Significant Tornado Events

[A Guy]

I'd heard that was Northern Indiana during Palm Sunday

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

I'd head that was Northern Indiana during Palm Sunday

I know Northern Alabama was put under a blanket tornado warning during 4/3/74, there was a documentary that claimed all of Indiana was put a blanket tornado warning as well but I'll have to dig for it (assuming I'm remembering correctly).

 

[Casuarina Head]

I should be writing the rest of the Tupelo - Gainesville article, but I always feel like I'll end up missing something if I stop researching. Case in point: I found out today that there was a storm in McMinn & Monroe Co, TN (roughly between Athens & Madisonville) that caused some pretty substantial damage. I've never seen it officially recorded as a tornado, but nine TVA 110,000-volt steel transmission towers in the area were "twisted from their concrete foundations and bent around like ribbons." Not far away, a number of homes were "blown away" and a school building was "flattened." There were several serious injuries and "heavy" loss of livestock.

I also found a report of significant damage in Marion County; one home was "torn from its foundation" and several others were badly damaged. Trees were uprooted and debarked in some cases. Most interestingly, people from a community just outside the damage swath reportedly heard the storm "roar" past.

Did you send these reports to Thomas P. Grazulis? He might be interested in adding these events to his upcoming volume(s).

 

[A Guy]

Here's a warning text from South Bend on Palm Sunday p. 40 https://www.weather.gov/media/publications/assessments/palmsunday65.pdf



I remember an exchange on the old thread where someone brought up N AL in the Super Outbreak as a comparison to the 'original' blanket warning on Palm Sunday.

 

[locomusic01]

Did you send these reports to Thomas P. Grazulis? He might be interested in adding these events to his upcoming volume(s).

Grazulis only records significant tornadoes and (understandably) tends not to include anything that isn't documented well enough to verify directly. I'm fairly confident at least some of those events - if not all of them - are tornadoes, but there's not enough there to warrant inclusion in something like Significant Tornadoes IMO. I'm sure he saw the reports during his research - they were in several Tennessee and Alabama newspapers.

 

[locomusic01]

So, here's possibly the dumbest question in the history of this forum.

Is there any truth to the heresay that all of Indiana was put under a statewide tornado warning during the 74 superoutbreak?

So far as I know, Larry Burns' warning on Palm Sunday is the only example of that happening. Most of the mentions of blanket warnings on 4/3/74 eventually trace back to a Farmer's Almanac article that seems to have reported it in error. I could be wrong, though - I haven't specifically looked into it.

 

[Casuarina Head]

So far as I know, Larry Burns' warning on Palm Sunday is the only example of that happening. Most of the mentions of blanket warnings on 4/3/74 eventually trace back to a Farmer's Almanac article that seems to have reported it in error. I could be wrong, though - I haven't specifically looked into it.

Actually, p. 18 of the official service assessment on 04/03/1974 mentions that multiple WFOs issued “blanket tornado warnings.” The use of the “blanket tornado warning” in Northern Indiana on Palm Sunday ‘65 was the first such instance in history and was later imitated by other WFOs during the 1974 Super Outbreak, including in Northern Alabama, as has been mentioned previously. It is certainly interesting to think about the circumstances that might come close to requiring a similar situation today. 04/27/2011 certainly came rather close at times. I also think that the 1884 Enigma outbreak, if it were to occur today, might well necessitate a similar practice, given multiple, successive, long-tracked tornado families passing over or near the same locations within a certain timespan. Like 04/27/2011, the 1884 Enigma outbreak probably featured multiple violent tornado families in multiple states.

 

[Marshal79344]

I came across this photo from the Worcester Tornado which I believe may be a ground view of ground zero along Unacatena Avenue.

 

[speedbump305]

I came across this photo from the Worcester Tornado which I believe may be a ground view of ground zero along Unacatena Avenue.

View attachment 7850

That’s literally ground zero. Honestly still can’t believe this wasn’t an F5

 

[Casuarina Head]

Re: Fargo

I guess it's the construction that left my memory of Fargo as unimpressive (block foundations), but the more I look, the more I can't deny that there was some pretty intense debris granulation, and some properties do look to have been swept 100% clean of debris.

Where do you see these phenomena? Looking at available imagery, including aerial photography, I would concur that Fargo was certainly a violent tornado, but contextual evidence for (E)F5 damage is borderline at best. Ground scouring, wind-rowing, and vegetative impact(s) are relatively unimpressive, even compared to faster-moving, borderline (E)F5s such as Washington IL (11/17/2013). Plus, severe damage to vehicles and machinery is notably lacking, and a lot of debris remained in the vicinity of homesites. I think Fargo is a low-end, questionable F5 at best and would probably not be rated higher than a mid-range EF4 today.

