It was a calm day, humid in the air, temps in the 70's-80's. The forecast called for thunderstorms, some possibly severe. The noon set-up* looked just like the setup earlier this year with all the tornadoes in Kansas/Missouri. Around 2:00PM, the NWS(Or whichever issued watches) issued a tornado watch for all of NorthEast Kansas until 9:00PM that night. Around 6:30, a tornado was reported in the city of Manhattan on the local news. That storm was headed right for Topeka. Around 6:55PM, a tornado developed around Auburn, SW of the city limits, but still in Shawnee County. At 7:01, it went right over Burnetts Mound**, and struck Southwest Topeka***. The local meteoroligist on WIBW-TV in Topeka kept getting reports of damage as this massive tornado moved NE. Around 17th and MacVicar, he told rest of the city a simple message. "For God's Sake, Take Cover." People listened. As it moved through downtown Topeka, no building was spared, including the capital, which had a gaping hole from a car going through the dome. At around 7:31, the tornado, weakining, hit Billard Airport, and the Topeka National Weather Service. At 7:33, the tornado met the Kansas River, and broke up into the clouds. Tornadoes were also reported in Leavenworth, and other cities East of Topeka. The death toll and injuries were small****, and we all thank Bill Kurtis, the TV meteorloigist, for saving many lives.
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Full Story From Topeka NWS: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/top/toptor/66toptor37.htm
Articles from the Topeka Capital-Jorunal(Story's at bottom from the June 7th, 1966 Topeka paper): http://www.cjonline.com/webindepth/66tornado/
