June 20–23, 1957 tornado outbreak sequence

A deadly and destructive outbreak sequence[nb 1] of 23 tornadoes struck parts of the Great Plains and the Great Lakes in late-July 1957. At least seven significant tornadoes (F2+) touched down during the outbreak sequence, including a large, violent, and catastrophic 500-yard-wide F5 tornado family that struck Fargo, North Dakota on Thursday, June 20, 1957. The outbreak caused 11 fatalities, 105 injuries, and $25.883 million in damage.

June 20–23, 1957 tornado outbreak sequence
Remains of homes destroyed by the F5 tornado.
TypeTornado outbreak sequence
DurationJune 20–23, 1957
Lowest pressure998 mb (29.47 inHg)
Tornadoes confirmed23
Max. rating1F5 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak24 days
Highest winds
  • 115 mph (185 km/h)
    (Downtown Kansas City)
Largest hail4.5 in (11 cm)
(northeast of Fort Stockton, Texas)
Damage$25.883 million (1957 USD)[1]
Casualties11 fatalities, 105 injuries
Areas affectedGreat Plains, Great Lakes

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

Meteorological Synopsis

On June 20, 1957, a combination of strong instability and vertical wind shear, high storm-relative helicity (SRH), favorable storm-relative flow (SRF), and lowered lifted condensation levels (LCLs) set up over the High Plains. Boundary-layer moisture was also present, which was enhanced via evapotranspiration (ET) and moisture convergence. A shortwave ridge then centered itself over the region and, despite only modest forcing, a trough spawned a low-pressure area over Southwestern North Dakota. It then moved northeastward into the central part of the state, where temperatures and dewpoints were in the lower 80s and lower 70s respectfully. Although bulk shear was not quite high enough to support long-tracked supercells, meteorologist did indicate that an outbreak of severe thunderstorms along with a significant to violent tornado or two was possible.

That afternoon, a thunderstorm complex over Devil's Lake, North Dakota produced an outflow boundary that further enhanced the low-level convergence zone in Eastern North Dakota and Western Minnesota. An isolated supercell formed in the warm sector of the low pressure system and took advantage of this favorable environment, dropping five tornadoes, including the F5 tornado in Fargo (although the tornado family has been listed as one tornado). Four other tornadoes were confirmed on that day, although most were brief, but some were strong as well.[3]

Confirmed tornadoes
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 9 7 5 1 0 1 23

June 20 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, June 20, 1957[nb 2][nb 3]
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary Refs
F2 S of Oake Dickey ND 46.1°N 98.1°W / 46.1; -98.1 (Oake (June 20, F2)) 00:30–? 2 miles (3.2 km) 30 yards (27 m) Damages were estimated at $25,000 (1957 USD). Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. [5][6][7]
F0 SSE of Warren Cass ND 46.7°N 97°W / 46.7; -97 (Warren (June 20, F0)) 00:30–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Brief tornado occurred southwest of Fargo, North Dakota with little to no damage. [8][9]
F5 Wheatland to Fargo to S of Winnepig Junction, MN Cass (ND), Clay (MN) ND, MN 46.9°N 97.35°W / 46.9; -97.35 (Wheatland (June 20, F5)) 00:40–04:10 52.4 miles (84.3 km) 500 yards (460 m) 10 deaths – See section on this tornado – Later analysis has determined that this was a family of at least five tornadoes. The death toll may be 12. 103 people were injured and damages were estimated at $25.250 million (1957 USD). [10][11][12]
[13][14]
F0 Southern Fergus Falls Otter Tail MN 46.27°N 96.08°W / 46.27; -96.08 (Bernice (June 20, F0)) 01:30–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) The amount of damage is unknown. [15][16]
F2 WNW of Ashton Spink SD 45.02°N 98.63°W / 45.02; -98.63 (Ashton (June 20, F2)) 04:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) 1 death – A mobile home, four barns, and a residence were destroyed or unroofed. Damages were estimated at $25,000 (1957 USD). [17][18][14]

