1997 Prairie Dell-Jarrell tornado

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"Dead man walking tornado" redirects here. For other tornadoes informally called this, see Dead Man Walking (disambiguation) § Tornadoes.
1997 Prairie Dell-Jarrell tornado
  • Top: The infamous "Dead Man Walking" photograph of the tornado as it directly impacted the Double Creek Estates
  • Bottom: Radar scan of the tornado as it directly impacted Jarrell
Meteorological history
FormedMay 27, 1997, 3:40 pm. CDT (UTC−05:00)
DissipatedMay 27, 1997, 3:53 pm. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration13 minutes
F5 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds260+ mph, up to 300 mph
Overall effects
Fatalities27
Injuries12
Damage$40.1 million (1997 USD)
Areas affectedJarrell, Texas and areas near Prairie Dell, Texas
Part of the 1997 Central Texas tornado outbreak and tornadoes of 1997

In the afternoon hours of May 27, 1997, one of the most violent and destructive tornadoes ever recorded tore through the community of Jarrell, Texas, killing 27 people and injuring a further 12.[1] The tornado caused $40.1 million (1997 USD) in damages, and was the subject of a famous photograph, which has earned the tornado the nickname of the "Dead Man Walking tornado".[2]

Although the tornado was never officially given a windspeed, they are estimated to be over 200 mph.[3] This tornado is Texas' most recent F5 or EF5 tornado, as of 2024.[4] The tornado killed 12 children, making it notorious for the circumstances involved regarding fatalities.

The tornado stalled over one place, the Double Creek Estates, for a long period of time (estimated to be 7+ minutes) at F5 strength, causing arguably the most destructive and violent tornado damage ever recorded. NIST studies on the tornado have been conducted in the years and decades after the event.[5]

The tornado was the fourth-deadliest of the 1990s in the United States, only being surpassed by the 1990 Plainfield tornado that killed 29, the 1998 Birmingham tornado that killed 32, and the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado that killed 36. It was also the only F5 tornado of 1997, and the next F5 would occur on April 8 of the following year.

Meteorological synopsis[edit]

Main article: 1997 Central Texas tornado outbreak
The radar scan for Central Texas on May 27, 1997

The thunderstorm that spawned the Jarrell tornado began west of Temple along the flanking line {flanking line?} of another thunderstorm earlier in the afternoon of May 27. The storm produced several tornadoes in Bell County, including the tornado that impacted communities along Lake Belton at F3 intensity. Weather radar observed a strengthening mesocyclone within the thunderstorm, with the speed of rotation rising above. As the storm moved into Williamson County, it produced two short-lived tornadoes–both F2 intensity–north of Jarrell at 3:25 p.m. and 3:35 p.m.; the latter of the two was a multiple-vortex tornado and lifted at 3:39 p.m.[6]

The National Weather Service forecasting office of Austin/San Antonio issued a tornado warning for Williamson County at 3:30 p.m. in response to the storm's approaching Jarrell. The warning was put into effect for a duration of one hour. This was the first tornado warning of May 27, which stated that "the city of Jarrell is in the path of this storm."[7] Local warning sirens went off about 10–12 minutes before the tornado struck. The precise start of the Jarrell tornado was difficult to pinpoint.[8]

Tornado summary[edit]

The tornado as it was in a lower-intensity phase

The Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service forecast office issued a tornado warning for most of Williamson County at 3:30 p.m. in response to the storm's approach; the warning was put into effect for one hour. This was the first tornado warning of the day issued for the office's warning area and warned that "the city of Jarrell is in the path of this storm." Local warning sirens went off about 10–12 minutes before the tornado struck.[9]

One of the extremely destructive parts of the tornado's evolution was preceded by the formation of multiple short-lived, small, and rope-like funnel clouds. These have been theorized and are now commonly accepted as being separate tornadoes from the Jarrell tornado, but may have also been part of the main tornado.

