History of Tornado in Timeline
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that connects the Earth's surface with a cumulonimbus cloud. Often called twisters, whirlwinds, or cyclones (though meteorologically distinct), they vary in size and shape. Visible as a condensation funnel with swirling debris beneath, most tornadoes have wind speeds under 180 km/h, are about 80 meters wide, and travel a few kilometers before disappearing. Extreme tornadoes can reach over 480 km/h, exceed 3 km in diameter, and stay grounded for over 100 km.
November 1915: Great Bend, Kansas Tornado
A tornado struck Great Bend, Kansas, demonstrating the immense power of tornadoes to transport debris over long distances. Debris was found up to 305 miles away from the town, including a cancelled check found in a field in Palmyra, Nebraska.
March 18, 1925: Tri-State Tornado
The Tri-State Tornado, affecting parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, set the record for the longest continuous tornado path length, staying on the ground for 219 miles (352 kilometers).
1936: Gainesville Tornado
The Gainesville Tornado, one of the deadliest in history, struck at 8:30 am local time, demonstrating that destructive tornadoes can occur at any time of day.
1950: First Public Tornado Warnings Issued
The first public tornado warnings were issued in the United States, marking a significant step in tornado forecasting and public safety.
1952: First Tornado Watches and Convective Outlooks Introduced
The implementation of tornado watches and convective outlooks further enhanced tornado forecasting and public awareness of potential severe weather.
1953: Hook Echoes Linked to Tornadoes
Meteorologists confirmed the association between hook echoes on weather radar and tornadoes, providing a crucial tool for detecting thunderstorms likely to produce tornadoes from a distance.
1974: 1974 Super Outbreak
The 1974 Super Outbreak, one of the most extensive tornado outbreaks on record, impacted a large portion of the central United States and extreme southern Ontario. This devastating outbreak spawned 148 tornadoes in 18 hours, many of which were violent, including seven F5 tornadoes and twenty-three F4 tornadoes. At its peak, sixteen tornadoes were on the ground simultaneously. Tragically, the outbreak resulted in over 300 deaths, possibly as many as 330.
1974: TORRO Spotter Network Established
The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) established a network of volunteer weather spotters in the United Kingdom, enhancing severe weather observation and reporting.
April 26, 1989: Daultipur-Salturia Tornado
The Daultipur-Salturia Tornado in Bangladesh became the deadliest tornado in world history, killing approximately 1,300 people.
1991: Andover, Kansas Tornado Outbreak
During the 1991 tornado outbreak near Andover, Kansas, a news crew and others took shelter under a highway overpass and survived a tornado. The widely circulated video footage of this event contributed to the misconception that overpasses are safe havens during tornadoes. However, their survival was due to a combination of factors, including a weak tornado, a near miss rather than a direct hit, and the overpass's unique design.
May 3, 1999: Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak
During the May 3, 1999, tornado outbreak in Oklahoma, three highway overpasses were directly hit by tornadoes, resulting in fatalities and severe injuries at each location. This event highlighted the dangers of seeking shelter under overpasses during tornadoes, debunking the misconception that they provide adequate protection.
June 24, 2003: Manchester, South Dakota Tornado Pressure Measurement
Near Manchester, South Dakota, a probe measured a significant pressure drop of 100 millibars (100 hPa; 3.0 inHg) as a tornado approached. The pressure plummeted to 850 millibars (850 hPa; 25 inHg) within the core of the intense tornado before rapidly rising as the vortex moved away, resulting in a distinctive V-shaped pressure trace.
May 22, 2004: Hallam, Nebraska Tornado
A tornado struck Hallam, Nebraska with a ground width of up to 2.5 miles (4.0 kilometers).
2005: Birmingham Tornado
The Birmingham tornado, registering F2 on the Fujita scale, caused significant damage and injuries.
2006: London Tornado
The London tornado, also registering F2 on the Fujita scale, caused significant damage and injuries.
2007: Enhanced Fujita Scale Implementation
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, an update to the older Fujita scale, was implemented in the United States. Utilizing expert elicitation, engineered wind estimates, and improved damage descriptions, the EF Scale was designed to maintain the same numerical ratings as the Fujita scale.
May 31, 2013: El Reno, Oklahoma Tornado
A tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma became the widest on record, reaching approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers) in width.