Tornado Anniversaries

[CheeselandSkies]

When I say some of y'all on here wouldn't have survived tornado season 2008 just due to hyperventilating, this is why:

Tornado outbreak of May 1–3, 2008 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Tornado outbreak sequence of May 7–11, 2008 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_of_May_22–27,_2008

(Wikipedia for some reason ended the article with the 27th, but elevated tornado and severe weather activity [including a high risk on the 29th] continued through the end of the month). And then...

Tornado outbreak sequence of June 3–11, 2008 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Lake Martin EF4]

When I say some of y'all on here wouldn't have survived tornado season 2008 just due to hyperventilating, this is why:

Tornado outbreak of May 1–3, 2008 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Tornado outbreak sequence of May 7–11, 2008 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_of_May_22–27,_2008

(Wikipedia for some reason ended the article with the 27th, but elevated tornado and severe weather activity [including a high risk on the 29th] continued through the end of the month). And then...

Tornado outbreak sequence of June 3–11, 2008 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

2008 was truly exceptional. It literally had it all: 100 mile tornadoes, Deep South activity, an outbreak with over 5 violent tornadoes, activity all over the Plains, EF5, abnormally far west tornado activity, activity in June... probably the best tornado season of the entire millennium so far, at least for chasers.

 

[AJS]

2008 was truly exceptional. It literally had it all: 100 mile tornadoes, Deep South activity, an outbreak with over 5 violent tornadoes, activity all over the Plains, EF5, abnormally far west tornado activity, activity in June... probably the best tornado season of the entire millennium so far, at least for chasers.

I think 2004, 2008, 2011, and 2024 as a whole have been the most insane tornado seasons of the 21st century. The spring season has this year has been absolutely insane as well.

 

[Lake Martin EF4]

I think 2004, 2008, 2011, and 2024 as a whole have been the most insane tornado seasons of the 21st century. The spring season has this year has been absolutely insane as well.

Good point for 2011. 2004 and 2024 didn't really fall into the "did it all" category (neither had an official E/F5), so they were at a disadvantage. 2024 additionally had essentially nothing to speak of after May aside from the Whitman event - even the post-season was essentially Thanos snapped IIRC.

 

[AJS]

Good point for 2011. 2004 and 2024 didn't really fall into the "did it all" category (neither had an official E/F5), so they were at a disadvantage. 2024 additionally had essentially nothing to speak of after May aside from the Whitman event - even the post-season was essentially Thanos snapped IIRC.

2024 was insane for how many tornadoes we purely had. Plus, it was a golden year for tornado footage. But honestly, the first half of 2025 has been a lot more insane than 2024 was as a whole to be honest.

 

[Lake Martin EF4]

For the 24th, I'd like to share this Reddit post, positing that part of the reason for the EF5 drought is because El Reno's "trenched" houses being rated EF4 essentially set the precedent that an EF5 must do worse damage than that somehow.



And of course, a few vids...




...and Dodge City...



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EdPhSJG3mHc

...and the map.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tornado/comments/1kumcuh/strongest_tornado_on_this_day_in_history_by/

 

[AJS]

For the 24th, I'd like to share this Reddit post, positing that part of the reason for the EF5 drought is because El Reno's "trenched" houses being rated EF4 essentially set the precedent that an EF5 must do worse damage than that somehow.



And of course, a few vids...




...and Dodge City...



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EdPhSJG3mHc

...and the map.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tornado/comments/1kumcuh/strongest_tornado_on_this_day_in_history_by/

I legitimately thought that El Reno/Piedmont 2011 could not blow my mind anymore, but seeing some of those damages pictures i’ve never seen before, I am now fully convinced that it was without a doubt the strongest of the 2010s.

 

[Lake Martin EF4]

I legitimately thought that El Reno/Piedmont 2011 could not blow my mind anymore, but seeing some of those damages pictures i’ve never seen before, I am now fully convinced that it was without a doubt the strongest of the 2010s.

Same here except replace "the 2010s" with "all time".