An aerial survey conducted by the Birmingham, Alabama, office of the National Weather Service included the damage caused by the earlier F2 tornadoes—mostly to trees and roads—as part of the overall Jarrell tornado path. Some reports also include the F1 tornado near Prairie Dell as an earlier continuation of the Jarrell tornado.[10]

Formation and initial movements outside Prairie Dell[edit]

The tornado officially touched down at approximately 3:40 p.m., but it may have been one minute earlier or later. It immediately crossed Solana Ranch Road[11] and Dos Hermanas Road[11] near Prarie Dell, before taking on the shape of a faint rope. It also crossed multiple unnamed shorter roads, causing light damage before immediately taking on the shape of a "dead man walking" with multiple subvortices creating a human-like shape. [11]

The tornado then widened to over 1/2 of a mile. It kept this shape as it tracked toward the Williamson County line north of Jarrell.[12] Traffic along Interstate 35 came to a stop as the tornado descended nearby.[13] The Texas Highway Patrol also stopped traffic on both sides of the interstate under the expectation that the tornado would cross the highway; it ultimately moved parallel to Interstate 35,[14] and no injuries were reported on the highway.[11]

Tracking into Jarrell[edit]

Tracking south-southwest, the tornado quickly intensified and grew in width, widening to become 3/4+ of a mile wide.[15]The exact size of the tornado was hard to pinpoint, as F5 damage was first recorded as it widened[11]. It is unusual, as F5 damage was documented and observed relatively early into its' lifespan, and this F5 damage was retained until almost the end of the tornado. Its intense winds scoured the ground and stripped pavement from roads. The tornado tore off asphalt as it crossed County Roads 308, 305, and 307[16]; the thickness of the asphalt pavement was roughly 3 inches thick. A culvert plant at the corner of Country Roads 305 and 307 collapsed. Nearby, a similar plant and a mobile home sustained some damage, with the latter struck by a 2×4 piece of lumber.[17]

Multiple people were sheltering in a mobile home near the culvert plant, and they evacuated to a frame house which was directly hit by the tornado moments later. They were killed, but the mobile home that they were originally residing in only sustained minor damage, which would have most likely saved their lives. Some of the most extreme damage at this location was inflicted to a small metal-framed recycling plant that was directly hit and destroyed, with only twisted and bent metal beams remaining recognizable.[18]

Black and white photo of the remaining foundation of a destroyed home.
The Double Creek Estates subdivision was pulverized by the tornado, with many homes swept off their foundations and disintegrated. This photograph shows one remaining foundation with plumbing pulled out of the concrete.

Impact at Double Creek Estates[edit]

The tornado turned slightly, entering the Double Creek Estates at F5 intensity. It grew to its' maximum width, estimated to be around 1 mile wide. Post-event surveys and eyewitness accounts have suggested that the tornado began to slow its' pace and "stall" over Double Creek Estates, which contributed to the extremely violent damage observed there.[11][19]

The tornado immediately began to destroy structures and homes as it hit multiple smaller streets at the northwestern edge of the Estates. The exact time of this is unknown, but timekeeping devices[20] and synced videos have shown that this most likely happened at 3:48 p.m..[11]

Most of Double Creek Estates sustained F5 damage, and there were only bits of debris remaining. The tornado was so strong that multiple vehicles that were parked in lots at the Estates were ground up by the tornado and never recovered. Structures in the center of the tornado were subjected to extreme winds for over 3 minutes due to the "stalling" pattern of the tornado. Multiple well-built homes on Double Creek Drive were completely destroyed, and clean slabs were left.[21][11]

The tornado as it was near the Double Creek Estates

The tornado continued to stall over the neighborhood for multiple more minutes[22], destroying what little was left. The tornado was heavily documented during this phase, and was most likely at its' most visible point. On Double Creek Drive, 3-inch deep asphalt scouring was documented and observed, indicative of F5 damage. Grassy fields in this area also sustained extreme ground scouring of up to 18 inches.[23] As a result of this, the path was heavily studied due to its' visibility and scarring into the ground.[23][11]

Many motor vehicles were picked up by the tornado and completely destroyed, and seven were found over 300 yards away with heavy damage. Many were never recovered, and are presumed to have been "ground up" in the intensity of the tornado. Trees nearby were completely denuded, and one tree was documented having an electrical cord piercing through its' trunk. Heavy damage was documented to roads, power lines, and other structures in this area as well.[11]

