Tornado outbreak of April 8–9, 2015

The tornado outbreak of April 8–9, 2015 was a relatively small but damaging outbreak of tornadoes that occurred in parts of the Great Plains and in the Midwestern United States. 27 tornadoes were confirmed during the two days, most of them weak, however a select few of them were powerful and damaging.

Tornado outbreak of April 8–9, 2015
High-end EF4 damage to a farmstead in Rochelle, Illinois
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationApril 8, 2015 (2015-04-08) – April 9, 2015 (2015-04-09)
Tornadoes confirmed27
Max. rating1EF4 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak2about 36 hours
Highest winds
Casualties2 fatalities
Areas affectedHigh Plains, parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley

1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

By far the most significant tornado of the outbreak was a very high-end EF4 wedge tornado that struck the towns of Rochelle and Fairdale, Illinois, causing catastrophic damage. It was also the strongest tornado recorded in 2015, as well as the strongest to occur in Illinois since the F5 tornado that struck Plainfield in 1990.

Meteorological synopsis

On April 4, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued their Day 6 severe weather outlook, highlighting a substantial and widespread risk for severe weather from southeastern Oklahoma to northeastern Illinois valid for April 9.[1] This threat area was maintained in the Day 5 outlook and narrowed to a corridor from southern Missouri into northern Illinois in the Day 4 outlook.[2][3] On April 7, a Day 3 Enhanced risk was issued across most of Illinois, eastern Missouri, and small portions of adjacent states. No further changes to the threat level were made, although the Enhanced risk was significantly expanded late on April 8 to include portions of the southern Great Lakes, lower Ohio Valley, Ozark Plateau, and Arklatex region.[4] Around midday on April 9, the SPC issued a 10% hatched tornado threat area across much of northern Illinois and small portions of nearby states, signifying the potential for several tornadoes, of which one or two had the potential to be strong (EF2 or stronger on the Enhanced Fujita scale).[5]

The catalyst for the severe weather outbreak came as a positively-tilted shortwave trough progressed across the central High Plains into the Great Plains and eventually through the western Great Lakes region. A weaker disturbance pushed from the Ozarks into the Northeast United States, acting to strengthen southwesterly winds aloft across the risk area. At the surface, a weak area of low pressure initially centered over northeastern Kansas early on April 9 progressed steadily northeast while intensifying, reaching the trisection of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois by late that evening. A cold front stemming from the low progressed eastward across the Mid-South, whereas an arching warm front slowly pushed northward across eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. Modest surface heating ahead of the cold front allowed mid-level CAPE values to reach 1,000–1,500 J/kg, and a mass of rich moisture transported northward from the Gulf of Mexico pushed dewpoints into the lower 60s °F across the Enhanced risk area.[6] Winds at 850mb strengthened at or above 45 mph (75 km/h) atop winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) at 700mb, creating a favorable setup for sustained supercells. Although the overall directional component of low-level winds was expected to be less than ideal as a whole, a small area of southeasterly surface winds developed near the surface low in northern Illinois.[5]

At 1:50 p.m. CDT (18:50 UTC), the SPC issued a tornado watch for northern and central Illinois, far northwestern Indiana, far southern Wisconsin, and portions of Lake Michigan. A 60% chance of two or more tornadoes was assessed across the watch box, with a 40% chance of at least one strong tornado.[7] Isolated shower activity had already begun forming across the region just prior to the issuance of watch,[8] eventually growing into a line of strong to severe thunderstorms, including supercells.[9]

Confirmed tornadoes
Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total
0 16 9 1 0 1 0 27

