March 1990 Central US Tornado Outbreak - The Hesston and Goessel Tornado Family

The Hesston and Goessel Tornado Family

The tornadoes that struck Hesston and Goessel were both spawned by the same Supercell Thunderstorm. They were part of what is known as a tornado family; a family that included several additional touchdowns after the Goessel storm dissipated.

The first tornado of the Hesston storm touched down at approximately 4:34 p.m. CDT just to the northeast of Pretty Prairie. It was initially between 200 and 500 yards in diameter, and caused minimal (F1-F2) damage as it churned between Castleton and the Cheney Reservoir. Photographic evidence suggests significant widening as the tornado approached Haven and the Arkansas River. The damage path ranged between 1/2 and 3/4 miles near Haven, and several homes were completely demolished indicating F4 damage. Had the tornado moved through a more populated area in this stage of its life, it is likely that it would have caused much more dramatic damage. Fairly constant F3 damage was produced from Haven to Burrton and to the Little Arkansas River. The path width remained over 1/2 mile in diameter.

Northeast of the Little Arkansas, the track abruptly decreased in width from 1/2 mile to just over 300 yards. Photographs suggest what appears to be a re-organization of the tornadic circulation; initially a wedge like appearance, the funnel quickly became tall and narrow. The most significant damage was done in this stage, however. The tornado plowed into the town of Hesston, just northwest of Newton on I-135. Numerous homes and businesses were destroyed, and several were swept completely from their foundations. Portions of the damage path in Hesston were rated F5. One person died and 59 people were injured. The series of events that occurred as the tornado moved past the Hesston area were most interesting. Eyewitness accounts observed the touchdown of an additional tornado just to the north. This is consistent with models of what is known as a tornado handoff, where as the old mesocyclone and tornado occlude, the new mesocyclone and tornado further north becomes dominant. Over the course of a few miles, the new tornado intensified and the original one diminished. Eventually, the Hesston tornado (after having traveled for nearly 48 miles)occluded and merged with the new funnel, and the supercell began to re-intensify. Violent damage was produced by the second tornado in Marion county; several homes were again completely demolished and swept away and one additional fatality was reported. The storm passed Goessel and then dissipated approximately 22 miles from its genesis. It was also rated F5.