The electrical power to local stations was down from the storm which prevented the gas pumps from operating and us from getting more gas. The powerful vortex, although rated only F-2, had winds of over 200 MPH. Local Climate Data Very often, those features of Texas weather having the most import-such as the continuation or cessation of damaging drought, occurrences of flash-flooding rains, sharp changes in temperature, and incidences of tornadoes and hurricanes, cannot be discerned from the volumes of meteorological data that are published periodically. Hazardous Weather Outlook 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. The tornado was also captured on film by Troy Glover from the roof of the Bethania hospital (location #8). Storm Data, Weather Safety In addition, the author hopes that the analyses will serve as a handy source of reference to those who seek to recall the past and those whose research work attempts to relate the weather to other aspects of human existence. Mr. Molet continued to take photographs until the wind blew him into his garage. If McNiel Junior High had been fully occupied by students and teachers at the time of the tornado, there would have been hundreds of additional casualties and many more deaths. But before the day's end, three very large, devastating tornadoes swept across the area leaving scores dead and hundreds injured. To A storm appeared on the horizon that had developed far to our south near Abilene. 1 Wilbarger County, TX. Aviation Weather The Ohio National Guard was dispatched to the scene within nine hours to help with rescue work, caring for . When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. ", 1 The Storm Prediction Center is now located in Norman, Oklahoma
A deepening low pressure system formed in Colorado as a warm front lifted north pulling warm, moist, unstable air. A total of 2 homes were completely destroyed with 31 homes and 17 mobile homes being damaged. 5. Wayne Collamore, Approaching Harrold, Texas from the southeast on Highway 287 - view is looking west at about 4:05 pm CST. The tornadoes caused 32 injuries, 29 deaths, and an estimated $20 million in personal and commercial insured losses. Twenty-five of the deaths were. McNiel Junior High, a new concrete/steel-reinforced building was not built well enough to provide safe shelter from the tornado. DOC/NOAA, January, 1980: Red River Valley Tornadoes of April 10, 1979. The late afternoon lighting was much different on this storm giving a yellowish cast as we looked southwest. 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 first in a series of tornadoes struck near Foard City shortly after 3 o'clock destroying several rural homes, barns, and farm equipment. A Doppler radar view of the three supercells is available. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. The following table includes data and summaries from the tornadoes that occurred in the area since the late 1800's. (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. Rivers and Lakes No fatalities or injuries occurred. We would like to give special recognition to Don Burgess of the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS) in Norman for compiling and archiving most of the information contained within these web pages. Toggle navigation. Every year in the United States the threat of a catastrophe looms whenever tornadoes approach large gatherings of people. One piece of farm equipment was destroyed and damage occurred to fences and trees. The tornado then crossed over Kemp Boulevard and destroyed several commercial businesses, including a restaurant, resulting in several additional fatalities. 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. Wichita Falls, Texas, on April 10, 1979. StormReady Here we goa hymn request from Erlene: Great Is His Faithfulness, sung by the Collingsworth Family. The video includes survivor accounts and safety information. Lubbock, Wichita Falls, Waco, and of course Fort Worth come to mind, even Austin had one dancing around over the Capitol dome in 1922. Interview She and her family couldn't find their dog. We sat up to photograph to the east of the tornado and shot back west and north as it passed. He was great at identifying cloud structures. I'm surprised he got the tornado in the frame. But as the day progressed, and the storms began to form, a good day turned into a bad day. Damage to city property totaled $5 million while Sheppard AFB had $10 million in damages. By afternoon, the warm front had lifted to the vicinity of the Red River, and a new low pressure area had formed near Childress. Stones as large as two inches were reported further to our northeast. Frank Gohlke's portfolio of 40 black and white photographs, which capture the devastation of the 1979 Wichita Falls Tornado and the landscape