The Andover, Kansas Tornado is among the most well-known and publicly filmed tornadoes of the 20th century. It was the most notable tornado of nearly 70 that hit Kansas and Oklahoma on April 26, 1991.
| Table of contents |
|
2 April 26 3 Winds on Film 4 McConnell Air Force Base 5 The Golden Spur Mobile Home Park |
Intro
On April 25, The National Weather Service predicted a high chance of severe weather. In fact, it was a PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) in the middle United States. A strong storm system was due to move through the area tomorrow afternoon.
April 26
April 26 started off as a warm, relatively humid day. For most people that lived in Andover and Wichita, it was just a ordinary Friday, the day before the weekend. The first tornado formed near Anthony, Kansas at around 11:30 A.M. It was a weak tornado.
As the day went on, more tornadoes were being reported. All were nothing compared to what would happen later in the day...
Winds on Film
The biggest tornado with the longest track formed south of Clearwater, Kansas. It then crossed I-35 to Haysville. It retained F2 strength as it slammed into Haysville. No fatalities were reported. The tornado strengthened to F4 as it made a beeline towards the McConnell Air Force Base. Before that it hit the Kansas turnpike.
A news team from a station in Wichita was returning to the station from a story that was unrelated to the tornado. All of the sudden, the tornado appeared out of nowhere as the news team fled. They came up to a bridge underpass. Another family hid under the underpass as well. The cameraman left the camera on as the F4 tornado approached. As the tornado passed over the winds blew wildly, perhaps as fast as 220 mph. It lasted approximately 20 seconds. The tornado then moved on to the McConnell Air Force Base.
Cars and big rigs rolled multiple times and were tossed all over the road. The video footage of the tornado became one of the most played footages of the year. In fact, it was even nominated for an Emmy.
The tornado weakens as it moves northeast into Butler County, Kansas. It dissipates at around 7:30 P.M. seven miles north-northeast of El Dorado, Kansas.
This was the only F5 tornado of the year. It was the 16th F5 tornado to hit in Kansas state history. Seventeen people were killed and 225 were injured.McConnell Air Force Base
Many people had advance warning as the tornado aimed at its next target, the McConnell Air Force Base. The tornado slammed into the school. Even though it only caused $62 million in damage, it just barely missed a pair of billion-dollar B-1 bombers. A few people were injured.The Golden Spur Mobile Home Park
It is now 6:00 P.M. The tornado tops news stories on all the television stations across the area. Some people are returning home and hearing news of the tornado on the radio. The tornado continues on its path as it rolls into the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park at around 6:35 P.M. It is the now F5 on the Fujita Scale. The strongest variety of tornadoes. As it passes through, it obliterates the park. Thirteen people are killed.
