The tornado outbreak of June 8, 1995 was a severe and localized outbreak that struck the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma, on June 8, 1995. It is most well known for the tornado that hit Pampa, along with the Allison F4, the Kellerville F4, and the Hoover F2. Each of these tornadoes has sparked controversy over their rating, with many claiming that they had reached F5 intensity. In total, 29 tornadoes were recorded during that day, with 23 being in Western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. One cyclic supercell in the Texas Panhandle produced at least 5 of those 23 tornadoes,[1] while another spawned at least 8.[2] There were 3 F4s, and the tornadoes caused 11 injuries.
Meteorological synopsis
An unusually high dewpoint of 22-23C caused extremely high CAPE values of over 5000 J/kg. The environment supported supercells, and with a large amount of shear and curvature in the hodograph, supercell development was supported.[1]: 4 These conditions lead to several tornadic supercells, which were studied by the VORTEX project.[1]: 2
Confirmed tornadoes
All data are from NWS monthly storm data publication and NWS storm reports archive.[3][4]
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 |
| F# | Location | County and State | Start Time (UTC) | Path length | Max Width | Progression/Non-injury Effects | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F0 | NE of Idaho Falls | Bonneville County, Idaho | 2215 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
10 yd (9 m) |
No damage was reported. | 0 |
| F1 | Seligman to Eagle Rock | Barry County, Missouri | 2104 | 12 miles (19.3 km) |
250 yd (229 m) |
This tornado went through Roaring River State Park, uprooted trees, and caused $100,000 ($206,355 in 2024) in damages by damaging nearly 100 camper-trailers. | 3 |
| F0 | SE of Poplar Bluff | Butler County, Missouri | 2252 | 0.25 miles (0.40 km) |
50 yd (46 m) |
Some trees were downed. | 0 |
| F0 | Forsyth | Taney County, Missouri | 0028 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
100 yd (91 m) |
0 | |
| F1 | Selman | Harper County, Oklahoma | 2215 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
30 yd (27 m) |
Caused $4000 ($8,254 in 2024) in damage. | 1 |
| F0 | NNE of Shattuck | Ellis County, Oklahoma | 0117 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
30 yd (27 m) |
0 | |
| F2 | NNE of Reydon | Roger Mills County, Oklahoma | 0218 | 5 miles (8 km) |
300 yd (274 m) |
Caused $5000 ($10,318 in 2024) in damage. | 0 |
| F0 | NE of Roxboro | Person County, North Carolina | 2352 | 1.0 miles (1.6 km) |
35 yd (32 m) |
Some trees were downed. | 0 |
| F0 | SSE of West Fork | Washington County, Arkansas | 0020 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
30 yd (27 m) |
0 | |
| F0 | SSW of Pampa | Gray County, Texas | 2127 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
50 yd (46 m) |
First tornado produced by the Pampa supercell. | 0 |
| F4 | Pampa | Gray County, Texas | 2131 | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
200 yd (183 m) |
Second, and most destructive, tornado produced by the Pampa supercell (see also § Pampa, Texas) | 7 |
| F0 | E of Pampa | Gray County, Texas | 2150 | 0.3 miles (0.48 km) |
100 yd (91 m) |
Third tornado produced by the Pampa supercell. | 0 |
| F2 | Hoover | Gray County, Texas | 2150 | 6 miles (9.6 km) |
400 yd (366 m) |
Fourth tornado produced by the Pampa supercell. Chasers say that this tornado is underrated, with Martin Lisius rating it as F5.[5] Caused $100,000 ($206,355 in 2024) in damage. This tornado passed close to the Rufe Jordan Unit.[6] and stripped asphalt from roads. | 0 |
| F1 | NW of Miami | Roberts County, Texas | 2155 | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
200 yd (183 m) |
0 | |
| F1 | NNE of Pampa | Gray County, Texas | 2200 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
250 yd (229 m) |
0 | |
| F0 | S of Perryton | Ochiltree County, Texas | 2215 | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
73 yd (67 m) |
0 | |
| F0 | SW of Clarendon | Donley County, Texas | 2219 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
100 yd (91 m) |
0 | |
| F1 | W of Miami | Roberts County, Texas | 2235 | 10 miles (16 km) |
250 yd (229 m) |
Caused $300,000 ($619,065 in 2024) in damage. | 0 |
| F2 | SW of McLean | Donley County, Texas | 2255 | 10 miles (16 km) |
500 yd (457 m) |
First tornado produced by the McLean supercell. | 0 |
| F2 | SW of McLean | Gray County, Texas | 2259 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
300 yd (274 m) |
Caused $100,000 ($206,355 in 2024) in damage. | 0 |
| F0 | McLean | Gray County, Texas | 2310 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
100 yd (91 m) |
0 | |
