns, and farm equipment. Before leaving the east side of the city, the tornado destroyed the Sun Valley housing area, the Sunnyside Heights Mobile Home Park, and several large commercial businesses, including the Levi Strauss Plant. Mr. Molet continued to take photographs until the wind blew him into his garage. Meteorologists still refer to that day as Terrible Tuesday because of the immense devastation and the sheer numbers. Also, tornado survivors said that some golf ball size hail fell prior to and immediately after the tornado. At this time the tornado was just getting planted well to our southwest. February 16, 2023. More Observations 2. The tornado killed 42 Wichita Falls residents and caused over $200 million in damages, leaving 20 percent of the city's population homeless. The Vernon tornado destroyed a restaurant, motel, a farm implement store, and more than a dozen homes; damage totaled $27 million. The publication was written and prepared by George W. Bomar of Weather Modification & Technology Section of the Texas Department of Water Resources. Please Contact Us. Several strong to violent tornadoes touched down throughout the region that day. April 26, 1991. The late afternoon lighting was much different on this storm giving a yellowish cast as we looked southwest. A second severe thunderstorm pounded the area just north of Brownwood with hail having a diameter of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. It began at 4:57 p.m. about a mile-and-a-half south of Clearwater. ), March 27, 1939 - This tornado touched down north-northwest of Wichita Falls and moved northeastward into Clay County. In addition, 93 mobile homes were devastated. 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. Weather and Chasing. 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. One of the most infamous of Texas tornadoes, this day would go on to be known as "Terrible Tuesday". Fortunately, the tornado moved through rural areas and did not affect any housing at this stage. 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. Several other mobile homes in the area sustained minor damage, and homes to the east on Carriage Lane also received minor damage. Summer Weather Safety Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. We think this was the early stages of the Vernon tornado. We decided to make a break for it to the east which was not a smart move. Tornado was well documented on film and by NSSL storm researchers. Total damage in the city was estimated at $400 million; five thousand families (or about 20,000 people) were left homeless. Surprisingly, very few fatalities occurred in Faith Village. 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). 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. Six barns and two homes were destroyed. April 26, 1962 - This tornado initially touched down at 10:45 pmCST on the Sheppard Access Road near Sheppard AFB, damaging several cars, and destroying a a 100 x 30 foot metal building at a motor company. 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. (Rated F1 by the NWS. A deepening low pressure system formed in Colorado as a warm front lifted north pulling warm, moist, unstable air. These are 40 before/after pairings, as he shot dramatically injured locations . The twister did level a number of telephone poles along Highway 283, before dissipating just east of 283 near Maybelle. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Winston Wells, Current Hazards (Documented and rated F2 by Grazulis. There was strong upper level dynamics all coming together to produce strong tornado-producing supercells. I had never witnessed anything of this magnitude. A concrete block building was destroyed, and another was partially destroyed. Weather Radio, About Us 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. 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. 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. Continuing east-northeastward, the violent tornado destroyed a large portion of a residential neighborhood before heavily damaging a commercial building along Southwest Parkway. One man was killed at a dairy farm in Dean. Hail to 1.75 inches was also reported south of the city. He is now self-employed and lives with his family in San Antonio, Texas. 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). NUMBER FIVE - THE WICHITA FALLS TORNADO - APRIL 10, 1979 One of the most infamous of Texas Tornadoes, this huge F4 first. (This tornado was documented and rated F2 by Tom Grazulis in his book, Significant Tornadoes. If I had the opportunity to chase this one over I certainly would do it differently, but considering we were on visual back then we didn't do too bad. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. 25 of the 42 fatalities from the tornado were vehicle related, 16 of which were of people who left their homes to evade the massive tornado. Deaths were near normal . It is estimated that 5,000 families, containing 20,000 residents, were left homeless in Wichita Falls. Even though lesson #3 (above) is true in a violent tornado, the only complete guarantee of safety comes from an underground shelter, an above-ground shelter, or an extremely strongly-built building. Home; Exhibits and Displays 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. View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the approaching tornado. A small home was swept away in the affected area, and factories and warehouses were unroofed. After the tornado, a thorough investigation of the damage was performed by Texas Tech University, Institute for Disaster