Type | Tornado outbreak |
---|---|
Formed | April 27, 2002 |
Duration | 2 days |
Dissipated | April 28, 2002 |
Tornadoes confirmed | 48 |
Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 2 days |
Fatalities | 6 fatalities, 256 injuries |
Damage | ≥$224 million (2002 USD) |
Areas affected | Central & Eastern United States |
Part of Tornadoes of 2002 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado |
A widespread, destructive tornado outbreak affected Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska on April 27, 2002, and Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia on the following day, April 28. Generally, tornado reports were widely scattered in each state, but significant to severe damage was noted in multiple states. Overall, 48 tornadoes were confirmed along with 6 deaths, 256 injuries, and $224 million in damage, with wind and hail adding to the damage total.
On April 25, the Storm Prediction Center first noted the potential for organized severe weather across the lower Missouri River Valley as an upper-level trough ejected eastward across the United States. [1] The organization delineated a Moderate risk across most of Missouri, portions of Illinois, western Kentucky, western Tennessee, and northern Arkansas the following day. [2] On the morning of April 27, forecasters noted a coupled jet stream across the country, with a 150 kn (175 mph; 280 km/h) 250 mb jet over James Bay and a 135 kn (155 mph; 250 km/h) jet over Oklahoma. In response to this favorable configuration, potent 850 mb winds of 60 kn (70 mph; 110 km/h) overspread Missouri, enhancing the northward progression of moisture. [3] Within this warm air advection regime, several clusters of elevated atmospheric convection developed throughout the morning hours coincident with steep mid-level lapse rates—values representing the change in temperature with height—of 7.5 C/km, mainly posing a risk for marginally severe hail as they moved across Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. Given the strength of the surface low-pressure area progressing across Nebraska, forecasters noted the potential for dewpoints in excess of 60 °F (15 °C) to encroach as far north as southern Iowa, though the degree of destabilization (CAPE) was unclear given the coverage of cloud cover. [4] Within hours, sunshine enveloped portions of central Kansas, where thunderstorms were expected to develop along the dryline stretching southward into central Texas. In this area, a moist and unstable environment materialized, but long and straight hodographs—plots showing the change in wind with height—favored a predominant large hail and damaging wind threat from any discrete activity before it congealed into a squall line overnight. [5]
Farther north in southern Nebraska and Iowa, a greater tornado threat was expected to evolve along the warm front and east of the surface low, where wind shear and barometric pressure falls were most conducive for supercell thunderstorms capable of producing strong—F2 or greater on the Fujita scale—tornadoes. [5] By the afternoon, widespread thunderstorm activity began to develop near the intersection of the dryline and warm front across northeastern Kansas, northwestern Missouri, and southwestern Iowa. [6] Several weak tornadoes occurred in this region over ensuing hours. After sunset, the greatest risk for severe weather shifted across Missouri and eastward across several states into Ohio. Mid-level CAPE of 1,000–1,500 J/kg, effective bulk wind shear of 70 kn (80 mph; 130 km/h), and 0–1 km shear upwards of 50 kn (60 mph; 95 km/h) favored the formation of discrete supercell thunderstorms and bow echoes across much of the region into the overnight hours. The SPC noted that the isolated nature of supercells precluded the issuance of a High risk. [7] Discrete or embedded supercells moved across Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky during the pre-dawn hours, where wind shear remained very favorable for tornadoes given low-level storm relative helicity in excess of 500 m2/s2. [8] Numerous tornadoes were confirmed, many of which were significant. By sunrise, the formation of several bow echoes suggested a transition to a greater damaging wind event. [9]
