April 1996 Tornado Outbreak Sequence

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The April 1996 Tornado Outbreak Sequence was a series of tornado outbreaks that occurred over a three-day period between April 19 to April 21, 1996 across a large area of eastern North America. It was the most notable outbreak of the year; the 19th was the most prolific tornado outbreak in Illinois history.

Thirty-three tornadoes hit Illinois. It broke the old record of 25 set on August 10, 1974. This outbreak can also be compared to the May 2004 tornado outbreak sequence as it was a very huge, deep and vigorous system. The same system produced tornadoes in Ontario on the 20th; and destructive tornadoes also occurred in Arkansas and Texas on the 21st.

Contents

[edit] Meteorological sypnopsis

The outbreak occurred when the warm front of a deep storm system moved north and east out of Missouri. April 19 started off cool and skies were overcast ahead of the warm front. Meteorologists were trying to figure out if the warm front would move into Illinois that afternoon. As the day wore on, temperatures warmed, dew points rose, and thunderstorms started to explode in Iowa during the mid-afternoon hours. Although there were some doubts on specifics, the potential significance of the outbreak was rather foreseeable, with storm chasers traveling from the Great Plains and the Storm Prediction Center issuing a high risk early on.

The outbreak across the south-central U.S. on the 21st was produced by a different weather system.

[edit] April 19

[edit] Illinois

Thirty-three tornadoes hit Illinois and spread west and south into Missouri, and Iowa and east and north into Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana on Friday, April 19. The town of Decatur was hit by an F2 tornado (parts of Decatur were heavily damaged by a tornado on the previous night, April 18). That tornado later, after hitting eastern sections of Urbana, was over one mile in width, and hit Ogden as an upper end F3 tornado at 7:00 p.m., damaging or destroying nearly all 150 homes in the town, and killing one person. Surveyors said that the tornado also had multiple vortices, smaller destructive tornadoes within the parent cyclone.

[edit] Indiana

In Indiana, 21 unconfirmed tornadoes were produced as the cold front moved into the area during the evening hours. Temperatures had warmed well into the 70's and lower 80's (20 to 26°C) before the storms hit. Five people were injured in Morgan County.

[edit] April 20

Main article: Southern Ontario Tornadoes of 1996

Canada's most prolific tornado outbreak struck Ontario.

A vigorous branch of the jet stream from the Pacific Ocean combined with rich low-level moisture kept the storm system rolling, spinning off more tornadoes in the Southeast. One tornado hit Carroll County, Mississippi killing teenager Dexter Forman when a tree fell on his mobile home. Another tornado did massive damage to Berea, Kentucky but no one was killed.

[edit] April 21

On the 21st, while a final tornado was produced by the first system in southern Quebec, more tornadoes raked through Oklahoma and Arkansas, killing a father and son and two kids in St. Paul and Fort Smith, respectively.

117 tornadoes broke out in the Great Lakes, Midwest and Southeast region over the three-day period. The entire outbreak killed six people.

[edit] Tornado table

Confirmed
Total		 Confirmed
F0		 Confirmed
F1		 Confirmed
F2		 Confirmed
F3		 Confirmed
F4		 Confirmed
F5
117 54 33 19 11 0 0