 

[Shakespeare 2016]

On this day 17 years ago a violent EF5 tornado annihilated parts of Parkersburg, IA and swept away 11 homes in EF5 fashion throughout rural parts of New Hartford, IA.

 

[AJS]

Same here except replace "the 2010s" with "all time".

I’m torn sometimes between Smithville and El Reno/Piedmont on which one I believe was stronger.

 

[Aaron Rider]

For the 24th, I'd like to share this Reddit post, positing that part of the reason for the EF5 drought is because El Reno's "trenched" houses being rated EF4 essentially set the precedent that an EF5 must do worse damage than that somehow.



And of course, a few vids...




...and Dodge City...



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EdPhSJG3mHc

...and the map.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tornado/comments/1kumcuh/strongest_tornado_on_this_day_in_history_by/

To my mind, it isn't even controversial to suggest that when Tim Marshall has very implicitly made that point. His Facebook post after Mayfield got EF4 (which, well, I think we all here agree that Mayfield was far from the worst EF4 rated high-end tornado) said, "It was bad but couldn't quite match Bridge Creek, OK, Jarrell, TX, etc."

And I'm not even doing "Tim Marshall sucks rah rah rah" s***-posting. Marshall has contributed a lot - we all know that. But it's just that he essentially said that a tornado has to be as strong as Jarrell to get the big rating. Which is, of course, silly.

As an aside, to illustrate the craziness of modern ratings, Jarrell is still Texas's last official highest rating tornado. Not Westminster, Cisco, Canton, Matador, or probably several others I'm forgetting. God help those who end up under the next Texas tornado that does finally get EF5 because I'm sure it's going to be a generational monster.

 

[AJS]

To my mind, it isn't even controversial to suggest that when Tim Marshall has very implicitly made that point. His Facebook post after Mayfield got EF4 (which, well, I think we all here agree that Mayfield was far from the worst EF4 rated high-end tornado) said, "It was bad but couldn't quite match Bridge Creek, OK, Jarrell, TX, etc."

And I'm not even doing "Tim Marshall sucks rah rah rah" s***-posting. Marshall has contributed a lot - we all know that. But it's just that he essentially said that a tornado has to be as strong as Jarrell to get the big rating. Which is, of course, silly.

As an aside, to illustrate the craziness of modern ratings, Jarrell is still Texas's last official highest rating tornado. Not Westminster, Cisco, Canton, Matador, or probably several others I'm forgetting. God help those who end up under the next Texas tornado that does finally get EF5 because I'm sure it's going to be a generational monster.

Thank you for reminding me about Matador. Remember the other day when we were talking about how someone was saying tornadoes were getting weaker? Well, that person needs to look at the damage from Matador to have a quick change of mind. I mean, easily one of the most violent in Texas history.

 

[Kds86z]

.

 

[Lake Martin EF4]

Happy Parkersburg and Chapman and Left Split '24 (and Ortonville and Blackwell/Udall) Day!

Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The Great Plains Tornado Outbreak and Blackwell Tornado of 25-26 May 1955

https://ames.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&by=2008&bdd=2000&bm=6&bd=7&d=06072008-06072008&fn=tribune_usa_iowa_ames_20080607_english_15&df=1&dt=10&cid=2729

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=47O8D5xGLtY&pp=ygUPY2hhcG1hbiB0b3JuYWRv
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZghUzUiZTjY&pp=ygUPY2hhcG1hbiB0b3JuYWRv

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ge7QarwvOrg
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NIZmIlbXKDg
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rcnPGjygfIo&pp=ygUYbWF5IDI1IDIwMjQgbWF4IHZlbG9jb3R5
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H6uM6RZ0g3g&pp=ygUOMjAyNCByeXFuIGhhbGw=

Map:

https://www.reddit.com/r/tornado/comments/1kvbd44/strongest_tornado_on_this_day_in_history_by/

 

[locomusic01]

Happy Parkersburg and Chapman and Left Split '24 (and Ortonville and Blackwell/Udall) Day!

Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The Great Plains Tornado Outbreak and Blackwell Tornado of 25-26 May 1955

Speaking of Udall, KAKE put together a nice video + webpage for the anniversary, including a map with photos (most of which everyone here has probably already seen, but still).