April 8 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, April 8, 2015[note 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[note 2] Summary Refs
EF1 Potosi Washington MO 37.9446°N 90.7992°W / 37.9446; -90.7992 (Potosi (Apr. 8, EF1)) 2020–2038 4.1 mi (6.6 km) 300 yd (270 m) $0 Several churches and businesses sustained roof damage, and trees, power lines, and business signs were downed throughout the town. A mobile home used for storage along with a building at a saw mill were destroyed. [10]
EF0 E of Buttermilk Comanche KS N/A 2324–2327 1.91 mi (3.07 km) 75 yd (69 m) $0 A storm chaser observed a tornado with intermittent contact with the ground. [11]
EF0 NNE of Aetna Barber KS N/A 2349–0003 16.24 mi (26.14 km) 250 yd (230 m) $0 A large cone tornado remained mainly over open country, causing only tree damage. [12]
EF0 S of Lake City Barber KS N/A 0115–0116 0.57 mi (0.92 km) 50 yd (46 m) $0 A trained storm spotter observed a brief tornado. [13]
EF0 N of Garden Plain Sedgewick KS 37.71°N 97.60°W / 37.71; -97.60 (Garden Plain (Apr. 8, EF0)) 0132 – 0140 2.27 mi (3.65 km) 75 yd (69 m) $0 A brief rope tornado damaged the roof of a barn. [14]
EF0 Rural Reno County Reno KS 37.7427°N 97.699°W / 37.7427; -97.699 (Rural Reno County (Apr. 8, EF0)) 0140–0142 0.82 mi (1.32 km) 75 yd (69 m) $0 A portion of a barn roof was ripped off and tossed into a field. A pontoon boat was pushed from one property onto the adjacent property. [15]
EF0 SW of Zenda Kingman KS 37.7376°N 98.1793°W / 37.7376; -98.1793 (Zenda (Apr. 8, EF0)) 0143–0146 0.73 mi (1.17 km) 70 yd (64 m) $0 A storm chaser reported a tornado over open country. [16]
EF0 NE of Hammon Custer OK 35.653°N 99.312°W / 35.653; -99.312 (Hammon (Apr. 8, EF0)) 0158 0.2 mi (0.32 km) 30 yd (27 m) $0 Brief tornado remained over open country, causing no damage. [17]

