1973 Union City tornado

January 2026 1973 tornado in Oklahoma, U.S. the 1973 tornado in Oklahoma the 2026 tornado in Michigan 2026 Union City tornado 1973 Union City, Oklahoma tornado.jpg 300 A gray tornado tilts to the right, with a grey cloud above. The tornado, photographed by a National Severe Storms Laboratory research team May 24, 1973, 3:38 p.m. CDT (UTC–06:00) May 24, 1973, 4:04 p.m. CDT (UTC–06:00) 26 minutes atl F4 F4 tornadoPer the National Weather Service; Grazulis 1990 F5 F5 tornadoPer Golden Purcell 1978, Davies-Jones Burgess Lemon Purcell 1978, Moller Doswell III McGinley Tegtmeier 1974 * Per photogrammetric analysis: 134 to 179 mph km/hPurcell Golden 1978 22 2 4 US 1,000,000 1973 0 Canadian County, Oklahoma, specifically Union City, Oklahoma. Tornadoes of 1973 On May 24, 1973, a large and well-documented tornado moved across Canadian County, Oklahoma, striking the town of Union City. The tornado, which was on the ground for 26 minutes, killed two people and injured four others along a 10.6 mi km 0 on path. Damages from the tornado totaled an estimated $1 million (1973 USD). Numerous structures in Union City were severely damaged or destroyed by the tornado, including multiple grain elevators, farmsteads and mobile homes. The tornado marked the first time that researchers were able to directly intercept a tornado, which provided crucial data that had been unknown up to that point, including the discovery of the tornado vortex signature. Additionally, it was one of the most well-studied tornadoes in history, with multiple National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research teams observing and documenting the tornado. Tornado summary thumb|A photo of the tornado nearing the end of its life after tracking through Union City. At 3:38 pm CST, NSSL researchers noted a funnel cloud that aligned the first indications of tornadic damage, marking the beginning of the tornado's life cycle. The tornado was an estimated 574 ft m at the time it first touched down, with the physical funnel not completely condensing to the ground.Golden Purcell 1978 4 For the first ten minutes of the tornado's life cycle, its condensation funnel only briefly touched the ground two separate times, both lasting less than 15 seconds.Golden Purcell 1978 5 During this time, multiple farmsteads were impacted, with maximum damage of F2 on the Fujita scale being observed. At 2:48 pm the condensation funnel firmly planted, and remained visible for the duration of the tornado's life.Golden Purcell 1978 6 At the same time tree damage indicated that the tornado was continuously widening. Impact at the Sanders Home and Union City To the east, a home owned by the Sanders family was swept completely off its foundation and reportedly lofted into the air, with standing trees nearby being denuded and a car being stripped down to its frame.Golden Purcell 1978 8Blakey Katy 2014-04-02 Union City man offers shelter to Highway 81 drivers during tornadoes https://www.koco.com/article/union-city-man-offers-shelter-to-highway-81-drivers-during-tornadoes/4297796 2026-02-07 KOCO en Debris from the property was scattered and the engine of a car that had been located on the property was found 984 ft m to the west. Multiple cattle nearby were killed, with one being impaled in the hips by a wooden board.Davies-Jones Burgess Lemon Purcell 1978 14 The tornado entered Union City at 3:56, with the funnel tilting northeast. While in town, it turned southeast while accelerating to a forward speed of 20-25 mph km/h. Through town the tornado shrunk from 951 ft m to 196 ft m so dramatically while in town that residents who took shelter as it approached stated that they had seen two different tornadoes, and that the one that they first sheltered from was not the same tornado that they had seen leave the town. left|thumb|Vehicle mangled and wrapped around a tree near Union City|alt=A man standing by a car; the chassis is wrapped around a tree and the wheel axle is separated from the main body. Damage in Union City was severe, with car-sized debris being thrown hundreds of feet and multiple homes destroyed. The three-story Union City grain elevator was destroyed by the tornado, and another grain elevator was tipped over in the wind, falling onto a tank carrying ammonia and causing a leak that had to be fixed by police officers wearing hazmat gear.May 25, 1973 Residents Of Union City Survey Tornado Damage The Lawton Constitution Lawton, Oklahoma 1 Four mobile homes at a mobile home park were damaged. At a gas station, the tornado picked up a 