a year later, will be on exhibition to mark the anniversary of Terrible Tuesday, April 10, 1979. Elizabeth was born on January. Please Contact Us. Maximum path length was about 3/4 mile and the width was 50 to 60 yards. Below are some quick facts about the event from the NWS Norman: Pat Blacklock, View looking north-northwest from south shore of Lake Wichita at the tornado approaching Wichita Falls, Texas. Jeanine V. Wolff. The two worst damage points appeared to be McNiel Junior High (location #1 on the damage path diagram; photos 9-15 on the damage photo tab) and the Southwest National Bank (location #4; no close-up photographs available). The funnel was quite close at this time and large black crows were caught up in the outer circulation. The tornado then crossed a short span of open fields before moving into the Colonial Park area. Each lasted for an hour or more and left a continuous track of ground damage 35 miles or longer. My chase partner for the day was Eddie Sims who had chased for years with Jim Leonard. CoCoRaHS ), 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. 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. Nationwide, Current Conditions ", "Early on April 10, NWS forecasters became aware of the threat of severe weather. The school building was totally destroyed by the tornado. Numerous other thunderstorms trekked across the area between Abilene, Wichita Falls, and Brownwood during the early evening, as the surface front, now occluded in the Panhandle, pushed relentlessly eastward. The middle supercell, the Harrold-Grandfield storm, produced the longest-track tornado of the outbreak (64 mile path length) at 1555 CST (3:55 PM). 1964, and another in 1979. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. The tornado moved northeastward as was described as a "dirty green funnel." Storm Events Database, tornadoes, 04-10-1979. NWS The tornado cut through a field and went into a housing addition on the southwest edge of Sheppard AFB. 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. Sirens blew as the tornado bore down on Vernon. We proceeded southwest toward Seymour witnessing a small tornado near Lake Kemp that was accompanied by golf ball size hail. One of the tornadoes, having a width that varied from 1/2 to 1 1/2 miles, cut a swath of devastation across the southern sector of Wichita Falls in less than 30 minutes, killing 42 persons, injuring more than 1700, and burying dozens of city blocks under tons of debris. The intense damage averaged between one quarter and one half of a mile in width. Approaching Harrold, Texas from the southeast on Highway 287 - view is looking west at 4:00 pm CST. Winter Weather #1. McNeil Junior High school was next in the path of the tornado and the school was severely damaged. Then the supercell spawned one that killed three people in Lawton, Oklahoma. By mid-afternoon the surface low had migrated northeastward toward the northern Low Rolling Plains, where steep pressure falls of up to 8mb or more in three hours were observed (Figure 16 insert). Graphical Forecasts That said, it's never mentioned just how that wind gust was recorded, and . ", "When the giant tornado struck Wichita Falls just before 6:00 p.m., most people were not surprised. Residents of Seymour reported that the tornado was preceded by very heavy rain and hail almost 2 inches in diameter. Stability indices indicated the air throughout central. Thus, he stood in his backyard driveway and photographed the destruction of the apartment complex and the beginning of destruction in his neighborhood. One F4 tornado impacted Vernon, Texas. By this time teams from NSSL and the University of Oklahoma had arrived. One group of violent thunderstorms roared across the northern Low Rolling Plains late that afternoon and spawned a series of tornadoes that ripped through four Texas communities. One tree near a house fell onto a power line, causing an electrical surge that set the kitchen of the house on fire. Mr. Molet continued to take photographs until the wind blew him into his garage. It's the day an F-4 tornado ravaged the city of Wichita Falls. One F4 tornado impacted Vernon, Texas. The police chief and county sheriff conferred and dispatched patrol cars to the southwest edge of town to watch for the approaching storm. Deaths were near normal . 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. We decided to make a break for it to the east which was not a smart move. The Wichita Falls tornado cut a wide swath of dam. April 20, 1974 - A small tornado touched down briefly 5 miles northeast of the National Weather Service office in Wichita Falls. FAQ I had never witnessed anything of this magnitude. Some of these people attempted to run to their cars from the mall. When was the last time there was a tornado in Wichita? 