Tornado outbreak of June 14–18, 1992

The Tornado outbreak of June 14–18, 1992 was one of the largest tornado outbreaks on record, affecting portions of the Central United States from June 14 to June 18, 1992. The outbreak began on June 14 when six tornadoes touched down in Colorado and Idaho. Fifty-eight tornadoes were reported across portions of the Great Plains on June 15, and 65 more were reported over much of the central U.S. on June 16. The 123 tornadoes that touched down on June 15–16 make that two-day span the 5th largest two-day tornado outbreak in U.S. history behind the 1974 Super Outbreak, the May 2004 tornado outbreak sequence, the tornado outbreak of April 14–16, 2011, and the 2011 Super Outbreak. Twenty-eight more tornadoes touched down on June 17, and 13 more touched down on June 18, giving this outbreak 170 confirmed tornadoes.

Tornado outbreak of June 14–18, 1992
The Chandler, Lake Wilson tornado on June 16, 1992.
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationJune 14–18, 1992
Tornadoes
confirmed
170 confirmed
(Record for a continuous outbreak in June)
Max. rating1F5 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2
~4 days
Fatalities1 fatality, 110 injuries
Damage$242 million (1992 dollars)
Areas affectedCentral and Midwestern United States, Florida

1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Meteorological synopsis

A major spring storm began developing in the western United States over the weekend of June 13–14, 1992. The storm ejected a minor upper air impulse across the Northern Plains on June 13, triggering severe weather across the extreme northwest corner of South Dakota. Golf ball sized hail and 10 inches of rain destroyed crops and killed over 500 sheep in Harding County, South Dakota. This event preceded the main storm which still was positioned over the western United States. As the storm moved to the east over the next several days, it caused 170 tornadoes in the central United States, including an F5 tornado in Chandler, Minnesota. The storm system finally began to weaken as it moved to the eastern United States on June 18.

Outbreak description

Tornado damage near Leota, Minnesota

On Tuesday, June 16, 1992, eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota were heavily impacted by the storm as it moved from the Rocky Mountain Region across the Upper Midwest. At least two dozen tornadoes were reported that day, with more than three times that many reports of large hail and strong winds, causing widespread swaths of damage to crops, buildings, and other personal property across much of eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota. The first tornado, spawned by a supercell thunderstorm, touched down in Charles Mix County, South Dakota about 1:00 pm. The last tornado was reported shortly before midnight that evening, ending an 11-hour period of intense severe weather across eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota. Until the record was broken in 2010, the 27 tornadoes that touched down in Minnesota on June 16 mark the largest single day tornado outbreak in Minnesota since accurate records started being kept in 1950.[1][2]

Remarkably there was only one fatality from this outbreak, that coming from an F5 tornado in Chandler, Minnesota. In addition to the F5, three F4 tornadoes were reported in Murray County, Minnesota, and Mitchell and McPherson counties in Kansas. Damage estimates for the two days were in excess of $160 million.[3][4][5][6]

This outbreak played a large part in a record setting month in June, 1992. The 399 tornadoes that touched down in that month was a United States record at the time, breaking the old record of 335 tornadoes set in May, 1991. This record was eventually broken, when 543 tornadoes touched down during May, 2003.[7] This record, though, would broken in turn when over 750 tornadoes touched down in April 2011.[8][9]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 54 64 33 15 3 1 170

June 14 event

List of confirmed tornadoes
F#LocationCountyTime (UTC)Path lengthDamage
Idaho
F0 E of Burley Cassia 2202 0 miles A brief tornado touched down twice.[10]
Colorado
F0 W of Gill Weld 0026 1 mile (1.6 km) This tornado occurred near the Greeley–Weld County Airport.[11]
F0 N of Goodrich Morgan 0027 0 miles Debris persisted for a few minutes.[11]
F0 SE of Raymer Morgan 0027 0 miles This tornado moved three grain bins for 250 yd (230 m).[11]
F0 NE of Barnesville Weld 0115 0 miles This and the next event were observed nearly simultaneously.[11]
F0 N of Fort Morgan Weld 0130 0 miles See previous event.[11]

