A severe weather event developed across the Midwest and southern Great Plains on April 19 as a dynamic low pressure system tracked across the area. Thunderstorms began in the late afternoon and early evening with large hail and several tornadoes. Significant damage was reported near Bowling Green, Missouri and Girard, Illinois as a result of an EF3 tornado.[4] The individual storm cells later merged into a very large squall line. Overnight, the squall line tracked eastward with widespread wind damage[5] and many embedded tornadoes across several states. A few tornadoes were as strong as EF2, but most were brief and weak.[6]
April 22
Severe weather once again developed across parts of the Midwest on April 22. The St. Louis metropolitan area was hit hardest by the storm system. An EF4 tornado tracked across the region. Severe effects occurred in several communities, including houses and other buildings destroyed in Bridgeton, Ferguson, Florissant, Hazelwood, Maryland Heights, New Melle, and other communities. The tornado caused extensive damage to numerous facilities at Lambert–St. Louis International Airport, with injuries reported; airplanes were damaged from the high winds and terminal windows blew out. American Airlines claimed four of their jets were damaged, two significantly. [citation needed] The airport was closed for days after the tornado.[7] The EF4 tornado rating was based on finding of leveled houses in Bridgeton. Following assessments by the local National Weather Service, it was determined that a single tornado tracked for 22 miles (35km) through parts of Missouri and Illinois. It reached a maximum width of 0.4 miles (0.64km). Elsewhere, there were several reported tornadoes, including an EF2 which tracked through Henderson, Webster, and Union counties.[8][9][10]
April 23–24
Scattered tornadoes were reported across the United States, but most were weak or remained over open country. However, one EF2 tornado struck the town of Bardwell, Kentucky.[11] Another EF2 tornado destroyed airplane hangars near Cairo, Illinois.[12] Tornadoes were not part of the same weather system as the earlier tornadoes; they were part of a weather system that led to the 2011 Super Outbreak.[13]
Two farmhouses were heavily damaged, and a barn, farm equipment, and several outbuildings were destroyed. Another barn was damaged, and many trees were downed along the path.[14]
Several houses sustained roof damage, a church had broken windows, and several carports and fences were damaged. Trees were downed as well. The tornado dissipated while crossing the Mississippi River and was accompanied by softball-sized hail.[15]
The tornado moved from west of Girard to east of town, passing north of Girard proper along a curved and winding path. West of town, two houses sustained extensive damage before the tornado, moving northeast, passed over three farmsteads. One home destroyed while another sustained moderate damage, and several barns were destroyed. More farmsteads were either damaged or destroyed, along with one house and numerous outbuildings, as the tornado moved northwest of Girard. A brick home sustained major damage, more outbuildings were destroyed, and another farm was damaged–with several cows being killed–as the tornado approached Illinois Route 4. Turning to the southeast, another brick home sustained extensive damage, with exterior walls destroyed, and yet another home sustained moderate roof damage. The tornado then caused minor damage at an additional farmstead before dissipating. Numerous trees were downed along the path, and about twenty power poles were blown down along Route 4 just north of town. Two people sustained minor injuries west of Girard while attempting to take shelter.[17]
Three power poles were snapped, a grain bin was rolled across Interstate 55 and deposited in a tree, and two machine sheds were destroyed. Numerous trees snapped or uprooted as well.[19]
Several outbuildings, sheds, and silos were destroyed, and other outbuildings and barns sustained minor to moderate damage. Numerous homes were damaged, with a large portion of the roof on one home being removed. A two-story log home sustained extensive damage as well. Trees were downed, about a dozen power poles were snapped, and power lines were knocked down onto Interstate 55, blocking traffic for roughly four hours.[20]
The roof was torn off a hog pen, the north doors of a large metal farm building were collapsed, and a small barn was destroyed. Several power poles were knocked down as well.[22]
A long-track tornado downed trees and power lines and damaged houses and sheds. One shed in Vermillion County was destroyed, and another structure in Park County was damaged. The tornado was downgraded from EF2 to EF1 in final analysis.[31]
Several carports, a camper, and a garage were destroyed. Numerous homes and barns sustained roof damage, an amateur radio tower was bent over, and numerous trees were uprooted.[33]
Several houses sustained roof and structural damage, with one having partial roof loss. Trees were downed, and large tree limbs were driven into a house and barn.[34]
