On This Day: May 24
Tornado Talk Summary
During the afternoon of May 24, 2011, Oklahoma was impacted by one of the state’s most infamous outbreaks. Twenty-two tornadoes tracked across areas west of and into the Oklahoma City metro. This summary will examine a short-lived and powerful EF3 that tore through areas west and north of Lookeba. Read our full summary here!
SIGTOR Spotlight
Highlighting a Tornado Before 1950
from Significant Tornadoes by Thomas Grazulis!
May 24, 1896: A destructive tornado moved 28 miles through parts of Polk and Jasper Counties in Iowa. Grazulis gave this twister and F4 rating. 21 people were killed and 60 were injured. Several homes were leveled on the north edge of Bondurant with four people killed in the Bailey house. Three people were killed in a home destroyed in Santiago. Near Valeria, several members of one family were killed as they were trying to get to a storm shelter. “A steel railroad rail was reportedly driven 15 feet into the ground.”
Twister From The 2000s
On this day in 2011, an EF4 tornado tracked for 33 miles through Parts of Grady, McClain, and Cleveland Counties in OK. One person was killed, and 48 were injured. The worst damage (near-EF5) was in the Chickasha area. Well-built homes were swept away, and trees were debarked. Source.
Weather Rewind
Tornado and Other Weather Events From On This Day
On this day in 1973, an F4 tornado struck Union City, OK. Two people were killed, and four were injured. Several storm chasers from the NSSL tracked the funnel. This was also the first tornado to be tracked by Doppler Radar. Source.
Pieces of the Past
A Look Back Through The Ages! On This Day In History!
Historical Event
On this day in 1844: Samuel Morse taps out “What hath God wrought” in the world’s first telegraph message. Check out more historical events at onthisday.com!
Famous Birthday
Bob Dylan was born May 24, 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota. He is a folksinger who moved from folk to rock music in the 1960s, infusing the lyrics of rock and roll, theretofore concerned mostly with boy-girl romantic innuendo, with the intellectualism of classic literature and poetry. Source: Britannica.
Film & TV
On this day in 1974: “The Dean Martin Show” last airs on NBC-TV. Get more daily history at onthisday.com!
Music Trivia
On this day in 1956: The first Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland. The event was the brainchild of Marcel Baisoncon of the European Broadcasting Union. Seven countries participated and they were each allowed two songs. Both Luxembourg and the winner Switzerland used the same singer for both. Switzerland won with ‘Refrain’ by Lys Assia. Get into the groove with more music trivia at thisdayinmusic.com!
Photo of the Day