Three entire families were killed in this area. The Igo Family (five members), the Smith Family (three members) and the Moehring Family (four members). Houses were swept away, and around where these fatalities occurred, little debris was documented due to the heavy winds.[24]

Damage to Jarrell[edit]

The tornado as it hit the Double Creek Estates

The tornado caused extremely violent injuries and deaths. Many residents who were previously informed on the tornado who sheltered properly were still killed.[25] One survivor holed up in a bathtub and was flung several hundred feet from her house onto a road.[26][11]

The walls of some homes along the periphery of the tornado path remained intact, protecting some of those who survived the tornado. Others chose to evacuate ahead of the approaching tornado. Forty structures were obliterated in the Double Creek Estates[11] and surrounding subdivision.

Three businesses adjacent to Double Creek Estates were also destroyed. In total, the tornado dealt $10–20 million in damage to the neighborhood. Around 300 cattle grazing in a nearby pasture were killed and some were found 0.25 miles away.[27] The tornado turned slightly towards the south-southwest after traversing Double Creek Estates.[28][11]

Dissipation[edit]

The tornado as it was relatively weak outside of Jarrell

The damage observed and documented in these areas was extremely sporadic and unusual; and in one case, a mobile home suffered only minor damage while an adjacent house lost half of its roof. Metal buildings were unroofed along County Road 305 south of Jarrell. The road's guardrail was impaled by wooden planks thrown by the strong winds. The tornado then again crossed County Road 305.[29][11]

It began to track parallel to Spears Ranch Road, before beginning to rapidly weaken. It has a few houses at an unknown intensity, and hit Appaloosa Cove Road before[30] taking on a "pencil" shape, before dissipating completely. The NCEI concluded that it had lifted at 3:53 p.m. after remaining on the ground for 13 minutes and traversing 5.1 miles.[30][11]

Other government accounts of the tornado list a total path length of 7 or more miles after incorporating the tornadoes north of Jarrell and near Prairie Dell which had happened earlier the dame day.[31][11]

The tornado took on many shapes throughout its' path, and retained F5 intensity for the majority of its' lifetime. The path itself was extremely unusual, as it tracked southwestward, instead of northeastward, which is the path that tornadoes normally take. Other tornadoes in the outbreak also took southerly paths.[11]

Aftermath[edit]

In the 6 days following the event, the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (OOTCFMSASR) conducted multiple surveys from the air and on the ground to survey the track of the tornado and the damage caused by it. The Texas branch of the Civil Air Patrol also helped, and in the end the tornado garnered an F5 rating, which was challenged by the NIST.[32]

The tornado knocked out power in Jarrell, effectively stunting communications between EMS and residents. Cell phones were not functional, and the loved ones of residents became increasingly concerned due to an inability to communicate.[33]

Emergency services were quick to arrive in Jarrell, and the damage was so intense that they almost drove past Double Creek Estates, unaware that houses had stood there. The Estates quickly came the focal point of search-and-rescue and recovery efforts, which were aided by civilians and volunteer workers.[33]

Support came in from all over the country, and millions of dollars were donated to aid Jarrell. George W. Bush visited Jarrell days after the tornado, and stated that the "damage was mind-boggling".[34]

Fatalities[edit]

A memorial for the victims of the tornado, and another tornado that hit Jarrell in 1989

Out of the 131 residents who lived in or near Double Creek Estates, 27 were killed. The remains of these people were found at over 30 locations, and majority of the deaths were reported in the[35] Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report as being caused by bodily and head trauma and one fatality was reported to have been caused by asphyxia. Bodily remains were later found at 30 locations, and the physical trauma inflicted to some of the tornado victims was so extreme, that first responders reportedly had difficulty distinguishing human remains from the remains of animals at the site.[36]

The sheer strength and intensity of the tornado as it was in Jarrell gave the people in it's direct path with little time to get to safety, and most of the homes that were located in Double Creek Estates at the time were constructed from a weak slab foundation and most did not have a basement. Because of this, up to nineteen people had sought refuge in a single storm cellar.[37]