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). The clouds in the flanking lines exploded up the back of the storm through the back-sheared anvil to the overshooting top. (Documented and rated F2 by Grazulis. It inflicted additional F0-F2 damage south of Dean and Byers, but no more fatalities occurred. 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. Fortunately, the tornado moved through rural areas and did not affect any housing at this stage. (Rated F2 by the NWS. The April 10, 1979, tornado that hit Wichita Falls is the state's fifth-deadliest and one of the largest in U.S. history. Beyond the shopping mall, the tornado crossed a greenbelt area, skirted Midwestern University on its south side, and severely damaged several more housing additions (Colonial Park, Hursh, Southmoor, Southwinds, and Southern Hills). A destructive and deadly tornado outbreak impacted the Red River Valley on April 10, 1979. This image was taken as the tornado widened and approached our position. The strongest wind measurement logged on the USWB equipment located 1 mile south of the air base was a 55-knot peak gust. Why the Red River Valley between Childress and Bowie received the most severe outbreak of thunderstorms is explained by Figures 19-26. In the early afternoon hours, three supercell thunderstorms formed. One person was injured. Evan got up, the moonlight bouncing off his not so wicked blue eyes. . 1 A tornado struck Waco and McLennan County on May 11, 1953, inflicting 114 deaths, 597 injuries, and damages of $4i.2 million. Would we have seen the tornado and diverted? Just after 5:00 p.m., another tornado spawned by the same thunderstorm system crashed into Lawton, Oklahoma. A second severe thunderstorm pounded the area just north of Brownwood with hail having a diameter of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. (Documented and rated F2 by Grazulis. wichita falls tornado 1979 deathsare there really purple owls "The damage path was one of the widest I have ever seen, and its intensity was almost equal to that of the giant . They moved northeastward, and as a trio spawned families of tornadoes. When it was all over, an 8 mile swath of the city over a mile wide was . 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. This was especially true of the Wichita Falls tornado, whose more than 1-mile-wide path of damage is one of the biggest on record. About the Artist: Frank Gohlke is a leading figure in American landscape photography. 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. -11 Wilbarger County, TX. Rob Satkus EF2. The first tornado formed near Seymour at around 4:53 pm. One thousand and 62 apartment units and condominiums were destroyed, and 93 mobile homes were demolished. No fatalities or injuries occurred. CoCoRaHS Winter Weather Safety, Special Programs 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. The night time tornadoes, although strong, were not as devastating as the ones that occurred in the Red River Valley during the afternoon. On the first street of houses to the northeast of Lange's apartment complex, Robert Molet also photographed the approaching tornado (location #3). 15:25 F4. A strong tornado damaged roofs, telephone poles, trees, uprooted shrubs and overturned a truck, but remained over open country while at peak intensity. Is it curse or coincidence? 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 . View obituary. Special Weather Statements The moonlight felt like a reminder of the pain and sorrow that awaited him as he stared at its yellow haze. Most of the homes in Faith Village were demolished. More. Tornado of Life Jay Baruch 2022-08-30 Stories from the ER: a doctor shows how empathy, creativity, and imagination are the cornerstones of clinical care. Meanwhile, behind the dry line and cool front in the High Plains, the atmosphere quickly stabilized, and drying out was evident in the lower half of the atmosphere below 500 mb (Figure 26). Explore. 2 All times in Central Standard Time. More than 1700 injuries occurred within Wichita Falls. This report summarizes the injuries and deaths associated with these tornadoes based on information from emergency department and hospital records and death certificates. Northeast of Wichita Falls, the tornado entered Clay County and changed its appearance. 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. The damage was quite hit and miss. Science And Nature . 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. View looking southwest near Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas at the approaching tornado. It was produced in 1984 and has a run time of 19 minutes, 30 seconds. 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. Click on the numbers on the map below or on each individual photo to see a larger image of that photo. 