What started as a funnel, which eventually fell like a small tornado with a rope near Andover on Friday night, gained momentum and became a large cone that caused extensive damage throughout the Wichita suburb. The confirmed damage included house damage, extensive damage to the Andover YMCA and the Capital Federal Amphitheater in Andover Central Park, and at least minor damage to Andover City Hall and Andover Central High School. The United Way of the Plains said 50 to 100 structures were damaged in Friday night’s tornado in Sedgwick County. The total including Butler County is likely to be much higher. United Way said the Andover YMCA was hit immediately. A firefighter at a scene near East 31st Street South and South 137th Street East confirmed a serious but non-life-threatening injury in this neighborhood. A tornado caused extensive damage to the Andover YMCA (Alice Morris (left)) The Greater Wichita YMCA issued a statement late Friday night expressing its gratitude that no one at the Andover facility was injured when the tornado struck. As expected, the YMCA said the Andover branch would remain closed until further notice. “We are grateful that all the staff and members who took refuge in the branch during the storm were not injured,” the YMCA said. The tornado that hit Andover came with a strong thunderstorm that continued to hike northeast. A tornado was also confirmed near Rosalia, about 16 miles east of El Dorado. Copyright 2022 KWCH. All rights reserved.
