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And a look back at the Fargo F5!
Welcome to another week of tornado history!
Thank you all for reading!
Here is our latest “This Week In Tornado History” Video! The Fargo, ND F5 Tornado – June 20, 1957! A newer section in the NW part of the city was hit. All property in an area 5 city blocks wide and 20 blocks long was destroyed. 1300+homes were damaged/destroyed, some were leveled and swept away. There were 10 fatalities. Summary about this event!
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🌪️ This Week In Tornado History
June 17, 1978 - “Whippoorwill”-Pomona Lake, KS: On the evening of June 17, 1978, a small outbreak of eight tornadoes occurred between the Great Plains and Midwest regions of the United States. The highest-rated twister occurred in Wisconsin at F2 strength, with the remaining seven only inflicting F0-F1 damage in Michigan, Iowa, and Kansas. These statistical values accepted at face value would not suggest the possibility of a historic tragedy having occurred on this day. However, just off the shores of Pomona Lake in the state of Kansas, unlikely circumstances led to one of the most bizarre catastrophes. In its wake, a glorious spectacle lay tarnished, sixteen lives lost, and much more stunned with heartache and confusion.
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c7c066b6-506b-44b6-8418-5ba43fb3bc5c/Sunkel_Whippoorwill_On_Shore-1.jpeg?t=1718595697)
The disabled Whippoorwill after it had been pulled to shore. Image from Warren Sunkel.
June 18, 2014 - Alpena, SD: An EF4 tornado tracked for 11.65 miles near Alpena, SD. A house was leveled, and a person in the basement was injured when debris fell into it. Trees were severely debarked.
June 19, 1835 - New Jersey: Thomas Grazulis documents a tornado that moved through Somerset and Middlesex Counties in New Jersey. It passed directly through New Brunswick and the village of Piscataway. About 150 buildings were destroyed, most in New Brunswick. Five people were killed along the path.
June 20, 2011 - Amherst, NE: A high-end EF3 tornado with wind speeds up to 160 mph struck near Amherst, NE. It destroyed four homes and damaged 40 others. Transmission towers were toppled.
June 21, 1981 - Littleton-Ray, IL: Half of the buildings and homes in Littleton were damaged/destroyed. There was 1 fatality. A man was struck by a beam as he was leaving his mobile home.
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a84889ae-b120-4879-ba92-af5cf9e6499e/littleton.jpg?t=1718596086)
Image from newspapers.com.
June 22, 2019 - Fergus Falls, MN: Thomas Grazulis documents an F5 tornado in Ottertail County, MN. It moved through Fergus Falls where most of the 57 deaths attributed to this event occurred. Approximately 400 buildings were destroyed. Lumber was carried 10 miles and a blanck check was foud 60 miles away.
June 23, 1924 - South Carolina: At least four small houses were demolished between Bishopville and Elliott, SC by an estimated F2 tornado. A mother and child were killed.
Check This Out!
Video from June 12 of a tornado west of Swan Lake, Manitoba!
Tornado west of Swan Lake, Manitoba! #mbstorm
— Braydon Morisseau (@BraydonMoreSo)
11:32 PM • Jun 12, 2024
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