Tornado outbreak of April 13–16, 2012: Difference between revisions
→Woodward Tornado: + Aftermath section |
→Tornadoes: Lowered tornado count to account for removal of California EF0. |
||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
==Tornadoes== |
==Tornadoes== |
||
{{Tornado Chart |
{{Tornado Chart |
||
|Total = |
|Total = 23 |
||
|F0 = |
|F0 = 6 |
||
|F1 = 9 |
|F1 = 9 |
||
|F2 = 3 |
|F2 = 3 |
||
Revision as of 18:46, 16 April 2012
 | This article is about a current weather event where information can change quickly or be unreliable. The latest page updates may not reflect the most up-to-date information. Please refer to your local weather service or media outlets for the latest weather information pertaining to a specific location. |
 An EF4 tornado near Marquette, Kansas | |
| Duration | ongoing |
|---|---|
| Tornadoes confirmed | 24 confirmed, 150 reported |
| Max. rating1 | EF4+ tornado |
| Fatalities | 6[2] |
| Damage | At least $283 million (in Wichita, unknown elsewhere)[1] |
| Areas affected | Central United States, Great Lakes region |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale | |
From April 13–15, 2012, a major tornado outbreak occurred across a large portion of the Central United States into the Great Lakes region. The storms resulted in 6 tornado-related fatalities, all of which occurred in a mobile home park in Woodward, Oklahoma, where an EF3 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale caused significant damage and leveled at least 10 homes.
Meteorological synopsis
An impressive low pressure area began tracking into the Central Plains on April 13, and a high-end slight risk of severe weather was issued with isolated strong tornadoes possible. Central Oklahoma was hardest hit with large hail, although one tornado was reported. It caused minor damage in Norman, Oklahoma, where there were unofficial reports of injuries.
For only the second time in history (previously for April 7, 2006), a day two high risk of severe weather was issued by the Storm Prediction Center. In the discussion, the SPC stated that a major tornado outbreak was likely across central Kansas and north-central Oklahoma during the afternoon and overnight hours of April 14. It was later expanded to include a second high risk area across much of Nebraska, where a rare 45% tornado probability was given during the morning update of April 14. During the morning hours, the high risk area was expanded again to combine the two separate areas into a single large one.
Several PDS Tornado Warnings were issued in Kansas, being some of the first ever PDS warnings. Many tornadoes have been reported, but most of them were in rural areas with little damage despite being considered "large and extremely dangerous".
A possible tornado struck and damaged the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, Iowa. The hospital was triaging and moving patients. A temporary hospital was set up at Southwest Community College.
At least four apparent tornadoes were reported near Dodge City, in southwestern Kansas. Two were reported in Rush County. In Des Moines, Iowa, two or three possible tornadoes were sighted. Residents of Brookville, Kansas, were warned of impending major damage. A tornado briefly formed in Woodward, Oklahoma.[3]
Late in the evening, a potentially violent tornado tracked across a long swath of south-central Kansas and into Wichita around 10:15 pm CDT (0315 UTC). The Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Seidel was reporting live from WFO Wichita at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, and reported via telephone that the WFO Wichita crew handed off responsibility for their County Warning Area to WFO Topeka and took shelter at about 10:10 pm CDT (0310 UTC), with the tornado passing within two to three miles of their location, and returned to duty about half an hour later.
