Easter Week 2006 tornado outbreak sequence

The Easter Week 2006 tornado outbreak sequence was a tornado outbreak sequence during the days leading up to Easter, continuing into the week after the holiday. It was the third major outbreak of April 2006, which had been an unusually busy month for tornado activity.

On April 13, a complex of severe thunderstorms formed in eastern Iowa, bringing many reports of large hail along with unexpected reports of strong tornadoes, some with debris. The worst impacts were felt in the Iowa City area, where significant damage and numerous injuries were reported, in addition to at least one death across the region. Another supercell developed on April 14 across western Indiana, producing a few tornadoes; although, nothing very serious was actually reported. That system moved eastward over the Mid Atlantic States on April 15, but no tornadoes were reported there. While the first system moved eastward, a second system developed over the Upper Midwest and tracked across the Midwest between April 15 and 16. This new system produced 40 reported tornadoes, several of which have been damaging; however, no fatalities were reported from the second system. That system then tracked into the Mid Atlantic on April 17 and was mostly a straight line wind event, even though there were a handful of new tornadoes reported across the region. A third system developed on April 18 and brought even more severe weather, this time farther south in the lower Midwest, primarily in Missouri. There were several more tornadoes reported from this one. The severe weather activity finally ended on April 19 across the South. The back side of this system produced heavy snow and blizzard conditions over the High Plains.

List of reported tornadoes Thursday, April 13, 2006 F# Location County Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageIowa F0NE of ToledoTama 00100.1 mile (0 km)Brief tornado remained over open fields with no damage. F0N of MarionLinn 00401 mile (2 km)A recreational trailer was destroyed, with some farm outbuilding roofs and trees damaged. A couple of concrete walls were collapsed, and a cattle shed collapsed as well, killing some cattle. F0SE of Van HorneBenton 00504.8 mile (8 km)Tornado snapped four power poles and damaged fences. F1SW of AnamosaJones 01153.7 mile (6 km)A mobile home was completely destroyed, injuring one person. Garages and barns were destroyed, and homes sustained roof and wall damage. F1SSW of Sharon CenterJohnson 01163.6 mile (6 km)Tornado damaged trees and outbuildings. F2Iowa CityJohnson 01294.5 mile (7 km)see section on this tornado F1NE of Hills (1st tornado)Johnson 01385.1 mile (8 km)A mobile home was destroyed and a house lost a portion of its roof. Considerable tree damage was noted and several farm outbuildings were damaged or unroofed. F1SE of Lone Tree to NE of NicholsJohnson, Muscatine 01459.4 mile (15 km)1 Death Damage near Lone Tree was limited to trees. Near Nichols, the tornado destroyed a mobile home, resulting in a fatality and one injury. Considerable tree and outbuilding damage occurred, along with some damage to homes and garages. F1E of Lone Tree to NE of NicholsJohnson, Muscatine 01484.8 mile (8 km)Near Lone Tree, an outbuilding was damaged, along with some trees. Near Nichols, a community center was unroofed and a new metal pole barn was destroyed. Tornado followed a path very similar to the previous tornado. F1WSW of Muscatine W of Illinois CityMuscatine, Rock Island (IL) 0213unknownTrees and outbuildings were damaged along the path. F0NE of Hills (2nd tornado)Johnson 02190.5 mile (1 km)Tornado caused roof damage to a house that had been previously damaged by an F1 tornado 40 minutes earlier. F1W of LeClaireScott 02421.5 mile (2 km)Unusual tornado formed on the cold side of a front and was initiated by a downburst. A cattle barn was severely damaged, and another sustained minor damage. A machine shed sustained roof damage, a doghouse was flipped onto its roof, and a power pole was knocked over as well. Illinois F1W of Illinois CityRock Island, Mercer 022913 mile (21 km)Damage confined mainly to trees, with a few outbuildings damaged as well. F1NW of MannonMercer 02571.5 mile (2 km)Tornado destroyed a mobile home. F2WNW of MathervilleMercer 03072 mile (3 km)One home sustained roof damage, and another lost its roof entirely. F1AlexisMercer 03120.8 mile (1 km)A parsonage on the west side of town had 75 percent of its roof torn off with the roof blown onto the house next door. Across the north side of town, several sheds were heavily damaged or destroyed with considerable tree damage. One house had its roof completely torn off with varying roof damage to numerous other houses. Several utility poles were snapped in half. F0NNW of LincolnLogan 05250.1 mile (0 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0Lincoln areaLogan 05273.8 mile (6 km)Tornado touched down near Lincoln Airport. The tornado damaged roofs, siding and outbuildings, and blew down numerous trees and power lines. In addition, before lifting, the tornado damaged several barns in a rural area to the east of Lincoln.

List of reported tornadoes Friday, April 14, 2006 F# Location County Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageIllinois F0N of Grand RidgeLaSalle 23330.5 mile (1 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. Indiana F0S of AmbiaBenton 23570.5 mile (1 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0NW of CairoTippecanoe 23583.2 mile (5 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F1Americus to W of RadnorTippecanoe, Carroll 00182.3 mile (4 km)Damage was confined to farm outbuildings. F1E of BurneyDecatur 00180.8 mile (1 km)Tornado destroyed a garage, and damaged several outbuildings.

