Andover, Winfield and Red Rock Tornadoes, April 26, 1991
a date of some personal significance to me -- 24 years ago today, I witnessed the Red Rock, stopped along I-35 around a mile south of where it crossed I-35, had it in excellent view for about 30 minutes, from fairly early in its development as a distinct but not big elephant trunk about 10 miles west of the highway until it receded from view as a large wedge about 10 miles east of the highway
as this year's anniversary approached and the experience once again came to mind, took a fresh look on YouTube and found a number of videos (including the only video I've ever seen of the Winfield) which I'd seen soon after but not since and had assumed were just lost to pre-YouTube time/availability -- and to boot, also found a couple of other videos I had not seen before
all three tornadoes were close to the edge of the envelope, at least F5 (surface-level winds up to 318 mph) in strength -- and all three were in progress at the same time, in three separate discrete supercells which initiated in what were the remarkably loaded atmospheric conditions -- the Andover the most notorious/damaging, yet (fortunately) the smallest, northernmost of the three -- the Winfield, the least known but (a very big) biggest, in the middle about 40 miles south of the Andover -- and the Red Rock, the one I saw, southernmost about 40 miles south of the Winfield
particular related linkings to go with the (linked in) the post to which this is a reply and preceding and (any future other) following -- (linked in):
This was live coverage of the Andover, KS Outbreak by TWC on Friday 4/26/91. This was a violent outbreak of 55 tornadoes, killing 24 people and injuring hundreds more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQrKUEL6wq4 [with comments] [the shots of the radar image (which was probably 20 or more minutes old at the time of broadcast) beginning at the 4:30 mark, and (same radar image) even better starting at the 6:00 mark, clearly show the three supercells, in the moment -- that's right where they were, all three with their tornadoes then ongoing at their respective extreme southwest extents (see the next video below for a better look, at closer range, at how that worked with the crude older-generation radars of the time, which basically lacked the resolution to really much even see hooks beyond very close range) -- the Andover supercell under/extending to the northeast from the T in ICT (Wichita); the Winfield just along the north side of the Kansas/Oklahoma border; and the Red Rock south to southwest of the P in PNC (Ponca City)]
Video footage of the Andover Tornado which occured on April 26, 1991. This segment of video was shot while the tornado was still on McConnell AFB in Wichita Kansas. The same tornado went on to Andover where many fatalities occurred.
Amateur video of one of the most recognizeable tornados of the 20th century - the Wichita/Andover Kansas tornado of April 26th, 1991. This video was shot as the tornado tracked across McConnell AFB, minutes before it destroyed a large portion of Andover. It also includes some very interesting post-tornado video, taken just after everyone came out from shelter.
F5 Tornado hits Andover Kansas April 26, 1991. This is my never before seen original video. (Note-Time on clock is 3 hours slow) This video shows 9 minutes in the life cycle of a deadly F5 tornado. The tape ends about one minute before the tornado destroys a large portion of Andover Kansas and completely wipes out the Golden Spur Mobile home park, killing 13 and causing many injuries. At about the 3:00 minute mark you can see it go into a multiple vortex stage followed by the formation of a large wedge tornado. My video of the aftermath [next video below] is linked in the video responses found below.
This is a video of the F5 tornado that hit Andover, Kansas on April 26, 1991. This is the tornado at maximum strength. Yes, it was actually moving that fast. This is some very scary footage!
This is a video clip from the DVD program "Storm Chase 1990-1992 by Robert Prentice."
This is a damage survey of the devastating F5 tornado damage at the Andover, Kansas Golden Spur Mobile Home Park shot on April 27, 1991. This internationally famous event has been featured in many documentary and news programs. Oddities include mangled cars, de-barked trees and a bent spoon embedded into the ground. Some scenes contain flattened homes as far as the eye can see. Sobering video that forces us to remember the human toll tornadoes sometime take.
April 26, 1991: Four people were killed in a housing development east of Wichita after the tornado had left McConnell AFB. At Andover, 84 frame homes 14 businesses were destroyed. Thirteen people were killed as 223 of 241 mobile homes in a trailer park were destroyed. The most remarkable shot in this entire video presentation may be the person strolling calmly along with a dog as the police warned of a deadly tornado heading directly toward the town.
