Sayler Park Tornado - April 3, 1974
The Sayler Park tornado was the most photographed of all the 148 in the Super Outbreak and Professor
The only tornado of 148 in the April 3-4, 1974 Super Outbreak to occur in 3 states
It touched down near Rising Sun, IN, moved to the NE, crossing Boone County, KY, then the Ohio River
into Ohio at Sayler Park.
T. Fujita of the University of Chicago used home movies (remember this is before the advent of home video
systems) and determined that the UPWARD wind velocities exceeded 160 mph while the HORIZONTAL wind
velocities reached 178 mph.
Path Length - on the ground 21 miles for 23 minutes
Average Speed - 54.8 mph
First Touch Down 5:28 PM - Lift-Off 5:51 PM
Note: I witnessed this tornado from an overpass on I-275 between Milford, OH and Loveland, OH. The funnel at cloud base never dissipated even after the "rope stage". It touched down again briefly in Montgomery, OH, then in the Mason, OH area. This is listed as tornadoes 43, 44 and 45 of the Super Outbreak of 1974.
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Photographer: Andrew MacGregor Looking southwest as the tornado crossed the Ohio River. | |
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Note: the funnel widens as it crosses the river, not because it is sucking up river water, but because the water vapor in moist layer over the river is condensing in the funnel as it is lifted and the pressure drops. |
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Photographer: Jay Carter from Clifton Heights Looking west as the tornado crosses the Dent and Mack areas. | ||
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| Note: The effect of surface friction, the part of the funnel in contact with the ground trails behind the upper part. Because major tornadoes occur near the rear of the cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) the sky beyond the storm (that is to the west and southwest) is bright. | ||
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| Typical of many massive tornadoes, as the Sayler Park Tornado dissipated it went through a "rope" stage. Eventhough the funnel is barely visible in the final frame, the wind is still capable of doing damage. | ||
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Photographer: Don Ohmer from the Delhi Twp. Fire Station As the tornado moves through Delhi. | ||
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Photographer: ??? Mueller | ||
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Satellite Loop from ATS 3 (Applications Technology Satellite Launched 11.5.1967) Courtesy: Stephen Corfidi, NOAA/NWS/NCEP/ Storm Prediction Center |
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| CVG WSR57 RADAR IMAGES APRIL 3, 1974 - Note the Hook Echoes | |
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| 20:35 UTC? (4:32PM EDT) Xenia hook visible, Sayler Park supercell anvil just showing to southwest Courtesy NWS ILN |
20:45 UTC? (4:45PM EDT) Xenia hook off screen to northeast, Sayler Park supercell now completely visible. |
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| 20:25 UTC? (4:25PM EDT) Xenia hook starting to form note dot southwest of cell |
20:35 UTC? (4:35PM EDT) Xenia hook mature, Sayler Park supercell anvil to the southwest. |
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