The Tonganoxie Split

[gblowfish]

I was talking to one of my customers today that lives in Valley Center, KS outside Wichita. He was telling me most of the heavy storms that head that way split, and the bad stuff either goes just North, or swings around to the south down by Andover.

West of KC there's a phenomenon I've been aware of since I was a kid called the "Tonganoxie Split." Same kind of deal. When a bad line of storms approaches KC, it tends to split in two, with the really bad stuff going just north or just south of the Metro.

Have you heard of that term, and what do you think? Is it a real thing? I believe it is!

https://www.reddit.com/r/kansascity/...s_radar_image/

[CaliforniaChief]

Whatever dynamics exist in Andover, KS and Moore, OK, I would seek the opposite.

There may be something to it...I grew up in a town that was supposedly in a good place because it was between 2 rivers...until it wasn't good.

Meteorology is fascinating to me.

[digger]

Saw this is a search:

A legend called the Tonganoxie Split, for example, purports the hills divert severe weather away from the Kansas City metropolitan area, Lawrence and Tonganoxie. But in fact, a tornado hit Tonganoxie in 2000, causing $2.1 million in damage to more than 200 homes and nine businesses.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by digger

Saw this is a search:

I think that just proves the point. Tonganoxie took a tornado for us 22 years ago. #NeverForget

[chop]

Tonganoxie, home of the Chieftains!

[Mr. Kotter]

If a tornado is traveling along the ground, obstacles and geography can divert them to be sure. However, occasionally they drop down directly on top of a populated area. I've been places where it's occasionally happened, as recently at 3 yrs ago in Sioux Falls.

[stanleychief]

I've heard of the term. I'm not sure I believe that it's real though.

You can see the distribution of tornadoes across Kansas from 1950 until present here. The state is pretty evenly covered, but you can see some patterns develop based on zoom level.



Worth noting is that tornado chasing and accurate reporting in rural areas is a relatively new thing. Back in the 50s, a lot of tornadoes went unreported in rural areas, simply because a) nobody was around to witness them, or b) there was no urgency to do so.

[RedinTexas]

The perception of storms missing certain locations can often be attributed to location of radar stations. Storms will seem to split as they pass over the radar tower because the radar beam is generally "aimed" away from the tower somewhat parallel to the ground and not "up" above the tower. Storms will seem to dissipate in the area of the tower and reform again after passing it.

[loochy]

I heard that way down yonder on the Chattahoochee it gets hotter than a hoochie coochie

[Kiimo]

I’ve heard of a Tonganoxie Spliff that’s where you put meth in your joint

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

my Dad said the Native American Indian community around Carthage used to claim a tornado would never hit the town because; something about how the town was basically encapsulated by rivers and (I guess) the belief was that a tornado couldn't cross the rivers? No idea - I just remember hearing that.

https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/loc...early%20Monday.

[EPodolak]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Whatever dynamics exist in Andover, KS and Moore, OK, I would seek the opposite.

There may be something to it...I grew up in a town that was supposedly in a good place because it was between 2 rivers...until it wasn't good.

Meteorology is fascinating to me.

Right. Study the geography of the OKC metro and it'll tell a lot. Between Moore and Edmond and El Reno in that area it's as concentrated for severe weather as any.

[Stewie]

I remember Dan Henry using Tonganoxie Split during his weather segments in the 1970s. I thought he coined the term, but maybe not.

[Dunerdr]

Theres a similar deal that happens in Oklahoma. Storms usually come across OKC then either follow 40 south of me or move north into southern KS.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by stanleychief

I've heard of the term. I'm not sure I believe that it's real though.

You can see the distribution of tornadoes across Kansas from 1950 until present here. The state is pretty evenly covered, but you can see some patterns develop based on zoom level.



Worth noting is that tornado chasing and accurate reporting in rural areas is a relatively new thing. Back in the 50s, a lot of tornadoes went unreported in rural areas, simply because a) nobody was around to witness them, or b) there was no urgency to do so.

If you look at Colorado's map, it's clear that tornados are attracted to Kansans.

[Dallas Chief]

Originally Posted by Dunerdr

Theres a similar deal that happens in Oklahoma. Storms usually come across OKC then either follow 40 south of me or move north into southern KS.

Yep, there's almost what looks like a pipeline just south of I-240 as it crosses I-35 on the north side of Moore, OK. I've seen the structures and trees in that area obliterated at least three times in the past 30 years. Just last night tornadic storms rolled right through due east of there in the Shawnee/Tecumseh/Seminole area of Oklahoma. Seems cursed.