Significant Tornado Events

[TH2002]

It may seem pedantic, but when talking about the top most violent tornadoes then it becomes a very relevant hallmark.

Tornadoes that produce 100% debarking of hardwood, especially mesquite trees are what separates them from the rest. The feat being so incredibly rare is one of the reasons why I place matador on the same level as Jarrel, Smithville, Bridge Creek, and Moore.

Piedmont also achieved 100% debarking as well if I remember correctly.

Okay, as far as the question of "what was the worst debarking [x tornado] produced?" you're right about that.

Still, the shear level of destruction Bassfield did to that entire grove of hardwood trees is something basically unparalleled in the tornado world, especially since I'd estimate about half of those trees (and others elsewhere) lost 100% of their bark. The only comparable damage I've seen done to dense groves of hardwood trees occurred in Smithville and Hackleburg.

 

[TH2002]

And to add, I'll honestly have to agree that some of the damage Matador produced was very Bridge Creek-esque, albeit in a much smaller area. One home on the north side of town actually did have some anchoring, albeit it wasn't well built enough for an EF5 rating. If this home had a solid poured concrete foundation with proper anchor bolts all the way around, an EF5 rating would have been necessary imo. I've previously mentioned that in an email conversation I had with Tim Marshall after the tornado, he alluded that the contextual damage definitely pointed to a higher intensity but the construction quality prevented a higher rating. Not sure how I feel about that, as I've seen homes destroyed by other tornadoes that were of equal or worse construction than the Matador home get an EF4 rating (I never got an explanation to why this home wasn't rated as such)

 

[Western_KS_Wx]

I don't agree with your assessment of Bassfield. It didn't just produce what is arguably the most significant tree debarking ever photographed - vehicles were hurled hundreds of yards and torn to pieces, a cabin (albeit not well built apart from being anchored) literally disappeared with the little debris that remained from it being finely granulated, every single anchor bolt at the property was flattened or ripped from the slab, wind rowing occurred, and grass was scoured.

Adding onto Bassfield, that thing was an absolute monster and undoubtedly well into the EF5 category. Here’s a few extra photos of impressive contextual damage before the tornado had even reached its maximum intensity:



Here’s the frame of a truck and steel support beams wrapped around a tree.

 

[Tanner]

That is a very bold statement. While it was no doubt a very violent tornado and it is almost certain that it reached EF5 intensity, I don’t think it reached that level of power through its relatively short life.

I beg to differ. The vehicle damage and ground scarring puts it way up there.

 

[Tanner]

Adding onto Bassfield, that thing was an absolute monster and undoubtedly well into the EF5 category. Here’s a few extra photos of impressive contextual damage before the tornado had even reached its maximum intensity:
View attachment 29418View attachment 29419
View attachment 29421

Here’s the frame of a truck and steel support beams wrapped around a tree.
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Sheesh. That debarked low lying shrubbery in the top photo is insane. My claim is that Bassfield is on the same level as Vilonia, just hit more rural areas than Vilonia did.

 

[jiharris0220]

Adding onto Bassfield, that thing was an absolute monster and undoubtedly well into the EF5 category. Here’s a few extra photos of impressive contextual damage before the tornado had even reached its maximum intensity:
View attachment 29418View attachment 29419
View attachment 29421

Here’s the frame of a truck and steel support beams wrapped around a tree.
View attachment 29422
View attachment 29423

Ok, that picture of the truck frame fully convinced me.

Based off the recent photos y’all shared, I will change my opinion of this tornado in that it was a solid Ef5.

Although still not quite Matador, Smithville, Jarrel, or Bridge Creek level, mainly due to lack of persistent solid ground scoring and trees not being 100% debarked.

Nevertheless, this tornado is easily above, Bremen, Rolling Fork, and Joplin contextually.

 

[Tanner]

Some possible violent damage from the Claremore EF3+ on May 25-26 earlier this year.

 

[SpotlightForRareTornadoes]

Yesterday, the 160,000-acre Park Fire near Chico, CA has now been classified as a Tornadic Pyrosupercell Firestorm. At least 1 Class 3 Fire Tornado has been reported by CalFire, yet so far, the tornado has not caused any significant damage. Once the fire is contained, there may be a chance a damage survey by CalFire and the National Weather Service will be carried out.

 

[SpotlightForRareTornadoes]

Also, this is the 6th anniversary of the devastating 2018 Carr Fire tornado that killed 4 individuals and injured 6. It was rated a Low to Mid EF3 with winds between 136-146 mph, yet the damage photos showed scenes of destruction similar to that of a nuclear bomb.

Swegle Studios has a video on this type of phenomenon if you want to check it out. Pretty useful info if you ask me.

