Tornado outbreak of June 8, 1995 explained

Duration:June 8, 1995
Tornadoes:29
Fujita-Scale:F4
Deaths:0
Injuries:11
Damage:> $30 million
Affected:Texas Panhandle, Western Oklahoma
Season:Tornadoes of 1995

The tornado outbreak of June 8, 1995 was a severe, localized outbreak in the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma. It is most well known for the tornado that hit Pampa, along with the Allison F4, the Kellerville F4, and the Hoover F2. 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, while another spawned at least 8. 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] These conditions lead to several tornadic supercells, which were studied by the VORTEX project.

Confirmed tornadoes

All data are from NWS monthly storm data publication and NWS storm reports archive.[2] [3]

F#LocationCounty and State Start Time (UTC)Path lengthMax WidthProgression/Non-injury EffectsInjuries
F0NE of Idaho FallsBonneville County, Idaho22150.1 miles
(0.16 km)
10 yd
(9 m)
No damage was reported.0
F1Seligman to Eagle RockBarry County, Missouri210412 miles
(19.3 km)
250 yd
(229 m)
This tornado went through Roaring River State Park, uprooted trees, and caused $100,000 in damages by damaging nearly 100 camper-trailers.3
F0SE of Poplar BluffButler County, Missouri22520.25 miles
(0.40 km)
50 yd
(46 m)
Some trees were downed.0
F0ForsythTaney County, Missouri00280.1 miles
(0.16 km)
100 yd
(91 m)
0
F1SelmanHarper County, Oklahoma22150.2 miles
(0.32 km)
30 yd
(27 m)
Caused $4000 in damage. 1
F0NNE of ShattuckEllis County, Oklahoma01170.1 miles
(0.16 km)
30 yd
(27 m)
0
F2NNE of ReydonRoger Mills County, Oklahoma02185 miles
(8 km)
300 yd
(274 m)
Caused $5000 in damage.0
F0NE of RoxboroPerson County, North Carolina23521.0 miles
(1.6 km)
35 yd
(32 m)
Some trees were downed.0
F0SSE of West ForkWashington County, Arkansas00200.1 miles
(0.16 km)
30 yd
(27 m)
0
F0SSW of PampaGray County, Texas21270.1 miles
(0.16 km)
50 yd
(46 m)
First tornado produced by the Pampa supercell.0
F4PampaGray County, Texas21313 miles
(4.8 km)
200 yd
(183 m)
Second, and most destructive, tornado produced by the Pampa supercell (see also)7
F0E of PampaGray County, Texas21500.3 miles
(0.48 km)
100 yd
(91 m)
Third tornado produced by the Pampa supercell.0
F2HooverGray County, Texas21506 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.[4] Caused $100,000 in damage. This tornado passed close to the Rufe Jordan Unit.[5] and stripped asphalt from roads.0
F1NW of MiamiRoberts County, Texas21553 miles
(4.8 km)
200 yd
(183 m)
0
F1NNE of PampaGray County, Texas22002 miles
(3.2 km)
250 yd
(229 m)
0
F0S of PerrytonOchiltree County, Texas22151 mile
(1.6 km)
73 yd
(67 m)
0
F0SW of ClarendonDonley County, Texas22192 miles
(3.2 km)
100 yd
(91 m)
0
F1W of MiamiRoberts County, Texas223510 miles
(16 km)
250 yd
(229 m)
Caused $300,000 in damage.0
F2SW of McLeanDonley County, Texas225510 miles
(16 km)
500 yd
(457 m)
First tornado produced by the McLean supercell.0
F2SW of McLeanGray County, Texas22594 miles
(6.4 km)
300 yd
(274 m)
Caused $100,000 in damage. 0
F0McLeanGray County, Texas23102 miles
(3.2 km)
100 yd
(91 m)
0
F2SW of McLeanGray County, Texas23104 miles
(0.16 km)
400 yd
(366 m)
Second tornado produced by the McLean supercell.0
F0SW of McLeanGray County, Texas23211 miles
(1.6 km)
50 yd
(46 m)
Third tornado produced by the McLean supercell.0
F4N of McLean - NE of MobeetieGray County, Texas, Wheeler County, Texas233529 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.[6] Winds exceeding 110 m/s (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 in damage to crops and other property. Several structures were damaged. 0
F0NW of CanadianHemphill County, Texas23434 miles
(6.4 km)
150 yd
(137 m)
0
F0WNW of CanadianRoberts County, Texas23530.5 miles
(0.8 km)
50yd
(46 m)
0
F0N of McLeanGray County, Texas23550.1 miles
(0.16 km)
10 yd
(9 m)
0
F0N of McLeanGray County, Texas23550.1 miles
(0.16 km)
30 yd
(27 m)
0
F4SW of Allison - N of AllisonWheeler County, Texas, Hemphill County, Texas004515 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 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

Pampa, Texas
Duration:15 minutes
Fujitascale:F4
Winds:207-260 mph(333-418 kmh)
Fatalities:0
Injuries:7
Damage:$30 million (1995 USD)

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 in damage as it travelled through Pampa before it lifted in the middle of the city. 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.[7] 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 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.

See also

Tornado outbreak sequence of May 6-27, 1995

Notes and References

  1. 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 . EN . 130 . 11 . 2626–2648 . 10.1175/1520-0493(2002)130<2626:TJMTSP>2.0.CO;2 . 2002MWRv..130.2626D . 1520-0493. free .
  2. Web site: Center . Storm Prediction . NOAA's NWS Storm Prediction Center Storm Reports Historical Data . 2024-10-21 . www.spc.noaa.gov . EN-US.
  3. Web site: Storm Data Publication IPS National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) . 2024-10-21 . www.ncdc.noaa.gov.
  4. Web site: Tornadoes . Discover . 2022-05-04 . F5 tornado narrowly misses Texas prison . 2024-10-28 . Discover Tornadoes . en-US.
  5. Web site: 1995-06-08 . Pampa - Hoover, Texas Chase Tempest Tours Storm Chasers . 2024-10-23 . Tempest Tours . en-US.
  6. 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 . EN . 131 . 10 . 2197–2221 . 10.1175/1520-0493(2003)131<2197:TKTDVD>2.0.CO;2 . 2003MWRv..131.2197W . 1520-0493.
  7. Book: Grazulis, Thomas . Significant Tornadoes 1974-2022.
  8. Book: Thomas P. Grazulis . F5-F6 Tornadoes . 2021 . The Tornado Project.