At 12:20 am CDT (0520 UTC), a tornado struck Woodward, Oklahoma, killing five.[4][5]
Tornadoes
| EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 23 |
April 13 event
| List of reported tornadoes - Friday, April 13, 2012 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | ||||||
| EF1 | Norman area | Cleveland | 35°13′N 97°26′W / 35.22°N 97.44°W | 2102 | unknown | An EF1 tornado with winds estimated at 100 mph (160 km/h) tracked through downtown Norman, causing widespread damage. Many homes sustained varying degrees of damage. Twenty people were injured by the tornado, though only one required hospitalization.[6] |
| Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 04/13/12, | ||||||
April 14 event
| List of reported tornadoes - Saturday, April 14, 2012 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | ||||||
| EF? | S of Hanston | Hodgeman | 38°01′N 99°43′W / 38.02°N 99.71°W | 1833 | unknown | Damage to an old school house, and to outbuildings along 232 Road. |
| EF? | N of Wright | Hodgeman | 37°55′N 99°53′W / 37.92°N 99.89°W | 1840 | unknown | Confirmed tornado with damage along U.S. Route 283. |
| EF1 | NNE of Dodge City to W of Burdett | Ford, Hodgeman, Pawnee | 1857 | 32.9 miles (52.9 km) | Long-tracked tornado remained mostly over open fields. The tornado remained on the ground for nearly one hour. | |
| EF? | N of Ashland | Clark | 37°16′N 99°46′W / 37.26°N 99.77°W | 1858 | unknown | The tornado was reported as a Cone tornado, from a spotter 10 miles miles west of Ashland. |
| EF1 | S of Tipton | Mitchell | 39°19′N 98°28′W / 39.32°N 98.46°W | 1903 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Five outbuildings were destroyed and several trees were uprooted. |
| EF? | W of Ash Valley | Pawnee | 38°18′N 99°19′W / 38.30°N 99.31°W | 2025 | unknown | |
| EF? | N of Rozel | Pawnee | 38°20′N 99°24′W / 38.34°N 99.40°W | 2034 | unknown | |
| EF? | S of Rush Center | Rush | 38°27′N 99°19′W / 38.45°N 99.31°W | 2046 | unknown | Brief tornado just south of town. |
| EF? | E of Timken | Rush | 38°28′N 99°08′W / 38.47°N 99.14°W | 2105 | unknown | |
| EF? | W of Hudson | Stafford | 38°06′N 98°45′W / 38.10°N 98.75°W | 2125 | unknown | |
| EF? | SE of Seward | Stafford | 38°10′N 98°47′W / 38.17°N 98.78°W | 2125 | unknown | |
| EF? | W of Sawyer | Pratt | 38°30′N 98°42′W / 38.50°N 98.70°W | 2148 | unknown | |
| EF? | SSE of Ellinwood | Barton | 38°17′N 98°32′W / 38.28°N 98.54°W | 2150 | unknown | |
| EF? | W of Penalosa | Barton | 37°43′N 98°23′W / 37.72°N 98.39°W | 2202 | unknown | Brief tornado touchdown. |
| EF4 | SE of Geneseo | Rice, Ellsworth, McPherson, Saline | 38°28′N 98°05′W / 38.46°N 98.08°W | 2235 | unknown | Large and extremely dangerous wedge tornado confirmed by storm chasers. Significant damage to a farmhouse in Smolan. Lifted just before Salina. A house was flattened, pavement was scoured and trees were debarked in a rural area. Preliminary rating subject to change.[7] |
| EF? | N of Kingman | Kingman | 37°41′N 98°07′W / 37.69°N 98.11°W | 2355 | unknown | Brief tornado touchdown. |
| EF? | New Cambria area | Saline, Ottawa, Dickinson, Clay | 38°53′N 97°31′W / 38.88°N 97.51°W | 2355 | unknown | Large wedge tornado touched down again northeast of Salina. Gas tanks were damaged and outbuildings flattened. Spotter reported road signs folded over and blown 100 yards away and trees down at I-70 and Niles Road. Possibly one or multiple tornadoes. |
| EF1 | N of New Cambria | Saline, Ottawa | 38°56′N 97°31′W / 38.94°N 97.51°W | 0001 | >11 miles (18 km) | Damage to gas transfer station, power lines down along K-18. |
| EF? | NW of Pretty Prairie | Reno | 37°49′N 98°01′W / 37.81°N 98.02°W | 0010 | unknown | Brief tornado touchdown. |
