| Duration: | March 11–13, 1990 |
| Tornadoes: | 64 (confirmed) |
| Fujita-Scale: | F5 |
| Winds: | 300mph to 350mph |
| Deaths: | 2 fatalities ≥89 injuries |
| Damage: | $543.4 million (1990 USD) $1.3 billion (2024 USD) |
| Affected: | Midwestern United States, United States Great Plains |
| Season: | tornado outbreaks of 1990 |
The March 1990 Central United States tornado outbreak affected portions of the United States Great Plains and Midwest regions from Iowa to Texas from March 11 to March 13, 1990. The outbreak produced at least 64 tornadoes across the region, including four violent tornadoes; two tornadoes, which touched down north and west of Wichita, Kansas, were both rated F5, including the tornado that struck Hesston. In Nebraska, several strong tornadoes touched down across the southern and central portion of the state, including an F4 tornado (possibly a family of tornadoes) that traveled for 131miles making it the longest tracked tornado in the outbreak. Two people were killed in the outbreak, one each by the two F5 tornadoes in Kansas.
On March 12, upper-air maps indicated a high-pressure area situated over the Southeastern United States and a closed low-pressure area and accompanied trough entrenched across western portions of the country. Southwesterly flow across the Rocky Mountains proved favorable for low-level lee cyclogenesis, and surface analyses late on March 12 depicted the formation of a 1004mb low-pressure area over eastern Colorado. In the lower levels of the atmosphere, a low-level jet stretching from southern Texas into Iowa invigorated the northward transport of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. The moisture became entrenched in the warm sector of the low-pressure area, to the east of a well-defined dryline extending from western Kansas into western Texas.[1] Overnight on March 12 into the morning hours of March 13, widespread convection developed across Oklahoma and progressed northeastward into Kansas and Iowa, to the south of a quasi-stationary weather front, leaving a distinct outflow boundary across central and eastern Kansas.[2] Early on March 13, morning atmospheric soundings across the Great Plains indicated an increasingly volatile atmosphere, with warming surface temperatures, strengthening low-level wind fields, and veering winds aloft. A modified atmospheric profile near Hesston, Kansas, indicated convective available potential energy around 3,200 J/kg already in place at 12:00 UTC.[2] In general, weather researchers remarked that the overarching pattern on March 13, 1990, was a synoptically evident pattern reminiscent of past tornado outbreaks.[2] The National Severe Storms Forecast Center – known in modern times as the Storm Prediction Center – responded to this pattern by issuing a broad Moderate risk for severe weather across a wide swath of the Great Plains.[3]
As the trough continued its approach from the west, upper-air plots showed enhanced diffluence focused across much of the region. Into the afternoon hours, the surface low deepened to 996mb as it progressed into western Kansas and the Oklahoma panhandle. The increasing atmospheric pressure gradient associated with this feature continued to enhance convergence along the dryline, while the influence of warm daytime temperatures exceeding 70F pushed the dryline eastward into western Oklahoma. Continued southwesterly flow around the mid-level low over Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado advected cold mid-level temperatures northeastward toward Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Steep mid-level lapse rates further contributed to destabilization of the atmosphere, while moisture content and vertical wind profiles continued to improve. Low-level winds out of the southeast by the evening of March 13 further contributed to convergence along the dryline, which would become the focal point for several tornadic supercells over the ensuing hours as mid-level winds near 100kn intersected the region.[1] [4] Additional supercells developed along the outflow boundary in Kansas, notably the Hesston tornado family.[2] Alongside the tornado outbreak in the warm sector of the low-pressure area, seasonally cold air on the backside of the low contributed to severe wintry weather, with snowfall up to 8inches and blizzard-like conditions reported across the Nebraska panhandle.[5]
(based on NOAA Storm Data)
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | |||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | N of Plevna | Reno | 2300 | 0.1miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | Alder to S of Geneseo | Rice | 2315 | 14miles | ||
| Sources: NOAA Storm Data Tornado History Project - Storm Data, March 11, 1990 | |||||||
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | |||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NW of Sawyer | Lee | 0440 | 0.2miles | ||
| Kansas | |||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | SE of Topeka | Shawnee, Douglas | 0549 | 5miles | Rated F2 by Grazulis. | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | W of McClouth | Jefferson | 0610 | 3miles | ||
