Draft:1896 Sherman tornado

1896 Sherman tornado

Counterclockwise from top: The track of the Sherman tornado; An artist's rendition of the Sherman tornado after eye-witnessing the event; A man standing in the debris of what once was a home
Meteorological history
Formed	May 15, 1896, 3:44 p.m. CST (UTC−05:00)
Dissipated	May 15, 1896, 5:05 p.m. CST (UTC−05:00)
Duration	1 hour and 20 minutes
Unofficial F5 tornado
Highest winds	>260 MPH
Overall effects
Fatalities	73
Injuries	>200
Economic losses	>$500,000 (1896 USD)
Areas affected	Denton County and Grayson County, Texas (Primarily the city of Sherman)

During the afternoon hours of May 15, 1896, a deadly and extremely violent tornado would track 28 miles through northeastern Texas, damaging or destroying many farms and rural homes in Denton County, and Grayson County before devastating the city of Sherman. The tornado was part of a larger tornado outbreak sequence which lasted from May 15 - 20, 1896 which primarily affected the states of Texas and Kansas. The tornado would cause more than $500,000 (1896 USD) in damages, injure more than 200 people, and tragically claim the lives of at least 73 people, with 62 being in Sherman alone. As of 2025, the tornado remains the fourth deadliest tornado in Texas state history. Due to the tornado occurring prior to 1950, the tornado does not have an official rating, however this tornado is widely accepted to have been equivalent to an F5 on the Fujita Scale. This event is often referred to as Sherman's Black Friday.

The tornado would touch down approximately 3 miles east-southeast of Pilot Point in extreme northeastern Denton County. Homes near the beginning of the path would sustain significant damage as the tornado tracked northeast. The tornado would cross into Grayson County, where it would level farm after farm to the west of Gunter, and Farmington, and would continue to obliterate farms between Dorchester and Howe. The tornado would begin to narrow in size and began to occlude as the tornado would slowly turn more north. Despite the occlusion and shrinking size, the tornado would continue to intensify as it swept multiple farms away south of Sherman. The tornado would then tear a narrow path through the western sides of the city at around 4:55 PM CST, leaving no structure in its path untouched. The tornado would mangle the Houston Street bridge into "useless scrap". The tornado would leave Sherman to the northwest, rapidly dissipating shortly after. 73 people would perish throughout the tornadoes 28 mile long track, 6 between Gunter and Dorchester, 5 just outside of Sherman, and the rest would perish within the city of Sherman.

Meteorological synopsis

The Daily Weather Map for May 15, 1896 (Credit: US Department of Agriculture)

Weather Conditions Prior

The days leading up to May 15 in northeastern Texas was described as having, "Unusual humidity, variable winds of freaky fickleness and force, very high daily temperature, remarkably cool nights and a persistently low barometer".

During the morning hours of May 15, a deep low pressure system would be observed over the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. A strong ridge of high pressure was also observed over the eastern US. 1000 MB (Near surface) humidity values were high as a moist and warm air mass moved throughout the Red River Valley. Creating an environment with strong temperature and pressure differences. With the addition of strong wind sheer over the Red River Valley, the environment was highly favorable for strong tornadoes.

At 8 AM EST, the US Weather Bureau would release the daily weather map forecast for May 15, 1896. In the Forecast, it was noted for Oklahoma and the Indian Territory, that conditions were favorable for localized storms in the afternoon and evening hours. Temperatures were recorded at 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and were expected to rise by up to 8 degrees throughout the afternoon and evening. Winds were recorded from the south moving northeastward at 6 MPH. It was noted that prior to the storms, "There was a stifling atmospheric condition that made breathing difficult. At the signal station the barometer stood at the danger point"

Supercell formation and prior tornadoes

A discrete supercell would form west of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The supercell would track northeastward, and at 2:15 PM CST, would produce its first tornado. The first tornado would track for 13.2 miles, and would claim 2 lives after impacting the town of Justin. The supercell would cycle and produce a second tornado near the city of Denton. The second tornado would track for 17.2 miles and claim 3 lives after impacting the community of Gribble Springs. As the supercell approached Sherman, it would cause heavy downpours of rain onto the city, and around the same time, the supercell would cycle once again, producing its third, and most infamous tornado.

Tornado Summary

Northeastern Denton County

At around 3:44 PM CST, a funnel would touch down around 3 miles east-southeast of Pilot Point, eyewitnesses described the funnel as "a huge elephant's trunk in search of food, feeling its way down". Farm homes in the area would be shifted off of their foundations, and outbuildings would be leveled as the tornado tracked northeast. Eyewitnesses would report a second storm tracking directly northwest towards the Sherman supercell, and that between the two storms, "There was a magnificent electrical display in a greenish cloudbank along the western horizon. With spectacular vividness sheet lightning kept the heavens illuminated, during which time frequent fiery zigzag bolts of intense brightness flashed down into the earth". The tornado wouldn't take on the usual "wedge" shape associated with violent tornadoes, instead the tornado was described by eyewitnesses as a "perfect funnel".

Rural Grayson County

As the tornado crossed into Grayson County, the tornado would rapidly intensify to F5 strength as farm after farm would be obliterated and swept clean. The tornado would widen to its maximum width of 400 yards as the tornado tracked northwest of Gunter and southeast of Dorchester. Around 6 people would be killed in this area, including 3 at one farm home. A mother and their two children were visiting another families home when the tornado approached. The owners family had already fled to shelter, however the visiting family refused to go. The home owner continued to urge the visiting family to seek shelter up until the tornado struck. The owner would later regain consciousness around 100 yards away from his home, waking up near the bodies of the visiting family.