 

[Marshal79344]

Where do you see these phenomena? Looking at available imagery, including aerial photography, I would concur that Fargo was certainly a violent tornado, but contextual evidence for (E)F5 damage is borderline at best. Ground scouring, wind-rowing, and vegetative impact(s) are relatively unimpressive, even compared to faster-moving, borderline (E)F5s such as Washington IL (11/17/2013). Plus, severe damage to vehicles and machinery is notably lacking, and a lot of debris remained in the vicinity of homesites. I think Fargo is a low-end, questionable F5 at best and would probably not be rated higher than a mid-range EF4 today.

To follow up on Fargo, I have this image from it. While it would certainly qualify for an F4 rating, I doubt it would be considered for an F5 rating today.



A big, cyclic tornado family like Fargo is the result of a supercell training along the WF in a classic high-instability moderate shear environment like this

 

[Casuarina Head]

Definite and/or High-Confidence (E)F5 Tornadoes (1871–Present)

• Sherman, TX (15 May 1896)
• New Richmond, WI (12 June 1899)
• Fergus Falls, MN (22 June 1899)
• Glazier–Higgins, TX/Woodward, OK (9 April 1947)
• Beecher, MI (8 June 1953)
• Udall, KS (25 May 1955)
• San Justo, Santa Fe, Argentina (10 January 1973)
• Brandenburg, KY (3 April 1974)
• Guin, AL (3 April 1974)
• Niles, OH/Wheatland, PA (31 May 1985)
• Bakersfield Valley, TX (1 June 1990)
• Jarrell, TX (27 May 1997)
• Bridge Creek, OK (3 May 1999)
• Loyal Valley, TX (11 May 1999)
• Harper, KS (12 May 2004)
• Parkersburg–New Hartford, IA (25 May 2008)
• Hackleburg–Phil Campbell, AL (27 April 2011)
• Smithville, MS (27 April 2011)
• Joplin, MO (22 May 2011)
• El Reno, OK (24 May 2011)
• Moore, OK (20 May 2013)
• Vilonia, AR (27 April 2014)

Middling and/or “Borderline” (E)F5 Tornadoes (1871–Present)

• Rochester, MN (21 August 1883)
• Pomeroy, IA (6 July 1893)
• Ortonville, MI (25 May 1896)
• Andale, KS (25 May 1917)
• Aberdeen, MS/Waco, AL (20 April 1920)
• Tristate: MO–IL–IN (18 March 1925)
• Rocksprings, TX (12 April 1927)
• Aetna, KS (7 May 1927)
• Tupelo, MS (5 April 1936)
• Worcester, MA (9 June 1953)
• Hudsonville, MI (3 April 1956)
• Ruskin Heights, MO (20 May 1957)
• Colfax, WI (4 June 1958)
• Prague–Iron Post–Sapulpa, OK (5 May 1960)
• Primrose, NE (8 May 1965)
• Jackson–Forkville, MS (3 March 1966)
• Tracy, MN (13 June 1968)
• Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China (29 August 1969)
• Tanner #1, AL (3 April 1974)
• Smithfield, AL (4 April 1977)
• Hesston/Goessel, KS (13 March 1990)
• Stratton, NE (15 June 1990)
• Andover, KS (26 April 1991)
• Chandler, MN (16 June 1992)
• Oakfield, WI (18 July 1996)
• Oak Grove, AL (8 April 1998)
• Lawrence County, TN (16 April 1998)
• Greensburg, KS (4 May 2007)
• Philadelphia, MS (27 April 2011)
• Rainsville, AL (27 April 2011)
• Chickasha, OK (24 May 2011)
• Goldsby, OK (24 May 2011)

(E)F5 Tornadoes that Should Probably Be Downgraded (1871–Present)

• Waco, TX (11 May 1953)
• Fort Rice, ND (29 May 1953)
• Adair, IA (27 June 1953)
• Vicksburg, MS (5 December 1953)
• Blackwell, OK (25 May 1955)
• Fargo, ND (20 June 1957)
• Sunfield, IL (18 December 1957)
• Wichita Falls, TX (3 April 1964)
• Bradshaw, NE (5 May 1964)
• Gregory–Colome, SD (8 May 1965)
• Topeka, KS (8 June 1966)
• Belmond, IA (14 October 1966)
• Wheelersburg–Gallipolis, OH (23 April 1968)
• Charles City/Oelwein, IA (15 May 1968)
• Lubbock, TX (11 May 1970)
• Delhi–Waverly, LA (21 February 1971)
• Valley Mills, TX (6 May 1973)
• Depauw–Daisy Hill, IN (3 April 1974)
• Xenia, OH (3 April 1974)
• Sayler Park, OH (3 April 1974)
• Tanner #2, AL (3 April 1974)
• Spiro, OK (26 March 1976)
• Brownwood, TX (19 April 1976)
• Jordan, IA (13 June 1976)
• Messer–Broken Bow, OK (2 April 1982)
• Barneveld, WI (7 June 1984)
• Plainfield, IL (28 August 1990)