June 21 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, June 21, 1957[nb 2][nb 3]
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary Refs
F1 SSW of Holyoke Yuma CO 40.4°N 102.45°W / 40.4; -102.45 (Holyoke (June 21, F1)) 08:15–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Damages were estimated at $2,500 (1957 USD). [19][20]
F3 Waco to Utica York NE 40.9°N 97.47°W / 40.9; -97.47 (Waco (June 21, F3)) 00:15–? 5.4 miles (8.7 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) An intense tornado moved eastward between the towns of Waco and Utica, destroying or damaging barns and outbuildings on 16 farms. Damages was estimated at $250,000 (1957 USD). Downbursts produced a 3-mile-wide (4.8 km) swath of damage as well. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. [21][22][23]
F1 Bellwood Butler NE 41.35°N 97.32°W / 41.35; -97.32 (Bellwood (June 21, F1)) 00:30–? 1 mile (1.6 km) 100 yards (91 m) Damages were estimated at $250 (1957 USD). [24][25]
F0 Northern Valparaiso Saunders NE 41.10°N 96.83°W / 41.10; -96.83 (Northern Valparaiso (June 21, F0)) 00:52–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Damages were estimated at $30 (1957 USD). [26][27]
F0 ESE of Norway Republic KS 39.70°N 97.75°W / 39.70; -97.75 (Norway (June 21, F0)) 02:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) The amount of damage is unknown. [28][29]
F1 Western Hutchinson Reno KS 38.07°N 97.98°W / 38.07; -97.98 (Western Hutchison (June 21, F1)) 03:14–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) A trucking terminal was unroofed and a man may have been killed as a result. Widespread downbursts obscured the distinction between tornado and downburst damage and damage estimates are unknown as well. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. [23][30][31]
F0 NNW of Benton to ESE of Hurley Sedgwick KS 37.83°N 97.15°W / 37.83; -97.15 (Benton (June 21, F0)) 04:09–? 2.3 miles (3.7 km) 100 yards (91 m) Tornado caused $2,500 (1957 USD) in damage to farmlands. [32][33]
F1 E of De Soto to Zarah to S of Lake Quivera Johnson KS 38.98°N 94.93°W / 38.98; -94.93 (De Soto (June 21, F1)) 05:30–? 9 miles (14 km) 400 yards (370 m) A destructive tornado moved directly through Zarah, west of Shawnee in the western suburbs of Kansas City. It injured two people and caused $250,000 (1957 USD) in damage. [34][35]

June 22 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, June 22, 1957[nb 2][nb 3]
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary Refs
F2 Southern Kansas City to Birmingham to Liberty Jackson MO 39°N 94.58°W / 39; -94.58 (Southern Kansas City (June 22, F2)) 06:00–? 19.8 miles (31.9 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) A strong tornado moved through the eastern side of Kansas City, causing $250 (1957 USD) in damage. [36][37]
F0 Southern Albert Lea Freeborn MN 43.62°N 93.37°W / 43.62; -93.37 (Southern Albert Lea (June 22, F0)) 16:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) A brief tornado caused little to no damage. [38][39]
F2 Hudsonville Ottawa MI 42.87°N 85.87°W / 42.87; -85.87 (Hudsonville (June 22, F2)) 21:30–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Major damage occurred in Downtown Hudsonville from this brief, but strong tornado. Businesses and homes were damaged or destroyed and trees were downed. Damage was estimated at $25,000 (1957 USD). This came just over one year after an F5 tornado caused major damage on the south side of town. [40][41]
F1 Eau Claire to SW of Decatur Ottawa, Cass MI 41.98°N 86.3°W / 41.98; -86.3 (Eau Claire (June 22, F1)) 22:05–? 10.7 miles (17.2 km) 50 yards (46 m) This tornado moved directly through Eau Claire, causing $25,000 (1957 USD) in damage. [42][43]
F0 Dumont Lake Allegan MI 42.6°N 85.87°W / 42.6; -85.87 (Dumont Lake (June 22, F0)) 22:10–? 1 mile (1.6 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Weak tornado passed near Dumont Lake, causing $30 (1957 USD) in damage. [44][45]
F2 Southwestern Bay City Bay MI 43.58°N 83.92°W / 43.58; -83.92 (Bay City (June 22, F2)) 00:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Brief, but strong tornado caused heavy destruction southwest of Bay City, totaling $25,000 (1957 USD) in damage. [46][47]
F1 SSW of Campo Baca CO 37.07°N 102.67°W / 37.07; -102.67 (Campo (June 22, F1)) 03:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Brief tornado touchdown in the West Ute Canyon, causing $250 (1957 USD) in damage. [48][49]
F0 N of Denver City to S of Plains Yoakum TX 33.07°N 102.83°W / 33.07; -102.83 (Denver City (June 22, F0)) 04:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Little to no damage occurred. [50][51]
F1 Finney Hale TX 34.28°N 101.7°W / 34.28; -101.7 (Finney (June 22, F1)) 04:18–? 0.5 miles (0.80 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) A tornado struck the town of Finney north of Plainview and Seth Ward, causing $2,500 (1957 USD) damage. [52][53]

