Tornado outbreak of April 20–22, 1912

The tornado outbreak of April 20–22, 1912 was a large tornado outbreak that affected portions of the High Plains, the Upper Midwest, and the Southern United States, including portions of what is now known as the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, from April 20–22, 1912. The severe-weather event produced at least 32 tornadoes, at least nine—and possibly 10 or more—of which were violent tornadoes, all of which rated F4 on the Fujita scale. Powerful tornado activity was distributed from the Great Plains to South Carolina. The first day of the outbreak occurred on April 20 and produced numerous strong to violent tornadoes across parts of North Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. A second day of intense tornadoes occurred on April 21, with several strong to violent tornadoes across Illinois and Indiana. The final day, April 22, produced an F4 tornado in Georgia as well. The entire outbreak killed 56 people, and was followed days later by another intense tornado outbreak on April 27. That outbreak killed about 40 people, mostly in Oklahoma. Both outbreaks produced a combined total of nine F4 tornadoes in Oklahoma alone.

Tornado outbreak of April 20–22, 1912
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationApril 20–22, 1912
Tornadoes confirmed≥ 32
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak2~2 days
DamageUnknown
Casualties56 fatalities
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Tornado table
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
1 ? 1 12 9 9 0 ≥ 32

Confirmed tornadoes

April 20
List of confirmed tornadoes – April 20, 1912[nb 1]
F# Location County / Parish State Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary
F1 Taylor area Williamson TX unknown unknown unknown 1 death – A tornado destroyed frail structures, killing a man and injuring his wife.[1]
F3 Alvord to S of Rosston Wise, Cooke TX 2100 22 miles (35 km) 150 yd (140 m) The first of four strong tornadoes to hit North Texas on April 20 destroyed nine homes and a church as it passed through Alvord. The tornado then destroyed farms near "Audubon" and "Dan", scattering debris for miles around. It later struck 12 more barns and homes 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Rosston. 10 people were injured along the path.[1]
F4 SE of Rush Center to Bison Rush KS 2100 15 miles (24 km) 400 yd (370 m) 2 deaths – An intense tornado leveled entire farms near Rush Center and almost obliterated 12 farms in its path. Debris was reported 8 miles (13 km) from the destroyed farms. The tornado also destroyed or damaged approximately 50 homes in Bison, or about half of the town, with losses estimated at $70,000. An elderly farmer who dismissed the danger was killed with his daughter on a farm near Bison. 15 people were injured along the path.[1]
F4 W of Yukon to E of Edmond Canadian, Oklahoma OK 2145 20 miles (32 km) 200 yd (180 m) 1 death – A tornado leveled a schoolhouse and two farms in its path. Students departed from the school only 15 minutes before the tornado arrived. The tornado resembled a large elephant's trunk as it passed just 15 mi (24 km) northwest of Oklahoma City.[2]
F3 E of Nashville to NE of Willowdale Kingman KS 2145 15 miles (24 km) 100 yd (91 m) A tornado injured two people near both ends of its path.[2]
F3 NW of Waldron Harper KS 2200 7 miles (11 km) 200 yd (180 m) 1 death – A powerful, widely-visible tornado caused devastation to six farms. It killed one person and caused five of eight injuries on one farm. The funnel may have reached F4 intensity as it passed between Waldron and Corwin.[2]
F3 NW of Arcadia to N of Fallis Oklahoma, Logan, Lincoln OK 2220 15 miles (24 km) 300 yd (270 m) A tornado destroyed at least six farmhouses.[2]
F4 SW of Hennessey Kingfisher OK 2230 12 miles (19 km) 0.5 mi (800 m) 2 deaths – A very intense tornado swept away farms near Hennessey before entering town and causing some F4 damage in Hennessey. 15 homes were reported destroyed in Hennessey, with losses reaching approximately $100,000.[2] Some sources indicate that the tornado may have reached F5 intensity.[3][4]
F2 NW of Nashville to Penalosa Harper, Kingman KS 2300 25 miles (40 km) unknown Only one barn was reported destroyed.[2]
F4 SE of Perry to SW of Ralston Noble, Pawnee OK 2330 30 miles (48 km) 0.5 mi (800 m) 3 deaths – A destructive tornado swept away 12 homes as it struck approximately 25 farms in its path. All three deaths occurred 10 miles (16 km) east of Perry.[2]
F3 NW of Orlando to Perry Noble OK 2330 10 miles (16 km) unknown A tornado injured 14 people and damaged or destroyed about 50 buildings before ending as a downburst in Perry. One hotel lost its second story in Perry.[2]
F3 S of Princeton to NE of Farmersville Collin TX 2330 9 miles (14 km) 300 yd (270 m) 2 deaths – A tornado damaged 20 homes and tore apart six others. Two children died, one each in different farm houses. The funnel briefly lifted while passing over Farmersville, but then touched down again northeast of town.[2]
F4 N of Poolville to Boyd Wise TX 0000 15 miles (24 km) 300 yd (270 m) 4 deaths – One of two violent tornadoes to hit North Texas on April 20 leveled at least 10 farms and numerous barns, scattering debris for miles. The tornado also destroyed and blew away an iron bridge. The bodies of the victims were found 200 yards (600 ft) from their homesite.[2]
F4 W of Roanoke to S of Lewisville Denton TX 0300 18 miles (29 km) 0.5 mi (800 m) 1 death – A huge, intense tornado swept away at least five farms in its path. It first passed just .5 miles (0.80 km) north of Roanoke, then moved directly through Flower Mound, killing a male child and severely injuring his family. The tornado maimed or killed much livestock, but its audibility allowed most people to seek shelter in time.[2]

