The Andover, Kansas Tornado is among the most notorious tornadoes of the 20th century. It was the most significant tornado of nearly 70 that hit Kansas, Oklahoma, and surrounding areas on April 26, 1991. It was the only F5 tornado of 1991 and the 16th F5 tornado to hit in Kansas state history. Seventeen people were killed and 225 were injured. This tornado was caught on tape by dozens of people, both professionally and on home video. One such recording depicts the twister, dark grey and slender, approaching a Kansas airforce base. It tears through a parking lot as people in a nearby building watch and record. The tornado visibly intensifies in the short time it spends at the base, exitting as a large, multiple-vortex storm. A billion-dollar line of fighter jets was narrowly missed. Had the tornado destroyed the aircraft it would surely have been considered the costliest tornado in history. The Weather Channel later produced a video documentary of the Andover outbreak titled "The Enemy Wind". A tornado in central Oklahoma. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  Ranked 20th  - Total 69,960 sq mi (181,196 km²)  - Width 230 miles (370 km)  - Length 298 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Forecast

On April 25, The National Weather Service predicted a "high risk" of severe weather for the following day. In fact, the National Severe Storms Forecast Center issued a Public Severe Weather Outlook stating that an "extremely dangerous weather situation" was forecast for much of the middle United States. A strong storm system was due to move through the area the next afternoon & evening [3]. April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (116th in leap years). ... The National Weather Service (NWS) is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States government. ... The Storm Prediction Center, located in Norman, Oklahoma, is part of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), operating under the control of the National Weather Service, which in turn is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. government. ...

Table of confirmed tornadoes - after surveys by local weather service offices

(based on NOAA Storm Data)

The Fujita scale (F-Scale), or Fujita-Pearson scale, rates a tornados intensity by the damage it inflicts on human-built structures and sometimes on vegetation. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Montgomery County (standard abbreviation: MG) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Montgomery County (standard abbreviation: MG) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Washington County (standard abbreviation: WS) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Washington County (standard abbreviation: WS) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Chase County (standard abbreviation: CS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Chase County (standard abbreviation: CS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Washington County (standard abbreviation: WS) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Washington County (standard abbreviation: WS) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Morris County (standard abbreviation: MR) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Wabaunsee County (standard abbreviation: WB) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Morris County (standard abbreviation: MR) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Wabaunsee County (standard abbreviation: WB) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Wabaunsee County (standard abbreviation: WB) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Shawnee County (standard abbreviation: SN) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Jackson County (standard abbreviation: JA) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Wabaunsee County (standard abbreviation: WB) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Shawnee County (standard abbreviation: SN) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Jackson County (standard abbreviation: JA) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Harper County (standard abbreviation: HP) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Sumner County (standard abbreviation: SU) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Harper County (standard abbreviation: HP) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Sumner County (standard abbreviation: SU) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Sumner County (standard abbreviation: SU) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Sumner County (standard abbreviation: SU) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Sedgwick County (standard abbreviation: SG) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Sedgwick County (standard abbreviation: SG) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Haysville can refer to: Haysville, Kansas Haysville, Pennsylvania This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Sedgwick County (standard abbreviation: SG) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Butler County (standard abbreviation: BU) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Haysville can refer to: Haysville, Kansas Haysville, Pennsylvania This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Sedgwick County, Kansas. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Sedgwick County (standard abbreviation: SG) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Harvey County (standard abbreviation: HV) is a county in the State of Kansas, located in the south central portion of the state, along the Little Arkansas River. ... Sedgwick County (standard abbreviation: SG) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Harvey County (standard abbreviation: HV) is a county in the State of Kansas, located in the south central portion of the state, along the Little Arkansas River. ... Arkansas City is a city located in Cowley County, Kansas. ... Shown within Cambridgeshire Geography Status City (1951) Region East of England Admin. ... Cowley County (standard abbreviation: CL) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Hackney is the principal area of the London Borough of Hackney in East London. ... Wabaunsee County (standard abbreviation: WB) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Wabaunsee County (standard abbreviation: WB) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Butler County (standard abbreviation: BU) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Chase County (standard abbreviation: CS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Butler County (standard abbreviation: BU) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Chase County (standard abbreviation: CS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Howard is the name of a number of places in the United States of America: Howard, Kansas Howard, New York Howard, Ohio Howard, Rhode Island Howard, South Dakota Howard, Wisconsin Howard City, Michigan Howard County, Arkansas Howard County, Indiana Howard County, Maryland Howard County, Texas Howard is also part of... Sévery is a commune in Cossonay, canton Vaud, Switzerland. ... Elk County (standard abbreviation: EK) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Greenwood County (standard abbreviation: GW) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Hackney is the principal area of the London Borough of Hackney in East London. ... Howard is the name of a number of places in the United States of America: Howard, Kansas Howard, New York Howard, Ohio Howard, Rhode Island Howard, South Dakota Howard, Wisconsin Howard City, Michigan Howard County, Arkansas Howard County, Indiana Howard County, Maryland Howard County, Texas Howard is also part of... Chase County (standard abbreviation: CS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Chase County (standard abbreviation: CS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Sedgwick County (standard abbreviation: SG) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Sedgwick County (standard abbreviation: SG) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Greenwood County (standard abbreviation: GW) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Woodson County (standard abbreviation: WO) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Greenwood County (standard abbreviation: GW) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Woodson County (standard abbreviation: WO) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Shawnee County (standard abbreviation: SN) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Jefferson County (standard abbreviation: JF) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Shawnee County (standard abbreviation: SN) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Jefferson County (standard abbreviation: JF) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Jefferson County (standard abbreviation: JF) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Atchison County (standard abbreviation: AT) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Jefferson County (standard abbreviation: JF) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Atchison County (standard abbreviation: AT) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Montgomery County (standard abbreviation: MG) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Montgomery County (standard abbreviation: MG) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  Ranked 20th  - Total 69,960 sq mi (181,196 km²)  - Width 230 miles (370 km)  - Length 298 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... Kay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Kay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Garfield County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Garfield County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Garfield County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Garfield County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Garfield County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Noble County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Osage County is the largest county in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Garfield County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Noble County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Osage County is the largest county in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Payne County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Payne County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Westport is the name of several communities around the world. ... Pawnee County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Osage County is the largest county in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Westport is the name of several communities around the world. ... Osage County is the largest county in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Osage County is the largest county in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Washington County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Washington County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Rogers County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Rogers County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Rogers County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Area  Ranked 16th  - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 0. ... Fillmore County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. ... Fillmore County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. ... Gage County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. ... Gage County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. ... Pierce County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. ... Pierce County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Cherokee County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Cherokee County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Cherokee County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Cherokee County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Smith County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... Smith County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... Rusk County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Rusk County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Rusk County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Rusk County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Rusk County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Rusk County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Red River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... Red River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... Red River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... Red River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... Red River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... Red River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... Red River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... Red River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Shelby County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Shelby County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Crawford County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Crawford County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Sac County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Sac County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Wayne County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Wayne County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Wayne County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Wayne County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Iowa County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Iowa County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Iowa County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Iowa County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Andrew County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ... Andrew County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ... Newton County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ... Newton County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ... Andrew County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ... Andrew County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ... Jasper County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ... Jasper County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ...