April 9 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, April 9, 2015[note 1]
EF no. Location County or parish State Start coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[note 2] Summary Refs
EF0 SE of Akron Peoria IL 40.8716°N 89.6204°W / 40.8716; -89.6204 (Akron (Apr. 9, EF0)) 1832–1833 0.15 mi (0.24 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) $0 An emergency manager reported a brief tornado in an open field. [18]
EF1 W of Maysville to SE of DeWitt Scott, Clinton IA 41.6353°N 90.8953°W / 41.6353; -90.8953 (Maysville (Apr. 9, EF1)) 2204–2230 22.38 mi (36.02 km) 100 yd (91 m) $20,000 Mainly farm outbuildings and trees were damaged. A gas station sign was blown over, and a grain bin was thrown into a field. Homes sustained minor roof, siding, and porch damage. [19][20]
EF0 N of Moscow Hillsdale MI 42.0634°N 84.4987°W / 42.0634; -84.4987 (Moscow (Apr. 9, EF0)) 2222–2224 0.6 mi (0.97 km) 70 yd (64 m) $0 A residence suffered minor window and structural damage. A barn on a farm was essentially destroyed, a center pivot was flipped, and trees were damaged. [21]
EF1 Clinton to NE of Fulton Clinton, Whiteside IA, IL 41.8128°N 90.3156°W / 41.8128; -90.3156 (Clinton (Apr. 9, EF1)) 2240–2300 12.47 mi (20.07 km) 75 yd (69 m) $0 Rental storage buildings and a garage were destroyed. A few residences sustained minor roof damage, and farm outbuildings and trees were damaged. [22][23]
EF1 NE of Fulton Whiteside, Carroll IL 41.9233°N 90.0757°W / 41.9233; -90.0757 (Fulton (Apr. 9, EF1)) 2302–2315 8.3 mi (13.4 km) 50 yd (46 m) $0 Trees and outbuildings were damaged, one of which was lifted into power lines and destroyed. A tractor trailer was flipped. [22][23]
EF0 S of Cherry Valley Winnebago, Boone IL 42.1926°N 88.9548°W / 42.1926; -88.9548 (Cherry Valley (Apr. 9, EF0)) 2337–2340 2.84 mi (4.57 km) 25 yd (23 m) $0 The tornado was photographed by trained spotters and emergency management; no damage was reported. [24][25]
EF2 NE of Mount Selman Cherokee TX 32.0888°N 95.2289°W / 32.0888; -95.2289 (Mount Selman (Apr. 9, EF2)) 2338–2345 1.77 mi (2.85 km) 340 yd (310 m) $300,000 Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. The roof was removed from one outbuilding, and a second outbuilding was overturned. A house sustained minor damage to its roof and gutters, while a second residence had its roof torn off and a few exterior walls collapsed. [26]
EF4 NNE of Franklin Grove to NNW of Kirkland Lee, Ogle, DeKalb, Boone IL 41.853°N 89.2896°W / 41.853; -89.2896 (Franklin Grove/Rochelle (Apr. 9, EF4)) 2339–0020 30.14 mi (48.51 km) 700 yd (0.64 km) $19,000,000 2 deaths – See the section on this tornado – A very high-end, long-tracked EF4 tornado caused significant to catastrophic damage, most notably around Rochelle and in Fairdale. [27][28]
[29][30]
EF0 ENE of Lindenwood Ogle IL 42.0583°N 88.9752°W / 42.0583; -88.9752 (Lindenwood (Apr. 9, EF0)) 0005–0008 1.86 mi (2.99 km) 100 yd (91 m) $0 An aerial damage survey confirmed a satellite tornado to the Rochelle–Fairdale tornado. [31]
EF1 NE of Longview Gregg TX 32.5179°N 94.7316°W / 32.5179; -94.7316 (Longview (Apr. 9, EF1)) 0010–0015 1.31 mi (2.11 km) 335 yd (306 m) $1,000,000 A nursing home sustained roof damage. A nearby mobile home park sustained damage, houses sustained minor to moderate damage, and three mobile homes were completely destroyed by fallen trees. The roof was ripped off a church. [32]
EF1 NW of Kirkland DeKalb, Boone IL 42.1334°N 88.8776°W / 42.1334; -88.8776 (Kirkland (Apr. 9, EF1)) 0015–0021 4.01 mi (6.45 km) 100 yd (91 m) $80,000 Three barns were destroyed and two small outbuildings sustained heavy damage. [33][34]
EF1 NW of Hallsville Harrison TX 32.5465°N 94.6734°W / 32.5465; -94.6734 (Ashton (Apr. 9, EF1)) 0020–0032 4.52 mi (7.27 km) 760 yd (690 m) $300,000 A significant portion of roofing in addition to HVAC equipment was removed from a warehouse building, and several houses sustained various degrees of damage. The wall of an outbuilding collapsed, while a second outbuilding lost a majority of its roofing. A mobile home was shifted off its foundation, while a second one had its roof removed and walls collapsed. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. [35]
EF0 S of Belvidere Boone IL 42.202°N 88.8465°W / 42.202; -88.8465 (Belvidere (Apr. 9, EF0)) 0024–0025 0.42 mi (0.68 km) 30 yd (27 m) $20,000 A satellite tornado to the EF4 Rochelle–Fairdale tornado heavily damaged a small zoo, killing four animals, and collapsed the walls of several outbuildings and small barns. Large softwood trees were snapped. [36]
EF1 SE of Belvidere Boone IL 42.1942°N 88.7748°W / 42.1942; -88.7748 (Belvidere (Apr. 9, EF1)) 0025–0031 3.92 mi (6.31 km) 50 yd (46 m) $150,000 A detached garage was destroyed, the roof was ripped off a house, and several hardwood trees were snapped. [37]
EF0 SSE of Tovey Christian IL 39.5539°N 89.4361°W / 39.5539; -89.4361 (Tovey (Apr. 9, EF0)) 0047–0048 0.14 mi (0.23 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) $0 An emergency manager reported a brief tornado in an open field. [38]
EF1 ESE of Harvard McHenry IL 42.3982°N 88.5309°W / 42.3982; -88.5309 (Harvard (Apr. 9, EF1)) 0050–0051 0.32 mi (0.51 km) 30 yd (27 m) $0 Six to seven trees were uprooted, one of which landed on a house and caused roof damage. An antenna was blown off the roof as well. [39]
EF0 NW of Butler Custer OK 35.6809°N 99.2404°W / 35.6809; -99.2404 (Butler (Apr. 9, EF0)) 0208 0.2 mi (0.32 km) 30 yd (27 m) $0 Trained storm spotters reported a brief tornado. [40]
EF0 N of Daisy Cape Girardeau MO 37.5251°N 89.8065°W / 37.5251; -89.8065 (Daisy (Apr. 9, EF0)) 0216–0218 1.75 mi (2.82 km) 150 yd (140 m) $6,000 Numerous trees and tree limbs were downed. [41]
EF0 W of Jackson Cape Girardeau MO 37.38°N 89.7246°W / 37.38; -89.7246 (Jackson (Apr. 9, EF0)) 0231–0233 1.7 mi (2.7 km) 130 yd (120 m) $60,000 Approximately 12 houses had partial shingle loss or minor damage to gutters and fascia. Several mainly small trees or tree limbs were downed. [42]

