1991 Great Plains tornado outbreak

Episode narrative

On April 25, 1991, the National Weather Service issued a warning of an impending weather system, noting that computer models were "indicating this to be a very significant severe weather producer with tornadoes occurring across the Central/Southern Plains." On the morning of April 26, the organization delineated a High risk of severe weather across the Great Plains.^[8] A southeast-tilted trough existed across the southwestern United States that morning, and a distinct jet streak, or a region of enhanced winds at the base of the trough, on the order of 75–85 kn (85–100 mph; 140–155 km/h) was progressing northeast toward the Plains.^[9][16] Through the morning, an 850 mb or approximately 5,000 ft (1,525 m) low-level jet of up to 60 kn (70 mph; 110 km/h) overspread regions from south-central Kansas northward into eastern Nebraska.^[17] A surface low-pressure area existed over southwestern Nebraska, supporting a dry line southward into Texas and a warm front southeastward across eastern sections of Kansas and Oklahoma.^[8]

Event narrative

In the unstable atmosphere between those two boundaries, surface dewpoints rose above 60 °F (15 °C). Abundant sunshine contributed to destabilization as lifted indices topped -12 from central Oklahoma into central Kansas and convective available potential energy reached 4,000 J/kg.^[8] A minimal capping inversion existed across Oklahoma even during the morning,^[9] and tornado-producing storms first developed across western Oklahoma around sunrise. These storms weakened as they moved northeast into Kansas.^[5] Back to the west, the dryline progressed rapidly eastward but began to slow precipitously during the afternoon. Attempts at thunderstorm development along this feature initially failed.^[8] At 17:10 UTC (12:20 p.m. CDT), the National Weather Service issued a particularly dangerous situation tornado watch, warning of the potential for multiple strong to violent tornadoes. This would be one of 24 convective watches issued during the day.^[9] Despite early failure at convective initiation, supercell thunderstorms rapidly erupted along the dryline during the afternoon as the jet streak propagated into the Great Plains, resulting in a regional outbreak of tornadoes stretching from Texas to Iowa. Violent tornadoes were concentrated in southern Kansas and Oklahoma, although intense tornadoes were also observed in Iowa, Texas, and Nebraska.^[5]

April 26 event

April 27 event

Haysville–Andover–El Dorado, Kansas

Quick facts Meteorological history, Formed ...

Haysville–Andover–El Dorado, Kansas

The tornado as seen from McConnell Air Force Base.
Meteorological history
Formed	April 26, 1991, 5:49 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Dissipated	April 26, 1991, 7:14 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration	1 hour and 25 minutes
F5 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds	261–318 mph (420–512 km/h)
Overall effects
Casualties	17 fatalities, 225 injuries
Damage	$300 million ($709,140,000 in 2025 USD)[96]

Close

At 5:49 p.m. CDT (22:49 UTC), this deadly and violent tornado began east of Clearwater, in Sedgwick County, Kansas. At 6:05 p.m. CDT (23:05 UTC), the National Weather Service issued a statement urging residents in Haysville, Derby, and Mulvane to seek shelter. This was succeeded by a tornado warning four minutes later. Around 6:16 p.m. CDT (23:16 UTC), the intensifying tornado began to affect southeastern sections of Wichita and directly struck Haysville.^[97] It produced strong F2 to F3 damage in Haysville while growing to a width of about 220 yards (200 m) and acquiring multi-vortex characteristics. The tornado crossed the Kansas Turnpike about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of the South Wichita Interchange.^[98] In eastern Wichita, some well-built houses in the Greenwich Heights Subdivision were completely leveled, indicative of strong F3 to F4 damage. Four people were killed at this location.^[50] At 6:24 p.m. CDT (23:24 UTC), the violent tornado struck the McConnell Air Force Base, where it narrowly missed a lineup of 10 B-1B bombers each worth $280 million and two of which were equipped with nuclear warheads.^[97][99] Nine major facilities on the base were destroyed, including the officer's club, base hospital, library, and elementary school. In addition, 102 housing units were demolished. No fatalities were recorded there, though 16 people were injured and total losses reached $62 million.^[100] As the tornado continued to move toward US 54 in the direction of Andover,^[97] it prompted forecasters to issue a heightened tornado warning alerting residents in Augusta and Andover that a damaging tornado was approaching. Despite this warning, the tornado sirens in Andover failed.^[101][102]

