1957 Ruskin Heights tornado

{{Main|Tornado outbreak of May 19–22, 1957#Background}}

File:Watches.png

Early on May 20, a {{convert|75|to|80|kn|mi/h km/h|adj=on}} mid-level jet stream bisected dew points of {{convert|65|F|C|abbr=on|lk=on}}, coincident with a {{convert|986|mb|inHg|adj=on}} low-pressure area and warm front over southeastern Nebraska. Soundings and surface weather observations indicated a robust, unstable warm sector, showing 3,000 J/kg of surface-based convective available potential energy (CAPE) and the presence of strong wind shear, all which favored the development of supercells.{{cite web |title=Ruskin Heights Tornado of May 20 1957 |url=https://www.weather.gov/eax/RuskinHeights |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, MO Weather Forecast Office |publisher=National Weather Service |location=Pleasant Hill, Missouri}}{{cite web |author=Jonathan Finch |title=North America Tornado Cases 1950 to 1959 |url=https://bangladeshtornadoes.org/UScases50to59.html |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=Bangladesh Tornadoes}} At 17:00 UTC (12:00 p.m. CDT) the Severe Local Storms Unit (SELS) in Kansas City had already issued a severe weather watch, mentioning tornadoes, for the Kansas–Nebraska state line and its environs. Subsequent updates covered much of the eastern Great Plains, from the Green Country to southeastern Nebraska. Upon formation, severe thunderstorms traveled at up to {{convert|42|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}, attended by extremely large hail.

File:F5 Ruskin Heights, Missouri tornado at touchdown in Kansas 1957.png

File:1957 Ruskin Heights tornado damage.png

The tornado which was likely a family of tornadoes, was first seen as it was forming near Williamsburg, it then moved northeastward through several counties, producing near-continuous damage; a single tornado was likely present for {{convert|50|mi|km|abbr=on}} or more. Around Homewood, the tornado was attended by up to 10 tentacle-like vortices or satellite tornadoes, producing major damage to rural property and carrying gravestones miles away. Near Homewood, it was determined from ground surveys that two tornadoes were on the ground at the time, with the second one being rated F3.{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Michael |date=May 17, 2017 |title=The Ruskin Heights Tornado: Sixty Years Since |url=https://kchistory.org/blog/ruskin-heights-tornado-sixty-years |access-date=November 28, 2024 |website=The Kansas City Public Library}}{{Cite web |title=Storm Events Database - Event Details {{!}} National Centers for Environmental Information |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10027754 |access-date=November 28, 2024 |website=www.ncdc.noaa.gov}} Passing near Ottawa, Rantoul, and Spring Hill, it leveled many homes and caused seven fatalities. South of Wellsville, the tornado may have dissipated and reformed; it then continued uninterrupted for the rest of its life.

Along the Kansas–Missouri border the tornado followed a near-straight line, causing $1 million in losses in Kansas, along with seven deaths. Affecting the southern suburbs of Kansas City, it entered Missouri, tearing through Martin City, Hickman Mills, and Ruskin Heights, along with the northeastern side of Grandview. An occupied car was thrown into a water tower; the occupants survived.{{Cite web |date=May 21, 2022 |title=Survivor describes flying into water tower on KC's deadliest tornado anniversary |url=https://fox4kc.com/news/survivor-describes-flying-into-water-tower-on-kcs-deadliest-tornado-anniversary/ |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV {{!}} News, Weather, Sports |language=en-US}} Ground scouring was observed near Hickman Mills, and large trees were snapped.{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2021 |title=Thursday marks 64 years since the most destructive and deadliest tornado in Kansas City history |url=https://fox4kc.com/news/thursday-marks-64-years-since-the-most-destructive-and-deadliest-tornado-in-kansas-city-history/ |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV {{!}} News, Weather, Sports |language=en-US}} Housing incurred F5 damage, besides some businesses at a shopping center. Some areas were reportedly "swept clean", and a newly built brick school in Ruskin Heights was badly damaged; 85% of Martin City was uninhabitable. In total, over 800 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed.{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2023 |title=CAUGHT IN THE PATH, THE RUSKIN HEIGHTS TORNADO |url=https://www.jchs.org/jchs-e-journal/2023/12/14/caught-in-the-path-the-ruskin-heights-tornado |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=JCHS |language=en-US}} The tornado claimed 37 lives in Missouri and injured 500 or more people. Debris from Hickman Mills was found in Iowa, {{convert|165|mi|km|abbr=on}} away, and other debris was carried aloft {{convert|30,000|ft|m mi km|abbr=on}}.