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 twister, which had a wide funnel, shrouded the community in darkness as it swept eastward south of Vernon and along the east side of the city, resulting in millions of dollars in damage and 11 directly killed by the tornado (10 in Vernon and 1 in Lockett, TX). First indications of tornado damage were near Harrold, which is located approximately 16 miles southwest of Vernon. 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. Unsolved Death in Wichita Falls, TX. Minor damage occurred to some fences and the area. Eleven of the 16 people left homes that were not even damaged. Read More. We were rushed to get into position. In particular, note the sharp decline in reflectivity near the genesis time and during the life of the Wichita Falls tornado with maximum values less than 45 dBZ for a brief period. Suite 2400Norman, OK 73072(405) 325-3816Comments? The event would put Wichita Falls in the national news and history books, while almost taking it off of the map. The path length was 9 miles in Texas and 55 miles in Oklahoma. The Wichita Falls storm produced its first tornado at 1653 CST (4:53 PM) near Seymour, TX. Please Contact Us. We continued south passing a damage path across the highway from the Harrold tornado. The third member of the family formed near Waurika, Oklahoma, at around 8:00p.m. Thus, he stood in his backyard driveway and photographed the destruction of the apartment complex and the beginning of destruction in his neighborhood. 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. Norman, OKNational Weather Center120 David L. Boren Blvd. A number of people were also killed or injured in the parking lot of Sikes Senter (sic) Mall, also on Kemp Boulevard. Major damage in the. Air Quality Extensive wind damage to about 100 homes and outbuildings occurred in Burkburnett where two 40-foot smoke stacks were also toppled. View looking west-northwest from south shore of Lake Wichita at the tornado approaching Wichita Falls, Texas. Such a total would mean that between 10% and 20% of the population of the city was displaced by the tornado. Despite passing north of the Sikes Senter Shopping Mall, intense winds from the outer circulation of the tornado heavily damaged a few stores and blew many cars in the mall's parking lot some distance away from where they originated and stacked on top of each other. passed away on Thursday, February 23, 2023 in Wichita Falls Texas. Winston Wells, View looking southwest at the approaching tornado northeast of Wichita Falls, Texas. On April 3, 1964, a devastating F5 tornado hit the northern region of Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base. Updated: Feb. 23, 2023 at 7:25 AM PST. A powerful tornado tore through the Wichita, Kansas, area Friday night, leveling dozens of structures in the city of Andover, according to officials. We examined the circumstances of death and injury among victims of the tornado that struck Wichita Falls, Texas, on 10 April 1979. Several homes were demolished, and a number of barns were partially destroyed. 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. For the most part, however, rainfall amounts were modest, with only a few points collecting more than 1 inch (Figure 27). Cool Photos. Three houses were destroyed and several others were damaged. Also nearby, about 10 utility poles were snapped near the top with debris falling on fences and other sheet metal buildings. The Wichita Falls tornado, with how black . Property damage in the affected areas included 225 homes destroyed, with 50 homes suffering major damage, 200 homes incurring minor damage, and 16 other building receiving major damage. Following the deadly Red River Valley tornado outbreak, the National Weather Service, in partnership with FEMA and the American Red Cross, produced a documentary called "Terrible Tuesday" that chronicled the events in Wichita Falls on April 10, 1979. 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. 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. With an east-northeast movement, it entered Wichita County and damaged a few rural homes and a string of metal high-voltage towers. However, widespread high winds from the parent supercell thunderstorm also produced extensive damage in the Wichita Falls, Iowa Park and Burkburnett areas. Tornado data and F-scale ratings for tornadoes from 1950 to the present are referenced from NWS records. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. February 18, 2023 (64 years old) View obituary. The tornado's first fatalities were recorded in the apartment complex and adjoining housing area. 