Tornado outbreak of June 14–18, 1992 explained

Partof:the tornado outbreaks of 1992
Tornado outbreak of June 14–18, 1992
Type:Tornado outbreak
Active:June 14–18, 1992
Tornadoes:170 confirmed
Fujitascale:F5
Tornado Duration:~4 days
Total Fatalities:1 fatality, 110 injuries
Damages:$242 million (1992 USD) $530 Million (2024 USD)
Enhanced:no

The Tornado outbreak of June 14–18, 1992 was one of the largest tornado outbreaks on record, affecting portions of the Central United States from June 14 to June 18, 1992. The outbreak began on June 14 when six tornadoes touched down in Colorado and Idaho. Fifty-eight tornadoes were reported across portions of the Great Plains on June 15, and 65 more were reported over much of the central U.S. on June 16. The 123 tornadoes that touched down on June 15–16 make that two-day span the 5th largest two-day tornado outbreak in U.S. history behind the 1974 Super Outbreak, the May 2004 tornado outbreak sequence, the tornado outbreak of April 14–16, 2011, and the 2011 Super Outbreak. Twenty-eight more tornadoes touched down on June 17, and 13 more touched down on June 18, giving this outbreak 170 confirmed tornadoes.

Meteorological synopsis

A major spring storm began developing in the western United States over the weekend of June 13–14, 1992. The storm ejected a minor upper air impulse across the Northern Plains on June 13, triggering severe weather across the extreme northwest corner of South Dakota. Golf ball sized hail and 10 inches of rain destroyed crops and killed over 500 sheep in Harding County, South Dakota. This event preceded the main storm which still was positioned over the western United States. As the storm moved to the east over the next several days, it caused 170 tornadoes in the central United States, including an F5 tornado in Chandler, Minnesota. The storm system finally began to weaken as it moved to the eastern United States on June 18.

Outbreak description

On Tuesday, June 16, 1992, eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota were heavily impacted by the storm as it moved from the Rocky Mountain Region across the Upper Midwest. At least two dozen tornadoes were reported that day, with more than three times that many reports of large hail and strong winds, causing widespread swaths of damage to crops, buildings, and other personal property across much of eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota. The first tornado, spawned by a supercell thunderstorm, touched down in Charles Mix County, South Dakota about 1:00 pm. The last tornado was reported shortly before midnight that evening, ending an 11-hour period of intense severe weather across eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota. Until the record was broken in 2010, the 27 tornadoes that touched down in Minnesota on June 16 mark the largest single day tornado outbreak in Minnesota since accurate records started being kept in 1950.[1] [2]

Remarkably there was only one fatality from this outbreak, that coming from an F5 tornado in Chandler, Minnesota. In addition to the F5, three F4 tornadoes were reported in Murray County, Minnesota, and Mitchell and McPherson counties in Kansas. Damage estimates for the two days were in excess of $160 million.[3] [4] [5] [6]

This outbreak played a large part in a record setting month in June, 1992. The 399 tornadoes that touched down in that month was a United States record at the time, breaking the old record of 335 tornadoes set in May, 1991. This record was eventually broken, when 543 tornadoes touched down during May, 2003.[7] This record, though, would broken in turn when over 750 tornadoes touched down in April 2011.[8] [9]

Confirmed tornadoes

June 14 event

List of confirmed tornadoes
F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Idaho
bgcolor=# F0E of BurleyCassia22020 milesA brief tornado touched down twice.[10]
Colorado
bgcolor=# F0W of GillWeld00261milesThis tornado occurred near the Greeley–Weld County Airport.
bgcolor=# F0N of GoodrichMorgan00270 milesDebris persisted for a few minutes.
bgcolor=# F0SE of RaymerMorgan00270 milesThis tornado moved three grain bins for 250abbr=onNaNabbr=on.
bgcolor=# F0NE of BarnesvilleWeld01150 milesThis and the next event were observed nearly simultaneously.
bgcolor=# F0N of Fort MorganWeld01300 milesSee previous event.