June 23 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, June 23, 1957[nb 2][nb 3]
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary Refs
F0 Copeland Gray KS 37.55°N 100.62°W / 37.55; -100.62 (Copeland (June 21, F0)) 08:15–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Tornado touched down just northeast of Copeland, barely missing the town and causing little to no damage. [54][55]

Wheatland—Fargo, North Dakota/Moorhead–Hawley, Minnesota
Wheatland—Fargo, North Dakota/Moorhead–Hawley, Minnesota
F5 tornado
Max. rating1F5 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak23.5 hours
Damage$25.250 million (1957 USD)
$236 million (2021 USD)
Casualties10 fatalities, 103 injuries
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado
Main article: Fargo tornado

A violent F5 tornado family tore directly through Downtown Fargo, killing 10 and injuring 103. The supercell produced the first tornado at 5:40 PM CDT near Wheatland, North Dakota. The weak F0 tornado moved east-northeast, tossing haybales and damaging crops. After 11 miles (18 km), the tornado lifted and another tornado touched down just to its south. It struck the town of Casselton at F2 intensity, causing major damage. After traveling 5 miles (8.0 km) the tornado lifted and supercell continued to the east for about 10 miles (16 km) without producing a tornado, although a consistent wall cloud was present.[3]

As it neared Fargo, the cell dropped another tornado over West Fargo. As it traveled east, it began to rapidly intensify, grew to 500 yards (460 m), and became violent as it struck Fargo. Numerous homes, businesses, and vehicles were damaged and destroyed. One neighborhood had multiple homes that were completely swept away and all 10 fatalities occurred here. Damage at this location was rated F5. The tornado then weakened, but remained strong as it crossed the Red River into Moorhead, Minnesota, damaging more building and homes. The tornado then turned sharply north and dissipated after being on the ground for 9 miles (14 km) and injuring 103. After continuing another 5 miles (8.0 km), the supercell dropped a fourth tornado, which quickly became a violent F4 storm as it moved eastward through Glyndon. It then turned northeastward, and produced significant tree damage along the Buffalo River before completely destroying a family farm. Significant damage was observed on a second farm before the abruptly turned north and dissipated after traveling 10 miles (16 km). The cell traveled about 5 miles (8.0 km), before dropping one final F3 tornado in Dale. It traveled for 7 miles (11 km), destroying a family farm as it occluded northward. A clock inside the residence stopped at 9:05 PM CDT, when the tornado struck. The tornado dissipated five minutes later at 9:10 PM CDT.[3][56]

The family of tornadoes traveled a total 52.4 miles (84.3 km), was 500 yards (460 m) wide at its peak, and was rated F5 when the Fujita scale came into effect in 1973. Although numerous studies indicate that this was a tornado family, it is officially listed as one continuous tornado. A total of 10 people were killed and 103 others were injured with all the casualties occurring in Fargo, although some sources list the death toll as 12. Damage was estimated $25.25 million (1957 USD).[11][12][13]

Non-tornadic impacts

Along with tornadoes, numerous reports of strong winds and large hail occurred during the period. June 20 saw baseball-sized hail south of Valley City in Barnes County, North Dakota.[57] Later, a 94 mph (151 km/h) wind gust was recorded just southeast of Ruskin Park, South Dakota.[58] The next day, a 100 mph (160 km/h) wind gust was recorded just northwest of Castleton, Kansas.[59] Just after midnight on June 22 in the Kansas City metropolitan area, an 92 mph (148 km/h) was recorded in Parkville, Missouri.[60] The strongest winds from the event was actually in Downtown Kansas City, where wind gusts reached as high as 115 mph (185 km/h).[61] The next day, a massive 4.5 in (11 cm) hailstone was documented northeast of Fort Stockton, Texas, the largest from the event.[62]

See also

Notes
  1. An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.[2]
  2. All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
  3. Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[4]

    References
    1. National Weather Service (March 2020). Events reported between 06/20/1957 and 06/23/1957 (4 days). Storm Events Database (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
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    3. Shultz, Chauncy J.; Kellenbenz, David J.; Finch, Jonathan (2011). Written at North Platte, Nebraska. NOAA/NWS (ed.). "THE FARGO F5 TORNADO OF 20 JUNE 1957: HISTORICAL RE-ANALYSIS AND OVERVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS" (PDF). National Weather Digest. Norman, Oklahoma: National Weather Association. 35 (1): 33–43. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
    4. Brooks, Harold E. (April 2004). "On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity". Weather and Forecasting. Boston: American Meteorological Society. 19 (2): 310. Bibcode:2004WtFor..19..310B. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
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