During the morning of April 28, the SPC again outlined a Moderate risk of severe weather, this time stretching from Ohio eastward across much of the Mid-Atlantic. [10] The powerful upper-level trough shifted eastward, now encompassing portions of the Ohio River Valley and Northeast in 200 mb winds greater than 100 kn (115 mph; 185 km/h). [11] While a line of pre-frontal convection was ongoing during the early morning hours, this activity was expected to weaken as it encountered stable air across the Appalachian Mountains. Meanwhile, with a sharp cold front moving eastward across portions of the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, and into Pennsylvania as well, a severe squall line was expected to take shape and pose a risk for widespread damaging winds, severe hail, and one or two tornadoes. Across the Delmarva region, forecasters expected 1,000–2,000 J/kg of CAPE to develop amid a lee trough despite lingering clouds and precipitation. With large-scale forcing focused north of Virginia, only scattered thunderstorms were expected in this region, though the environment favored the potential for supercells. [10] Into the afternoon hours, one particular supercell developed in central West Virginia and progressed eastward across Virginia, producing its first strong tornado in Shenandoah County. [12] While much of this region had been located in stable air north of a warm front through the morning, that boundary lifted north after midday and allowed for rapid destabilization. Thus, as the supercell continued east across Virginia and Maryland, it notably produced a historic F4 tornado in La Plata, Maryland. [11] Additional damaging tornadoes accompanied the storm until it moved offshore after sunset. [13]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 48 |
F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Date | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F1 | W of Crete | Saline | NE | April 27 | 40°36′00″N97°02′00″W / 40.6°N 97.0333°W | 20:06–20:10 | 4.5 mi (7.2 km) | 40 yd (37 m) | One barn and some fences were destroyed. A few irrigation pivots were overturned, and a few trees were uprooted. Some houses sustained minor damage. [14] |
F0 | S of Milford | Seward | NE | April 27 | 40°42′N97°03′W / 40.7°N 97.05°W | 20:25 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 20 yd (18 m) | A storm chaser filmed a brief tornado in open country. [15] |
F0 | SW of Effingham | Atchison | KS | April 27 | 39°30′00″N95°26′00″W / 39.5°N 95.4333°W | 21:10–21:13 | 0.25 mi (0.40 km) | 25 yd (23 m) | A grain truck was blown over and one house's windows were blown out. Two sheds were destroyed, and hay bales, lumber, and debris were strewn across the property. [16] |
F0 | NW of Percival | Fremont | IA | April 27 | 40°46′00″N95°50′00″W / 40.7666°N 95.8333°W | 21:41 | — | 20 yd (18 m) | A storm chaser reported a brief tornado. [17] |
F0 | NW of Thurman | Fremont | IA | April 27 | 40°50′00″N95°48′00″W / 40.8333°N 95.8°W | 21:50 | — | 20 yd (18 m) | A storm chaser reported a brief tornado. [18] |
F0 | S of Pacific Junction | Mills | IA | April 27 | 41°00′N95°48′W / 41.0°N 95.8°W | 21:58 | — | 20 yd (18 m) | A storm chaser reported a brief tornado over an open field. [19] |
F1 | E of Belleville | St. Clair | IL | April 27 | 38°32′00″N89°56′00″W / 38.5333°N 89.9333°W | 03:35–03:38 | 1.7 mi (2.7 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | An elementary school, two large buildings, and 32 houses were damaged. A number of trees were snapped or uprooted. [20] |
F2 | N of Willow Springs | Howell | MO | April 27 | 37°01′00″N91°59′00″W / 37.01667°N 91.98333°W | 03:40–03:45 | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A house and numerous outbuildings, including a barn, were severely damaged. The roofs of six other houses were either damaged or completely removed by the tornado. A church was rotated 45 degrees off its foundation, and adjacent cemetery headstones were toppled. A 365 ft (111 m) radio tower was blown over and landed on a house, a bass boat was tossed, and century-old trees were uprooted. [21] |
F1 | E of Kenner | Clay | IL | April 28 | 38°39′00″N88°31′00″W / 38.65°N 88.51667°W | 05:05–05:10 | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | A mobile home was demolished with debris tossed up to 1 mi (1.6 km) away, and its occupants suffered minor injuries. Three houses and another mobile home were damaged. An outbuilding was destroyed, and a propane tank was thrown 0.25 mi (0.40 km). A car was rolled three times and thrown into a ditch, injuring two of its occupants. [22] |
