1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is about the 1965 tornado outbreak. For other uses, see Palm Sunday tornado outbreak (disambiguation).
Palm Sunday (1965) Tornado Outbreak
Palmsundaytwintornadoes.jpg
Picture of the "double tornado" that hit the Midway Trailer Park in Indiana, killing 14.
TypeTornado outbreak
Formed12:55, April 11, 1965 (1965-04-11T12:55)
Duration16 hours, 35 minutes
Dissipated00:30, April 12, 1965 (1965-04-12T00:30)
Tornadoes confirmed47
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Damage5.5 billion (2007 dollars)[1]
Casualties271 total fatalities, 1,500 injuries
Areas affectedIndiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois

1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

The 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak was a devastating severe weather event affecting the Midwestern and Southeastern United States on April 11–12, 1965, and which produced 47 tornadoes in 16 hours and 35 minutes. The tornado outbreak generated 32 significant tornadoes, 17 of them violent—F4 or F5 on the Fujita scale of tornado intensity—and 21 deadly. Covering six states and about 335 sq mi (870 km2), the outbreak killed 271 people and became the deadliest to hit the United States since 1936, although more recently the 1974 Super Outbreak and then the April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak claimed that distinction. The 17 violent tornadoes on April 11, 1965, set a 24-hour record that stood until the Super Outbreak produced 30 in 1974. With 137 people killed and 1,200 injured in Indiana alone, the outbreak set a 24-hour record for tornado deaths in that state.[1] The outbreak was the first to be studied in-depth aerially by tornado scientist Tetsuya Theodore Fujita, who proposed new theories about the structure of tornadoes based upon his study. The high death toll in the outbreak despite accurate warnings led to changes in the dissemination of severe weather alerts by the Severe Local Storm Warning Center in Kansas City, Missouri, now the Norman, Oklahoma-based Storm Prediction Center.

Meteorological synopsis[edit]

At 6:00 a.m. CST/1200 UTC on April 11, 1965, surface weather analysis indicated an anomalously deep surface low of about 990 millibars (29.23 inHg) over western Iowa associated with a vigorous shortwave trough in the upper atmosphere.[2][3] A warm front bisected central Iowa and stretched into Illinois and Indiana, as a cold front and very dry air aloft—indicative of a potent elevated mixed layer[2]—approached from eastern Kansas to the southwest.[4] As little as 10,000 feet (3.0 km) above the surface, an intense jet streak containing winds of at least 80 miles per hour (129 km/h) transported steep lapse rates within the elevated mixed layer eastward across the Great Plains.[2][3] As the day went on, the extratropical cyclone with the surface low intensified, its atmospheric pressure dropping to 985 mb (29.09 inHg) by noon CST/18 UTC.[4] Concomitant destabilization of the atmosphere occurred over the warm sector due to abundant sunshine from the elevated mixed layer.[2] High temperatures ranged from the low 70s to the middle 80s °F from the Chicago to St. Louis areas.[4] Simultaneously, a strong low-level jet stream brought a moistening air mass northward, with dew points of at least 60 °F reaching southern portions of Illinois and Indiana by 9:00 a.m. CST/15 UTC.[2][3][4] Volatile atmospheric conditions led to thunderstorm activity over eastern Iowa by 12:40–48 p.m. CST/1840–48 UTC, the first supercell of which produced the initial tornado of the day.[2][5] Meanwhile, a pronounced dry line-like boundary near the cold front moved into eastern sections of Arkansas and Missouri.[4] Weather stations from Topeka, Kansas, to Peoria, Illinois, showed very strong vertical shear that favored intense low-level convergence—combined with a moist dew point in the warm sector, an environment favorable for supercell thunderstorms.[4] Minimum dew points of 60 °F reached as far north as southern Michigan by mid afternoon.[3] By 5:00 p.m. CST/23 UTC, instability reached record proportions for the time of year over a wide area, with mixed layer convective available potential energy of at least 1,000 j/kg over much of Indiana and southernmost Michigan.[2] Record-breaking ambient vertical wind shear in the lowest 6 kilometres (19,685 ft) of the atmosphere facilitated the explosive development of long-lived mesocyclones and thus long-tracked tornadoes.[2] The very strong shear and rapid forward speed of the storms—up to 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) in some cases—may have enhanced the formation of cyclic supercells and could account for numerous reports of multiple mesocyclones and twin tornadoes, including the famous "twin tornadoes" near Elkhart, Indiana.[2]

Confirmed tornadoes[edit]

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 0 15 10 5 17 0 47

April 11 event[edit]