At 6:31 p.m. CDT (23:31 UTC), with the sirens not functional, the police drove through the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park and through the town warning residents to seek shelter. 10 minutes later, the now large wedge-stovepipe hybrid tornado entered southern Andover and began to impact the mobile home park, which ultimately sustained a direct hit.^[97] Of the 244 manufactured homes, 205, or about 84 percent of them, were destroyed. Post-storm interviews by health officials found that 339 residents were home during the tornado, of which 146 evacuated, 149 sought refuge in the community shelter, and 38 remained in their homes. No casualties occurred among individuals who fled or utilized the shelter.^[103] However, 13 people were killed,^[5] another 17 were hospitalized, and nine sustained minor injuries among the group who remained in their structures.^[103] Additional homes were swept from their foundations to the west of this park, where the Andover tornado earned its F5 rating.^[5] Throughout the city, over 1,500 residences were devastated.^[104] The tornado continued northeast, affecting the outskirts of Towanda. Twenty minutes later, the violent tornado dissipated west of El Dorado and north of the Kansas Turnpike, though the parent supercell later produced additional tornadoes further across Butler County.^[97] Along the tornado's path, 84 frame houses and 14 businesses were leveled. A total of 225 people were injured.^[47][102] It was the final Kansas tornado to be given an F5 rating prior to the implementation of the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which was principally used on the Greensburg EF5 tornado on May 4, 2007.^[96]

Garber–Red Rock–Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Quick facts Meteorological history, Formed ...

Garber–Red Rock–Pawhuska, Oklahoma

A photo of the tornado taken southeast by Alan Moller approaching I-35 near Ceres.
Meteorological history
Formed	April 26, 1991, 6:30 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Dissipated	April 26, 1991, 7:55 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration	1 hour and 25 minutes
F4 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds	Official intensity: 207–260 mph (333–418 km/h) Radar estimated: 286 mph (460 km/h) (Measurement by University of Oklahoma mobile radar)[8]
Overall effects
Casualties	6 injuries
Damage	$500,000 ($1,180,000 in 2025 USD)[105][47]

Close

While the Andover F5 and several other tornadoes in Kansas and Nebraska were ongoing, supercell thunderstorm complexes produced tornadoes in northern Oklahoma. In Garfield County, the National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma issued a tornado warning at 6:27 p.m. CDT (23:27 UTC) for the entire region.^[106] Three minutes later, a large and violent tornado touched down approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of Garber, at 6:30 p.m. CDT (23:30 UTC). This tornado was the third in its family, following the dissipation of an F3 tornado that occurred south of Breckinridge or east of Enid,^[39][43] and a brief F0 tornado that occurred in the area.^[18][5][107]

Tracking east-northeast of Garber and east of the Garfield–Noble County border, after crossing over into the neighboring county at 6:38 p.m. CDT (23:38 UTC), the tornado impacted a residence around 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of Billings, inflicting F3 damage to a house. In the vicinity, the tornado as well destroyed some oil tanks, toppled well pumps, and snapped power poles as its width increased to 0.5 miles (880 yd; 0.80 km). Continuing on its east-northeastern trajectory, the tornado grew in both intensity and size as it moved 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of Billings, attaining violent intensity and growing up to 0.75 miles (1,320 yd; 1.21 km) wide. Located west of Interstate 35 at this point, the violent tornado caused F4 damage to a property, obliterating the home and debarking numerous trees. The tornado persisted across Noble County, passing between Marland and the Otoe Indian Agency and causing damage to two farmsteads in its wake.^{[18][5][107][105]}