June 15 event

List of confirmed tornadoes
F#LocationCountyTime (UTC)Path lengthDamage
Kansas
F0 NE of Plainville (1st tornado) Rooks 2115 1 mile (1.6 km) This tornado occurred over open land.[12]
F1 N of Natoma (1st tornado) Osborne 2126 1 mile (1.6 km) Very minimal damage was reported.[12]
F0 E of Zurich Rooks 2128 1 mile (1.6 km) One mobile home was destroyed on the eastern outskirts of Plainville.[12]
F1 NE of Plainville (2nd tornado) Rooks 2137 7 miles (11 km) This tornado destroyed a double-wide and a feedlot. 30–40 head of cattle died. Two injuries occurred in the double-wide. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2.[13][12]
F0 N of Natoma (2nd tornado) Osborne 2146 0.5 miles (0.80 km) This tornado lasted only a minute.[12]
F0 SE of Bloomington (1st tornado) Osborne 2251 0.5 miles (0.80 km) Tornado occurred over open country.[14]
F1 SE of Bloomington (2nd tornado) Osborne 2251 2 miles (3.2 km) Several farms were damaged.[14]
F1 SE of Osborne (1st tornado) Osborne 2315 0.8 miles (1.3 km)
F1 SW of Osborne Osborne 2334–2337 1 mile (1.6 km)
F1 S of Osborne Osborne 2340 1 mile (1.6 km) This tornado felled a number of large trees.[14]
F1 Osborne area Osborne 2345 0.5 miles (0.80 km) Trees and roofs were badly damaged.[14]
F1 SE of Osborne (2nd tornado) Osborne 2355 1 mile (1.6 km)
F2 SE of Corinth Mitchell 2356 3.5 miles (5.6 km)
F1 SE of Mankato Jewell 2359 1 mile (1.6 km)
F2 NE of Tipton (1st tornado) Mitchell 0002 3 miles (4.8 km)
F1 SW of Webber Jewell 0006 2 miles (3.2 km)
F1 NE of Tipton (2nd tornado) Mitchell 0007 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
F2 E of Mankato Jewell 0009 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
F2 E of Tipton Mitchell 0010 4 miles (6.4 km)
F4 SW of Beloit (1st tornado) Mitchell 0030 3 miles (4.8 km)
F1 NW of Lovewell Jewell 0035 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
F2 SW of Beloit (2nd tornado) Mitchell 0035 2 miles (3.2 km)
F2 SW of Beloit (3rd tornado) Mitchell 0038 2 miles (3.2 km)
F1 SW of Beloit (4th tornado) Mitchell 0040 2 miles (3.2 km)
F3 SW of Beloit (5th tornado) Mitchell 0045 2 miles (3.2 km)
F1 SW of Beloit (6th tornado) Mitchell 0055 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
F0 N of Republic Republic 0100 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F1 SW of Beloit (7th tornado) Mitchell 0105 1.3 miles (2.1 km)
F1 SW of Simpson Mitchell 0135 2 miles (3.2 km)
F1 SE of Simpson Cloud 0152 2 miles (3.2 km)
F1 NE of Simpson Cloud 0158 2 miles (3.2 km)
F1 S of Delphos Ottawa 0235 1 mile (1.6 km)
F3 W of Delphos Ottawa 0252 3 miles (4.8 km)
F4 McPherson McPherson 0335 6 miles (9.7 km)
F1 NW of Miltonvale Cloud 0337 1 mile (1.6 km)
F2 Roxbury McPherson 0340 7 miles (11 km)
F1 SE of Roxbury to NW of Ramona McPherson, Marion 0509 17 miles (27 km)
F1 SW of Elmo Dickinson 0520 2 miles (3.2 km)
F0 SW of Abilene Dickinson 0538 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F1 E of Enterprise Dickinson 0648 1 mile (1.6 km)
F0 S of Solomon Dickinson 0705 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
South Dakota
F2 S of Philip Haakon 2210 2 miles (3.2 km)
F0 NE of Raymond Clark 0005 0.2 miles (0.32 km)
F0 SE of Bristol Day 0250 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
Nebraska
F1 Doniphan Hall 0020 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F2 SW of Osceola Polk 0045 2 miles (3.2 km)
F2 N of Hampton Hamilton 0055 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F0 N of Schuyler (1st tornado) Colfax 0115 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F2 N of Schuyler (2nd tornado) Colfax 0115 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F3 SE of Milligan to W of Milford Saline, Seward 0155 21 miles (34 km)
F1 W of West Point Cuming 0250 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F1 SW of West Point Cuming 0255 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F1 SE of West Point Cuming 0300 4 miles (6.4 km)
F3 W of Malcolm Seward 0315 14 miles (23 km)
F1 N of Bancroft Cuming 0320 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F1 NW of Tecumseh Johnson 0458 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
F1 NW of Johnson Johnson 0512 1.2 miles (1.9 km)
F1 SW of Burr Otoe 0530 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Sources: Tornado History Project Storm Data - June 15, 1992

June 16 event

List of confirmed tornadoes
F#LocationCountyTime (UTC)Path lengthDamage
South Dakota
F2 W of Mitchell (1st tornado) Davison 1930 3 miles (4.8 km)
F2 W of Mitchell (2nd tornado) Davison 1930 3 miles (4.8 km)
F0 NE of Letcher Sanborn 2023 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F2 SW of Fedora Miner 2025 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F3 SW of Oldham Miner 2045 3 miles (4.8 km)
F3 S of Arlington Kingsbury, Brookings 2135 4 miles (6.4 km)
F0 W of Oldham Kingsbury 2137 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F3 W of Fort Thompson Buffalo 2215 2 miles (3.2 km)
F0 SW of Pickstown Charles Mix 0003 0.3 miles (0.48 km)
F0 NE of Tripp Hutchinson 0110 0.3 miles (0.48 km)
F1 Bridgewater (1st tornado) McCook 0130 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F1 Bridgewater (2nd tornado) McCook 0130 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F1 Brookings area Brookings 0130 7 miles (11 km)
F1 NE of Rutland Lake 0145 1 mile (1.6 km)
F0 SW of Centerville Clay 0150 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F2 Colton Minnehaha 0200 5 miles (8.0 km)
Iowa
F1 NE of Cedar Falls Black Hawk 2003 4.7 miles (7.6 km)
F3 NW of Logan to N of Dow City Harrison, Crawford 0230 26 miles (42 km)
F0 SE of Perkins Sioux 0255 0.2 miles (0.32 km)
F0 S of Ida Grove Ida 0348 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F0 NE of Soldier Monona 0401 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F2 NE of Oakland Pottawattamie 0500 4 miles (6.4 km)
F2 SW of Dumfries Mills 0514 3 miles (4.8 km)
F0 Harlan area Shelby 0545 0.2 miles (0.32 km)
Nebraska
F0 SW of Hemingford Box Butte 2120 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F0 W of Alliance Box Butte 2151 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F1 SE of Ainsworth Brown 2215 4 miles (6.4 km)
F1 N of Newport Rock 2315 1 mile (1.6 km)
F1 SW of Anselmo Custer 2317 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F0 SE of Anselmo Custer 2323 0.2 miles (0.32 km)
F1 NW of Gates Custer 2335 0.4 miles (0.64 km)
F1 SE of Naper Boyd 2338 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
F1 NE of Butte Boyd 2350 10 miles (16 km)
F1 Hartington Cedar 0147 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F2 NE of Oakland Burt 0400 4 miles (6.4 km)
F0 S of Western Saline 0405 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F0 NE of Waverly Lancaster 0423 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
Minnesota
F5 S of Leota to E of Lake Wilson Nobles, Murray, Lyon 2200 35 miles (56 km) 1 deathSee article on this tornado – 40+ people were injured.
F4 E of Lake Wilson Murray 2218 7 miles (11 km)
F3 S of Clarkfield Yellow Medicine 2230 6 miles (9.7 km)
F2 NE of Hadley Murray 2230 13 miles (21 km)
F3 NW of Currie Murray, Lyon 2300 12 miles (19 km)
F2 E of Amiret Lyon 2318 2 miles (3.2 km)
F3 NE of Tracy Redwood 2325 16 miles (26 km)
F1 SW of Milroy Redwood 2355 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F2 NE of Danvers Swift 2358 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
F3 W of Wabasso Redwood 0010 13 miles (21 km)
F2 N of Vesta Redwood 0025 12 miles (19 km)
F2 S of Delhi Redwood 0025 8 miles (13 km)
F1 W of Redwood Falls Redwood 0030 6.5 miles (10.5 km)
F2 E of Delhi Redwood 0040 5.5 miles (8.9 km)
F2 W of Bechyn Renville 0050 5 miles (8.0 km)
F2 NW of Bechyn Renville 0125 3 miles (4.8 km)
F2 W of Sacred Heart Renville 0200 2.5 miles (4.0 km)
F1 NW of Jasper Pipestone 0200 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F2 S of Chandler Murray 0210 4 miles (6.4 km)
F2 W of Slayton Murray 0220 0.5 miles (0.80 km)
F3 SE of Clarkfield Yellow Medicine 0240 2.5 miles (4.0 km)
F2 S of Danube Renville 0330 2 miles (3.2 km)
F2 E of Westbrook Cottonwood 0330 7.5 miles (12.1 km)
F1 SE of Leavenworth Brown 0400 1 mile (1.6 km)
F3 Cokato Wright 0410 10 miles (16 km)
F2 N of Maple Lake Wright 0420 10 miles (16 km)
F2 NW of Foley Benton 0450 0.3 miles (0.48 km)
North Dakota
F0 E of Bismarck Burleigh 2320 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
Sources: Tornado History Project Storm Data - June 16, 1992 Archived July 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

Non-tornadic events

In addition to the severe weather, another devastating weather event was taking place across northeastern South Dakota. Heavy rains were occurring in an area already saturated by previous rains. Over a two- to three-day period in mid-June 1992, 15 to 20 inches of rain fell in the Clear Lake-Watertown area of northeast South Dakota, resulting in widespread flooding throughout the area, and major downstream flooding of the Big Sioux River.

See also

References

  1. "Minnesota Tornado History and Statistics". Minnesota Climatology Office. 2006-09-20. Archived from the original on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
  2. "2010 Minnesota Tornadoes – a Record Year" (PDF). National Weather Service - Chanhassen, MN. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  3. "JUNE IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS STATES". Intellicast.com. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
  4. Woelm, Scott. "Top 10 Minnesota Severe Weather Events 1990-1999". Minnesota Skywarn. Archived from the original on 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
  5. "Chandler-Lake Wilson Minnesota F5 Tornado". National Weather Service - Sioux Falls. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
  6. "Storm Events". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
  7. "May 2003 Tornado Statistics (SPC)". Archived from the original on 2003-12-07.
  8. "Tornado History Project: April 2011". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  9. "Tornadoes - April 2011". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  10. National Weather Service (June 1992). "Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena". Storm Data. Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center. 34 (6): 55. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  11. Storm Data 1992, p. 33
  12. Storm Data 1992, p. 83
  13. Grazulis, Thomas P. (January 1997). Significant Tornadoes Update, 1992–1995. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. p. 1331. ISBN 1-879362-04-X.
  14. Storm Data 1992, p. 84
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