| EF0 | ENE of Manchester | Clay | 39°08′N 97°10′W / 39.14°N 97.17°W | 0031 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Tornado confirmed by storm chasers and remained over open country. |
| EF? | NW of Hesston | McPherson | 38°11′N 97°29′W / 38.18°N 97.48°W | 0103 | unknown | Large stovepipe-shaped tornado reported by off-duty NWS employee. A farm sustained serious damage to buildings. |
| EF3 | WNW of Greensburg to E of Macksville | Kiowa, Edwards, Stafford | 37°37′N 99°20′W / 37.62°N 99.33°W | 0127 | 36 miles (58 km) | Large, long-tracked tornado with maximum width of 1 mi (1.6 km) |
| EF? | N of Marion Reservoir | Marion | 38°23′N 96°54′W / 38.39°N 96.90°W | 0141 | unknown | Very large tornado confirmed with power flashes. |
| EF? | ENE of Marion | Marion | 38°23′N 96°54′W / 38.39°N 96.90°W | 0200 | unknown | |
| EF? | N of Lincolnville | Marion | 38°31′N 96°58′W / 38.51°N 96.96°W | 0200 | unknown | |
| EF3 | E of Macksville | Stafford, Rice | 0210 | 28.6 miles (46.0 km) | Large, long-tracked tornado with maximum width of 1.25 mi (2.01 km). Survey is incomplete. | |
| EF? | N of Mayfield | Sumner | 37°17′N 97°33′W / 37.29°N 97.55°W | 0242 | unknown | Stovepipe tornado |
| EF? | SE of Raymond | Rice | 38°15′N 98°23′W / 38.25°N 98.38°W | 0252 | unknown | |
| EF? | W of Lyons | Rice | 38°15′N 98°16′W / 38.25°N 98.26°W | 0302 | unknown | |
| EF? | NW of Lindsborg | McPherson | 38°35′N 97°42′W / 38.59°N 97.70°W | 0344 | unknown | |
| EF? | S of Salina | Saline | 38°48′N 97°37′W / 38.80°N 97.62°W | 0359 | unknown | Power flashes near Parsons Road and I-135 |
| EF? | SE of Ellsworth | Ellsworth | 38°41′N 98°11′W / 38.69°N 98.18°W | 0422 | unknown | |
| EF? | ENE of New Cambria | Saline | 38°53′N 97°29′W / 38.89°N 97.49°W | 0422 | unknown | |
| EF? | SE of Ellsworth | Ellsworth | 38°39′N 98°07′W / 38.65°N 98.12°W | 0425 | unknown | |
| EF? | SE of Cassoday | Butler | 37°58′N 96°32′W / 37.96°N 96.53°W | 0434 | unknown | |
| EF? | ENE of Cassoday | Butler | 38°04′N 96°33′W / 38.07°N 96.55°W | 0439 | unknown | Large wedge tornado |
| Nebraska | ||||||
| EF0 | W of Byron | Nuckolls | 40°01′N 97°52′W / 40.01°N 97.86°W | 1915 | unknown | Brief tornado touchdown with no damage. |
| EF0 | E of Deshler | Thayer | 40°08′N 97°41′W / 40.14°N 97.69°W | 1930 | unknown | Brief tornado kicked up debris. |
| EF2 | WSW of Cook | Johnson | 2146 | 5.75 miles (9.25 km) | One home sustained extensive damage with debris thrown up to a quarter mile downstream. Numerous trees and several power poles were also snapped. | |
| EF0 | Sterling area | Johnson | 2150 | 2.25 miles (3.62 km) | Tornado touched down on the east side of Sterling. Several trees and a home were damaged along the storm's path. | |
| EF0 | SW of Talmage | Otoe | 2207 | 3.75 miles (6.04 km) | Tornado moved across mainly open fields; however, a farmstead sustained minor damage. | |
| EF1 | NW of Nebraska City | Otoe | 2221 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Several homes and outbuildings were damaged. | |
| EF? | SSW of North Platte | Lincoln | 40°57′N 100°52′W / 40.95°N 100.87°W | 2225 | unknown | Thin rope tornado |
| EF? | SSW of North Platte | Lincoln | 41°08′N 100°46′W / 41.13°N 100.77°W | 2232 | unknown | Tornado confirmed by spotters just outside the city, at times rain-wrapped. |
| EF0 | NNE of Oxford | Harlan | 40°19′N 99°40′W / 40.31°N 99.66°W | 2316 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Rope tornado destroyed a grain bin. |
| EF? | N of Wellfleet | Lincoln | 40°50′N 100°44′W / 40.84°N 100.73°W | 2337 | unknown | Tornado confirmed by law enforcement near junction of Highway 23 and Highway 83. |
| EF? | NNW of Anselmo | Custer | 41°39′N 99°49′W / 41.65°N 99.82°W | 0038 | unknown | |
| Iowa | ||||||
| EF? | NW of Creston | Adams | 41°09′N 94°29′W / 41.15°N 94.49°W | 2051 | unknown | Rain-wrapped tornado confirmed. |
