April 13–16, 2012 tornado outbreak
File:April 14, 2012 Marquette, Kansas EF4 tornado.JPG
An EF4 tornado near Marquette, Kansas
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Type | Tornado outbreak |
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Duration | April 13–16, 2012 |
Tornadoes confirmed | 114 confirmed, 183 reported |
Max rating1 | EF4 tornado |
Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 2 days, 16 hours, 37 minutes |
Damage | At least $283 million (in Wichita, unknown elsewhere)[1] |
Casualties | 6 fatalities[2] |
1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado |
From April 13–16, 2012, a major tornado outbreak occurred across a large portion of the Central United States into the Great Lakes region. The storms resulted in 6 tornado-related fatalities, four of which occurred in a mobile home park in Woodward, Oklahoma and two others southeast of Woodward near Tangier, where an EF3 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale caused significant damage and leveled at least 10 homes.
Contents
Meteorological synopsis
An impressive low pressure area began tracking into the Central Plains on April 13, and a high-end slight risk of severe weather was issued with isolated strong tornadoes possible. Central Oklahoma was hardest hit with large hail, although one tornado was reported. It caused minor damage in Norman, Oklahoma, where there were unofficial reports of injuries.
For only the second time in history (previously for April 7, 2006), a day two high risk [3] of severe weather was issued by the Storm Prediction Center. In the discussion, the SPC stated that a major tornado outbreak was likely across central Kansas and north-central Oklahoma during the afternoon and overnight hours of April 14. It was later expanded to include a second high risk area across much of Nebraska, where a rare 45% tornado probability was given during the late morning update on April 13. During the morning hours on the 14th, the high risk area was expanded again to combine the two separate areas into a single large one. Later in the day, the 45% tornado probability was shifted from Nebraska south to Kansas and northern Oklahoma.
Several PDS Tornado Warnings were issued in Kansas, being some of the first ever PDS warnings. Many tornadoes were reported, but most of them were in rural areas with little damage despite being considered "large and extremely dangerous".
An EF2 tornado struck and damaged the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, Iowa. The hospital was triaging and moving patients. A temporary hospital was set up at Southwest Community College.
At least four tornadoes were reported near Dodge City, in southwestern Kansas. Two were reported in Rush County.[4]
Late in the evening, a potentially violent tornado tracked across a long swath of south-central Kansas and into Wichita around 10:15 pm CDT (0315 UTC). Staff at the Wichita National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport were forced to hand over responsibility for their County Warning Area to the National Weather Service offices in Topeka and take shelter at about 10:00 pm CDT (0300 UTC), returning to duty half an hour later.[5]
Around 10:00 p.m. CDT (0300 UTC), a broken squall line began to form across the eastern portions of the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles; a thunderstorm developed ahead of the northern line segment in northwestern Wheeler County, Texas at approximately 10:30 p.m. CDT (0330 UTC), and began developing supercell characteristics as it tracked northeastward into the Oklahoma counties of Ellis and Roger Mills. A tornado warning was issued for Ellis, Harper and Woodward counties at 12:00 am CDT (0500 UTC) on April 15 after weather spotters reported a tornado spawned by this supercell located 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Gage in Ellis County.[6] This tornado later struck Woodward, Oklahoma at 12:20 am CDT (0520 UTC), killing six people.[7][8]
Tornadoes
EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total |
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70 | 35 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 114 |
April 13 event
List of reported tornadoes - Friday, April 13, 2012 | ||||||
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Oklahoma | ||||||
EF1 | Norman area | McClain, Cleveland | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2059 | 5.5 miles (8.9 km) | An EF1 tornado with winds estimated at 100 mph (160 km/h) tracked through downtown Norman, causing widespread damage. Many homes sustained varying degrees of damage. A paint store was destroyed by the tornado and many trees and power lines were downed. An apartment complex lost its roof as well. Twenty people were injured by the tornado, though only one required hospitalization.[9] |
EF0 | NNW of Shawnee | Pottawatomie | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2224 | 0.3 miles (0.48 km) | A small outbuilding was damaged. |
EF0 | SE of Blair (1st tornado) | Jackson | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2310 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | SE of Blair (2nd tornado) | Jackson | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2316 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | E of Blair | Jackson | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2330 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | SE of Cooperton | Kiowa | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0025 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | S of Cooperton | Kiowa | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0027 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | Cooperton area | Kiowa | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0028 | 5 miles (8.0 km) | A silo was damaged and another structure sustained minor roof damage. |
EF0 | NE of Cooperton | Kiowa | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0052 | 6 miles (9.7 km) | Large tornado with no damage. |
EF0 | SSE of Carnegie (1st tornado) | Caddo | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0136 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | No damage was reported with this tornado. |
EF0 | SSE of Carnegie (2nd tornado) | Caddo | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0142 | 0.3 miles (480 m) | No damage was reported with this tornado. |
EF0 | SSE of Carnegie (3rd tornado) | Caddo | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0150 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | No damage was reported. |
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 04/13/12, NCDC Storm Events Database |
April 14 event
List of reported tornadoes - Saturday, April 14, 2012 | ||||||
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Oklahoma | ||||||
EF1 | NNW of Mustang | Canadian | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0552 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Four mobile homes suffered minor damage, with one structure sustaining major roof damage. Many trees, power lines, and fences were downed. Numerous homes sustained minor damage, mostly to roofs and siding, and garage doors and windows blown out. One home lost a large portion of its roof. |
EF0 | NW of Woodward | Woodward | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2049 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF1 | N of Woodward | Woodward, Harper | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2059 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | Brief tornado damaged a barn. |
EF0 | WNW of Freedom | Woodward | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2126 | 0.2 miles (320 m) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | NNW of Freedom | Woods | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2133 | 0.3 miles (480 m) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | SSW of Tangier | Woodward | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2218 | 0.2 miles (320 m) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF0 | SSW of Tangier | Woodward | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2224 | 0.2 miles (320 m) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF0 | NE of Mooreland | Woodward | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2315 | 0.2 miles (320 m) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF0 | ESE of Mooreland | Woodward | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2350 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF0 | ENE of Mooreland | Woodward | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2351 | 0.2 miles (320 m) | Brief multiple-vortex tornado with no damage. |
EF0 | SSW of Waynoka | Major | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0001 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF1 | S of Waynoka | Major, Woods | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0006 | 7.2 miles (11.6 km) | Equipment at an oil field was damaged, causing a fire. |
EF0 | SE of Waynoka | Woods | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0019 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | E of Waynoka to NE of Hopeton | Woods | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0030 | 9 miles (14 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF1 | W of Cherokee | Alfalfa | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0047 | 10 miles (16 km) | Large and visually intense tornado avoided well-built structures. Farm equipment and several outbuildings were damaged. Two large steel barns were destroyed. |
EF0 | NW of Cherokee to NW of Amorita | Alfalfa | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0057 | 12 miles (19 km) | Tornado occurred simultaneously with the previous tornado. Several trees and outbuildings were damaged. |
EF1 | E of Byron to NE of Danville, KS | Alfalfa, Grant, Harper (KS) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0119 | 36.6 miles (58.9 km) | Large stovepipe tornado. Several homes and outbuildings were damaged and vehicles were destroyed. Numerous trees and power poles were also downed. |
EF3 | N of Arnett to Woodward | Ellis, Woodward | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0442 | 31 miles (50 km) | 6 deaths – See section on this tornado |
Kansas | ||||||
EF1 | NW of Burdett | Pawnee | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1638 | 4.1 miles (6.6 km) | A house suffered roof damage and an outbuilding was damaged. |
EF1 | Rush Center to ESE of Loretta | Rush | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1714 | 17.2 miles (27.7 km) | A pivot sprinkler and a few outbuildings were damaged. Trees were downed. |
EF0 | S of Russell | Russell | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1823 | 0.75 miles (1.21 km) | A barn suffered minor damage. |
EF0 | NE of Russell | Russell | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1834 | 1.75 miles (2.82 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | WSW of Lucas | Russell | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1843 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF1 | NNE of Dodge City to W of Burdett | Ford, Hodgeman | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1857 | 32.9 miles (52.9 km) | Long-tracked tornado remained mostly over open fields. The tornado remained on the ground for nearly one hour. A few structures suffered minor damage and trees were downed. |
EF1 | S of Tipton | Mitchell | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1903 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Five outbuildings were destroyed and several trees were uprooted. |
EF1 | E of Minneola | Clark | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1924 | 6.3 miles (10.1 km) | Several trees were downed. |
EF1 | NE of Burdett to SSW of Rush Center | Pawnee, Rush | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2024 | 4.7 miles (7.6 km) | Several trees were downed and an outbuilding was damaged. |
EF1 | SE of Lewis | Edwards | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2028 | 9.4 miles (15.1 km) | Several trees and power lines were downed. |
EF1 | E of Coldwater | Comanche, Barber | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2059 | 10.9 miles (17.5 km) | Several trees and power lines were downed and a barn was damaged. |
EF0 | ENE of Timken | Rush | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2104 | 0.9 miles (1.4 km) | Brief tornado caused no damage. |
EF1 | ESE of Seward to NNE of Hudson | Stafford | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2125 | 9.75 miles (15.69 km) | Several trees and power poles were downed. |
EF1 | Hudson area | Stafford | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2135 | 14.4 miles (23.2 km) | A few trees and power poles were downed. |
EF0 | Sawyer area | Pratt | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2144 | 2.3 miles (3.7 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | SSE of Ellinwood | Barton | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2150 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF0 | W of Penalosa | Kingman | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2202 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | Brief tornado touchdown. |
EF0 | ENE of Cairo | Pratt | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2208 | 2.3 miles (3.7 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF4 | N of Lyons to SW of Salina | Rice, Ellsworth, McPherson, Saline | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2232 | 40.25 miles (64.78 km) | Large wedge tornado. A house was swept off of its foundation, a gravel road was scoured and dug out at a depth of around 4 inches (10 cm), and trees were shredded and debarked in a rural area.[10] |
EF0 | New Cambria | Saline | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2350 | 0.25 miles (400 m) | Brief tornado touchdown with no damage. |
EF0 | N of Kingman | Kingman | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2355 | 0.25 miles (0.40 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF1 | NNE of New Cambria to SW of Manchester | Saline, Ottawa, Dickinson | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2355 | 16.8 miles (27.0 km) | The roof was lifted off of a farm homes and surrounding buildings were destroyed. There was structural damage to a gas transfer station. Many trees and power poles were downed. Road signs were bent over and blown away near Interstate 70. |
EF0 | N of Pretty Prairie | Reno | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0010 | 0.25 miles (400 m) | Brief tornado touchdown. |
EF0 | ENE of Manchester | Dickinson, Clay | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0031 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Tornado confirmed by storm chasers and remained over open country. Barely crossed into Clay County before lifting. |
EF0 | ESE of Moundridge | McPherson | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0103 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown in open country. |
EF1 | E of Moundridge to Goessel | McPherson, Marion | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0105 | 7 miles (11 km) | Large stovepipe-shaped tornado reported by off-duty NWS employee. A farm sustained serious damage to buildings. |
EF3 | WNW of Greensburg to E of Macksville | Kiowa, Edwards, Stafford | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0127 | 38 miles (61 km) | Large, long-tracked tornado with maximum width of 1 mi (1.6 km). A few homes and other buildings suffered significant damage and many trees were snapped and debarked. Power lines were downed as well. |
EF1 | NE of Greensburg | Kiowa | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0140 | 4.9 miles (7.9 km) | Satellite tornado of the 0127 EF3. A few trees were downed and a mobile home was damaged. |
EF1 | Marion Reservoir to N of Lincolnville | Marion | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0141 | 17 miles (27 km) | A barn was destroyed, several garages and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and numerous trees were downed. |
EF0 | WNW of Burdick | Morris | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0200 | 50 yards (46 m) | Brief tornado touchdown with minor tree damage. |
EF3 | E of Macksville to W of Lyons | Stafford, Rice | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0210 | 42 miles (68 km) | Large, long-tracked tornado with maximum width of 1.5 mi (2.4 km) produced severe damage along its track. |
EF3 | SE of Freeport to W of Conway Springs | Harper, Sumner | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0210 | 18 miles (29 km) | Several homes suffered minor to major roof damage and also damage to other parts of the houses. Other houses were completely removed from their foundations and numerous outbuildings were destroyed. Many trees were downed. |
EF1 | NE of Saint John | Stafford | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0223 | 6.6 miles (10.6 km) | Satellite tornado to the 0210 EF3 in Stafford County. Trees and power poles were downed. |
EF1 | Milan to ENE of Conway Springs | Sumner | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0232 | 7 miles (11 km) | A barn was blown away and many trees and power lines were downed. |
EF3 | SE of Haysville to SW of Andover | Sedgwick | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0321 | 13.2 miles (21.2 km) | See section on this tornado |
EF0 | N of Lindsborg | McPherson, Saline | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0344 | 10.5 miles (16.9 km) | Tornado caused several power flashes. |
EF0 | E of Andover | Butler | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0349 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | NE of Andover | Butler | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0355 | 0.3 miles (480 m) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF1 | SW of El Dorado | Butler | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0355 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) | Several horse barns were damaged. |
EF0 | Near Cassoday | Butler | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0410 | 15 miles (24 km) | Tornado caused several power flashes, but no damage was found. |
EF1 | SE of Kanopolis | Ellsworth | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0418 | 7.5 miles (12.1 km) | A house was damaged. |
EF0 | SW of Olpe | Lyon | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0506 | 50 yards (46 m) | Storm chasers report brief touchdown in open field. |
Nebraska | ||||||
EF0 | E of Hardy | Nuckolls | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1910 | 3.1 miles (5.0 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | E of Deshler | Thayer | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1930 | 100 yards (91 m) | Brief tornado kicked up debris. |
EF0 | N of Alexandria | Thayer | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1956 | 0.3 miles (480 m) | A home and several small outbuildings sustained minor siding and window damage. A grain bin was destroyed, two irrigation pivots were overturned, and several trees and power poles were downed. |
EF0 | Sterling area | Johnson | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2150 | 2.75 miles (4.43 km) | A concession stand and a few road signs were blown over. Several trees were downed as well. |
EF2 | WSW of Cook | Johnson | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2156 | 5.75 miles (9.25 km) | One home sustained extensive damage with debris thrown up to a quarter mile away. A garage and a shed were destroyed, an irrigation pivot was overturned, and many trees and power poles were downed. |
EF0 | ESE of Cook | Johnson, Nehama | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2207 | 3.75 miles (6.04 km) | A few outbuildings were damaged and irrigation pivots were overturned. Several trees were downed as well. |
EF0 | S of North Platte (1st tornado) | Lincoln | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2218 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF1 | NW of Nebraska City | Otoe | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2221 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Several homes and outbuildings were damaged. Trees were downed as well. |
EF0 | NNE of Dickens | Lincoln | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2227 | 100 yards (91 m) | Thin rope tornado with no damage. |
EF0 | SSW of North Platte (1st tornado) | Lincoln | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2228 | 100 yards (91 m) | Brief tornado with no damage. |
EF0 | SSW of North Platte (2nd tornado) | Lincoln | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2232 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | Tornado occurred over open rangeland with no damage. |
EF0 | S of North Platte | Lincoln | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2232 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | SE of North Platte | Lincoln | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2247 | 100 yards (91 m) | No damage was reported. |
EF0 | NNE of Oxford | Harlan | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2316 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Rope tornado destroyed a grain bin. |
EF0 | NW of Wellfleet to SW of Brady | Lincoln | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2336 | 15 miles (24 km) | Tornado traveled over open rangeland with no damage. |
EF0 | NNW of Anselmo | Custer | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0038 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF1 | NNW of Pleasant Dale | Seward | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0426 | 2.3 miles (3.7 km) | Several outbuildings were destroyed. Homes suffered minor damage and trees were downed. |
Iowa | ||||||
EF0 | NW of Castana | Monona | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1928 | 0.4 miles (0.64 km) | Brief tornado with no damage. |
EF2 | Thurman area | Fremont | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2235 | 10.8 miles (17.4 km) | Half-mile wide tornado damaged 75 percent of the town with many homes badly damaged; residents evacuated to a nearby town. Four people were injured, with one trucker on Interstate 29 severely injured. Extensive tree damage occurred throughout the town. |
EF2 | Creston area | Adams, Union | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2355 | 16.6 miles (26.7 km) | Tornado started well to the southwest of town and clipped the northwestern part. The Green Hills Area Education Agency was destroyed. Several homes and apartment buildings were badly damaged and vehicles were flipped. Creston Medical Center and Southwestern Community College both sustained significant damage, and the hospital had to be evacuated. Numerous farm houses were also damaged. One poorly built home north of town was completely leveled. 10 people were injured. |
EF1 | E of New Virginia | Warren | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0055 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Short-lived tornado severely damaged a farm and flipped several trailers. |
EF1 | N of Oskaloosa | Mahaska | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0223 | 1.3 miles (2.1 km) | Short-lived tornado caused scattered damage, most of which was associated with a gust front. |
EF1 | W of Martinsburg | Keokuk | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0235 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Several trees and power lines were downed. 10 homes and several other structures were damaged and a police car was flipped over. |
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 04/14/12, NWS Hastings, NWS Wichita, NWS Dodge City, NWS Topeka, NWS Omaha, NWS North Platte, NCDC Storm Events Database |
April 15 event
List of reported tornadoes - Sunday, April 15, 2012 | ||||||
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Nebraska | ||||||
EF1 | N of South Bend | Cass, Sarpy | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0518 | 1.9 miles (3.1 km) | Trees were downed and a few outbuildings were damaged. |
EF0 | W of Litchfield | Sherman | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1648 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | A metal building was damaged. |
EF0 | ESE of Ord | Valley | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1737 | 100 yards (91 m) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF0 | NE of Ericson | Wheeler | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1805 | 0.25 miles (0.40 km) | A pole barn sustained major damage and the roof of another structure was destroyed. |
EF0 | NNE of Bartlett | Wheeler | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1855 | 0.15 miles (0.24 km) | Brief tornado touchdown with no damage. |
EF0 | SSW of Verdigre | Knox | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1927 | 0.4 miles (0.64 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
EF0 | WNW of Santee | Knox | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1935 | 0.4 miles (0.64 km) | Brief touchdown near Lewis and Clark Lake with no damage. |
Iowa | ||||||
EF1 | SW of McClelland | Pottawattamie | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0555 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Short-lived tornado damaged numerous trees and an outbuilding. |
Oklahoma | ||||||
EF1 | SW of Skiatook | Osage | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1049 | 4.2 miles (6.8 km) | A metal hanger was damaged and several trees were snapped or uprooted. |
EF1 | SSE of Tahlequah | Cherokee, Adair | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1422 | 14.5 miles (23.3 km) | One mobile home was destroyed and several homes lost their roofs. A few outbuildings were also destroyed. |
South Dakota | ||||||
EF0 | NE of Springfield | Bon Homme | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1940 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | Brief rope tornado with no damage. |
Minnesota | ||||||
EF0 | ENE of Minneota | Lyon | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2111 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | Brief tornado with no damage. |
EF0 | SW of Brownton | McLeod | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 0024 | 150 yards (140 m) | Brief tornado with no damage. |
Arkansas | ||||||
EF1 | SE of Morganton | Van Buren | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 2311 | 2.3 miles (3.7 km) | A few structures sustained minor damage and dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted. |
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 04/15/12, NCDC Storm Events Database |
April 16 event
List of reported tornadoes - Monday, April 16, 2012 | ||||||
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Texas | ||||||
EF1 | ENE of Portland | San Patricio | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1023 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Fifty homes and several vehicles damaged on the north side of Portland. Trees and fences were also downed. |
EF0 | NW of Ingleside | San Patricio | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1050 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | A fireworks stand was flipped and an outbuilding was damaged. |
EF0 | NNW of Ingleside | San Patricio | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1120 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | Tornado damaged a few power poles. |
EF0 | NE of Riviera | Kleberg | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1335 | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | A County Official reported a tornado on the ground. No damage was reported. |
EF0 | S of Riviera | Kenedy | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1337 | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) | No damage was reported. |
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 04/15/12, SPC Storm Reports for 04/16/12, NWS Corpus Christi |
Notable tornadoes
Wichita area tornado
The supercell which affected the Wichita area had a history of producing tornadoes as early as 6:15pm near Mooreland, Oklahoma, and the storm itself originated in the Texas Panhandle. The supercell tracked northeastward at a very quick pace, producing periodic tornadoes across north-central Oklahoma and south-central Kansas.
An intense tornado started at 55th & Broadway and tracked directly across the Wichita metropolitan area late in the evening of April 14 before following I-35 and dissipating near Cassoday, Kansas. The hardest hit areas were in the southern part of the city, near McConnell Air Force Base, as well as some of the southern suburbs, including Oaklawn-Sunview and Haysville and eastern suburb Andover before following the Kansas Turnpike northeast. A few of the homes in the Oaklawn area were completely leveled.[11] Local NBC affiliate KSNW reported that a building at a Spirit Aerosystems plant on the western fringe of McConnell Air Force Base collapsed. Several hangars on the base were also damaged.[12] The Wichita Eagle reported that 90 homes of the Pinaire Mobile Home Park, located in Oaklawn sustained damage of at least 50 percent. A gas fire was reported at the mobile home park, and several residents were trapped in the rubble, but were later rescued. A condominium was also badly damaged.[13] The Preliminary assessments placed damage at $283 million.[1]
While this tornado was on the ground, staff at the Wichita National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office on the western perimeter of the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport were forced to hand over responsibility for their County Warning Area to the National Weather Service offices in Topeka and take shelter at about 10:00 pm CDT (0300 UTC), due to the close proximity of the predicted tornado track to their location. While within their shelter room, the WFO Wichita staff used a laptop computer and personal smartphones to continue to monitor the tornado on radar. The tornado ended up passing within six miles of the facility at its closest point; the staff returned to duty half an hour later.[5]
NWS surveys rate the tornado as an EF3, based on damage at McConnell and upward into Oaklawn. No fatalities occurred, despite the intensity and dense population, but 38 people were injured.[14]
The path of this tornado bore a striking resemblance to the track of an F5 tornado that killed 17 people in Sedgwick and Butler counties on April 26, 1991.
Woodward tornado
The only killer tornado of the outbreak touched down 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of Arnett in southern Ellis County, Oklahoma at 11:50 p.m. CDT on April 14. The tornado tracked northeastward into Woodward County, Oklahoma around 11:59 p.m. CDT, hitting the city of Woodward at 12:19 a.m. CDT on April 15.[15] The most severe damage took place in Woodward, where major damage was reported in the western and northern parts of town, with 89 homes and 13 businesses reported damaged, and 10 houses were leveled. Vehicles were tossed and destroyed by the tornado as well. By the time the tornado lifted around 12:27 a.m. CDT approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Woodward in northwestern Woodward County, six fatalities were caused by the storm, four of which (one adult male and three female children between the ages of 5 and 10) occurred at the Hideaway Mobile Home Park on 26th Street on the northwest side of town; a sixth person died of his injuries on April 16. 28 additional people sustained injuries in the nighttime tornado.[16]
The 20 outdoor warning sirens located around Woodward did not sound prior to the tornado due to damage sustained to a tower used to activate the electricity-powered system by a lightning strike; as a result, most Woodward area residents had to rely on warnings either from local television stations broadcasting from the Oklahoma City market through cable and satellite television or NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards.[17][18] Damage surveys from the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office have given the tornado an EF3 rating.[19]
Aftermath
On April 15, 2012, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback declared a state of emergency for the entire state due to the tornadoes, straight-line winds, hail and flash flooding.[20] Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency the following day on April 16 for twelve Oklahoma counties (Alfalfa, Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Ellis, Harper, Jackson, Kiowa, Logan, Oklahoma, Woods and Woodward).[21]
On April 18, Fallin filed a federal disaster declaration request for Woodward County with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, seeking government funding to provide temporary housing, low-interest loans, disaster unemployment assistance and disaster expense grants for people and businesses affected by the storms; officials for the Governor's office stated that if the request is granted, additional Oklahoma counties currently included in the state of emergency declaration may be added to the federal disaster declaration.[22]
On April 19, 2012, FEMA announced that the southwestern Iowa counties of Union and Fremont that were also affected by the tornadoes would not qualify for federal assistance, both counties also received state disaster declarations by Governor Terry Branstad.[23] FEMA denied the disaster declaration request for the twelve Oklahoma counties the following day on April 20.[24] The Small Business Administration accepted a separate disaster declaration request filed by Governor Fallin for Woodward County on April 26; the declaration will allow the SBA to provide low-interest disaster loans for renters, homeowners, business owners and non-profits to repair or replace storm-damaged property not covered by insurance or other federal assistance programs.[25]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Storm Prediction Center April 13, 2012 0600 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ National Weather Service Raw Text Product
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://newsok.com/injuries-reported-after-tornado-hits-woodward/article/3666724
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/120414_rpts.html
- ↑ http://www.ksn.com/news/local/story/Large-tornado-moves-through-south-Wichita/214MfgE3ak-M0ROcP5h1zg.cspx
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.crh.noaa.gov/product.php?site=ICT&product=PNS&issuedby=ICT
- ↑ Woodward Tornado Timeline, National Weather Service (Norman WFO), Retrieved April 16, 2012.
- ↑ Woodward Death Toll Rises To 6, KOCO-TV, April 16, 2012.
- ↑ Experts: Don't rely just on tornado warning sirens, CBS News, April 16, 2012.
- ↑ How reliable are Okla. tornado sirens?, KFOR-TV, April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
- ↑ Preliminary Storm Information for the Woodward Tornado, from the National Weather Service, Norman, The Oklahoman, April 16, 2012.
- ↑ Kan. Governor Issues State Of Emergency, KMBC-TV, April 15, 2012.
- ↑ Fallin Declares State Of Emergency For 12 Counties, KOCO-TV, April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
- ↑ Oklahoma Governor Requests Federal Aid, The Weather Channel (via the Associated Press). Retrieved April 19, 2012.
- ↑ Southwest Iowa tornado damage won’t qualify for federal funds, RadioIowa, April 19, 2012
- ↑ Fallin to seek aid elsewhere for tornado-damaged Woodward after White House denial, Tulsa World (via The Oklahoman), April 21, 2012.
- ↑ SBA Grants Woodward County Disaster Assistance, KOCO-TV, April 26, 2012.
External links
For the latest severe weather information:
Storm Reports: