As large hail and damaging winds swept across the Kansas City area Tuesday evening, one Reddit user posted, “Looks like we’re going to test the Tonganoxie Split.” »
In Kansas City weather lore, the small town of Tonganoxie in Leavenworth County plays an outsized role. Located about 35 miles west of Kansas City, with a population of 5,573, Tonganoxie gives its name to the legend of the “Tonganoxie Split”, which is mentioned in social media comment sections during bad weather .
As most urban legends go, the definition of the “Tonganoxie Split” is as cloudy as a rainy day.
The “Tonganoxie Split” is loosely described as a phenomenon in which storms and tornadoes crossing Kansas split from north to south or dissipate when they reach Tonganoxie, sparing the Kansas City area from the worst effects of the storm.
Is the “Tonganoxie Split” a reality?
According to National Weather Service meteorologists Hallie Boza and Brent Pesel, that’s not the case.
“It hasn’t been scientifically shown that it would have a real impact, and there are storms out there all the time,” Boza said.
While some believe cities are less likely to be hit by tornadoes, Pesel said that’s because cities take up less land than rural areas.
As for the idea that heat island cities repel tornadoes, Pesel said, “I don’t know of any published research establishing a correlation” between warmer cities and tornadoes.
And tall buildings don’t protect urban areas. A National Weather Service fact sheet stated: “Tornadoes are typically between 5 and 10 miles in height. A large building with a height of 500 to 1,000 feet cannot deflect or destroy a tornado.
History of the “Tonganoxie Split”
Kansas City residents have used the term “Tonganoxie Split” for decades.
A 1984 Kansas City Times article said: “TV weatherman Dan Henry likes to announce the ‘Tonganoxie split’ during drought seasons, when rain hits Topeka and Kansas City but misses the areas in between.”
At a 1994 weather Q&A event, a group of meteorologists addressed the so-called “weather myth” that tornadoes avoid Tonganoxie. One radio meteorologist remarked, “Until you ask these questions…you won’t get rid of the myths,” as detailed in a Kansas City Star article.
Myths about urban tornadoes
Kansas City also has neighbors with these superstitions.
In Nebraska, locals tell the story of the mythical Omadome, which they say protects Omaha from the elements. Unfortunately, this theory has recently been proven false. On April 26, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa experienced 19 confirmed tornadoes, resulting in one death and hundreds of homes destroyed.
Do you have any other questions about the weather in the Kansas City area? Ask the journalism service team at kcq@kcstar.com.
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