Lawrence Tornado of 1990

On March 13, 1990, an early season outbreak of tornadoes ripped across the interior United States. A total of 59 tornado touchdowns impacted the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Of the 59 tornadoes, 44 of the tornadoes occurred in Nebraska and Kansas. The more well known tornadoes on the 13th include the Hesston, Kansas F5 tornado, and the Lawrence, Nebraska F4 tornado.    adic complex tracked northeast for 124 miles, setting a record for the longest track tornado in the state of Nebraska.
As widespread as the outbreak of tornadoes was on the 13th, experiencing tornadoes in March is typically not a common occurrence. Historically speaking, in Nebraska, 57 tornadoes have been reported in March since 1950. Tornadoes have been reported during March in just 12 different years since 1950. The majority of those 57 tornadoes occurred in just three years: 16 tornadoes occurred in 2007, 15 in 1990, and 8 in 2009. Based on the data, since 1950, the average number of tornadoes in March is about 1.
Since 1880, only one other March tornado event seems to compare in intensity to March 13, 1990: The "Palm Sunday" tornado outbreak on March 23, 1913. Several tornadoes devastated the Omaha area on that fateful day. 103 people were killed, including 94 in Omaha. At least 600 homes were destroyed in Omaha and another 1,100 damaged. There were no less than four F4 tornadoes reported.
Meteorologically, several ingredients need to come together to for weather conditions to be conducive for tornado development. On March 13, 1990, a strong surface low pressure was located in north central Kansas. The low pulled unseasonably warm and most air north into the south central Nebraska and north central Kansas. Surface dewpoint temperatures rose to above 60 degrees in eastern Nebraska while surface temperatures topped 70 degrees in northern Kansas. A surface dryline, or push of dry air from the west southwest, bulged into north central Kansas, and was part of the spark to ignite the explosive instability in place. Typical of strong March weather systems, while central and eastern Nebraska and Kansas were impacted by severe weather, the Nebraska panhandle experienced heavy snow, ice and wintry weather conditions. Some areas of the Nebraska panhandle measured up to 8 inches of snow. Blizzard-like conditions were reported
Now, let's look back at the facts and impacts of the F4 Lawrence tornado, on March 13, 1990:

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Highlights of the "Lawrence Tornado":
•124 mile path from 3 miles south of Red Cloud to 3 miles east of Schuyler. Longest path tornado in Nebraska recorded state history
•Total of 9 injuries. No fatalities occurred.
•Rated an F4 on the original Fujita Scale. Winds estimated between 207 mph and 260 mph.
•Estimated width of 1200 feet, or about 1/4 mile.
•In Webster County, 7 farms damaged. One farm was "wiped out".
•In Nuckolls County, 53 homes damaged in Lawrence, included eight which were destroyed. Eight more farmsteads were hit in rural areas.
•In Clay County, one business was destroyed, 11 were damaged, 20 farms were hit and 49 homes were damaged in Sutton.
•In Fillmore County, power lines and trees were damaged in the extreme northwest corner of the county.
•In York County, about a dozen farms were hit. One farm house 4 miles west of McCool Junction was destroyed. Near Waco, 57 train cars were derailed. The roof was torn from a motel at the Interstate 80 interchange south of York. An estimated 10,000 geese were killed by the storm.