List of reported tornadoes - Sunday, April 11, 1965
F#
Location
County
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Iowa
F4 NE of Tipton to Springbrook area Cedar, Clinton, Jackson 1855 91.5 miles (147.3 km) 1 death — The first of 17 violent tornadoes in the outbreak was part of a long-lived tornado family extending into Wisconsin.[6] Radio news reporter Martin Jensen, then stationed at the WMT Station in Cedar Rapids, first reported the tornado forming at 12:45 p.m./1845 UTC. The station was equipped with a Collins Radio aviation radar mounted on the roof of the station building and was used to support severe weather reports on local and regional newscasts. After detecting the severe thunderstorm, the reporter called National Weather Service offices in Waterloo (which had no radar) and Des Moines to alert them about the storm. The phone call became the first hard evidence for the Weather Service regarding the growing threat of severe storms that spawned dozens of tornadoes over the next 12 hours.[citation needed] Once on the ground, the Tipton tornado went on to strike 25 rural farmsteads, one of which had all its buildings leveled. Debris from the farmhouse scattered for more than 1 mi (1.6 km).[6] One person died one month later from injuries. Damages amounted to at least $500,000.[7] Official estimates of the path length vary, with some sources listing 30 to 40 miles (48 to 64 km).[6][7]
F1 S of Fredericksburg to E of Waukon Chickasaw, Fayette, Allamakee 1915 49.9 miles (80.3 km) This long-lived tornado apparently touched down only intermittently,[6] but still caused much damage near Ossian.[7] It may have been part of a tornado family that traveled 110 mi (177 km).[7]
Wisconsin
F1 NW of Winslow, IL to N of Edgerton, WI Green, Rock, Dane 2000 27.1 miles (43.6 km) This tornado, related to the Tipton–Springbrook event,[6] may have first produced sporadic tree damage northeast of Stockton, Illinois, and deposited debris on a railroad bed farther northeast.[8] Aerial surveys indicated damage starting just south of Winslow, and Grazulis reported F1 damage south of the Illinois–Wisconsin border,[6] but officially the path begins in Wisconsin. The tornado gradually intensified as it entered Monroe.[8] There, it considerably damaged businesses and buildings, with 40 injuries. The tornado damaged or destroyed 65 homes, 50 businesses, and more than 400 cars in town.[6] One motel had its entire roof ripped off.[8] Grazulis assigned an F2 rating to the tornado.[6]
F2 NW of Jefferson to NE of Watertown Jefferson 2030 14.5 miles (23.3 km) 3 deaths — After the previous tornado dissipated, its parent storm spawned yet another tornado. It quickly widened to .75 mi (1.2 km) wide and severely damaged forested areas east of Lake Mills.[8] As it passed west of Ixonia, the tornado hurled two vehicles from Highway 16, killing three occupants.[6] The tornado destroyed structures on 20 farms, with a dozen injuries in a single home. While officially rated F2, the tornado may have produced near-F4 damage to some homes near Watertown. Grazulis assigned an F3 rating to the tornado.[6] Official estimates of the path length vary, as Fujita and Bradbury surveyed a continuous path length of 24 mi (39 km).[8]
F1 SW of Gays Mills to E of Soldiers Grove Crawford 2045 13.3 miles (21.4 km) One or more barns were destroyed with possible but unconfirmed F2 damage. Grazulis assigned an F2 rating.[6]
F1 Williams Bay to Como Walworth 2150 1.9 miles (3.1 km) A brief, small tornado passed through the south side of Williams Bay and dissipated in Como.[6][8] The tornado ripped the roofs off homes and businesses but mostly produced minor damage; however, one home sustained severe damage. Grazulis reported that the home sustained high-end F3 damage and assigned an F3 rating to the tornado, but it is officially F1.[6] The path length may have been 5 mi (8.0 km) long.[8]
F1 SE of Lake Lorraine Walworth 2155 1 mile (1.6 km) This short-lived tornado flattened a barn near Richmond. Grazulis assigned an F2 rating.[6]
F1 W of Tomah Monroe 2214 2 miles (3.2 km) A tornado destroyed several farm buildings, including sheds and barns. Grazulis assigned an F2 rating.[6]
Illinois
F4 Lakewood to Crystal Lake to Island Lake McHenry, Lake 2120 9.1 miles (14.6 km) 6 deaths — A tornado touched down at Lakewood and moved into Crystal Lake, where it destroyed parts of several subdivisions and downed several fir trees on the Crystal Lake Golf Course.[9] It grazed a junior high school, killed one person in a barn, and struck the Crystal Lake Plaza on Route 14 before destroying many homes in a subdivision called Colby Home Estates.[10] There, the tornado severely damaged more than 150 homes, 45 of which were beyond repair, and some homes were completely swept off their foundations.[6][9] Three deaths occurred in an obliterated home as a vehicle landed in the basement.[1] One other person died nearby.[9] The tornado then damaged an industrial area and the Orchard Acres subdivision before downing trees in a wooded area. Now 500 to 800 yards (457 to 732 m) wide, it crested a precipitous hill and severely damaged many homes in the Bay View Beach area.[9] The tornado produced its final swath of significant damage in the Island Lake community, throwing boats ashore, wrecking docks, and causing homes to collapse, with one death. The tornado neared Route 12 as it dissipated at 3:42 p.m. CST/2142 UTC.[11] Damage estimates were set at about $1.5 million.[9]
F2 Third Lake to W of Gurnee Lake 2150 4.5 miles (7.2 km) Related to the previous event, this tornado began as a waterspout over Druce Lake.[12] Continuing to the east, the tornado damaged more than 12 homes. Falling trees damaged some homes and two others lost their roofs.[12] Reports indicated some damage to garages and sheds before the tornado apparently dissipated.[9]
