Tornado outbreak sequence of April 1996

Tornado outbreak sequence of April 1996
	Tornado damage in Fort Smith, Arkansas
Formed	April 19, 1996
Duration	3 days
Dissipated	April 21, 1996
Tornadoes; confirmed	118
Max. rating1	F3 tornado
Fatalities	6 fatalities, 100+ injuries
Areas affected	Eastern United States, Ontario, Quebec
	1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

The Tornado outbreak sequence of April 1996 was a series of tornado outbreaks that occurred over a three-day period between April 19 to April 21, 1996, across a large area of eastern North America. A total of 117 tornadoes broke out in the Great Lakes, Midwest and Southeast region over the three-day period, killing six people and becoming the most notable outbreak of the year.

The 19th was the most prolific tornado outbreak in Illinois history with 33 tornadoes touching down across the state, breaking the old record of 25 set on August 10, 1974. This outbreak can also be compared to the May 2004 tornado outbreak sequence as it was a very huge, deep and vigorous system. The same system produced tornadoes in Ontario on the 20th; and destructive tornadoes also occurred in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas on the 21st.

Meteorological synopsis

April 19

The outbreak occurred when the warm front of a deep storm system moved north and east out of Missouri. April 19 started off cool and skies were overcast ahead of the warm front. Meteorologists were trying to figure out if the warm front would move into Illinois that afternoon. As the day wore on, temperatures warmed, dew points rose, and thunderstorms started to explode in Iowa during the mid-afternoon hours. Although there were some doubts on specifics, the potential significance of the outbreak was rather foreseeable, with storm chasers traveling from the Great Plains and the Storm Prediction Center issuing a high risk early on.

Illinois

A total of 33 tornadoes hit Illinois before spreading west and south into Missouri, and Iowa and east and north into Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana on Friday, April 19. The town of Decatur was hit by a large F3 tornado, as were the towns of Urbana and Ogden. Major damage and injuries occurred in all three locations, and one person was killed in Ogden.

Indiana

In Indiana, 21 unconfirmed tornadoes were produced as the cold front moved into the area during the evening hours. Temperatures had warmed well into the 70's and lower 80's (20 to 26 °C) before the storms hit. Five people were injured in Morgan County.

April 20

One of Canada's most prolific tornado events struck Ontario.

A vigorous branch of the jet stream from the Pacific Ocean combined with rich low-level moisture kept the storm system rolling, spinning off more tornadoes in the Southeast. One tornado hit Carroll County, Mississippi, killing teenager Dexter Forman when a tree fell on his mobile home. Another tornado did massive damage to Berea, Kentucky, but no one was killed.

April 21

The outbreak across the south-central U.S. on the 21st was produced by a different weather system.

A final tornado was produced by the first system in southern Quebec, more tornadoes raked through eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, killing a father and son and two children in St. Paul and Fort Smith, respectively. KFSM-TV produced Sunday's Fury, a video production of the tornado that struck the Fort Smith / Van Buren, Arkansas, area.^[1]

Tornado table

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU	F0	F1	F2	F3	F4	F5	Total
0	56	33	18	11	0	0	118

