Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1982

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Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1982
A black-and-white map depicting the linear paths of tornadoes on April 2, 1982
Overview of the outbreak on April 2, 1982
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationApril 2–3, 1982
Highest gust78 kn (90 mph; 144 km/h) in Illinois on April 3[1]
Tornadoes
confirmed		63 confirmed
Max. rating1F5 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2		1 day, 1 hour, and 55 minutes
Largest hail3 in (7.6 cm) in Texas on April 2[2]
Fatalities30 fatalities, 433 injuries
Damage$390.5 million (1982 USD)[nb 1][3]
$1.23 billion (2024 USD)
Areas affectedMidwestern and Southern United States, primarily the Ark-La-Tex region (Red River Valley/Piney Woods)
Part of the tornadoes of 1982

1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

From April 2–3, 1982, a major tornado outbreak resulted in over 60 tornadoes and 30 fatalities, primarily over portions of Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas, as well as Southeastern Oklahoma.[nb 2] Three of the tornadoes were rated F4, and one officially was recorded as an F5 near Broken Bow, Oklahoma, all on April 2. Beginning on April 2, a series of tornado-producing supercells formed across portions of northeastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma. One produced an F5 tornado, the first since April 4, 1977, which crossed mostly rural areas near Speer and Broken Bow, and deposited a motel sign from Broken Bow 30 miles (48 km) away in Arkansas.[nb 3] The F5 tornado resulted in no fatalities, but an F4 tornado in Paris, Texas, resulted in 10 fatalities and 170 injuries.[10][11] Additionally, the Storm Prediction Center, known then as the Severe Local Storms Unit, issued its first officially documented high risk on April 2 as well as the first tornado watch to contain the wording Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS).[12]

Background[edit]

Outbreak statistics[edit]

Outbreak death toll[3][13]
State Total County County
total
Arkansas 14 Faulkner 2
Fulton 2
Hempstead 5
Howard 3
Little River 1
St. Francis 1
Mississippi 3 Neshoba 3
Missouri 1 Howell 1
Texas 11 Fannin 1
Lamar 10
Totals 30
All deaths were tornado-related

Confirmed tornadoes[edit]

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 8 26 14 11 3 1 63
"FU" denotes unclassified but confirmed tornadoes.

April 2 event[edit]

