| Tornado outbreak of April 1880 | |
| Active: | April 18–20, 1880 |
| Tornadoes: | ≥ 25 |
| Fujitascale: | F4 |
| Fatalities: | ≥ 166 deaths, > 516 injuries |
| Damages: | Unknown |
| Enhanced: | no |
On April 18–20, 1880, a tornado outbreak impacted the Midwestern United States, producing numerous strong tornadoes, killing at least 166 people, and injuring more than 516 others. The outbreak generated five violent tornadoes, including three long-tracked F4 tornadoes in Missouri that killed at least 144 people. Two of the tornadoes followed parallel paths and occurred simultaneously near Springfield, one of which devastated the town of Marshfield, causing 92 fatalities there. Other deadly, intense tornadoes occurred in the Great Lakes region and in Arkansas, including another F4 tornado that destroyed a third of El Paso, Arkansas, killing four or more people.
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | width | Summary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=# | F2 | S of Pineville to ENE of Powell | McDonald | MO | 22:00–? | 15miles | 1 death – Additional details are unavailable. | ||
| bgcolor=# | F4 | S of Rockton, IL to Shopiere, WI | Winnebago (IL), Rock (WI) | IL, WI | 22:30–? | 15abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 500yd | 1 death – A violent tornado obliterated a pair of farms in Illinois, leaving little debris behind. The F4 damage occurred only in northernmost Illinois, just south-southwest of Beloit, Wisconsin. 23 structures were destroyed or damaged in Wisconsin, but only at up to F2- or F3-level intensity. 20 people were injured. Losses totaled $75,000, of which two-thirds were at Shopiere. Wind-related damage from the parent storm extended northeastward to near Johnstown. | |
| bgcolor=# | F3 | ENE of Edgerton | Johnson | KS | 22:30–? | 5abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1 death – An intense tornado destroyed one or more homes. | ||
| bgcolor=# | F4 | S of Rocky Comfort to SE of Grovespring | McDonald, Barry, Stone, Christian, Greene, Webster, Wright | MO | 22:30–? | 93abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1320abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 31+ deaths – This, known as the Finley Creek tornado, was the first and most intense of two violent, long-tracked, parallel tornadoes, south of Springfield. It first devastated a settlement on Crane Creek, killing 10 people there, and then killed six more beside Flat Creek. The tornado attained its maximum intensity over rural lands near Ozark and Linden, destroying 35 farmsteads; eight people were killed and 19 others severely injured. Seven or more fatalities occurred in southernmost Webster County. Some of the worst damage occurred at Dry Fork, along Panther Creek, near Fordland. In all, 100 people were injured. | |
| bgcolor=# | F4 | NE of McDowell to Southeastern Springfield to Marshfield | Barry, Lawrence, Stone, Christian, Greene, Webster | MO | 22:30–? | 64abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 880abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 99+ deaths – This and the preceding event occurred simultaneously. The second of the two tornadoes initially caused extensive damage to rural timberland and outbuildings near McDowell. It then killed seven or more people in Springfield before rapidly intensifying and growing in size. It then devastated the town of Marshfield, destroying all but 15 structures. There the tornado killed 68 people instantly and caused 24 others to die of injuries, resulting in a total of 92 deaths. Near Marshfield the tornado debarked trees as well. 200 people were injured. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Conway | Laclede | MO | 23:30–? | 2 deaths – At least one home was destroyed. | |||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Skullyville, OK to N of Charleston, AR | Le Flore (OK), Sebastian (AR), Franklin (AR) | OK, AR | 23:30–? | 35abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 4 deaths – This strong tornado family wrecked five or more homes and caused one fatality in Oklahoma before passing just south of Fort Smith, Arkansas. A pair of additional deaths occurred in a home near Fort Smith, along with five injuries. The final death occurred near Charleston. 20 injuries were confirmed. | ||
| bgcolor=# | F3 | Stiles, IA to W of Troy, IA | Schuyler (MO), Davis (IA) | MO, IA | 23:30–? | 15abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This intense tornado destroyed structures on seven farmsteads. Debris from one of the farms was found 4miles away. Two injuries occurred. | |
