Tornado outbreak of April 10–11, 2001 explained

Tornado outbreak of April 10–11, 2001
Type:Tornado outbreak
Active:April 10–11, 2001
Tornadoes:79 [1] [2]
Fujitascale:F3
Tornado Duration:25 hours, 22 minutes
Casualties:4 deaths, 18 injuries
Damages:$23.75 million
($ in dollars) (+$2 billion (2001 USD ($) in via hail)

The tornado outbreak of April 10–11, 2001, was a large tornado outbreak which affected the central Great Plains on April 10–11, 2001. During the two-day outbreak, it produced a total of 79 tornadoes across eight states including Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan. Four people were killed, 18 injured, and more than $23 million in damage was reported.[3] The fatalities were reported in Oklahoma, Iowa and Missouri including two from a single tornado in Wapello County, Iowa.

The strongest tornado tracked for over 75 miles from northern Missouri to near Des Moines, Iowa causing extensive damage to several structures. In addition to that storm, a supercell on April 10 produced the largest and most damaging hail swath in history; as well as ten tornadoes.

Tornado event

The first tornadoes developed during the late afternoon across west-central Missouri and mostly tracked near Interstate 70 eastward towards the St. Louis Metropolitan Area during the first half of the evening before weakening in Illinois. In addition to the damaging hail (see Tri-State hailstorm section for details), several weak tornadoes were confirmed. One tornado, however, killed a person inside a mobile home near the Fulton area in Callaway County[4]

A new wave of tornadoes touched down further to the west in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas during the late evening and overnight hours. One person was killed in Coal County, Oklahoma by an F2 tornado that threw the mobile home for about 200 yards before being destroyed.[5] Several other significant tornadoes also caused extensive damage across southern Oklahoma, northern Texas and both the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles until activity slowed down after dawn on April 11.

A final wave of tornadoes developed during the late morning and the afternoon hours mostly across Iowa where some of the strongest tornadoes took place. One tornado during the late morning carved a path of about 75 miles from northeast of Kansas City, Missouri to just southwest of Des Moines, Iowa. Several homes were destroyed or heavily damaged (earning an F3 rating) although there were no fatalities with this storm [6] Later during the day, an F2 tornado killed two people in Agency, Iowa (Wapello County) and destroyed or heavily damaged dozens of structures including a Lodge. The outbreak ended across western Michigan during the late afternoon.

