34 Years Ago On This Day

[Cyclenall]

On this day, the most famous and largest tornado outbreak occurred spawning off 148 confirmed tornadoes with 6 F5's and 24 F4 tornadoes which is one of the most incredible weather events ever.





Does anyone know if there are any radar images from the Super Outbreak. I wonder if they were in colour or black and white still.

Links: http://www.april31974.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Outbreak
http://www.xeniatornado.com/

Audio of the Xenia Tornado: http://www.xeniatornado.com/audio.htm

[RL3AO]

There will not be 30 F4/5s in one day anytime this century. Could a day get 150? Sure. With better radars and more spotters we find more F0/1s.

[Ed Mahmoud]

Parker City, IN. I heard the first multiple vortex tornadoes ever confirmed were during this outbreak, and this picture sure catches one.

[Category 5]

I don't think we'll see one like that for a long long time. 6 F5's in one day? You're lucky (or unlucky enough) to maybe get one per year.

Everything came together that day, and the result was unspeakable violence.




May the over 300 people who died that day rest in peace.

[CrazyC83]

It is quite likely there were more than 148 tornadoes - my guess is over 200, since there were likely a lot more tornadoes (most F0 or F1) that were not reported as there was far less in the way of chasers and radar to find storms.

[jasons2k]

Never say never.

[CrazyC83]

Never say never.

So true. It is obviously possible (if it happened once, it can happen again). The way this year has gone, we might see Super Outbreak II this spring.

[Brent]

I think(or at least hope) the Super Tuesday outbreak will be the worst one this year.

[MiamiensisWx]

The 1960s-1970s were definitely one of the most impressive decades on the political and meteorological stage. Famous societal terms were joined by "Super Outbreak", "[Cyclone] Tracy", and "[Hurricane] Camille". There was the February 1978 blizzard in the Northeast. There was the worst tropical cyclone-related disaster on the other side of the world in 1970. There was the 1971 Delta outbreak. There was a significant 1970-1971 drought in southern Florida, though I don't believe it was among the worst and most extensive ones in the state's history. Betsy became one of the first tropical cyclones to inflict more than $1 billion in damages across the United States. There was one of the strongest recorded La Nina events in 1973-1974. If the Atlantic featured a +AMO, some active seasons would have definitely occurred in the 1970s. Hurricane Faith maintained tropical characteristics further north than any recorded system in the 1960s, though the TC likely became extratropical much earlier than indicated in HURDAT. Hurricane David killed many residents in the Domican Republic. There are many other notable meteorological events from these decades, but I can't recall them.

[senorpepr]

It could happen tomorrow...

[baygirl_1]

I don't remember the outbreak as I was too young, but my oldest sister was living in Cincinnati at that time. One of the tornadoes went thru their apt. complex, but missed their building. When she talks about it, I can tell how scared she must have been while hiding in the closet. She just barely made it home before the tornado. She said that as she was driving into the complex she was afraid the hail was going to shatter her windshield. I cannot imagine! I hope it is a very long time (perhaps forever) before another such event happens.

[Cyclenall]

I hope it is a very long time (perhaps forever) before another such event happens.

A once in forever event would be pretty impressive!

[tomboudreau]

Not sure if anyone knows this, but there was a book written about this Outbreak. The book actually centered around Limestone County, but it had a chapter completely set aside to Dr. Fujita. The book is called F5, and it is written by Mark Levine. It has first hand accounts from survivors of this tornado outbreak. I found it in my local Barnes and Noble, and I could not put the book down until I finished it. It might be one of the best books that I have ever read about a natural disaster. If you are into tornadoes and especially historical tornado outbreaks, this is a must read.

http://www.amazon.com/F5-Devastation-Survival-Violent-Outbreak/dp/1401352200/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207365859&sr=8-1

[Category 5]

Not sure if anyone knows this, but there was a book written about this Outbreak. The book actually centered around Limestone County, but it had a chapter completely set aside to Dr. Fujita. The book is called F5, and it is written by Mark Levine. It has first hand accounts from survivors of this tornado outbreak. I found it in my local Barnes and Noble, and I could not put the book down until I finished it. It might be one of the best books that I have ever read about a natural disaster. If you are into tornadoes and especially historical tornado outbreaks, this is a must read.

http://www.amazon.com/F5-Devastation-Survival-Violent-Outbreak/dp/1401352200/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207365859&sr=8-1

I just finished it recently, it's a great read.