EUREKA — Eureka is apparently no stranger to tornadoes. And we’re not just talking the junior-senior high mascot.
Besides tornadoes to hit Eureka this week and two years ago, the National Weather Service has provided information on two other tornadoes to hit the town since official records began in 1950.
The first hit Eureka on June 22, 1951. The Weather Service says the tornado touched down at Matfield Green around 4:30 pm that afternoon and didn’t lift until it hit Eureka better than two hours later. Several farmsteads were damaged or destroyed, one person was hurt and 10 cattle were killed along the path. The F-2 tornado traveled around 20 miles and was almost 170 yards wide before it dissipated.
On May 30, 1974, Eureka was hit briefly by an F-0. No injuries were reported from that twister. Damage was listed as around $2,500. The tornado was only 33 yards wide.
The July 7, 2016 tornado was an EF-2, striking the town shortly before 9:45 pm that night and moving to the southeast almost four miles before dissipating about a mile east of town. Estimated peak winds were 135 mph with a maximum path width of around 150 yards. There were no injuries or deaths with the 2016 tornado.
Tuesday’s EF-3 formed just southwest of town and tracked to the northeast for about two miles before falling apart near 155th and Q Road, bringing peak winds of over 150 miles along the roughly 2-mile damage path. The had a maximum path width of 250 yards and damaged or destroyed almost 80 structures. Eight people were hurt.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
{gallery}Eureka Tornado Media Tour June 27 2018{/gallery}
