Tornado outbreak of April 27–28, 2002
The Tornado outbreak of April 27–28, 2002 was a widespread outbreak that affected areas of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska on April 27, 2002. More tornadoes were reported in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia on the following day, April 28.
 Damage from the La Plata, Maryland tornado. | |
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Formed | April 27, 2002 |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Dissipated | April 28, 2002 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 48 |
| Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 2 days |
| Damage | ≥$224 million (2002 USD) |
| Casualties | 7 fatalities, 256 injuries |
| Areas affected | Central & Eastern United States |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
Generally, tornado reports were widely scattered in each state, but significant to severe damage was noted in multiple states. Overall, the outbreak was responsible for 7 deaths, 256 injuries, and tornado damage totaling in excess of $224 million, with wind and hail adding to the damage total.
Confirmed tornadoes
April 27 event
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | ||||||
| F1 | W of Crete | Saline | 2006 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
One barn and some fences were destroyed. Some homes sustained minor damage. | |
| F0 | S of Milford | Seward | 2025 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Brief tornado with no damage. | |
| Kansas | ||||||
| F0 | SW of Effingham | Atchison | 2110 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
A grain truck was blown over and one home had windows blown out. Two sheds were destroyed as well. | |
| Iowa | ||||||
| F0 | NW of Percival | Fremont | 2141 | unknown | Brief tornado with no damage. | |
| F0 | NW of Thurman | Fremont | 2150 | unknown | Brief tornado with no damage. | |
| F0 | S of Pacific Junction | Mills | 2158 | unknown | Brief tornado with no damage. | |
| Illinois | ||||||
| F1 | E of Belleville | St. Clair | 0335 | 1.7 miles (2.7 km) |
34 homes, an elementary school, and two large buildings were damaged. | |
| F1 | E of Kenner | Clay | 0505 | 5 miles (8 km) |
A mobile home and outbuilding were destroyed, a garage was turned on its foundation, a propane tank was thrown, and a car was flipped injuring its occupants. Three homes and a mobile home were also damaged. | |
| F2 | Galatia | Saline | 0607 | 7.5 miles (12 km) |
Tornado struck Galatia directly, where 55 structures were damaged or destroyed. The roof of a car wash was blown off, and then the walls collapsed on a police cruiser that was sheltered there. A coal mine sustained a quarter million dollars in damage. Two persons were injured in an overturned trailer. Two brick homes lost their roofs and some walls.[1] | |
| F3 | NE of Valley Mission to NE of Cypress | Union, Johnson | 0618 | 19.3 miles (30.9 km) |
1 death – Several wood-frame houses and trailers were destroyed with 75 homes damaged in Union County. In Johnson County, 50 structures were damaged including a school. Major structural damage occurred in Dongola, along with the fatality. A recreational vehicle was tossed across Lake Dongola and impaled into the ground, and a train in town was derailed. Vehicles were flipped, mobile homes were destroyed, and block-foundation homes were swept away.[2][3] | |
| F2 | NW of Ganntown | Johnson | 0646 | 7 miles (11.2 km) |
Three mobile homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, injuring two. | |
| F3 | N of Reevesville to SE of Joy, Kentucky | Pope, Livingston, Kentucky | 0659 | 22 miles (35.2 km) |
A brick home and two mobile homes were destroyed, while farm buildings and a few homes were damaged. | |
| Missouri | ||||||
| F2 | N of Willow Springs | Howell | 0340 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
One home was heavily damaged and six other homes and a barn were damaged. One church was rotated off its foundation and a radio tower was toppled. | |
| F3 | SW of Marble Hill | Bollinger | 0540 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
1 death – Tornado struck a subdivision on the southwest edge of town. Six residences were destroyed out of 19 that were heavily damaged. Fifty outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. In addition to the fatality, 16 were injured. Many trees were downed and vehicles were stacked atop each other.[4] | |
| F0 | SE of Hayward | New Madrid | 0729 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Damage limited to trees | |
| Kentucky | ||||||
| F1 | N of Sheridan | Crittenden | 0735 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
A few trailers were heavily damaged or destroyed. | |
| F1 | SW of Repton | Crittenden | 0739 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Damage limited to trees | |
| F3 | SE of Piney to Hanson | Crittenden, Webster, Hopkins | 0749 | 22 miles (35.2 km) |
Tornado struck the town of Providence, causing major damage. A dozen homes and farm buildings were damaged in Crittenden County. In Webster County, 16 mobile homes and 10 homes were destroyed while 100 homes were damaged; 26 people were injured in that county. In Hopkins County, four chicken houses (with an estimated 45,000 chickens inside) were blown off their foundations, and 10 to 15 residences were damaged. | |
| Tennessee | ||||||
| F1 | W of Tiptonville | Lake | 0740 | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) |
