1995 Mayfest Storm
Encyclopedia
The 1995 Fort Worth Mayfest storm was a supercell
storm that occurred on the 5-6 May in the Fort Worth
and Tarrant County
areas of Texas
. It affected a highly populated area with hail
up to 4 inches (10.2 cm) in diameter, as well as striking the local outdoor festival known as the Fort Worth Mayfest. At the time the storm was the costliest hailstorm in the United States history, causing $1 billion in damage. The hail injured at least 100 people, and flash flood
ing and lightning
from the same storm killed at least 13 people.
storms in recent history was a high precipitation supercell which developed suddenly ahead of and near the crescent of a fast moving bow echo
. The supercell died as quickly as it formed when it was engulfed by the advancing bow echo. The upper air sounding from Fort Worth that evening showed a perfect environment for high precipitation storms with sharp directional shear
in the lowest layers, somewhat weak mid-level winds, and strong upper level winds.
. Hail
as large as 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter fell on the 10,000 people gathered to celebrate Mayfest, an annual celebration in Fort Worth, Texas
, at around 7:30 pm CDT. This led to 90 injuries requiring hospital treatment, including broken bones, lacerations and deep bruises, with many more minor injuries. Many people sheltered in cars after being caught outside in the hail, but the windshields shattered, causing numerous cuts from the broken glass. The large hail damaged cars, roofs and houses. Over 80 reports of significant damage were reported, with tiled buildings bearing the brunt of the damage. The Fort Worth Savings and Loan buildings were almost destroyed. Many cars were completely destroyed, and several houses severely damaged. The western part of Fort Worth, in the Ridglea and Ridgmar areas where many of the houses and commercial structures feature slate tile roofs, experienced catastrophic damage to roofs and underlying structures. The storm also cut power to 55,000 homes in the Tarrant area of Fort Worth.
Wind damage was also a feature of this powerful storm. The 60-70 mph (100-120 km/h) winds damaged roofs, blew many trees down and caused a few buildings to collapse.
Once the supercell was overtaken by the squall line
, it slowed considerably, and the torrential rains caused flash flooding and at least 13 fatalities. Most of the drownings occurred while attempting to cross flooded roads. Some children died while playing around drainage culvert
s, and two people died when a roof overloaded with rainwater collapsed. The combination of the heavy rain and hail created a dense mixture of hail and water, blocking drains and making travel difficult, as well as creating a dense fog
, adding to the severity of the floods and hampering rescue efforts.
911
lines were jammed during the storm due to so many people being caught unaware of the danger. Overall the storm caused damage in the range of 1 billion dollars, and with insurance
premiums increasing, the true cost may have been even greater.
Beginning a year after the storms and continuing ever since, volunteers from RACES - the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
- set up and operate a mobile weather command center at Mayfest. The mobile center is equipped with antennas, radios and computers connected to the National Weather Service
, Fort Worth's emergency management team and city police in the park.
With this new technology, the event can be cleared of people in 30 minutes if severe weather occurs.
Supercell
A supercell is a thunderstorm that is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone: a deep, continuously-rotating updraft. For this reason, these storms are sometimes referred to as rotating thunderstorms...
storm that occurred on the 5-6 May in the Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
and Tarrant County
Tarrant County, Texas
Tarrant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, it had a population of 1,809,034. Its county seat is Fort Worth. Tarrant County is the sixteenth most populous county in the United States and the third most populous in Texas. The county is named in honor...
areas of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It affected a highly populated area with hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
up to 4 inches (10.2 cm) in diameter, as well as striking the local outdoor festival known as the Fort Worth Mayfest. At the time the storm was the costliest hailstorm in the United States history, causing $1 billion in damage. The hail injured at least 100 people, and flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
ing and lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
from the same storm killed at least 13 people.
Causes
The cause of one of the most destructive hailHail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
storms in recent history was a high precipitation supercell which developed suddenly ahead of and near the crescent of a fast moving bow echo
Bow echo
A bow echo is a term describing the characteristic radar return from a mesoscale convective system that is shaped like an archer’s bow. These systems can produce severe straight-line winds and occasionally tornadoes, causing major damage.-Research:...
. The supercell died as quickly as it formed when it was engulfed by the advancing bow echo. The upper air sounding from Fort Worth that evening showed a perfect environment for high precipitation storms with sharp directional shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
in the lowest layers, somewhat weak mid-level winds, and strong upper level winds.
Warning
Very little warning of the storm was given, especially to those most vulnerable in the open at the Mayfest and this led to the injuries, damage and fatalities associated with this system.Impact and damage
The supercell produced damage over a large area (about 50 miles (80.5 km) long and 10 miles (16.1 km) wide) in southern and central Tarrant CountyTarrant County, Texas
Tarrant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, it had a population of 1,809,034. Its county seat is Fort Worth. Tarrant County is the sixteenth most populous county in the United States and the third most populous in Texas. The county is named in honor...
. Hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
as large as 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter fell on the 10,000 people gathered to celebrate Mayfest, an annual celebration in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, at around 7:30 pm CDT. This led to 90 injuries requiring hospital treatment, including broken bones, lacerations and deep bruises, with many more minor injuries. Many people sheltered in cars after being caught outside in the hail, but the windshields shattered, causing numerous cuts from the broken glass. The large hail damaged cars, roofs and houses. Over 80 reports of significant damage were reported, with tiled buildings bearing the brunt of the damage. The Fort Worth Savings and Loan buildings were almost destroyed. Many cars were completely destroyed, and several houses severely damaged. The western part of Fort Worth, in the Ridglea and Ridgmar areas where many of the houses and commercial structures feature slate tile roofs, experienced catastrophic damage to roofs and underlying structures. The storm also cut power to 55,000 homes in the Tarrant area of Fort Worth.
Wind damage was also a feature of this powerful storm. The 60-70 mph (100-120 km/h) winds damaged roofs, blew many trees down and caused a few buildings to collapse.
Once the supercell was overtaken by the squall line
Squall line
A squall line is a line of severe thunderstorms that can form along or ahead of a cold front. In the early 20th century, the term was used as a synonym for cold front. It contains heavy precipitation, hail, frequent lightning, strong straight-line winds, and possibly tornadoes and waterspouts....
, it slowed considerably, and the torrential rains caused flash flooding and at least 13 fatalities. Most of the drownings occurred while attempting to cross flooded roads. Some children died while playing around drainage culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
s, and two people died when a roof overloaded with rainwater collapsed. The combination of the heavy rain and hail created a dense mixture of hail and water, blocking drains and making travel difficult, as well as creating a dense fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
, adding to the severity of the floods and hampering rescue efforts.
911
911
Year 911 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Rebellion of the Kutama Berbers against the Fatimid Caliphate...
lines were jammed during the storm due to so many people being caught unaware of the danger. Overall the storm caused damage in the range of 1 billion dollars, and with insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
premiums increasing, the true cost may have been even greater.
Legacy
The storm caught out many meteorologists and the people out at Mayfest. The sheer impact of the supercell prompted a huge response from everyone, volunteers and professionals alike.Beginning a year after the storms and continuing ever since, volunteers from RACES - the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service is a standby radio service provided for in Part 97.407 of the Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations governing amateur radio in the United States....
- set up and operate a mobile weather command center at Mayfest. The mobile center is equipped with antennas, radios and computers connected to the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
, Fort Worth's emergency management team and city police in the park.
With this new technology, the event can be cleared of people in 30 minutes if severe weather occurs.