Tornado outbreak sequence of April 5–8, 1954 explained

Tornado outbreak sequence of April 5–9, 1954
Duration:April 5–8, 1954
Tornadoes:25
Fujitascale:F4
Year:1954
Damages:$999,330 ($ in USD)
Fatalities:1
Injuries:22
Affected:Central and Southern United States
Season:tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1954

From April 5–8, 1954, a tornado outbreak sequence affected portions of the Central and Southern United States, primarily the Upper Midwest. The U.S. states of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin were hardest hit by tornadoes. The first day of the severe weather event featured three intense (F3 or stronger) tornadoes along the Missouri–Iowa border, including a long-tracked F4 that obliterated rural farmsteads. The deadliest tornado of the sequence, retroactively rated F3, struck Illinois a few days later, killing one person and injuring 13 others. Other strong tornadoes hit Kansas, Indiana, Michigan, and Georgia during the sequence. In all, the event resulted in 22 injuries.

Confirmed tornadoes

Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.

Color/symbol key
Color / symbolDescription
†Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b
Data from a local National Weather Service office
※Data from the 1954 Climatological Data National Summary publication
‡Data from the NCEI database
♯Maximum width of tornado
±Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable.

April 5 event

F#! scope="col" text-align:center;" class="unsortable"
LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage
F1Mexico※AudrainMissouri08:00–?0.2abbr=onNaNabbr=on10abbr=onNaNabbr=on
This and the following event destroyed a home. Outbuildings were wrecked or damaged as well. Agricultural implements were also damaged.
F1S of Benton CityAudrainMissouri08:00–?0.3abbr=onNaNabbr=on17abbr=onNaNabbr=on
See previous event.
F3†E of Scranton to NW of FarlinGreeneIowa23:10–?7abbr=onNaNabbr=on†800abbr=onNaNabbr=on†※
This intense tornado badly damaged five farmsteads and caused less severe damage to 13 others. One or more farmhouses were wrecked, and a boxcar was lofted through the air. Timbers also pierced the walls of homes. An injury occurred.
F3†NW of Westboro (MO)† to SE of Northboro (IA)※Atchison (MO), Page (IA)Missouri, Iowa23:30–?†8abbr=onNaNabbr=on†500abbr=onNaNabbr=on††
This was probably a family of "twin" tornadoes that damaged farmsteads at "near-F4" intensity. A pickup truck in Missouri was tossed 300yd, and four homes were torn apart in that state. Three additional homes were wrecked in Iowa. A few injuries occurred, both in Missouri.
F4†Near Elmo (MO) to S of Braddyville (IA) to N of Bedford (IA)†Nodaway (MO)†, Page (IA), Taylor (IA)†Missouri, Iowa23:30–?25abbr=onNaNabbr=on†900abbr=onNaNabbr=on†
This long-lived, violent tornado caused F4 damage to numerous farms. A pair of farmhouses were obliterated northwest of Siam, Iowa.
F2±W to NE of BedfordTaylorIowa23:45–?11.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on333abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Details are unavailable.
F2†NW of BedfordTaylorIowa00:15–?5abbr=onNaNabbr=on†200abbr=onNaNabbr=on
A pair of spacious barns were blown to pieces, their debris strewn "for miles". 20 farmsteads received some manner of wind-related damage, and livestock in the path was killed.
F2±N of Milford to ESE of RileyGearyKansas00:45–?9abbr=onNaNabbr=on※33abbr=onNaNabbr=on
This tornado damaged many farms in or near Fort Riley.
F1S of Soldier※JacksonKansas01:30–?5abbr=onNaNabbr=on※100abbr=onNaNabbr=on※
Rural trees and structures were damaged.
F2+ESE of NorthboroPageIowa
A short-lived tornado, related to the Westboro F3, tore the roof off a home.

April 6 event

F#! scope="col" text-align:center;" class="unsortable"
LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage
F1ENE of WheatlandKnoxIndiana10:00–?0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on27abbr=onNaNabbr=on※
Some buildings were stripped of their roofs. Fallen roofing damaged a truck.
F1Glezen※PikeIndiana11:00–?1abbr=onNaNabbr=on33abbr=onNaNabbr=on※
This tornado damaged a pair of houses and a few barns, along with the roof of a store. A few porches were ripped off, one of which was stripped of most roofing.
F2±Eastern Ferdinand to SSE of Saint AnthonyDuboisIndiana13:00–?3.3abbr=onNaNabbr=on33abbr=onNaNabbr=on※
This tornado hit many homes and a church, damaging their roofs. Garages and barns were affected as well.
F1PetersburgPikeIndiana20:00–?0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on33abbr=onNaNabbr=on※
A chicken coop was destroyed.

April 7 event

F#! scope="col" text-align:center;" class="unsortable"
LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage
F3†N of Highland to SE of Avoca※IowaWisconsin11:45–?8abbr=onNaNabbr=on†400abbr=onNaNabbr=on※
This intense tornado leveled several barns and destroyed a farmhouse. It also damaged seven other farmhouses and destroyed or damaged 50 outbuildings. Four people were injured.
F2±E of Mount Calvary※Fond du LacWisconsin18:30–?1.9abbr=onNaNabbr=on33abbr=onNaNabbr=on
This tornado collapsed a 60by barn, crushing to death five cattle beneath. It also uplifted a 140adj=midNaNadj=mid section of roofing and tore a 400lb concrete covering off a silo. Strong winds in Mount Calvary also downed a few television transmission towers and shattered windows.
F1OconomowocWaukeshaWisconsin19:15–?
This tornado crossed downtown Oconomowoc, splintering trees and television antennae. It damaged 13 businesses in town, smashed plate glass, and tore off roofing.
F3±SW of SauneminLivingstonIllinois21:00–?13abbr=onNaNabbr=on400abbr=onNaNabbr=on
This, the first member of a two-tornado family, dissipated and reformed as the Kankakee County F3.
F2†NE of Neshkoro to Lohrville to RedgraniteWausharaWisconsin21:00–?5abbr=onNaNabbr=on30abbr=onNaNabbr=on
This tornado destroyed one or more barns.
F3Limestone Township† to Indian Oaks to W of Grant ParkKankakeeIllinois21:35–?†16abbr=onNaNabbr=on†400abbr=onNaNabbr=on
1 death – This intense tornado struck 30 farms, destroying many structures. It also damaged or destroyed 38 homes, as well as most of Indian Oaks. Empty storage tanks were carried more than 1miles. 13 people were injured. The NCEI incorrectly begin this event west of Cabery.
F2†E of Albion to SE of Kendallville†NobleIndiana23:50–?6abbr=onNaNabbr=on††
This strong tornado leveled trees, wrecked two or more barns, and damaged the roofs of homes. Livestock was killed as well.
F2†WNW of FultonKalamazooMichigan00:00–?1abbr=onNaNabbr=on†30abbr=onNaNabbr=on†
A few barns were wrecked.

April 8 event

F#! scope="col" text-align:center;" class="unsortable"
LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage
F2†SW of DawsonvilleDawsonGeorgia18:00–?5abbr=onNaNabbr=on†300abbr=onNaNabbr=on†※
This tornado flattened much timber and destroyed a pair of barns.
F0S of Iowa※Jefferson DavisLouisiana21:00–?1abbr=onNaNabbr=on10abbr=onNaNabbr=on‡
A brief touchdown occurred over farmland.
F2Swartz CreekGeneseeMichigan00:40–?0.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on†10abbr=onNaNabbr=on†
This tornado formed alongside six funnel clouds. It destroyed a garage and a fire station, moving the former's roof 100yd. It also wrecked windows, a pair of barns, a few fire engines, and two automobiles. A few people were injured.

See also

Sources

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