Tornado outbreak of April 1880

On April 18–20, 1880, a tornado outbreak impacted the Midwestern United States, producing numerous strong tornadoes, killing at least 166 people, and injuring more than 516 others. The outbreak generated five violent tornadoes, including three long-tracked F4 tornadoes in Missouri that killed at least 144 people. Two of the tornadoes followed parallel paths and occurred simultaneously near Springfield, one of which devastated the town of Marshfield, causing 92 fatalities there. Other deadly, intense tornadoes occurred in the Great Lakes region and in Arkansas, including another F4 tornado that destroyed a third of El Paso, Arkansas, killing four or more people.[nb 1][nb 2][nb 3]

Tornado outbreak of April 1880
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationApril 18–20, 1880
Highest winds
Tornadoes
confirmed		≥ 25
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Fatalities≥ 166 deaths, > 516 injuries
DamageUnknown
Areas affectedMidwestern United States
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

Confirmed tornadoes
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
1 0 0 16 3 5 0 ≥ 25*
  • In addition to confirmed tornadoes, the following events may have also occurred:
    • On April 18 a tornado may have damaged 26 structures at Oakbower in Crawford County, Arkansas.[10]

April 18 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, April 18, 1880[nb 4][nb 5]
F# Location County / Parish State Time (UTC) Path length Max. width Summary
F2 S of Pineville to ENE of Powell McDonald MO 22:00–? 15 miles (24 km) Un­known 1 death – Additional details are unavailable.[12]
F4 S of Rockton, IL to Shopiere, WI Winnebago (IL), Rock (WI) IL, WI 22:30–? 15 mi (24 km) 500 yards (460 m) 1 death – A violent tornado obliterated a pair of farms in Illinois, leaving little debris behind. The F4 damage occurred only in northernmost Illinois, just south-southwest of Beloit, Wisconsin. 23 structures were destroyed or damaged in Wisconsin, but only at up to F2- or F3-level intensity. 20 people were injured. Losses totaled $75,000, of which two-thirds were at Shopiere. Wind-related damage from the parent storm extended northeastward to near Johnstown.[13][14][12]
F3 ENE of Edgerton Johnson KS 22:30–? 5 mi (8.0 km) Un­known 1 death – An intense tornado destroyed one or more homes.[12]
F4 S of Rocky Comfort to SE of Grovespring McDonald, Barry, Stone, Christian, Greene, Webster, Wright MO 22:30–? 93 mi (150 km) 1,320 yd (1,210 m) 31+ deaths – This, known as the Finley Creek tornado, was the first and most intense of two violent, long-tracked, parallel tornadoes, south of Springfield. It first devastated a settlement on Crane Creek, killing 10 people there, and then killed six more beside Flat Creek. The tornado attained its maximum intensity over rural lands near Ozark and Linden, destroying 35 farmsteads; eight people were killed and 19 others severely injured. Seven or more fatalities occurred in southernmost Webster County. Some of the worst damage occurred at Dry Fork, along Panther Creek, near Fordland. In all, 100 people were injured.[15]
F4 NE of McDowell to Southeastern Springfield to Marshfield Barry, Lawrence, Stone, Christian, Greene, Webster MO 22:30–? 64 mi (103 km) 880 yd (800 m) 99+ deaths – This and the preceding event occurred simultaneously. The second of the two tornadoes initially caused extensive damage to rural timberland and outbuildings near McDowell. It then killed seven or more people in Springfield before rapidly intensifying and growing in size. It then devastated the town of Marshfield, destroying all but 15 structures. There the tornado killed 68 people instantly and caused 24 others to die of injuries, resulting in a total of 92 deaths. Near Marshfield the tornado debarked trees as well. 200 people were injured.[16][14][17]
F2 Conway Laclede MO 23:30–? Un­known Un­known 2 deaths – At least one home was destroyed.[16][17]