To the north of Red Rock simultaneously, a storm chasing research team from the University of Oklahoma (OU), lead by Dr. Howard Bluestein, used a portable Doppler weather radar during their deployment and observation of the storm on US 77, around 2 miles (3.2 km) north of OK 15 as the tornado passed over the highway. Their radar, located south of the tornado, recorded maximum estimated winds ranging from 120–125 metres per second (270–280 mph; 430–450 km/h) at the top of the funnel. According to the Oklahoma Mesonet, winds possibly reached as high as 286 miles per hour (460 km/h). This extreme wind speed observation by the OU research team suggested probable F5-level winds at the surface. This was both the first ever instance of F5 winds to be measured by a radar, and also at the time, the highest observed wind measurement taken of a tornado ever recorded, until an F5 tornado that struck central Oklahoma over 8 years later surpassed the record. The tornado afterwards, entered Osage County at 7:21 p.m. CDT (00:21 UTC), dropping in strength from F4 to F3 intensity before it moved north of Fairfax. Nearby, the tornado uprooted many trees, and caused intense damage to one house in the area. As the tornado was 10 miles (16 km) west of Pawhuska, the storm struck a large oil rig, which with its 18 in (46 cm) foundation, was toppled over. After being on the ground for around 35 minutes since entering Osage County earlier, the tornado dissipated 9 miles (14 km) west-northwest of Pawhuska, at 7:55 p.m. CDT (00:55 UTC). Along its path, the tornado reportedly scoured and blew away parts of several county roads.^{[8][108][109][110][18][5][107]}

This large and extremely violent tornado was one of several twisters across Oklahoma that were spawned by a cyclic supercell, occurring at the same time another F4 tornado formed over in southern Kansas. Dubbed the Red Rock tornado, it was the longest tracked and second largest tornado of the entire outbreak, traversing a path 66 miles (106 km) long across Garfield, Noble and Osage Counties, with a maximum width of 1,500 yards (0.85 mi; 1,400 m) wide, placing it behind another F4 tornado that struck in Pawnee County, Oklahoma. The Red Rock tornado largely avoided any populated areas, impacting a few structures on rural properties and farmsteads, which garnered it its F4 rating as acknowledged by the National Weather Service office in Norman. Six people were injured, though no fatalities were attributed.^{[47][18][5][107]} The Red Rock tornado was the last violent tornado to take place in Garfield County, until an EF4 tornado struck areas near Enid, Oklahoma almost 35 years later, on April 23, 2026.^[111]

Arkansas City–Winfield–Burden, Kansas

Quick facts Meteorological history, Formed ...

Arkansas City–Winfield–Burden, Kansas

The tornado as seen at its peak width northeast of Winfield.
Meteorological history
Formed	April 26, 1991, 6:30 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration	Unknown
F4 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds	207–260 mph (333–418 km/h)
Overall effects
Casualties	1 fatality

Close

This tornado touched down around 5 miles (8.0 km) west-northwest of Arkansas City, Kansas at around 6:30 p.m. CDT.^[112] The tornado initially produced only F1 level damage to trees as it crossed the Arkansas River. The tornado intensified to F3 intensity as it approached Strother Field in rural Cowley County, where the tornado picked up and tossed a grain bin across fields around two miles to the south-southwest, leaving large scratch marks in the ground approximately 0.6 miles (0.97 km) long.^[112] As the tornado passed over the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, numerous tombstones were picked up and knocked over before the tornado crossed US 77, around 1.25 miles (2.01 km) south of Strother Field. ^[112]

The tornado continued to widen and intensify as it passed Strother Field to the southeast, before intensifying to F4 strength as it damaged or destroyed several homes around 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the airport.^[112] Damage to one home may have been worthy of an F5 rating according to a report in 2001 by Thomas Grazulis. He stated that one home was reportedly damaged so badly that surveyors failed to notice it.^[48]

The tornado began to veer to the north before crossing the Walnut River, likely caused by a microburst around 0.5 miles (0.80 km) to the south.^[112] The tornado weakened to F2 intensity only producing damage to trees and barns. The tornado widened to its maximum width of 0.4 miles (0.64 km) around four miles west of Winfield, before striking the Frog Hollow Oil Field, where several oil tanks were toppled and rolled up to half a mile away from their starting points.^[112] In the same area, the tornado destroyed a mobile home, claiming the life of the occupant despite advanced warning that a tornado was approaching. The tornado mostly produced F2 - F3 level damage to farmsteads for the remainder of its track before lifting around 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west-northwest of Burden.^[112] It was noted that a microburst noted near the end of the tornadoes track may have caused the tornado to dissipate.^{[18][47][48][49][50][112]}

El Dorado Lake–Kansas Turnpike–Cassoday, Kansas

Quick facts Meteorological history, Formed ...