F1 Geneva Kane 2200 0.3 miles (480 m) A brief tornado badly damaged at least 12 homes, some of which lost their walls and roofs.[9][13]
F1 Beach Park area Lake 2204 0.5 miles (0.80 km) A small funnel briefly touched down and damaged two homes.[13] Planes flipped at Waukegan Memorial Airport, and strong winds damaged hangars.[8] However, a downburst rather than the tornado may have caused the damage at the airport.[9]
Indiana
F3 S of Hamlet to Koontz Lake to W of Dunlap Starke, Marshall, St. Joseph, Elkhart 2245 35.6 miles (57.3 km) 10 deaths — The first member of a very long-lived and destructive tornado family left a well-defined, narrow, severe swath of damage through Kootz Lake.[14] The tornado leveled many cottages and damaged 70 others as it passed through Kootz Lake, with three deaths.[12] Near La Paz, an Indiana state trooper on U.S. Route 31 photographed a vivid white funnel, with sunlight illuminating the tornado against a backdrop of darkness.[14][15] Outside La Paz, the tornado destroyed homes and a church, as well as a high school then being built.[12] The tornado then struck Wyatt, destroying many more homes before dissipating.[12] Grazulis assigned an F4 rating to the tornado, though it is officially F3. The parent supercell was one of two long-tracked storms to affect northern Indiana and southern Michigan; each included several of the events below.
F3 N of Hebron to NE of Kingsford Heights Porter, Laporte 2310 33.1 miles (53.3 km) This was the first member of a long-lived, deadly tornado family that trailed the previous one. The tornado destroyed several homes and barns, with near-F4 damage to some of them.[12] Significant damage occurred southwest of Wanatah and south of Kingsford Heights, but the path was quite narrow as it hit farmland.[14]
F4 SW of Wakarusa to Midway to NW of Middlebury Elkhart 2315 21.2 miles (34.1 km) 14–31 deaths — This was the most famous and well-publicized of the Palm Sunday tornadoes, often remembered as the first of two F4 tornadoes to hit the Dunlap (Elkhart)–Goshen area. It formed near the St. Joseph–Elkhart County border and tracked east-northeasterly, striking Wakarusa, where it caused severe damage[citation needed] and killed one person.[12][16] The tornado intensified significantly as it moved toward northern Goshen and the Midway trailer park.[16] As it neared the trailer park, Elkhart Truth reporter Paul Huffman, then reporting on severe weather, overheard a report of a tornado approaching his position on Route 33, about 1 mi (1.6 km) south of Midway.[2] As Huffman awaited the storm, he noticed the tornado approaching from the southwest, so he began taking a series of photographs, six in all.[16] The photographs captured the evolution of the storm into twin funnels as it struck the trailer park, with each funnel gyrating around a central point yet only producing one damage swath.[17] The tornado obliterated roughly 80% of the trailer park, with 10 deaths, and caused F4 damage to numerous other homes near Middlebury, some of which were swept clean.[12] Three more people died in the Middlebury area before the tornado ended. While officially considered one tornado, recent studies indicate that the event consisted of two tornadoes and was not a multiple-vortex event.[2] Official estimates of the death toll vary, with Grazulis listing 14 deaths instead of the 31 appearing in the official National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) database.[12]
F4 S of Middlebury to W of Orland Elkhart, LaGrange 2340 21.6 miles (34.8 km) 5–19 deaths — This tornado, which formed while the preceding was still ongoing, may have begun as a waterspout over the Goshen Dam Pond, but it first produced damage farther afield.[16] The tornado later produced "devastating" damage to the Rainbow Lake area, where homes sustained high-end F4 (possibly F5) damage and foundations were swept clean.[2][15] The tornado later dissipated near Brighton.[15] Official estimates of the death toll vary, with the NCDC database listing five and Grazulis listing 19, 17 of which were south of Shipshewana.[15] An airplane wing from Goshen Airport was found 35 mi (56 km) away in Centreville, Michigan.[2][12]
F4 Orland to Manitou Beach-Devils Lake, MI to NW of Carleton (1st tornado) Steuben, Branch (MI), Hillsdale (MI), Lenawee (MI), Monroe (MI), Washtenaw (MI) 0000 90.3 miles (145.3 km) 23 deaths — See section on this tornado
F4 SE of Lafayette to NW of Middlefork Tippecanoe, Clinton 0007 21.8 miles (35.1 km) This was the first member of a fast-moving tornado family that tracked more than 270 mi (435 km) into Ohio, producing five or more violent tornadoes, and ended near Lake Erie.[17][18] The tornado destroyed or damaged several homes and other buildings, but mostly at F2–F3 intensity. Some homes sustained F4 damage near Cambria, in Mulberry, and in Moran.[17]
F4 SE of Gulivoire Park to Dunlap to NW of Howe St. Joseph, Elkhart, LaGrange 0010 37 miles (60 km) 36 deaths — This was the second, deadliest of two violent tornadoes to strike the Elkhart–Goshen area, with the highest single-tornado death toll in the outbreak. It hit Dunlap about an hour after another F4 tornado hit the Midway trailer park a short distance to the southeast.[2] Few people received warning due to the passage of the earlier storm, which disrupted communications and downed power lines, thereby affecting rescue efforts after the earlier tornado as well.[19] The Dunlap tornado first produced tree damage beginning just west of State Road 331.[14] As the tornado neared Dunlap, it intensified into an extremely violent tornado. It then devastated the Sunnyside Housing addition and the unoccupied Sunnyside Mennonite Church.[17] The Sunnyside subdivision was completely destroyed, with many homes swept away.[2][16] The Kingston Heights subdivision was similarly devastated.[2][17] The death toll from the two subdivisions was 28 people, with another six killed in a home and truck stop at the junction of State Road 15 and Route 20.[17] The Palm Sunday Tornado Memorial Park now exists near this location, at the corner of County Road 45 and Cole Street in Dunlap. Like the Midway tornado, the Dunlap event was also was witnessed as twin funnels.[19] It may have been the strongest tornado on April 11;[2] in fact, Grazulis and other sources have assigned an F5 rating to the tornado, though it is officially rated F4.[17][20]