F2 Skullyville, OK to N of Charleston, AR Le Flore (OK), Sebastian (AR), Franklin (AR) OK, AR 23:30–? 35 mi (56 km) Un­known 4 deaths – This strong tornado family wrecked five or more homes and caused one fatality in Oklahoma before passing just south of Fort Smith, Arkansas. A pair of additional deaths occurred in a home near Fort Smith, along with five injuries. The final death occurred near Charleston. 20 injuries were confirmed.[17]
F3 Stiles, IA to W of Troy, IA Schuyler (MO), Davis (IA) MO, IA 23:30–? 15 mi (24 km) 150 yd (140 m) This intense tornado destroyed structures on seven farmsteads. Debris from one of the farms was found 4 mi (6.4 km) away. Two injuries occurred.[17]
F4 NE of Climax Springs to Barnettsville to SE of New Bloomfield Camden, Morgan, Miller, Moniteau, Cole, Callaway MO 23:30–? 65 mi (105 km) 1,500 yd (1,400 m) 14 deaths – This large, violent, long-tracked tornado leveled numerous farmsteads and caused five deaths in southern Morgan County. In Barnettsville the tornado was up to 1 mi (1.6 km) wide, destroying the entire town and causing eight deaths. Near New Bloomfield the tornado destroyed a church and 10 homes, causing another death. The tornado left debris on a railroad, causing a passenger train to derail, resulting in a few injuries. In all, 90 injuries were confirmed.[16][17]
F2 Southern Ottawa to S of Oconomowoc Waukesha WI 00:00–? 6 mi (9.7 km) 300 yd (270 m) This tornado destroyed a pair of barns and caused minor damage to 12 other structures, some of which were homes. A home near Waterville was unroofed as well. One injury was reported.[17]
F2 NW of St. Martins to Carrington Cole, Boone, Callaway MO 00:00–? 21 mi (34 km) 100 yd (91 m) 2+ deaths – This tornado developed between Elston and Centertown, but may have begun as far southwest as Russellville. All fatalities and eight or more injuries occurred in Callaway County, but there were rumors of more casualties near Russellville. Farmhouses were destroyed or damaged near Fulton.[16][17]
F2 NE of Bloomfield to W of Floris Davis IA 02:00–? 8 mi (13 km) 200 yd (180 m) This tornado destroyed a barn and partly unroofed an Odd Fellows lodge. Other structures were damaged as well.[18][17]
F2 Dardanelle Yell AR 02:00–? Un­known Un­known A number of homes were reportedly destroyed.[17]
F2 SW of Licking to SW of Salem Texas, Dent MO 02:10–? 25 mi (40 km) 400 yd (370 m) 1 death – Nearly all buildings were damaged in Licking, and 300 people were left homeless. 64 of the 67 homes in town were rendered uninhabitable; of these, 29 were reportedly "'destroyed'." 17 injuries occurred, five of which were serious.[16][10]
F2 Southeastern Fayetteville Washington AR 02:20–? 6 mi (9.7 km) 100 yd (91 m) 2 deaths – At least 100 structures were destroyed or badly damaged in Fayetteville, including homes and a three-story hotel. Trees and fences were downed as well. 25 injuries were reported and losses in Fayetteville totaled $100,000. This or a related tornado may have subsequently struck and destroyed Goshen.[16][10]
F4 El Paso Faulkner, White AR 02:30–? 8 mi (13 km) 400 yd (370 m) 4+ deaths – This violent tornado virtually leveled a third of El Paso. All of the known fatalities occurred there. Four bodies were reportedly carried 1 mi (1.6 km) and homesites were swept clean. 15 injuries occurred. Some sources listed as many as 10 deaths, of which three or more were assigned to multiple "prominent" families each.[14][10]
F2 Western Eureka Springs Carroll AR 03:00–? 10 mi (16 km) Un­known 18 homes were destroyed at Eureka Springs. One fatality may have occurred there. In all, eight injuries were reported. The path of the tornado may have extended into southern Missouri.[16][10]
F2+ Forsyth Taney MO 03:30–? Un­known Un­known 2 deaths – A number of injuries may have occurred. Detailed descriptions of the damage were unavailable, but contextual evidence suggested winds of at least F2 intensity.[19]
F2 Chester Eaton MI Un­known Un­known 400 yd (370 m) This strong tornado cut a 1⁄4-mile-wide (0.40 km) swath of downed trees. Livestock were killed and barns wrecked as well.[12]
F2 Lyndon Whiteside IL Un­known 8 mi (13 km) Un­known This tornado wrecked outbuildings on six farmsteads.[12]
FU Greenville Bond IL Un­known Un­known Un­known Many homes and other structures were destroyed. A number of significant injuries were reported.[16]