A list of Wichita-Andover tornado videos:
Video 1 - by Tim Marshall near Clearwater Video 2 - by Joe Harris at Haysville Video 3 - by Jon Davies near the KS turnpike, south of Wichita Video 4 - by Mike Lloyd, south of Wichita Video 5 - by Michelle Prichard, SE of Wichita (as seen on Nat Geo's NATURE'S FURY) Video 6 - by unknown airman, supplied by USAF Video 7 - by Andover Police from a special report by KSNW-TV Video 8 - by Regan Koch at Andover
A compilation of videos that were taken of the Wichita/Andover Kansas Tornado of April 26th, 1991. This segment originally aired on KWCH-TV on Saturday, May 4th 1991 and features the ever-popular Susan Peters, who is still anchoring news broadcasts in Wichita today.
This is the beginning of the Red Rock Tornado from 4/26/1991. It started just SW of Billings OK. We were looking SW initially then watched as it went S and then SE of us. Later we caught back up with it just after it crossed I-35. I processed it in HD just to get all of the quality I could.
1991 April 26 Red Rock, Oklahoma Tornado (part 1 of 3)
Uploaded on May 12, 2007 by RobertPrentice
This is a video clip from the DVD program "Storm Chase 1990-1992 by Robert Prentice."
This violent F4 tornado was shot from the junction of Oklahoma Highway 15 and I-35 (mile marker 203) in Noble County, Oklahoma. The tornado crossed I-35 over mile marker 200, bending the sign over. This is perhaps my most famous video segment and brief clips have been featured in numerous documentaries. Be sure to see clips 2 and 3 of this tornado as well.
1991 April 26 Red Rock, Oklahoma Tornado (part 2 of 3)
Uploaded on May 12, 2007 by RobertPrentice
This is a video clip from the DVD program "Storm Chase 1990-1992 by Robert Prentice."
This F4 tornado was shot from I-35 in Noble County, Oklahoma between mile marker 203 and 200. This is perhaps my most famous video segment and brief clips have been featured in numerous documentaries.
The first parked scene was shot from the junction of I-35 (mile marker 203) and Oklahoma Highway 15. The remainder was shot while driving southbound to where the tornado crossed I-35 at mile marker 200.
My chase partners and I caught up to the Red Rock tornado again one hour (and 35 miles) later at Fairfax, OK (see part 3 of 3).
1991 April 26 Red Rock Tornado at Fairfax, OK (part 3 of 3)
Uploaded on May 12, 2007 by RobertPrentice
This is a video clip from the DVD program "Storm Chase 1990-1992 by Robert Prentice."
This rain-wrapped tornado was shot from Oklahoma Highway 18, a mile or two south-southwest of Fairfax, Oklahoma. It is a continuation of the long-track Red Rock, Oklahoma tornado (see parts 1 and 2). The tornado lasted approximately 90 minutes grand total which is a very long time for one tornado.
Val Castor, StormTracker for KWTV News 9, captured this tornado on film on April 26, 1991, and as a result, was hired by Chief Meteorologist Gary England making him the first storm chaser ever hired by the station. Rated an F4, this tornado was on the ground for 66 miles and had a damage path 1500 yards wide at times. The location was 3 E Garber - 5 SE Billings - 9 WNW Pawhuska. Six people were injured in this tornado, however there were no fatalities.
Footage of the April 26, 1991 Red Rock, OK tornado as it passes near Highway 77, east of I-35. At this point, it was a very intense F5 tornado with exceptionally fast motions. Our photographer is struck from the west by very strong RFD (rear flank downdraft) winds and hail as the tornado passes to the north.
Footage in this promo is copyrighted and may not be used without permission. Licensing is available from StormStock at http://www.stormstock.com
This is a video of the Red Rock, Oklahoma tornado that occurred on April 26, 1991. This footage is different from the other Red Rock clips I've seen on YouTube. It was shot by a news crew that included meteorologist Gary Shore (who almost gets his glasses blown away). At one point the cameraman gets a close-up shot of debris swirling around the funnel. In a couple of sections in this clip you will see Howard Bluestein and his chase team attempting to set up their mobile Doppler radar. At the end of the clip is a short segment showing some of the damage caused by this tornado.
The distortion that is sometimes present in the audio was in the tape this was captured from.
Footage shot by cinematographer Martin Lisius from the April 26, 1991 Red Rock, Oklahoma tornado as it crosses Interstate 35, destroying a house and wedging a cow beneath a guardrail.
Footage in this promo is copyrighted and may not be used without permission. Licensing is available from StormStock at http://www.stormstock.com