Confirmed tornadoes

April 10 event

F#LocationCountyTime (UTC)Path lengthDamage
Missouri
bgcolor=# F1N of WarrensburgJohnson22208 miles
(12.8 km)
100 homes and businesses were damaged.
bgcolor=# F1N of La MontePettis224510 miles
(16 km)
Two barns, a chicken coop, and vacant house were destroyed.
bgcolor=# F1SE of Pilot GroveCooper23115 miles
(8 km)
Two homes had roof damage, and trees and power lines were downed.
bgcolor=# F0SW of KlieverMoniteau23470.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F1Fulton areaCallaway00203 miles
(4.8 km)
1 death – A mobile home and outbuildings were destroyed and a school bus was overturned. A warehouse complex sustained roof damage. The fatality and two injuries were inside the mobile home
bgcolor=# F0NW of Wright CityWarren01200.1 miles
(0.16 km)
A mobile home was overturned.
bgcolor=# F0NE of ForistellSt. Charles01304 miles
(6.4 km)
3 homes, an automotive repair shop and a restaurant had damage and a garage was destroyed. A tractor-trailer was blown into railroad tracks.
bgcolor=# F1O'Fallon areaSt. Charles01451 miles
(1.6 km)
2 buildings were destroyed and 22 homes, apartments and businesses were damaged.
Illinois
bgcolor=# F1Granite City areaMadison02352 miles
(3.2 km)
Two buildings and one house were destroyed while a golf course, 4 buildings, 23 houses and businesses and numerous cars were damaged. One person was injured by flying glass.
Kansas
bgcolor=# F1W of DeerfieldKearny02425.1 miles
(8.2 km)
Two pivot sprinklers, a shed and 30 homes were damaged.
bgcolor=# F2W of Ellis to SE of StocktonTrego, Ellis, Rooks040840.1 miles
(64.2 km)
Several outbuildings, trailers, homes and 13 farms were damaged. Semi-trailers were overturned injuring several people
bgcolor=# F1SW of Zurich to SE of WebsterRooks043514 miles
(22.4 km)
Several outbuildings, trees, and farm equipment were damaged.
bgcolor=# F0Plainville areaRooks04453 miles
(4.8 km)
Homes in production at a manufacturing plant were damaged.
bgcolor=# F1S of AltonOsborne05059 miles
(14.4 km)
Trees and outbuildings were damaged.
bgcolor=# F2NW of Minneola to S of Dodge CityFord051017.3 miles
(27.7 km)
A mobile home was completely demolished. Another trailer nearby received moderate damage. Two pivot sprinklers were destroyed and there was other scattered minor damage along the path of the tornado.
bgcolor=# F1W of GaylordSmith05244 miles
(6.4 km)
Caused damage to trees and power poles.
bgcolor=# F1N of OsborneOsborne05252 miles
(3.2 km)
Caused damage to oil tanks and concrete blocks at an abandoned gas station
bgcolor=# F1Downs areaOsborne, Smith, Jewell052513 miles
(20.8 km)
One home, farm machinery, and several outbuildings were damaged.
bgcolor=# F2S of FordFord053910 miles
(16 km)
Eight pivot sprinklers, a silo, and a barn were destroyed.
bgcolor=# F1NE of FordFord05489.6 miles
(15.4 km)
Three pivot sprinklers and a grain bin were destroyed.
bgcolor=# F0SW of CoraSmith05493.5 miles
(5.6 km)
Caused damage to trees and power poles.
bgcolor=# F0SW of KinsleyEdwards05577.4 miles
(11.8 km)
Caused roof damage to one house.
bgcolor=# F1S of Formoso to E of RepublicJewell, Republic061417.5 miles
(28 km)
Damage to trees, power lines, farm outbuildings and other buildings.
bgcolor=# F1W of CubaRepublic063010 miles
(16 km)
Unknown intermittent damage occurred.
bgcolor=# F0NW of HaddamWashington06556 miles
(9.6 km)
Trees and outbuildings were damaged.
bgcolor=# F1NW of WashingtonWashington07054 miles
(6.4 km)
Outbuildings, an antenna, and power poles were damaged.
Texas
bgcolor=# F1SE of FritchCarson, Hutchinson03221.5 miles
(2.4 km)
Damage to homes, mobile homes, farm equipment, and storage buildings.
bgcolor=# F2S of SpearmanHansford04064 miles
(6.4 km)
Several grain bins and a grain elevator were destroyed while one home, barns, equipment, and power poles were damaged. 2 people were injured.
bgcolor=# F2S of WheelerWheeler05176 miles
(9.6 km)
Heavy damage to a home and farm equipment occurred.
bgcolor=# F1Wichita Falls areaWichita05464.5 miles
(7.2 km)
Caused damage to trees, fences, signs, and a machine shop.
bgcolor=# F1N of EraCooke07475.5 miles
(8.8 km)
Roof, tree, and sign damage occurred.
Oklahoma
bgcolor=# F2W of ElmwoodBeaver044012 miles
(19.2 km)
Damage to two homes, several barns, farm equipment, power poles, trees and a windmill.
bgcolor=# F1S of ElmwoodBeaver05006 miles
(9.6 km)
Two barns and farm equipment were damaged or destroyed.
bgcolor=# F0S of BeaverBeaver05102 miles
(3.2 km)
Minor damage to a home and a barn.
Nebraska
bgcolor=# F0E of Red CloudWebster06123 miles
(4.8 km)
Damage to an irrigation pipe, outbuildings, and trees.
bgcolor=# F1W of NelsonNuckolls063912 miles
(19.2 km)
Tornado remained over open country with damage to irrigation pipes, outbuildings, and trees.
bgcolor=# F1E of HebronThayer06491 miles
(1.6 km)
One home was damaged, injuring one person.
bgcolor=# F1N of WymoreGage07301 miles
(1.6 km)
Extensive tree damage with some roof and structural damage. A mobile home was pushed off its foundation, a garage was damaged and grain bins were destroyed
bgcolor=# F2NE of VirginiaGage07402 miles
(3.2 km)
One home was destroyed while six homes and businesses were damaged. 2 people were injured.
Source: Tornado History Project – April 10, 2001 Storm Data

