| 1947 Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornado outbreak | |
| Duration: | April 9–11, 1947 |
| Tornadoes: | ≥ 12–17 |
| Fujitascale: | F5 |
| Year: | 1947 |
| Damages: | $10,027,750 ($ in USD) |
| Fatalities: | ≥ 185 |
| Injuries: | ≥ 990 |
| Affected: | Primarily the southern Great Plains |
From April 9–11, 1947, a significant tornado outbreak produced catastrophic effects over portions of the southern Great Plains, in the contiguous United States. The outbreak generated at least 12, and possibly 17 or more, tornadoes, many of which were significant. On Wednesday, April 9, a series of related tornadoes spawned by a single supercell, dubbed the Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornadoes, swept through the U.S. states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Most of the damage and nearly all of the deaths are still blamed on one large tornado, known as the Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornado, that traveled 98miles from Texas to Oklahoma, beginning over the South Plains. This event, up to nearly 2miles in width, was often compared to the Tri-State tornado, because it was originally thought to have left a 198to path, was similarly large and intense for much of its path, and was also retroactively rated F5 on the modern-day Fujita scale, but it is now believed to have been part of a 125to family of nine or 10 tornadoes.
Early on April 9, the United States Weather Bureau in Amarillo, Texas, forecast late-afternoon temperatures of about 60F over the Texas panhandle. At the time, dense, low-lying stratus and a layer of fog were present, with temperatures ranging from the upper 40s to low 50s °F. However, an approaching warm front—then extended from Sherman, Texas, to Raton, New Mexico—would later combine with a robust trough aloft to enhance conditions for severe weather. In tandem with this, a low-pressure area over northeastern New Mexico, along with an attendant dry line, would gradually eject, leading to stronger low-level wind shear and more pronounced lapse rates. Around 2:00 p.m. CST (18:00 UTC), helicity was near 135 m2/s2, but would decline afterward. As it did so, however, an unexpected decrease in cloud cover allowed for greater-than-expected diurnal heating, leading to a substantial rise in atmospheric instability and associated buoyancy.[1] By 6:30 p.m. CST (00:30 UTC), the low-pressure center was situated over southern Colorado, and a 53to jet stream existed 4000to above sea level.[2] Surface-based temperatures quickly reached the upper 60s °F. In the mixed layer, the convective available potential energy (CAPE) rose above 1,100 j/kg, and the lifted condensation level (LCL) was just 752m (2,467feet) above ground level, along with a level of free convection (LFC) of 1410m (4,630feet). Mixed-layer convective inhibition by then had decreased, offsetting the loss of helicity, and the presence of the warm front acted in concert with the aforementioned factors to favor supercells capable of generating strong tornadoes. Gusts of 30to attended the passage of a cold front overnight.
Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.
| Location | County / Parish | State | Date | Time (UTC) | Path length | Width | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F2 | WSW of White Deer to E of Skellytown | Carson | Texas | 23:42–? | 12abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 250abbr=onNaNabbr=on♯ | ||
| This tornado, the first member of the Glazier–Higgins–Woodward family, struck a train, derailing 19 of 61 cars, along with three cabooses. A pair of men were injured aboard. The tornado also damaged several homes, including a farmhouse that was lifted into the air and set back down on its foundation, partly collapsing as a result, resulting in a third injury. Outbuildings and a garage were wrecked as well, and part of a barn was blown away.[3] [4] | ||||||||
| FU | NW of Pampa | Gray, Roberts | Texas | 00:05–? | ||||
| After the White Deer tornado dissipated, a second tornado touched down, remaining over open fields and causing no damage before dissipating. | ||||||||
| FU | SW to NW of Miami (five tornadoes) | Roberts | Texas | 1760abbr=onNaNabbr=on♯ | ||||
| 1 death – This large multiple-vortex event bypassed several farms in the area, reportedly debarking trees in open country. A railway signal station was blown away and a railcar knocked off its track. Several tornadoes were observed, one of which was up to 1miles wide. At least one of the tornadoes may have been the same as the Glazier–Higgins–Woodward F5. | ||||||||
| F5 | NW of Canadian (TX) to W of Alva (OK) | Hemphill (TX), Lipscomb (TX), Ellis (OK), Woodward (OK), Woods (OK) | Texas, Oklahoma | ≥98abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 3520abbr=onNaNabbr=on♯ | |||
| 184+ deaths – See section on this tornado – At least 980 people were injured. | ||||||||
| F2 | Grimes | Roger Mills | Oklahoma | 02:00–? | ||||
| This tornado destroyed a barn and a home, injuring a few people. A store and a school lost their roofs as well. | ||||||||
| F4 | N of Meade to ESE of Dodge City | Meade, Ford | Kansas | 02:15–? | 35abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 400abbr=onNaNabbr=on | ||
