Tornado outbreak sequence of April 1996

The Tornado outbreak sequence of April 1996 was a series of tornado outbreaks that occurred across a large area of eastern North America over a three-day period between April 19 and April 21, 1996. A total of 118 tornadoes touched down in the Great Lakes, Midwest and Southeast region over the three-day period, killing six people and becoming the most notable outbreaks of the year.

Tornado outbreak sequence of April 1996
Tornado damage in Fort Smith, Arkansas
FormedApril 19, 1996
Duration3 days
DissipatedApril 21, 1996
Tornadoes
confirmed		118
Max. rating1F3 tornado
Fatalities6 fatalities, 200+ injuries
Areas affectedEastern United States, Ontario, Quebec
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

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 large, deep, and vigorous system. The same system produced tornadoes in Ontario on the 20th and destructive tornadoes 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 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
See also: 1996 Southern Ontario tornadoes

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 in St. Paul and two other children in Fort Smith. Shortly after the outbreak, the local CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas, KFSM-TV, produced Sunday's Fury, a video production outlining the sequence of events that surrounded the Fort Smith tornado that day.[1]

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

April 19 event
F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Illinois
F0 N of Mattoon Coles 2120 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)		 Brief tornado with no damage.
F0 N of Fairgrange Coles 2135 0.1 mile
(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 house was damaged. Six farms in the area were also affected.
F0 NW of Paris (2nd tornado) Edgar 2212 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 A machine shed was destroyed while another shed, a garage, and a baseball field were all damaged.
F1 Rutland area LaSalle 2240 0.5 mile
(0.8 km)		 A large building, a house, 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 mile
(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 occurred when a second tornado hit the same area later that evening.
F2 S of Havana Mason 2307 9 miles
(14.4 km)		 Two trailers and some farm buildings were destroyed. One house had major damage, and eleven others had minor damage. A “semi-truck” was blown off the road and into a field, and a number of trees were knocked down. One person was injured during the storm.
F1 E of Raritan Henderson 2310 3.5 miles
(5.6 km)		 Fifteen houses, a barn, and some outbuildings were damaged. At one farm, three grain bins and some irrigation equipment were either heavily 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 bushes, and some trees were damaged.
F1 Easton Mason 2317 9 miles
(14.4 km)		 Two houses were destroyed and five others sustained major damage. The high school was also damaged. A barn and a house were both lifted off of their foundations.
F2 E of Jacksonville Morgan 2318 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 One house was destroyed, and some farm buildings were either damaged or destroyed. Two guard towers, one greenhouse, and some fencing at a prison were damaged. A chemical plant sustained damage, and two nearby railroad cars 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 mile
(0.16 km)		 Brief tornado with no damage.
F0 NE of New Berlin Sangamon 2332 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 Three houses, a barn, and a machine shed were all damaged. Two “semi-trucks” were blown over on Interstate 72.
F3 E of Armington Logan, Tazewell, McLean 2358 9.4 miles
(15 km)		 Two houses, a church, and several outbuildings were destroyed while 15 other houses were damaged. In addition, some 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)		 At least 150 houses were damaged; of those, 26 sustained major damage and 15 were beyond repair. In addition, Galva's sewage treatment plant was heavily damaged. Four people were injured.
F0 Momence Kankakee 0001 5 miles
(8 km)		 Two houses had roof damage.
F0 Galva Henry 0010 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 Gravestones at a cemetery were pushed over.
F3 Decatur Macon 0022 14.5 miles
(23.2 km)		 At least eight - possibly ten - houses were destroyed and several others were damaged. In addition, a church, a grain silo, and the Sims Lumber Company were destroyed while a school gymnasium and several buildings at a manufacturing plant were damaged. Twenty-nine people were injured, and total damages were estimated at $9 million.
F2 Salem Marion 0035 20 miles
(32 km)		 Several buildings at the County Fairgrounds, eight mobile homes, and two houses were destroyed while 46 other houses and mobile homes as well as 23 businesses were damaged. Two-ton trucks were turned 180 degrees by the tornado. Seven people were injured, and total damages were estimated at about $7 million.
F0 NW of Tiskilwa Bureau 0040 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)		 Damage was limited to a utility pole.
F1 S of Milmine Piatt 0055 0.3 mile