F3 | SW of Marble Hill | Bollinger | MO | April 28 | 37°13′00″N90°04′00″W / 37.2167°N 90.0667°W | 05:40–05:45 | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | 1 death – Six mobile homes were destroyed, and four others were severely damaged. Nineteen single-family houses also sustained significant damage. A 12-year-old boy was fatally injured after being tossed 50 yd (46 m) from his house as it was being destroyed, and six other residents were thrown into a nearby lake. The tornado also damaged or destroyed 50 outbuildings, tossed cars on top of one another, and downed a large number of trees. Sixteen people in total were injured, four of them seriously. [23] |
F2 | Galatia | Saline | IL | April 28 | 37°50′00″N88°38′00″W / 37.8333°N 88.6333°W | 06:07–06:16 | 7.5 mi (12.1 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | At least 55 structures were damaged or destroyed in the town of Galatia. The roof of a car wash was blown off, and its walls were collapsed. A trailer was overturned, injuring two people inside. Two brick houses had their roofs and walls ripped away. [24] |
F3 | NE of Valley Mission to NE of Cypress | Union, Johnson | IL | April 28 | 37°22′00″N89°20′00″W / 37.3667°N 89.3333°W | 06:18–06:38 | 19 mi (31 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | 1 death – An intense tornado touched down in the Shawnee National Forest and tracked east into Dongola where it damaged or destroyed 75 houses. One woman attempted to outdrive the tornado but was killed when her car was thrown across the road and under a building. A train was blown off its tracks, and a recreational vehicle was thrown across Lake Dongola and impaled into the ground. In Cypress, two trailers were destroyed. About 50 other structures were damaged, including a school that lost some of its roof and upper-story walls. Ten people were injured. [25] [26] |
F2 | NW of Ganntown | Johnson | IL | April 28 | 37°22′00″N88°54′00″W / 37.3667°N 88.9°W | 06:46–06:52 | 7 mi (11 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | A mobile home was demolished, and its two occupants were injured. Two other mobile homes sustained extensive damage. Numerous trees were downed. [27] |
F3 | N of Reevesville to SE of Joy, Kentucky | Pope (IL), Livingston (KY) | IL, KY | April 28 | 37°21′00″N88°43′00″W / 37.35°N 88.7167°W | 06:59–07:20 | 22 mi (35 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | A brick house and two mobile homes were destroyed, while farm buildings and a few homes were damaged. Thousands of trees were downed. [28] [29] |
F0 | SE of Hayward | New Madrid | MO | April 28 | 36°21′N89°36′W / 36.35°N 89.6°W | 07:29 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 70 yd (64 m) | Several large trees were snapped at their base. [30] |
F1 | N of Sheridan | Crittenden | KY | April 28 | 37°22′00″N88°13′00″W / 37.3667°N 88.2167°W | 07:35–07:37 | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A few trailers were heavily damaged or destroyed. Many trees were downed. [31] |
F1 | SW of Repton | Crittenden | KY | April 28 | 37°22′00″N88°02′00″W / 37.3667°N 88.0333°W | 07:39–07:41 | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | Numerous trees were downed. [32] |
F1 | W of Tiptonville | Lake | TN | April 28 | 36°23′00″N89°30′00″W / 36.3833°N 89.5°W | 07:40–07:47 | 3.5 mi (5.6 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | Eleven mobile homes and a shed were destroyed. Twelve other mobile homes and five houses were damaged. [33] |
F3 | SE of Piney to Hanson | Crittenden, Webster, Hopkins | KY | April 28 | 37°23′00″N87°53′00″W / 37.3833°N 87.8833°W | 07:49–08:10 | 22 mi (35 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | A long-lived and intense tornado touched down in Crittenden County, where it damaged a dozen houses and farm buildings. Extensive damage occurred in Providence were 16 mobile homes and ten houses were destroyed, and 100 other houses were damaged. In Hopkins County, another ten (as many as 15) houses were significantly damaged and four chicken houses with 45,000 chickens inside them were blown off their foundations. In all, 26 people were injured by this storm and total damages were estimated at $16.9 million. [34] [35] [36] |