| This was likely a family of intense tornadoes and downbursts, as its swath of damage often shifted dramatically. Numerous farms were flattened each at several locations, at least a few being obliterated. Barns were wrecked on 12 farmsteads in Ford County, and homes on the outskirts of Fowler were damaged as well. Three people were injured. | ||||||||
| F2 | W of Hardtner to St. Leo | Barber, Kingman | Kansas | 04:00–? | ||||
| Following the dissipation of the Woodward F5, the tornado family it belonged to pressed on to Kansas, its parent supercell generating four or more tornadoes intermittently along the way before dissipating near Topeka. Most of these tornadoes were F1 or F2 in intensity, and the majority of the damage was likely attributable to downbursts, affecting rural areas in or near Gerlane, Pixley, Hazelton, Sharon, Zenda, and Nashville. Debris from Arnett, Oklahoma, was found 15miles to westward.[5] | ||||||||
| F2 | Near Quinlan | Woodward | Oklahoma | 05:00–? | ||||
| Many barns were wrecked. | ||||||||
| F2 | NE of Walton to near Elmdale | Harvey, Marion, Chase | Kansas | 07:00–? | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | ||
| A few homes were unroofed and about 12 barns were wrecked. | ||||||||
| F2 | N of Peabody to near Burdick | Marion, Morris | Kansas | 07:30–? | 28abbr=onNaNabbr=on | |||
| 20 farmsteads were impacted and a few barns destroyed, along with various outbuildings and equipment. Two people were injured. | ||||||||
| F2 | SW of Harveyville to E of Auburn | Wabaunsee, Osage, Shawnee | Kansas | 08:30–? | 15abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | ||
| Homes lost their roofs, cattle were killed, and barns were flattened. | ||||||||
| F2 | Near Hampshire | Maury | Tennessee | 09:00–? | 2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | |||
| Four barns were destroyed. | ||||||||
| Glazier–Higgins, Texas/Woodward, Oklahoma |
| Basin: | atl |
| Fujita-Scale: | F5 |
| Fatalities: | ≥ 184 |
| Injuries: | ≥ 980 |
| Damages: | $9,527,750 ($ in USD) |
Moving at an average of 42to, this extremely large and violent tornado was first confirmed near Canadian, Texas. When it struck the tiny town of Glazier, it may have been as much as 2miles wide. Most structures in town were swept completely away and scattered. Vehicles in the area were thrown hundreds of yards and mangled, shrubbery was debarked, and ground scouring occurred. Glazier was considered completely destroyed, with 17 dead, a major percentage of the populace. Press reports told of two people who were known to be together in Glazier before the tornado struck were found 3miles apart afterward. The tornado maintained its intensity as it slammed into Higgins, on the Texas–Oklahoma border, which was also devastated. The accepted death toll here was 51; again, a major fraction of the residents of the town were killed or injured. Much of downtown Higgins was completely demolished, and entire rows of homes were swept away. At one residence, a NaNt lathe was reportedly ripped from its anchors and broken in half.
After killing at least one other person, the tornado crossed the state line and entered Oklahoma. There the tornado was at its worst—the deadliest storm in that state's tornado-troubled history. Six more people were killed when the tornado swept away about 60 ranches and farms south of Shattuck, Gage, and Fargo. During its trek, the funnel was so wide and low to the ground that it did not resemble a prototypical tornado. The tornado then moved into Woodward, where it devastated the town and killed an estimated 107 people. The damage that occurred in Woodward was catastrophic. There, the tornado was 1.8miles wide and destroyed 100 city blocks. Many homes and businesses were leveled or swept away, and as the tornado struck the town's power plant, a 20t steel boiler tank was lofted and thrown a block and a half. Large trees sustained severe debarking as well. The tornado finally dissipated in Woods County, west of Alva, where it wrecked 36 homes and injured 30 people.
Cleanup in the region was made more difficult because of cold and snow that followed the tornado. Four-year-old Joan Gay Croft and her sister Jerri were among refugees taking shelter in a basement hallway of the Woodward hospital. As officials sent the injured to different hospitals in the area, two men took Joan away, saying they were taking her to Oklahoma City. She was never seen again. Over the years, several women have come forth saying they suspect they might be Joan, although none of the claims have been verified. She is likely deceased. The Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornado was the sixth deadliest in U.S. history, killing 184 and injuring 980; of these figures, 116 deaths and 782 injuries occurred in Oklahoma. An undetermined number of additional fatalities may have occurred in both states affected. In all, the tornado destroyed 626 homes and damaged 920 others, becoming the costliest on record in Oklahoma history.[6]
A US Weather Bureau report on the Woodward, Oklahoma Tornado of April 9, 1947, gives the following figures on the damage caused in its "Original Summary" section.
Total damage estimates were $173,489,564 (equivalent to $747,850,050 in 2008 dollars).