| bgcolor=# | F4 | NE of Climax Springs to Barnettsville to SE of New Bloomfield | MO | 23:30–? | 65abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1500abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 14 deaths – This large, violent, long-tracked tornado leveled numerous farmsteads and caused five deaths in southern Morgan County. In Barnettsville the tornado was up to 1miles wide, destroying the entire town and causing eight deaths. Near New Bloomfield the tornado destroyed a church and 10 homes, causing another death. The tornado left debris on a railroad, causing a passenger train to derail, resulting in a few injuries. In all, 90 injuries were confirmed. | ||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Southern Ottawa to S of Oconomowoc | Waukesha | WI | 00:00–? | 6abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado destroyed a pair of barns and caused minor damage to 12 other structures, some of which were homes. A home near Waterville was unroofed as well. One injury was reported. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | NW of St. Martins to Carrington | Cole, Boone, Callaway | MO | 00:00–? | 21abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 2+ deaths – This tornado developed between Elston and Centertown, but may have begun as far southwest as Russellville. All fatalities and eight or more injuries occurred in Callaway County, but there were rumors of more casualties near Russellville. Farmhouses were destroyed or damaged near Fulton. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | NE of Bloomfield to W of Floris | Davis | IA | 02:00–? | 8abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado destroyed a barn and partly unroofed an Odd Fellows lodge. Other structures were damaged as well. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Dardanelle | Yell | AR | 02:00–? | A number of homes were reportedly destroyed. | |||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | SW of Licking to SW of Salem | Texas, Dent | MO | 02:10–? | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 400abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1 death – Nearly all buildings were damaged in Licking, and 300 people were left homeless. 64 of the 67 homes in town were rendered uninhabitable; of these, 29 were reportedly "'destroyed'." 17 injuries occurred, five of which were serious. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Southeastern Fayetteville | Washington | AR | 02:20–? | 6abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 2 deaths – At least 100 structures were destroyed or badly damaged in Fayetteville, including homes and a three-story hotel. Trees and fences were downed as well. 25 injuries were reported and losses in Fayetteville totaled $100,000. This or a related tornado may have subsequently struck and destroyed Goshen. | |
| bgcolor=# | F4 | El Paso | Faulkner, White | AR | 02:30–? | 8abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 400abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 4+ deaths – This violent tornado virtually leveled a third of El Paso. All of the known fatalities occurred there. Four bodies were reportedly carried 1miles and homesites were swept clean. 15 injuries occurred. Some sources listed as many as 10 deaths, of which three or more were assigned to multiple "prominent" families each. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Western Eureka Springs | Carroll | AR | 03:00–? | 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 18 homes were destroyed at Eureka Springs. One fatality may have occurred there. In all, eight injuries were reported. The path of the tornado may have extended into southern Missouri. | ||
| bgcolor=# | F2+ | Forsyth | Taney | MO | 03:30–? | 2 deaths – A number of injuries may have occurred. Detailed descriptions of the damage were unavailable, but contextual evidence suggested winds of at least F2 intensity. | |||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Chester | Eaton | MI | 400abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This strong tornado cut a NaNadj=midNaNadj=mid swath of downed trees. Livestock were killed and barns wrecked as well. | |||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Lyndon | Whiteside | IL | 8abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado wrecked outbuildings on six farmsteads. | |||
| bgcolor=# | FU | Greenville | Bond | IL | Many homes and other structures were destroyed. A number of significant injuries were reported. |
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | width | Summary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=# | F3 | S of Gravelly to S of Rover | Yell | AR | 05:00–? | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1 death – This intense tornado destroyed several small homes, with peak damage nearing F4 intensity. Debris was lofted for miles. Five injuries were reported. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | N of Fort Smith | Crawford | AR | 05:00–? | Trees and barns were downed. | |||
| bgcolor=# | F2 | N of Dyersburg | Dyer | TN | 16:00–? | 4abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1 death – A fallen tree destroyed a home, resulting in the lone fatality. Nearby homes were unroofed as well. Five injuries were reported. |
In addition to tornadoes, there were numerous reports of severe thunderstorms. On April 18 intense windstorms affected Decatur, Wenona, Warren, Champaign, Ottawa, Peoria, Summerfield, Jacksonville, Tuscola, Clinton, Collinsville, and Chester, Illinois. These storms unroofed, destroyed, or partly wrecked numerous structures. Trees were extensively damaged and a bridge torn out as well. On the same date vigorous thunderstorms generated winds of up to 80mi/h in Lawrence, Kansas, tipping structures onto their sides and tearing roofs off. Early on April 19 severe thunderstorms also affected Richmond and Wabash, Indiana, along with other areas beside the White River. Telegraph wires and structures incurred substantial damage.