The roof of an attached garage on a home was uplifted and thrown, with a 2x4 driven into another part of the roof. Another home sustained minor roof damage, a trampoline was thrown, a small outbuilding was damaged, and a pole barn was collapsed. Several trees were uprooted as well.[39]
Two farms were severely damaged, with barns and over a dozen grain bins destroyed, irrigation pivots overturned, and an equipment shed unroofed. Trees and power poles were knocked down, a 7-ton (6,350kg) truck was flipped, and a large house sustained considerable roof damage, wall collapse, and blown out windows.[46]
A few barns and grain bins were destroyed, the roof was torn off a farm house, with windows also broken, and a mobile home was blown off its foundation. Power poles were snapped, and numerous trees were downed as well.[47]
A house had part of its roof removed and separation of walls, a machine shed and several grain bins were destroyed, and a large tank was thrown about 150 yards (140m). Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted, about a dozen power poles were snapped, and an outbuilding was blown across a highway. Two people were injured.[48]
Three steel transmission towers were bent down, and a single-wide mobile home was demolished, with the frame being blown about 50 yards (46m). A grain bin was blown roughly one mile (1.6km) into a tree line, three more grain bins and several barns were destroyed, and machine sheds were unroofed or had collapsed walls. Numerous houses sustained minor to moderate roof damage, smaller sheds were destroyed, power poles were snapped, and hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted.[50]
Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, including dense groves of pine and cedar, and power poles were knocked down. A mobile home was rolled, siding was blown off a house, and a back porch was blown off.[52]
Two houses were damaged in Gibson County, consisting mainly of roof and siding damage. Along the entire path, signs were damaged, utility poles were snapped, and numerous trees were downed.[54]
An intermittent tornado embedded in straight-line wind damage snapped power poles, damaged two houses, and destroyed a garage, a barn, and an outbuilding.[55]
A well-constructed 75-foot (23m) tall grain silo had the top 40 feet (12m) sheared off, and a large outbuilding near the silo was destroyed, with siding thrown 500 yards (460m). Straight-line wind damage was observed in the vicinity of the tornado track, with two hog buildings destroyed and a grain silo shifted on its foundation.[58]
A house had windows blown in, a cabin lost shingles, a large barn lost its metal roof, and a wood outbuilding was destroyed. Many trees were downed as well.[62]
Several houses and businesses were heavily damaged, while others sustained minor damage. Barns, garages, outbuildings, and vehicles were also destroyed. Numerous trees and power poles were downed along the path.[63]
A large metal barn was destroyed, and numerous trees were downed, with some falling on power poles. At a marina, three metal outbuildings were either damaged or destroyed: one had doors blown in, another had its roof peeled back, and the third was leveled and blown downwind. A pontoon boat was flipped as well.[65]
Intermittent tornado damaged several houses, including blowing an attached carport into a field and removing shingles. A barn door was blown in, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.[69]
Significant damage occurred on a farm, with a house losing its roof and a barn being destroyed. An old school bus was damaged by debris from the barn, and numerous trees has the tops blown out near a railroad.[70]
A grain bin, two silos, and a large outbuilding were destroyed, a house sustained severe damage, and another house had its roof partially removed and was pelted by driveway gravel. Several trees were downed as well.[71]
About 25 trailers were damaged in a mobile home park, some of which were removed from their foundations and had debris scattered long distances. Site-built homes sustained roof damage, sheds were either damaged or destroyed, a church's south side was blown out, and a trampoline was thrown into a tree. Numerous trees were downed or damaged as well.[78]
One house was heavily damaged and about 24 others sustained minor damage, mostly to porches, roofs, and siding. A large camper and a small outbuilding were both destroyed, and a couple dozen trees were downed along the path.[79]
Several outbuildings were severely damaged or destroyed, with a piece of lumber from one being thrown through a house. A large barn was destroyed, other homes and outbuildings were damaged, and numerous trees were either snapped or uprooted.[80]
A mobile home was destroyed, several barns sustained extensive roof damage, a cinder-block outbuilding had its roof removed, and a site-built house was damaged. A large garage had its door blown out, much of the roof was removed from a tobacco barn, and trees were downed.[81]
Trees were snapped along the track, and a few houses sustained minor damage, with the most concentrated damage in the area of the Kentucky State Capitol and the Frankfort Cemetery.[85]
A tied-down trailer was overturned, several outbuildings were either heavily damaged or destroyed, a brick garage wall was buckled, and several trees were snapped.[86]