Research, and the University of Chicago. Severe Weather Safety They went back inside before it was too late, and all took shelter in the master bedroom closet. Rampaging killer tornadoes and devastating floodwaters brought unparalleled tragedy to groups of communities in the Low Rolling Plains and the Upper Coast of Texas during April. Some of these people attempted to run to their cars from the mall. The police chief and county sheriff conferred and dispatched patrol cars to the southwest edge of town to watch for the approaching storm. Meanwhile, strong gusty winds associated with the eastward progression of an intensifying upper atmospheric storm out of New Mexico made travel hazardous in. much of the Trans-Pecos region. Wolfgang Lange, View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the time of tornado touchdown. A trailer and three barns were destroyed. This report summarizes the injuries and deaths associated with these tornadoes based on information from emergency department and hospital records and death certificates. A darker version of this image shows the rain curtain extending around the vortex. Two oil storage tanks were blown away and several homes were unroofed near Farm Road 2650 as the tornado approached Wichita Falls. 45 people died in the Wichita Falls tornado. 5. (Colonial Park, Hursh, Southmoor, Southwinds, and Southern Hills) A number of people tried to flee as the tornado moved along US 281 and 287 by driving east on Southwest Parkway. Storm Data, Weather Safety 1. This tornado was part of an outbreak of tornadoes that occurred on May 25-26, 1955 across the southern Great Plains, and included the deadly F5 tornadoes at Blackwell, OK and Udall, KS. Just after 5:00 p.m., another tornado spawned by the same thunderstorm system crashed into Lawton, Oklahoma. Heavy lake effect snow, strong winds, and reduced visibilities continue downwind of the Great Lakes. Elizabeth Burk Newton. To the south of the warm front, moist, unstable air was streaming northward. 10. Flood Warnings We continued south passing a damage path across the highway from the Harrold tornado. Satellite Imagery, Forecasts The tornado destroyed 2 homes north-northwest of Wichita Falls, and damaged 3 homes near Thornberry. After the tornado left Wichita Falls and travelled northeast, it entered Clay County and changed its appearance. as derived from photogrammetric analysis. At the time I had a 16 mm film camera and I set up shop on a fence post and started shooting. I'm surprised he got the tornado in the frame. Wolfgang Lange, View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the approaching tornado. 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. With surface pressures in the southern High Plains plunging rapidly, a low pressure center formed in the vicinity of Lubbock around noon (Figure 15). Further statistics reveal that 25 of the deaths were auto-related. However, several small communities, among them Harrold, Texas and Grandfield, Oklahoma, were hit by the storm. The tornado was coming down, but getting photography was difficult. It then moved into Clay County and changed its appearance to display a multiple-vortex structure. Surface Maps The Wichita Falls tornado, with how black . This line raced northeastward, spilling heavy rains, hail and high winds on numerous communities. Tornado data and F-scale ratings for tornadoes from 1950 to the present are referenced from NWS records. Northeast of Wichita Falls, the tornado entered Clay County and changed its appearance. . About the time the tornado entered town, it changed appearance, becoming one large black cloud of condensation and debris. By the way, here's a USA Today article about the 1979 tornado with a photo of that monster. During this time I was trying to shoot pictures through the window. Thread starter Rob Satkus; Start date Apr 8, 2009; Forums. 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! Used by permission of author Don Burgess. 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. Air Quality Members of the Wichita Falls Repeater Club Weather Spotters manned their pre-planned command post on the NWS Office (WSO) and deployed radio-equipped members to vantage points that assured good observation coverage southwest of the city. 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 tornado then swept through the Southmoor area, destroying homes and a shopping center. Pinterest. It then became calm before the winds began to pick up. We give still life with tornado and numerous ebook collections from fictions to scientific research in any way. Past Weather Events Fire Weather April 10, 2001 - This tornado developed on the south side of Wichita Falls at 11:46 pmCST, a short distance from Lake Wichita. The Terrible Tuesday video can be viewed via the NWS Norman YouTube Channel or below. (Rated F5 by the NWS.). Such a total would mean that between 10% and 20% of the population of the city was displaced by the tornado. It inflicted additional F0-F2 damage south of Dean and Byers, but no more fatalities occurred. Historical weather events. Approaching Harrold, Texas from the southeast on Highway 287 - view is looking west at 4:00 pm CST. He was great at identifying cloud structures. Every year in the United States the threat of a catastrophe looms whenever tornadoes approach large gatherings of people. The spring of 1979 was a very active tornado period for the plains states. After crossing U.S. Highway 281, the twister then struck the Sun Valley neighborhood and destroyed additional homes, apartments, and businesses on the south side of U.S. Highway 287.