| EF2 | Thurman area | Fremont | 40°49′N 95°45′W / 40.82°N 95.75°W | 2235 | 10 miles (16 km) | Half-mile wide tornado damaged 75 percent of the town; residents evacuated to a nearby town. Several people were injured, with one trucker on Interstate 29 severely injured. |
| EF2 | Creston area | Union | 41°04′N 94°22′W / 41.07°N 94.36°W | 2355 | 14 miles (23 km) | Tornado started well to the southwest of town and clipped the northwestern part. Creston Medical Center and Southwestern Community College both sustained significant damage, and the hospital had to be evacuated. Numerous farm houses were also damaged. 10 people were injured. |
| EF? | NW of Osceola | Clarke | 41°03′N 93°48′W / 41.05°N 93.80°W | 0037 | unknown | Tornado confirmed on the ground. |
| EF1 | E of New Virginia | Warren | 0055 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Short-lived tornado severely damaged a farm and flipped several trailers | |
| EF1 | N of Oskaloosa | Mahaska | 0223 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Short-lived tornado caused scattered damage, most of which was associated with a gust front | |
| EF1 | SW of McClelland | Pottawattamie | 0555 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Short-lived tornado damaged numerous trees and an outbuilding. | |
| Oklahoma | ||||||
| EF? | N of Woodward | Woodward | 36°32′N 99°23′W / 36.53°N 99.39°W | 2059 | unknown | Brief tornado touchdown with no damage. |
| EF? | NW of Freedom | Woods | 36°49′N 99°10′W / 36.81°N 99.16°W | 2130 | unknown | Tornado confirmed by KWTV coverage. |
| EF? | S of Quinlan | Woodward | 36°23′N 99°03′W / 36.38°N 99.05°W | 2350 | unknown | |
| EF? | S of Waynoka | Major, Woods | 36°29′N 98°53′W / 36.49°N 98.88°W | 0008 | unknown | An oil tank battery site exploded and caught fire according to KWTV coverage. |
| EF? | S of Hopeton | Woods | 36°37′N 98°40′W / 36.61°N 98.67°W | 0039 | unknown | Large wedge tornado reported in the area at times with multiple vortices. Significant damage reported. |
| EF3 | W of Manchester to Wichita, KS | Alfalfa, Harper (KS), Sumner (KS), Sedgwick (KS), Butler (KS) | 36°47′N 98°22′W / 36.78°N 98.36°W | 0111 | unknown | See section on this tornado |
| EF3 | Woodward area | Ellis, Woodward | 36°26′N 99°23′W / 36.43°N 99.39°W | 0450 | unknown | 6 deaths – Major structural damage in western and northern parts of Woodward. Preliminary survey results revealed at least EF3 damage; rating subject to change. |
| Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 04/14/12, NWS Hastings, NWS Wichita, NWS Dodge City, NWS Topeka | ||||||
April 15 event
| List of reported tornadoes - Sunday, April 15, 2012 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | ||||||
| EF1 | SW of Skiatook | Osage | 36°20′N 96°03′W / 36.33°N 96.05°W | 1029 | unknown | |
| EF? | Eldon | Cherokee | 35°56′N 94°50′W / 35.93°N 94.84°W | 1420 | unknown | Short-lived tornado confirmed by emergency management. One mobile home was destroyed and several homes lost their roofs. A few outbuildings were also destroyed. |
| Nebraska | ||||||
| EF? | E of Ericson | Wheeler | 41°47′N 98°36′W / 41.78°N 98.60°W | 1805 | unknown | Tornado damaged two buildings |
| EF? | NNE of Bartlett | Wheeler | 42°00′N 98°29′W / 42.00°N 98.48°W | 1855 | unknown | Brief touchdown reported |
| EF? | S of Verdigre | Knox | 42°35′N 98°02′W / 42.58°N 98.04°W | 1927 | unknown | Brief rope tornado reported |
| EF? | N of Santee (1st tornado) | Knox | 42°51′N 97°51′W / 42.85°N 97.85°W | 1935 | unknown | Brief rope tornado reported |
| South Dakota | ||||||
| EF? | N of Santee (NE) (2nd tornado) | Bon Homme | 42°52′N 97°51′W / 42.87°N 97.85°W | 1940 | unknown | Rope tornado reported |
| Minnesota | ||||||
| EF? | N of Ghent | Lyon | 44°35′N 95°53′W / 44.59°N 95.89°W | 2111 | unknown | Tornado reported by spotter |
