In the evening hours of May 20, 1957, a large, long-tracked and deadly tornado moved through portions of eastern Kansas and western Missouri, killing forty-four people and injuring over five hundred. The tornado is the deadliest to strike the Kansas City metropolitan area, and was the deadliest worldwide in 1957. Intensity was rated F5 on the Fujita scale, the first of three worldwide to receive this rating in 1957.
The tornado touched down near Williamsburg at 7:15 p.m., headed northeast. As the tornado neared Homewood, it took on a multi-vortex shape and lofted gravestones in the air. As it passed near Spring Hill, the tornado leveled numerous buildings and killed seven people before crossing state lines into Missouri, where the worst damage was observed in the Martin City area. The tornado left an estimated eighty-five percent of Martin City "uninhabitable", and killed another thirty-seven people before dissipating at 8:53 p.m., over an hour after touching down.
Early on May 20, a 75-to-80-knot (86 to 92 mph; 139 to 148 km/h) mid-level jet stream bisected dew points of 65 °F (18 °C), coincident with a 986-millibar (29.1 inHg) low-pressure area and warm front over southeastern Nebraska. Soundings and surface weather observations indicated a robust, unstable warm sector, showing 3,000 J/kg of surface-based convective available potential energy (CAPE) and the presence of strong wind shear, all which favored the development of supercells.[1][2] At 17:00 UTC (12:00 p.m. CDT) the Severe Local Storms Unit (SELS) in Kansas City had already issued a severe weather watch, mentioning tornadoes, for the Kansas–Nebraska state line and its environs. Subsequent updates covered much of the eastern Great Plains, from the Green Country to southeastern Nebraska. Upon formation, severe thunderstorms traveled at up to 42 mph (68 km/h), attended by extremely large hail.[1][2] A supercell formed south of Emporia, Kansas and moved northeast toward Kansas City, producing multiple tornadoes, with the strongest being the Ruskin Heights tornado.[3]
Tornado summary
The tornado touching down in KansasAerial view of damage caused by the Ruskin Heights F5.
This violent, long-tracked, multiple-vortex event was likely a family of tornadoes. Forming near Williamsburg, it moved northeastward through several counties, producing near-continuous damage; a single tornado was likely present for 50 mi (80 km) or more. Around Homewood, the tornado was attended by up to 10 tentacle-like vortices or satellite tornadoes, producing major damage to rural property and carrying gravestones miles away. Near Homewood, it was determined from ground surveys that two tornadoes were on the ground at the time, with the second one being rated F3.[4][5] Passing near Ottawa, Rantoul, and Spring Hill, it leveled many homes and caused seven fatalities. South of Wellsville, the tornado may have dissipated and reformed; it then continued uninterrupted for the rest of its life.[3]
Along the Kansas–Missouri border the tornado followed a near-straight line, causing $1 million in losses in Kansas, along with seven deaths. Affecting the southern suburbs of Kansas City, it entered Missouri, tearing through Martin City, Hickman Mills, and Ruskin Heights, along with the northeastern side of Grandview. An occupied car was thrown into a water tower; the occupants survived.[6] Ground scouring was observed near Hickman Mills, and large trees were snapped.[7] Housing incurred F5 damage, besides some businesses at a shopping center. Some areas were reportedly "swept clean", and a newly built brick school in Ruskin Heights was badly damaged; 85% of Martin City was uninhabitable. In total, over 800 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed.[8] The tornado claimed 37 lives in Missouri and injured 500 or more people. Debris from Hickman Mills was found in Iowa, 165 mi (266 km) away, and other debris was carried aloft 30,000 ft (9,100 m; 5.7 mi; 9.1 km).[9]
Historically, the 1957 F5 was not the only significant tornado to affect the area: an F3 tornado also affected Martin City and nearby Holmes Park on May 23, 1946, destroying or damaging chicken coops, silos, a marketplace, barns, and homes. The tornado killed a couple and injured five people.[9]
Aftermath
Martial law was declared in Ruskin Heights and neighboring areas. National Guard troops were called in in order to assist with rescue and cleanup operations.[10] In total, the tornado caused $2,500,000 ($27,120,000 in 2025 USD) in damage in Kansas and Missouri. A memorial was constructed to honor the victims of the tornado; it was completed in May 1958.[4] In September 2024, the memorial was damaged due to a car crash.[11]
List of confirmed fatalities from the tornado[10][12][13]
"Ruskin Heights Tornado Memorial". Ruskin Heights Tornado. Ruskin Heights, Missouri: Ruskin Heights Memorial Tree Arbor Foundation. June 11, 2007. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN1-879362-03-1.
Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001b). F5-F6 Tornadoes. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films.