June 15 event

List of confirmed tornadoes
F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Kansas
bgcolor=# F0NE of Plainville (1st tornado)Rooks21151milesThis tornado occurred over open land.
bgcolor=# F1N of Natoma (1st tornado)Osborne21261milesVery minimal damage was reported.
bgcolor=# F0E of ZurichRooks21281milesOne mobile home was destroyed on the eastern outskirts of Plainville.
bgcolor=# F1NE of Plainville (2nd tornado)Rooks21377milesThis tornado destroyed a double-wide and a feedlot. 30–40 head of cattle died. Two injuries occurred in the double-wide. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2.[11]
bgcolor=# F0N of Natoma (2nd tornado)Osborne21460.5milesThis tornado lasted only a minute.
bgcolor=# F0SE of Bloomington (1st tornado)Osborne22510.5milesTornado occurred over open country.
bgcolor=# F1SE of Bloomington (2nd tornado)Osborne22512milesSeveral farms were damaged.
bgcolor=# F1SE of Osborne (1st tornado)Osborne23150.8miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of OsborneOsborne2334–23371miles
bgcolor=# F1S of OsborneOsborne23401milesThis tornado felled a number of large trees.
bgcolor=# F1Osborne areaOsborne23450.5milesTrees and roofs were badly damaged.
bgcolor=# F1SE of Osborne (2nd tornado)Osborne23551miles
bgcolor=# F2SE of CorinthMitchell23563.5miles
bgcolor=# F1SE of MankatoJewell23591miles
bgcolor=# F2NE of Tipton (1st tornado)Mitchell00023miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of WebberJewell00062miles
bgcolor=# F1NE of Tipton (2nd tornado)Mitchell00071.5miles
bgcolor=# F2E of MankatoJewell00091.5miles
bgcolor=# F2E of TiptonMitchell00104miles
bgcolor=# F4SW of Beloit (1st tornado)Mitchell00303miles
bgcolor=# F1NW of LovewellJewell00351.5miles
bgcolor=# F2SW of Beloit (2nd tornado)Mitchell00352miles
bgcolor=# F2SW of Beloit (3rd tornado)Mitchell00382miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of Beloit (4th tornado)Mitchell00402miles
bgcolor=# F3SW of Beloit (5th tornado)Mitchell00452miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of Beloit (6th tornado)Mitchell00551.5miles
bgcolor=# F0N of RepublicRepublic01000.5miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of Beloit (7th tornado)Mitchell01051.3miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of SimpsonMitchell01352miles
bgcolor=# F1SE of SimpsonCloud01522miles
bgcolor=# F1NE of SimpsonCloud01582miles
bgcolor=# F1S of DelphosOttawa02351miles
bgcolor=# F3W of DelphosOttawa02523miles
bgcolor=# F4McPhersonMcPherson03356miles
bgcolor=# F1NW of MiltonvaleCloud03371miles
bgcolor=# F2RoxburyMcPherson03407miles
bgcolor=# F1SE of Roxbury to NW of RamonaMcPherson, Marion050917miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of ElmoDickinson05202miles
bgcolor=# F0SW of AbileneDickinson05380.1miles
bgcolor=# F1E of EnterpriseDickinson06481miles
bgcolor=# F0S of SolomonDickinson07051.5miles
South Dakota
bgcolor=# F2S of PhilipHaakon22102miles
bgcolor=# F0NE of RaymondClark00050.2miles
bgcolor=# F0SE of BristolDay02500.5miles
Nebraska
bgcolor=# F1DoniphanHall00200.1miles
bgcolor=# F2SW of OsceolaPolk00452miles
bgcolor=# F2N of HamptonHamilton00550.1miles
bgcolor=# F0N of Schuyler (1st tornado)Colfax01150.1miles
bgcolor=# F2N of Schuyler (2nd tornado)Colfax01150.1miles
bgcolor=# F3SE of Milligan to W of MilfordSaline, Seward015521miles
bgcolor=# F1W of West PointCuming02500.5miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of West PointCuming02550.5miles
bgcolor=# F1SE of West PointCuming03004miles
bgcolor=# F3W of MalcolmSeward031514miles
bgcolor=# F1N of BancroftCuming03200.5miles
bgcolor=# F1NW of TecumsehJohnson04581.5miles
bgcolor=# F1NW of JohnsonJohnson05121.2miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of BurrOtoe05301.5miles
Sources: Tornado History Project Storm Data - June 15, 1992

