Wikipedia

Tornado outbreak of April 1–2, 1974

The tornado outbreak of April 1–2, 1974, affected much of the eastern and central United States. Four fatalities and more than seventy injuries were confirmed in this outbreak. Damaging, deadly tornadoes struck Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama—including the Nashville and Huntsville metropolitan areas. In the latter areas, tornadoes produced F3 damage on the Fujita scale and impacted areas that would later sustain damage on April 3. Large hail and severe thunderstorm winds also impacted a broad area.

Tornado outbreak of April 1–2, 1974
TypeTornado outbreak
Extratropical cyclone
DurationApril 1–2, 1974
Highest winds
Tornadoes
confirmed		23 confirmed
Max. rating1F3 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2		10 hours and 43 minutes
Largest hail3 in (7.6 cm) in Washington County, Mississippi
Fatalities4 fatalities, 72 injuries
Damage>$3.65 million (1974 USD)
Areas affectedMidwestern, Eastern, and Southern United States

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

Background

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The outbreak began when a powerful area of low pressure formed across the Great Plains on April 1 and moved into Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. As it did, a surge of very moist warm air intensified the storm. As a result, a series of tornado outbreaks occurred. The outbreak produced 23 confirmed tornadoes, three of which caused at least one fatality.[nb 1] The outbreak ended approximately 30 hours before the Super Outbreak of 1974 began. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a total of 11 severe weather watches on April 1 alone.[3] These watches, along with the damage and deaths that followed, prompted alertness among the general public that may have reduced casualties and losses during the larger outbreak of April 3 to April 4. According to the NWS, the severe weather on April 1 spurred appropriate protective measures a few days later, and consequently "many lives were saved."[3]