El Dorado Lake–Kansas Turnpike–Cassoday, Kansas

A still from the infamous Kansas Turnpike video showing the tornado.
Meteorological history
Formed	April 26, 1991, 7:10 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Dissipated	April 26, 1991, 7:25 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration	15 minutes
F2 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds	113–157 mph (182–253 km/h)
Overall effects
Casualties	4 injuries
Damage	$250,000 ($5,910,000 in 2025 USD)[53]

Close

After causing widespread destruction in Andover, the parent supercell continued northeast and produced another strong tornado.^[113] This thin but significant tornado, rated F2, tracked for 21 miles (34 km) across Butler and Chase Counties in Kansas.^[53] It paralleled the Kansas Turnpike for many miles before eventually crossing the road south of Cassoday,^[114] tossing vehicles up to 75 yards (69 m) away from the turnpike. The tornado gained notoriety when journalists Ted Lewis and Gregg Jarrett from the NBC-affiliate KSNW-TV, sought shelter underneath an overpass on the Kansas Turnpike. Video from the crew shows a minivan several hundred yards down the turnpike being rolled multiple times, with other vehicles such as large semi-trailer trucks overturned and severely damaged as well. Jarrett was awarded the Heartland Emmy Award for his news segment of the tornado.^[11][115] Alongside the 1979 Wichita Falls, Texas F4 tornado, this marked the second prominent example of people seeking refuge from a tornado underneath an overpass. Information from the National Weather Service initially and indirectly contributed to this line of thought as well.^[116][117]

During the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak, the consequences of this practice were realized. On May 3, 1999, there were three locations where a highway overpass was utilized as a shelter from approaching tornadoes, and at all three locations there was at least one fatality. One of these, the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore, Oklahoma F5 tornado, was at violent F4–F5 intensity as it impacted the overpass. One incorrect notion from the Kansas Turnpike video was that the film crew was protected by the weaker nature of the tornado as it passed over a primarily rural area, in contrast to the Bridge Creek–Moore tornado. However, another F2 tornado on May 3, 1999, killed one individual, proving that tornadoes of any intensity are capable of killing people harboring under overpasses. In addition to the fatalities, many people who survived these tornadoes nonetheless suffered graphic injuries and sometimes permanent disabilities.^[116]

Since the Kansas Turnpike video and events on May 3, meteorologists have strongly advised people to avoid seeking shelter under highway overpasses for many reasons. One, it exposes individuals to flying debris, which is the number one cause of death in tornadoes. Two, the elevated nature of the overpass subjects people to stronger winds than at ground level. Three, overpasses may act to channel and accelerate the wind. Four, many overpasses do not have girders for individuals to hold onto, such as was the case during the Kansas Turnpike video. Fifth, tornadic winds shift directions as the vortex passes, such that people originally protected from winds will still be exposed to its effects following the wind shift. The National Weather Service therefore notes, "seeking shelter under a highway overpass is to become a stationary target for flying debris, with a substantial risk of being blown out and carried by the tornado winds". Lastly, motorists who quickly park their cars under an overpass without pulling over to the side first can cause an unexpected traffic jam, that may slow/strand other drivers due to the risk of collision.^[116]

Terlton–Westport–Skiatook, Oklahoma

Quick facts Meteorological history, Formed ...

Terlton–Westport–Skiatook, Oklahoma

The tornado is seen near the Cimarron Turnpike in Pawnee County.
Meteorological history
Formed	April 26, 1991, 8:10 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Dissipated	April 26, 1991, 9:27 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration	1 hour and 17 minutes
F4 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds	207–260 mph (333–418 km/h)
Overall effects
Casualties	1 fatality, 24 injuries
Damage	$3,000,000 ($7,090,000 in 2025 USD)[118]

Close

Following the cycle of an F2 tornado that passed north and west of Cushing and Yale, Oklahoma;^[58] the parent thunderstorm complex dropped at 8:10 p.m. CDT (01:10 UTC) a large, and violent tornado 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of Terlton, just north of the Creek−Pawnee County border. The tornado moved east-northeast as it passed by Terlton, missing the town from a direct hit, which previously was hit by one of two other deadly F4 tornadoes that struck the region exactly 7 years prior, on April 26 and 29, 1984.^[119] Northeast of the small city and west of OK 48, the tornado remained weak at F0 intensity, causing mainly light tree damage across Pawnee County.^[18][5][120]

