1972 Portland–Vancouver tornadoes explained

Partof:the tornado outbreaks of 1972
1972 Portland - Vancouver tornadoes
Active:April 5, 1972
Tornadoes:4[1]
Fujitascale:F3
Tornado Duration:6 hours
Gusts:65mph
Portland International Airport[2]
Total Fatalities:6 fatalities, 301 injuries
Damages:$25.55 million (1972 USD)[3]
Enhanced:no

The 1972 Portland - Vancouver tornadoes were caused by an unusually intense squall line with embedded strong tornadoes that struck Oregon and Washington on Wednesday, April 5, 1972. Of the four tornadoes, the most catastrophic event was a deadly F3 tornado that struck Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, the first F3 tornado to strike Oregon since June 3, 1894. It tracked 8.7miles across the heavily populated Portland–Vancouver metropolitan area, causing heavy damage, killing six people, and injuring 300 while causing $25.25 million (1972 USD) in damage. It was tied as the deadliest tornado in the United States in 1972 and remains the deadliest tornado in the history of the Pacific Northwest.[4] In all, the outbreak killed six, injured 301, and caused $25.55 million in damage.

Meteorological synopsis

A sharp cold front triggered an intense squall line that moved into the Pacific Northwest during the late morning hours of April 5, 1972. After moving inland, the storms produced strong winds, large hail, and tornadoes to the region. Weakening of the storms did not take place until late that evening; by then storms had moved over 50miles inland.

Confirmed tornadoes

April 5 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, April 5, 1972
F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart
Time (UTC)Path length widthSummary
bgcolor=# align="center" F3Faloma, OR to Image, WA to SE of Mill Plain, WAMultnomah (OR), Clark (WA)OR, WA20:30–21:008.7miles400yd6 deaths – See section on this tornado – 300 people were injured and losses totaled $25.25 million.[5] [6] [7] [8]
bgcolor=# align="center" F2HartlineGrantWA00:30–?0.1miles10ydA wind event/possible tornado was later confirmed to be a tornado along with large hail up to 2inches. Flowers and shrub leaves were shredded, paint surfaces were speckled and peeled, four granaries were destroyed, and many buildings were damaged. Losses from the tornado reached $25,000.[9] [10]
bgcolor=# align="center" F3CrestonLincolnWA01:30–?3-83ydA twin-funneled, strong tornado moved through the east side of Creston. A trailer was obliterated, critically injuring the woman inside, and another was moved 3feet off its foundation. Two barns and a chicken house were destroyed as well. Losses totaled $250,000.[11] [12]
bgcolor=# align="center" F2W of Kettle FallsStevensWA02:30–?1miles100ydTrees were damaged in circular pattern near the mouth of the Colville River, including some that were uprooted. Losses totaled $25,000.[13] [14]

Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington

Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington
Fujitascale:F3
Casualties:6 fatalities, 300 injuries
Damages:$25.25 million

The National Weather Service tracked a very turbulent squall line of thunderstorms moving northeasterly across Portland, Oregon, the strongest of which was near the city of Tigard. The tornado formed from this storm and touched down near the edge of the Columbia River, moving 1½ miles before crossing the river. The tornado was difficult to observe because of the fog and the mud and flying debris drawn up by the tornado. After making landfall on the Washington side of the river, it continued its 9miles journey before dissipating.[15] The storm was classed as a tornado by the National Weather Service on April 6.[16]

In Portland, Oregon, the tornado damaged four boat moorings and 50 small boats.[15] Damage in Oregon from the tornado totaled up to $250,000 (1972 USD).[17] Vancouver, Washington suffered the most significant damage from the tornado. The tornado struck east Vancouver at 12:51 p.m. (PST) on April 5, 1972, where it destroyed a grocery store, along with Peter S. Ogden Elementary School injuring 70 students.[18] Nearby, the storm demolished a bowling alley, a drive-in theater screen and damaged around 100 homes, some severely. Trees and power lines were downed and several vehicles were flipped as well.[19] The Oregon National Guard and the Oregon State Police crossed the state border to help transport the injured and direct traffic in the aftermath of the tornado.[20]