Echoes of the Storm

www.kake.com

 

[Shakespeare 2016]

Speaking of Udall, KAKE put together a nice video + webpage for the anniversary, including a map with photos (most of which everyone here has probably already seen, but still).

Echoes of the Storm

www.kake.com

The 25th of May is a big tornado day in many perspectives.

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

I legitimately thought that El Reno/Piedmont 2011 could not blow my mind anymore, but seeing some of those damages pictures i’ve never seen before, I am now fully convinced that it was without a doubt the strongest of the 2010s.

Either this or Smithville 2011 is the strongest tornado of the 2010s.

 

[AJS]

Either this or Smithville 2011 is the strongest tornado of the 2010s.

I’m honestly leaning toward Piedmont. Piedmont is one of the few tornadoes that completely debarked literally every tree it came into contact with. Plus, it did this while not actually hitting much. The ground scouring/vehicle damage was on par with Bridge Creek at times and sometimes probably a bit more. Not to mention the insane granulation and the oil rig. That’s what solidifies itself as the strongest of the 2010s in my opinion.

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

I’m honestly leaning toward Piedmont. Piedmont is one of the few tornadoes that completely debarked literally every tree it came into contact with. Plus, it did this while not actually hitting much. The ground scouring/vehicle damage was on par with Bridge Creek at times and sometimes probably a bit more. Not to mention the insane granulation and the oil rig. That’s what solidifies itself as the strongest of the 2010s in my opinion.

Here's some previous posts of mine on Smithville's damage:

Significant Tornado Events

I looked at GR Level 3 data for the event, and the supercell responsible for the Pampa tornado seemed to be along a "boundary" of some sort, extremely similar to the Jarrell setup of 97. That may play a part in the tornado's erratic movement. Interesting, Pampa's movement was also similar to...

talkweather.com

Significant Tornado Events

greensburg definitely would, it hit some homes with very impressive construction, and had clear ef5 contextuals Some clear EF5 contextuals:

talkweather.com

Significant Tornado Events

greensburg definitely would, it hit some homes with very impressive construction, and had clear ef5 contextuals Some clear EF5 contextuals:

talkweather.com

Keep in mind it was moving along with a forward speed in excess of 60mph when it went through the town, so the damage it did was instantaneous. El Reno-Piedmont was a slow mover so some of the damage was likely due to the duration of the winds. Yeah, Smithville didn't topple an oil rig as there wasn't any in that area but I don't doubt it had the capacity to do so.

Really, it's a tie for me between Smithville or El Reno-Piedmont 2011.

 

[AJS]

Here's some previous posts of mine on Smithville's damage:

Significant Tornado Events

I looked at GR Level 3 data for the event, and the supercell responsible for the Pampa tornado seemed to be along a "boundary" of some sort, extremely similar to the Jarrell setup of 97. That may play a part in the tornado's erratic movement. Interesting, Pampa's movement was also similar to...

talkweather.com

Significant Tornado Events

greensburg definitely would, it hit some homes with very impressive construction, and had clear ef5 contextuals Some clear EF5 contextuals:

talkweather.com

Significant Tornado Events

greensburg definitely would, it hit some homes with very impressive construction, and had clear ef5 contextuals Some clear EF5 contextuals:

talkweather.com

Keep in mind it was moving along with a forward speed in excess of 60mph when it went through the town, so the damage it did was instantaneous. El Reno-Piedmont was a slow mover so some of the damage was likely due to the duration of the winds. Yeah, Smithville didn't topple an oil rig as there wasn't any in that area but I don't doubt it had the capacity to do so.

Really, it's a tie for me between Smithville or El Reno-Piedmont 2011.

You know what fair enough. It really is a tie for them honestly. One day I might say Smithville, and the next day I might say Piedmont.


However, one thing I will forever hold the opinion on until the day I die is the fact that no other EF5 since the scale was implemented has produced such extraordinary debarking like El Reno/Piedmont did at it’s peak.