F2+ | SE of Tobinsport, Indiana to SW of Garrett, Kentucky | Perry (IN), Breckinridge (KY), Meade (KY) | IN, KY | April 28 | 37°51′00″N86°38′00″W / 37.85°N 86.6333°W | 08:05–08:40 | 32.5 mi (52.3 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | 1 death – Several houses, mobile homes, and outbuildings were destroyed, resulting in one death and 19 injuries. Other structures sustained lesser damage. Numerous trees were uprooted. A church had its roof ripped off. [37] [38] [39] |
F1 | W of Hartford | Ohio | KY | April 28 | 37°25′00″N87°05′00″W / 37.4167°N 87.0833°W | 08:40–08:50 | 9.5 mi (15.3 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | One mobile home and several outbuildings were destroyed. Other mobile homes were lifted and twisted. Sixteen houses in Hartford sustained structural damage with some of their roofs torn off. [40] |
F1+ | NW of Radcliff | Hardin | KY | April 28 | 37°50′00″N85°59′00″W / 37.8333°N 85.9833°W | 08:55–08:57 | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 60 yd (55 m) | Twenty-six houses were damaged, including two that had their roofs torn off. Numerous trees were uprooted. [41] |
F0 | E of Whitlock | Henry | TN | April 28 | 36°22′00″N88°21′00″W / 36.3667°N 88.35°W | 09:00–09:10 | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Three tall transmission towers were destroyed, and twenty houses were damaged. Several trees and power lines were toppled. [42] |
F1 | S of Moutardier | Edmonson | KY | April 28 | 37°19′00″N86°15′00″W / 37.3167°N 86.25°W | 09:35–09:38 | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Several houses lost their roofs, and 2x4s from structures were impaled into the ground. Numerous trees were snapped or downed. [43] |
F3 | E of Rucker | Rutherford | TN | April 28 | 35°45′00″N86°22′00″W / 35.75°N 86.3667°W | 12:34–12:40 | 3.2 mi (5.1 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | Seven mobile homes, five houses, and two barns were destroyed with two other mobile homes and 46 houses sustaining damage. Six horse/cattle were killed, and 31 people were injured. [44] |
F2 | S of Bradyville | Cannon | TN | April 28 | 35°43′00″N86°10′00″W / 35.7167°N 86.1667°W | 12:45–12:47 | 0.9 mi (1.4 km) | 30 yd (27 m) | One house and three mobile homes were destroyed, and six other mobile homes were damaged. [45] |
F2 | Crystal Springs to North Canton | Stark | OH | April 28 | 40°51′00″N81°31′00″W / 40.85°N 81.5167°W | 17:58–18:08 | 7.2 mi (11.6 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | A strong tornado destroyed 25 structures and three businesses. Another 300 houses and 38 other buildings were damaged. A middle school building suffered extensive damage and was closed for nearly a week for repairs. A nearby high school was also damaged. Approximately 1,000 trees were downed by the tornado and over 300 vehicles were damaged. [46] |
F0 | Sharpsville | Mercer | PA | April 28 | 41°15′00″N80°28′00″W / 41.25°N 80.4667°W | 18:35–18:40 | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A fire tower was downed. The windward side of a barn was blown out, and resulting debris punctured large holes in an adjacent building. A garage under construction sustained extensive damage. Numerous trees and telephone poles were toppled or snapped with some falling trees landing on homes. [47] |
F1 | NW of Jackson Center to W of Mapledale | Mercer, Venango | PA | April 28 | 41°16′48″N80°10′00″W / 41.28°N 80.1667°W | 18:45–19:06 | 16 mi (26 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | Several decks, porches, signs, and a relatively new garage were significantly damaged. Some sheds, small garages, and houses lost their roofs, siding, or shingles. Numerous large trees, power lines, and telephones were toppled, some onto houses. A fish hatchery building had about 100 square feet (9.3 m2) of its metal roof torn off and thrown several hundred yards. A wooden 2x4 was driven through a mobile home, while pieces of wood were also driven into the front of a nearby car. Thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted. Microburst damage accompanied the tornado as it approached Venango County where four barns were destroyed, one house was moderately damaged, and three houses saw minor damage. Two tree farms sustained extensive damage, and a double-wide mobile home was overturned onto its roof. [48] [49] |