3,000 lb kg on gasoline tank; it was never located.May 25, 1973 Tornado Rips Union City The Daily Oklahoman 2 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma In total, 50 homes were destroyed and 24 mobile homes sustained heavy damage.May 25, 1973 Tornado Whips Community of 500 Henryetta Daily Free-Lance Henryetta, Oklahoma 3 Maximum damage in the town was "between F4 and F5". According to meteorologist Rodger Brown, most people in the area were aware of the tornado as it approached town. Southeast of Union City, a large frame home was swept off its foundation, with debris being absent.January 17, 1975 Scientists Film Tornado's Life Cycle Centre Daily Times State College, Pennsylvania 11 The tornado dissipated at 4:04 pm;Brown Achtemeier Alberty Brandes 1976 6 it was on the ground for 26 minutes along a 10.6 mi km 0 on path.The May 24, 1973 Union City F4 Tornado https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19730524 2026-01-24 National Weather Service EN-US In total, two people were killed and at least four others were injured.Canadian County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present) https://www.weather.gov/oun/tornadodata-county-ok-canadian National Weather Service 2026-01-23 EN-US Multiple victims were taken to the Parkview Hospital in El Reno and the Baptist Medical Center, with all having injuries.May 25, 1973 Only 6 Hurt, But Property Damage High The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1 Damages totaled an estimated $1 million (1973 USD) in Union City alone. Meteorological analyses and significance thumb|NSSL researchers observing the tornado|alt=Two men handling a camera on a tripod, pointed at a funnel. The image is black-and-white. The tornado was scanned using an experimental Norman Doppler weather radar, the first time in history a tornado had been observed using such a device.2024-05-06 May Tornado Outbreaks That Were Deadly, Destructive https://weather.com/storms/tornado/news/2024-05-06-may-tornado-outbreaks-history 2026-01-23 The Weather Channel en-USCorp Pelmorex 2022-05-24 The 1973 Union City Tornado helped scientists better understand twisters https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/severe/this-day-in-weather-history-may-24-1973-union-city-tornado-makes-history 2026-01-23 The Weather Network en Initial observations using the device began 23 minutes before the tornado itself had touched down, and continued until the storm dissipated.Stockton William Radar Signature May Help Tornado Watch The Lewiston Daily Sun 12 Additionally, the tornado's entire life cycle was captured on film.Schoor Tanya January 4, 2016 NSSL: 1964–1980 https://inside.nssl.noaa.gov/nsslnews/2016/01/nssl-1964-1980/ 2026-01-23 National Severe Storms Laboratory Upon processing data that had been collected, National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) researchers discovered a pattern indication rotation in the storm;Schoor Tanya September 28, 2016 NSSL’s Dr. Rodger Brown to Retire https://inside.nssl.noaa.gov/nsslnews/2016/09/nssls-dr-rodger-brown-to-retire/ 2026-01-23 National Severe Storms Laboratory this pattern would later be defined as a tornado vortex signature. Since its discovery during the Union City event, this signature has helped implement lead times during tornadoes and prevent human mortality.Tornado Intercept: The Union City Twister and the Birth of Doppler Radar https://inside.nssl.noaa.gov/nsslnews/2023/05/union-city/ 2026-01-23 National Severe Storms Laboratory May 22, 2023The 40th anniversary of the Union City, OK tornadic storm https://inside.nssl.noaa.gov/nsslnews/2013/05/the-40th-anniversary-of-the-union-city-ok-tornadic-storm/ National Severe Storms Laboratory 2026-01-23 May 24, 2013 Cobb Susan Data collected during the tornado was presented at an American Geophysical Union meeting in February 1975.Scientists Report Closest Look, Tornadoes February 8, 1975 4 The Breeze-Courier Taylorville, Illinois Researchers who aided in scientific documentation and measurement of the tornado included Rodger Brown, Leslie Lemon and Donald W. Burgess. Additionally, aerial surveys conducted by NSSL researchers found that tornadic width and damage severity do not coorelate, with damage from the Union City tornado at its largest being similar to damage that was done while it was thinner. Photogrammetric analysis of footage that was taken of the tornado using debris inside of the funnel derived maximum wind speeds of 140 to 185 mph km/h within the tornado's debris cloud.April 30, 1975 Storm chasers film life cycle of tornado Iowa