Non-tornadic events

High winds brought by the thunderstorms caused minimal tree damage. In Tigard, the thunderstorm that spawned the tornado tore the roof off a warehouse and damaged several parked cars. A pressure jump of 0.12inches was recorded by the National Weather Service. The Portland, Oregon National Weather Service office, approximately one mile east of the tornado touchdown, recorded winds gusting up to 63mi/h. Another weather station reported sustained winds of 80mi/h.[15]

Aftermath

Overall, the Portland–Vancouver F3 tornado killed six people and left $25.25 million (1972 USD) in damage.[4] The small outbreak was the deadliest and most significant tornado event to occur in the Pacific Northwest, with two F3 tornadoes.[21]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: April 5, 1972 Tornadoes . Tornado History Project . Storm Prediction Center . 31 July 2020 . 27 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200827181932/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1972/4/5/map . dead .
  2. Web site: Oregon Event Report: 55 kts. Thunderstorm Wind . National Weather Service . National Centers for Environmental Information . 31 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Tornado Summaries . National Weather Service . National Centers for Environmental Information . 31 July 2020.
  4. Web site: "Tornado of April 5, 1972, Vancouver, Washington" Details. Waymark. 2006-12-05.
  5. Web site: Storm Data Publication IPS National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) . www.ncdc.noaa.gov . 31 July 2020.
  6. Web site: Oregon-Washington F3 . Tornado History Project . Storm Prediction Center . 31 July 2020 . 24 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224022947/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19720405.41.1 . dead .
  7. Oregon Event Report: F3 Tornado . National Weather Service . National Centers for Environmental Information . 31 July 2020.
  8. Washington Event Report: F3 Tornado . National Weather Service . National Centers for Environmental Information . 31 July 2020.
  9. Web site: Washington F2 . Tornado History Project . Storm Prediction Center . 31 July 2020 . 24 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224101421/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19720405.53.2 . dead .
  10. Washington Event Report: F2 Tornado . National Weather Service . National Centers for Environmental Information . 31 July 2020.
  11. Web site: Washington F3 . Tornado History Project . Storm Prediction Center . 31 July 2020 . 24 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224064323/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19720405.53.3 . dead .
  12. Washington Event Report: F3 Tornado . National Weather Service . National Centers for Environmental Information . 31 July 2020.
  13. Web site: Washington F2 . Tornado History Project . Storm Prediction Center . 31 July 2020 . 25 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200225071841/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19720405.53.4 . dead .
  14. Washington Event Report: F2 Tornado . National Weather Service . National Centers for Environmental Information . 31 July 2020.
  15. Web site: National Weather Service . 2006 . NWS Forecast Office - Portland Oregon - Some of the Area's Tornadoes . . 2021-02-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20181003100816/https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/paststorms/tornado.php . 2018-10-03.
  16. News: Spiro . Richard . Vancouver twister classified tornado by weather bureau . Longview Daily News . April 7, 1972 . Longview, WA . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  17. Web site: Tornado Archive EF3 tornado on Apr. 05, 1972 14:50 PM CST . statesmanjournal.com . . 2021-02-23.
  18. Web site: Columbian.com - History. https://web.archive.org/web/20070307101906/http://www.columbian.com/history/Disasters/tornado.cfm. dead. March 7, 2007.
  19. Web site: NBC Evening News . 1972 . Headline: Washington Tornado . Vanderbilt Television Archive . 2006-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110930042843/http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/program.pl?ID=463915 . 2011-09-30 . live .
  20. News: 6 Die, 250 Hurt as Wind Rips Roofs Off School, Stores . The Muncie Star . UPI . April 6, 1972 . Muncie, IN . 2 . Newspapers.com.
  21. News: Robinson . Erik . April 5, 2002 . Vancouver's tornado of 1972: What a twister turned deadly . A1 . The Columbian.