Tornado outbreak of April 25–27, 1994

Tornado outbreak of April 25–27, 1994
Damage to the Kahl Farm in Prairie Farm, Wisconsin
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationApril 25–27, 1994
Tornadoes
confirmed		101
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2		2 days, 3 hours, 12 minutes
Fatalities6 fatalities
Damage$127 million (1994 USD)
Areas affectedCentral and Eastern United States
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

The Tornado outbreak of April 25–27, 1994 was a widespread tornado outbreak that affected much of the Central and Southern Plains of the United States as well as the Midwest and the Deep South from Colorado to New York from April 25 to April 27, 1994. The entire outbreak killed six people across two states from two different F4 tornadoes near Dallas, Texas and West Lafayette, Indiana.

Tornado event

Several scattered strong storms/supercells developed during the afternoon and late-evening hours on April 25. The most notable storm of the day produced several tornadoes across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The first tornado touchdown in the Fort Worth area but caused little if any damage.[1] An F2 tornado shortly caused extensive damage to the town of DeSoto in Dallas County. Numerous structures were destroyed and the City Hall itself sustained major damage that totaled about $50 million. No fatalities were reported by this tornado.[2] However, further east, the same storm intensified and produced a violent F4 tornado that traveled through the Lancaster area killing 3 and injured nearly 50 others while destroying much of the historic downtown square.[3] In addition to the tornadoes, extensive hail was recorded across much of the Metroplex region. Total tornado and hail figures in Texas alone on this date was estimated at $300 million.[4]

On April 26, the most productive storm affected portions of eastern Illinois just southeast of Chicago and portions of northern and central Indiana. Shortly before 11:00 PM, an F4 tornado tore through a mobile home park and a subdivision 2 miles west of West Lafayette killing three and injuring 70 others across Tippecanoe County. The mobile home park was very heavily damaged with numerous structures being totally demolished. A factory where one of the fatalities was also heavily damaged while the two other fatalities were inside the same home.[5] Another tornado earlier in the day caused extensive damage to the town of Gainesville, Texas and injuring eight people. Several other tornadoes were reported in and around the Gainesville tornado at the same time the parent storm tore through most of the city.[6][7] Across North Texas near the Red River Valley, over 20 tornadoes were confirmed along that area alone on April 26 from roughly near Wichita Falls to west of Texarkana, Arkansas.[4] Activity ended on April 27 with weaker tornadoes across Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee and minimal damage reported.

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 65 24 10 0 2 0 101

April 25 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Colorado
F0 Widefield area El Paso 2003 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown in an open field without damage.
F0 E of Fountain El Paso 2019 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown in an open field without damage.
F0 SW of Lindon Washington 2118 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown in an open field without damage.
F0 S of Idalia Yuma 2256 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Nebraska
F1 Central City area Merrick 2135 3 miles
(4.8 km) 		Outbuildings were damaged, the roof of an auto shop was blown off and tree tops were twisted.
F0 W of Elgin Antelope 2145 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		A van was picked up and rolled over into a ditch.
F0 SE of Elgin Antelope 2200 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown in an open field without damage.
F0 NE of Plainview Pierce 2235 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Two empty semi-trailers were blown over. Central irrigation pivot systems were twisted and blown over. Two county buildings and a garage were damaged as well.
F1 E of Bloomfield Knox 2245 7 miles
(11.2 km) 		Damage to outbuildings and irrigation systems at several farms. One person was injured.
F0 SE of Bloomfield Knox 2245 1.5 miles
(2.4 km) 		A storage tank was carried for a mile. A truck, a car and a garage were damaged as well.
South Dakota
F0 S of Worthing Lincoln 2338 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		A door was torn off of a machine shed, a grain bin was caved in, a cattle shed was tipped over, and a hog house lost its roof.
F0 N of Renner Minnehaha 0010 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		A mobile home was destroyed, and a ball park heavily damaged. A legion hall was damaged by flying debris. Farm buildings were also damaged, and power lines were downed.
F0 SW of Valley Springs Minnehaha 0010 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)
F0 Garretson area Minnehaha 0015 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Oklahoma
F1 N of Albion Pushmataha, Latimer 2358 4.7 miles
(7.5 km)
F1 S of Whitesboro Le Flore 0035 2 miles
(3.2 km)
F0 S of Fanshawe Le Flore 0040 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Iowa
F1 Doon area Lyon 0001 7 miles
(11.2 km) 		Extensive damage to two farms. Several buildings, a machine shed, a garage, and a brooder coop were downed.
Minnesota
F0 Luverne area Rock 0015 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Six mobile homes were damaged.
F0 SE of Round Lake Jackson 0100 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		A building had roof damage and several trees were toppled.
Texas
F0 Fort Worth area Tarrant 0042 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without known damage.
F0 SW of Duncanville Dallas 0150 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Trees and power lines were blown down.
F2 DeSoto area Dallas 0200 2 miles
(3.2 km) 		75 homes were destroyed and 250 others were damaged. 10 businesses were destroyed and 35 others were damaged as well. A school was also damaged as well as the City Hall. 7 people were injured and damage was estimated at $50 million.
F4 Lancaster/Hutchins area Dallas 0230 6 miles
(9.6 km) 		3 deaths – 1/2 mile wide tornado. 80 percent of Lancaster's historic downtown square was destroyed. 233 homes and 58 businesses were destroyed. 227 homes and two schools were also damaged. 48 people were injured.
F0 SW of Pecan Hill Ellis 0258 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 W of Midlothian Ellis 0258 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
Source: Tornado History Project - April 25, 1994 Storm Data