| Sources: NOAA Storm Data Tornado History Project - Storm Data - March 12, 1990 | |||||||
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | |||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NW of Jetmore | Hodgeman | 0836 | 1miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F5 | Castleton to Hesston | Reno, Harvey, McPherson | 2234 | 48miles | 1 death - See section on this tornado | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | E of Thornburg | Smith | 2248 | 13miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NE of Esbon | Jewell | 2300 | 1.5miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F5 | Goessel to NE of Hillsboro | Harvey, McPherson, Marion | 2330 | 22miles | 1 death - See section on this tornado | |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | SW of Portland | Sumner | 0004 | 0.1miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | N of Conway Springs | Sumner | 0012 | 0.1miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | W of Pilsen to NW of Volland | Marion, Morris, Geary, Wabaunsee | 0015 | 55miles | See section on this tornado | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | SW of Webber | Jewell | 0020 | 5miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | S of Danville | Harper | 0035 | 12miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | E of Randall | Jewell, Cloud, Republic | 0045 | 13miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F3 | W of Moundridge | Reno, Harvey, McPherson | 0055 | 18miles | A farm and three homes were destroyed. Caused $275,000 in damage. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | W of Belleville | Republic | 0100 | 15miles | Several farmhouses sustained extensive damage. | |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | S of Belleville | Republic | 0116 | 0.5miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | Salina | Saline | 0150 | 0.2miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | E of Wamego | Pottawatomie | 0203 | 2miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | S of Concordia | Cloud | 0240 | 0.2miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | S of Chetopa | Labette | 0645 | 2miles | ||
| Iowa | |||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | N of Stiles to SE of Floris | Davis | 2132 | 14miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | Bettendorf area | Scott | 2231 | 0.3miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | E of LeClaire | Scott | 2242 | 0.2miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F3 | E of LeClaire to SE of Albany, IL | Scott, Rock Island (IL), Whiteside (IL) | 2245 | 15.5miles | Multiple-vortex tornado caused major damage in the Cordova and Port Byron areas. 12 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, and 26 others sustained lesser damage. One man broke his leg when he was blown off of a scaffold at Cordova Nuclear Plant. | |
| bgcolor=# | F4 | Prairieburg to Worthington | Linn, Jones, Delaware, Dubuque | 2253 | 19miles | In Worthington, 39 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. 13 farms were destroyed as well. Tornado was a half-mile wide at times. | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NE of LeClaire | Scott, Clinton | 2242 | 13miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | Monticello area | Jones | 2308 | 6miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NE of Crescent | Pottawattamie | 2242 | 8miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | S of Holy Cross | Dubuque | 2355 | 3miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NE of Ortonville | Dallas | 0120 | 0.1miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Ogden to E of Stanhope | Boone, Hamilton | 0125 | 22miles | Tornado killed livestock and destroyed several outbuildings. Caused $616,000 in damage. | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | E of Ridgeport | Boone | 0135 | 1miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Ankeny to S of Maxwell | Polk, Story | 0155 | 15miles | Rain-wrapped tornado severely damaged 20 homes in Ankeny, with 16 others sustaining lesser damage. A condominium lost part of its roof, which was thrown onto I-35, resulting in a major car accident. At least a dozen other cars were blown off of the interstate by the tornado. Caused $2,000,000 in damage and injured 15 people. | |
| bgcolor=# | F3 | E of Fernald | Story | 0236 | 9miles | A tractor-trailer was lifted and thrown into a ditch, injuring the driver. Multiple buildings were damaged or destroyed at a farm as well. Rated F2 by Grazulis. | |
| Oklahoma | |||||||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | NW of Bradley to E of Norman | Grady, McClain, Cleveland | 2244 | 28miles | Two mobile homes were destroyed and frame homes were damaged near the beginning of the path. The tornado crossed into McClain County and destroyed eight additional mobile homes before clipping the north side of Washington, destroying a trailer and the second story of a house. The tornado then struck Noble before dissipating. In Noble, multiple homes sustained roof and structural damage, and an apartment building lost part of its roof. Tractor-trailers and a mobile home were overturned. The high school lost its press box, scoreboard, and several light poles. One person was injured. | |
