The_Hesston_and_Goessel_tornado_family March_1990_Central_United_States_tornado_outbreak

the hesston, kansas tornado passed through town near interstate 135.

the tornadoes struck hesston , goessel both spawned same supercell thunderstorm. part of known tornado family; family included several additional touchdowns after goessel storm dissipated.

the first tornado of hesston storm touched down @ approximately 4:34 p.m. cdt northeast of pretty prairie. between 200 , 500 yards in diameter, , caused minimal (f1-f2) damage churned between castleton , cheney reservoir. photographic evidence suggests significant widening tornado approached haven , arkansas river. damage path ranged between 1/2 , 3/4 miles near haven, , several homes demolished indicating f4 damage. had tornado moved through more populated area in stage of life, have caused more dramatic damage. constant f3 damage produced haven burrton , little arkansas river. path width remained on 0.5 miles (0.80 km) in diameter.

northeast of little arkansas, track abruptly decreased in width 0.5 miles (0.80 km) on 300 yards (270 m). photographs suggest appears re-organization of tornadic circulation; wedge appearance, funnel became tall , narrow. significant damage done in stage, however. tornado plowed town of hesston, northwest of newton on i-135. total of 226 homes , 21 businesses destroyed, , several swept foundations slabs , empty basements remaining. several industrial buildings obliterated, , vehicles thrown , stripped down frames. portions of damage path in hesston rated f5. 20 farms torn apart in rural areas outside of town. light debris hesston found 115 miles (185 km) away in nebraska. 1 person died , 59 people injured.

the series of events occurred tornado moved past hesston area interesting. eyewitness accounts observed touchdown of additional tornado north. consistent models of known tornado handoff , in old mesocyclone , tornado occlude new mesocyclone , tornado further downwind becomes dominant. on course of few miles, new tornado intensified , original 1 abruptly constricted , apparently became satellite tornado new tornado. eventually, hesston tornado (after traveling 48 miles (77 km)) occluded , merged new tornado, , supercell began re-intensify. new tornado rapidly became large, , violent damage produced second tornado in marion county. several homes again obliterated , swept away , 1 additional fatality reported. tornado produced severe cycloidal ground scouring in farm fields, , damage near town of goessel extreme f5 according nws damage surveyors. severity of damage left behind tornado led meteorologists believe goessel tornado among strongest ever documented @ time. storm passed goessel , dissipated approximately 22 miles (35 km) genesis.