Crossing over OK 48, the tornado intensified further to F1-F2 strength as it inflicted significant amounts of damage to structures and powerlines, around 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of the Cimarron Turnpike. The tornado at this point, had a width of 0.125 miles (0.201 km) across. Moving away further away from the highway, the tornado rapidly intensified in both width and intensity, reaching a width of nearly 1 mile (1,800 yd; 1.6 km) and attaining F4 intensity on the turnpike. The now violent tornado swept off several motorists off the road, killing one man as the tornado overturned his car. Nearby, five other people sustained injuries but survived.^[18][5][120]

At 8:30 p.m. CDT (01:30 UTC) the tornado made its way into Westport, narrowing in width to 400 yards (370 m) wide and striking the Keystone Airpark, maintaining significant intensity as it caused damage to four hangars at that location. Seven aircraft were destroyed, including two that were deposited into nearby trees. The airport's fire station was leveled, with one fire truck that was moved by the tornado beyond the runway and flung into a wooded area 0.25 miles (0.40 km) away. A mile ahead to the east, the storm then entered the Ridgemont Estates area, with violent intensity. The tornado inflicted major F4 damage to houses and the nearby woods. Within Westport, the tornado impacted approximately 94 homes. Of the 94 residential properties that were impacted, 54 were completely demolished, with 8 suffering substantial amounts of destruction, while 32 homes had minor damage. Some 5 mobile homes were impacted as well, alongside several other structures, and approximately 70 vehicles. The community center within Westport also was damaged in the process as the tornado swept through. Despite the impact, the tornado claimed no casualties in the area.^[18][5][120]

The tornado then crossed Keystone Lake, and into Osage County around 14 minutes later at 8:44 p.m. CDT (01:44 UTC). The tornado reportedly lifted off the ground for a brief time, before consolidating in the vicinity of New Prue and a half-mile southwest of the John Zink Scout Ranch. The tornado afterwards impacted the scout ranch, destroying a lodge where several girl scouts took shelter. None of the scouts themselves were harmed during their encounter with the tornado. Every tree in the storm's path were snapped or uprooted as the track continued northeast, to the extreme southern point of Skiatook Lake. Along the lake, the tornado damaged a marina, where a few boats that were docked were impacted. The tornado persisted and at 9:15 p.m. CDT (02:15 UTC) struck a propane company on OK 20, a mile and a half west of Skiatook. The powerful twister then moved into a subdivision of homes a mile northwest of Skiatook, at this point harboring F3 level winds. Here, the tornado caused destruction to less than 100 houses, as 32 were destroyed and 11 sustained major levels of damage. An estimated 45 homes received minor damage caused by the tornado. The path for a short time, continued further to the northeast until the tornado dissipated at 9:27 p.m. CDT (02:27 UTC). The tornado ended just west of the Osage−Tulsa County border.^[18][5][120]

The Westport tornado was the largest tornado of the entire outbreak by size, with a maximum width of less than a mile, or 1,700 yards (0.97 mi; 1,600 m) wide when the storm was at the Cimarron Turnpike, along a track 32 miles (51 km) long. It was one of several violent tornadoes to occur during the outbreak, attaining an F4 rating. One man was killed while 24 others were injured, making it one of the more impactful tornadoes of the outbreak. The storm inflicted around $3 million (1991 USD) in damages across its over hour long track.^{[18][5][120][118]}

Oologah, Oklahoma

Quick facts Meteorological history, Formed ...

Oologah, Oklahoma

The nocturnal tornado in Oologah as seen from a power plant security camera.
Meteorological history
Formed	April 26, 1991, 9:45 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Dissipated	April 26, 1991, 9:55 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration	10 minutes
F4 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds	207–260 mph (333–418 km/h)
Overall effects
Casualties	22 injuries
Damage	$15,000,000 ($35,460,000 in 2025 USD)[121]

Close

The supercell which previously produced the Westport tornado cycled, and at 9:45 p.m. CDT (02:45 UTC) produced another violent tornado in Rogers County, Oklahoma; just 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the outskirts of Oologah.^[18][5][122]

The circulation that developed into this tornado, began southeast of the four-way intersection connecting both South 4090 and East 390 Roads, just on the northwestern part of Oologah. The tornado right after moving northeast, entered the proper city limits, rapidly becoming destructive and causing widespread damage to a subdivision north of downtown.^[18][5][122]