F0 | NE of Springville | Erie | NY | April 28 | 42°33′00″N78°38′00″W / 42.55°N 78.6333°W | 18:50 | 0.7 mi (1.1 km) | 25 yd (23 m) | The roof and back wall of an outbuilding were blown out, a pier was tossed across a pond, and trees were damaged. [50] |
F1 | W of Meridian | Butler | PA | April 28 | 40°51′00″N80°04′00″W / 40.85°N 80.0667°W | 19:01–19:06 | 7 mi (11 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Several houses and a barn sustained roof or siding damage, including the roof of a house that was thrown 75 yards (69 m). Large swaths of trees were snapped or uprooted. [51] |
F1 | N of St. Joseph | Marshall | WV | April 28 | 39°44′00″N80°43′00″W / 39.7333°N 80.7167°W | 19:15–19:20 | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | One barn was destroyed and several others were damaged. Shingles were ripped off a house. Numerous trees were downed or snapped. [52] |
F0 | NW of Maysville | Armstrong, Indiana | PA | April 28 | 40°34′48″N79°29′00″W / 40.58°N 79.4833°W | 19:45–19:55 | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | A church steeple was toppled, and a swimming pool was destroyed. Some houses sustained damage from tornadic winds or fallen trees. A garage was also damaged while a house under construction was lifted from its foundation. [53] [54] |
F2 | SE of Belfast | Allegany | NY | April 28 | 42°20′00″N78°07′00″W / 42.3333°N 78.1167°W | 19:50–20:00 | 6.5 mi (10.5 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | A barn, garage, and a two-story house were destroyed. A silo, a barn, and another house were damaged. [55] |
F2 | Indiana area | Indiana | PA | April 28 | 40°34′00″N79°14′00″W / 40.5667°N 79.2333°W | 20:00–20:06 | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | One house was destroyed while at least eighteen others were damaged. Some garages and barns were also damaged, and a large sign from a hotel was blown into a car lot, crushing two cars and damaging many others. One person was injured. [56] |
F1 | NE of Deckers Point | Indiana | PA | April 28 | 40°46′00″N78°58′00″W / 40.7667°N 78.9667°W | 20:10–20:13 | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | One house had its doors blown in, its opposite wall pushed outward, and its roof uplifted. A 100-year-old home lost its entire roof, which was thrown nearly 150 yards (140 m), and its garage was also destroyed with cinder blocks thrown nearly 100 yards (91 m). Numerous trees, power lines, and telephone poles were downed. Several sheds and small garages were damaged or destroyed, including one wooden garage that was picked up over the car inside. One person was injured. [57] |
F1 | Bedford | Bedford | VA | April 28 | 37°20′00″N79°32′00″W / 37.3333°N 79.5333°W | 20:31–20:32 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Four businesses were destroyed. Twenty-five homes, 58 businesses, several dozen cars, and one church were damaged. [58] |
F0 | Mount Pleasant | Maury | TN | April 28 | 35°32′00″N87°12′00″W / 35.5333°N 87.2°W | 20:42 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | A trained storm spotter reported a brief tornado. [59] |
F2 | Bedford | Bedford, Campbell | VA | April 28 | 37°17′00″N79°24′00″W / 37.2833°N 79.4°W | 20:43–20:57 | 10 mi (16 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | A second, stronger tornado struck the Bedford area, destroying 22 houses, six businesses, 24 farm buildings, and one church. Another 329 houses, several RV vehicles, 45 businesses, and two churches were damaged. Many trees and power lines were downed, and a “semi-truck” was damaged as well. Twelve people were injured. [60] [61] |
F2 | N of Alpine | Shenandoah | VA | April 28 | 38°40′12″N78°40′00″W / 38.67°N 78.6667°W | 20:55–21:03 | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | A strong tornado destroyed four houses, while another 36 agricultural structures and 56 houses were damaged. A tractor-trailer was overturned on Interstate 81. Two people were injured. [62] |
F1 | S of Jerseytown | Columbia | PA | April 28 | 41°05′00″N76°35′00″W / 41.0833°N 76.5833°W | 21:55–22:05 | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 30 yd (27 m) | Unknown damage occurred. [63] |