Some of the residents of Double Creek Estates had still followed the recommended safety procedures, but were still killed because of the strength of the tornado. Many people had chose to evacuate ahead of the tornado, which may have saved lives. Many residents on the edge of the tornado were protected by their houses, which mainly remained intact.[38]

Many animals were also killed by the tornado. Cattle who were lounging in the fields in and around Jsrrell were almost instantly killed, and their bodies were tossed and found almost 0.35 miles away. Hundreds of these bodies were found dismembered, lacking limbs, decapitated, or skinned.[28]

Documentation[edit]

The tornado was heavily documented during its' lifetime, making it a focal point of research for the NWS and other weather agencies. Multiple videos exist of the tornado, showing the fast rotation and heavy debris cloud which engulfed the tornado during its maximum strength.

"Dead Man Walking" photograph[edit]

One of the frames in the infamous "dead man walking" photo sequence. The left "leg" can be seen forming.

The Jarrell tornado was the subject of one of the most famous pieces of tornado media ever taken, now known as the "Dead Man Walking". Scott Beckwith took the famous photograph, which has become notorious for closely resembling the grim reaper.[39] The image consists of the tornado, shrouded in debris, with two vortexes making "leg" shapes near the bottom of the tornado, giving it the appearance of walking.[40]

A third vortex is visible in the upper-left portion of the tornado, forming a scythe shape, an instrument heavily associated with death. A video does exist from around the same time the photo was taken, showing the "walking" pattern.[41] The image has been widely called an example of pareidolia.[42] It is one of 8 photographs taken in a sequence as the tornado grew in size.

The photo has received international mainstream attention and has gained it and many other similar tornadoes the nickname of the "Dead Man Walking tornado".[2] Many other spin-off images have been produced, including a photograph of the 2013 El Reno tornado. Dead man walking tornadoes are now generally referred to multi-vortex tornadoes with "legs", but the Jarrell tornado helped popularize the term.[43]

Other images[edit]

The tornado is one of the most well-documented F5 or EF5 tornadoes that occurred before the year 2000. Camcorders and cameras were becoming mainstream, and multiple residents of Jarrell were able to take good, high-quality images of the tornado. Scott Beckwith, who took the "Dead Man Walking" image, also took multiple other well-known images of this tornado, including one as it hit the Double Creek Estates.

Videos[edit]

Multiple famous videos have been taken of the tornado, including one by photojournalist Scott Guest, who captured the tornado forming.[44] Many videos of the entire event exist, and all have been heavily studied.

Damage[edit]

The path of the tornado as it went through Jarrell. The destroyed Double Creek Estates can be seen in the center.

Between May 29 and June 1, the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research carried out aerial and ground surveys of the tornadic damage in Texas in coordination with the Texas Wing Civil Air Patrol.

The Jarrell tornado damage was classified as F5 severity throughout most of the tornado's path.[45] Approximately $40 million in damage was inflicted upon property with another $100,000 inflicted upon crops. Twelve people were injured by the storm in addition to the twenty-seven killed.[46]

Remains of a home adjacent to the Double Creek Estates subdivision

Due to the unusual southwestward motion of the thunderstorm that caused the tornado, the sequence of weather events experienced by those affected was in the opposite order of typical tornadic events: the tornado arrived first, followed by the hail, wind, and rain of the parent thunderstorm.[47]

Despite the violence of the tornado and the presence of its associated mesocyclone aloft, the thunderstorm did not exhibit a distinct hook echo on weather radar typically associated with such tornadoes. This may have also been caused by the unusual southwestward motion of the thunderstorm, resulting in the tornado's placement in an atypical position relative to the thunderstorm's motion.