Around five dozen homes, and 16 trailers were destroyed as the violent tornado went through. The tornado then went further and devastated an area containing sixteen apartment complex buildings and 30 barns on the north side of Oologah. The tornado afterwards then hit the Oologah School Complex, inflicting significant structural damage to K-12 buildings located on the grounds of the complex. Around 22 people were injured during the tornado, though no deaths occurred. The storm left a path around this time that was up to around 0.75 miles (1,320 yd; 1.21 km) wide as it was causing F4 damage in town.^[18][5][122]

The devastating tornado then exited the north side of Oologah, remaining on the ground for a few minutes as it headed towards Oologah Lake, until dissipating at 9:55 p.m. CDT (02:55 UTC) on the western bank of the water body. The Oologah tornado, while not a long-lasting tornado, was the costliest and most destructive event to take place in Oklahoma during the outbreak. Along a track 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 1,300 yards (0.74 mi; 1,200 m) wide, the tornado during its 10-minute lifespan racked up monetary losses upwards of $15 million (1991 USD). Of that amount, approximately $12 million in damages was inflicted to the Oologah K-12 complex.^{[18][5][122][121]}

Beside tornadic events, the parent supercell also brought in damaging winds caused by powerful downbursts, that occurred on the southern flank of the tornado's track. These non-tornadic winds damaged structures in a consistent "starburst" pattern 5 miles (8.0 km) long, from southwest of Oologah to the city itself. Within the community, downburst winds blew trees down and inflicted roof damage. Some houses and mobile homes 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the southwest, experienced heavier levels of damage. Large transmission towers which supported high tension wiring from the nearby Public Service Company of Oklahoma power station, were collapsed. All the towers within a mile-long stretch were blown down toward the east-southeast.^[18][5][122]

Regional impact and response

In the wake of the tornado outbreak, Kansas state governor Joan Finney requested that U.S. President George H.W. Bush supply Sedgwick, Butler, and Cowley Counties with federal disaster aid, a move that the president later approved. Under the $2.6 million program,^[123] the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) paid 75 percent of the cost for disaster cleanup, while the local government paid 15 percent, and the state paid the remaining 10 percent.^[124] Oklahoma state governor David Walters likewise requested federal assistance for six counties in his state. American Red Cross and civil defense officials scoured devastated homes and rendered aid to about 370 families affected by the storms.^[125] After two Oklahoma counties were not granted disaster assistance, local officials in Garfield and Washington Counties criticized FEMA's decision. The organization responded by noting that additional counties could be added to the list in the future but that damage in those counties was marginal for a presidential declaration.^[126] Two days later, federal assistance was made available to both counties.^[127]

In the Oologah–Talala school district of Oklahoma, which was all but devastated during the tornado outbreak, the Oklahoma State Department of Education voted to forgive the remaining 23 days of classes, the largest number of instructional days forgiven in a single school year on record at the time. Individual student conferences were held at a local church. About 170 construction workers worked double shifts to repair the school grounds, which were tentatively set to reopen on August 12. Of the district's 24 buses, 15 were repaired in the weeks following the tornado outbreak, while nine were rendered inoperable.^[128] The school district reopened on August 15.^[129]

The Next-Generation Radar era

The 1991 outbreak occurred during a period of modernization for the National Weather Service and helped highlight the value of weather radar imagery for detecting tornadoes. In April 1991, the WSR-88D NEXRAD radar in Norman, Oklahoma, was the only radar of its kind with Doppler capabilities, and even then it had not been cleared for use in day-to-day operations. In Oklahoma, the higher resolution radar displayed important storm-scale characteristics such as mesocyclones, some of which were seen over 125 miles (200 km) away in Kansas. For comparison, the outdated radars in that state, though closer, did not depict significant features indicative of an ongoing tornado. Instead, forecasters in Kansas were forced to rely on reports from the public and storm chasers. In an internal assessment of the event, the National Weather Service concluded that "The NWS should continue to implement the Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) network across the Nation. This event illustrates the usefulness of the WSR-88D velocity fields and better azimuthal resolution reflectivity data." The implementation of these radars have improved tornado lead times in modern years.^[130]

In popular media

The outbreak was featured in two different documentaries: The Enemy Wind, a documentary produced by The Weather Channel,^[131] and Cyclone!, a documentary produced and distributed by National Geographic under its National Geographic Home Video series.^[132]