Glazier-Higgins-Woodward Tornadoes
Encyclopedia
The 1947 Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornadoes was a system of related tornado
es that swept through Texas
, Oklahoma
, and Kansas
on April 9, 1947. Most of the damage and all the deaths are still blamed on one large F5 tornado, known as the Glazier-Higgins-Woodward Tornado, that traveled nearly 125 miles from Texas to Oklahoma. This tornado was often compared to the Tri-State Tornado, because it was originally thought to have left a 220 mile path, but it is now believed to have a been part of a family of 5 or 6 tornadoes. These tornadoes, although deadly, did not match the astounding death toll of the earlier event, nor did they match the record speed of that tornado, although at over 40 mph (64 km/h), they qualified as a fast tracking storm.
tornado dissipated, the first tornado of this event formed five miles (8 km) northwest of Pampa, Texas
. The series of tornadoes would cut a path of destruction through three states, ending near St. Leo, Kansas
. In Texas, the Glazier-Higgins-Wooward Tornado is believed to have started northwest of Canadian
. When it struck the tiny town of Glazier
, it may have been as much as two miles (3 km) wide. Press reports told of two people who were known to be together in Glazier before the tornado struck were found three miles (5 km) apart afterward. Glazier was considered completely destroyed, with 17 dead, a major percentage of the populace. Much of Higgins, Texas
, on the Texas-Oklahoma border, was also destroyed—the accepted death toll here was 51; again, a major fraction of the residents of the town were killed or injured.
The tornado was at its worst in Oklahoma—this was the deadliest storm in that state's tornado-troubled history. Six more people were killed when the tornado passed south of Shattuck
, Gage
, and Fargo
. The tornado then moved into Woodward
, where it killed an estimated 107 people. The damage track in Woodward was two miles (3 km) wide and destroyed 100 city blocks. The tornado dissipated in Woods County, west of Alva, Oklahoma, while the tornado family pressed on to Kansas.
As the storm cell moved into Kansas, it weakened, although serious damage was still reported in Barber County
before the last tornado dissipated north of Kingman County
. Cleanup in the region was made more difficult because of cold and snow that followed the tornado. The Glazier-Higgins-Woodward tornado was the 6th deadliest in U.S. history, killing 181 and injuring 970.
Total damage estimates were $747,850,050-$173,489,564 (2008 dollars).
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es that swept through Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
on April 9, 1947. Most of the damage and all the deaths are still blamed on one large F5 tornado, known as the Glazier-Higgins-Woodward Tornado, that traveled nearly 125 miles from Texas to Oklahoma. This tornado was often compared to the Tri-State Tornado, because it was originally thought to have left a 220 mile path, but it is now believed to have a been part of a family of 5 or 6 tornadoes. These tornadoes, although deadly, did not match the astounding death toll of the earlier event, nor did they match the record speed of that tornado, although at over 40 mph (64 km/h), they qualified as a fast tracking storm.
Event description
The tornadoes began in Texas. Just after the White DeerWhite Deer, Texas
White Deer is a town in Carson County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,060 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 1,007. It is part of the Amarillo, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
tornado dissipated, the first tornado of this event formed five miles (8 km) northwest of Pampa, Texas
Pampa, Texas
Pampa is a city in Gray County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gray County.Pampa is the principal city of the Pampa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Gray and Roberts counties....
. The series of tornadoes would cut a path of destruction through three states, ending near St. Leo, Kansas
St. Leo, Kansas
St. Leo is an unincorporated community in southwestern Kingman County, Kansas, United States. It is six miles north of K-42. St. Leo features a Catholic church and has an active parish community. The statistics of St...
. In Texas, the Glazier-Higgins-Wooward Tornado is believed to have started northwest of Canadian
Canadian, Texas
Canadian is the county seat of Hemphill County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,233 at the 2000 census. It is named for the Canadian River, a tributary of the nearby Arkansas River. Canadian is sometimes called "the oasis of the Texas Panhandle."-History:The trails along the river are...
. When it struck the tiny town of Glazier
Glazier, Texas
Glazier is an unincorporated community in Hemphill County, Texas, United States. It lies at the intersection of U.S. Highway 60 and State Highway 305, to the northeast of the city of Canadian, the county seat of Hemphill County. Its elevation is 2,615 feet . Local addresses are served by...
, it may have been as much as two miles (3 km) wide. Press reports told of two people who were known to be together in Glazier before the tornado struck were found three miles (5 km) apart afterward. Glazier was considered completely destroyed, with 17 dead, a major percentage of the populace. Much of Higgins, Texas
Higgins, Texas
Higgins is a city in Lipscomb County, Texas, United States, named after G.H. Higgins, a stockholder in the Santa Fe Railroad. The population was 425 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Higgins is located at ....
, on the Texas-Oklahoma border, was also destroyed—the accepted death toll here was 51; again, a major fraction of the residents of the town were killed or injured.
The tornado was at its worst in Oklahoma—this was the deadliest storm in that state's tornado-troubled history. Six more people were killed when the tornado passed south of Shattuck
Shattuck, Oklahoma
Shattuck is a town in Ellis County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,356 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Shattuck is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, Gage
Gage, Oklahoma
Gage is a town in Ellis County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 442 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Gage is located at ....
, and Fargo
Fargo, Oklahoma
Fargo is a town in Ellis County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 364 at the 2010 census. Fargo, like many towns in the region, has never fully recovered from the Dust Bowl years.-Geography:Fargo is located at ....
. The tornado then moved into Woodward
Woodward, Oklahoma
Woodward is a city in and the county seat of Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the largest city in a nine-county area. The population was 12,051 at the 2010 census....
, where it killed an estimated 107 people. The damage track in Woodward was two miles (3 km) wide and destroyed 100 city blocks. The tornado dissipated in Woods County, west of Alva, Oklahoma, while the tornado family pressed on to Kansas.
As the storm cell moved into Kansas, it weakened, although serious damage was still reported in Barber County
Barber County, Kansas
Barber County is a county located in South Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 4,861. Its county seat and most populous city is Medicine Lodge...
before the last tornado dissipated north of Kingman County
Kingman County, Kansas
Kingman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 7,858. The largest city and county seat is Kingman.-History:...
. Cleanup in the region was made more difficult because of cold and snow that followed the tornado. The Glazier-Higgins-Woodward tornado was the 6th deadliest in U.S. history, killing 181 and injuring 970.
Damage totals from the Red Cross
- Libscomb County-Texas-36 homes flattened, 1 damaged
- Hempill County-83 homes leveled, 116 damaged
- Texas-$1,505,000
- Ellis County-$1,264,000
- 52 homes destroyed, 133 damaged
- 223 other buildings destroyed, 107 damaged
- Woodward County-$6,608,750
- 430 homes destroyed, 650 damaged
- 925 other buildings destroyed, 975 damaged
- Woods County-$950,000
- 25 homes destroyed, 34 damaged
- 110 other buildings destroyed, 90 damaged
- Kansas-$200,000
Total damage estimates were $747,850,050-$173,489,564 (2008 dollars).
External links and sources
- Top Ten US Killer Tornadoes - #6 The Woodward Tornado
- The Woodward Tornado of April 9, 1947 (NWS Norman, OK)
- (http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ok/county/ellis/intro.html)
- (http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/075/mwr-075-04-0070.pdf)