June 16 event

List of confirmed tornadoes
F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
South Dakota
bgcolor=# F2W of Mitchell (1st tornado)Davison19303miles
bgcolor=# F2W of Mitchell (2nd tornado)Davison19303miles
bgcolor=# F0NE of LetcherSanborn20230.1miles
bgcolor=# F2SW of FedoraMiner20250.5miles
bgcolor=# F3SW of OldhamMiner20453miles
bgcolor=# F3S of ArlingtonKingsbury, Brookings21354miles
bgcolor=# F0W of OldhamKingsbury21370.1miles
bgcolor=# F3W of Fort ThompsonBuffalo22152miles
bgcolor=# F0SW of PickstownCharles Mix00030.3miles
bgcolor=# F0NE of TrippHutchinson01100.3miles
bgcolor=# F1Bridgewater (1st tornado)McCook01300.5miles
bgcolor=# F1Bridgewater (2nd tornado)McCook01300.5miles
bgcolor=# F1Brookings areaBrookings01307miles
bgcolor=# F1NE of RutlandLake01451miles
bgcolor=# F0SW of CentervilleClay01500.5miles
bgcolor=# F2ColtonMinnehaha02005miles
Iowa
bgcolor=# F1NE of Cedar FallsBlack Hawk20034.7miles
bgcolor=# F3NW of Logan to N of Dow CityHarrison, Crawford023026miles
bgcolor=# F0SE of PerkinsSioux02550.2miles
bgcolor=# F0S of Ida GroveIda03480.1miles
bgcolor=# F0NE of SoldierMonona04010.1miles
bgcolor=# F2NE of OaklandPottawattamie05004miles
bgcolor=# F2SW of DumfriesMills05143miles
bgcolor=# F0Harlan areaShelby05450.2miles
Nebraska
bgcolor=# F0SW of HemingfordBox Butte21200.1miles
bgcolor=# F0W of AllianceBox Butte21510.1miles
bgcolor=# F1SE of AinsworthBrown22154miles
bgcolor=# F1N of NewportRock23151miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of AnselmoCuster23170.5miles
bgcolor=# F0SE of AnselmoCuster23230.2miles
bgcolor=# F1NW of GatesCuster23350.4miles
bgcolor=# F1SE of NaperBoyd23381.5miles
bgcolor=# F1NE of ButteBoyd235010miles
bgcolor=# F1HartingtonCedar01470.1miles
bgcolor=# F2NE of OaklandBurt04004miles
bgcolor=# F0S of WesternSaline04050.1miles
bgcolor=# F0NE of WaverlyLancaster04230.1miles
Minnesota
bgcolor=# F5S of Leota to E of Lake WilsonNobles, Murray, Lyon220035miles1 death – See article on this tornado – 40+ people were injured.
bgcolor=# F4E of Lake WilsonMurray22187miles
bgcolor=# F3S of ClarkfieldYellow Medicine22306miles
bgcolor=# F2NE of HadleyMurray223013miles
bgcolor=# F3NW of CurrieMurray, Lyon230012miles
bgcolor=# F2E of AmiretLyon23182miles
bgcolor=# F3NE of TracyRedwood232516miles
bgcolor=# F1SW of MilroyRedwood23550.1miles
bgcolor=# F2NE of DanversSwift23581.5miles
bgcolor=# F3W of WabassoRedwood001013miles
bgcolor=# F2N of VestaRedwood002512miles
bgcolor=# F2S of DelhiRedwood00258miles
bgcolor=# F1W of Redwood FallsRedwood00306.5miles
bgcolor=# F2E of DelhiRedwood00405.5miles
bgcolor=# F2W of BechynRenville00505miles
bgcolor=# F2NW of BechynRenville01253miles
bgcolor=# F2W of Sacred HeartRenville02002.5miles
bgcolor=# F1NW of JasperPipestone02000.5miles
bgcolor=# F2S of ChandlerMurray02104miles
bgcolor=# F2W of SlaytonMurray02200.5miles
bgcolor=# F3SE of ClarkfieldYellow Medicine02402.5miles
bgcolor=# F2S of DanubeRenville03302miles
bgcolor=# F2E of WestbrookCottonwood03307.5miles
bgcolor=# F1SE of LeavenworthBrown04001miles
bgcolor=# F3CokatoWright041010miles
bgcolor=# F2N of Maple LakeWright042010miles
bgcolor=# F2NW of FoleyBenton04500.3miles
North Dakota
bgcolor=# F0E of BismarckBurleigh23200.1miles
Sources: Tornado History Project Storm Data - June 16, 1992

Non-tornadic events

In addition to the severe weather, another devastating weather event was taking place across northeastern South Dakota. Heavy rains were occurring in an area already saturated by previous rains. Over a two- to three-day period in mid-June 1992, 15 to 20 inches of rain fell in the Clear Lake-Watertown area of northeast South Dakota, resulting in widespread flooding throughout the area, and major downstream flooding of the Big Sioux River.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Minnesota Tornado History and Statistics . Minnesota Climatology Office . 2006-09-20 . 2007-03-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070811154836/http://climate.umn.edu/doc/historical/tornadic.htm . 2007-08-11 .
  2. Web site: 2010 Minnesota Tornadoes – a Record Year . National Weather Service - Chanhassen, MN . 2013-04-20 .
  3. Web site: JUNE IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS STATES . Intellicast.com . 2007-03-09 .
  4. Web site: Woelm . Scott . Top 10 Minnesota Severe Weather Events 1990-1999 . Minnesota Skywarn . 2007-03-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070328054606/http://www.skywarn.ampr.org/mn_top10.html . 2007-03-28 .
  5. Web site: Chandler-Lake Wilson Minnesota F5 Tornado . . 2007-03-09 .
  6. Web site: Storm Events . National Climatic Data Center . 2007-03-09 .
  7. Web site: May 2003 Tornado Statistics (SPC). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20031207173952/http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/may2003.htm. 2003-12-07.
  8. Web site: Tornado History Project: April 2011. Storm Prediction Center. 25 August 2013.
  9. Web site: Tornadoes - April 2011. National Climatic Data Center. 25 August 2013.
  10. . Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena . . June 1992 . 34 . 6 . 55 . 3 February 2021 . . . Asheville, North Carolina.
  11. Book: Grazulis . Thomas P. . Thomas P. Grazulis . Significant Tornadoes Update, 1992–1995 . January 1997 . The Tornado Project of Environmental Films . . 1-879362-04-X . 1331 .

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