25 years ago - 1987 Saragosa Tornado

[HurricaneBill]

May 22 is not only the anniversary of the Joplin tornado, it's also the 25th anniversary of the 1987 Saragosa, TX tornado.

1987 Saragosa Tornado

30 people were killed and 121 were injured out of a population of 183. 22 of the fatalities occurred at a community center where a pre-school graduation ceremony was taking place.

This was the deadliest tornado in the U.S. during the 1980s. It remains the 9th deadliest tornado in Texas history.

Like the Joplin tornado, this was a tornado that strengthened rapidly before moving into the town. In a short period of time, the tornado had strengthened from an F0 to a multi-vortex F4 tornado as it entered Saragosa.

[HurricaneBill]

The only known photo of the Saragosa tornado (in its early stage)


Damage:

[Cyclenall]

30 people were killed and 121 were injured out of a population of 183. 22 of the fatalities occurred at a community center where a pre-school graduation ceremony was taking place.

Ouch, that's rough. That's 16.4% of the population gone and 66% injured assuming everyone lived there.

Why does the first photo look like it was taken in the late 1800s? The last photo I saw in an old book once but didn't know from what tornado.

[Texas Snowman]

30 people were killed and 121 were injured out of a population of 183. 22 of the fatalities occurred at a community center where a pre-school graduation ceremony was taking place.

Ouch, that's rough. That's 16.4% of the population gone and 66% injured assuming everyone lived there.

Why does the first photo look like it was taken in the late 1800s? The last photo I saw in an old book once but didn't know from what tornado.

I believe it looks like that because the tornado occurred right at sun down and it was dusky dark (8:16 p.m.)?

[Texas Snowman]

Saragosa was somewhat unusual in the fact that it was a violent tornado spawned in the Trans-Pecos region of SW Texas.

That area is known far more for its desert mountains, cactus, and arid conditions than killer tornadoes.

[Cyclenall]

I believe it looks like that because the tornado occurred right at sun down and it was dusky dark (8:16 p.m.)?

It's totally black and white plus the resolution looks incredibly low. What is that dust at the bottom to the east of the twister? Is it part of it?

[Texas Snowman]

I believe it looks like that because the tornado occurred right at sun down and it was dusky dark (8:16 p.m.)?

It's totally black and white plus the resolution looks incredibly low. What is that dust at the bottom to the east of the twister? Is it part of it?

Well, Saragosa is a very small community in SW Texas. I think it's remarkable that there is even a photo of it at all.

And it was the year 1987 so virtually nothing but film cameras were in use at the time. Maybe the photographer had black-and-white film instead of color film in the camera? Perhaps it was shot during a lightning strike? Maybe it was turned into a black-and-white photo to be used by a newspaper?

As for the dust, my guess would be that it was one of circulations that was developing within the multi-vortex tornado.

[brunota2003]

It looks like rain...or maybe dust kicked up from a microburst?

[HurricaneBill]

This link has more info on the tornado:

http://www.stormtrack.org/library/1987/saragosa.htm

[Bunkertor]

Thanks for heads up, Bill !

[Ptarmigan]

That's a large percentage of population that got killed in the tornado.