April 26 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Iowa
F1 Ames area Story 1103 1 miles
(1.6 km) 		Several buildings were damaged or destroyed. Windows on cars and homes were also broken.
Minnesota
F2 W of Grant Washington 1700 5 miles
(8 km) 		17 homes were damaged, 10 severely. One person was injured.
Texas
F0 NE of Olney Archer 1750 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)
F2 SW of Windthorst Archer 1805 9.5 miles
(15.2 km)
F0 NW of Bowie Montague 1940 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 NE of Alvord Wise 1955 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 E of Montague Montague 2007 2.8 miles
(4.5 km) 		Fences and power lines were downed.
F1 W of St. Jo Montague 2030 5 miles
(8 km) 		Power line were knocked down and 20 head of cattle were killed.
F0 S of St. Jo Montague 2030 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		A mobile home office was blown over
F0 NW of Era Cooke 2037 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F2 Gainesville area (1st tornado) Cooke 2045 16 miles
(25.6 km) 		One house and 15 mobile homes were destroyed. About 70 homes, 52 mobile homes, 14 businesses, a multi-story apartment complex, two barns and a school were damaged as well. Cars and trucks were flipped over and trees and power lines were down across the city. 8 people were injured.
F0 W of Gainesville Cooke 2050 1 miles
(1.6 km)
F0 Gainesville area (2nd tornado) Cooke 2105 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Second tornado to strike Gainesville during the outbreak. Minor roof and tree damage occurred.
F0 N of Gainesville Cooke 2110 4 miles
(6.4 km) 		Damage was limited to trees.
F0 N of Gordonville Grayson 2130 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 NE of Grayson Grayson 2140 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 N of Downing Comanche 2152 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 W of Comanche Comanche 2211 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)
F0 S of Pottsboro Grayson 2215 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 SE of Clairette Erath 2305 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F2 W of Walnut Springs Bosque 2320 1 miles
(1.6 km) 		One house, two mobile homes, and a barn were destroyed while a grain silo was damaged. Telephone poles were also knocked down. One person was injured.
F0 W of Lannius Fannin 0000 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F2 S of Ragtown Lamar 0000 6 miles
(9.6 km) 		An RV was destroyed while 15 homes and 35 barns and outbuildings were damaged.
F0 W of Meridian (1st tornado) Bosque 0006 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 Bonham area Fannin 0020 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 SW of Selfs Fannin 0020 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Damage to trees and power lines.
F0 NE of Tigertown Lamar 0025 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 W of Meridian (2nd tornado) Bosque 0130 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 S of Woodland Red River 0135 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage
F0 N of Alexander Erath 0150 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		One barn was destroyed.
F1 N of Morgan Bosque 0243 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		A mobile home was destroyed, and two permanent homes were heavily damaged.
Wisconsin
F1 S of Prairie Farm Dunn, Barron 1303 4 miles
(6.4 km) 		Damaged 5+ houses, shifted house off foundation, destroyed many barns, bent farm equipment, and destroyed a turkey farm. After hitting the Kahl Farm, the tornado lifted and hours later dropped near Canton, WI.
F2 NE of Canton Barron 1810 4 miles
(6.4 km) 		Same tornado that destroyed the turkey farm and damaged many house near Prairie Farm.
F2 Prentice area Price 1920 12 miles
(19.2 km) 		A cabin, a trailer, and a barn were destroyed while a farm home and a construction company shed were damaged. A garage was knocked against a home and a mobile home was rolled.
F1 NE of Conover Vilas 2055 4.5 miles
(7.2 km)
Oklahoma
F0 NE of Woodford Carter 1830 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)
F1 E of Daisy Atoka, Pushmataha 2025 9 miles
(14.4 km)
F1 N of Adel Pittsburg 2046 3 miles
(4.8 km)
F1 N of Tuskahoma Pushmataha 2102 12 miles
(19.2 km)
F1 NW of Albion Latimer 2120 6 miles
(9.6 km)
F1 S of Yarnaby Bryan 2318 8.5 miles
(13.6 km)
F0 S of Wade Bryan 2335 1.5 miles
(2.4 km)
Mississippi
F0 NE of Horn Lake DeSoto 2303 3 miles
(4.8 km) 		Damage occurred to several tree tops.
F0 NE of Hernando DeSoto 0005 1 miles
(1.6 km) 		Damage was limited to trees.
F0 Red Banks area Marshall 0025 0.5 miles
(0.8 km) 		Damage was limited to a few trees.
F0 N of Victoria Marshall 0050 0.2 miles
(0.32 km) 		Damage limited to a few trees
Missouri
F1 S of Walnut Grove Greene 2350 0.5 miles
(0.8 km) 		Two permanent homes were severely damaged, and a mobile home lost its roof. Trees were knocked down as well.
F0 E of Eudora Polk 2355 2 miles
(3.2 km) 		Weak tornado in an open field without damage.
F1 Lebanon area Laclede 0022 2.5 miles
(4 km) 		An airplane was flipped while signs, flags, and power lines were damaged or ripped.
F1 SE of Grovespring Wright 0045 1 miles
(1.6 km) 		Five buildings, including two barns and a mobile home were destroyed.
F0 NE of Holts Summit Callaway 0120 0.6 miles
(1 km) 		Damage was limited to a few trees.
F0 Crystal City Jefferson 0235 0.3 miles
(0.5 km) 		Damage was limited to trees and power poles.
Illinois
F0 SW of Arcola (1st tornado) Douglas 0230 1 miles
(1.6 km) 		Three outbuildings were blown over.
F1 SW of Arcola (2nd tornado) Douglas 0231 3 miles
(4.8 km) 		Farm equipment and power lines were damaged.
F1 S of Brunswick, Indiana Will, Lake, Indiana 0240 2 miles
(3.2 km) 		An antenna was knocked down. Several farm buildings were damaged as well.
F0 SE of Beecher Will 0240 3 miles
(4.8 km) 		A house, grain bins, and farm buildings were damaged.
F1 Watseka area Iroquois 0245 1 miles
(1.6 km) 		A cinder block building was moved from its foundation and damaged. Metal storage buildings were also damaged.
F2 E of Eberle Effingham 0430 6 miles
(9.6 km) 		A two-car garage was destroyed and a home was partially knocked onto its side. A shed, a barn, farm buildings, and grain bins were damaged as well.
F0 NW of Allerton Champaign 0445 0.3 miles
(0.5 km) 		An outbuilding was destroyed and another was moved from its foundation. A shed was bent and twisted as well.
F0 Oblong area Crawford 0510 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		A trailer was overturned and trees were uprooted, with some falling onto homes.
Indiana
F0 N of Medaryville Pulaski 0245 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Damage to two barns and irrigation equipment.
F2 SE of Francesville to SW of Maxinkuckee Pulaski, Fulton, Marshall 0245 20 miles
(32 km) 		One home and five farm buildings were destroyed, with other farm buildings being damaged. A mobile home was lifted and placed on top of a car.
F4 NW of West Lafayette to SE of Springboro Tippecanoe, Carroll 0458 14 miles
(22.4 km) 		3 deaths – 11 homes were destroyed, 17 with major damage, and 7 with minor damage. 13 multi-family dwellings were heavily damaged. 64 mobile homes were heavily damaged or destroyed with lighter damage to 21 others at a mobile home park. Another three mobile homes were damaged as well as a Venetian blind factory and two gas stations. Vehicles were thrown and destroyed as well. 70 people were injured.
F1 SW of Whitehall Owen 0510 0.2 miles
(0.32 km) 		A mobile home was destroyed and a church was damaged.
F0 SE of Economy Wayne 0625 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
Source: Tornado History Project - April 26, 1994 Storm Data