List of reported tornadoes Saturday, April 15, 2006 F# Location County Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageNebraska F2W of Wymore to N of SterlingGage, Johnson 213334 mile (55 km)Long tracked tornado passed near Beatrice and destroyed one home, severely damaged two other homes, and affected 69 others. Outbuildings were destroyed, and tree damage was also noted. F1S of Nebraska CityOtoe 23332.5 mile (4 km)Tornado damaged multiple homes. Several trees were also toppled onto vehicles destroying them or causing extensive damage. Kansas F0E of OnagaPottawatomie 22480.1 mile (0 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0NE of Circleville to W of HortonJackson, Brown 232011 mile (18 km)Tornado damaged a few outbuildings and trees. F0NW of HortonBrown 23401 mile (2 km)Tornado destroyed 2 outbuildings, and caused minor damage to trees and a home. F1S of WillisBrown 23444 mile (6 km)Four well built outbuildings were destroyed, and several others were damaged. F0SSW of RobinsonBrown 23520.1 mile (0 km)Tornado damaged a home and some trees. F0N of DentonDoniphan 00032 mile (3 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0S of TonganoxieLeavenworth 01051 mile (2 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0S of Basehor to W of Bonner SpringsLeavenworth, Wyandotte 01204 mile (6 km)Tornado remained over open fields and caused no damage. Missouri F0SSE of StewartsvilleDeKalb 01381.5 mile (2 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F2E of StewartsvilleDeKalb 014313 mile (21 km)Two pole barns were destroyed and one home was heavily damaged. F0Vibbard areaRay 021510.1 mile (16 km)One home had its roof blown off, and tree and power line damage occurred. Iowa F0SW of AudubonAudubon 01430.2 mile (0 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported.

List of reported tornadoes Sunday, April 16, 2006 F# Location County Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageIllinois F1SW of WarrensburgMacon 19351 mile (2 km)Tornado destroyed an outbuildings and caused roof and siding damage to a home. F0E of TaylorvilleChristian 19530.1 mile (0 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0SSE of AssumptionChristian 20050.1 mile (0 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0SE of StoningtonChristian 20070.1 mile (0 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0E of Piper CityFord 21570.5 mile (1 km)A tool she was knocked over. F2SW of DieterichEffingham 22094 mile (6 km)Several homes were damaged, two of which had their attached garages destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped, barns and outbuildings were destroyed, and a combine was flipped into a pond. An antennae tower was knocked down, and grain bins were destroyed as well. F1S of HumboldtColes 22155 mile (8 km)Two outbuildings were damaged. F2SW of WheelerJasper 22181.5 mile (2 km)A mobile home was completely destroyed, with debris scattered hundreds of yards into a field. A refrigerator from the home was found a quarter mile away. Extensive tree damage occurred, and a car was moved 15 feet. Other homes and outbuildings sustained minor damage. F0E of HumboldtColes 22251 mile (2 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0S of AshkumIroquois 22410.5 mile (1 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0SW of RobinsonCrawford 23090.1 mile (0 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0NW of MartintonIroquois 23200.5 mile (1 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F0NW of BeavervilleIroquois 23560.5 mile (1 km)Brief touchdown, no damage reported. F1Robinson areaCrawford 00060.1 mile (0 km)Tornado destroyed a garage, caused significant tree damage, flattened a highway sign, and caused siding and roof damage to another home and two churches.

List of reported tornadoes Monday, April 17, 2006 F# Location County Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageNorth Carolina F1N of WhitevilleColumbus 21051 mile (2 km)Numerous trees and power lines were downed, some of which fell on and damaged a mobile home. F0SW of JacksonvilleOnslow 21300.5 mile (1 km)Tornado touched down over the New River, affecting several boaters.

List of reported tornadoes Tuesday, April 18, 2006 F# Location County Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageIllinois F0W of LincolnLogan 04190.1 mile (0 km)Tornado crossed I 55, flipping two semi trucks and injuring the two drivers.

The most well known tornado of the outbreak was a destructive high end F2 that tore directly through downtown Iowa City shortly after dark. The tornado touched down at the southwest edge of town and moved northeast, downing power lines and striking the Sheriff's Office. The tornado then struck the University of Iowa campus, heavily damaging multiple buildings and temporarily trapping several students. The motor pool headquarters was a total loss. Just off campus, the Alpha Chi Omega sorority house was also severely damaged, and had to be evacuated following the event. As the tornado struck the downtown area, multiple historic brick buildings sustained collapse of walls or had their roofs torn off. Saint Patrick's Church was heavily damaged by the tornado. Just before the tornado hit, Reverend Rudolph Juarez ushered 50 to 75 parishioners (many elderly) to the safety of the rectory basement next door. This likely saved many lives, as the tornado tore off the roof of the church and collapsed the top portion of the brick facade and the steeple into the main congregation area. Residential sections of the city also sustained major damage, as many trees and power lines were downed, and 1,016 homes and apartment buildings were damaged. Upper portions of exterior walls failed at some of these residences. Elsewhere, a 53 year old Dairy Queen was destroyed, multiple vehicles were flipped, a Wal Mart sustained roof damage, and a gas station awning was blown over. Three automobile dealerships were also damaged; one dealership had 200 vehicles damaged, a second had 60 70 vehicles damaged, and a third had nearly every vehicle sustaining some type of damage. A total of 35 businesses were damaged or destroyed. The tornado dissipated as it exited at the northeast side of town. The tornado struck on a Thursday night, which is normally a busy time for the bars of downtown Iowa City. Fortunately, the tornado struck relatively early in the evening, and downtown was not as packed as it might have been had the tornado struck a few hours later. There were a few reports of looting, mainly at establishments where liquor was sold/stored. The Iowa National Guard was called in to restore order and assist with debris cleanup. Electricity was cut to about 7,000 customers in the area, but most power was quickly restored after the tornado. This was the only known tornado to have struck downtown Iowa City. Overall, 30 people were injured in the event.

UI President David Skorton canceled classes as a result of the tornado. on Friday, April 14. On Friday, area governments declared a joint state of emergency for Johnson County The Daily Iowan (the University newspaper) continued coverage through the weekend, days on which the newspaper does not traditionally print.