April 19 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, April 19, 1880[nb 4][nb 5]
F# Location County / Parish State Time (UTC) Path length Max. width Summary
F3 S of Gravelly to S of Rover Yell AR 05:00–? 25 mi (40 km) 200 yd (180 m) 1 death – This intense tornado destroyed several small homes, with peak damage nearing F4 intensity. Debris was lofted for miles. Five injuries were reported.[14][10]
F2 N of Fort Smith Crawford AR 05:00–? Un­known Un­known Trees and barns were downed.[10]
F2 N of Dyersburg Dyer TN 16:00–? 4 mi (6.4 km) 200 yd (180 m) 1 death – A fallen tree destroyed a home, resulting in the lone fatality. Nearby homes were unroofed as well. Five injuries were reported.[10]

April 20 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, April 20, 1880[nb 4][nb 5]
F# Location County / Parish State Time (UTC) Path length Max. width Summary
F2 Griffin Spalding GA 12:30–? 2 mi (3.2 km) 50 yd (46 m) A tornado splintered trees and unroofed homes.[10]

Non-tornadic effects

In addition to tornadoes, there were numerous reports of severe thunderstorms. On April 18 intense windstorms affected Decatur, Wenona, Warren, Champaign, Ottawa, Peoria, Summerfield, Jacksonville, Tuscola, Clinton, Collinsville, and Chester, Illinois. These storms unroofed, destroyed, or partly wrecked numerous structures. Trees were extensively damaged and a bridge torn out as well. On the same date vigorous thunderstorms generated winds of up to 80 mph (130 km/h) in Lawrence, Kansas, tipping structures onto their sides and tearing roofs off. Early on April 19 severe thunderstorms also affected Richmond and Wabash, Indiana, along with other areas beside the White River. Telegraph wires and structures incurred substantial damage.[20]

See also

Notes
  1. 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.[1]
  2. The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.[2][3] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,[4] Canada used the old scale until April 1, 2013;[5] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.[6]
  3. Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information.[7] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.[8] Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced NEXRAD was first installed and the National Weather Service began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.[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.[11]

References
  1. Schneider, Russell S.; Brooks, Harold E.; Schaefer, Joseph T. (2004). Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875–2003) (PDF). 22nd Conf. Severe Local Storms. Hyannis, Massachusetts: American Meteorological Society. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  2. Grazulis 1993, p. 141.
  3. Grazulis 2001a, p. 131.
  4. Edwards, Roger (March 5, 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  5. "Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale)". Environment and Climate Change Canada. June 6, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  6. "The International Tornado Intensity Scale". Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. 2016. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  7. Grazulis 2001a, pp. 251–4.
  8. Edwards, Roger (March 5, 2015). "The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)". Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  9. Cook & Schaefer 2008, p. 3135.
  10. Grazulis 1993, p. 609.
  11. Brooks 2004, p. 310.
  12. Grazulis 1993, p. 607.
  13. MWR 1880, pp. 12–13.
  14. Grazulis 1984, p. A-5.
  15. Grazulis 1993, pp. 607–8.
  16. MWR 1880, p. 12.
  17. Grazulis 1993, p. 608.
  18. MWR 1880, p. 11.
  19. Grazulis 1993, pp. 538, 609.
  20. MWR 1880, pp. 11–12.

Sources
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