11 mobile homes and a shed were destroyed, while 12 mobiles homes and five homes were damaged. | |
| Source: Tornado History Storm Data - April 27, 2002 | ||||||
April 28 event
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | ||||||
| F1 | SE of Tobinsport, Indiana to SW of Garrett, Kentucky | Perry, Indiana, Breckinridge, Kentucky, Meade, Kentucky | 0805 | 32.3 miles (51.7 km) |
1 death – Several homes and outbuildings were destroyed with several other homes damaged. One church lost portions of its roof. The fatality was from a destroyed mobile home. | |
| Kentucky | ||||||
| F1 | W of Hartford | Ohio | 0840 | 9.5 miles (15.2 km) |
A mobile home and several outbuildings were destroyed. Several other homes and mobile homes were damaged as well. | |
| F1 | NW of Radcliff | Hardin | 0855 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
26 homes were damaged, including two that had their roofs torn off. | |
| F1 | S of Moutardier | Edmonson | 0935 | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
Several homes lost their roofs. | |
| Tennessee | ||||||
| F0 | E of Whitlock | Henry | 0900 | 5 miles (8 km) |
20 homes were damaged and three transmission towers were destroyed. | |
| F3 | E of Rucker | Rutherford | 1234 | 3.2 miles (5.1 km) |
Seven mobile homes, five frame homes, and two barns were destroyed, while two mobile homes and 46 frame homes were damaged. Six horse/cattle were killed and 31 people were injured. | |
| F2 | S of Bradyville | Cannon | 1245 | 9.9 miles (1.4 km) |
One residence and three mobile homes were destroyed, while six other mobile homes were damaged. | |
| F0 | Mount Pleaseant area | Maury | 2042 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Brief tornado with no damage. | |
| Ohio | ||||||
| F2 | Crystal Springs to North Canton | Stark | 1758 | 7.2 miles (11.5 km) |
Tornado was a quarter-mile wide. 300 homes and 38 other buildings were damaged, with 25 structures and three businesses destroyed. A middle school building suffered extensive damage and was closed for nearly a week for repairs. A nearby high school was also damaged. Approximately 1000 trees were downed by the tornado and over 300 vehicles were damaged.[5] | |
| Pennsylvania | ||||||
| F0 | Sharpsville | Mercer | 1835 | 6 miles (9.6 km) |
A fire tower was downed, while a barn and a garage were damaged. | |
| F1 | NW of Jackson Center to W of Mapledale | Mercer, Venango | 1845 | 16 miles (25.6 km) |
A garage, four barns, several decks and porches were destroyed while several homes, a factory building, sheds, and garages were damaged. A mobile home was also flipped over. | |
| F1 | W of Meridian | Butler | 1901 | 7 miles (11.2 km) |
Several homes and a barn sustained roof or siding damage | |
| F0 | NW of Maysville | Armstrong, Indiana | 1945 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
A church steeple was toppled and a swimming pool was destroyed. A garage was also damaged while a home under construction was lifted from its foundation. | |
| F2 | Indiana area | Indiana | 2000 | 5 miles (8 km) |
One home was destroyed while 18 others were damaged. Some garages and barns were also damaged, and a large sign from a hotel was blown into a car lot, damaging several vehicles. | |
| F1 | NE of Deckers Point | Indiana | 2010 | 2 miles (32 km) |
Several sheds and garages were destroyed, while one home lost its roof. | |
| F1 | S of Jerseytown | Columbia | 2155 | 6 miles (9.6 km) |
Unknown damage occurred. | |
| F1 | N of McGillstown | Lebanon | 2213 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
12 homes were damaged, and 15 barns were damaged or destroyed. | |
| New York | ||||||
| F0 | NE of Springville | Erie | 1850 | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) |
An outbuilding was damaged. | |
| F2 | SE of Belfast | Allegany | 1950 | 6.5 miles (10.4 km) |
A barn, a garage, and a home were destroyed. A silo, a barn and another home were damaged. | |
| West Virginia | ||||||
| F1 | N of St. Joseph | Marshall | 1915 | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
One barn was destroyed with several others damaged. | |
| Virginia | ||||||
| F1 | Bedford (1st tornado) | Bedford | 2031 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Four businesses were destroyed, while 25 homes and 58 businesses were damaged. | |
| F2 | Bedford (2nd tornado) | Bedford, Campbell | 2043 | 10 miles (16 km) |
Second, stronger tornado struck the Bedford area. 22 homes, six businesses, one church and two dozen farm buildings were destroyed while 329 homes, several RV vehicles, two churches and 45 businesses were damaged. Many trees and power lines were downed and a semi-trailer was damaged as well. 12 people were injured. | |
| F2 | N of Alpine | Shenandoah | 2055 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
Four homes were destroyed, while 36 agriculture structures and 56 homes were damaged. | |
| F1 | W of Emporia | Greensville | 2335 | 6 miles (9.6 km) |
Three mobile homes were destroyed, while 50 homes, one business and an apartment complex were damaged. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, and three people were injured. | |
| Maryland | ||||||
| F4 | Rison to SE of Port Republic | Charles, Calvert | 2256 | 38 miles (60.8 km) |
