Andover Mania

The tornado that produced the most extensive damage formed south of Clearwater, Kansas. It fluctuated between F2 and F3 intensity as it crossed I-35 and moved across the city of Haysville. Widespread damage was reported in Haysville, but there were no fatalities. On the east side of Haysville, the tornado became a solid F3 in strength as it crossed I-35/the Kansas Turnpike and headed toward McConnell Air Force Base.

Many people had advanced warning before the tornado struck McConnell Air Force Base. The tornado struck the base school & housing at F2-F3 strength. It caused $62 million in damage on base, narrowly missing a multi-billion dollar line of B-1 bombers. The damage path widened as the tornado intensified to F4 strength just East/Northeast of the base.

By 6:35 p.m., the tornado had expanded to just over 600 feet wide and was producing F5 damage on the Fujita scale. It continued to move northeast toward the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park in Andover, Kansas; as it passed through, it obliterated the park and caused thirteen deaths. The tornado then veered north, missing Girl Scout Camp Seikooc, where summer camp training was being conducted as well as a troop campout.

The tornado then moved on to the northeast, passing just south of Towanda. Most of the damage in this area was rated at F2-F3 intensity, though these numbers may be skewed: the rural area's lack of significant structures makes it difficult to accurately gauge the amount of damage. The tornado continued northeast and reached El Dorado Lake just before 7 p.m (CST). Video taken by local storm chasers shows that the tornado crossed over the lake and revealed a multiple vortex structure. Just after crossing over the lake to the Northeast, the original circulations dissipated and a new, much weaker tornado formed. The Andover tornado had traveled for nearly 46 miles, and was on the ground for over an hour.

This was the last F5 tornado that was recorded in Kansas under the old Fujita scale rating system. The next tornado of that scale, an EF5, was reported 16 years later on May 4, 2007 in Greensburg in Kansas about 120 miles west of the path of the 1991 tornado. Since February 1, 2007, the National Weather Service uses the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Andover
• Mania

[gymnastmike]

Where could I see the video as it passes over Lake Eldorado? I can't seem to find it. Thanks.

[RagingMoon1987]

I love the geranium pic at 2:22. Of all the documentaries I've seen about the Wichita/Andover tornado, I can only name one that mentions the geranium nursery and how the tornado turned pink. Very clever.

[Jettarock]

lol no Wichita survivor, just a few minutes before Andover was hit. We were actually pretty lucky.

[AJTwister97]

@Jettarock u mean ur one of the andover survivors!?

( cue dramatic music )

[Jettarock]

@AJTwister97 nope that is what happened. We were there and knew a few of the people who saw it happen. We however were in the basement, just thankful to have one.

[Anticyclonic]

The music used was originally "You Could Be Mine" by Guns'n'Roses. I know, because I was the one who made this compilation. I didn't shoot the footage, but I did the editing (hence my YT nickname). Me...Anti-"The Mad Editor"-cyclonic. Just thought I'd clear that up, because this hideous new music totally ruins the effect I was going for. Ugh, absolutely maniacal failage.

[MrSuperAdad]

Why would you use this song for this video? There are some strange you-tubers out there, indeed.

[AJTwister97]

i was watching a tornado special not too long ago, and they said that ppl saw 3 funnels merge on the edge of town, makin that tornado huge. but i think they have that mixdd up with a different tornado that happened 6 yrs later in texas

[savagelife727]

music messed the video up and the song itself

[eav0567]

Misguided music choices ruin otherwise great video footage.