It is that time of the year again. 1966

[MuseRider]

Last edited Sat Jun 8, 2024, 01:13 PM - Edit history (1)

These years tornado storms have gotten bigger and more deadly. I live close to Topeka, Kansas but I grew up in Topeka and was stranded and witnessed this huge storm. It has been overtaken now by bigger storms and we know so much more but at the time it was almost too much to believe. This city brings it up every year, puts together stories written by people who were there and it is always something I must read. SO I put it up here for anyone interested in tornado's. They are so much more common, the big ones, but when this hit it was considered an outlier. I was 12 when this happened. With a friend and we watched it go over and saw a few of the other twisters that showed up. Manhattan, Ks. took a big hit that night as well. I had to beg someones Dad to take me home, not far thankfully, but away from the damage. My family was gone, no note and they did not return until well after midnight. That is the stranded part. While tornado's hold my attention part of it was not knowing where they were and if they were coming back, they even took the dog. They were out looking at the damage getting as close as they could to my dads business and then checked in on my Grandma and got her arranged. When they got home hours later they were surprised I was there, I was 12...my story. If you are interested in stories there are a ton of them at the link. There is even one written by Kerry Livgren if you look hard enough. Be safe and take cover. As usual I forgot the link, sorry.

https://tornado.cjonline.com/

[Walleye]

1. Wow interesting story. I experienced hurricanes growing up in Delaware in the 50s and 60s

And my mother grew up on Eastern shore of Va. in the 30s. There was a legendary hurricane there that wiped out everything. So I have tried to imagine what it was like back then to get hit with a storm that size and not have any satellite imagery or sophisticated weather forecasts telling you it’s coming.

[MuseRider]

4. We all watched.

We all were kind of tornado savy. Most law enforcement knew what to look for and who to report it to. If they had been just a tiny bit later with the warnings we would all have experienced a much worse catastrophy. It scares me to think about it, even now there are problems. You have to look out for yourself a bit and not be afraid to go to the basement just because it makes you nervous. Just go. In the stories it makes you aware of how many people were there when the NWS told them and then us that there was a watch going out. They risked all to keep us safe.

[nocoincidences]

2. I don't see a link....

[MuseRider]

3. Because I forgot it,

sorry. OK I just put it up again but it is not showing. Old news in an old paper. I will look for it some more.

[MuseRider]

5. Try this.

It is NWS and a much smaller site but it has some info if you want it.

https://www.weather.gov/top/1966TopekaTornado#:~:text=June%208th%20marks%20the%2056th,deadly%20tornadoes%20in%20Kansas%20history.

Trying the other again...I do not have a subscription for the paper anymore, it sucks and is tiny and they want more money than they deserve.

https://tornado.cjonline.com/?cat=9

The story should show up if you interested enough by looking up A Twist of Fate. Topeka tornado.

[nocoincidences]

6. TY and also sorry...

for making you work so hard to find and post it.

[MuseRider]

7. No problem.

I have always been fascinated by the weather. I enjoy looking around about it so no problem at all.