1966 Topeka tornado

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Early June 1966 Tornado Outbreak Sequence
A photograph of the F5 Topeka, Kansas tornado passing by
A photograph of the F5 Topeka, Kansas tornado passing by
Date of tornado outbreak: June 3-12
Duration1: ~11 days
Maximum rated tornado2: F5 tornado
Tornadoes caused: 59
Damages: ≥$104.639 million (1966 USD) ≥$694.79 million (2008 USD)
Fatalities: 18
Areas affected: Most of the Great Plains and parts of the Eastern United States

1Time from first tornado to last tornado
2Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita Scale


The Early June 1966 Tornado Outbreak Sequence was a series of tornado outbreaks which occurred between June 2 and 12. 59 tornadoes were confirmed during the 11 day span which left 18 people dead and 543 injured.

Outbreak death toll
State Total County County
total
Kansas 17 Leavenworth 1
Shawnee 16
Illinois 1 Cook 1
Totals 18
All deaths were tornado-related

Contents

[edit] Topeka, Kansas tornado

Damage path of the 1966 Topeka Tornado
Damage path of the 1966 Topeka Tornado
Damage in SW Topeka
Damage in SW Topeka

On June 8, 1966, Topeka, Kansas was struck by an F5 rated tornado. It started on the southwest side of town, moving northeast, passing over a local landmark named Burnetts Mound. According to a local Native American legend, this mound was thought to protect the city from tornadoes [1]. It went on to rip through the city, hitting the downtown area and Washburn University. Total dollar cost was put at $100 million making it, at the time, one of the costliest tornadoes in history. That is $658.65 million in 2008 dollars making it the 6th costliest tornado in the U.S. 820 homes were destroyed and 3000 damaged. 250 businesses were destroyed and 2330 damaged including a major shopping center. 330 of the damaged homes and businesses suffered major damage and the other 5000 received lesser damages. Hundreds of apartments were destroyed and most of the Washburn University of Law and Phillip Billard Municipal Airport were affected. Many government buildings, public buildings, other structures and much other property were damaged or destroyed.

[edit] Confirmed tornadoes

  • 6 Tornadoes were confirmed but were not given and F-Scale intensity.
Confirmed
Total		 Confirmed
F0		 Confirmed
F1		 Confirmed
F2		 Confirmed
F3		 Confirmed
F4		 Confirmed
F5
59 13 17 18 2 2 1

[edit] June 2 event

List of reported tornadoes - Friday, June 3, 1966
F#
County
Coord.
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
South Dakota
F? Aurora 43°54′N 98°54′W / 43.9, -98.9 2300 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported. Tornado was confirmed but was not given an F-Scale intensity.
F0 Yankton 42°54′N 97°24′W / 42.9, -97.4 0200 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
Sources:

[2], [3]

[edit] June 4 event

List of reported tornadoes - Saturday, June 4, 1966
F#
County
Coord.
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Colorado
F0 Logan 40°56′N 103°11′W / 40.93, -103.18 2300 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
Wisconsin
F2 Oconto 45°01′N 88°23′W / 45.02, -88.38 0100 5.4 miles (8.7 km) Tornado caused $2,500 in damages. First of the F2 triplet tornadoes in Oconto County.
F2 Oconto 44°57′N 88°20′W / 44.95, -88.33 0100 4.9 miles (7.9 km) Tornado caused $2,500 in damages. Second of the F2 triplet tornadoes in Oconto County.
F2 Oconto 44°53′N 88°18′W / 44.88, -88.3 0100 4.7 miles (7.6 km) Tornado caused $2,500 in damages. Last of the F2 triplet tornadoes in Oconto County.
Nebraska
F? Morrill 41°44′N 102°52′W / 41.73, -102.87 0148 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
South Dakota
F2 Gregory 43°14′N 99°26′W / 43.23, -99.43 330 1 mile (1.6 km) Brief touchdown. 1.5 mile wide tornado caused $250,000 in damages.