 

[CheeselandSkies]

04/27/2011 certainly came rather close at times. I also think that the 1884 Enigma outbreak, if it were to occur today, might well necessitate a similar practice, given multiple, successive, long-tracked tornado families passing over or near the same locations within a certain timespan. Like 04/27/2011, the 1884 Enigma outbreak probably featured multiple violent tornado families in multiple states.

I think the closest thing we saw that day was when James Spann basically said to his audience "There are so many tornadoes out there it's possible we miss one, so you have to treat any storm that approaches as dangerous today and take shelter."

It was true, as they barely spent any time on what ended up being an EF3 going through Haleyville, and another EF3 in Fayette County that occurred around the same time the Tuscaloosa tornado was going through the Birmingham suburbs.

 

[speedbump305]

Definite and/or High-Confidence (E)F5 Tornadoes (1871–Present)

• Sherman, TX (15 May 1896)
• New Richmond, WI (12 June 1899)
• Fergus Falls, MN (22 June 1899)
• Glazier–Higgins, TX/Woodward, OK (9 April 1947)
• Beecher, MI (8 June 1953)
• Udall, KS (25 May 1955)
• San Justo, Santa Fe, Argentina (10 January 1973)
• Brandenburg, KY (3 April 1974)
• Guin, AL (3 April 1974)
• Niles, OH/Wheatland, PA (31 May 1985)
• Bakersfield Valley, TX (1 June 1990)
• Jarrell, TX (27 May 1997)
• Bridge Creek, OK (3 May 1999)
• Loyal Valley, TX (11 May 1999)
• Harper, KS (12 May 2004)
• Parkersburg–New Hartford, IA (25 May 2008)
• Hackleburg–Phil Campbell, AL (27 April 2011)
• Smithville, MS (27 April 2011)
• Joplin, MO (22 May 2011)
• El Reno, OK (24 May 2011)
• Moore, OK (20 May 2013)
• Vilonia, AR (27 April 2014)

Middling and/or “Borderline” (E)F5 Tornadoes (1871–Present)

• Rochester, MN (21 August 1883)
• Pomeroy, IA (6 July 1893)
• Ortonville, MI (25 May 1896)
• Andale, KS (25 May 1917)
• Aberdeen, MS/Waco, AL (20 April 1920)
• Tristate: MO–IL–IN (18 March 1925)
• Rocksprings, TX (12 April 1927)
• Aetna, KS (7 May 1927)
• Tupelo, MS (5 April 1936)
• Worcester, MA (9 June 1953)
• Hudsonville, MI (3 April 1956)
• Ruskin Heights, MO (20 May 1957)
• Colfax, WI (4 June 1958)
• Prague–Iron Post–Sapulpa, OK (5 May 1960)
• Primrose, NE (8 May 1965)
• Jackson–Forkville, MS (3 March 1966)
• Tracy, MN (13 June 1968)
• Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China (29 August 1969)
• Tanner #1, AL (3 April 1974)
• Smithfield, AL (4 April 1977)
• Hesston/Goessel, KS (13 March 1990)
• Stratton, NE (15 June 1990)
• Andover, KS (26 April 1991)
• Chandler, MN (16 June 1992)
• Oakfield, WI (18 July 1996)
• Oak Grove, AL (8 April 1998)
• Lawrence County, TN (16 April 1998)
• Greensburg, KS (4 May 2007)
• Philadelphia, MS (27 April 2011)
• Rainsville, AL (27 April 2011)
• Chickasha, OK (24 May 2011)
• Goldsby, OK (24 May 2011)

(E)F5 Tornadoes that Should Probably Be Downgraded (1871–Present)

• Waco, TX (11 May 1953)
• Fort Rice, ND (29 May 1953)
• Adair, IA (27 June 1953)
• Vicksburg, MS (5 December 1953)
• Blackwell, OK (25 May 1955)
• Fargo, ND (20 June 1957)
• Sunfield, IL (18 December 1957)
• Wichita Falls, TX (3 April 1964)
• Bradshaw, NE (5 May 1964)
• Gregory–Colome, SD (8 May 1965)
• Topeka, KS (8 June 1966)
• Belmond, IA (14 October 1966)
• Wheelersburg–Gallipolis, OH (23 April 1968)
• Charles City/Oelwein, IA (15 May 1968)
• Lubbock, TX (11 May 1970)
• Delhi–Waverly, LA (21 February 1971)
• Valley Mills, TX (6 May 1973)
• Depauw–Daisy Hill, IN (3 April 1974)
• Xenia, OH (3 April 1974)
• Sayler Park, OH (3 April 1974)
• Tanner #2, AL (3 April 1974)
• Spiro, OK (26 March 1976)
• Brownwood, TX (19 April 1976)
• Jordan, IA (13 June 1976)
• Messer–Broken Bow, OK (2 April 1982)
• Barneveld, WI (7 June 1984)
• Plainfield, IL (28 August 1990)