April 11 event

F#LocationCountyTime (UTC)Path lengthDamage
Oklahoma
bgcolor=# F2SW of HarjoPottawatomie08005 miles
(8 km)
Caused damage to oil pumping and storage equipment.
bgcolor=# F2SW of Jesse to NE of LulaPontotoc, Coal094014.5 miles
(23.2 km)
A mobile home and two barns were destroyed. Oil storage tanks and a pumping unit were overturned. Transmission towers were also downed. A power substation sustained significant damage.
bgcolor=# F2SW of Emet to NE of WapanuckaJohnston, Atoka094519 miles
(30.4 km)
4 mobile homes were destroyed while a frame home and 21 other structures were damaged. 4 people were injured.
bgcolor=# F0NE of CumberlandBryan09470.3 miles
(0.5 km)
Damage was limited to trees.
bgcolor=# F2E of CoalgateCoal, Atoka10258 miles
(14.4 km)
1 death – A mobile home was destroyed killing an occupant, and a frame home was heavily damaged. Another mobile home had minor damage.
bgcolor=# F1W of GarlandHaskell12263 miles
(4.8 km)
One home was damaged and six barns were destroyed.
Texas
bgcolor=# F1S of MuensterCooke08347.8 miles
(12.5 km)
Roof and tree damage occurred.
bgcolor=# F1NW of Gainesville to E of Thackerville, OKCooke, Love (OK)085519 miles
(30.6 km)
A barn was destroyed and two mobile homes and a shed were heavily damaged. Tornado crossed the Oklahoma-Texas state line across the Red River six times.
Missouri
bgcolor=# F0N of DederickCedar15270.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage
bgcolor=# F3SW of Denver to NW of Patterson, IAGentry, Worth, Ringgold (IA), Union (IA), Clarke (IA), Madison (IA)163076.5 miles
(122.4 km)
Strongest tornado and longest track of the outbreak. One home and several outbuildings were destroyed in Missouri. In Iowa, some homes were destroyed and others were damaged. Damage in Ringgold County alone was estimated at $1 million. A total of nine homes, one business, a school building, and a farmstead were damaged or destroyed. Livestock was killed as well.
Nebraska
bgcolor=# F0Springfield areaSarpy17150.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Caused damage to a horse barn, a car, a trailer and power lines.
Iowa
bgcolor=# F0SW of EmersonMills17372 miles
(3.2 km)
Caused damage to 2 farmsteads, a pole shed, trailers, trees and a machine shed.
bgcolor=# F1W of MineolaMills17452 miles
(3.2 km)
2 farms were damaged. A barn and a home were damaged while a hog shed was destroyed.
bgcolor=# F1E of TaylorPottawattamie17550.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Two barns and an outbuilding were destroyed while one home lost its roof.
bgcolor=# F0NE of DumfriesPottawattamie17552 miles
(3.2 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NW of WestonPottawattamie18000.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SE of PortsmouthShelby18300.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Damage to power lines occurred.
bgcolor=# F0Saylorville areaPolk18370.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with little or no damage.
bgcolor=# F1E of BayardGuthrie19252 miles
(3.2 km)
One barn was destroyed.
bgcolor=# F0Jefferson areaGreene19450.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NE of OgdenBoone20040.7 miles
(1.1 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SW of PatonGreene20051 miles
(1.6 km)
Brief touchdown with minor damage.
bgcolor=# F1N of OgdenBoone20063 miles
(4.8 km)
A barn, grain bins, and a storage building were destroyed. One home had minor damage. Other buildings were also damaged.
bgcolor=# F1W of Pilot MoundBoone20104 miles
(6.4 km)
Minor damage occurred.
bgcolor=# F0E of DaytonWebster20370.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Caused damage to trailers and a building.
bgcolor=# F1S of Webster CityHamilton20382.2 miles
(3.5 km)
Two farm buildings were blown down.
bgcolor=# F1Colfax to RhodesJasper, Marshall204017.5 miles
(28 km)
Intermittent track over open country with little damage.
bgcolor=# F2AgencyWapello21008.4 miles
(13.4 km)
2 deaths – A lodge was destroyed and 50 residences were damaged, some severely. 3 other people were injured.
bgcolor=# F0SW of KinrossKeokuk21253 miles
(4.8 km)
Weak tornado with little or no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NW of HolbrookIowa21400.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NW of KalonaWashington21500.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NW of WindhamJohnson22002 miles
(3.2 km)
A barn and a garage were destroyed.
bgcolor=# F0SE of TiffinJohnson22020.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F1E of WashburnBlack Hawk220710 miles
(16 km)
Two homes sustained significant damage.
bgcolor=# F0NW of SwisherJohnson22200.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with little or no damage.
bgcolor=# F0Cedar Rapids areaLinn22200.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NW of VintonBenton22200.1 miles
(0.16 km)
One barn was destroyed and several trees were downed.
bgcolor=# F1NW of West UnionFayette22502 miles
(3.2 km)
Several barns, sheds and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. One person was trapped and injured.
Michigan
bgcolor=# F0NE of ClovervilleMuskegon23400.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NW of CoopersvilleOttawa23420.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
Source: Tornado History Project – April 11, 2001 Storm Data

