| Tornado outbreak of April 6–9, 1998 | |
| Type: | Tornado outbreak |
| Active: | April 6–9, 1998 |
| Tornadoes: | 62 |
| Fujitascale: | F5 |
| Tornado Duration: | ~4 days |
| Total Fatalities: | 41 fatalities, 250+ injuries |
| Damages: | $344.645 million (1998 USD)[1] |
| Enhanced: | no |
| Partof: | tornado outbreaks of 1998 |
The tornado outbreak of April 6–9, 1998 was a large tornado outbreak that started on April 6 across the Great Plains and ended on April 9 across the Carolinas and Georgia. A total of 62 tornadoes touched down from the Middle Atlantic States to the Midwestern United States and Texas. The outbreak is infamous for producing a deadly F5 that tore through the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama, killing 32 people. The Birmingham tornado was one of only two F5 tornadoes that year. The other hit in Lawrence County, Tennessee, on April 16, as part of the same outbreak as the Nashville F3 tornado. This tornado outbreak was responsible for 41 deaths: 7 in Georgia and 34 in Alabama.
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | N of Elliott | Wilbarger | 2313 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown in a field. |
| Iowa | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NE of Adaza | Greene | 2315 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | S of Dayton | Webster | 2355 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NE of Ralston | Greene | 0000 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| Kansas | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | E of Schoenchen | Ellis | 2325 | 3.3 miles (5.3 km) | Damage to a metal building, a chicken house and a quonset hut. 2 people were injured. |
| Oklahoma | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | SE of Velma | Stephens | 0145 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief tornado in an open field. |
| Source: Tornado History Project - April 6, 1998 Storm Data | ||||||
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | SW of Eden | Peoria | 2101 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NW of Clear Lake | Cass | 2110 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | Caused minor damage to 5 cabins. |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | NE of Clear Lake | Mason | 2120 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | A frame house was moved from its foundation with an exterior wall blown off. Three outbuildings, two grain bins, and a barn were destroyed as well. |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NW of Bath | Mason | 2135 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | Tornado damaged a frame house and destroyed its garage. Ten homes sustained moderate to major damage, with several others along with businesses suffering minor damage. Another garage was destroyed as well. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NW of Ormonde | Warren | 2231 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | Vermont area | Fulton | 2235 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown in a field. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | Monmouth area (1st tornado) | Warren | 2242 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | Monmouth area (2nd tornado) | Warren | 2252 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Farm buildings were damaged or destroyed. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | SW of Havana | Mason | 2255 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NE of Monmouth | Warren | 2302 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | NE of Havana | Fulton, Mason | 2304 | 11 miles (17.6 km) | A mobile home and a machine shed were destroyed. Irrigation equipment was overturned and a pumping station was damaged. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NW of Mount Pulaski | Logan | 2305 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | S of Gerlaw | Warren | 2313 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with damage to a cemetery. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NW of Moweaqua | Christian | 2314 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NE of Pleak | Shelby | 2328 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown in a field. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | SE of Todds Point | Shelby | 2340 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown in a field. |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | S of Cadwell to S of Arthur | Moultrie, Douglas | 0008 | 11 miles (17.6 km) | 29 homes and several barns and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. One mobile home was blown off of its foundation. 8 people were injured. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | SE of Hartsburg | Logan | 0023 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Damage was limited to trees. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | N of Hindsboro (1st tornado) | Douglas | 0042 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | A machine shed was destroyed. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NW of Hindsboro (2nd tornado) | 0058 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | Caused damage to power poles and outbuildings. | |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | S of Newman | Douglas | 0104 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown in a field with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | N of Brocton | 0111 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | A shed was destroyed and utility poles were damaged. | |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | Chrisman area | Edgar | 0115 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | A barn was damaged, and debris from the structure was thrown and smashed windows of homes and businesses. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | SE of Sidell | Vermilion | 0120 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NW of Metcalf | Edgar | 0129 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NE of Chrisman | Edgar | 0149 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | One home, 2 barns, and a machine shed suffered roof damage. |
| Missouri | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | SW of Wayland | Clark | 2120 | 2.5 miles (4 km) | 2 machine sheds and a barn were destroyed, and a mobile home was flipped over. |