April 21
List of confirmed tornadoes – April 21, 1912[nb 1]
F# Location County / Parish State Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary
F3 NE of Streator to N of Coal City La Salle, Grundy IL 2200 20 miles (32 km) 200 yd (180 m) This tornado produced near-F4 damage to two farmsites that were swept away north of Kinsman and Verona. The damage may have been F4 in intensity, but too few details were available to assign that rating. Most of the 37 injuries occurred in barns.[2]
F2 Rowell area to E of Clinton DeWitt IL 2230 11 miles (18 km) 70 yd (64 m) A tornado unroofed, damaged, or destroyed barns on 15 farmsites. Its path passed just .5 mi (0.80 km) southeast of where an F4 tornado hit on May 18, 1883.[2][5]
F3 SW of Dwight to W of Kankakee Livingston, Kankakee IL 2235 26 miles (42 km) 200 yd (180 m) 5 deaths – Three people died in one family as their farmhouse was destroyed near Reddick. The tornado destroyed farm buildings east of Reddick. Two women died in a collapsed stone barn.[2]
F2 Chatsworth Livingston IL 2335 6 miles (9.7 km) 50 yd (46 m) A short-lived tornado unroofed homes on the south side of Chatsworth.[2]
F4 N of Crescent City, Illinois to NE of Morocco, Indiana Iroquois (IL), Newton (IN) IL, IN 0000 25 miles (40 km) 200 yd (180 m) 9 deaths – This tornado swept away farms north of Pittwood and east of Donovan. Six people in one family (the family of future baseball Hall of Famer Sam Rice) and their hired hand died on one of the farms. A wood stove was moved .5 mi (0.80 km). Two children also died northwest of Morocco in Indiana.[2]
F2 Saint George, Illinois area to W of Lowell, Indiana Kankakee (IL), Lake (IN) IL, IN 0000 13 miles (21 km) 100 yd (91 m) A tornado unroofed homes and destroyed a building in a brickyard at Grant Park. Barns were leveled on six farms in Indiana.[2]
F4 N of Murphysboro to Pershing Jackson, Williamson, Franklin IL 0005 20 miles (32 km) 400 yd (370 m) 11 deaths – This tornado roughly paralleled the path of the 1925 Tri-State tornado. It touched down 3 mi (4.8 km) north of Murphysboro and moved east-northeast. The tornado leveled farms near Murphysboro, killing a person. Seven people died as frail homes were destroyed in Bush. There, damage to railroad property reached $25,000 and damage to mining property over $100,000 (1912 USD). Two people died as their farm was swept away 6 mi (9.7 km) north of Herrin.[2] Observers reported that the tornado divided into several parts as it moved along—a possible reference to multiple vortices.[6]
FU N of Murphysboro Jackson IL unknown unknown unknown Tornadic storm hit 6 mi (9.7 km) north of Murphysboro. No details are available.[6]
F3 NNW of Rensselaer Jasper IN 0100 7 miles (11 km) unknown 1 death – This tornado destroyed homes, barns, and a church as it passed through Union Township, killing a person running for shelter.[2]
F2 S of Wellington Iroquois IL 0100 10 miles (16 km) 70 yd (64 m) A tornado unroofed homes.[2]
F2 SW of Willisville Randolph, Perry IL 0110 8 miles (13 km) 70 yd (64 m) 3 deaths – A tornado destroyed or damaged 16 homes as it passed across southeast Willisville. Three deaths occurred in two homes.[7]
F2 SW of Dale Hamilton IL 0230 7 miles (11 km) 200 yd (180 m) 1 death – A tornado unroofed or shifted homes off their foundations.[7]

