When we think about tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas, names like Moore, El Reno, and Piedmont immediately come to mind. These deadly storms were unforgettable, causing massive destruction and heartbreak. But long before those, there was a day so tragic it was named Terrible Tuesday — April 10th, 1979.
This was the day when the skies turned violent, and 25 tornadoes struck in just 24 hours, leaving behind a path of chaos, especially across the Red River region. It’s a day that changed lives forever.
A Normal Spring Day Turns Deadly
April 10th, 1979, started like any other spring day. The jet stream swept across the plains, a common sight in Oklahoma and Texas. But weather forecasting back then was not as advanced as today. No one expected what was coming.
By evening, 25 tornadoes had formed across Texas and Oklahoma, including:
- An F3 tornado in Lawton, Oklahoma
- Two powerful F4 tornadoes in Vernon and Wichita Falls, Texas
It became known as the Red River Tornado Outbreak, one of the worst tornado days in the region’s history.
Vernon, Texas: Twin Tornadoes Strike First
The chaos began in Vernon, Texas, just south of Altus, Oklahoma. Two twisters formed near the small town of Thalia, southwest of Vernon. As they grew stronger, they merged into one powerful storm and headed straight for Vernon.
The tornado:
- Destroyed several buildings, including the county fairground’s exhibition building
- Killed multiple people
- Lifted cars off highways
- Was the first ever recorded tornado to pick up cattle and fling them into the air — a scene that seemed straight out of a film
Lawton, Oklahoma: Twister Hits a Populated Area
At around 5 PM, a tornado touched down just north of Lawton Airport and moved along 11th Street. It became an F3 tornado, damaging highly populated parts of the city at the time.
The damage included:
- 449 total structures affected
- 116 homes and buildings completely destroyed
- 3 people killed, over 100 injured
Even today, when you drive through Lawton, you’ll notice empty lots — reminders of where homes once stood before that tragic day.
Wichita Falls: The Deadliest Tornado of the Day
The worst storm of the day was the one that ripped through Wichita Falls, Texas. This F4 tornado left a 1.5-mile-wide path of destruction right through the heart of the city.
Here’s what it left behind:
- 42 people killed, plus 3 who died from heart attacks
- 1,700 people injured
- 2,095 homes, over 1,000 apartments, and 93 mobile homes destroyed
- 5,000 families left homeless
This tornado was not only deadly, but it was also the most expensive tornado in U.S. history at that time. When adjusted for today’s money, the damage cost is estimated to be around $1.14 billion.
A Day That Will Never Be Forgotten
The storms continued over the next few days, but none matched the devastation of the three major tornadoes in Vernon, Lawton, and Wichita Falls on Terrible Tuesday.
If you ever visit Lawton, Oklahoma, you can experience the story at the Museum of the Great Plains. They have a detailed and emotional exhibit about the storm — especially the Wichita Falls tornado. It includes a storm shelter-themed theater that brings the event to life, helping visitors understand what people went through on that fateful day.