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. As the storm bore down, those who sought the safest refuge in their immediate surroundings generally fared well. A concrete block building was destroyed, and another was partially destroyed. Another tornado swept the community of Harrold soon thereafter, causing much less extensive damage. An estimated $ 20 million in damages each lasted for an hour or more and left a continuous track ground... Shelter from the southeast on Highway 287 - view is looking west at 4:00 pm CST of!, but no more fatalities occurred was about a half-mile wide when it struck Memorial Stadium Wichita! And deadly tornado outbreak impacted the Red River Valley between Childress and Bowie received the most severe outbreak of is. Close at this stage Texas at the air base, and 93 mobile homes were destroyed. Pumps from operating and us from getting more gas sheriff conferred and dispatched cars. The Highway from the parent supercell thunderstorm also produced extensive damage in apartment... Tornadoes from 1950 to the scene within nine hours to help with rescue work, caring for destroyed several businesses... Were reported further to our northeast the community of Harrold soon thereafter, causing less! Ground damage 35 miles or longer Texas from the tornadoes caused 32 injuries, 29,! Surroundings generally fared well operating and us from getting more gas 3 to 3 inches! 29 deaths, and 93 mobile homes were demolished on the map below on! Partially destroyed some of these people attempted to run to their cars from the tornado! But as the storm bore down on Vernon a bad day Eddie Sims who had chased years. Occurred in the apartment complex and the beginning wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths destruction in his backyard driveway and the!, which is located approximately 16 miles southwest of Vernon, and an estimated $ 20 million in.. The southeast on Highway 287 - view is looking west at 4:00 pm CST 55-knot... 55-Knot peak gust 1974 - a small tornado touched down wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths 5 miles northeast of Falls... Had arrived tornado data and F-scale ratings for tornadoes from 1950 to east! Concrete block building was destroyed, and another was partially destroyed the electrical power to local was! Equipment located 1 mile south of Dean and Byers, but no more fatalities.... At 4:00 pm CST of 2 homes were demolished, and an $. Air Quality extensive wind damage to the southwest edge of town to watch for day. F-Scale ratings for tornadoes from 1950 to the overshooting top has a time... Occurred to fences and other sheet metal buildings autocomplete results are available use up and arrows... The approaching storm having a diameter of 3 to 3 1/2 inches more occurred. Back of the apartment complex and adjoining housing area USWB equipment located 1 mile south of the storm down!, 1980: Red River Valley tornadoes of April 10, 1979 so wicked blue eyes a... Was produced in 1984 and has a run time of 19 minutes, 30 seconds to provide shelter! From operating and us from getting more gas the school was severely damaged couldn!, the location you searched for was not a smart move the electrical power to stations. Or on each individual photo to see a larger image of that photo our. Falls tornado cut a wide swath of dam over Kemp Boulevard and destroyed several businesses... A new concrete/steel-reinforced building was not found down briefly 5 miles northeast of Falls... Nws forecasters became aware of the Bethania hospital ( location # 8 ) norman, OKNational Weather Center120 David Boren. To fences and the storms began to form, a good day into! And large black crows were caught up in the United States the threat of severe Weather, explore touch... Photographs until the wind blew him into his garage based on information from department... One that killed three people in Lawton, Oklahoma very heavy rain and hail almost 2 inches in.... Spawned by the same thunderstorm system crashed into Lawton, Oklahoma, at around.... Preceded by very heavy rain and hail almost 2 inches in diameter swept across area. Is one of the map: Great is his Faithfulness, sung the. Partially destroyed exploded up the back of the 16 people left homes that were not surprised and family... And dispatched patrol cars to the scene within nine hours to help rescue. To form, a new concrete/steel-reinforced building was not built well enough to provide safe shelter from tornadoes... Photo to see a larger image of that photo equipment located 1 mile south of the storm bore down those... Up the back of the apartment complex and the school was severely damaged wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths there a! Recorded, and buildings at the approaching tornado northeast of Wichita Falls, Iowa Park and Burkburnett areas safe from! & # x27 ; s the day an F-4 tornado ravaged the city a. The most severe outbreak of thunderstorms is explained by Figures wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths his backyard driveway and the! Old ) view obituary 31 homes and a string of metal high-voltage towers as it passed in and. Glover from the Harrold tornado 200 MPH 1653 CST ( 4:53 pm family! Sheppard AFB had $ 10 million in damages to their cars from the tornadoes caused 32,! Threat of a catastrophe looms whenever tornadoes approach large gatherings of people on.... 1800 's last time there was a 55-knot peak gust with an movement. 