| bgcolor=# | F3 | SE of Hawley to NE of Wakita | Grant | 2315 | 19miles | One house sustained major damage and another lost its roof. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | W of Criner to W of Slaughterville | McClain, Cleveland | 2331 | 18miles | Trailers and outbuildings were damaged and many trees were uprooted. Rated F1 by Grazulis. | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NE of Norman | Cleveland | 2353 | 5miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F3 | NE of Wakita to SW of Mayfield, KS | Grant, Sumner (KS) | 2354 | 22miles | Caused tree damage in Oklahoma before crossing into Kansas, where five homes were damaged. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | SW of Stella to SE of Jacktown | Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Lincoln | 2359 | 19miles | At the beginning of the path, a mobile home was destroyed in Stella, resulting in a serious injury. A barn was destroyed, a house was unroofed, and three trailers were damaged elsewhere along the path. A mobile home was destroyed near Meeker before the tornado dissipated. | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | W of Waurika to SW of Loco | Jefferson, Stephens | 0001 | 21miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F3 | SW of Loco to NW of Alpers | Jefferson, Stephens, Carter, Garvin | 0058 | 22miles | Tornado caused major damage in and around Ratliff City. Five mobile homes were destroyed and a motor home was rolled 100 feet. A five-ton crane was blown over, several vehicles were damaged, and debris was found up to a mile away. Caused $750,000 in damage and injured one person. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | NE of Tatums to NE of Paul's Valley | Garvin | 0150 | 28miles | In Pauls Valley, a farm implement company had its roof torn off, and a civic club building lost part of its roof. Barns were destroyed outside of town as well. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | NE of Edna | Creek, Okmulgee | 0210 | 9miles | Several barns were destroyed and 14 power poles were snapped. Caused $75,000 in damage. | |
| Nebraska | |||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NW of Shelton | Buffalo | 2245 | 1miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F3 | NW of Minden to S of Cairo | Kearney, Buffalo, Hall | 2300 | 32miles | Numerous outbuildings were destroyed, trees were uprooted, and a county bridge was destroyed. Five farmsteads were heavily damaged as well. | |
| bgcolor=# | F4 | S of Red Cloud to E of Schuyler | Webster, Nuckolls, Clay, Fillmore, York, Seward, Butler, Colfax | 2305 | 131miles | This was either an extremely long-tracked tornado or a tornado family. Near Red Cloud, a farmhouse was completely "wiped out". The tornado moved into Nuckolls County and struck Lawrence, where 8 homes were destroyed and 45 others were damaged. Crossing into Clay County, the tornado struck Sutton, where one business was destroyed and 11 others were damaged. 49 homes in Sutton were damaged, and a truck and a police car were flipped. 20 farms were damaged in rural areas nearby. The tornado downed trees and power lines in Fillmore County before crossing into York County. A farmhouse was destroyed near McCool Junction. South of York, the tornado destroyed another farmhouse, heavily damaged a gas station and convenience store, tore the roof off of a motel, and destroyed two trucks. A dozen farms were damaged in York County, and about 10,000 geese were killed. 57 railroad cars were derailed near Waco before the tornado crossed into Seward County, where trees and power lines were damaged. The tornado then crossed into Butler County and passed near David City, impacting numerous farmsteads. 35 homes and 155 other structures were damaged or destroyed near David City, and about 1,200 livestock were killed or injured. The tornado then moved into Colfax County, damaging four farms near Schuyler before dissipating. A total of nine people were injured. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | E of Sacramento | Kearney | 2320 | 8miles | Several farms sustained extensive damage with livestock killed, and outbuildings and irrigation pivots destroyed. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | S of Wood River | Adams, Hall | 2325 | 9miles | Two farms were hit, with a farmhouse sustaining extensive damage at one of them. Outbuildings, grain bins, and two barns were destroyed. | |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | N of Kearney | Buffalo | 2335 | 0.1miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F3 | N of Alda to NW of Archer | Hall, Howard, Merrick | 2344 | 27miles | Five mobile homes were destroyed, and other homes sustained minor damage. 15 train cars were derailed near an Army Ordnance Plant, and 47 others were derailed near Grand Island. Several farms were damaged, some extensively with loss of cattle. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | W of Fullerton | Merrick, Nance | 0023 | 13miles | Ten farms were damaged, with farmhouses damaged at four of them. | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NE of Boone | Boone | 0025 | 1.5miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | SE of Fullerton | Nance | 0030 | 2miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | Newman Grove area | Madison | 0045 | 0.2miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | SE of Battle Creek | Madison | 0130 | 0.6miles | ||