Franklin Grove–Kirkland–Rochelle–Fairdale, Illinois
Franklin Grove–Kirkland–Rochelle–Fairdale, Illinois
EF4 tornado
The tornado at peak intensity as it was moving northeast through the northwest side of Rochelle.
Max. rating1EF4 tornado
Highest winds
  • 200 mph (320 km/h)
Casualties2 fatalities, 11 injuries
1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale
Main article: 2015 Rochelle–Fairdale, Illinois tornado

By far the most destructive and significant tornado of the outbreak was a violent, very high-end EF4 wedge tornado that tore through parts of Rochelle, Illinois and the adjacent town, Fairdale, Illinois. The tornado began as a small cone-shaped tornado, causing mostly minor damage near Franklin Grove and Ashton, though a Crest Foods plant sustained considerable damage.[43] The tornado became large and violent as it struck a semi-rural subdivision west of Rochelle, where some ground scouring occurred and large, anchor-bolted homes were swept away (though close inspection revealed that some of the washers were missing from the anchor bolts, and that low-lying shrubbery near the homes was left mostly intact, preventing a higher rating). Winds in this area were estimated to have reached 200 mph, the very upper limit of the EF4 range.[44][45] The tornado briefly weakened to EF2 strength as it passed between Hillcrest and Kings, damaging several farmsteads before reaching high-end EF4 intensity once again as it crossed IL 64, where a row of five homes was obliterated, along with a nearby farmstead. Extensive wind-rowing of debris occurred in nearby fields, and vehicles were tossed. A large restaurant was destroyed by EF3 level winds in this area as well.[44][46] The tornado then weakened, causing EF1 to EF2 damage to a warehouse structure, outbuildings, and numerous trees as it passed south of Lindenwood. East of Lindenwood, further weakening occurred as the tornado damaged homes and outbuildings at EF1 strength, and a brief EF0 satellite tornado was observed. The tornado re-intensified to high-end EF3 strength as it devastated the small town of Fairdale, where the two fatalities occurred. Every structure in town sustained some type of damage, and multiple poorly anchored homes were leveled and swept away. Intense cycloidal marks were observed in farm fields outside of town.[45] Past Fairdale, the tornado produced EF2 and EF3 damage as large barns were destroyed, a house lost its second floor and sustained collapse of exterior walls on the first floor, and large hardwood trees were denuded and sustained some debarking before the tornado dissipated northwest of Kirkland.

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.
  2. All damage totals are in 2015 USD unless otherwise stated.

References
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  3. Steve Goss (April 6, 2015). "Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Apr 6, 2015". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  4. Brynn Kerr (April 8, 2015). "Apr 8, 2015 1730 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
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