F4 E of Middlefork to Greentown to SE of Arcana Clinton, Howard, Grant 0020 48 miles (77 km) 25 deaths — As the Lafayette–Middlefork tornado dissipated, a new tornado developed nearby without a definite break in the damage path.[18] Due to changes in the intensity of the damage, surveyors split the path into two separate tornadoes. At about 7:28 p.m. CST/0028 UTC, the new, rapidly strengthening tornado hit Russiaville, causing severe damage to the entire community.[18] The tornado destroyed or damaged 90% of the community, though most of the damage ranged from F0–F3.[17][21] The tornado then widened to 1 mi (1.6 km) across as it moved into nearby Alto, causing F4 damage to homes.[17][22] -- striking the southern edge of the larger city of Kokomo. The tornado was up to -- when it struck Alto and Kokomo, where hundreds of homes were destroyed.[6] As the tornado continued east, it killed ten more people in Greentown, Indiana, most of whom had been riding in automobiles that were hurled across the landscape. Many homes were destroyed and swept away (F4 damage) as the tornado stuck multiple subdivisions in the Greentown area. A hospital had its roof torn off south of Marion, and a shopping center was destroyed.[6] Several homes were destroyed in Marion as well. The tornado continued through Wells and Adams Counties, destroying many more homes and businesses. In Berne, Indiana, it cut a path through the northern part of the small city, damaging homes and businesses including a bowling alley, a grocery store, and a lumber yard before the supercell crossed into Ohio. Large sections of Russiaville, Alto, southern Kokomo, and Greentown were destroyed and over 800 people injured.[6]
F4 SE of Crawfordsville to Arcadia Montgomery, Boone, Hamilton 0050 45.7 miles (73.5 km) 28 deaths — An extremely large and violent tornado, up to 1 mi (1.6 km) wide, swept away homes as it passed just northwest and north of Lebanon.[17] One person died in a destroyed home east of Crawfordsville, but 21 of the 28 deaths occurred in two areas near Lebanon and Sheridan. The tornado lofted two cars more than 100 yards (91 m), killing four occupants.[17] In all, the tornado destroyed about 80 homes and injured more than 100 people. At least one source lists this tornado as an F5, though it is officially F4.[20]
F4 W of Montpelier to Linn Grove to N of Spencerville, OH Blackford, Wells, Adams, Mercer (OH), Van Wert (OH) 0110 52.5 miles (84.5 km) 4 deaths — As the Greentown–Marion tornado dissipated, this tornado formed near Roll.[17] On its long track across eastern Indiana and western Ohio, the tornado produced violent damage to three areas: in Keystone, with two deaths; in Linn Grove, with a few other deaths; and south of Willshire, Ohio, with two final deaths. The last areas sustained the worst damage, with 10 homes destroyed and five flattened.[17] Damage also occurred in the Berne area, where residents made unconfirmed reports of twin tornadoes.[2]
Michigan
F4 Allendale area to Comstock Park to SE of Cedar Springs Ottawa, Kent 2254 20.6 miles (33.2 km) 5 deaths — Beginning over Ottawa County, this tornado destroyed only a few homes before entering Kent County.[15] It then produced much more severe damage through the Comstock Park area, north of Grand Rapids, with over 30 homes destroyed and nearly 200 others damaged. The tornado injured nearly 150 people and caused almost $15 million in damage before dissipating.[15]
F1 Burnips area to N of Middleville Allegan, Barry 0005 19.5 miles (31.4 km) 1 death — This tornado or a related one may have begun as far southwest as Saugatuck, leaving debris in the city and causing damage north of Hamilton.[14] Officially, damage began in the Burnips area and continued eastward, leaving a trailer and five homes destroyed with 25 other "dwellings" damaged.[15] One woman died in the trailer, and a few people had severe injuries requiring hospitalization. Some reports indicated twin tornadoes along the path.[15] Grazulis assigned an F2 rating to the tornado, which is officially F1.[15]
F3 N of Parchment to NE of Augusta Kalamazoo 0030 14.2 miles (22.9 km) A strong tornado moved east across the outskirts of Kalamazoo, destroying some homes and damaging about 20 other structures.[15]
F3 Hastings to SE of Lake Odessa Barry 0040 14.1 miles (22.7 km) This tornado struck the north side of Hastings and continued to near Woodland, destroying several barns and garages. Numerous homes sustained damage as well. Although Grazulis awarded an F2 rating, the tornado is officially F3.[17]
F4 Coldwater Lake to Manitou Beach-Devils Lake to NW of Carleton (2nd tornado) Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw 0040 80.5 miles (129.6 km) 21 deaths — See section on this tornado
F4 Dewitt area to SW of Owosso Clinton, Shiawassee 0115 21 miles (34 km) 1 death — This tornado killed one person in an obliterated home and destroyed about 10 other homes.[17]
F2 Crystal area to Sumner to Alma (1st tornado) Montcalm, Gratiot 0125 15.1 miles (24.3 km) This tornado first destroyed some homes and barns in Crystal. It then hit many rural farms in its path, leveling farm buildings and killing or injuring livestock.[22] One home near Alma was nearly flattened. Grazulis awarded an F3 rating; however, the tornado is officially F2.[22]