| Iowa | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | W of Fort Madison | Lee | 2145 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | Fort Madison area | Lee | 2200 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | N of New Boston | Lee | 2202 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | One home sustained minor roof damage. |
| Indiana | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NW of Dana | Vermilion | 0133 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | A pole barn was destroyed. |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | W of North Union | 0245 | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) | A garage and a pole barn were destroyed, while the roof of another barn was damaged. | |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | E of Willisville | Pike | 0251 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown in a field. |
| Source: Tornado History Project - April 7, 1998 Storm Data | ||||||
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | S of Driftwood | Hays | 0940 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NW of Buda | Hays | 0957 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | |
| Louisiana | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NE of Haynesville | Claiborne | 1243 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Caused damage to carport roofs and patio covers. |
| Alabama | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | S of Heath | Covington | 1520 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Tornado damaged a mobile home and the roof of a motel. |
| bgcolor=# | F3 | S of Gordo to N of Northport | Pickens, Tuscaloosa | 0001 | 19.5 miles (31.2 km) | Tornado was a precursor to the Birmingham F5. Traveled through rural areas north of the city of Tuscaloosa, with five homes and 11 mobile homes destroyed. 24 homes and 13 mobile homes were also damaged, and two people were injured. |
| bgcolor=# | F5 | N of Kellerman to Birmingham | 0042 | 30.3 miles (48.5 km) | 32 deaths – See section on this tornado | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | E of Lakeview | DeKalb | 0123 | 1.8 miles (2.9 km) | A few barns were destroyed. |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | N of Pell City | St. Clair | 0156 | 14.4 miles (23 km) | 2 deaths - This tornado was spawned by the same supercell that produced the Birmingham F5. It remained over rural areas for 14miles and partially destroyed Bethel Baptist Church in Moody. 26 homes and mobile homes, along with other buildings were destroyed in the Coal City area. About 90 other homes and mobile homes suffered minor to major damage. The two fatalities occurred in a mobile home. Twelve additional people were injured. This storm later produced the Dunwoody tornado. |
| Arkansas | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | Sunset | Crittenden | 2320 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Damage was limited to trees. |
| Tennessee | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | S of Lawrenceburg | Lawrence | 0000 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Damage was limited to trees. |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | Manchester area | Coffee | 0100 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | Caused roof damage to several buildings in downtown Manchester. |
| Georgia | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | N of Tallapoosa | Haralson | 0330 | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | One mobile home was destroyed while 36 homes, 7 businesses, and 2 churches were damaged |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Smyrna to NW of Buckhead | Cobb, Fulton | 0420 | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | The tornado began near the Georgia Memorial Park cemetery, and then blew the roof and upper floor off of a wood-frame strip mall, located on the west corner of Cobb Parkway (U.S. 41) and Windy Hill Road. As the tornado crossed this intersection, two Cobb police officers in their cars, who were traveling south on Cobb Parkway, were caught in the storm. The officer in front sped through the tornado to escape it, while the officer behind followed and turned his light bar on, activating the vehicle's dashcam. This video from inside the tornado was later shown on national television. A car dealership along the path sustained heavy damage, with over one half of a million dollars in damage to cars. The tornado continued across the intersection, seriously damaging a Haverty's furniture store, blowing over the canopy at a gas station, and blowing down a billboard. After crossing Interstate 75, it passed over the Interstate North complex, a major office park full of high-rise buildings on the north side of the Cumberland/Galleria edge city, which is home to The Weather Channel. Continuing into Fulton County at the Chattahoochee River, the tornado downed trees and power lines and caused minor structural damage. Four people were injured. The tornado lifted, while the rotating supercell traversed what is now the city of Sandy Springs and went on to produce the Dunwoody tornado. |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Dunwoody to N of Lawrenceville | DeKalb, Gwinnett | 0435 | 19 miles (30.4 km) | 1 death – See section on this tornado – Ten people were injured. |
| Source: Tornado History Project - April 8, 1998 Storm Data | ||||||
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F3 | NE of Pembroke to W of Coldbrook | Bryan, Effingham | 0945 | 8 miles (12.8 km) | 2 deaths - In Bryan County, 74 homes and other buildings were damaged with 14 of them destroyed, including six mobile homes, two frame houses, two brick homes and four other buildings. In Effingham County, 40 homes were damaged, with six mobile homes destroyed. 17 other people were injured. |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | E of Donald to Richmond Hill | Long, Liberty, Bryan | 1035 | 24.5 miles (39.2 km) | 4 deaths - Ten mobile homes were destroyed in Rye Patch with two others damaged. In Fort Stewart, 55 buildings were damaged including 7 destroyed. 7 other people were injured. |
| South Carolina | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | W of Hardeeville | Jasper | 1022 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | Several buildings and homes were damaged. |