Historically, the 1957 F5 was not the only significant tornado to affect the area: an F3 tornado also affected Martin City and nearby Holmes Park on May 23, 1946, destroying or damaging chicken coops, silos, a marketplace, barns, and homes. The tornado killed a couple and injured five people.Multiple sources:

• {{cite web |title=55th Anniversary of the Ruskin Heights-Hickman Mills Tornado |url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=ruskinheightstornado |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605035843/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=ruskinheightstornado |archivedate=June 5, 2008 |accessdate=September 4, 2024 |website=NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, MO |publisher=National Weather Service |location=Pleasant Hill, Missouri}}
• {{harvnb|Brewer|1997|pp=5, 13, 31, 106–7}}
• {{cite web |date=March 19, 2021 |editor-last=Edwards |editor-first=Roger |editor-link=Roger Edwards (meteorologist) |title=F5 and EF5 Tornadoes of the United States, 1950-present |url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/f5torns.html |accessdate=February 3, 2022 |website=The Online Tornado FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes |publisher=Storm Prediction Center |location=Norman, Oklahoma}}
• {{harvnb|Grazulis|1984|p=A-67}}
• {{harvnb|Grazulis|1993|pp=923, 1007}}
• {{harvnb|Grazulis|2001b|p=22}}
• {{cite web |date=June 11, 2007 |title=Ruskin Heights Tornado Memorial |url=http://www.ruskinheightstornado.org/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929040203/http://www.ruskinheightstornado.org/index.htm |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=Ruskin Heights Tornado |publisher=Ruskin Heights Memorial Tree Arbor Foundation |location=Ruskin Heights, Missouri}}
• {{harvnb|USWB|1957|p=185}}

Martial law was declared in Ruskin Heights and neighboring areas. National Guard troops were called in in order to assist with rescue and cleanup operations.{{Cite news |date=May 21, 1957 |title=Ruskin Tornado 21 May 1957 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-times-ruskin-tornado-21/11263559/?locale=en-US |access-date=November 30, 2024 |work=The Kansas City Times |pages=1}} In total, the tornado caused $2,500,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|2,500,000|1957|r=-4}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} USD) in damage in Kansas and Missouri. A memorial was constructed to honor the victims of the tornado; it was completed in May 1958. In September 2024, the memorial was damaged due to a car crash.{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2024 |title=Push to rebuild after Ruskin Heights Tornado Memorial damaged |url=https://fox4kc.com/news/push-to-rebuild-after-ruskin-heights-tornado-memorial-damaged/ |access-date=December 1, 2024 |website=FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV {{!}} News, Weather, Sports |language=en-US}}

• Fargo tornado, another F5 tornado that touched down the same year

• 2011 Joplin tornado, a large and destructive EF5 tornado that struck Missouri over 50 years later

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Brewer|first=Carolyn Glenn|year=1997|title=Caught in the Path: the Fury of a Tornado, the Rebirth of a Community|publisher=Leathers Publishing|location=Overland Park, Kansas|url=https://archive.org/details/caughtinpathfury0000unse/|url-access=registration|isbn=0-9655774-0-6|via=Internet Archive}}
• {{cite tech report|last=Grazulis|first=Thomas P.|author-link=Thomas P. Grazulis|date=May 1984|title=Violent Tornado Climatography, 1880–1982|series=NUREG|number=CR-3670|website=OSTI|institution=Nuclear Regulatory Commission|location=Washington, D.C.|osti=7099491 |osti-access=free}}
• {{cite book |last1=Grazulis |first1=Thomas P. |title=Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events |date=July 1993 |publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films |location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont |isbn=1-879362-03-1 }}
• {{Cite book|last=Grazulis|first=Thomas P. |title=F5-F6 Tornadoes|publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films|year=2001b |location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont}}
• {{cite journal|ref={{harvid|USWB|1957}}|author1=U.S. Weather Bureau|title=Storm data and unusual weather phenomena|journal=Climatological Data National Summary|date=May 1957|volume=8|issue=5|pages=182–89|publisher=National Climatic Data Center |location=Asheville, North Carolina|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/cdns/cdns.html}}

• {{cite web |title=55th Anniversary of the Ruskin Heights-Hickman Mills Tornado |url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=ruskinheightstornado |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605035843/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=ruskinheightstornado |archivedate=June 5, 2008 |accessdate=September 4, 2024 |website=NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, MO |publisher=National Weather Service |location=Pleasant Hill, Missouri}}

  Category:Tornadoes in Kansas

  Category:Tornadoes of 1957