[edit] Confirmed tornadoes

[edit] April 19 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Illinois
F0 N of Mattoon Coles 2120 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief tornado with no damage
F0 N of Fairgrange Coles 2135 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief tornado with no damage
F1 NW of Paris (1st tornado) Edgar 2210 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Machine sheds, barns and grain bins were destroyed. One home was damaged. Six farms in the area were affected.
F0 NW of Paris (2nd tornado) Edgar 2212 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 A machine shed was destroyed while another shed, a garage and a baseball field were damaged.
F1 Rutland area LaSalle 2240 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 A large building, a home and a garage were damaged.
F0 SW of Winchester Scott 2244 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 A tree fell into a car
F0 NE of Valmeyer Monroe 2245 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Damage limited to trees
F0 W of Milroy Henderson 2300 5 miles
(8 km)		 Minor damage, most of the damage came from the second tornado that hit the area
F2 S of Havana Mason 2307 9 miles
(14.4 km)		 Two trailers, farm buildings and trees were destroyed. One home had major damage and eleven others had minor damage. A semi-truck was blown over into a field. One person was injured.
F1 E of Milroy Henderson 2310 3.5 miles
(5.6 km)		 15 homes, a barn and outbuildings were damaged. Heavy damage occurred at one farm where a bushel, three grain bins and irrigation equipment were damaged or destroyed.
F0 Brimfield area Peoria 2310 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 Minor damage to a church and a business. A van was pushed sideways into a bush and trees were damaged
F1 Easton area Mason 2317 9 miles
(14.4 km)		 Two homes were destroyed with five other sustaining major damage. The high school also had damaged and a barn and a home was lifted off their foundations.
F2 E of Jacksonville Morgan 2318 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 One home was destroyed while farm buildings were either damaged or destroyed. Two guard towers, one greenhouse and fencing at a prison were damaged. Two railroad cars near a chemical plant (which was also damaged) were overturned.
F0 Freeburg area St. Clair 2320 1.5 miles
(2.4 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines
F0 N of Dickeys Kankakee 2325 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 Minor damage to farm buildings
F0 W of Island Grove Morgan 2331 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief tornado with no damage
F0 NE of New Berlin Sangamon 2332 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 Damage to three homes, a barn and machine shed. Two semis were blown over on Interstate 72
F3 E of Armington Logan, Tazewell, McLean 2358 9.4 miles
(15 km)		 Two homes, a church and several outbuildings were destroyed. Over 15 other homes were also damaged while barns, farm equipment, trees and grain bins were damaged or destroyed.
F0 W of Chester Randolph 0000 1.5 miles
(2.4 km)		 Utility sheds and trees were destroyed
F3 Bishop Hill/Galva area Henry 0000 3.5 miles
(5.6 km)		 150 homes were damaged including 26 with major damage and 15 beyond repair. The city of Galva's sewage treatment plant was heavily damaged. Four people were injured.
F0 Momence area Kankakee 0001 5 miles
(8 km)		 Two homes had roof damage
F0 Galva area Henry 0010 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Gravestones at a cemetery were pushed over
F3 Decatur area Macon 0022 14.5 miles
(23.2 km)		 8-10 homes, one church, a grain silo and the Sims Lumber Company were destroyed. A school gymnasium, several buildings at a manufacturing plant and several homes were damaged. 29 people were injured and damage was estimated at $9 million.
F2 Salem area Marion 0035 20 miles
(32 km)		 Several buildings at the County Fairgrounds, eight mobile homes and two homes were destroyed while 46 homes and mobile homes and 23 businesses were damaged. Two-ton trucks were turned 180 degrees by the tornado. Seven people were injured. Damage was estimated at $7 million.
F0 NW of Tiskilwa Bureau 0040 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 A power pole was struck
F1 S of Milmine Piatt 0055 0.3 miles
(0.5 km)		 A grain bin was destroyed while homes, cars and trees were damaged. Trucks were overturned and a grain auger was thrown over railroad tracks.
F0 SW of Baldwin Randolph 0059 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines
F1 S of Monticello Piatt 0100 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Two homes, three single engine planes, two guilders and a hangar were destroyed near or at the airport. A church, one home, one hangar and a machine shed were damaged.
F1 Greendale area Marion, Clay 0105 5 miles
(8 km)		 A farm house, a barn and farm buildings were destroyed. Trees and power lines were downed
F0 S of Tilden Randolph 0112 3 miles
(4.8 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines
F0 NW of Breman Randolph 0115 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Roof damage to a home and barn with trees and power lines down
F1 W of Mulkeytown Perry, Franklin 0120 2.5 miles
(4 km)		 A church, a house and trees were damaged while outbuildings were destroyed. A tractor-trailer was overturned.
F1 Vernon area Fayette, Marion 0120 11.5 miles
(18.4 km)		 Three barns, several sheds and a home were destroyed.
F3 S of Urbana Champaign 0134 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 33 homes were destroyed while 83 homes and five businesses had minor to moderate damage. Damage was estimated at $9 million and twelve people were injured.
F3 NE of Ogden Champaign 0155 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 1 death - 68 homes, twelve businesses, three churches, a library and a grade school were destroyed. 179 homes and twenty businesses had minor to major damage. One person was killed along Interstate 74 and thirteen people were injured.
F0 NW of Catlin Vermilion 0208 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F3 NE of Frisco to SW of Barnhill Jefferson, Hamilton, Wayne 0215 17 miles
(27.2 km)		 Three homes were destroyed with 50 others have moderate to severe damage. 45 outbuildings and barns were damaged or destroyed as well as 60-70 grain bins. Hardest hit area was the town of Piopolis.
F1 N of Carmi White 0230 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Ten hangars, eight planes and an automobile were destroyed at the airport. A church was also damaged.
F2 Zion area Lake 0432 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 400 homes and businesses were damaged with 32 sustaining major damage. Five trucks were overturned and trees were blown down. Two people were injured.
Missouri
F0 NE of Bloomsdale Ste. Genevieve 0000 0.3 miles
(0.5 km)		 Damage limited to trees
F0 SE of Mine La Motte Madison 0210 0.3 miles
(0.5 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F3 Perryville area Perry 0230 11.5 miles
(18.4 km)		 Thirteen homes were destroyed and 68 homes were damaged including five with major damage. Six businesses and 69 outbuildings were damaged or destroyed.
F2 S of Doniphan Ripley 0300 10 miles
(16 km)		 A mobile home was overturned. Trees fell on homes and cars.
F2 NW of Poplar Bluff Butler 0305 2.5 miles
(4 km)		 Numerous barns and utility poles were destroyed while homes, hay balers and farm equipment were damaged. Grain bins and other items were carried some distance.
F1 N of Bernie Stoddard 0403 0.6 miles
(1 km)		 A house trailer was destroyed and several houses were damaged. Two schools and a grocery store sustained roof damage.
Texas
F0 W of Pidcoke Coryell 0030 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Several barns were destroyed
F2 N of Commerce Hunt 0038 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 Two mobile homes were destroyed while two homes, trees and power lines were damaged.
Indiana
F1 Landersdale area Morgan, Johnson 0040 5 miles
(8 km)		 Six buildings were destroyed and 50 others damaged. 4 people were injured
F1 SW of Burr Oak Marshall 0150 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Farm buildings were damaged and power lines were downed
F1 SE of Plymouth Marshall 0205 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 A mobile home was damaged and a truck was overturned
F0 N of Milford Kosciusko 0252 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F0 NW of Emison Knox 0315 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 A pole barn was destroyed and two train cars were blown over.
F2 SW of Yankeetown Warrick 0440 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Several buildings at a manufacturing plant was damaged. Five railroad box cars were overturned, two metal culverts were lifted. Two mobile homes were destroyed
F2 W of Arthur Pike 0442 0.8 miles
(1.3 km)		 One home was destroyed with ten others sustaining minor to moderate damage. 10-15 barn and small sheds were destroyed.
F0 NW of Heltonville Lawrence 0457 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Several homes were damaged as well as numerous trees downed
F0 E of Freetown Jackson 0505 1 miles
(1.6 km)
F1 SW of Burnsville Bartholomew 0545 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Damage to several farm buildings and a transmission tower
F0 Westport area Decatur 0555 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Several farm buildings were destroyed while the South Decatur High School had damage. A Transmission tower was also blown down
F1 E of Harris City Decatur 0601 1.2 miles
(1.9 km)		 Several buildings were damaged or destroyed
F2 NW of Greenville Floyd 0608 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Six homes were damaged while mobile homes were overturned
Iowa
F0 Preston area Jackson 0117 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines
F0 S of Preston Clinton 0117 0.2 miles
(0.32 km)		 One home had roof damage
Kentucky
F1 Mount Washington area Bullitt 0640 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 118 homes were damaged including 3 homes and two mobile homes being destroyed.
Source: Tornado History Project - April 19, 1996 Storm Data, NCDC Storm Data