F1 | N of McGillstown | Lebanon | PA | April 28 | 40°24′00″N76°32′00″W / 40.4°N 76.5333°W | 22:13–22:18 | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | A tornado damaged or destroyed 12 houses and 15 barns. Dozens of large trees were affected as well. [64] |
F4 | Rison to SE of Port Republic | Charles, Calvert | MD | April 28 | 38°33′00″N77°11′00″W / 38.55°N 77.1833°W | 22:56–23:49 | 38 mi (61 km) | 650 yd (590 m) | 3 deaths – See article on this tornado |
F2 | La Plata | Charles | MD | April 28 | 38°32′00″N76°59′00″W / 38.5333°N 76.9833°W | 23:02–23:06 | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A weaker, but still strong F2 tornado affected La Plata with unknown additional damage. [65] |
F1 | W of Emporia | Greensville | VA | April 28 | 36°42′00″N77°35′00″W / 36.7°N 77.5833°W | 23:35 | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | Three mobile homes were destroyed and fifty houses, one business, and an apartment complex were damaged. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. Three people were injured. [66] |
F1 | NE of St. Leonard | Calvert | MD | April 28 | 38°28′00″N76°29′00″W / 38.4667°N 76.4833°W | 23:42–23:49 | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Unknown damage occurred. [67] |
F3 | NW of Golden Hill to W of Royal Oak | Dorchester | MD | April 28 | 38°25′N76°18′W / 38.42°N 76.3°W | 23:55 | 18 mi (29 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | One house and several outbuildings were destroyed. [68] |
F0 | SE of Wetipquin | Wicomico | MD | April 28 | 38°19′48″N75°50′00″W / 38.33°N 75.8333°W | 00:28 | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Numerous trees were snapped or sheared off. [69] |
From April 26 to 27, 1991, multiple supercells across Oklahoma and Kansas led to a regional tornado outbreak. Forced by a potent trough and focused along a dryline, these distinct thunderstorms moved northeast through a moist and highly unstable environment. A total of 55 tornadoes were confirmed, many of which were strong, F2 or greater on the Fujita scale. A widely documented F5 tornado tore through Andover, Kansas, killing 17 people. Additional fatalities occurred from significant tornadoes in other portions of Kansas and Oklahoma, with 21 deaths recorded in total. An F4 tornado was detected by a mobile doppler weather radar team which observed winds up to 270 mph (430 km/h) at the top of the funnel, the first time winds of F5 intensity were measured by radar, and the highest winds recorded by radar at the time. A news team filming an F2 tornado sought shelter under a Kansas Turnpike overpass, causing a misconception that overpasses can provide adequate shelter during a tornado. This outbreak occurred within a transition period for the National Weather Service and proved the value of NEXRAD radars, which were utilized in Oklahoma to provide advanced warning to residents.
The 2002 Veterans Day weekend tornado outbreak was an unusually severe and expansive severe weather event across portions of the Central and Eastern United States from the evening hours of November 9 into the early morning hours of Veterans Day, November 11, 2002. A series of troughs tracked eastward across the United States, providing strong wind shear, while anomalously warm and unstable air surged northward into the Ohio River Valley. As a result, multiple tornadoes occurred across Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri on November 9. A far more widespread and severe event occurred the following day, with three distinct tornado outbreaks focused across areas from Illinois to Pennsylvania; Tennessee and Kentucky; and areas from Mississippi to South Carolina. The most intense tornado of the outbreak was a violent F4 tornado that occurred near Van Wert, Ohio. A total of 76 tornadoes occurred during the 3-day period, collectively resulting in 36 deaths and 303 injuries. As of 2022, the event ranks as the third-largest tornado outbreak on record in November.
An anticyclonic tornado is a tornado which rotates in a clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and a counterclockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. The term is a naming convention denoting the anomaly from normal rotation which is cyclonic in upwards of 98 percent of tornadoes. Many anticyclonic tornadoes are smaller and weaker than cyclonic tornadoes, forming from a different process, as either companion/satellite tornadoes or nonmesocyclonic tornadoes.