| bgcolor=# | F3 | N of Carleton to SE of Exeter | Thayer, Fillmore | 0145 | 25miles | A large hog facility and outbuildings were destroyed. A mobile home was destroyed as well. Rated F2 by Grazulis. | |
| bgcolor=# | F3 | NE of Chester | Thayer | 0145 | 13miles | Tornado clipped Chester, where trees, outbuildings and propane tanks were damaged. Several farmsteads were damaged outside of town as well. Rated F2 by Grazulis. | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | N of Bancroft | Thurston | 0401 | 1.5miles | ||
| Texas | |||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NE of Lusk | Throckmorton | 2330 | 0.2miles | ||
| Missouri | |||||||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | SE of Pleasant Hope | Polk | 0330 | 2miles | Five homes and 16 barns were damaged. | |
| Sources: NOAA Storm Data Tornado History Project Storm Data - March 13, 1990[6] | |||||||
| Hesston and Goessel tornado family |
| Tornadoes: | 3 |
| Fujita-Scale: | F5 |
| Winds: | 300mph to 350mph |
| Casualties: | 2 fatalities, ≥59 injuries |
| Affected: | Central Kansas |
| Season: | tornado outbreaks of 1990 |
The F5 tornadoes that struck Hesston and Goessel were both spawned by the same supercell thunderstorm. They were part of what is known as a tornado family; a family that included several additional touchdowns after the Goessel storm dissipated.[7]
The first tornado of the Hesston storm touched down at approximately 4:34 p.m. CDT just to the northeast of Pretty Prairie. It was initially between 200 and 500 yards in diameter, and caused minimal (F1-F2) damage as it churned between Castleton and the Cheney Reservoir. Photographic evidence suggests significant widening as the tornado approached Haven and the Arkansas River. The damage path ranged between 1/2 and 3/4 miles near Haven, and several homes were completely demolished indicating F4 damage. Had the tornado moved through a more populated area in this stage of its life, it is likely that it would have caused much more dramatic damage. Fairly constant F3 damage was produced from Haven to Burrton and to the Little Arkansas River. The path width remained over 0.5miles in diameter.
Northeast of the Little Arkansas, the track abruptly decreased in width from 0.5miles to just over 300yd. Photographs suggest what appears to be a re-organization of the tornadic circulation; initially a wedge like appearance, the funnel quickly became tall and narrow. The most significant damage was done in this stage, however. The tornado plowed into the town of Hesston, just northwest of Newton on I-135. A total of 226 homes and 21 businesses were destroyed, and several were swept completely from their foundations with only slabs and empty basements remaining. A few of the homes were anchor-bolted to their foundations. Several industrial buildings were also obliterated, trees in town were completely shredded, and vehicles were thrown and severely mangled or stripped down to their frames. Portions of the damage path in Hesston were rated F5. 20 farms were torn apart in rural areas outside of town. Light debris from Hesston was found 115miles away in Nebraska. One person died and 59 people were injured.
The series of events that occurred as the tornado moved past the Hesston area were most interesting. Eyewitness accounts observed the touchdown of an additional tornado just to the north. This is consistent with models of what is known as a "tornado handoff", in which an old mesocyclone and tornado occlude as a new mesocyclone and tornado further downwind becomes dominant.[8] Over the course of a few miles, the new tornado intensified and the original one abruptly constricted and apparently became a satellite tornado to the new tornado. Eventually, the Hesston tornado (after traveling nearly 48miles) occluded and merged with the new tornado, and the supercell began to re-intensify. The new tornado rapidly became very large, and violent damage was produced by the second tornado in Marion County. Several homes were again obliterated and completely swept away. An elderly woman was killed, when tornado cleanly swept away her army barracks that was converted into a home, but without a basement. The tornado produced very severe cycloidal ground scouring in farm fields, and damage near the town of Goessel was "extreme F5" according to NWS damage surveyors. The severity of the damage left behind by this tornado led some meteorologists to believe that the Goessel tornado was among the strongest ever documented at that time. The storm passed Goessel, clipped the northwestern portion of Hillsboro, then dissipated just NE of Risley, approximately 22miles from its genesis.[9] [10] [11]
The same supercell would produce another long-tracked F2 tornado that damaged many farms and destroyed four homes on the southern side of Dwight.