Reactions[edit]

Then-governor of Texas George W. Bush[34] declared Williamson County a disaster area, and during a visit to Jarrell on May 28, stated that "it was the worst tornado I've ever seen".[48] U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison also visited Jarrell and Cedar Park. Bush later requested federal aid for Williamson and Bell counties with support from Hutchinson.[48]

The Federal Emergency Management Agency elected not to provide federal aid, citing the contributions from private and state sources. Instead, the Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture made available loans for the rebuilding of homes, farms, and ranches.[48]

The U.S. Congress approved a relief bill allocating $5.4 billion for 35 states affected by natural disasters, including Texas. However, the bill also included other provisions that led President Bill Clinton to veto the bill. Many smaller charities were involved in raising money for disaster relief as well.[48]

Case studies[edit]

Multiple in-depth studies have been conducted on the tornado, which detail what happened on May 27, and what caused the outbreak and subsequent Jarrell tornado to unfold.

American Meteorological Society (AMS)[edit]

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) conducted a case study on the event.[49] It discussed the meteorological conditions that caused the event and the significance of the Jarrell tornado.[49]

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)[edit]

A case study and critique was published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which covered the structural damage caused by the tornado and the track that it left. The NIST also published a detailed critique of the Fujita Scale as a direct result of the Jarrell tornado, which was at the time rated an F5. The critique stated that:

"We ascribe the NWS rating to the failure of the Fujita tornado intensity scale to account explicitly for the dependence of wind speeds causing specified types of damage or destruction upon the following two structural engineering factors: (1) quality of construction, defined as degree of conformity to applicable standards requirements, and (2) the basic design wind speed at the geographical location of interest."[50]

The NIST had claimed that the Fujita Scale failed to account for critical pointers in the assessment of the Jarrell tornado. The case study concluded that some of the homes at Double Creek Estates did have small structural integrity issues,[51] which includes factors such as a lack of sufficient anchor bolts and steel straps in the house foundations.[52] After the critique was published, the rating was kept as an F5.

University of Wisconsin-Madison[edit]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison also published a case study on the event, authored by Andrew Mankowski, which detailed the weather conditions that caused the tornado to form and how it became as violent as it was. The study said that:

"From a synoptic view the main feature was a cold front pushing its way south into Texas. Frontogenesis helped aid in forcing some of the upward vertical motions. From the Gulf of Mexico came a southerly low-level jet bringing warm moist air. This warm moist air from the LLJ helped destabilize the air. The air was already highly unstable with CAPE values reaching 6,000 J/kg."[53]

According to Mankowski, the CAPE values in the atmosphere at the time and was extremely unstable, contributing to directional shear which formed the supercells.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)[edit]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is a U.S. government-affiliated disease control group, produced a study on the casualties of the tornado, which included in-depth explanations of the injuries sustained to the bodies of victims, lengths of hospital stays, among other things. The study and survey concluded that:

"A total of 33 persons presented to six area hospitals for treatment of injuries sustained directly or indirectly by the three tornadoes. Of these 33 persons, 13 (39%) had multiple diagnoses. The categories of injuries included lacerations (18 {55%}), contusions (15 {46%}), abrasions (10 {30%}), strains/sprains/muscle spasms (six {18%}), fractures (two {6%}), penetrating wound (one {3%}), and closed-head injury (one {3%}). The median age of the injured persons was 38 years (range: 1-75 years)."[54]

The case study had also noted the lack of shelters causing multiple of the deaths, and recommended that more storm shelters be installed in Jarrell.[55]

Other studies[edit]

Many other groups and organizations did small case studies and surveys in the wake of the tornado, which include the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)[56] and the Regional and Mesocale Meteorology Branch (RaMMB).[57]

Gallery[edit]

The tornado was one of the most well-documented F5 tornadoes that hit before the 2000s, and many photos and videos exist of the tornado as the event unfolded, and the aftermath:

Damage[edit]

Deep ground scouring caused by the tornado
A tree near the Double Creek Estates which sustained F4 and F5 damage
F5 damage to the Double Creek Estates, a slabbed house is visible
Deep pavement scouring near the Double Creek Estates
A heavily damaged vehicle sitting atop the rubble at the Estates
A house in the Double Creek Estates that was slabbed at F5 intensity

Tornado[edit]