Confirmed tornadoes – Friday, April 2, 1982[nb 4][nb 5][3]
F# Location County / Parish State Start
coord. 		Time (UTC) Path length Max. width Summary
F0 Hot Springs area Garland AR 34°30′N 93°03′W / 34.50°N 93.05°W / 34.50; -93.05 (Hot Springs (April 2, F0)) 20:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) A short-lived tornado damaged a few thousand trees and utility lines.[15][16]
F1 SW of Earlham Madison IA 41°27′N 94°10′W / 41.45°N 94.17°W / 41.45; -94.17 (Earlham (April 2, F1)) 20:10–? 0.5 miles (0.80 km) 50 yards (46 m) A brief tornado unroofed a garage, destroyed two sheds, and damaged two windmills and a farmhouse. An 80-foot-tall (24 m) radio tower was downed, shingles were torn loose, and windows were smashed as well.[17][18]
F2 Silo Bryan OK 34°03′N 95°29′W / 34.05°N 95.48°W / 34.05; -95.48 (Silo (April 2, F2)) 20:25–? 0.5 miles (0.80 km) 30 yards (27 m) This tornado damaged a total of 16 mobile homes and houses. One person received minor injuries.[9][19][20]
F1 E of Pink Hill to ESE of Levasy Jackson MO 39°03′N 94°11′W / 39.05°N 94.18°W / 39.05; -94.18 (Pink Hill (April 2, F1)) 20:30–? 6.8 miles (10.9 km) 300 yards (270 m) This tornado sheared treetops. Nearby, a home and several buildings were damaged.[21][22]
F1 SE of Emet Johnston OK 34°11′N 96°31′W / 34.18°N 96.52°W / 34.18; -96.52 (Emet (April 2, F1)) 20:30–? 0.5 miles (0.80 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) A pickup truck, a barn, and several other structures were damaged or destroyed.[19][23]
F1 SSE of Levasy Jackson MO 39°08′N 94°08′W / 39.13°N 94.13°W / 39.13; -94.13 (Levasy (April 2, F1)) 20:32–? 2 miles (3.2 km) 700 yards (640 m) This multiple-vortex tornado destroyed a couple of barns, a garage, and poles.[21][24]
F0 NW of Gerty Hughes OK 34°52′N 96°20′W / 34.87°N 96.33°W / 34.87; -96.33 (Gerty (April 2, F0)) 20:40–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Trees in the countryside were downed near Allen.[19][25]
F2 NNE of Sequoyah Rogers OK 36°24′N 95°33′W / 36.40°N 95.55°W / 36.40; -95.55 (Sequoyah (April 2, F2)) 20:45–? 1 mile (1.6 km) 50 yards (46 m) A school and several businesses incurred damage.[9][19][26]
F1 Baxter Springs Cherokee KS 37°01′N 94°44′W / 37.02°N 94.73°W / 37.02; -94.73 (Baxter Springs (April 2, F1)) 20:50–? 0.2 miles (0.32 km) 17 yards (16 m) Mobile homes and other structures received damage, as well as roofing, windows, and electrical lines.[17][27]
F3 N of Marietta Love OK 33°58′N 97°07′W / 33.97°N 97.12°W / 33.97; -97.12 (Marietta (April 2, F3)) 20:50–? 0.5 miles (0.80 km) 30 yards (27 m) This tornado derailed 24 freight cars, most of which were unfilled. Outbuildings and trees were also damaged nearby. Grazulis did not list this tornado as significant (F2 or stronger).[13][19][28]
F2 ENE of Pryor Creek Mayes OK 36°20′N 95°16′W / 36.33°N 95.27°W / 36.33; -95.27 (Pryor Creek (April 2, F2)) 21:00–? 0.5 miles (0.80 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) This tornado flipped a mobile home. Grazulis did not list the tornado as significant (F2 or stronger).[13][19][29]
F2 NE of Bokchito Bryan OK 34°02′N 96°08′W / 34.03°N 96.13°W / 34.03; -96.13 (Bokchito (April 2, F2)) 21:05–? 0.5 miles (0.80 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) This tornado damaged seven homes near Bokchito.[9][19][30]
F0 NE of Iconium St. Clair MO 38°07′N 93°32′W / 38.12°N 93.53°W / 38.12; -93.53 (Iconium (April 2, F0)) 21:07–? 0.3 miles (0.48 km) 50 yards (46 m) A brief touchdown failed to produce any damage.[21][31]
F3 WNW of Boswell to N of Soper Choctaw OK 34°04′N 95°57′W / 34.07°N 95.95°W / 34.07; -95.95 (Soper (April 2, F3)) 21:10–? 8 miles (13 km) 100 yards (91 m) Farms and outbuildings sustained $100,000 in losses.[9][19][32]
F0 E of Green Ridge MO MO 38°37′N 93°24′W / 38.62°N 93.40°W / 38.62; -93.40 (Green Ridge (April 2, F0)) 21:15–? 0.3 miles (0.48 km) 50 yards (46 m) No damage was reported.[21][33]
F3 N of Ector to N of Brookston Fannin, Lamar TX 33°38′N 96°17′W / 33.63°N 96.28°W / 33.63; -96.28 (Ector (April 2, F3)) 21:20–21:55 32 miles (51 km) 150 yards (140 m) 1 death – This tornado developed near Ravenna and tracked eastward at 50 mph (80 km/h) through Allen Chapel and Allen Point. The most extensive damage occurred in these two communities; an elderly woman in the area was killed, and her husband sustained injuries. Along its entire path, the tornado destroyed numerous frame houses, mobile homes, barns, and rural outbuildings.[9][11][34][35][36]