4 deaths – $115 million in total damage. In Charles County, 100 homes and 49 businesses were destroyed. 638 homes and 143 businesses were damaged. 65% of the buildings in downtown La Plata were heavily damaged or destroyed, and a dentist's office was completely leveled. The town's 125 foot water tower was blown over as well. Multiple unanchored homes were swept completely away, and vehicles were tossed. Over 100 people were injured. In Calvert County, a number of structures were damaged or destroyed as well. Many trees and power lines were downed along the path. Tornado moved out over Chesapeake Bay before dissipating. Initially rated F5; rating was downgraded in a secondary damage survey. | |
| F2 | La Plata | Charles | 2302 | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
A weaker, but still strong F2 tornado affected La Plata with unknown additional damage. | |
| F1 | NE of St. Leonard | Calvert | 2342 | 5 miles (8 km) |
Unknown damage occurred. | |
| F3 | NW of Golden Hill to W of Royal Oak | Dorchester | 2355 | 18 miles (28.8 km) |
One house and several outbuildings were destroyed. | |
| F0 | SE of Wetipquin | Wicomico | 0028 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
Damage was limited to trees. | |
| Source: Tornado History Storm Data - April 28, 2002 | ||||||
Central states (April 27)
| State | Total | County | County total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1 | Union | 1 |
| Kentucky | 1 | Breckinridge | 1 |
| Maryland | 3 | Calvert | 2 |
| Charles | 1 | ||
| Missouri | 1 | Bollinger | 1 |
| Totals | 6 | ||
| All deaths were tornado-related | |||
A total of six tornadoes, all rated F0 or F1 in strength (see Fujita scale) were confirmed in these states. These first reported tornadoes of the outbreak – on the afternoon of the 27th – caused little or no damage.
3 tornadoes were reported later in the day in Missouri. An F2 tornado produced damage in Willow Springs, Missouri, and a large F3 tornado struck the Marble Hill, Missouri area in Bollinger County, Missouri shortly before midnight. This storm caused the first fatality of the outbreak, and produced $4 million in property damage.
Tornado reports began in Illinois late on the 27th and continued overnight into the 28th. Six tornadoes were reported in Illinois, 10 in Kentucky and one in Indiana. In Illinois, F3 damage was seen at Dongola, Illinois and Dixon Springs, Illinois, with over 50 homes damaged or destroyed in Dongola. F2 to F3 damage was also noted with a long track tornado that moved from Tobinsport, Indiana through Meade County, Kentucky, south of Brandenburg, Kentucky.
Mid-Atlantic states (April 28)
Tennessee saw four tornadoes reported during the pre-dawn hours on the 28th, with a 5th tornado reported shortly after noon. The most substantial damage was seen at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where 31 injuries and $2.3 million in property damage was reported. The same supercell spawned an additional F2 tornado at Bradyville, Tennessee.
Sporadic but strong tornadoes were reported in all four states on the afternoon of the 28th. A strong F2 tornado produced $45 million in damage in and around Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio, and additional tornadoes were reported across southwest Pennsylvania, southwest New York, and at Saint Joseph, West Virginia. The Saint Joseph supercell produced large hail a considerable time before this tornado occurred, and the parent supercell later produced the most severe weather recorded during this outbreak, after crossing into Virginia and Maryland.
The worst damage of the outbreak was seen in parts of Virginia and Maryland. A supercell thunderstorm that had earlier produced the St. Joseph, West Virginia tornado crossed the central Appalachian mountains, producing numerous hail and wind damage reports. The supercell has also spawned an F2 tornado in Shenandoah County, Virginia, blowing multiple vehicles and trucks from Interstate 81.
Shortly thereafter, funnel clouds were reported within the same supercell in Fauquier County, Virginia and Prince William County, Virginia.
The supercell then spawned a series of destructive tornadoes while crossing the Potomac River into Maryland, that moved along a nearly continual path starting south of Indian Head, Maryland and continuing into La Plata, Maryland, devastating La Plata's business district. Multiple homes were reduced to bare slabs by the La Plata tornado, and the damage was unintentionally rated as an F5. Further surveys revealed that the homes that were swept away were not attached to their foundations, and the tornado was then downgraded to an F4. Very large hail was also reported with these storms.[6] Much of La Plata had previously been decimated by an F4 tornado on November 9, 1926.
Farther south, tornadoes also produced damage in the City of Bedford, Virginia, and near Emporia, Virginia, along I-95 just north of the North Carolina state line. A total of $125 million in damage, four fatalities, and 122 injuries were directly caused by the Maryland storms (the most expensive in the history of the state). Another $8 million in damage, along with 17 injuries were reported in Virginia.
References
- http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5292408
- http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/storm/union/damage.php
- http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/storm/aprtor.php
- http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/storm/aprtor.php
- http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5287723
- https://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/53280.pdf
External links
- NWS Service Assessment
- April 2002 Tornadoes (NWS Paducah)
- Storm Survey in Rutherford County (NWS Nashville, Tennessee)
- Satellite imagery (University of Wisconsin–Madison)