| Ohio | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NE of Copley | Summit | 1745 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | Minor roof damage occurred. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | NW of North Eaton | Lorain | 1745 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | SW of Windham | Portage | 1830 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| bgcolor=# | F0 | Leavittsburg area | Trumbull | 1928 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| Pennsylvania | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F1 | NE of New Brighton | Beaver | 1830 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | A cinder block warehouse was damaged. |
| Virginia | ||||||
| bgcolor=# | F0 | Chesapeake area | Chesapeake | 2000 | 5 miles (8 km) | Damage was limited to trees that fell on some homes. |
| Source: Tornado History Project - April 9, 1998 Storm Data | ||||||
| Birmingham, Alabama | |
| Fujitascale: | F5 |
| Casualties: | 32 fatalities, 259 injuries |
| Damages: | $202.83 million (1998 USD)[2] [3] |
| Enhanced: | no |
Shortly after 7:30 p.m. on April 8, the outbreak's deadliest tornado cut a 31adj=midNaNadj=mid, NaNadj=midNaNadj=mid swath through multiple Birmingham suburbs, producing damage ranging from F3 to F5 and causing massive destruction before lifting in the western limits of the City of Birmingham, just northwest of the junctions of Interstates 20, 59 and 65. The worst of the destruction occurred across the cities of Oak Grove, Rock Creek, and McDonald Chapel. The second area affected by F5 damage was also devastated by a violent tornado in 1956 that tracked through the same areas hit by this storm. Debris from the tornado was scattered across central Alabama as far north as sections of Blount County, and extensive deforestation occurred along the majority of the path.[4] [5]
The tornado began in rural Tuscaloosa County, only causing F0 damage there. The tornado reached F1 intensity after it entered Jefferson County, and then rapidly intensified to an F3 as it crossed a stray outflow boundary, slamming into Oak Grove, an unincorporated town west of Rock Creek. Oak Grove was one of the hardest hit locations, with many structures destroyed in the area. Oak Grove High School sustained major structural damage, and the elementary school portion was destroyed. The school building was rebuilt two years later and reopened a mile away from the damaged area. No one inside the school was killed, but a group of cheerleaders practicing at the school's gymnasium escaped disaster with only minor injuries when a wall prevented a portion of the roof from falling on them. The tornado caused its first three fatalities in Oak Grove, which occurred when a mobile home completely disintegrated, throwing the occupants across the street; of the four occupants, only one survived. The Oak Grove fire station was severely damaged as well.[6] [7]
The tornado continued to intensify dramatically as it moved northeast across the outflow boundary, reaching F5 intensity as it struck Rock Creek. Many homes in the town were leveled or swept completely away, and the roof of Rock Creek Church of God's Family Life Center was blown off. Many church attendees were sheltering in the restroom when the building was destroyed; all were safe. Several cars in the church parking lot were thrown into a 50-foot deep ravine. The church was turned into a makeshift trauma center immediately after the tornado. A total of eleven people were killed in Rock Creek. The far western fringes of Concord were impacted in this area as well (particularly the Warrior River Road area). The tornado weakened slightly to F4 intensity as it struck the neighboring community of Sylvan Springs, where many additional homes were completely leveled, and four people were killed. Homes were damaged and destroyed just outside Pleasant Grove as well.[8] [9]
| State | Total | County | County total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 34 | Jefferson | 32 |
| St. Clair | 2 | ||
| Georgia | 7 | Bryan | 2 |
| De Kalb | 1 | ||
| Liberty | 1 | ||
| Long | 3 | ||
| Totals | 41 | ||
| All deaths were tornado-related | |||
The tornado was at the time the seventh deadliest in Alabama history, killing one more person than in a tornado that hit Alabama on March 21, 1932; a young boy died nine days after this event from head injuries. His father was paralyzed from the waist down, and his mother suffered severe injuries. Another mother and her two children, despite taking shelter in their underground basement, were killed when hundreds of pounds of debris was blown onto them. Overall, 32 people were killed by the tornado and hundreds more were injured.[13] [14]
| Dunwoody, Georgia | |
| Fujitascale: | F2 |
| Highest Winds: | 150mph |
| Casualties: | 1 fatality, 10 injuries |
| Damages: | $75 million (NCDC) |
| Enhanced: | no |
After producing three F2+ tornadoes in Alabama, the Birmingham supercell moved into Georgia, producing another F2 in Cobb County. After that tornado lifted, this tornado, also rated F2, touched down at 12:35 a.m. on April 9, just northeast of Perimeter Center in DeKalb County. After sparing the many high-rises there, the tornado rapidly intensified to high-end F2 strength with 150mph winds, and grew to NaNadj=onNaNadj=on wide. It damaged thousands of homes and downed tens of thousands of native pine and hardwood forest trees. Hundreds of homes had major damage, a few dozen were destroyed (or nearly so) and were condemned, having to be completely rebuilt. The campus of DeKalb College (now Perimeter College at Georgia State University) sustained heavy damage. One person was killed in DeKalb County.
The storm continued into Gwinnett County, somewhat weakened, but still causing extensive damage in Peachtree Corners. The tornado crossed the county line 1miles west of Norcross, skirting downtown and traveling parallel to Old Norcross Road at F2 status. It continued to Duluth, crossing the center of town and lifting briefly, taking shingles off the roofs of houses in downtown Duluth. Many more trees were snapped along Old Peachtree Road near Interstate 85. The tornado finally weakened and lifted 5miles north of Lawrenceville, having affected over 5,000 homes along its path and injured ten people in Gwinnett County. The total length of the tornado's path was 19miles. The current Norcross High School sits on land deforested by the tornado, and then purchased by the Gwinnett school board. In 2007, the county began seeking a grant from GEMA to help it reinstate a system of tornado sirens, beginning with eleven to be installed along the path of the 1998 tornado.[15]