The Tornado outbreak sequence of March 9–13, 2006 was an early season and long lasting tornado outbreak sequence in the central United States that started on the morning of March 9 and continued for over four days until the evening of March 13. The outbreak produced 99 confirmed tornadoes, which killed a total of 10 people. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued multiple elevated outlook throughout the sequence, including a rare high risk for March 12, which would end up being the most intense day of the outbreak, producing 62 in total. 11 F3 tornadoes were tallied, and a violent F4 tornado touched down in Monroe County, Missouri, becoming the strongest of the outbreak. Multiple tornado emergencies were issued for tornadoes throughout the outbreak as well. An intense F3 tornado that affected the towns of Renick and Maddison in Missouri killed 4 people and injured dozens others, becoming the deadliest of the sequence. Multiple of the tornadoes were long-tracked in nature, with 6 of them having paths exceeding 30 miles (48 km). One particular supercell thunderstorm during the outbreak persisted for many hours and progressed in excess of 800 miles (1,300 km) through Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and extreme southern Michigan.
The tornado outbreak of April 1–2, 1974, affected much of the eastern and central United States. Four fatalities and more than seventy injuries were confirmed in this outbreak. Damaging, deadly tornadoes struck Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama—including the Nashville and Huntsville metropolitan areas. In the latter areas, tornadoes produced F3 damage on the Fujita scale and impacted areas that would later sustain damage on April 3. Large hail and severe thunderstorm winds also impacted a broad area.
From May 3 to May 11, 2003, a prolonged and destructive series of tornado outbreaks affected much of the Great Plains and Eastern United States. Most of the severe activity was concentrated between May 4 and May 10, which saw more tornadoes than any other week-long span in recorded history; 335 tornadoes occurred during this period, concentrated in the Ozarks and central Mississippi River Valley. Additional tornadoes were produced by the same storm systems from May 3 to May 11, producing 363 tornadoes overall, of which 62 were significant. Six of the tornadoes were rated F4, and of these four occurred on May 4, the most prolific day of the tornado outbreak sequence; these were the outbreak's strongest tornadoes. Damage caused by the severe weather and associated flooding amounted to US$4.1 billion, making it the costliest U.S. tornado outbreak of the 2000s. A total of 50 deaths and 713 injuries were caused by the severe weather, with a majority caused by tornadoes; the deadliest tornado was an F4 that struck Madison and Henderson counties in Tennessee, killing 11. In 2023, tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis created the outbreak intensity score (OIS) as a way to rank various tornado outbreaks. The tornado outbreak sequence of May 2003 received an OIS of 232, making it the fourth worst tornado outbreak in recorded history.
On Tuesday, June 2, 1998, one of the most significant tornado outbreaks in recent history hit the east-central United States. The severe weather event spawned a total of 33 tornadoes in nine states from New York to South Carolina and caused an estimated $40 million in damage, 77 injuries and 2 fatalities. For Pennsylvania in particular, it was the second historic and deadly severe weather outbreak in three days, as it immediately followed the late-May 1998 tornado outbreak and derecho.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1961, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1954, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1952, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
A large, weeklong tornado outbreak sequence of 73 tornadoes occurred on May 3–9, 1961, impacting areas from Utah to the East Coast of the United States. Overall, the outbreak sequence caused 23 fatalities, 126 injuries, and $42.205 million in damages.
Between April 23–30, 1961, a tornado outbreak sequence struck the Midwest, Ohio, and Mississippi Valleys, and the Eastern United States. Large hailstorms accompanied the tornadoes as well and numerous other weather events also occurred. Three people were killed, 38 others were injured and losses totaled $26.810 million. Two additional fatalities also occurred due to flooding and lightning.
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2021. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. Tornadic events are often accompanied by other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail. Worldwide, 150 tornado-related deaths were confirmed with 103 in the United States, 28 in China, six in the Czech Republic, four in Russia, three in Italy, two in India, and one each in Canada, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Turkey.
From April 1 to 3, 2024, a significant tornado outbreak, which also included a derecho, affected much of the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. The National Weather Service issued dozens of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings across West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri during the event. A total of 32 million people were estimated to be under watches or warnings, and over 150,000 people were estimated to be without power. and 15 people were injured. The event was given an outbreak intensity score of 28 points, ranking it as a significant tornado outbreak, and five people were killed by non-tornadic events as well.