F2 Alma (2nd tornado) Gratiot 0130 0.1 miles (160 m) This was one of four tornadoes to strike Alma with paths up to 1 mi (1.6 km) wide.[23] The damage path may have begun near Vestaburg.[21] The tornado caused damage to several buildings, including the library, which had its roof torn off. The tornado destroyed a telephone repair facility as well.[21]
F2 Alma area (3rd tornado) Gratiot 0130 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F2 Alma area (4th tornado) Gratiot 0130 1 mile (1.6 km)
F2 SE of Bay City Bay 0150 9.9 miles (15.9 km) This tornado tore the roofs off homes and an automobile dealership. Trailers and barns were destroyed as well.[21]
F2 SE of Quanicassee to SW of Unionville Tuscola 0200 9 miles (14 km) This tornado damaged a fire station, which had its roof ripped off, and a lumberyard.[21] The tornado also leveled barns. Downburst winds may have damaged the fire station in Unionville.[21]
Ohio
F4 Ottawa (Toledo) to SE of Erie, MI Lucas, Monroe (MI) 0230 5.6 miles (9.0 km) 18 deaths — A tornado struck North Toledo with high-end F4 intensity. Five people were killed when a tornado flipped over a bus on the Detroit-Toledo Expressway (today's Interstate 75). Numerous homes in the northern suburbs of Toledo were completely destroyed, several of which were completely swept away. Five people were killed when the tornado picked up a bus and slammed it upside down onto the pavement. Boats and cars were thrown onto and into buildings. A paint factory and department store were destroyed as well. Two people were killed on the Lost Peninsula in Michigan. There were reports of twin tornadoes during the event, including an alleged photograph that was said to depict two widely-separated funnels with a "glowing" effect—perhaps related to static electricity.[6] Damage amounts were estimated at $25 million.
F4 N of Elida to NW of Houcktown Allen, Hancock 0230 32.5 miles (52.3 km) 13 deaths — This tornado destroyed numerous homes and farms along the track, with severe damage in many spots.[21] Two deaths occurred west of Cairo, but most of the deaths, five in all, took place south of Bluffton.[21]
F4 Fort Loramie area to NW of Maplewood Shelby 0300 18.4 miles (29.6 km) 3 deaths — This tornado mostly affected rural areas but almost struck the communities of Anna, Swanders, and Maplewood.[21] The tornado struck a train with about 70 railcars near Swanders, lifting more than 50 from the railroad tracks. The tornado destroyed almost 25 homes, severely damaged 20 others, and lofted a car 200 yd (183 m).[21] A satellite tornado may have formed just north of the main funnel and flipped a trailer, causing two injuries.[24]
F3 SE of Tiffin to SE of Omar Seneca 0315 15 miles (24 km) 1–4 deaths — This tornado may have first touched down south of Alvada,[25] but is first officially documented southeast of Tiffin. It then struck the rural community of Rockaway, leveling four homes and severely damaging three, with one death.[25] Grazulis assigned an F4 rating to the tornado, but it is officially F3. Estimates of the death toll vary, with some sources listing only one death.[25]
F4 S of Oberlin to Strongsville Lorain, Cuyahoga 0405 22 miles (35 km) 18 deaths — At around 11 P.M., a tornado touched down in Lorain County, Ohio, and struck Pittsfield, Ohio, killing seven people. Pittsfield itself was nearly entirely destroyed and six homes were completely swept away there, possibly at F5 intensity. The same tornado caused severe, F2-level damage to homes in Grafton. When the storm reached Cleveland, Ohio, it diverged into two paths about a 1⁄2 mile (800 m) apart. Several witnesses also saw two funnels merging into one similar to the Dunlap tornado.[19] Large trees laying 50 feet (15 m) apart were felled lying in different directions. The storm also displayed near-F5 damage in northernmost Strongsville. There, 18 homes were leveled, some of which were cleanly swept from their foundations. 50 others were badly damaged in town. This tornado killed 18 people and was also previously rated as an F5 before being lowered to an F4 by NWS officials. Damage amounts were estimated at $5 million.
F1 S of Eaton Preble 0415 0.1 miles (160 m) A brief tornado uplifted a roof from a building at a livestock producer.[24]
F1 Brunswick to Hinckley area Medina 0430 8.2 miles (13.2 km) This tornado hit the town of Brunswick, destroying a home and badly damaging many others.[25] The tornado may have ended north of Richfield. Grazulis awarded an F3 rating, but the tornado is officially F1.[25]
F2 N of Magnetic Springs to Radnor to N of Fulton Union, Delaware, Morrow 0430 22.2 miles (35.7 km) 3–4 deaths — This tornado struck the communities of Radnor and Westfield, causing three deaths in the former and destroying nearly 25 homes along the path.[25] The tornado injured more than 20 people in Westfield. One of the official deaths may have been from a heart attack and thus only indirectly related to the tornado: Grazulis lists only three direct deaths.[25] Grazulis also awarded an F3 rating the tornado, but it is officially F2.
F1 S of Cedarville Greene 0450 0.1 miles (160 m) This weak and brief tornado produced minimal damage to trees and roofs.[24]
F1 NW of South Bloomfield to Dumontville to Somerset area Pickaway, Fairfield, Perry 0530 38.4 miles (61.8 km) This tornado initially produced negligible damage, but then leveled many farm buildings after passing the Scioto River.[25] The tornado caused most of its damage to farms north of Lancaster in a swath 8 mi (13 km) in length. The tornado then struck and destroyed 12 trailers in Dumontville before dissipating.[25] Grazulis assigned an F2 rating, but the tornado is officially F1.
Sources: Tornado History Project Tornado Data for April 11, 1965, Tornado History Project Tornado Data for April 12, 1965, NWS Detroit Storm Data