Tri-state hailstorm

On April 10, a series of long-lived supercell thunderstorms moved from south-southwest of Kansas City, Kansas, across Missouri and often along I-70, impacting Columbia before striking the St. Louis metropolitan area, continuing into southern Illinois. The storms spawned ten weak tornadoes, one of which resulted in the first tornado fatality in Missouri since 1994.[7] [8]

Additionally, it produced the largest (in area) and longest (in distance and duration) recorded swaths of very large hail, up to baseball size, and also caused the most expensive damages of any hailstorm in U.S. history. At $2 billion in insured losses, it was more costly in real dollars than the most damaging tornado at that time, the Oklahoma City Tornado of May 3, 1999.[9] [10] The cost of both were eclipsed by the catastrophic Joplin tornado in 2011, which cost $2.8 billion.[11]

Hundreds of vehicles outside a Ford Assembly Plant in Hazelwood were damaged as well as almost every house within the city of Florissant in St. Louis County. Many automobile dealerships lost their entire auto inventory while thousands of additional homes were damaged. At Lambert International Airport, 22 jetliners suffered hail damage, while 10 aircraft of the Missouri National Guard were severely damaged.[12]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/2001/4/10/table Tornado Database, Tornado Maps, Tornado Paths
  2. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/2001/4/11/table Tornado Database, Tornado Maps, Tornado Paths
  3. http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms NCDC Storm Events-Select State
  4. http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~431127 NCDC: Event Details
  5. http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~438187 NCDC: Event Details
  6. http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~421540 NCDC: Event Details
  7. http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=april_10_2001 10 April 2001
  8. http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/010410_rpts.html 20010410's Storm Reports
  9. Fred H. . Glass . M.F. Britt . The Historic Missouri-Illinois High Precipitation Supercell of 10 April 2001 . 21st Conference on Severe Local Storms . American Meteorological Society . August 2002 . San Antonio, TX .
  10. Changnon . Stanley A. . J. Burroughs . The Tristate Hailstorm: The Most Costly on Record . Mon. Weather Rev. . 131 . 8 . 1734–9 . August 2003 . 10.1175//2549.1. 117153202 . 2003MWRv..131.1734C . free .
  11. Web site: 2012-05-21. Records show Joplin twister was costliest since 1950 - Today's News - TheSunNews.com. 2020-08-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20120521092604/http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/05/19/2837111/records-show-joplin-twister-was.html. May 21, 2012.
  12. Web site: Event Record Details . National Climatic Data Center . December 8, 2008.