Two houses sustained significant roof damage, and a large wood frame storage shed with metal siding was destroyed. One power pole was snapped, several others were bent over, and many trees were downed.[88]
Twelve greenhouses sustained varying degrees of damage; the farthest west of the twelve was nearly destroyed. A metal door on an adjacent warehouse was bent, and a small metal shed was heavily damaged. Small trees in the greenhouses were pulled toward the center of the path, and plant transport carts pulled from a loading dock into a small pond.[89]
The tornado began just west of the Newark–Heath Airport and moved east-northeastward through Heath. Several houses and businesses were damaged, including a store that lost part of its front sign, a business that lost part of its metal roof, and a masonry building that was heavily damaged, with one wall completely collapsed and another partially collapsed. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along the path as well.[92]
A mobile home was overturned, with the roof and on side being removed and blown into trees. A house sustained roof damage, and several trees were snapped or uprooted.[93]
A brief tornado damaged a house, a mobile home, and several buildings at the Pike County fairgrounds. A shed was destroyed, and debris was strewn across the fairgrounds.[94]
Just east of Piketon, a second brief tornado damaged several houses and mobile homes (one mobile home was blown of its foundation), destroyed a storage shed, and twisted or knocked down large tree limbs.[95]
Several houses sustained roof and window damage and barns, fences, and a porch were destroyed. A steel grain bin was rolled about 250 yards (230m), a gooseneck trailer was thrown about 100 yards (91m), numerous trees were downed, and a few farm animals were killed.[102]
One house lost half the roof, and its attached garage was destroyed. A nearby van was pushed approximately 30 yards (27m) from a driveway into an open grassy area. Numerous other houses sustained mainly minor roof damage, a horse arena was demolished, and several barns and outbuildings were heavily damaged or destroyed. Many trees were downed along the path. This was the precursor to the St. Louis EF4 tornado.[110]
A mobile home was destroyed by a falling tree, several outbuildings and a garage were destroyed, and hundreds of trees were uprooted. Some pine trees were snapped off 3 feet (0.91m) above the ground.[26][110]
Several barns, sheds, and farm buildings were either damaged or destroyed, and several homes sustained roof and structural damage. A farm house lost its entire roof structure and had the front wall partially collapsed, a hog farm sustained extensive damage, and a few power poles were snapped. Many trees were snapped or uprooted, with one tree falling on a home and a second falling on a carport.[119]
This tornado began on the north side of Waterloo and moved east of town. Several homes and businesses sustained varying degrees of roof and structural damage, two large air conditioners were thrown 30 yards (27m) from the roof of a business, and a large garage was destroyed, with debris from a garage carried 30 to 40 yards (27 to 37m) away. Four power poles were snapped, and numerous trees, some large, were snapped or uprooted. A minor injury occurred at Canterbury Manor Nursing Center due to flying glass from a broken window.[120]
Several barns and grain bins were destroyed in Union County. The tornado then moved through Webster County, where several houses were damaged in Poole. Three houses lost their roofs completely, while other homes sustained shingle loss or were damaged by falling trees. Several garages were damaged or destroyed, along with more barns and grain bins, with two grain bins wrapped around the back side of a house. Another barn and garage were destroyed southwest of Robards in Henderson County. Many trees were snapped or uprooted along the path. Two people sustained minor injuries.[122]
Two large barns lost tin roofing, a small garage was completely destroyed, two small outbuildings were damaged, and pieces of oak fencing were tossed around. Around two dozen large trees were snapped or uprooted along the path.[125]
A 20-foot (6.1m) tall hangar was destroyed at Cairo Regional Airport along with two light aircraft and a camper. Debris was blown onto the airport runways, and an anemometer at the airport was read at 118mph (190km/h). Elsewhere, a mobile home was destroyed, and two homes sustained minor roof damage. Several trees were snapped or uprooted, damaging two trailers and a house.[130]
A metal wall was damaged at a maintenance building in Barlow, and the roof was blown off a storage building at city hall. A barn sustained roof damage, a carport was blown into a tree, and two homes and another carport sustained minor roof damage. Many large trees were downed, some of which fell on homes and caused damage. Three power poles were snapped as well, cutting power to the city water plant.[131]
