1970 Lubbock Tornado Tossed One of The Heaviest Items on Record

It's hard to determine the largest and heaviest items lifted and thrown by a tornado throughout the years, but one that stands out among the alleged top 4 was hurled by the 1970 tornado that hit Lubbock, Texas.

The multiple-vortex tornado that struck Lubbock after nightfall on May 11, 1970 was a doozy. It resulted in $250 million worth of damage, all but destroyed the bulk of downtown and the Lubbock Municipal Airport, and killed 26 people.

So, what was the heaviest thing thrown during the tornado, and how does it compare to things thrown in other twisters?

The largest item reportedly thrown by the 1970 Lubbock tornado was a fertilizer tank. It weighed 26,000 pounds, and it was discovered 3/4 of a mile away from its original location on the other side of the freeway and among several undamaged fences.

Here are some examples of other things that weigh around 26,000 pounds, to give you an idea of just how heavy it was:

- City transit bus

- Cement mixer

- Mobile crane

- Refuse truck

- Box truck

In 2011, in Tuscaloosa, Oklahoma, witnesses reported seeing a tornado hurl a train car weighing around 71,600 pounds a whopping 130 yards in one throw. Yikes. You would not want to be on the receiving end of that catch...

Have you ever witnessed a tornado throw something truly massive? I'd love to hear about it. Leave me a comment on this article or email me your story directly at Chrissy.covington@townsquaremedia.com.

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