| EF? | SW of Brownton | McLeod | 44°43′N 94°23′W / 44.71°N 94.38°W | 2226 | unknown | |
| EF? | NE of Biscay | McLeod | 44°51′N 94°15′W / 44.85°N 94.25°W | 2232 | unknown | Tornado reported on the ground |
| Arkansas | ||||||
| EF? | WNW of Fairbanks | Van Buren | 35°27′N 92°17′W / 35.45°N 92.29°W | 2311 | unknown | Tornado being surveyed by National Weather Service |
| Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 04/15/12 | ||||||
April 16 event
| List of reported tornadoes - Monday, April 16, 2012 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | ||||||
| EF? | N of Portland | San Patricio | 27°53′N 97°20′W / 27.89°N 97.33°W | 1039 | unknown | Several homes damaged on the north side of Portland. Trees and fences were also downed. |
| EF? | Gregory area | San Patricio | 27°55′N 97°17′W / 27.92°N 97.29°W | 1044 | unknown | Cotton gin damaged in Gregory. Power lines were also downed. |
| EF? | E of Sarita | Kenedy | 27°13′N 97°46′W / 27.22°N 97.77°W | 1337 | unknown | |
| Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 04/15/12, SPC Storm Reports for 04/16/12 | ||||||
Wichita area tornado
Early reports suggest that an intense tornado started at 55th & Broadway and tracked directly across the Wichita metropolitan area late in the evening of April 14 before following I-35 and dissipating near Cassoday, Kansas. It appears the hardest hit areas were in the southern part of the city, near McConnell Air Force Base, as well as some of the southern suburbs, including Clearwater, Conway Springs, and Haysville and eastern suburb Andover before following the Kansas Turnpike northeast. Preliminary reports suggest damage was severe, but exact details remain unknown.[8] KSN reports that building at a Spirit Aerosystems plant on the western fringe of McConnell Air Force Base collapsed. Several hangars on the base were also damaged.[9] Preliminary assessments placed damage at $283 million.[1]
Initial estimates rate the tornado as an EF3, based on damage at McConnell and upward into Oaklawn. No fatalities occured despite the intensity and dense population.[10]
The path of this tornado bore a striking resemblance to that of the 1991 Andover tornado.
Woodward Tornado
Major damage in the western and northern parts of the city including 10 houses reportedly leveled. There were 6 fatalities with 4 of them in a mobile home park. According to The Weather Channel, sirens did not sound due to siren damage.
Aftermath
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (April 2012) |
See Also
References
- ^ a b "Tornadoes rake Wichita area, causing significant damage". Kansas City Star. April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
- ^ "Tornadoes Kill 6 Across Great Plains". Fox News Latino. April 16, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
- ^ http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/14/us/midwest-storms/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/tornadoes/story/2012-04-15/tornadoes-midwest-storms/54290010/1?csp=34news
- ^ http://newsok.com/injuries-reported-after-tornado-hits-woodward/article/3666724
- ^ Andrew Knittle (April 16, 2012). [newsok.com/clean-up-continues-in-norman-after-ef-1-tornado/article/3666753 "Cleanup continues in Norman after EF-1 tornado"]. The Oklahoman. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "Public Information Statement". National Weather Service, Wichita KS. Archived from the original on 2012-04-15.
- ^ http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/120414_rpts.html
- ^ http://www.ksn.com/news/local/story/Large-tornado-moves-through-south-Wichita/214MfgE3ak-M0ROcP5h1zg.cspx
- ^ http://www.crh.noaa.gov/product.php?site=ICT&product=PNS&issuedby=ICT
External links
For the latest severe weather information:
Storm Reports: