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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

F#LocationCounty Time (UTC)Path lengthDamageIllinois F0N of MattoonColes21200.1 mile (0.16 km)Brief tornado with no damage. F0N of FairgrangeColes21350.1 mile (0.16 km)Brief tornado with no damage. F1NW of Paris (1st tornado)Edgar22102 miles (3.2 km)Machine sheds, barns, and grain bins were destroyed. One house was damaged. Six farms in the area were also affected. F0NW of Paris (2nd tornado)Edgar22121 mile (1.6 km)A machine shed was destroyed while another shed, a garage, and a baseball field were all damaged. F1Rutland areaLaSalle22400.5 mile (0.8 km)A large building, a house, and a garage were damaged. F0SW of WinchesterScott22442 miles (3.2 km)A tree fell onto a car. F0NE of ValmeyerMonroe22451 mile (1.6 km)Damage was limited to trees. F0W of RaritanHenderson23005 miles (8 km)Caused minor damage. Most of the damage occurred when a second tornado hit the same area later that evening. F2S of HavanaMason23079 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. F1E of RaritanHenderson23103.5 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. F0Brimfield areaPeoria23104 miles (6.4 km)Minor damage to a church and a business. A van was pushed sideways into bushes, and some trees were damaged. F1EastonMason23179 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. F2E of JacksonvilleMorgan23186 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. F0FreeburgSt. Clair23201.5 miles (2.4 km)Caused damage to trees and power lines. F0N of DickeysKankakee23254 miles (6.4 km)Caused minor damage to farm buildings. F0W of Island GroveMorgan23310.1 mile (0.16 km)Brief tornado with no damage. F0NE of New BerlinSangamon23324 miles (6.4 km)Three houses, a barn, and a machine shed were all damaged. Two “semi trucks” were blown over on Interstate 72. F3E of ArmingtonLogan, Tazewell, McLean23589.4 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. F0W of ChesterRandolph00001.5 miles (2.4 km)Utility sheds and trees were destroyed. F3Bishop Hill/GalvaHenry00003.5 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. F0MomenceKankakee00015 miles (8 km)Two houses had roof damage. F0GalvaHenry00101 mile (1.6 km)Gravestones at a cemetery were pushed over. F3DecaturMacon002214.5 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. F2SalemMarion003520 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. F0NW of TiskilwaBureau00400.1 mile (0.16 km)Damage was limited to a utility pole. F1S of MilminePiatt00550.3 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. F0SW of BaldwinRandolph00592 miles (3.2 km)Caused damage to trees and power lines. F1S of MonticelloPiatt01002 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. F1GreendaleMarion, Clay01055 miles (8 km)A farmhouse, barn, and other farm buildings were destroyed. Trees and power lines were knocked down. F0S of TildenRandolph01123 miles (4.8 km)Damage to trees and power lines. F0NW of BremanRandolph01152 miles (3.2 km)Houses and barns sustained roof damage. Trees and power linea were brought down by the storm. F1W of MulkeytownPerry, Franklin01202.5 miles (4 km)A church, a house, and trees were damaged while some outbuildings were destroyed. A tractor trailer was overturned. F1VernonFayette, Marion012011.5 miles (18.4 km)Three barns, several sheds, and a house were destroyed. F3UrbanaChampaign01344 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. F3OgdenChampaign01552 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, and 13 others were injured. F0NW of CatlinVermilion02080.1 mile (0.16 km)Brief touchdown with no damage. F3NE of Frisco to SW of BarnhillJefferson, Hamilton, Wayne021517 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; however, there were no fatalities or injuries reported. F1N of CarmiWhite02301 mile (1.6 km)Ten hangars, eight planes, and an automobile were destroyed at the airport. A church was also damaged. F2ZionLake04322 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 F0NE of BloomsdaleSte. Genevieve00000.3 mile (0.5 km)Damage was limited to trees. F0SE of Mine La MotteMadison02100.3 mile (0.5 km)Brief touchdown with no damage. F3PerryvillePerry023011.5 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. F2S of DoniphanRipley030010 miles (16 km)A mobile home was overturned. Trees fell on houses and cars. F2NW of Poplar BluffButler03052.5 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. F1N of BernieStoddard04030.6 mile (1 km)A house trailer was destroyed and several houses were damaged. Two schools and a grocery store sustained roof damage. Texas F0W of PidcokeCoryell00300.1 mile (0.16 km)Several barns were destroyed. F2N of CommerceHunt00380.5 mile (0.8 km)Two mobile homes were destroyed. Trees, power lines, and two houses were damaged. Indiana F1LandersdaleMorgan, Johnson00405 miles (8 km)Six buildings were destroyed, and 50 others were damaged. Four people were injured. F1SW of Burr OakMarshall01501 mile (1.6 km)Farm buildings were damaged, and power lines were downed. F1SE of PlymouthMarshall02051 mile (1.6 km)A mobile home was damaged and a truck was overturned. F0N of MilfordKosciusko02520.1 mile (0.16 km)Brief touchdown with no damage. F0NW of EmisonKnox03151 mile (1.6 km)A pole barn was destroyed, and two train cars were blown over. F2SW of YankeetownWarrick04402 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. F2W of ArthurPike04420.8 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. F0NW of HeltonvilleLawrence04571 mile (1.6 km)Several houses were damaged and numerous trees were downed. F0E of FreetownJackson05051 mile (1.6 km) F1SW of BurnsvilleBartholomew05451 mile (1.6 km)Damage to several farm buildings and a transmission tower. F0WestportDecatur05550.1 mile (0.16 km)Several farm buildings were destroyed while the South Decatur High School sustained damage. A transmission tower was also blown down. F1E of Harris CityDecatur06011.2 miles (1.9 km)Several buildings were damaged or destroyed. F2NW of GreenvilleFloyd06081 mile (1.6 km)Six houses were damaged, and some mobile homes were overturned. Iowa F0PrestonJackson01170.1 mile (0.16 km)Damage to trees and power lines. F0S of PrestonClinton01170.2 mile (0.32 km)One house had roof damage. Kentucky F1Mount WashingtonBullitt06401 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

F#LocationCounty Time (UTC)Path lengthDamageKentucky F1SW of GoodnightBarren08300.5 mile (0.8 km)A mobile home was swept away, injuring four people. F1E of HisevilleBarren, Metcalfe08344 miles (6.4 km)A church was heavily damaged, and two trailers as well as several barns were destroyed. Other unknown property damage occurred. F0S of PierceGreen08453 miles (4.8 km)Several barns were destroyed, and utility poles were snapped. F2NW of Geneva to NE of PreachersvilleLincoln092612 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. F1SW of QuailRockcastle, Pulaski09282 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. F1N of OttawaGarrard09306 miles (9.6 km)A dozen barns were destroyed, and six cows were killed. F2BereaMadison09452 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. F1WagersvilleEstill09555 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 F2SE of BarnesvilleLawrence11450.5 mile (0.8 km)One house lost its roof, and 12 people were injured. F2SE of SummertownLawrence11501 mile (1.6 km)At least 25 houses were damaged, and two of those houses sustained severe damage. F2N of LynnvilleGiles11561 mile (1.6 km)A brick structure was damaged, and a mobile home was leveled. F2W of CornersvilleMarshall12031.5 miles (2.4 km)Seven mobile homes were destroyed, and 10 others were damaged. Mississippi F1W of WinonaCarroll13406 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 F0BirminghamJefferson17090.3 mile (0.5 km)Some minor structural damage occurred, and trees were downed. North Carolina F0SE of Sugar HillMcDowell17500.1 mile (0.16 km)Roof was partially removed from a house. F1SE of BooneWatauga18000.1 mile (0.16 km)Sixteen vehicles at an amusement park were damaged, and one person was injured. Texas F1TimpsonShelby21155 miles (8 km)Two trailers were destroyed, and both trees and power lines were downed. Louisiana F0SW of KingstonDe Soto21450.5 mile (0.8 km)Damage was limited to trees. Ontario F3SW of Williamsford to NE of BlantyreGrey235025 miles (40 km)See article on this tornado F3SW of Arthur to E of Violet HillWellington, Dufferin001037.5 miles (60 km)See article on this tornado F0SW of OrilliaSimcoeunknownunknownSee article on this tornadoSource: Tornado History Project April 20, 1996 Storm Data, Southern Ontario Tornadoes of 1996, NCDC Storm Data

F#LocationCounty Time (UTC)Path lengthDamageQuebec F0OrmstownLe Haut Saint LaurentunknownunknownOklahoma F0NE of PerryNoble22002 miles (3.2 km)Brief touchdown with no damage. F1NE of Ratliff CityCarter22420.5 mile (0.8 km)Power poles, outbuildings, and trees were damaged. F1W of HealdtonJefferson, Carter23304.5 miles (7.2 km)A mobile home was damaged, and windows were blown out of other houses. F0SE of FoxCarter23350.1 mile (0.16 km)Brief touchdown with no damage. F0NW of WilsonCarter23350.1 mile (0.16 km)Brief touchdown with no damage. F0N of Oil CityCarter23452.5 miles (4 km)Weak tornado with no damage. F0SE of ChigleyMurray23510.1 mile (0.16 km)Brief touchdown with no damage. F1N of BarnsdallOsage00000.5 mile (0.8 km) F0SE of DavisMurray00251 mile (1.6 km)One house had roof damage, and a mobile home was blown off its foundation. F1NW of SulphurMurray00283 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. F0NW of NowataNowata00280.1 mile (0.16 km) F0NW of Scullin (1st tornado)Murray00490.5 mile (0.8 km)Damage to barns and silos. F0NW of Scullin (2nd tornado)Murray00500.5 mile (0.8 km)Damage to barns and silos. F1W of FairlandOttawa01150.1 mile (0.16 km) F3Fort Smith, ArkansasSequoyah (OK), Sebastian (AR), Crawford (AR)021210.1 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. F0McAlesterPittsburg02153 miles (4.8 km) F1NE of RichvillePittsburg02305 miles (8 km) F1NE of LewisvilleHaskell03001 mile (1.6 km)Texas F0E of SunsetMontague01250.1 mile (0.16 km)Power lines were blown down. F0NE of BowieMontague01300.1 mile (0.16 km)Brief touchdown with no damage. F0NW of GainesvilleCooke02002 miles (3.2 km)Two barns were destroyed, and trees were damaged. F0NW of LindsayCooke02052 miles (3.2 km)The siding on several houses was damaged. Significant tree damage was also reported. F0S of GainesvilleCooke02200.1 mile (0.16 km)Brief touchdown with no damage. F0SW of DixieGrayson02331 mile (1.6 km)A barn was destroyed, and trees were damaged. F0W of DenisonGrayson03070.1 mile (0.16 km)Damage to trees and power lines. F0NW of Lindsay (2nd tornado)Cooke03251 mile (1.6 km)A fence was destroyed, and trees were damaged. F0NW of DixieGrayson03582 miles (3.2 km)A barn was destroyed, and trees were damaged. F0SE of LocustGrayson04402 miles (3.2 km)Trees and power lines were damaged. Missouri F0S of SeymourWebster04302 miles (3.2 km)A garage and a barn were destroyed. Arkansas F2S of FernFranklin04553 miles (4.8 km)Seven houses were destroyed, and several other buildings were damaged. Numerous trees were also downed. Two people were injured. F3SW of Dutton to SW of WeathersMadison051515 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. F2NE of YellvilleMarion064012 miles (18.4 km)Trailers were either damaged or destroyed with houses and businesses also sustaining damage. Six people were injured. F1N of Natural DamCrawford07081 mile (1.6 km)Several houses were damaged. Source: Tornado History Project April 21, 1996 Storm Data, Quebec tornadoes 1985 present, NCDC Storm Data