[edit] June 5 event

List of reported tornadoes - Sunday, June 5, 1966
F#
County
Coord.
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Nebraska
F2 Boone 41°42′N 98°10′W / 41.7, -98.17 0608 0.7 miles (1.1 km) 1 Injury Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
F? Madison <span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "?" 97°36′00″W">Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "?" 97°36′00″W / 41.?, -97.6 0612 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported. Tornado was confirmed but was not given an F-Scale intensity.
Minnesota
F0 Pipestone 43°58′N 96°05′W / 43.97, -96.08 1200 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, caused $2,500 in damages.
Oklahoma
F0 Baine 35°51′N 98°28′W / 35.85, -98.47 2300 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
F2 Kay 36°50′N 97°24′W / 36.83, -97.4 2350 2.5 miles (4.0 km) 1 Injury Caused $250,000 in damages.
F0 Garfield 36°29′N 97°53′W / 36.48, -97.88 0030 4.3 miles (6.9 km) No damage reported. First of four tornadoes to hit Garfield County in only 30 minutes.
F1 Grant 36°40′N 97°37′W / 36.67, -97.62 0030 1.4 miles (2.3 km) Quarter-mile-wide tornado caused $2,500 in damages.
F2 Garfield 36°28′N 97°53′W / 36.47, -97.88 0035 0.1 miles (0.2 km) 6 Injuries Brief touchdown, caused $250,000 in damages. Second of four tornadoes to hit Garfield County in only 30 minutes.
F0 Garfield 36°18′N 98°06′W / 36.3, -98.1 0055 3.8 miles (6.1 km) Caused $25,000 in damages. Third of four tornadoes to hit Garfield County in only 30 minutes.
F1 Garfield 36°22′N 97°54′W / 36.37, -97.9 0100 5.7 miles (9.2 km) Caused $250,000 in damages. Last of four tornadoes to hit Garfield County in only 30 minutes.
Missouri
F1 Gentry 40°14′N 94°17′W / 40.23, -94.28 0000 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, caused $2,500 in damages.
Iowa
F2 Linn 42°17′N 91°30′W / 42.28, -91.5 0430 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no reported damage.

[edit] June 6 event

List of reported tornadoes - Monday, June 6, 1966
F#
County
Coord.
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Kentucky
F2 McCracken, Madison 36°58′N 88°37′W / 36.97, -88.62 1800 18.5 miles (29.8 km) 2 Injuries Long track tornado, caused $25,000 in damages.
Florida
F1 Pinellas 27°55′N 82°45′W / 27.92, -82.75 2030 0.3 miles (0.5 km) 1 Injury Brief touchdown, caused $250,000 in damages.

[edit] June 7 event

List of reported tornadoes - Tuesday, June 7, 1966
F#
County
Coord.
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Kansas
F? Wallace 38°51′N 101°42′W / 38.85, -101.7 2310 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported. Tornado was confirmed but was not given an F-Scale intensity.
F0 McPherson 38°12′N 97°31′W / 38.2, -97.52 2330 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, caused $2,500 in damages.
F? Ellis 38°47′N 99°29′W / 38.78, -99.48 0100 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, caused $25,000 in damages. Tornado was confirmed but was not given an F-Scale intensity.
Missouri
F0 Stoddard 37°06′N 89°55′W / 37.1, -89.92 2330 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, caused $250,000 in damages.
Oklahoma
F0 Ellis 37°06′N 89°55′W / 37.1, -89.92 0000 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.

[edit] June 8 event

List of reported tornadoes - Wednesday, June 8, 1966
F#
County
Coord.
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Florida
F0 Miami-Dade 25°45′N 80°15′W / 25.75, -80.25 1200 4.9 miles (7.9 km) No damage reported.
F1 Miami-Dade 25°36′N 80°18′W / 25.6, -80.3 1700 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
Kansas
F0 Rice 38°15′N 98°24′W / 38.25, -98.4 2118 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
F2 Clay 39°08′N 97°09′W / 39.13, -97.15 2337 8.9 miles (14.3 km) Caused $25,000 in damages.
F3 Riley 39°04′N 96°46′W / 39.07, -96.77 0000 13.8 miles (22.2 km) 50 Injuries Enormous 1.2 mile wide tornado, caused $2.5 million in damages.
F5 Shawnee 38°55′N 95°55′W / 38.92, -95.92 0100 21.1 miles (34.0 km) 16 Deaths 450 Injuries See section on this tornado
F2 Leavenworth 39°14′N 95°02′W / 39.23, -95.03 0115 8.2 miles (13.2 km) Caused $25,000 in damages. First of two tornadoes to hit Leavenworth County.
F4 Leavenworth 39°10′N 95°11′W / 39.17, -95.18 0200 19.9 miles (32.0 km) 1 Death 2 Injuries Caused $250,000 in damages. Second of two tornadoes to hit Leavenworth County.
Oklahoma
F1 Caddo 35°29′N 98°24′W / 35.48, -98.4 2330 0.5 miles (0.8 km) Brief touchdown, caused $25,00 in damages.
F0 Washita 35°18′N 98°48′W / 35.3, -98.8 0000 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
F0 Caddo 35°10′N 98°12′W / 35.17, -98.2 0120 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.