Confirmed tornadoes

April 19 event

F#	Location	County	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Illinois
F0	N of Mattoon	Coles	2120	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Brief tornado with no damage.
F0	N of Fairgrange	Coles	2135	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Brief tornado with no damage.
F1	NW of Paris (1st tornado)	Edgar	2210	2 miles (3.2 km)	Machine sheds, barns and grain bins were destroyed. One home was damaged. Six farms in the area were affected.
F0	NW of Paris (2nd tornado)	Edgar	2212	1 miles (1.6 km)	A machine shed was destroyed while another shed, a garage and a baseball field were damaged.
F1	Rutland area	LaSalle	2240	0.5 miles (0.8 km)	A large building, a home and a garage were damaged.
F0	SW of Winchester	Scott	2244	2 miles (3.2 km)	A tree fell onto a car.
F0	NE of Valmeyer	Monroe	2245	1 miles (1.6 km)	Damage was limited to trees.
F0	W of Raritan	Henderson	2300	5 miles (8 km)	Caused minor damage. Most of the damage came from the second tornado that hit the area.
F2	S of Havana	Mason	2307	9 miles (14.4 km)	Two trailers, farm buildings and trees were destroyed. One home had major damage and eleven others had minor damage. A semi-truck was blown over into a field. One person was injured.
F1	E of Raritan	Henderson	2310	3.5 miles (5.6 km)	15 homes, a barn, and outbuildings were damaged. Heavy damage occurred at one farm where a bushel, three grain bins, and irrigation equipment were damaged or destroyed.
F0	Brimfield area	Peoria	2310	4 miles (6.4 km)	Minor damage to a church and a business. A van was pushed sideways into a bush and trees were damaged.
F1	Easton	Mason	2317	9 miles (14.4 km)	Two homes were destroyed with five other sustaining major damage. The high school was also damaged and a barn and a home were lifted off of their foundations.
F2	E of Jacksonville	Morgan	2318	6 miles (9.6 km)	One home was destroyed while farm buildings were either damaged or destroyed. Two guard towers, one greenhouse and fencing at a prison were damaged. Two railroad cars near a chemical plant (which was also damaged) were overturned.
F0	Freeburg	St. Clair	2320	1.5 miles (2.4 km)	Caused damage to trees and power lines.
F0	N of Dickeys	Kankakee	2325	4 miles (6.4 km)	Caused minor damage to farm buildings.
F0	W of Island Grove	Morgan	2331	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Brief tornado with no damage.
F0	NE of New Berlin	Sangamon	2332	4 miles (6.4 km)	Damage to three homes, a barn and machine shed. Two semis were blown over on Interstate 72.
F3	E of Armington	Logan, Tazewell, McLean	2358	9.4 miles (15 km)	Two homes, a church and several outbuildings were destroyed. Over 15 other homes were also damaged while barns, farm equipment, trees and grain bins were damaged or destroyed.
F0	W of Chester	Randolph	0000	1.5 miles (2.4 km)	Utility sheds and trees were destroyed.
F3	Bishop Hill/Galva	Henry	0000	3.5 miles (5.6 km)	150 homes were damaged including 26 with major damage and 15 beyond repair. The city of Galva's sewage treatment plant was heavily damaged. Four people were injured.
F0	Momence	Kankakee	0001	5 miles (8 km)	Two homes had roof damage.
F0	Galva	Henry	0010	1 miles (1.6 km)	Gravestones at a cemetery were pushed over.
F3	Decatur	Macon	0022	14.5 miles (23.2 km)	A total of 8-10 homes, one church, a grain silo and the Sims Lumber Company were destroyed. A school gymnasium, several buildings at a manufacturing plant and several homes were damaged. 29 people were injured and damage was estimated at $9 million.
F2	Salem	Marion	0035	20 miles (32 km)	Several buildings at the County Fairgrounds, eight mobile homes and two homes were destroyed while 46 homes and mobile homes and 23 businesses were damaged. Two-ton trucks were turned 180 degrees by the tornado. Seven people were injured. Damage was estimated at $7 million.
F0	NW of Tiskilwa	Bureau	0040	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Damage was limited to a power pole.
F1	S of Milmine	Piatt	0055	0.3 miles (0.5 km)	A grain bin was destroyed while homes, cars and trees were damaged. Trucks were overturned, and a grain auger was thrown over a set of railroad tracks.
F0	SW of Baldwin	Randolph	0059	2 miles (3.2 km)	Caused damage to trees and power lines.
F1	S of Monticello	Piatt	0100	2 miles (3.2 km)	Two homes, three single engine planes, two gliders and a hangar were destroyed near or at the airport. A church, one home, one hangar and a machine shed were damaged.
F1	Greendale	Marion, Clay	0105	5 miles (8 km)	A farm house, a barn and farm buildings were destroyed. Trees and power lines were downed.
F0	S of Tilden	Randolph	0112	3 miles (4.8 km)	Damage to trees and power lines.
F0	NW of Breman	Randolph	0115	2 miles (3.2 km)	Roof damage to a home and barn with trees and power lines down.
F1	W of Mulkeytown	Perry, Franklin	0120	2.5 miles (4 km)	A church, a house and trees were damaged while outbuildings were destroyed. A tractor-trailer was overturned.
F1	Vernon	Fayette, Marion	0120	11.5 miles (18.4 km)	Three barns, several sheds and a home were destroyed.
F3	Urbana	Champaign	0134	4 miles (6.4 km)	A total of 33 homes were destroyed while 83 homes and five businesses had minor to moderate damage. Damage was estimated at $9 million and twelve people were injured.
F3	Ogden	Champaign	0155	2 miles (3.2 km)	1 death - Major damage throughout most of Ogden. A total of 68 homes, twelve businesses, three churches, a library was destroyed and the grade school were heavily damaged. 179 homes and twenty businesses had minor to major damage. One person was killed along I-74 and 13 people were injured.
F0	NW of Catlin	Vermilion	0208	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Brief touchdown with no damage.
F3	NE of Frisco to SW of Barnhill	Jefferson, Hamilton, Wayne	0215	17 miles (27.2 km)	Three homes were destroyed with 50 others sustaining moderate to severe damage. 45 outbuildings and barns were damaged or destroyed, as well as 60-70 grain bins. Hardest hit area was the town of Piopolis.
F1	N of Carmi	White	0230	1 miles (1.6 km)	Ten hangars, eight planes and an automobile were destroyed at the airport. A church was also damaged.
F2	Zion	Lake	0432	2 miles (3.2 km)	400 homes and businesses were damaged with 32 sustaining major damage. Five trucks were overturned and trees were blown down. Two people were injured.
Missouri
F0	NE of Bloomsdale	Ste. Genevieve	0000	0.3 miles (0.5 km)	Damage was limited to trees.
F0	SE of Mine La Motte	Madison	0210	0.3 miles (0.5 km)	Brief touchdown with no damage.
F3	Perryville	Perry	0230	11.5 miles (18.4 km)	A total of 13 homes were destroyed and 68 homes were damaged including five with major damage. Six businesses and 69 outbuildings were damaged or destroyed.
F2	S of Doniphan	Ripley	0300	10 miles (16 km)	A mobile home was overturned. Trees fell on homes and cars.
F2	NW of Poplar Bluff	Butler	0305	2.5 miles (4 km)	Numerous barns and utility poles were destroyed while homes, hay balers and farm equipment were damaged. Grain bins and other items were carried some distance.
F1	N of Bernie	Stoddard	0403	0.6 miles (1 km)	A house trailer was destroyed and several houses were damaged. Two schools and a grocery store sustained roof damage.
Texas
F0	W of Pidcoke	Coryell	0030	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Several barns were destroyed.
F2	N of Commerce	Hunt	0038	0.5 miles (0.8 km)	Two mobile homes were destroyed while two homes, trees and power lines were damaged.
Indiana
F1	Landersdale	Morgan, Johnson	0040	5 miles (8 km)	Six buildings were destroyed and 50 others damaged. Four people were injured.
F1	SW of Burr Oak	Marshall	0150	1 miles (1.6 km)	Farm buildings were damaged and power lines were downed.
F1	SE of Plymouth	Marshall	0205	1 miles (1.6 km)	A mobile home was damaged and a truck was overturned.
F0	N of Milford	Kosciusko	0252	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Brief touchdown with no damage.
F0	NW of Emison	Knox	0315	1 miles (1.6 km)	A pole barn was destroyed and two train cars were blown over.
F2	SW of Yankeetown	Warrick	0440	2 miles (3.2 km)	Several buildings at a manufacturing plant were damaged. Five railroad box cars were overturned, and two metal culverts were lifted. Two mobile homes were destroyed as well.
F2	W of Arthur	Pike	0442	0.8 miles (1.3 km)	One home was destroyed with ten others sustaining minor to moderate damage. 10-15 barn and small sheds were destroyed.
F0	NW of Heltonville	Lawrence	0457	1 miles (1.6 km)	Several homes were damaged and numerous trees were downed.
F0	E of Freetown	Jackson	0505	1 miles (1.6 km)
F1	SW of Burnsville	Bartholomew	0545	1 miles (1.6 km)	Damage to several farm buildings and a transmission tower.
F0	Westport	Decatur	0555	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Several farm buildings were destroyed while the South Decatur High School sustained damage. A transmission tower was also blown down.
F1	E of Harris City	Decatur	0601	1.2 miles (1.9 km)	Several buildings were damaged or destroyed.
F2	NW of Greenville	Floyd	0608	1 miles (1.6 km)	Six homes were damaged while mobile homes were overturned.
Iowa
F0	Preston	Jackson	0117	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Damage to trees and power lines.
F0	S of Preston	Clinton	0117	0.2 miles (0.32 km)	One home had roof damage.
Kentucky
F1	Mount Washington	Bullitt	0640	1 miles (1.6 km)	118 homes were damaged, with three homes and two mobile homes being destroyed.
Source: Tornado History Project - April 19, 1996 Storm Data, NCDC Storm Data

April 20 event

F#	Location	County	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Kentucky
F1	SW of Goodnight	Barren	0830	0.5 miles (0.8 km)	A mobile home was swept away, injuring four people.
F1	E of Hiseville	Barren, Metcalfe	0834	4 miles (6.4 km)	A church was heavily damaged. Two trailers and several barns were destroyed, and other property damage occurred.
F0	S of Pierce	Green	0845	3 miles (4.8 km)	Several barns were destroyed and utility poles were snapped.
F2	NW of Geneva to NE of Preachersville	Lincoln	0926	12 miles (18.4 km)	Twenty homes and mobile homes and six businesses were destroyed, as well as a church and two show pavilions at the county fairgrounds. One home was picked up and slammed into the ground 50–100 feet away. Seven people were injured.
F1	SW of Quail	Rockcastle, Pulaski	0928	2 miles (3.2 km)	Barns, trees and homes were hit. A church steeple was also toppled while trees were downed, with some falling onto homes. A flying trailer knocked out power lines and landed on a mobile home.
F1	N of Ottawa	Garrard	0930	6 miles (9.6 km)	A dozen barns were destroyed and six cows were killed.
F2	Berea	Madison	0945	2 miles (3.2 km)	800 homes were damaged including 35 completely destroyed or heavily damaged. 40 businesses were damaged including 26 businesses destroyed or severely damaged. A storage tank was also toppled into a plant producing equipment for space shuttles. A tourist center was also damaged. Ten people were injured and damage was estimated at close to $13 million.
F1	Wagersville	Estill	0955	5 miles (8 km)	40 homes and 20 barns were damaged - including three destroyed homes and twelve destroyed barns. Farm machinery was also damaged.
Tennessee
F2	SE of Barnesville	Lawrence	1145	0.5 miles (0.8 km)	One home lost its roof and 12 people were injured.
F2	SE of Summertown	Lawrence	1150	1 miles (1.6 km)	A total of 25 homes were damaged, including two heavily.
F2	N of Lynnville	Giles	1156	1 miles (1.6 km)	A brick structure was damaged and a mobile home was leveled.
F2	W of Cornersville	Marshall	1203	1.5 miles (2.4 km)	Seven mobile homes were destroyed and 10 others were damaged.
Mississippi
F1	W of Winona	Carroll	1340	6 miles (9.6 km)	1 death - A pump house was destroyed while a veterinary clinic, a barn, a cabin, trees and a church were damaged. Fatality occurred when a tree fell onto a mobile home.
Alabama
F0	Birmingham	Jefferson	1709	0.3 miles (0.5 km)	Some minor structural damage occurred and trees were downed.
North Carolina
F0	SE of Sugar Hill	McDowell	1750	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Roof was partially removed from a home.
F1	SE of Boone	Watauga	1800	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	16 vehicles at an amusement park were damaged with one person injured.
Texas
F1	Timpson	Shelby	2115	5 miles (8 km)	Two trailers were destroyed, and trees and power lines were downed.
Louisiana
F0	SW of Kingston	De Soto	2145	0.5 miles (0.8 km)	Damage was limited to trees.
Ontario
F3	SW of Williamsford to Meaford	Grey	2350	25 miles (40 km)	See article on this tornado
F3	SW of Arthur to E of Violet Hill	Wellington, Dufferin	0010	37.5 miles (60 km)	See article on this tornado
F0	SW of Orillia	Simcoe	unknown	unknown	See article on this tornado
Source: Tornado History Project - April 20, 1996 Storm Data, Southern Ontario Tornadoes of 1996, NCDC Storm Data

April 21 event

F#	Location	County	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Quebec
F0	Ormstown	Le Haut-Saint-Laurent	unknown	unknown
Oklahoma
F0	NE of Perry	Noble	2200	2 miles (3.2 km)	Brief touchdown with no damage.
F1	NE of Ratliff City	Carter	2242	0.5 miles (0.8 km)	Power poles, outbuildings, and trees were damaged.
F1	W of Healdton	Jefferson, Carter	2330	4.5 miles (7.2 km)	A mobile home was damaged and windows were blown out of homes.
F0	SE of Fox	Carter	2335	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Brief touchdown with no damage.
F0	NW of Wilson	Carter	2335	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Brief touchdown with no damage.
F0	N of Oil City	Carter	2345	2.5 miles (4 km)	Weak tornado with no damage.
F0	SE of Chigley	Murray	2351	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Brief touchdown with no damage.
F1	N of Barnsdall	Osage	0000	0.5 miles (0.8 km)
F0	SE of Davis	Murray	0025	1 miles (1.6 km)	One home had roof damage and a mobile home was blown off its foundation.
F1	NW of Sulphur	Murray	0028	3 miles (4.8 km)	A church, an apartment complex and a restaurant were damaged. Outbuildings, radio antennas and trees were destroyed as well. 12 homes had minor to major damage.
F0	NW of Nowata	Nowata	0028	0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F0	NW of Scullin (1st tornado)	Murray	0049	0.5 miles (0.8 km)	Damage to barns and silos.
F0	NW of Scullin (2nd tornado)	Murray	0050	0.5 miles (0.8 km)	Damage to barns and two silos.
F1	W of Fairland	Ottawa	0115	0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F3	Fort Smith, Arkansas	Sequoyah (OK), Sebastian (AR), Crawford (AR)	0212	10.1 miles (16.2 km)	2 deaths - 498 homes were destroyed while 620 had major damage and 1275 had minor damage. 98 businesses were damaged or destroyed and 246 apartment units were damaged. The downtown business district of Fort Smith was devastated near the Garrison Avenue Bridge. Homes were also destroyed in Van Buren. A total of 89 people were injured.
F0	McAlester	Pittsburg	0215	3 miles (4.8 km)
F1	NE of Richville	Pittsburg	0230	5 miles (8 km)
F1	NE of Lewisville	Haskell	0300	1 miles (1.6 km)
Texas
F0	E of Sunset	Montague	0125	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Power lines were blown down.
F0	NE of Bowie	Montague	0130	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Brief touchdown with no damage.
F0	NW of Gainesville	Cooke	0200	2 miles (3.2 km)	Two barns were destroyed and trees were damaged.
F0	NW of Lindsay	Cooke	0205	2 miles (3.2 km)	Several homes had siding damage and trees were damaged.
F0	S of Gainesville	Cooke	0220	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Brief touchdown with no damage.
F0	SW of Dixie	Grayson	0233	1 miles (1.6 km)	A barn was destroyed and trees were damaged.
F0	W of Denison	Grayson	0307	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	Damage to trees and power lines.
F0	NW of Lindsay (2nd tornado)	Cooke	0325	1 miles (1.6 km)	A fence was destroyed and trees were damaged.
F0	NW of Dixie	Grayson	0358	2 miles (3.2 km)	A barn was destroyed and trees were damaged.
F0	SE of Locust	Grayson	0440	2 miles (3.2 km)	Trees and power lines were damaged.
Missouri
F0	S of Seymour	Webster	0430	2 miles (3.2 km)	A garage and a barn were destroyed.
Arkansas
F2	S of Fern	Franklin	0455	3 miles (4.8 km)	Seven homes were destroyed and several other buildings were damaged. Numerous trees were also downed and two people were injured.
F3	SW of Dutton to SW of Weathers	Madison	0515	15 miles (24 km)	2 deaths - Worst damage occurred in the St. Paul area. 8 homes and a mobile home were destroyed while a church was also damaged. Six people were injured.
F2	NE of Yellville	Marion	0640	12 miles (18.4 km)	Trailers were either damaged or destroyed with homes and businesses also being damaged. Six people were injured.
F1	N of Natural Dam	Crawford	0708	1 miles (1.6 km)	Several homes were damaged.
Source: Tornado History Project - April 21, 1996 Storm Data, Quebec tornadoes 1985-present, NCDC Storm Data

References

^ "Sunday's Fury: KFSM Coverage of the 1996 Fort Smith, Van Buren Tornado". Fort Smith/Fayetteville News | 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS. 2015-04-22. Retrieved 2017-05-09.

External links

A wild weekend across the USA (USA Today)
Overview of the April 19 - 22, 1996 outbreak (USA Today)
Violent storms lash South, Midwest (CNN)
Galva, IL Tornado (NWS Quad Cities, IA/IL)
The Central Illinois Severe Weather Outbreak of April 19, 1996 (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
April 19, 1996 - Illinois Tornado Outbreak (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
NWS Service Assessment (Ft. Smith and Van Buren, AR)
Numerical Study of Severe Convection on April 19, 1996 (Proceedings, 19th Conference on Severe Local Storms, American Meteorological Society)
Initiation and Evolution of Severe Convection in the 19 April 1996 Illinois Tornado Outbreak (Proceedings, 20th Conference on Severe Local Storms, American Meteorological Society)
The 19 April 1996 Central Illinois Severe/Tornado Event: A WSR-88D Perspective (National Severe Storms Laboratory)
Federal Disaster Declaration (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
1900 UTC (2:00 p.m. CDT) Day 1 Outlook Text from April 19, 1996 (incomplete)
1500 UTC (10:00 a.m. CDT) Day 1 Outlook Text (incomplete)
PDS Tornado Watch #190

This article related to a specific weather event is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Sunday's Fury: KFSM Coverage of the 1996 Fort Smith, Van Buren Tornado". Fort Smith/Fayetteville News | 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS. 2015-04-22. Retrieved 2017-05-09.

[1]