April 12 event[edit]

List of reported tornadoes - Monday, April 12, 1965
F#
Location
County
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Ohio
F1 Cadiz Harrison 0601 0.1 miles (0.16 km) A brief tornado partially destroyed roofs of two buildings with other minor damage.[24]
Georgia
F1 SW of Grassdale Bartow 0950 2 miles (3.2 km) A brief tornado snapped or uprooted trees.[7]
West Virginia
F2 Princeton Mercer 1130 0.1 miles (160 m) A short-lived tornado removed a metal garage roof.[26] Grazulis does not list the tornado as significant.
Sources: Tornado History Project Tornado Data for April 12, 1965

Notable tornadoes[edit]

Outbreak death toll
State Total County County
total
Iowa 1 Cedar 1
Illinois 6 McHenry 6
Indiana 138 Adams 1
Boone 20
Elkhart 62
Grant 8
Hamilton 6
Howard 17
Lagrange 10
Marshall 3
Montgomery 2
St. Joseph 3
Starke 4
Wells 2
Michigan 53 Allegan 1
Branch 18
Clinton 1
Hillsdale 6
Kent 5
Lenawee 9
Monroe 13
Ohio 60 Allen 11
Cuyahoga 1
Delaware 4
Hancock 2
Lorain 17
Lucas 16
Mercer 2
Seneca 4
Shelby 3
Wisconsin 3 Jefferson 3
Totals 261
All deaths were tornado-related

With the telephone lines down, emergency services in Elkhart County, Indiana, could not warn Michigan residents that the tornadoes were headed their way. The radar operator at the U.S. Weather Bureau, at Detroit Metro Airport, observed that the thunderstorms over northern Indiana and western Lower Michigan, were moving east-northeast at 70 mph (112 km/h). In Michigan, tornadoes hit as far north as Kent County, Michigan, just north of Grand Rapids.

Hillsdale/Manitou Beach–Devils Lake, Michigan (two tornadoes)[edit]

Of the southernmost counties of Michigan, all but three (Berrien, Cass, and St. Joseph counties) were hit. Two F4 tornadoes struck Hillsdale County and destroyed about 200 cottages along Baw Beese Lake. Starting just south of the Indiana-Michigan state line, the first of these two massive tornadoes caused extensive damage to Coldwater Lake (F4 damage), Hillsdale College, Manitou Beach–Devils Lake, and Tecumseh.[6] Many people escaped harm as they were in church instead of out at the lake. The local dance pavilion on Devils Lake was demolished, having recently been rebuilt after a fire on Labor Day in 1963. One of the tornadoes damaged parts of Onsted; in the nearby village of Tipton, which suffered a direct hit, 94% of the town's buildings were damaged or destroyed.

About 30 minutes later, the Manitou Beach-Devils Lake area in Lenawee County was hit by the second of the two tornadoes, causing numerous fatalities (including a family of six). One or both F4 tornadoes struck the then-Village of Milan, south of Ann Arbor. The Wolverine Plastics building on the Monroe County side of town, then the top employer in the village, was destroyed with the roof being completely removed in the process. The Milan Junior High School was seriously damaged along with the adjacent, disused (since 1958) senior high school, at Hurd and North streets, on the Washtenaw County side of Milan. Milan became a city in 1967; opened a new Middle School in 1969, which replaced the old Junior High School; and eventually demolished the 1900 building that housed the former junior and senior high schools.

The first of the F4 tornadoes produced a 150-mile-per-hour (240 km/h) wind gust at Tecumseh[6]—the highest wind measurement in a tornado until a measurement of 276 miles per hour (444 km/h) near Red Rock, Oklahoma, on April 26, 1991; a higher measurement of 318 miles per hour (512 km/h) (later corrected to 307 miles per hour (494 km/h)[27]) in the F5 tornado of May 3, 1999, broke this record.[12] Damage from the two tornadoes was difficult to separate and covered more than 3 miles (4.8 km) wide, including much downburst and microburst destruction.[6] Total damage estimates from the two tornadoes were $32 million with more than 550 homes, a church, and 100 cottages destroyed.

Tornadoes continued from Indiana into Ohio where additional fatalities occurred across the state border.

Aftermath[edit]

In the Midwest, 271 people were killed and 1,500 injured (1,200 in Indiana). This is the fourth-deadliest day for tornadoes on record, trailing April 3, 1974 (315 deaths), the April 27, 2011 (324), and March 18, 1925 (747, including 695 by the Tri-State Tornado). It occurred on Palm Sunday, an important day in the Christian religion, and many people were attending services at church, one possible reason why some warnings were not received. There had been a short winter in 1965, and as the day progressed, warm temperatures

The U.S. Weather Bureau investigated the large number of deaths. Although weather-radar stations were few and far between in 1965, the severe nature of the thunderstorms was identified with adequate time to disseminate warnings. But the warning system failed as the public never received them. Additionally, the public did not know the difference between a Forecast and an Alert. Thus the tornado watch and tornado warning programs were implemented. Pivotal to those clarifications was a meeting in the WMT Station's studio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Officials of the severe storms forecast center in Kansas City met with WMT meteorologist Conrad Johnson and News Director Grant Price. Their discussion led to establishment of the official "watch" and "warning" procedures in use since 1965.