F1 SSW of Waverly Lafayette MO 39°10′N 93°33′W / 39.17°N 93.55°W / 39.17; -93.55 (Waverly (April 2, F1)) 21:25–? 1.3 miles (2.1 km) 50 yards (46 m) This tornado felled trees in an orchard.[21][37]
F2 N of Bonham Fannin TX 33°39′N 96°10′W / 33.65°N 96.17°W / 33.65; -96.17 (Bonham (April 2, F2)) 21:25–? 1 mile (1.6 km) 30 yards (27 m) Trees were damaged near Lake Bonham. Grazulis did not list this tornado as significant (F2 or stronger).[11][13][34][38]
F2 WSW of Keo Lonoke AR 34°36′N 92°01′W / 34.60°N 92.02°W / 34.60; -92.02 (Keo (April 2, F2)) 21:45–? 1 mile (1.6 km) 100 yards (91 m) This was the first member of a long-tracked tornado family whose parent thunderstorm traveled as far as Forrest City. Two homes and a cropdusting firm were destroyed or damaged. Two people were injured. A 100-mile-long (160 km) swath of scattered damage was reported in association with the parent thunderstorm.[9][15][39]
F5 SSW of Hamden to S of Eagletown Choctaw, McCurtain OK 34°08′N 95°34′W / 34.13°N 95.57°W / 34.13; -95.57 (Broken Bow (April 2, F5)) 21:50–? 53 miles (85 km) 1.5 miles (2,600 yd) See section on this tornado – 29 people were injured.[9][19][40][41][42][43]
F2 Slovak area Prairie AR 34°39′N 91°35′W / 34.65°N 91.58°W / 34.65; -91.58 (Slovak (April 2, F2)) 22:00–? 2.5 miles (4.0 km) 17 yards (16 m) This short-lived tornado damaged rural shops, roofs, outbuildings, machinery, and electrical transmission towers.[15][44][45]
F4 ESE of Toco to NE of Detroit Lamar, Red River TX 33°39′N 95°38′W / 33.65°N 95.63°W / 33.65; -95.63 (Toco (April 2, F4)) 22:00–22:30 23 miles (37 km) 250 yards (230 m) 10 deaths – See section on this tornado – 170 people were injured.[3][11][44][46][47][48]
F1 SSW of Paris Lamar TX 33°38′N 95°35′W / 33.63°N 95.58°W / 33.63; -95.58 (Paris (April 2, F1)) 22:05–? 1 mile (1.6 km) 50 yards (46 m) This tornado coincided with and may have been related to outflow from the previous tornado. A small structure was destroyed on the outskirts of Paris.[46][49]
F2 ESE of Detroit to ENE of Bagwell Red River TX 33°38′N 95°13′W / 33.63°N 95.22°W / 33.63; -95.22 (Bagwell (April 2, F2)) 22:30–? 5 miles (8.0 km) 100 yards (91 m) Some businesses and homes were unroofed. Trees were torn apart as well.[44][50][51]
F1 N of Clarksville Red River TX 33°39′N 95°03′W / 33.65°N 95.05°W / 33.65; -95.05 (Clarksville (April 2, F1)) 22:40–22:42 2 miles (3.2 km) 1,050 yards (960 m) This was a large tornado, yet only minor damage was reported.[50][52]
F3 NE of Clarksville, TX to NW of Ogden, AR Red River (TX), Bowie (TX), McCurtain (OK), Little River (AR) TX, OK, AR 33°38′N 95°02′W / 33.63°N 95.03°W / 33.63; -95.03 (Ashdown (April 2, F3)) 22:40–? 52 miles (84 km) 400 yards (370 m) 1 death – See section on this tornado – Four people were injured.[15][44][50][53]
F2 Brinkley Monroe AR 34°53′N 91°11′W / 34.88°N 91.18°W / 34.88; -91.18 (Brinkley (April 2, F2)) 22:49–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Twenty transmission towers were downed. Several homes, farms, and a cemetery were damaged as well.[15][44][54]
F2 Forrest City St. Francis AR 35°01′N 90°46′W / 35.02°N 90.77°W / 35.02; -90.77 (Forrest City (April 2, F2)) 23:15–? 1.6 miles (2.6 km) 60 yards (55 m) 1 death – This tornado damaged or destroyed a dozen homes, seven mobile homes, six businesses, and a school. 13 people were injured.[15][44][55]
F4 WSW of Stringtown to ESE of Wallaceburg Sevier, Howard, Hempstead AR 33°56′N 94°17′W / 33.93°N 94.28°W / 33.93; -94.28 (Buck Range (April 2, F4)) 23:20–? 45 miles (72 km) 200 yards (180 m) 3 deaths – This powerful tornado proceeded generally eastward at 25 mph (40 km/h) and affected several rural communities. 15 homes, two mobile homes, 16 chicken coops, and various outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, along with many trees. All of the deaths occurred in the community of Buck Range, near Nashville. 23 (possibly 27) people were injured.[15][56]

