60 years ago today was the first tornado forecast that was issued. In the evening of March 25, 1948, a tornado hit Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, causing $6 million in damage, tearing down power lines, tossing fighter planes on their sides, and damaging the main runway. Fortunately, there were no fatalities because of the forecast issued a few hours before the event. Thanks to Air Force Captain Robert C. Miller and Major Ernest J. Fawbush who correctly predicted that atmospheric conditions were ripe for tornadoes in the vicinity of Tinker AFB. The tornado forecast was instrumental in advancing the nation's commitment to protecting the American public and military resources from the dangers caused by natural hazards. The weather service's advanced technology is a highly trained staff, a nationwide network of Doppler radar systems, new weather satellites and powerful computers that can predict atmospheric conditions with great accuracy.
Sources: NOAA and Air Weather Association
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