The Andover Tornado

The tornado that produced the most extensive damage formed south of Clearwater, Kansas. It fluctuated between F2 and F3 intensity as it crossed I-35 and moved across the city of Haysville. Widespread damage was reported in Haysville, but there were no fatalities. On the east side of Haysville, the tornado became a solid F3 in strength as it crossed the Kansas Turnpike for the first time and headed toward McConnell Air Force Base. Clearwater is a city located in Sedgwick County, Kansas. ... Haysville is a city located in Sedgwick County, Kansas. ... The Kansas Turnpike is a tolled freeway that lies entirely within the U.S. state of Kansas. ... McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Sedgwick County, Kansas. ...

Many people had advanced warning before the tornado struck McConnell Air Force Base. The tornado struck the base school & housing at F2-F3 strength. It caused $62 million in damage on base, narrowly missing a multi-million dollar line of B-1 bombers. The damage path widened as the tornado intensified to F4 strength just East/Northeast of the base. McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Sedgwick County, Kansas. ... The Boeing IDS (formerly Rockwell) B-1B Lancer is a long-range strategic bomber in service with the USAF. Together with the B-52 Stratofortress, it is the backbone of the United Statess long-range bomber force. ...

By 6:35 P.M, the tornado had expanded to just over 600 feet wide and was producing F5 damage on the Fujita scale. It continued to move Northeast toward the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park in Andover, KS; as it passed through, it obliterated the park and caused thirteen deaths. The tornado then veered north, missing Girl Scout Camp Seikooc, where summer camp training was being conducted as well as a troop campout. The Fujita scale (F-Scale), or Fujita-Pearson scale, rates a tornados intensity by the damage it inflicts on human-built structures and sometimes on vegetation. ... Andover is a city located in Butler County, Kansas. ...

The tornado then moved on to the Northeast, passing just south of Towanda, KS. Most of the damage in this area was rated at F2-F3 intensity, though these numbers may be skewed: the rural area's lack of significant structures makes it difficult to accurately gauge the amount of damage. The tornado continued Northeast and reached El Dorado Lake just before 7 P.M. Video taken by local storm chasers shows that the tornado crossed over the lake and revealed a multiple vortex structure. Just after crossing over the lake to the Northeast, the original circulations dissipated and a new, much weaker tornado formed. The Andover tornado had traveled for nearly 46 miles, and was on the ground for over an hour. Towanda is a city located in Butler County, Kansas. ... Multiple Vortex Tornado A tornado that contains more than one vortex rotating around the main, central circulation. ...