Hamden-Speer–Hugo Reservoir-Messer–Golden–Broken Bow-Eagletown, Oklahoma[edit]

Hamden-Speer–Hugo Reservoir-Messer–Golden–Broken Bow-Eagletown, Oklahoma
F5 tornado
Max. rating1F5 tornado
Fatalities29 injuries
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

This powerful, multiple-vortex tornado touched down near Speer, tracked east-southeastward through the rural community of Messer, and traversed the Hugo Reservoir.[19] A newly constructed home near Messer was obliterated, with only strips of carpet tacking left unmoved. At the time the tornado was assigned a rating of F5 based on this damage and is still listed as an F5 in official records. Photographs of the bare concrete slab suggested, however, that the home was improperly anchored: only F3-level winds may have been needed to produce the observable effects on the structure.[9] Further on, the tornado attained a peak width of 1+1⁄2 mi (2.4 km; 2,600 yd; 2,400 m) and produced F4-level damage to ranch-style homes near Golden. In all, the tornado destroyed approximately 35 homes and yielded losses of $8 million, though it missed densely populated areas.[9][40] The tornado also destroyed chicken coops, mobile homes, and a church, along with agricultural implements, electrical lines, and tracts of timber. Up to 40 barns were wrecked as well.[19] As it passed just south of Broken Bow, the tornado struck the Tri-A-Nite Motel;[41] signage from the motel was later found 30 mi (48 km) distant, in Arkansas.[9] Near Messer, the tornado hurled a 2-by-4-inch (51 by 102 mm) board into and pierced a tree.[19] 29 injuries occurred along the path.[3]

Paris–Reno–Blossom, Texas[edit]

Paris–Reno–Blossom, Texas
F4 tornado
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Fatalities10 fatalities, 170 injuries
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
"Paris, Texas tornado" redirects here. For the 2022 event, see Tornado outbreak of November 4–5, 2022 § Brookston–Midcity–Arthur City, Texas/Sawyer, Oklahoma.

This destructive tornado, the deadliest of the outbreak, headed eastward through the northern section of Paris. It extensively damaged or destroyed more than 465 residences and left approximately 1,000 people homeless in town.[46] Of the 10 deaths in Paris, two occurred at a trailer park; the rest of the fatalities were mainly in unsheltered locations. Debris from the trailer park was dispersed for hundreds of yards.[44][46] Most of the damage in Paris was rated F2 or F3 on the Fujita scale, but a few CBS homes sustained low-end F4-level damage. These homes, however, were dubiously constructed, so the official rating may have been too high.[46][56] Large, well-built apartments with numerous interior walls were unroofed as the "ragged funnel cloud" left behind $50 million in losses at Paris.[57] 92 homes and other structures were heavily damaged or destroyed in the neighbouring communities of Reno and Blossom.[46] The tornado attained a peak width of 300 yd (270 m; 0.17 mi; 0.27 km).

White Rock–Beaver Dam, Texas/Ashdown, Arkansas[edit]

White Rock–Beaver Dam, Texas/Ashdown, Arkansas
F3 tornado
Max. rating1F3 tornado
Fatalities1 fatality, 4 injuries
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

This intense, long-tracked tornado first destroyed barns, outbuildings, trees, and electrical lines as it struck White Rock. Brick-built homes in the area were wrecked as well.[44][50] The tornado tracked to the north of Annona, Avery, and English. The tornado then entered Bowie County and destroyed five homes in Beaver Dam. Two minor injuries occurred nearby. The tornado then widened to 400 yd (370 m) as it neared the Red River. Upon crossing the river into Oklahoma, it produced a 4-mile-long (6.4 km) swath of damaged trees through McCurtain County. Some outbuildings were also damaged as the tornado passed through southeastern Oklahoma.[44][53] In Arkansas, the tornado destroyed 17 homes, a paper mill, a granary, and an orchard. One of the homes dated to the early nineteenth century.[15] One person died and two others were injured near Ashdown before the tornado dissipated.[44][58]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ All losses are in 1982 USD unless otherwise noted.
  2. ^ An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.[4][5][6][7][8]
  3. ^ Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis contested the official F5 rating, having concluded that the basis for it was unsound.[9]
  4. ^ All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.
  5. ^ Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Thunderstorm Wind reported between 04/01/1982 and 04/03/1982 (3 days). Storm Events Database (Report). NOAA – National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  2. ^ Hail reported between 04/01/1982 and 04/03/1982 (3 days). Storm Events Database (Report). NOAA – National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e Tornado reported between 04/01/1982 and 04/03/1982 (3 days). Storm Events Database (Report). NOAA – National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  4. ^ Schneider, Russell S.; Brooks, Harold E.; Schaefer, Joseph T. (2004). Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875-2003) (PDF). 22nd Conference on Severe Local Storms. Hyannis, Massachusetts: American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  5. ^ Hagemeyer 1997, p. 400.
  6. ^ Hagemeyer 1997, p. 401.
  7. ^ Hagemeyer, Bartlett C.; Spratt, Scott M. (2002). Thirty Years After Hurricane Agnes: the Forgotten Florida Tornado Disaster (PDF). 25th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology. San Diego, California: American Meteorological Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  8. ^ Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001). The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-8061-3538-0.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Grazulis 1993, p. 1235.
  10. ^ Ferguson, Edward W.; Schaefer, Joseph T.; Weiss, Steven J.; Wilson, Larry F.; Ostby, Frederick P. (1983). "Tornado 1982: A Near-Record Year". Monthly Weather Review. 111 (8): 1665–1678. Bibcode:1983MWRv..111.1665F. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1983)111<1665:TANRY>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1520-0493.
  11. ^ a b c d "Remembering The Paris Tornado: April 2, 1982". Dallas/Fort Worth, TX. Fort Worth, Texas: National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office. 15 October 2008. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  12. ^ Edwards, Roger; Fred Ostby. "Time Line of SELS and SPC". Historical SELS and SPC Images. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d Grazulis 1993, pp. 1235–1238.
  14. ^ Brooks 2004.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Storm Data 1982, p. 11.
  16. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #9980172
  17. ^ a b Storm Data 1982, p. 17.
  18. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10012924
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Storm Data 1982, p. 26.
  20. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10108974
  21. ^ a b c d e Storm Data 1982, p. 21.
  22. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10057537
  23. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10108975
  24. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10057539
  25. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10108978
  26. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10108979
  27. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10021853
  28. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10108981
  29. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10108982
  30. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10108984
  31. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10057544
  32. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10108985
  33. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10057546
  34. ^ a b Storm Data 1982, p. 29.
  35. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10128749
  36. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10128753
  37. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10057551
  38. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10128752
  39. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #9980173
  40. ^ a b Fujita 1982, p. 6.
  41. ^ a b Fujita 1982, p. 7.
  42. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10108986
  43. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10108989
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Grazulis 1993, p. 1236.
  45. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #9980174
  46. ^ a b c d e f Storm Data 1982, pp. 29–30.
  47. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10128754
  48. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10128757
  49. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10128755
  50. ^ a b c d Storm Data 1982, p. 30.
  51. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10128758
  52. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #10128759
  53. ^ a b Storm Data 1982, p. 27.
  54. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #9980177
  55. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #9980179
  56. ^ a b Grazulis 1993, p. 1237.
  57. ^ Grazulis 1993, pp. 1236–1237.
  58. ^ Storm Data Publication 1982, #9980180

Sources[edit]

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