Most of ur list looks good, but i’d put tri state, rainsville, and philadelphia at the top with vilonia and those other tornadoes

 

[speedbump305]

I’d be thankful if anyone has any images of the concrete walkway being pulled in rochelle, i’ve always wondered if it was a lie or if it’s true

 

[andyhb]

How are the Tri-State, Tupelo, Andover, Philadelphia, and Rainsville tornadoes "middling" F/EF5s? And how does Jordan, IA deserve to be downgraded?

The former two are amongst the strongest cases pre-1950 for the F5 rating. The latter four all produced instances of some truly extraordinary damage.

 

[speedbump305]

How are the Tri-State, Tupelo, Andover, Philadelphia, and Rainsville tornadoes "middling" F/EF5s? And how does Jordan, IA deserve to be downgraded?

The former two are amongst the strongest cases pre-1950 for the F5 rating. The latter four all produced instances of some truly extraordinary damage.

I feel like Andover might actually be a little underrated in my opinion

 

[Casuarina Head]

How are the Tri-State, Tupelo, Andover, Philadelphia, and Rainsville tornadoes "middling" F/EF5s? And how does Jordan, IA deserve to be downgraded?

The former two are amongst the strongest cases pre-1950 for the F5 rating. The latter four all produced instances of some truly extraordinary damage.

There is little photographic evidence for the Tristate tornado’s having produced E/F5 damage, other than an image showing a Model-T motor lying amidst (scoured?) cropland. Of course, the tornado did level and/or sweep away numerous homes, but the quality of construction is uncertain, especially in mining communities such as Annapolis MO and West Frankfort IL. I do think that E/F5 damage occurred in pockets along the path, but so far I haven’t seen anything to indicate that it was above “low-end” E/F5 status, though it certainly could have been. I am being conservative.

The same applies to the Tupelo tornado: it mostly levelled substandard housing in portions of Tupelo, including the section beside Gum Pond, and trees in that area did not show pronounced debarking. The main evidence for Tupelo possibly being more than a marginal E/F5 comes from reliable reports of very long-distance debris-lofting, but little else that would support more than a marginal E/F5 tornado can be discerned from what I have been made aware of to date.

As far as Andover is concerned, it did produce rather extreme damage to vehicles and trailers, along with notable wind-rowing at one location, but aerial and ground photography indicate only a small area of possible E/F5 damage to well-built, single-family structures, shortly prior to the tornado’s passage through the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park.

The unusual depth and degree of scouring in Philadelphia’s case is likely related, at least in part, to the soil being loose, given that large clumps were torn out, and other DIs in the area weren’t really supportive of more than a marginal E/F5 tornado.

Rainsville’s DIs were also notably less extreme than the numerous high-end ones recorded in the Hackleburg and Smithville EF5s.

Finally, apart from damage to mature corn, which is dubious an indicator of high-end tornado intensity, the Jordan IA tornado doesn’t really stand out in terms of extreme DIs. (Anecdotal quotes from “Dr. Fujita” don’t count.)

In one of your previous posts, you mentioned Fargo ND ‘57 as having produced some extreme damage, yet photographs posted thus far don’t really show clear evidence of even low-end E/F5 damage, though it could have occurred elsewhere (though the images do cover the Golden Ridge subdivision, which I believe is the location of the most intense damage).

 

[Casuarina Head]

So for Smithville there are some things it did do that were on another level for EF5s, but we need to ignore everything else Smithville did and focus on the things it did that were just absolutely ridiculous

1: The Uprooted Water Pipe

According to p. 2 of this presentation, the steel drainage culvert had already been dug up by police shortly after the tornado:

Early reports on the internet that a steel drainage culvert had been ripped out of the ground by the tornado (Fig. 8) proved erroneous; Smithville police officials confirm that the street had been earlier declared unsafe, and that road crews had dug up the culvert to ensure no vehicular traffic could use it.

 

[speedbump305]

According to p. 2 of this presentation, the steel drainage culvert had already been dug up by police shortly after the tornado:

That’s not what i was talking about, i know about the culvert being dug up before the tornado, but there was a water pipe that was uprooted by the tornado mentioned in tornado talks article