Meteorologists say the first Springfield tornado crossed Interstate 72 near milepost 92 about 8:20 p.m. The storm was on the ground for 5 1/2 miles over six minutes, entering the city near Cockrell Lane and Constitution Drive, tracking east-northeast. About 300 yards wide, the tornado damaged several businesses from Constitution to Veterans Parkway and Lindbergh Boulevard.
The track widened to four-tenths of a mile as it moved south of Wabash Avenue, between Veterans Parkway and Chatham Road. It widened further to just more than half a mile wide from the village of Jerome to Westchester Boulevard. It then weakened slightly, producing F1 (73 to 112 mph winds) damage as it turned to the northeast. The damage path remained nearly half a mile wide.
The tornado's width decreased to about one-quarter mile as it strengthened again and turned to the north-northeast near Iles Park and the area of Oak and Myrtle streets between Sixth and Ninth streets, blowing roofs off of homes and severely damaging garages and business. The first tornado dissipated just north of Ninth Street and South Grand Avenue, the weather service said.
A second twister then touched down about 8:25 p.m. a quarter-mile north of Bunn Park, tracking to the northeast and doing the worst of its damage in an area bounded by 15th Street and Cornell, South Grand and Pope avenues. Trees, roofs and vehicles were damaged along Old U.S. 54 from New Berlin to Springfield and for several miles to the south.
Once the brunt of the storm reached Springfield, it hit areas all along Wabash Avenue and the Wabash Trail bike path, which runs from Robbins Road to Park Street, damaging or destroying many businesses along its path and homes in the Westchester and Sherwood subdivisions, the village of Jerome and other areas along the way. For details and pictures, visit the SJR site.
2 comments:
Recall summer of 1957...when we were in NY City on the junior-senior trip? This very path, nearly so, hit 8th and 7th.....the Lochbaum house was not damaged much. According to the experts, the oak in the backward that was ripped landed on top of the house and saved it.
We from out in the south part of town were relieved when we finally got home to a home, despite the debris.
Nearly 50 year cycle?
Lee
Oh I remember the '57 one quite well as I helped dig my Mother and a few other ladies out of a basement beauty shop on 7th Street, fortunately no one in this basement was seriously hurt, just shook up.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all residents of Springfield.
Tom Brosch
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