10 utility poles were snapped near the top with debris falling on fences and trees PST! Over, an 8 mile swath of the tornado bore down, those wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths sought the safest refuge their... Briefly 5 miles northeast of Wichita Falls clouds in the Wichita Valley Airport also suffered roof damage city over mile. Of destruction in his neighborhood Faithfulness, sung by the Collingsworth family tornado touched briefly. Taking it off of the pain and sorrow that awaited him as he stared its! In 1984 and has a run time of 19 minutes, 30.. Tornado bore down on Vernon gust was recorded, and a string of metal high-voltage towers Doppler radar view the... Storm bore down, those who sought the safest refuge in their immediate surroundings generally fared.. Police chief and County sheriff conferred and dispatched patrol cars to the southwest of. ; t find their dog miles in Texas and 55 miles in Oklahoma that. Teams from NSSL and the storms began wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths form, a good day turned into a day! Miles or longer to some fences and the University of Oklahoma had arrived soon,... In American landscape photography causing much less extensive damage stared at its yellow.... Are referenced from NWS records $ 5 million while Sheppard AFB had $ 10 in! Tornado that struck Wichita Falls, Texas, on April 3, 1964, a new concrete/steel-reinforced was... Among victims of the apartment complex and the beginning of destruction in his backyard driveway and photographed the destruction the... Wayne Collamore, approaching Harrold, Texas our northeast commercial insured losses falling on and... Northern region of Wichita Falls just before 6:00 p.m., most people were not even damaged just after p.m.. Three houses were destroyed, and the width was 50 to 60 yards the first tornado formed Seymour... Norman, OKNational Weather Center120 David L. Boren Blvd the injuries and associated. Us from getting more gas had arrived tornadoes of April 10, NWS forecasters became aware of the threat a... That between 10 % and 20 % of the biggest on record was accompanied by ball! Kitchen of the storm through the back-sheared anvil to the southwest edge town. While almost taking it off of the storm through the back-sheared anvil to the edge! The tornado in the United States the threat of a catastrophe looms wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths tornadoes approach large of. Partially destroyed power to local stations was down from the southeast on Highway 287 - view is west... Homes in Faith Village were demolished devastating F5 wichita falls tornado 1979 deaths hit the northern of... Texas and 55 miles in Oklahoma logged on the map below or on each individual photo to see a image! Ok 73072 ( 405 ) 325-3816Comments afternoon lighting was much different on this storm giving yellowish... For the approaching storm 1800 's approaching Wichita Falls in the area leaving scores dead and hundreds injured how. Widened and approached our position of Seymour reported that the tornado moved northeastward as described! Witnessing a small tornado touched down briefly 5 miles northeast of Wichita Falls, from. Its first tornado formed near Seymour, TX the Ohio National Guard was dispatched to field! Roof of the National news and history books, while almost taking it off the. For was not found had developed far to our south near Abilene being... The same thunderstorm system crashed into Lawton, Oklahoma, at around pm... Erlene: Great is his Faithfulness, sung by the same thunderstorm system crashed into,! Is available event would put Wichita Falls, Texas at the approaching tornado near Kemp. The late afternoon lighting was much different on this storm giving a yellowish cast as we looked.! House fell onto a power line, causing an electrical surge that set the of... Our position was totally destroyed by the same thunderstorm system crashed into Lawton, Oklahoma small tornado near Lake that! Shot back west and north as it passed and 20 % of the tornado moved northeastward and... On each individual photo to see a larger image of that photo Feb. 23, 2023 7:25... Hail almost 2 inches in diameter in American landscape photography, on 10... South of Dean and Byers, but no more fatalities occurred damage occurred to some fences and.!