[edit] June 9 event

List of reported tornadoes - Thursday, June 9, 1966
F#
County
Coord.
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Illinois
F0 Cook 42°06′N 88°01′W / 42.1, -88.02 1110 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
F2 Cook 42°06′N 88°01′W / 42.1, -88.02 1115 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
F2 Cook 42°06′N 87°56′W / 42.1, -87.93 1120 2.5 miles (4.0 km) 1 Death 30 Injuries Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
Florida
F1 Jackson 30°48′N 85°14′W / 30.8, -85.23 1200 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
F? Jackson 30°48′N 85°14′W / 30.8, -85.23 1605 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported. Tornado was confirmed but was not given an F-Scale intensity.
Michigan
F2 Barry 42°15′N 85°23′W / 42.25, -85.38 1400 2 miles (3.2 km) Brief touchdown, caused $250,000 in damages.
New York
F0 Erie 42°38′N 78°33′W / 42.63, -78.55 2200 1 mile (1.6 km) Brief touchdown, caused $2,500 in damages.

[edit] June 10 event

List of reported tornadoes - Friday, June 10, 1966
F#
County
Coord.
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Texas
F2 Swisher 34°21′N 101°44′W / 34.35, -101.73 0130 36.9 miles (59.4 km) Long track tornado, no damage reported.
F1 Swisher 34°21′N 101°44′W / 34.35, -101.73 0130 2 miles (3.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
F0 Swisher 34°39′N 101°30′W / 34.65, -101.5 0130 2 miles (3.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.

[edit] June 11 event

List of reported tornadoes - Saturday, June 11, 1966
F#
County
Coord.
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Minnesota
F1 Minnesota 47°11′N 95°55′W / 47.18, -95.92 2115 1.9 miles (3.1 km) Brief touchdown, caused $25,000 in damages.
F4 Crow Wing, Cass 46°38′N 94°22′W / 46.63, -94.37 2300 72.8 miles (117.2 km) Very long track half-mile-wide tornado, caused $250,000 in damages.
Iowa
F2 Polk 41°34′N 93°33′W / 41.57, -93.55 2345 12.2 miles (19.6 km) Caused $25,000 in damages.
F2 Mitchell 43°23′N 92°54′W / 43.38, -92.9 0100 1 mile (1.6 km) Brief touchdown, caused $25,000 in damages.
F1 Marshall 41°50′N 92°58′W / 41.83, -92.97 0145 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
F2 Boone 42°05′N 93°52′W / 42.08, -93.87 0230 2 miles (3.2 km) Brief touchdown, caused $25,000 in damages.
F1 Story 42°12′N 93°24′W / 42.2, -93.4 0300 2 miles (3.2 km) Brief touchdown, caused $25,000 in damages.

[edit] June 12 event

List of reported tornadoes - Sunday, June 12, 1966
F#
County
Coord.
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Kansas
F1 Douglas 39°03′N 95°27′W / 39.05, -95.45 2201 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
Missouri
F0 Clay 39°18′N 94°31′W / 39.3, -94.52 2245 0.1 miles (0.2 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.
F1 Monroe 39°31′N 92°10′W / 39.52, -92.17 2330 0.2 miles (0.3 km) Brief touchdown, caused $250 in damages.
Texas
F3 Denton 33°18′N 97°00′W / 33.3, -97.0 0045 3.6 miles (5.8 km) Brief touchdown, no damage reported.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

v • d • e
10 costliest US tornadoes
Rank Area affected Date Damage 1 Adjusted Damage 2
1 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma May 3, 1999 1000 963
2 Wichita Falls, Texas April 10, 1979 400 884
3 Omaha, Nebraska May 6, 1975 250 745
4 Lubbock, Texas Tornado May 11, 1970 135 558
5 Topeka, Kansas Tornado June 8, 1966 100 494
6 Windsor Locks/Poquonock, Connecticut October 3, 1979 200 442
7 St. Louis-East St. Louis Tornado May 27, 1896 12 380
8 Xenia, Ohio April 3, 1974 100 325
9 North-central Georgia March 31, 1973 89 321
10 Worcester, MA June 9, 1953 52 311
Source: Brooks, Harold E.; C.A. Doswell (Feb 2001). "Normalized Damage from Major Tornadoes in the United States: 1890–1999". Weather and Forecasting 16 (1): 168-76. American Meteorological Society.  3
1. These are the unadjusted damage totals in millions of US dollars.
2. Raw damage totals adjusted for inflation, in thousands of 1997 USD.
3. Search of NCDC Storm Data indicates no tornadoes since 1999 have caused more than $210 million in damage, so this source is up-to-date.