As technology has advanced since 1965; warnings can be spread via cable and satellite television, PCs and the Internet, solid-state electronics, cell phones, and NOAA Weather Radio.

Oddities/records[edit]

For the first time in the U.S. Weather Bureau's history, all nine counties in the northern Indiana office's jurisdiction were under a tornado warning; this was termed a "blanket tornado warning"[19] and was later used during the April 3, 1974, Super Outbreak.[28] Additionally, significant scientific data were gathered from aerial surveys of the tornado paths. Dr. Fujita discovered suction vortices during the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak. It had previously been thought the reason why tornadoes could hit one house and leave another across the street completely unscathed was because the tornado would "jump" from one house to another. However, Fujita discovered that the actual reason is most destruction is caused by suction vortices: small, intense mini-tornadoes within the main tornado.[29]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Heidorn, Keith C. (14 September 2010). "1965 Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak Part I: The Beginning". islandnet.com. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "April 11th 1965 Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak". weather.gov. Syracuse, Indiana: National Weather Service. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Deedler, William R. (April 2015). "Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak April 11th, 1965". weather.gov. Detroit/Pontiac, Michigan: National Weather Service. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Fujita & Bradbury 1970, pp. 30–1
  5. ^ Fujita & Bradbury 1970, p. 52
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Grazulis 1993, p. 1062
  7. ^ a b c d e Storm Data 1965, p. 25
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Fujita & Bradbury 1970, pp. 33–4
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Allsopp, Jim (April 2005). "40th anniversary of the Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak". crh.noaa.gov. Chicago: National Weather Service. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  10. ^ "1965 Palm Sunday Tornado". cl-hs.org. Crystal Lake, Illinois: Crystal Lake Historical Society. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  11. ^ Eagan, Shane. "50th Anniversary of the 1965 Palm Sunday Outbreak". weather.gov. Romeoville, Illinois: National Weather Service. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Grazulis 1993, p. 1063
  13. ^ a b Storm Data 1965, p. 36
  14. ^ a b c d e Fujita & Bradbury 1970, pp. 36–7
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Grazulis 1993, p. 1065
  16. ^ a b c d e Fujita & Bradbury 1970, p. 38
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Grazulis 1993, p. 1066
  18. ^ a b c Fujita & Bradbury 1970, p. 40
  19. ^ a b c d Blake Naftel. "April 11, 1965: The Palm Sunday Outbreak". Western Michigan University. Archived from the original on 2005-04-08. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  20. ^ a b Lott, McCown & Ross 1999, p. 13
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Grazulis 1993, p. 1071
  22. ^ a b c Grazulis 1993, p. 1070
  23. ^ Storm Data 1965, p. 35
  24. ^ a b c d Storm Data 1965, p. 29
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i Grazulis 1993, p. 1072
  26. ^ Storm Data 1965, p. 34
  27. ^ Burgess, D.; Magsig, M.; Wurman, J.; Dowell, D.; Richardson, Y. (2002). "Radar Observations of the 3 May 1999 Oklahoma City Tornado". Weather and Forecasting (17): 456–471.
  28. ^ "The Widespread Tornado Outbreak of April 3-4, 1974" (PDF). Natural Disaster Survey Report 74-1. Rockville, Md.: United States Department of Commerce. 1974: 18. Retrieved 24 February 2013. ...warning offices issued 'blanket' warnings because they knew severe storms were in the area, although they did not know the exact location, extent, and movement of the storms. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  29. ^ Grazulis, Thomas P. (2003). The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 352. ISBN 978-0806135380.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • The Night of the Wicked Winds: the 1965 Palm Sunday tornadoes in Ohio, by Roger Pickenpaugh. Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, 2003. ISBN 0-9709059-3-9 (paperback).
  • Winds of fury, circles of grace: life after the Palm Sunday tornadoes, by Dale Clem. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997. ISBN 0-687-01795-5 (alk. paper)
  • The Mighty Whirlwind, by David Wagler. Aylmer, Ontario: Pathway Publishing Corp., 1966. There is no ISBN available; Library of Congress Control Number: 67112646.
  • The Palm Sunday Tornado, by Timothy E. Bontrager, 2005. A novel by an author whose grandparents died in the tornado. For details see www.timothybontrager.com.
  • Night of the Wind: The Palm Sunday Tornado of April 11, 1965, by Dan Cherry. Adrian, Michigan: Lenawee County Historical Society, 2002. A collection of interviews and eyewitness accounts from the Devils Lake area, located in northwest Lenawee County. There is no ISBN available; Library of Congress Control Number not available.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1965_Palm_Sunday_tornado_outbreak&oldid=994261717"