May 1957 Mid-South tornado outbreak

Mid-South tornado outbreak of May 1957

Date of tornado outbreak:	May 24–25, 1957
Duration1:	+19 hours
Maximum rated tornado2:	F4 tornado
Tornadoes caused:	38 confirmed[1]
Damages:	Unknown (at least $650,000)
Fatalities:	4[2]
Areas affected:	New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas
1Time from first tornado to last tornado 2Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita Scale

The Mid-South tornado outbreak occurred from eastern New Mexico to Oklahoma, western Arkansas, southern Kansas, eastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming on May 24–25, 1957. Thirty-eight tornadoes touched down over the area, most of which took place across northern and western Texas, in addition to southern Oklahoma. The strongest tornado was rated at F4 status south of Lawton. Unusually, some tornadoes touched down during the early morning hours, whereas most Plains tornadic systems are nocturnal.^[3] Four deaths were attributed to the tornadic activity. The tornado outbreak was related to the arrival of a strong shortwave trough.^[4]

Meteorological synopsis

An upper trough moved over the central United States. Subsequently, a tornado outbreak took place over portions of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma on May 20. Cold upper air temperatures and marginal low level moisture produced severe weather across the southern and central Great Plains. On May 21, this shortwave trough and a deep surface low produced an additional violent (F4)^[1] tornado in Minnesota, while tornadoes killed 15 people in Missouri. On May 22, another area of low pressure was centered over southwest Oklahoma in attendance with a front, which extended from central New Mexico to Missouri. A weakening Pacific cold front dissipated near Del Rio. In Texas, low level moisture, originating from the Gulf of Mexico, remained abundant during the four days that preceded the May 24 outbreak.^[3] Eventually, lifted index values increased to -10, which correlated with Surface Based Convective Available Potential Energy values near 3,500 joules per kilogram.^[4]

On May 23, dewpoints rose across western Texas, and temperatures reached 77°F in the warm sector. On May 24, high moisture levels surged into southeastern New Mexico on both sides of a warm front. A new surface low pressure area also developed over New Mexico. The first tornado formed near Melrose and moved northeast across rural Roosevelt County between 3:30 and 4:30 a.m. The F2 tornado destroyed several barns.^[1][3] Later, fog developed northward to Amarillo, in tandem with exceptionally high dewpoints.^[3] After a six-hour gap, two tornadoes developed near Bovina and Enochs. The former tornado moved northeast across Parmer County and traveled nearly 40 miles to a point west of Amarillo. It destroyed eight farms near Friona, while storm-associated funnel clouds caused injuries near Hereford. The second tornado moved east-northeast and lifted over northern Hale County. It dismantled 77 homes near Olton and caused $650,000 (1957 USD) in damages.^[3]

Subsequently, four tornadoes developed over the next three hours. One tornado, sighted around 11:17 a.m. (CDT), occurred 20 miles northwest of Wildorado. It remained over rural areas and inflicted no damage.^[3] Officially, this tornado was not recorded in the National Weather Service database.^[1] Another tornado, touching down around 1:00 p.m. (CDT), affected Lynn County. It formed near Tahoka, where roof damage occurred. The funnel skipped north-northeast. In Wilson, four homes incurred damage. Homes were demolished in Slayton, and twelve homes were destroyed in Savage. The event, comprising a tornado family, dissipated east of Cone.^[3] Officially, the event is recorded as a single tornado. The strong tornado attained F3 intensity on the Fujita scale. Eventually, tornadoes affected seven states and caused four fatalities. In all, at least 38 tornadoes were confirmed and documented in the official National Weather Service records.^[1] Additionally, at least one undocumented tornado was reported southeast and east of Midland around 6:30–7:15 p.m. (0030–0115 UTC).^[3]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed Total	Confirmed F0	Confirmed F1	Confirmed F2	Confirmed F3	Confirmed F4	Confirmed F5
38	11	11	7	3	1	0