The tornado began northwest of Bardwell and moved southeastward through town. A steel building was destroyed, along with entire walls of older two-story brick business buildings. Debris blocked U.S. 51 and several secondary roads. About thirty large trees were uprooted, along with about a hundred smaller trees, and over a dozen wooden power poles were broken off. Pieces of wood were driven into steel rooftops, walls of homes, and the ground, many windows were blown out, and about twenty homes and businesses sustained partial or total roof loss. A historic church sustained about US$1 million in damage as well. Two people sustained minor injuries.[132]
This tornado began along the Ohio River and moved eastward through the northern part of Metropolis. Power poles were damaged at a barge-loading facility, the roof was blown off a trailer, and roof and power pole damage occurred at an industrial complex. Just east of the complex, portable buildings were destroyed, and a trailer was overturned. On the north side of Metropolis, homes sustained minor roof damage, more power poles were snapped, and several trees were downed, causing damage to a garage, two vehicles, and two additional homes. Along Interstate 24, part of the metal roof was torn off a large building in an industrial park, a trailer was overturned, and a barn was heavily damaged before the tornado lifted just north of U.S. 45.[133]
Hundreds of trees were downed in the Ozark National Forest, with several falling on homes and vehicles. Several outbuildings were damaged, a chicken house and a barn were destroyed, and many power poles and lines were blown down.[134]
The tornado began immediately southwest of Neelyville just after midnight and moved northeast through town. Eight structures sustained minor roof and siding damage, a bank window was blown out, two mobile homes were destroyed, and six others were damaged.[136]
This tornado moved northeast from Umpire toward Mineola along Highway 84. Half the roof was torn from a house, a large storage building was destroyed, and a chicken house sustained severe damage. Many trees were snapped or uprooted along the path.[147]
This powerful tornado began near Creve Coeur Lake at 7:59p.m. CDT (00:59 UTC)[149] and moved into Maryland Heights, producing EF3 damage. The tornado continued eastward and reached EF4 intensity in Bridgeton, where a number of houses were completely destroyed. Afterwards the tornado traveled parallel to Interstate 70 and struck Lambert–St. Louis International Airport at EF2 intensity about 8:10p.m. CDT (01:10 UTC). It blew out numerous windows and peeled away a large section of roof. The tornado then moved into the Berkeley neighborhood where it continued to produce EF2 damage, tearing the roofs from several homes. The tornado continued on through several more neighborhoods, causing roof damage to a church and two businesses in Ferguson, one of which completely experienced total roof loss. The storm also produced extensive tree damage and some roof damage to homes as well as partially removing the roof of an elementary school. Damage along this entire section of the storm's path was rated EF1 to low-end EF2. The tornado continued toward the Mississippi River resulting in mostly EF1 damage to trees, however EF2 damage occurred in Dellwood where extensive tree and utility pole damage occurred, and three homes lost their roofs. EF2 damage continued as the tornado crossed the Mississippi River into Madison County, Illinois, where about a hundred homes were damaged, three of which completely lost their roofs, and numerous trees were uprooted and snapped. The tornado dissipated at 8:31p.m. CDT (01:31 UTC) in the northeastern part of Granite City, Illinois. It traveled 21.3 miles (34.3km) and had a peak width of 880 yards (800m).[150]
1 2 3 4 5 6 All damage totals are in 2011 USD unless otherwise stated.
Related Research Articles
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The tornado outbreak of June 16–18, 2014, was a tornado outbreak concentrated in the Great Plains and the Midwestern United States. Two tornadoes also occurred in Ontario. The severe weather event most significantly affected the state of Nebraska, where twin EF4 tornadoes killed two and critically injured twenty others in and around the town of Pilger on the evening of June 16. The two Pilger tornadoes were part of a violent tornado family that produced four EF4 tornadoes and was broadcast live on television. The outbreak went on to produce multiple other strong tornadoes across the northern Great Plains states throughout the next two days.
↑ "Illinois Event Report: EF3 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
↑ "Storm Reports for April 22, 2011". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. April 22, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
↑ "Kentucky Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
↑ "Kentucky Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
↑ "Kentucky Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
↑ "Kentucky Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
↑ "Illinois Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
1 2 "SPC Storm Reports for 04/19/2011". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Storm Prediction Center. April 21, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
↑ "Missouri Event Report: EF4 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
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