(0.5 km)		 A grain bin was destroyed while houses, 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 houses were destroyed and one other house was damaged. A church and a machine shed also sustained damage. At a nearby airport, three single engine planes, two gliders, and a hangar were destroyed.
F1 Greendale Marion, Clay 0105 5 miles
(8 km)		 A farmhouse, barn, and other farm buildings were destroyed. Trees and power lines were knocked down.
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)		 Houses and barns sustained roof damage. Trees and power linea were brought down by the storm.
F1 W of Mulkeytown Perry, Franklin 0120 2.5 miles
(4 km)		 A church, a house, and trees were damaged while some 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 house were destroyed.
F3 Urbana Champaign 0134 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 A total of 33 houses were destroyed while 83 other houses and five businesses sustained minor to moderate damage. Twelve people were injured, and damage was estimated at $9 million.
F3 Ogden Champaign 0155 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 1 death - Major damage throughout most of Ogden. A total of 68 houses, 12 businesses, three churches, and a library were destroyed. The town’s elementary school was heavily damaged. Twenty businesses and 179 houses showed major or minor damage. A woman in a “semi-truck” was killed when the tornado crossed I-74,[2] and 13 others were injured.
F0 NW of Catlin Vermilion 0208 0.1 mile
(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 houses were destroyed and 50 others sustained moderate to severe damage. At least 45 outbuildings and barns as well as 60 (as many as 70) grain bins were either damaged or destroyed. The town of Piopolis was devastated;[3] however, there were no fatalities or injuries reported.[4]
F1 N of Carmi White 0230 1 mile
(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)		 A total of 400 houses 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 mile
(0.5 km)		 Damage was limited to trees.
F0 SE of Mine La Motte Madison 0210 0.3 mile
(0.5 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage.
F3 Perryville Perry 0230 11.5 miles
(18.4 km)		 A total of 13 houses were destroyed and 68 others 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 houses and cars.
F2 NW of Poplar Bluff Butler 0305 2.5 miles
(4 km)		 Numerous barns and utility poles were destroyed while houses, hay balers, and farm equipment were all damaged. Grain bins and other items were carried some distance.
F1 N of Bernie Stoddard 0403 0.6 mile
(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 mile
(0.16 km)		 Several barns were destroyed.
F2 N of Commerce Hunt 0038 0.5 mile
(0.8 km)		 Two mobile homes were destroyed. Trees, power lines, and two houses were damaged.
Indiana
F1 Landersdale Morgan, Johnson 0040 5 miles
(8 km)		 Six buildings were destroyed, and 50 others were damaged. Four people were injured.
F1 SW of Burr Oak Marshall 0150 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 Farm buildings were damaged, and power lines were downed.
F1 SE of Plymouth Marshall 0205 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 A mobile home was damaged and a truck was overturned.
F0 N of Milford Kosciusko 0252 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage.
F0 NW of Emison Knox 0315 1 mile
(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)		 Two mobile homes were destroyed, and several buildings at a manufacturing plant were damaged. Five railroad box cars were overturned, and two metal culverts were lifted.
F2 W of Arthur Pike 0442 0.8 mile
(1.3 km)		 One house was destroyed and ten others sustained minor to moderate damage. Also, as many as 15 barns and small sheds were reported as destroyed.
F0 NW of Heltonville Lawrence 0457 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 Several houses were damaged and numerous trees were downed.
F0 E of Freetown Jackson 0505 1 mile
(1.6 km)
F1 SW of Burnsville Bartholomew 0545 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 Damage to several farm buildings and a transmission tower.
F0 Westport Decatur 0555 0.1 mile
(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 mile
(1.6 km)		 Six houses were damaged, and some mobile homes were overturned.
Iowa
F0 Preston Jackson 0117 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines.
F0 S of Preston Clinton 0117 0.2 mile
(0.32 km)		 One house had roof damage.
Kentucky
F1 Mount Washington Bullitt 0640 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 118 houses were damaged, with three houses and two mobile homes completely 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 mile
(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, and two trailers as well as several barns were destroyed. Other unknown 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 houses and mobile homes, six businesses, a church, and two show pavilions at the county fairgrounds were all destroyed. One house 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 houses were hit. A church steeple was also toppled. Many trees were downed with some of them falling onto and damaging houses. 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)		 At least 800 homes were damaged, and 35 of them were completely destroyed or heavily damaged. Forty businesses were damaged; of those, 26 businesses were severely damaged or destroyed. 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)		 At least 40 houses and 20 barns were damaged with three of the houses and 12 of the barns sustaining significant damage. Farm machinery was also damaged.
Tennessee
F2 SE of Barnesville Lawrence 1145 0.5 mile
(0.8 km)		 One house lost its roof, and 12 people were injured.
F2 SE of Summertown Lawrence 1150 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 At least 25 houses were damaged, and two of those houses sustained severe damage.
F2 N of Lynnville Giles 1156 1 mile
(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 all damaged. The fatality occurred when a tree fell onto a mobile home.
Alabama
F0 Birmingham Jefferson 1709 0.3 mile
(0.5 km)		 Some minor structural damage occurred, and trees were downed.
North Carolina
F0 SE of Sugar Hill McDowell 1750 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)		 Roof was partially removed from a house.
F1 SE of Boone Watauga 1800 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)		 Sixteen vehicles at an amusement park were damaged, and one person was injured.
Texas
F1 Timpson Shelby 2115 5 miles
(8 km)		 Two trailers were destroyed, and both trees and power lines were downed.
Louisiana
F0 SW of Kingston De Soto 2145 0.5 mile
(0.8 km)		 Damage was limited to trees.
Ontario
F3 SW of Williamsford to NE of Blantyre 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 mile
(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 other houses.
F0 SE of Fox Carter 2335 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage.
F0 NW of Wilson Carter 2335 0.1 mile
(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 mile
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage.
F1 N of Barnsdall Osage 0000 0.5 mile
(0.8 km)
F0 SE of Davis Murray 0025 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 One house 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, a number of houses, an apartment complex, and a restaurant were damaged. Outbuildings, radio antennas and trees were destroyed. At least homes had minor to major damage.
F0 NW of Nowata Nowata 0028 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)
F0 NW of Scullin (1st tornado) Murray 0049 0.5 mile
(0.8 km)		 Damage to barns and silos.
F0 NW of Scullin (2nd tornado) Murray 0050 0.5 mile
(0.8 km)		 Damage to barns and silos.
F1 W of Fairland Ottawa 0115 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)
F3 Fort Smith, Arkansas Sequoyah (OK), Sebastian (AR), Crawford (AR) 0212 10.1 miles
(16.2 km)		 2 deaths - Nearly 500 houses and 246 apartment units were destroyed, 620 other houses had major damage, and another 1,275 houses showed minor damage. Ninety-eight businesses were damaged or destroyed. The downtown business district of Fort Smith was devastated near the Garrison Avenue Bridge. Homes were also destroyed in Van Buren. A two year-old girl and five year-old boy were both killed when their houses (about three blocks apart) collapsed on them during the storm. At least 40 others were injured. The National Weather Service reported damages in excess of $300 million.[5]
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 mile
(1.6 km)
Texas
F0 E of Sunset Montague 0125 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)		 Power lines were blown down.
F0 NE of Bowie Montague 0130 0.1 mile
(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)		 The siding on several houses was damaged. Significant tree damage was also reported.
F0 S of Gainesville Cooke 0220 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage.
F0 SW of Dixie Grayson 0233 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 A barn was destroyed, and trees were damaged.
F0 W of Denison Grayson 0307 0.1 mile
(0.16 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines.
F0 NW of Lindsay (2nd tornado) Cooke 0325 1 mile
(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 houses were destroyed, and several other buildings were damaged. Numerous trees were also downed. Two people were injured.
F3 SW of Dutton to SW of Weathers Madison 0515 15 miles
(24 km)		 2 deaths - Worst damage occurred near St. Paul. Eight houses and a mobile home were destroyed; in addition, a church was damaged. Six people were injured.
F2 NE of Yellville Marion 0640 12 miles
(18.4 km)		 Trailers were either damaged or destroyed with houses and businesses also sustaining damage. Six people were injured.
F1 N of Natural Dam Crawford 0708 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 Several houses were damaged.
Source: Tornado History Project - April 21, 1996 Storm Data, Quebec tornadoes 1985-present, NCDC Storm Data

See also

References
  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.
  2. "Illinois' Largest Tornado Outbreak: April 19, 1996". weather.gov/ilx. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  3. "Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena - April 1996" (PDF). weather.gov. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  4. "Monsignor is no stranger to natural disasters". dailyregister.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  5. "Fort Smith and Van Buren, Arkansas, Tornado of April 21, 1996" (PDF). weather.gov. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
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