May 24

List of confirmed tornadoes
F#	Location	County	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
New Mexico
F2	E of Melrose to SE of Belleview	Curry	1100	36.5 miles (58.8 km)	The first tornado developed between 3:30–4:30 a.m. (MST).[3] This tornado may have formed in Roosevelt County. Some barns were destroyed. This event may have consisted of a sequential series of tornadoes; therefore, it may have constituted a tornado family. At least six funnels may have been involved.[2]
Texas
F2	S of Bovina to Bushland area	Parmer, Delta, Randall, Potter	1630[2]	70.1 miles (112.8 km)	Buildings were destroyed on the grounds of eight farms near Friona. Funnel clouds instigated traffic accidents in Hereford, injuring three people. Several funnels were reported from Clovis, New Mexico, to the Amarillo area.[2]
F0	S of Needmore	Bailey	1719	0.05 mile (0.09 km)	Rural power poles and electrical wires sustained damage.[5]
F0	Hereford area	Deaf Smith	1730	1 mile (1.6 km)	The tornado was originally observed near Hereford, where it produced no damage.[5] A separate funnel was observed northwest of Wildorado around 11:17 a.m. (1717 UTC). The funnel may have also developed in Death Smith County. The sighting occurred in rural areas.[3]
F3	Olton area	Lamb	1838	1.9 miles (3.1 km)	77 homes were destroyed in Olton. The southern section of the town received the most severe damage. Rural farm buildings, located southwest and northeast of Olton, were also destroyed. Three injuries were attributed to the tornado; however, residents were informed by advance warnings.[2]
F3	Tahoka area to NE of Ralls	Lynn, Lubbock, Crosby	1900	37.3 miles (60 km)	Roof damage affected 100 buildings in Tahoka. In Wilson, four homes received damage. Buildings also incurred roof damage in the Robertson area. In Savage, twelve homes were destroyed or unroofed. Two homes and two barns were destroyed west and north of Ralls. The damage patterns suggest that the event was a tornado family. One source cites a path length of 50 miles (80 km),[2] which differs from the official records.
F0	NW of Halfway[5]	Hale	1900[5]	0.5 mile (0.8 km)	Houses, barns, and trailers were destroyed. The tornado also caused livestock deaths.[5]
F?	Cotton Center area to SW of Plainview[3]	Hale	1930	10.5 miles (16.9 km)	One home, located north of Cotton Center, was shifted 100 feet (30 m) from the foundation. Three homes were unroofed or destroyed near the termination of the path.[3]
F3	WNW of Midland to Lenorah area[2]	Midland, Martin[2]	2030[2]	30 miles (48.3 km)[2]	About 50 power poles were downed near State Highway 158. The funnel stalled for 20 minutes prior to the resumption of northeast movement. Farm houses were reportedly destroyed northwest of Stanton. In Lenorah, five homes were impacted, but only one home was destroyed. Two or three tornadoes may have been present in this tornado family.[2]
F2	NNW of Midland	Martin	0028	2 miles (3.2 km)	Another tornado touched down and remained over sparsely populated areas.[3] It is not listed as a significant (F2–F5) event by one authority.[2]
Oklahoma
F1	NW of Durant	Bryan	1640	0.01 mile (0.02 km)	20 boat stalls and several boats were mangled.[5]
F4	Cookietown area to SE of Lawton	Cotton, Comanche	2330	21.6 miles (34.8 km)	Four fatalities occurred. Two couples were killed when their homes were destroyed. The swath of F4 damage occurred south of Lawton. About 12 homes were destroyed, and 70 cattle were killed. One car was transported for 100 yards (0.05 miles). Although the vehicle crashed in a pond, the driver was not injured.[2] The tornado completely destroyed several farms.[3] The tornado dissipated southeast of Lawton.[2]
F2	SW of Wynnewood to NW of Macomb	Garvin, McClain, Pottawatomie[2]	2400	30.8 miles (45.6 km)	One of the outbreak's most damaging Oklahoma tornadoes affected Wynnewood and surrounding environs.[6] The tornado originated southwest of Wynnewood and destroyed one barn. Subsequently, the tornado was elevated as it passed through Wynnewood. An oil refinery experienced damage. The funnel destroyed a school, four homes, and several barns southeast of Pauls Valley. The funnel may have remained aloft until it encountered Wanette and destroyed frame buildings.[2][6] The final report of damage was a destroyed barn northwest of Macomb. Official records list a maximum intensity at F2 status, while another source claims that the tornado attained F3 intensity.[2]
F2	Marlow area	Stephens	0300	0.1 mile (0.2 km)
F2	Duncan area	Stephens	0425	2.5 miles (4 km)
Sources: NCDC Storm Events Database, SPC Storm Data, Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: Chronology and Analysis of Events by Thomas P. Grazulis

May 25

List of confirmed tornadoes
F#	Location	County	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Oklahoma
F2	Coleman area	Johnston	0604	1 mile (1.6 km)
F1	S of Steedman to Allen area[2]	Pontotoc, Hughes[2]	0615[2]	11.5 miles (18.5 km)	In Allen, a single home was unroofed and one barn was destroyed. There is a disparity between the ratings of the official database and Thomas P. Grazulis' Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991, of which the latter source lists a designation at F2 intensity.[2]
Sources: NCDC Storm Events Database, SPC Storm Data, Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: Chronology and Analysis of Events by Thomas P. Grazulis

References

• Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1. 

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Tornado History Project. "Tornado Map". http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornadomap.php. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u} Grazulis, p. 1008
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n} Jonathan D. Finch. "The May 24, 1957 Tornado Outbreak". http://www.bangladeshtornadoes.org/UScases/052457/24may1957.html. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Jonathan D. Finch. "Historical Tornado Cases for Lubbock Warning Area". http://bangladeshtornadoes.org/UScasesLBB.html. Retrieved 2009-03-14. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f} U.S. Department of Commerce (1957). Climatological Data: National Summary (May 1957). U.S. Weather Bureau.
6. ^ ^{a b} U.S. Department of Commerce (1957). Oklahoma Climatological Data: May 1957. U.S. Weather Bureau.