City Press-Citizen Iowa City, Iowa 21 A secondary photogrammetric analysis by researchers Joseph Golden and Daniel Purcell found maximum winds of 134 to 179 mph km/h.Purcell Golden 1978 22 Demand for storm cellars rose following the tornado, with one construction firm in Arkansas noting that 100 inquiries were made into shelters directly following the tornado as opposed to one inquiry multiple months prior.June 1, 1973 Due To Tornadoes Shelter Demand Mounts Southwest Times Record Fort Smith, Arkansas 73 The Royal Meteorological Society noted in 2018 that the tornado was "a turning point in understanding tornado and supercell morphology",2018-06-26 A History of Storm Chasing https://www.rmets.org/metmatters/history-storm-chasing 2026-01-23 Royal Meteorological Society en while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration described it as "a significant event in the history of severe weather research and forecasting" the following year.Story map: Inside Tornado Alley https://www.noaa.gov/stories/story-map-inside-tornado-alley National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2019-07-08 2026-01-23 en Other tornadoes One other tornado was documented in Oklahoma on May 24:The May 24, 1973 Union City F4 Tornado https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19730524 2026-01-23 National Weather Service EN-US F#LocationCountyStateStart Coord.Time (CST)Path lengthMax widthSummaryF0Near LawtonComancheOK26.5285 -81.894 Lawton (Apr. 29, EF0)16:000.4 mi km on on33 yd m on onA small and weak tornado briefly touched down and moved to the northeast, where it did light damage to a freight company. See also History of tornado research Tornadoes in Oklahoma List of F4, EF4, and IF4 tornadoes List of F5, EF5, and IF5 tornadoes References Footnotes Sources December 1976 The Union City, Oklahoma Tornado Of May 24, 1973 National Severe Storms Laboratory Brown Rodger A. Achtemeier Gary L. Alberty Ronnie L. Brandes Edward A. Burgess Donald W. Donald W. Burgess Davies-Jones Robert P. Donaldson, Jr. Ralph J. Golden Joseph H. Hughes Herbert G. Lemon Leslie R. Leslie R. Lemon Purcell Daniel Sirmans Dale Taylor William L. Vicek Charles L. Zittel W. David https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/17631 Davies-Jones Robert P. January 1978 Interpretation of Surface Marks and Debris Patterns from the 24 May 1973 Union City, Oklahoma Tornado https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/106/1/1520-0493_1978_106_0012_iosmad_2_0_co_2.xml January 23, 2026 American Meteorological Society Donald W. Burgess Donald W. Burgess Lemon Leslie R. Leslie R. Lemon Purcell Daniel Golden Joseph H. January 1978 Life Cycle of the Union City, Oklahoma Tornado and Comparison with Waterspouts https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/106/1/1520-0493_1978_106_0003_lcotuc_2_0_co_2.xml January 23, 2026 American Meteorological Society Daniel Purcell Violent Tornado Climatography, 1880–1982 Grazulis Thomas P. Thomas P. Grazulis May 1984 NUREG CR-3670 OSTI Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 7099491 free Grazulis Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989 November 1990 The Tornado Project of Environmental Films 978-1-879362-02-4 2 St. Johnsbury, Vermont 1 Moller Alan April 1974 Field Observations of the Union City Tornado in Oklahoma https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233176638_Field_Observations_of_the_Union_City_Tornado_in_Oklahoma January 24, 2026 ResearchGate Charles A. Doswell III Charles A. Doswell III Alan Moller McGinley John Tegtmeier Steve Purcell Daniel January 1978 Airflow Characteristics Around the Union City Tornado https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/106/1/1520-0493_1978_106_0022_acatuc_2_0_co_2.xml January 23, 2026 American Meteorological Society Joseph H. Golden Further reading Donaldson, Jr. Ralph J. January 1978 Observations of the Union City Tornadic Storm by Plan Shear Indicator https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/106/1/1520-0493_1978_106_0039_ootuct_2_0_co_2.xml January 23, 2026 American Meteorological Society Lemon Leslie R. September 1979 Severe Thunderstorm Evolution and Mesocyclone Structure as Related to Tornadogenesis https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/107/9/1520-0493_1979_107_1184_steams_2_0_co_2.xml?tab_body=abstract-display January 23, 2026 American Meteorological Society Charles A. Doswell III Charles A. Doswell III Leslie R. Lemon 1973-05-24 05-24 Category:Canadian County, Oklahoma 1973-05-24 1973-05-24 Category:1973 in science