The tornado at F5 intensity as it crossed into Double Creek Estates
The tornado at its' peak intensity in the Estates
The tornado in its' initial stages northeast of Jarrell. Windspeeds were already incredibly high within the funnel

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Osborn, Claire; Easterly, Greg; Ward, Pamela (May 28, 1997). "Nearly destroyed in '89, Jarrell is slammed again". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. pp. A1, A10. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Patterson, Kaley PattersonKaley (2024-04-15). "Ever Heard of the 'Dead Man Walking' Tornado?". KLAW 101. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  3. ^ "Corfidi's Jarrell paper (19th SLSC)". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  4. ^ Texas Event Report: F5 Tornado. Storm Events Database (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "'Hold on tight': 25 years since the Jarrell, TX tornado outbreak". KXAN Austin. 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  6. ^ Corfidi, Stephen F. (July 1998). Some Thoughts On the Role Mesoscale Features Played in the 27 May 1997 Central Texas Tornado Outbreak. 19th Severe Local Storms Conference. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Henderson et al. (1998), p. A9.
  8. ^ Henderson et al. (1998), p. 3.
  9. ^ Henderson et al. (1998), p. 1.
  10. ^ "May 1997 Tornado Outbreak" (PDF). New Braunfels, Texas: National Weather Service. May 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Tornado Archive Data Explorer - Tornado Archive". tornadoarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  12. ^ Kelso, John (May 29, 1997). "Upheaval roars after winds leave". Austin American-Statesman. pp. A1, A19. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Harmon, Dave (May 28, 1997). "'Like a war zone'". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. pp. A1, A12. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Tornadoes kill 30 in Central Texas". El Paso Times. El Paso, Texas. Associated Press. May 28, 1997. p. 1A. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "The Tornadoes of May 27, 1997". Jarrell-Tornado-Anniversary. Fort Worth, Texas: National Weather Service Fort Worth/Dallas, TX. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  16. ^ Texas Event Report: F2 Tornado. Storm Events Database (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  17. ^ "May 1997 Tornado Outbreak" (PDF). New Braunfels, Texas: National Weather Service. May 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  18. ^ Texas Event Report: F5 Tornado. Storm Events Database (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  19. ^ Verhovek, Sam Howe (May 29, 1997). "Little Is Left in Wake of Savage Tornado". The New York Times. New York. p. A1. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  20. ^ Texas Event Report: F2 Tornado. Storm Events Database (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "May 1997 Tornado Outbreak" (PDF). New Braunfels, Texas: National Weather Service. May 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  22. ^ "Storm Data" (PDF). Storm Data. 39 (5). Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center. May 1997. ISSN 0039-1972. Retrieved April 7, 2021 – via National Centers for Environmental Information.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ a b "May 1997 Tornado Outbreak" (PDF). New Braunfels, Texas: National Weather Service. May 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  24. ^ Rucker, Hanna (May 25, 2022). "Three families killed in the 1997 Jarrell tornado are buried together in Georgetown". kvue.com. KVUE. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  25. ^ Beach, Patrick (June 1, 1997). "Their roots held". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. pp. A1, A20–A21. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Beach, Patrick (June 1, 1997). "Their roots held". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. pp. A1, A20–A21. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "May 1997 Tornado Outbreak" (PDF). New Braunfels, Texas: National Weather Service. May 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Storm Data" (PDF). Storm Data. 39 (5). Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center. May 1997. ISSN 0039-1972. Retrieved April 7, 2021 – via National Centers for Environmental Information.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ Harmon, Dave (May 28, 1997). "'Like a war zone'". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. pp. A1, A12. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ a b "May 1997 Tornado Outbreak" (PDF). New Braunfels, Texas: National Weather Service. May 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  31. ^ Texas Event Report: F5 Tornado. Storm Events Database (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  32. ^ Texas Event Report: F5 Tornado. Storm Events Database (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  33. ^ a b "First responders reflect on recovery efforts during 1997 Jarrell tornado". kvue.com. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  34. ^ a b "After an F-5 tornado hit Jarrell in 1997, then-Gov. George W. Bush visited to survey the damage". kvue.com. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  35. ^ Schuman, Shawn (November 23, 2023). "May 27, 1997 — The Jarrell, Texas Tornado". stormstalker.wordpress.com. Wordpress. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  36. ^ Rucker, Hanna (May 25, 2022). "Three families killed in the 1997 Jarrell tornado are buried together in Georgetown". kvue.com. KVUE. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  37. ^ Beach, Patrick (May 29, 1997). "Jarrell's toll 27; 23 still missing". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. pp. A1, A21. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  38. ^ "Storm Data" (PDF). Storm Data. 39 (5). Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center. May 1997. ISSN 0039-1972. Retrieved April 7, 2021 – via National Centers for Environmental Information.[permanent dead link]
  39. ^ "The TIME Vault: June 9, 1997". TIME.com. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  40. ^ Edge, The Professor On (2020-06-14). "(A preview of) Meteorology and Myth Part VII: "The Dead Man Walking"". From Equatorial Icecaps to Polar Deserts. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  41. ^ Edge, The Professor On (2020-06-14). "(A preview of) Meteorology and Myth Part VII: "The Dead Man Walking"". From Equatorial Icecaps to Polar Deserts. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  42. ^ "The TIME Vault: June 9, 1997". TIME.com. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  43. ^ Edge, The Professor On (2020-06-14). "(A preview of) Meteorology and Myth Part VII: "The Dead Man Walking"". From Equatorial Icecaps to Polar Deserts. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  44. ^ "In his own words, KVUE photojournalist recalls 1997 Jarrell tornado and how it affected him". kvue.com. 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  45. ^ Osborn, Claire; Easterly, Greg; Ward, Pamela (May 28, 1997). "Nearly destroyed in '89, Jarrell is slammed again". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. pp. A1, A10. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ Schuman, Shawn (November 23, 2023). "May 27, 1997 — The Jarrell, Texas Tornado". stormstalker.wordpress.com. Wordpress. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  47. ^ "May 1997 Tornado Outbreak" (PDF). New Braunfels, Texas: National Weather Service. May 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  48. ^ a b c d "'Hold on tight': 25 years since the Jarrell, TX tornado outbreak". KXAN Austin. 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  49. ^ a b Houston, Adam L.; Wilhelmson, Robert B. (2007-03-01). "Observational Analysis of the 27 May 1997 Central Texas Tornadic Event. Part II: Tornadoes". Monthly Weather Review. 135 (3): 727–735. doi:10.1175/MWR3301.1. ISSN 1520-0493.
  50. ^ Phan, Long T.; Simiu, Emil (1998-07-01). "Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale: A Critique Based on Observations of the Jarrell Tornado of May 27, 1997 (NIST TN 1426)". NIST.
  51. ^ Texas Event Report: F5 Tornado. Storm Events Database (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  52. ^ Texas Event Report: F5 Tornado. Storm Events Database (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  53. ^ Andrew, Mankowski. "University of Wisconsin Case Study Jarrell 1997" (PDF). The Jarrell Tornado of May 27, 1997.
  54. ^ "Tornado Disaster -- Texas, May 1997". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  55. ^ "Tornado Disaster -- Texas, May 1997". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  56. ^ Houston, Adam L.; Wilhelmson, Robert B. (2007-03-01). "Observational Analysis of the 27 May 1997 Central Texas Tornadic Event. Part II: Tornadoes". Monthly Weather Review. 135 (3): 727–735. doi:10.1175/MWR3301.1. ISSN 1520-0493.
  57. ^ "RaMMB2".

External links[edit]

Sources[edit]

  • Henderson, James H.; Hakkarinen, Ida M.; Lerner, William H.; McLaughlin, Melvin R.; Looney, James M.; McIntyre, E. L.; Peters, Brian E.; Trainor, Marilu; Paz, Enrique; Kolavic, Shellie Ann; Zane, David; Phan, Long T. (April 1998). The Central Texas Tornadoes of May 27, 1997 (PDF) (Service Assessment). Silver Spring, Maryland: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 7, 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Tornado Disaster -- Texas, May 1997 (Report). November 14, 1997. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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