| F2 | SW of McLean | Gray County, Texas | 2310 | 4 miles (0.16 km) |
400 yd (366 m) |
Second tornado produced by the McLean supercell. | 0 |
| F0 | SW of McLean | Gray County, Texas | 2321 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
50 yd (46 m) |
Third tornado produced by the McLean supercell. | 0 |
| F4 | N of McLean - NE of Mobeetie | Gray County, Texas, Wheeler County, Texas | 2335 | 29 miles (46.7 km) |
600 yd (550 m) |
This is most well known as the Kellerville tornado. Some researchers claim that it was F5 strength.[7] Winds exceeding 110 m/s[7] (246 mph, 396 km/h) were recorded by Doppler radar. This was the fourth (and strongest) tornado produced by the McLean supercell. Caused over $10 million ($20.6 million in 2024) in damage to crops and other property. Several structures were damaged. Severe ground scouring occurred in rural areas | 0 |
| F0 | NW of Canadian | Hemphill County, Texas | 2343 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
150 yd (137 m) |
0 | |
| F0 | WNW of Canadian | Roberts County, Texas | 2353 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
50yd (46 m) |
0 | |
| F0 | N of McLean | Gray County, Texas | 2355 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
10 yd (9 m) |
0 | |
| F0 | N of McLean | Gray County, Texas | 2355 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
30 yd (27 m) |
0 | |
| F4 | SW of Allison - N of Allison | Wheeler County, Texas, Hemphill County, Texas | 0045 | 15 miles (24.1 km) |
2200 yd (2010 m) |
This tornado was a large tornado, with some spotters reporting it as "one of the biggest and meanest tornadoes they had ever seen". It caused at least $2 million ($4.13 million in 2024) in damage. It killed at least 800 heads of livestock in Wheeler County. Despite every spotter report putting it as an F5, the NWS rated it an F4 due to lack of structural interactions. | 0 |
Pampa, Texas
An F4 formed near Pampa, Texas, just after the parent storm produced an F0 to the SW. Despite only having a path 3 miles long, it caused 7 injuries, comprising a majority of the injuries caused by the outbreak. It also caused $30 million ($61.9 million in 2024) in damage as it travelled through Pampa before it lifted in the middle of the city.[4] Per Thomas P. Grazulis, the F4 rating is based on movement of industrial equipment, as only F2-F3 damage occurred in Pampa because the tornado had weakened by then.[2] In total, it destroyed 75 structures and damaged 175. Tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis stated in F5–F6 Tornadoes; "In my opinion, if there ever was an F6 tornado caught on video, it was the Pampa, Texas tornado of 1995".[8]
After the tornado dissipated, the storm produced a short-lived F0 and the Hoover, TX tornado, which was officially rated an F2[4] but some storm chasers argue it was stronger.
Non-tornadic effects
Several reports of large hail were made in Texas and Oklahoma, with the largest being 4.5 inches. The hail caused considerable damage, including denting some cars. Severe thunderstorms also moved through northern Oklahoma, causing straight-line wind damage(which caused one injury), lightning, and flash flooding. In the Texas Panhandle, wind damaged occurred to buildings and fences, and minor roof damage was reported from hail.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Dowell, David C.; Bluestein, Howard B. (2002-11-01). "The 8 June 1995 McLean, Texas, Storm. Part I: Observations of Cyclic Tornadogenesis". Monthly Weather Review. 130 (11): 2626–2648. Bibcode:2002MWRv..130.2626D. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(2002)130<2626:TJMTSP>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1520-0493.
- ^ a b Grazulis, Thomas. Significant Tornadoes 1974-2022.
- ^ Center, Storm Prediction. "NOAA's NWS Storm Prediction Center Storm Reports Historical Data". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ a b c d "Storm Data Publication | IPS | National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ Tornadoes, Discover (2022-05-04). "F5 tornado narrowly misses Texas prison". Discover Tornadoes. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ "Pampa - Hoover, Texas Chase Tempest Tours Storm Chasers". Tempest Tours. 1995-06-08. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ a b Wakimoto, Roger M.; Murphey, Hanne V.; Dowell, David C.; Bluestein, Howard B. (2003-10-01). "The Kellerville Tornado during VORTEX: Damage Survey and Doppler Radar Analyses". Monthly Weather Review. 131 (10): 2197–2221. Bibcode:2003MWRv..131.2197W. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(2003)131<2197:TKTDVD>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1520-0493.
- ^ Thomas P. Grazulis (2021). F5-F6 Tornadoes. The Tornado Project.
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