The El Dorado Lake Tornado

The new tornado moved Northeast toward Cassoday, KS. A news team from KSNW-TV in Wichita was returning to the station along the Kansas Turnpike from a story unrelated to the tornado. The reporters soon encountered a tornado, and decided to try to shoot video of the storm. However, the tornado veered and began following a path along the highway at a speed faster than they could drive. They reached an overpass where several people had already abandoned their cars. The cameraman advised the other people that they should all get into the very upper part of the overpass, thinking that this would shield them from the wind. The cameraman recorded the entire chain of events as the tornado passed nearby. The overpass itself did not receive a direct hit from the tornado, but it appeared to on camera. It lasted approximately 20 seconds. The tornado then continued northeast and dissipated at about 7:30 p.m., just Northeast of the Cassoday Interchange of the Kansas Turnpike. All the cars parked under the underpass had their windows blown out. Other cars and big rigs on the turnpike (actually hit by the tornado) rolled multiple times and were tossed all over the road. Cassoday is a city located in Butler County, Kansas. ... KSNW, channel 3, is a NBC affiliate based in Wichita, Kansas. ... The Kansas Turnpike is a tolled freeway that lies entirely within the U.S. state of Kansas. ...

The Red Rock Tornado

South of Wichita, in Garfield County, Oklahoma, tornado chasers (inculding Warren Faidley, Gene Moore, and many other big-name chasers) observed the touchdown of what would be the longest tracked tornado of the outbreak. Initially, the storm was narrow and produced up to F3 damage to the south of Billings. A few oil tanks were toppled and power poles were knocked down. As the funnel crossed into Noble County, video and photographic evidence suggests dramatic widening and strengthening. The damage path across northern Noble County appeared to be between 3/4 and 1 mile in diameter. Trees were debarked and pavement was scoured off roads. The tornado encountered few man-made structures along its path. At least one home was completely demolished leaving no walls standing (indicating F4 damage). At one point a University of Oklahoma chase team used a portable dopplar radar to measure a windspeed of 257-268 mph in the funnel (near the F5 threshold). At the time, this was the fastest wind speed ever measured on the face of the earth (it has now been surpassed by the Moore, Oklahoma City tornado, which produced a gust of 301 mph[4] on May 3, 1999). As the tornado passed through Noble County and into Osage County, two farms were completely destroyed and several additional oil rigs were toppled. The tornado lifted in central Osage County, after having traveled for 66 miles. It is likely that this was the most violent tornado of the outbreak (exhibited dramatic multiple vorticies and motion); however, it did not encounter many man-made structures making it difficult for storm survey teams to rate it. It was given an F4 rating, which was probably the best they could have done given the data available. Garfield County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Billings is a town located in Noble County, Oklahoma. ... Noble County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Osage County is the largest county in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ...

Aftermath

In addition to the millions of dollars of damage, 225 injuries and seventeen deaths, the tornado also contributed to the commonly held (albeit false) belief regarding tornado safety. Due to the popularity of the news team's video, in which they are depicted surviving by using an overpass for shelter, overpasses are now frequently jammed with people seeking shelter during tornado activity. Such was the case in many areas during the 1999 Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak, in which some people actually left the safety of their homes when the tornado warning was issued to take shelter under overpasses. One tornado hit three underpasses and killed people at each one. 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

An overpass is an extremely dangerous spot to be in a tornado, especially if it does not have the open girder design like that in the video. That bridge design is very rare; the vast majority of underpasses are mere open slabs, offering no protection from wind and debris. Using these underpasses as protection does little more than raise people above ground level, exposing them to higher winds and more debris. Additionally, the windspeed may be increased by the wind tunnel effect. Another danger is the sheer number of people now congregating at underpasses blocks traffic, which has hindered emergency responders. Moreover, it presents the danger that an intense tornado will hit people taking shelter as well as bystanders stuck in traffic, who are massed in a vulnerable location incurring the possibility of a significant death toll. NWS Presentation on Deaths Due to Use of Underpasses as Shelters

See also

• List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

// Tornado Events These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred around the globe. ...

Resources

• Gene Moore's April 26, 1991 Chase Account
• The Red Rock Tornado
• NOAA Storm Data
• PDS Tornado Watch #183 - NSSFC
• Website on Andover tornado
• ↑ Site dispeling tornado "myths," with a mention of overpasses
• Video of this tornado