2022 Andover tornado explained

Width:310
Duration:21 minutes
Formed:April 29, 2022, 8:10 p.m. CST (UTC–06:00)
Dissipated:April 29, 2022, 8:31 p.m. CST (UTC–06:00)
Basin:atl
Winds:155mph
Fujita-Scale:EF3
Deaths:0
Injuries:3
Year:2022
Damages:$41.5 million (2022 USD)
Affected:Sedgewick County, Kansas, particularly Andover
Season:Tornadoes of 2022

In the evening hours of April 29, 2022, a strong and well-documented multi-vortex tornado moved through the city of Andover, located in the state of Kansas. The tornado tracked 12.8miles through the area, injuring three and inflicting severe damage to structures located on the eastern side of Andover.

The tornado first touched down southwest of Andover in Sedgwick County, producing EF0 and EF1 damage to farmsteads and other buildings. The tornado rapidly intensified as it approached the town, damaging numerous structures at EF2 intensity prior to entering city limits. The tornado reached EF3 intensity in eastern Andover, where it destroyed several multi-story homes and damaged a YMCA fitness center that served the town. The tornado was on the ground for 21 minutes while tracking 12.8miles through the area.

Meteorological synopsis

A powerful low pressure system approached Kansas on April 29, allowing a sharp dryline to track to generally along Interstate 135. Storms first developed across central and northeast Kansas near the warm front, but as the early evening hours continued, several storms fired just east of Wichita. One of these storms produced the Andover tornado.[1]

Tornado summary

The tornado first touched down at 8:10 pm CST, where it would immediately begin to uproot trees and damage outbuildings at EF0 and EF1 intensity. The tornado would move northeast, a direction it would continue to move in for the rest of its life. As the tornado crossed 137th Street South of Andover, it destroyed multiple mobile homes at EF2 intensity.[2] More homes and trees were damaged as the tornado moved across several rural streets, slowly approaching Andover.[3] After the tornado left these residential areas, it turned slightly to the north, avoiding directly hitting a col-de-sac.The tornado then crossed East Pawnee Street, uprooting trees at EF1 intensity and damaging another home located nearby.[4] The tornado would first reach EF3 intensity moments later, destroying a home located off of South Andover Road that runs through the southern portions of the town. A damage survey conducted after the tornado concluded that peak wind speeds in this area were 155mph.

The tornado produced heavy structural damage in this area as it moved towards U.S. Route 54. As it crossed the highway, a group of homes took a direct hit, and were all destroyed at EF3 intensity.[5] [6] A YMCA of the USA fitness center was heavily damaged, sustaining EF3 damage as the tornado moved over the building.[7] [8] [9] A car located in the parking lot of the building was picked up by the tornado and lofted 1000feet in the air before landing on the roof of the fitness center.

The tornado retained EF3 intensity as it tracked through residential and industrial areas in eastern Andover.[10] Several power poles were bent or snapped as the tornado tracked across East 13th Street, and at least two homes were destroyed.[11] Numerous photographs were taken of the tornado as it tracked through this area, and it was still highly visible.[12] The tornado weakened as it left the town, inflicting EF1 and EF2 damage to outbuildings and farms. The tornado dissipated at 8:31 PM CST, after being on the ground for 21 minutes along a 12.89miles path.

Aftermath

1,074 buildings were damaged by the tornado to varying degrees; up to 400 of those were destroyed.[13] [14] Thousands were also left without power in Sedgwick County directly following the tornado.[15] The United States Air Force deployed 150 airmen to help recovery efforts following the tornado, and many other non-commissioned volunteers visited Andover to provide assistance.[16] Kansas Governor Laura Kelly declared a state of emergency following the tornado.[17] Three people were injured by the tornado; two of these injuries occurred in Sedgewick County.[18] The tornado inflicted $41.5 million (2022 USD) in damages to Andover.[19]