[edit] April 20 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Kentucky
F1 SW of Goodnight Barren 0830 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 A mobile home was swept injuring four people.
F1 E of Hiseville Barren, Metcalfe 0834 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 A church was heavily damaged. Two trailers and several barns were destroyed. Other buildings had property damage.
F0 S of Pierce Green 0845 3 miles
(4.8 km)		 Several barns were destroyed and utility poles were snapped
F2 NW of Geneva to NE of Preachersville Lincoln 0926 12 miles
(18.4 km)		 Twenty homes and mobile homes and six businesses were destroyed as well as a church and two show pavilions at the county fairgrounds. One home was picked up and slammed 50-100 feet away. Seven people were injured.
F1 SW of Quail Rockcastle, Pulaski 0928 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Barns, trees and homes were hit. A church steeple was also toppled while trees were downed with some into homes. A flying trailer knocked out power lines and landed into a mobile home.
F1 N of Ottawa Garrard 0930 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 A dozen barns were destroyed and six cows were killed
F2 Berea area Madison 0945 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 800 homes were damaged including 35 completely destroyed or heavily damaged. 40 businesses were damaged including 26 businesses destroyed or severely damaged. A storage tank was also toppled into a plant producing equipment for space shuttles. A tourist center was also damaged. Ten people were injured and damage was estimated at close to $13 million.
F1 Wagersville area Estill 0955 5 miles
(8 km)		 40 homes and 20 barns were damaged - including three destroyed homes and twelve destroyed barns along with farm machinery.
Tennessee
F2 SE of Barnesville Lawrence 1145 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 One home lost its roof. 12 people were injured.
F2 SE of Summertown Lawrence 1150 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 25 homes were damaged including two heavily
F2 N of Lynnville Giles 1156 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 A brick structure was damaged and a mobile home was levelled
F2 W of Cornersville Marshall 1203 1.5 miles
(2.4 km)		 Seven mobile homes were destroyed and ten others damaged.
Mississippi
F1 W of Winona Carroll 1340 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 A pump house was destroyed while a veterinary clinic, a barn, a cabin, trees and a church were damaged.
Alabama
F0 Birmingham area Jefferson 1709 0.3 miles
(0.5 km)		 Some structural damage and trees were downed
North Carolina
F0 SE of Sugar Hill McDowell 1750 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Roofs were partially removed from a home and blown over from a carport. A lid was also blown over for some distance
F1 SE of Boone Watauga 1800 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 16 vehicles at an amusement park were damaged with one person injured
Texas
F1 Timpson area Shelby 2115 5 miles
(8 km)		 Two trailers were destroyed and trees and power lines were downed
Louisiana
F0 SW of Kingston De Soto 2145 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 Damage limited to trees
Ontario
F3 SW of Williamsford to Meaford Grey 2350 25 miles
(40 km)		 Extensive damage to homes and cottages in Williamsford with moderate damage to homes in Blantyre. A gasoline tank was carried some distance. There was extensive tree damage
F3 SW of Arthur to E of Violet Hill Wellington, Dufferin 0010 37.5 miles
(60 km)		 Several barns were destroyed and several homes and buildings were damaged.
Source: Tornado History Project - April 20, 1996 Storm Data, Southern Ontario Tornadoes of 1996, NCDC Storm Data

[edit] April 21 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Quebec
F0 Ormstown Le Haut-Saint-Laurent unknown unknown
Oklahoma
F0 NE of Perry Noble 2200 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F1 NE of Ratliff City Carter 2242 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 Power poles, outbuildings and trees were damaged
F1 W of Healdton Jefferson, Carter 2330 4.5 miles
(7.2 km)		 A mobile home was damaged and windows were blown out of homes
F0 SE of Fox Carter 2335 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F0 NW of Wilson Carter 2335 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F0 N of Oil City Carter 2345 2.5 miles
(4 km)		 Weak tornado with no damage
F0 SE of Chigley Murray 2351 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F1 N of Barnsdall Osage 0000 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)
F0 SE of Davis Murray 0025 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 One home had roof damage and a mobile home was blown off its foundation
F1 NW of Sulphur Murray 0028 3 miles
(4.8 km)		 A church, an apartment complex and a restaurant were damaged. Outbuildings, radio antennas and trees were destroyed. 12 homes had minor to major damage.
F0 NW of Nowata Nowata 0028 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)
F0 NW of Scullin (1st tornado) Murray 0049 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 Damage to barns and silos
F0 NW of Scullin (2nd tornado) Murray 0050 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 Damage to barns and two silos
F1 W of Fairland Ottawa 0115 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)
F0 McAlester area Pittsburg 0215 3 miles
(4.8 km)
F1 NE of Richville Pittsburg 0230 5 miles
(8 km)
F1 NE of Lewisville Haskell 0300 1 miles
(1.6 km)
F3 Fort Smith area Sequoyah, OK, Sebastian, AR, Crawford 0212 10.1 miles
(16.2 km)		 2 deaths - 498 homes were destroyed while 620 had major damage and 1275 had minor damage. 98 businesses were damaged or destroyed and 246 apartment units were damaged. 89 people were injured
Texas
F0 E of Sunset Montague 0125 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Power lines were blown down
F0 NE of Bowie Montague 0130 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F0 NW of Gainesville Cooke 0200 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Two barns were destroyed and trees were damaged
F0 NW of Lindsay Cooke 0205 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Several homes had siding damage and trees were damaged
F0 S of Gainesville Cooke 0220 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F0 SW of Dixie Grayson 0233 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 A barn was destroyed and trees were damaged
F0 W of Denison Grayson 0307 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines
F0 NW of Lindsay (2nd tornado) Cooke 0325 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 A fence was destroyed and trees were damaged
F0 NW of Dixie Grayson 0358 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 A barn was destroyed and trees were damaged
F0 SE of Locust Grayson 0440 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Trees and power lines were damaged
Missouri
F0 S of Seymour Webster 0430 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 A garage and a barn were destroyed
Arkansas
F2 S of Fern Franklin 0455 3 miles
(4.8 km)		 Seven homes were destroyed and several other buildings were damaged. Numerous were also downed and two people were injured
F3 SW of Dutton to SW of Weathers Madison 0515 15 miles
(24 km)		 2 deaths - 8 homes and a mobile home were destroyed while a church was also damaged. Six people were injured.
F2 NE of Yellville Marion 0640 12 miles
(18.4 km)		 Trailers were either damaged or destroyed with homes and businesses being also damaged. Six people were injured.
F1 N of Natural Dam Crawford 0708 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Several homes were damaged
Source: Tornado History Project - April 21, 1996 Storm Data, Quebec tornadoes 1985-present, NCDC Storm Data

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links