NWS now says Bakersfield tornado was nearly 3/4-mile wide in some spots

After further reviewing the damage of the March 14 tornado that tore through Bakersfield, the National Weather Service has revised its damage survey results to reflect a much bigger path - both in width and length, higher wind speeds and more related injuries caused by the twister. 

Width is now recorded as 1,200 yards wide

The NWS original damage survey report showed that the tornado was 600 yards wide, equivalent to five football fields (end zone to end zone). 

That determination has been doubled, meaning that at points across its path, damage proves that the twister measured 1,200 yards wide, the equivalent to 10 football fields or close to 3/4-mile in width. 

Length is now 35 miles

The NWS had previously showed that the tornado had tracked just over 12 miles from Gamaliel, Arkansas, to just northeast of Bakersfield. After further reviewing damage in areas northeast of that path, it has determined that the tornado was on the ground for 35.74 miles. 

Most of the additional mileage was recorded by damage that occurred on a continuing track northeast to an area about seven miles east of West Plains. 

Wind determination increased to 145 miles per hour, still EF-3

The report shows that wind speed was recorded as five miles per hour higher, now recorded as 145 mph. 

That increase did not change the designation of an EF-3 tornado, which was the NWS’s original report. To increase to an EF-4, damage would have to be present that showed wind speeds of 166 to 200 mph. 

Touch down time increased by 27 minutes

Because of the increased length, the time that the tornado was on the ground has also increased. 

The original report showed that it was on the ground at 8:30 p.m. in Gamaliel, Arkansas, and lifted up at 8:49 p.m. northeast of Bakersfield, a total duration of 19 minutes.

Now, the NWS says the tornado touched down four minutes later than their original finding, at 8:34 p.m. and tracked for 46 minutes until it lifted up at 9:16 p.m. east of West Plains. 

Additional injuries added

The original report showed three fatalities and one injury as a result of the tornado. The new report shows that there were four injuries in addition to the deaths.