See also

Notes and references

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: US Department of Commerce . NOAA . April 29th 2022 Tornadoes - including the Andover Tornado . 2024-11-19 . www.weather.gov . EN-US . 2024-11-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241129142121/https://www.weather.gov/ict/event_20220430 . live .
  2. Web site: Damage Assessment Toolkit . 2024-11-19 . . 2024-05-19 . https://archive.today/20240519054255/https://apps.dat.noaa.gov/stormdamage/damageviewer/ . live .
  3. Web site: Hameed . Gavin . April 27, 2023 . Andover tornado illustrates value of emergency preparedness . November 19, 2024 . . September 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240928181616/https://www.mcconnell.af.mil/News/Article/3376821/andover-tornado-illustrates-value-of-emergency-preparedness/ . live .
  4. Web site: Hrenchir . Tim . The 2022 Andover tornado damaged over 1,000 buildings in a 12.75 mile path. Here's what we know. . 2024-11-19 . The Topeka Capital-Journal . en-US . 2024-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829124133/https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/2022/05/02/andover-tornado-2022-ef-3-damage-path-injuries-wichita-kansas/9611988002/ . live .
  5. Web site: Stavola . Michael . April 2, 202 . Lessons learned: Survivors of 2022 Kansas tornado move home, make changes . November 19, 2024 . Wichita Eagle . April 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230428180306/https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article274580256.html . live .
  6. Web site: White . Kevin . McMillan . Laura . April 30, 2022 . Update: No deaths in Andover tornado, four injured . November 19, 2024 . KSN.
  7. Web site: May 16, 2024 . Andover YMCA releases video footage from 2022 tornado, witness shares experience . KSN . November 19, 2024 . July 21, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240721215335/https://www.ksn.com/weather/weather-stories/andover-ymca-releases-video-footage-from-2022-tornado-witness-shares-experience/ . live .
  8. Web site: Hernandez . Gabriela . February 27, 2024 . Andover YMCA to reopen in May following massive 2022 tornado . 2024-11-19 . KWCH . en . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228211747/https://www.kwch.com/2024/02/27/andover-ymca-reopen-may/ . live .
  9. Web site: Kansas Tornado Shreds Homes, Flings Cars . 2024-11-19 . The Weather Channel . en-US . 2023-09-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930163415/https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/2022-04-29-tornado-andover-kansas-nebraska-oklahoma . live .
  10. Web site: April 30, 2022 . Dozens of buildings leveled after a powerful tornado tears through Wichita area . 2024-11-19 . . en . 2023-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528184424/https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/30/weather/andover-kansas-tornado-saturday/index.html . live .
  11. Web site: Damage Assessment Toolkit . 2024-11-19 . . 2024-05-19 . https://archive.today/20240519054255/https://apps.dat.noaa.gov/stormdamage/damageviewer/ . live .
  12. Web site: Ready . Red Sky . 2022-04-30 . Tornado Reports come in as Andover KS takes Direct hit . 2024-11-19 . Red Sky Ready . en-US.
  13. Web site: Hrenchir . Tim . The 2022 Andover tornado damaged over 1,000 buildings in a 12.75 mile path. Here's what we know. . 2024-11-19 . The Topeka Capital-Journal . en-US . 2024-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829124133/https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/2022/05/02/andover-tornado-2022-ef-3-damage-path-injuries-wichita-kansas/9611988002/ . live .
  14. Web site: April 30, 2022 . Update: No deaths in Andover tornado, 1,000 buildings with damage . 2024-11-19 . KSNT 27 . en-US . 2024-02-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240210152504/https://www.ksnt.com/news/kansas/sunrise-shines-light-on-andover-tornado-damage/ . live .
  15. Web site: Andover tornado leaves trail of destruction in Kansas suburb . November 19, 2024 . AccuWeather . September 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240915050004/https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/andover-tornado-leaves-trail-of-destruction-in-kansas-suburb/1180866 . live .
  16. Web site: Beezley . Brenden . May 4, 2022 . McConnell Airmen assist Andover tornado recovery efforts . United States Air Force.
  17. Web site: Livingston . Ian . April 30, 2022 . Ferocious tornado strikes Andover, Kan., causing severe damage . November 19, 2024 . . March 31, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240331172349/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/04/29/andover-tornado-kansas-outbreak/ . live .
  18. Web site: May 1, 2022 . Kansas tornado generated 165 mph winds as it destroyed homes . 2024-11-19 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  19. Web site: 2023-01-09 . 2022 in Tornadoes – A Look at the “Worst” Survive-A-Storm . 2024-11-20 . Survive-a-Storm . en-US . 2024-06-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240603005954/https://survive-a-storm.com/blog/2022-worst-tornadoes/#:~:text=Luckily,%20the%20town%20fared%20much,do%20$41.5%20million%20in%20damage. . live .

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