April 22
List of confirmed tornadoes – April 22, 1912[nb 1]
F# Location County / Parish State Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary
F2 Adamsville to Brookside Jefferson AL unknown 10 miles (16 km) unknown 1 death – One person died at Pinkney City. The tornado damaged or destroyed more than 100 homes. One baby may have been transported 1 mi (1.6 km), unharmed.[7]
F2 Waldron Harper KS unknown unknown unknown 1 death – A tornado destroyed homes.[7]
F2 Near Sargent to NW of Madras Coweta GA 1000 6 miles (9.7 km) unknown 1 death – A tornado destroyed three tenant homes.[7]
F2 N of Hampton to near McDonough Henry GA 1200 7 miles (11 km) 200 yd (180 m) A tornado unroofed large homes and leveled small ones. Many farm animals were reported dead. The tornado passed 4 mi (6.4 km) north of Locust Grove.[7]
F4 SE of Newborn Jasper, Newton, Morgan GA 1230 20 miles (32 km) 0.5 mi (800 m) 6 deaths – A large and intense tornado swept away 12 homes, carrying debris for miles around. Some of the deaths occurred in or near "Pitts Chapel." Survivors reportedly failed to even detect the tornado as it approached.[7]
F2 Aiken Aiken SC 1615 unknown 300 yd (270 m) A tornado unroofed many structures on the south side of Aiken.[7]

See also

Notes
  1. All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.

References
  1. Grazulis, Significant Tornadoes, 731
  2. Grazulis, Significant Tornadoes, 732
  3. Neal Lott; Sam McCown; Tom Ross (August 2000). "1998-1999 Tornadoes and a Long-Term U.S. Tornado Climatology" (PDF). National Climatic Data Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  4. Grazulis, Thomas P. (2011). F5-F6 Tornadoes. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project.
  5. Grazulis, Significant Tornadoes, 619–620.
  6. Colyer, F. H. (1912). "Tornado at Murphysboro and Bush, Ill., April 21, 1912" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. Carbondale, Illinois: U.S. Weather Bureau. 40 (4): 540–541. Bibcode:1912MWRv...40..540C. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1912)40<540b:TAMABI>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  7. Grazulis, Significant Tornadoes, 733.

Bibliography
  • Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
  • The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm. University of Oklahoma Press. 2003. ISBN 978-0-8061-3538-0.
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