April 27 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Illinois
F1 West Frankfort area Franklin 1005 1 miles
(1.6 km) 		A mobile home and a mine building were destroyed. 3,000 people were injured.
Tennessee
F0 Athens area McMinn 1815 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Damage was limited to trees.
F0 N of Gandy Lawrence 1940 0.1 miles
(0.16 km) 		Damage was limited to a few trees.
New York
F1 W of Eagle Bridge Rensselaer 1830 1.5 miles
(2.4 km) 		Caused mostly tree damage, though some light property damage occurred as well.
Missouri
F0 S of Acorn Corner Pemiscot 1912 0.3 miles
(0.5 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
F0 S of Powersite Taney 2127 0.5 miles
(0.8 km) 		Damage was limited to trees.
F0 Poplar Bluff area Butler 2131 0.5 miles
(0.8 km) 		Brief tornado without damage.
F0 S of Gainesville Ozark 2254 0.2 miles
(0.32 km) 		Brief touchdown without damage.
Kentucky
F0 SE of Hopson Trigg, Caldwell 2300 1 miles
(1.6 km)
F0 SE of Gracey Christian 2315 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Source: Tornado History Project - April 27, 1994 Storm Data

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ NCDC: Event Details Archived May 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ NCDC: Event Details Archived May 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ NCDC: Event Details Archived May 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b North Central Texas Weather Calendar: April Archived May 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ NCDC: Event Details Archived May 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ April 26, 1994 - The Gainesville, Texas Tornado
  7. ^ NCDC: Event Details Archived October 23, 2005, at the Wayback Machine