On This Day: May 17

Tornado Talk Summary

When we think of Jarrell, TX and tornadoes, we immediately remember the devastating F5 from May 27, 1997. But 8 years earlier, the town was hit hard by an F3 in the middle of the night. It developed at 3:02 Local Time about 3 miles SSW of Jarrell near Strickland Grove. It moved slowly NNE causing tremendous damage on the south and east side of town. A woman was killed when her mobile home was destroyed. Read the full summary here

SIGTOR Spotlight

Highlighting a Tornado Before 1950
from Significant Tornadoes by Thomas Grazulis!

May 17, 1773: Grazulis documents a tornado or microburst that destroyed two barns at Durham, NH. An old saw mill was demolished near Kittery, ME. “Trees were uprooted and a boat overturned. One man on the boat was drowned.”

Twister From The 2000s

On this day in 2019, a brief but intense tornado touched down near Stockville, NE. The EF3 tornado debarked trees and leveled several buildings along a 2-mile path.  Source. 

EF3 damage via NWS North Platte.
Cars that were battered, photo via NWS North Platte.

Weather Rewind

Tornado and Other Weather Events From On This Day

On this day in 1896: An estimated F5 tornado tracked 100 miles through northeastern Kansas and extreme southeastern Nebraska. Seneca, Oneida, Sabetha, and Reserve, Kansas sustained severe damage. While passing through Reserve, the tornado was 2 miles wide. 25 people were killed, and 200 were injured. Source

Pieces of the Past

A Look Back Through The Ages!  On This Day In History! 

Sources:  onthisday.com, thisdayinmusic.com & Britannica

Historical Event

On this day in 2004: Massachusetts becomes the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. Check out more historical events at onthisday.com

Famous Birthday

Sugar Ray Leonard was born on May 17, 1956, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He is a boxer, known for his agility and finesse, who won 36 of 40 professional matches and various titles. As an amateur, he took an Olympic gold medal in the light-welterweight class at the 1976 Games in Montreal. Source:  Britannica

Film & TV

On this day in 1970: Anonymous buyer purchases one of the pairs of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” for $15,000 at MGM Studio auction, and donates them to the Smithsonian Institute. Get more daily history at onthisday.com

Music Trivia

On this day in 1987: A fire destroyed Tom Petty’s house in Los Angeles, the cost was estimated at $800,000.  Get into the groove with more music trivia at thisdayinmusic.com

Radar of the Day

A very large and strong EF2 tornado moves through rural Ford County, Kansas near the town of Windhorst during the late evening hours of May 17, 2019. Along the path of the tornado, many trees were snapped or uprooted, including some that were debarked. Power poles were snapped and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Radar snapshot from GRAnalyst, courtesy of Gio Rizzotti.

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