April 1994 tornado outbreak

Infobox tornado outbreak|name=April 1994 tornado outbreak
date=April 25-27, 1994
image location=


duration=~3 days
fujitascale=F4
tornadoes=101
total damages (USD)= unknown
total fatalities=6
areas affected= Central and Southern Plains, Midwest, Deep South of the United States

The April 1994 tornado outbreak 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 at least six people across two states from two different F4 tornadoes near Dallas, Texas and Lafayette, Indiana.

Tornado event

Several storm thunderstorm cells known as supercells were responsible for most of the tornadoes during the 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 area. The first tornado touchdown in the Fort Worth area but caused little if any damage. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~242015 NCDC: Event Details ] ] 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. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~236986 NCDC: Event Details ] ] 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. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~236991 NCDC: Event Details ] ] 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. [ [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/CLIMO/annreview/aprcalender.html North Central Texas Weather Calendar: April] ]

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 through a mobile home park and a subdivision north of 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. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~200284 NCDC: Event Details ] ] 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. [ [http://www.k5kj.net/940426T.htm April 26, 1994 - The Gainesville, Texas Tornado ] ] [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~236763 NCDC: Event Details ] ] 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. [ [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/CLIMO/annreview/aprcalender.html North Central Texas Weather Calendar: April] ] Activity ended on April 27 with weaker tornadoes across Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee and minimal damage reported.

Tornado table

Confirmed tornadoes

April 25 event

ee also

* List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.k5kj.net/940426T.htm Page on the Gainesville, Texas area tornadoes]