 

[Tornadowritter]

So it looks like there another confirmed victim of the Tri State Tornado in Missouri. So in this archived newspaper link https://shsmo.newspapers.com/image/687685884/?match=1&terms=Four dead in Biehle injuries blechle
It says that August Joseph Lappe will died of his injury to his head on February 23th, 1926 when the house he and his family were living in near Biehle was demolished. So now the final victim of the tornado dies on February 23th instead of January 3rd. And the death toll in Missouri is raised by 1, and Biehle’s death toll is now 2 identified and 2 unidentified instead of 1 identified and 3 unidentified.

 

[Maxis_s]

it's straight up as bad of a final rating as Vilonia or Barrie 1985 not being given you-know-what.

What pics of Barrie 1985 make you think it was an F5? I haven't seen them, and I visited Barrie just yesterday so I'm curious.

 

[Aaron Rider]

What pics of Barrie 1985 make you think it was an F5? I haven't seen them, and I visited Barrie just yesterday so I'm curious.

Check out Loco's post on his blog

https://stormstalker.wordpress.com/2022/06/08/may-31-1985-the-united-states-canada-outbreak/#barrie

 

[Aaron Rider]

Check out Loco's post on his blog

https://stormstalker.wordpress.com/2022/06/08/may-31-1985-the-united-states-canada-outbreak/#barrie

Reading this again over coffee this morning, I note that this outbreak had 6 F4s that are all in the same category I'd describe as "very, very, VERY high end F4" not just regular F4

Tionesta, Moshannon, Kane, Atlantic, Albion, and Barrie are all in this category. But the available images from Barrie do incline me to think it would be fair to categorize it as an F5.

Of course, coming from Pennsylvania, I've spent much of my life in the woods and so I can flatly say that it wasn't just Moshannon that went through wilderness or close to it.

 

[Aaron Rider]

Speaking of Pennsylvania, two weeks ago marked the 20th anniversary of the last strong tornado in central Pennsylvania, the Campbelltown F3, which was debatably an F4

 

[Aaron Rider]

Campbelltown PA 2004

South central Pennsylvania is one of the safest regions around for weather so I can't stress how freakish this is to us

 

[HAwkmoon]

Speaking of West Frankfort, here are some others (some of which were taken SW of town I believe) that I don't think have been posted here before:

Also the M&O Shops in Murphysboro:

And two from near Frohna, MO:

Where did you get those images of West Frankfort from? I have never seen them before.

 

[SpotlightForRareTornadoes]

I completely forgot about the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Roanoke F4, so I'll post now.

On July 13, 2004, a powerful F4 tornado formed outside Roanoke, IL. It is best known for the numerous videos and pictures taken of it as well as the complete destruction of the Parsons Manufacturing plant. Despite the violent intensity, there were only three minor injuries and no fatalities. It was one of six tornadoes to touch down on July 13, 2004.

 

[Tornadowritter]

So according to most books and website (not including Wikipedia) it said that the Tri State Tornado killed 4 people and injured 11 in Biehle or in it’s vicinity, but when I did my research I only found 2 who were killed in the Biehle area. Joseph Blechle who was killed instantly and August Lappe who died of his injuries in February the next year, so were the other 2 victims killed in the Biehle area?

Also the same books also said that the tornado killed 4 more people and injured 25 in the Rural area in Perry county after Biehle, but I only found 3 who were killed. Martha Kaempfe who was killed instantly, Crittenden Bull who died 4 days later, and Louise Stueve who died 10 days later, so who was the other victim to be killed in the rural area of Perry County after Biehle?

 

[Tornadowritter]

I did research on all tornadoes in 2024 that Dopper on wheels recorded to be 200 mph or over, but were give a non ef5 rating.

The 2 tornados I found that were definitely ef5 in all but name were the Harlan, Iowa tornado on April 26th with 224 mph and the Greenfield, Iowa tornado on May 21th with 309 to 318 mph.

Let me know if there were any other tornadoes on 2024 that were measured by Dopper on wheels to have wind speeds over 200 mph?

 

[Western_KS_Wx]

This isn’t really related to recent topics from the thread but I’ve always been curious about damage photos from the Keota Iowa tornado from the March 31, 2023 outbreak. I’m sure we’ve all seen the videos taken of the thing — no doubt one of the meanest and most violent looking tornadoes filmed in recent memory.

Appearance wise aside, it’s been awfully difficult to find many photos or information on its aftermath. I did manage to find some photos, all taken near Keota more towards the beginning of the path.




This was the site where EF4 damage was found to a farmstead. The home was wiped clean off its foundation, and a car along with some farm implements were launched ~400 yards into a field.


An aerial of the destroyed farm, some very impressive cycloidal ground scouring is clearly visible here. This level of cycloidal scouring is very reminiscent of that left behind by the Rochelle and Washington Illinois EF4’s.


Not entirely sure what this hunk of metal is, but it was in a field near the farm that sustained EF4 damage. I think this may be the frame of some sort of farm vehicle or implement, whatever it was is just completely mangled. Some impressive scouring is also visible nearby.


Some additional damage elsewhere near Keota.