Tornado outbreak of April 20–22, 1912 explained

Tornado outbreak of April 20–22, 1912
Type:Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes:≥ 32
Fujitascale:F4
Tornado Duration:~2 days
Fatalities:≥ 56 fatalities, ≥ 410 injuries
Affected:Midwestern and Southern United States

On April 20 – 22, 1912, a large tornado outbreak affected portions of the High Plains, the Upper Midwest, and the Southern United States, including portions of what is now known as the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The severe-weather event produced at least 32 tornadoes, at least nine—and possibly 10 or more—of which were violent tornadoes, all of which rated F4 on the Fujita scale. Powerful tornado activity was distributed from the Great Plains to South Carolina. The first day of the outbreak occurred on April 20 and produced numerous strong to violent tornadoes across parts of North Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. A second day of intense tornadoes occurred on April 21, with several strong to violent tornadoes across Illinois and Indiana. The final day, April 22, produced an F4 tornado in Georgia as well. The entire outbreak killed 56 people, and was followed days later by another intense tornado outbreak on April 27. That outbreak killed about 40 people, mostly in Oklahoma. Both outbreaks produced a combined total of nine F4 tornadoes in Oklahoma alone.

Confirmed tornadoes

April 20, 1912

F#! scope="col" style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"
LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary
bgcolor=# F3Alvord to S of RosstonWise, CookeTX21:00–?22miles150ydFirst of four strong tornadoes to hit North Texas on April 20 destroyed or damaged 22 structures in Alvord, including a church and nine homes. Tornado then destroyed farms near Audubon and "Dan", scattering debris for miles around. 12 more barns and homes were destroyed near Rosston. 10 people were injured along the path.
bgcolor=# F4SE of Rush Center to BisonRushKS21:00–?15miles400yd2 deaths – Intense tornado leveled entire farms near Rush Center, 12 of which were almost swept away. Debris was reported 8miles from the destroyed farms. Tornado also destroyed or damaged approximately 50 homes in Bison, or about half of the town, with losses estimated at $70,000. 15 people were injured along the path.
bgcolor=# F4W of Yukon to E of EdmondCanadian, OklahomaOK21:45–?20miles200yd1 death – Tornado leveled a schoolhouse, along with at least a few farmhouses. Students departed from the school only 15 minutes before the tornado arrived. Tornado resembled a large elephant's trunk as it passed just 15miles northwest of Oklahoma City. One person was injured.
bgcolor=# F3E of Nashville to NE of WillowdaleKingmanKS21:45–?15miles100ydTornado injured four people, two each near both ends of its path.
bgcolor=# F3NW of WaldronHarperKS22:00–?7miles200yd1 death – Powerful, highly visible tornado leveled six farms and injured eight people. Tornado may have attained F4 intensity between Waldron and Corwin.
bgcolor=# F3NW of Arcadia to N of FallisOklahoma, Logan, LincolnOK22:20–?15miles300ydTornado destroyed at least six farmhouses.
bgcolor=# F4SW of HennesseyKingfisherOK22:30–?12miles800yd2 deaths – Very intense tornado swept away farms and destroyed 15 homes, some of which it leveled, in and near Hennessey. Losses at Hennessey totaled approximately $100,000. Six injuries occurred along the path. Tornado may have reached F5 intensity.[1]
bgcolor=# F2Northwestern Liberty Township to Eureka TownshipHarper, KingmanKS23:00–?25milesTornado only destroyed a barn. The path extended past Nashville and Penalosa.
bgcolor=# F4SE of Perry to SW of RalstonNoble, PawneeOK23:30–?30miles800yd3 deaths – Destructive tornado affected 25 farms and swept away 12 homes. 12 injuries were reported.
bgcolor=# F3NW of Orlando to PerryNobleOK23:30–?10milesTornado injured 14 people and damaged or destroyed about 50 structures. One hotel in Perry lost its second story. Tornado ended as a downburst in Perry.
bgcolor=# F3S of Princeton to NE of FarmersvilleCollinTX23:30–?9miles300yd2 deaths – Tornado destroyed or damaged 26 homes. Two children died, one each in different farmhouses. Tornado briefly lifted over Farmersville, but touched down again northeast of town. Seven injuries were reported.
bgcolor=# F4S of Boonsville to BoydWiseTX00:00–?15miles300yd4 deaths – Tornado destroyed at least 10 farms, many barns, and an iron bridge, scattering debris for miles. Only fragments remained of a home near Agnes. 10 people were injured.
bgcolor=# F4W of Roanoke to Flower Mound to S of LewisvilleDentonTX03:00–?18miles800yd1 death – Massive, intense tornado swept away at least five farms. Hundreds of livestock were maimed or killed as well. 10 people were injured and losses totaled $60,000.
bgcolor=# F1TaylorWilliamsonTX1 death – Tornado destroyed frail structures, killing a man and injuring his wife.

April 21, 1912

Confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, April 21, 1912
F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary
bgcolor=# F3NE of Streator to N of Coal CityLaSalle, GrundyIL22:00–?20miles200ydTornado swept away two farmsteads near Kinsman and Verona. Most of the 37 injuries occurred in barns and losses totaled $100,000. Damage may have reached F4 intensity.
bgcolor=# F2Rowell to E of ClintonDeWittIL22:30–?11miles70ydTornado unroofed, destroyed, or otherwise damaged barns. 15 farms were impacted and one person was injured. Tornado passed within NaNmiles of a similar event on May 18, 1883.
bgcolor=# F3SW of Dwight to W of KankakeeLivingston, KankakeeIL22:35–?26miles200yd5 deaths – Farmhouses and other structures were destroyed near Reddick. 16 injuries occurred along the path.
bgcolor=# F2Southern ChatsworthLivingstonIL23:35–?6miles50ydShort-lived tornado unroofed homes. 10 people were injured and losses totaled $40,000.
bgcolor=# F2Saint George, IL to W of Lowell, INKankakee (IL), Lake (IN)IL, IN00:00–?13miles100ydTornado unroofed homes and destroyed a building in a brickyard at Grant Park, Illinois. Barns were leveled on six farms in Indiana. 20 people were injured and losses in Illinois totaled $100,000.
bgcolor=# F4N of Crescent City, IL to NE of Morocco, INIroquois (IL), Newton (IN)IL, IN00:00–?25miles200yd9 deaths – Tornado swept away farms near Pittwood and Donovan. The family of Sam Rice and their hired hand died on one of the farms. A wood stove was found NaNmiles away. 22 people were injured.
bgcolor=# F4N of Murphysboro to Bush to PershingJackson, Williamson, FranklinIL00:05–?20miles400yd11 deaths – Tornado roughly paralleled the 1925 Tri-State tornado. Tornado leveled farms near Murphysboro and Herrin and destroyed frail homes in Bush. 83 people were injured and losses totaled over $125,000. Tornado divided into several parts as it moved along—a possible reference to multiple vortices.[2]
bgcolor=# F2S of WellingtonIroquoisIL01:00–?10miles70ydTornado unroofed homes. Five people were injured.
bgcolor=# F3NNW of RensselaerJasperIN01:00–?7miles1 death – Tornado destroyed a church, barns, and homes in Union Township. Four injuries occurred and losses totaled $25,000.
bgcolor=# F2Southeastern WillisvilleRandolph, PerryIL01:10–?8miles70yd3 deaths – Tornado destroyed or damaged 16 homes. 23 injuries were reported.
bgcolor=# F2S of DaleHamiltonIL02:30–?7miles200yd1 death – Homes shifted on their foundations or were unroofed. Eight injuries occurred.
bgcolor= FUN of MurphysboroJacksonILTornado-generating storm hit 6miles north of Murphysboro. No details are available.

April 22, 1912

Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, April 22, 1912
F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary
bgcolor=# F2Sargent to NW of MadrasCowetaGA10:00–?6miles1 death – Tornado destroyed three tenant homes near Newnan. Two people were injured.
bgcolor=# F2N of Hampton to McDonoughHenryGA12:00–?7miles200ydTornado unroofed large homes, destroyed small ones, and killed livestock near Locust Grove. Three injuries occurred.
bgcolor=# F4E of Stewart to Pitts ChapelJasper, Newton, MorganGA12:30–?20miles800yd6 deaths – Large, intense tornado swept away 12 homes, scattering debris for miles around. 20 people were injured.
bgcolor=# F2Southern AikenAikenSC16:15–?300ydTornado unroofed many homes and other structures.
bgcolor=# F2Adamsville to Pinkney City to BrooksideJeffersonAL10miles1 death – Tornado damaged or destroyed more than 100 homes. A live infant was found 1miles away. 50 people were injured.
bgcolor=# F2WaldronHarperKS1 death – Tornado destroyed homes. Eight people were injured.

See also

Notes

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Neal Lott . Sam McCown . Tom Ross . 1998-1999 Tornadoes and a Long-Term U.S. Tornado Climatology. National Climatic Data Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. August 2000. June 26, 2013.
  2. Colyer. F. H.. Tornado at Murphysboro and Bush, Ill., April 21, 1912. Monthly Weather Review. 1912. 40. 4. 540–541. 10.1175/1520-0493(1912)40<540b:TAMABI>2.0.CO;2. 9 March 2014. U.S. Weather Bureau. Carbondale, Illinois. 1912MWRv...40..540C . free.