Confirmed tornadoes

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Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 2 8 10 3 0 0 23
Daily statistics of tornadoes produced by the tornado outbreak of April 1–2, 1974[nb 2]
Date Total Fujita scale rating Deaths Injuries Damage Ref.
 F0   F1   F2   F3   F4   F5 
April 1 19 2 5 9 3 0 0 3 62 >$3,650,000 [4][5]
April 2 4 0 3 1 0 0 0 1 10 — [4]
Total 23 2 8 10 3 0 0 4 72 >$3,650,000 [4][5]
List of known tornadoes during the tornado outbreak of April 1–2, 1974[nb 3][nb 4]
F# Location County / Parish State Start
coord. 		Date Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary
F2 NNE of Merigold Bolivar MS 33°51′N 90°43′W / 33.85°N 90.72°W / 33.85; -90.72 (Merigold (Apr. 1, F2)) April 1 2110 0.1 miles (0.16 km) — The first tornado of the outbreak briefly touched down, causing moderate damage to structures in or near Merigold. The tornado wrecked a trailer and damaged twenty-five residences. A boxcar fell off its track, and a hangar sustained damage.[6][5][7]
F1 SSE of Grubbs Jackson AR 35°38′N 91°04′W / 35.63°N 91.07°W / 35.63; -91.07 (Grubbs (Apr. 1, F1)) April 1 2136 0.3 miles (0.48 km) — A short-lived tornado struck a manufacturing plant, causing substantial damage to roofs and mobile structures.[8][9]
F3 ENE of Bridgeport to N of Lawrenceville Lawrence IL 38°43′N 87°44′W / 38.72°N 87.73°W / 38.72; -87.73 (Bridgeport (Apr. 1, F3)) April 1 2217 3.3 miles (5.3 km) — This was the first of three intense tornadoes to form during the outbreak. A storage for school buses sustained damage, as did trees, residences, and power lines. The tornado also damaged a few mobile homes.[10] A reanalysis by Thomas P. Grazulis did not list this tornado as significant (F2 or stronger on the Fujita scale).[5][11]
F2 Lafayette Tippecanoe IN 40°25′N 86°52′W / 40.42°N 86.87°W / 40.42; -86.87 (Lafayette (Apr. 1, F2)) April 1 2232 1.5 miles (2.4 km) — A strong tornado touched down in downtown Lafayette, severely damaging a lumber yard. A mobile home and several garages were leveled.[5][12] Additionally, one home had its roof torn off, and several windows were smashed.[12][13]
F2 ENE of Zion to ENE of Samantha Tuscaloosa AL 33°26′N 87°50′W / 33.43°N 87.83°W / 33.43; -87.83 (Zion (Apr. 1, F2)) April 1 2305 16.3 miles (26.2 km) — A tornado affected Moores Bridge and surrounding environs, damaging an expansive area. Six people sustained non-life-threatening injuries.[14][15] Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger.[5]
F1 NNW of Bronson to Coldwater Branch MI 41°54′N 85°12′W / 41.90°N 85.20°W / 41.90; -85.20 (Coldwater (Apr. 1, F1)) April 1 2350 10.6 miles (17.1 km) — A tornado produced sporadic damage at several scattered points. Two homes and several farm buildings sustained damage. Winds wrecked the uppermost floor of a two-story structure in Coldwater.[16][17]
F2 WNW of Raysville Henry IN 39°48′N 85°31′W / 39.80°N 85.52°W / 39.80; -85.52 (Raysville (Apr. 1, F2)) April 1 2355 1 mile (1.6 km) — A short-lived tornado toppled a tree onto and destroyed a vehicle. A nearby farm also sustained damage.[12][18] Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger.[5]
F2 NW of Jefferson Carroll MS 33°40′N 89°55′W / 33.67°N 89.92°W / 33.67; -89.92 (Jefferson (Apr. 1, F2)) April 1 0000 0.1 miles (0.16 km) — A brief tornado struck the "Ebenezer" community, damaging several homes, one of which was destroyed.[5][19]
F0 SSW of Richmond Madison LA 32°20′N 91°12′W / 32.33°N 91.20°W / 32.33; -91.20 (Richmond (Apr. 1, F0)) April 1 0020 0.1 miles (0.16 km) — A very weak, brief touchdown produced little damage.[20]
F3 Campbellsburg area Henry KY 38°30′N 85°14′W / 38.50°N 85.23°W / 38.50; -85.23 (Campbellsburg (Apr. 1, F3)) April 1 0020 3.3 miles (5.3 km) — 1 death – A powerful, large thunderstorm generated an intense tornado in Henry County.[21] The tornado severely damaged Campbellsburg, leaving one-fifth of the population homeless. More than forty homes and businesses were badly damaged or destroyed.[5] The tornado killed one person in a mobile home.[21] Grazulis considered the damage to be F2 rather than F3 in intensity.[5] Twenty injuries occurred along the relatively short path.[22]
F1 SE of Sandy Hook Elliott KY 38°05′N 83°07′W / 38.08°N 83.12°W / 38.08; -83.12 (Sandy Hook (Apr. 1, F1)) April 1 0030 2 miles (3.2 km) — A tornado struck the Sandy Hook area, causing extensive damage. It damaged or destroyed many barns, garages, other structures, and a gas station. The tornado leveled six trailers and affected forty barns.[5] Three people sustained injuries.[23] Grazulis assigned an F2 rating to the tornado, based on the severity of the damage it produced.[5]
F1 Dickson area Dickson TN 36°05′N 87°24′W / 36.08°N 87.40°W / 36.08; -87.40 (Dickson (Apr. 1, F1)) April 1 0045 2 miles (3.2 km) — A short-tracked tornado struck warehouse structures and a supermarket, causing extensive but minor damage.[24][25]
F0 Greenville area Darke OH 40°06′N 84°38′W / 40.10°N 84.63°W / 40.10; -84.63 (Greenville (Apr. 1, F0)) April 1 0050 0.2 miles (0.32 km) — A brief touchdown caused minimal damage to a property. A television antenna, a garage, and a fence sustained damage.[26][27]
F2 NNE of Belle Meade to ENE of Downtown Nashville Davidson TN 36°07′N 86°51′W / 36.12°N 86.85°W / 36.12; -86.85 (Nashville (Apr. 1, F2)) April 1 0110 10.9 miles (17.5 km) — 1 death – A strong tornado tracked through Nashville, doing over $3.6 million in damage. Most of the losses occurred at a pair of shopping centers, where losses reached $1 million, and at an apartment complex. The complex, which contained seventy units, received $100,000 in damage. The tornado also passed over Nashville International Airport, where it wrecked twelve airplanes.[5] Authorities reported $2.5 million in damage to the airport.[24] In all, the tornado damaged seventy-two residences and tore off roofs.[5] The tornado injured twelve people.[28] Operationally, the NWS reported two fatalities, not one, and both may have been lighting- rather than tornado-related.[24]
F2 WNW of Durant Holmes MS 33°06′N 89°54′W / 33.10°N 89.90°W / 33.10; -89.90 (Durant (Apr. 1, F2)) April 1 0140 0.1 miles (0.16 km) — A tornado briefly touched down, moderately damaging thirteen to fifteen buildings. Three of the structures were mobile homes.[6] Grazulis did not assess this tornado to be F2 or stronger.[5][29]
F1 W of Mount Juliet to NW of Lebanon Wilson TN 36°12′N 86°32′W / 36.20°N 86.53°W / 36.20; -86.53 (Mount Juliet (Apr. 1, F1)) April 1 0145 13.1 miles (21.1 km) — A tornado caused widespread damage to homes and to a local high school. The roof at the school received substantial damage. The tornado also struck trees and power lines in its path.[24] Total losses from Mount Juliet and Lebanon reached $1.05 million. Preliminary reports indicated six injuries,[24] but this total was later reduced to four in the finalized data.[30]
F2 SSE of Calhoun City Calhoun MS 33°48′N 89°18′W / 33.80°N 89.30°W / 33.80; -89.30 (Calhoun City (Apr. 1, F2)) April 1 0145 5.1 miles (8.2 km) — A strong tornado produced patchy damage to outbuildings and barns. Additionally, the tornado damaged two homes, one of which was a mobile home. Several cotton wagons were wrecked as well.[6][31] Grazulis did not consider the tornado to be F2 or stronger.[5]
F2 SW of Hayden to Oneonta Blount AL 33°53′N 86°46′W / 33.88°N 86.77°W / 33.88; -86.77 April 1 0330 16.9 miles (27.2 km) — A tornado produced intermittent damage as it skipped across part of Blount County. Most of the damage was reported from the Hayden area, but additional damage occurred at a mobile home park near Oneonta. The tornado leveled sixteen residences, thirteen of which were trailers. Eleven other structures, all homes and trailers, sustained damage.[5] Eleven people were injured.[32]
F3 E of Madison to NNE of Downtown Huntsville Madison AL 34°42′N 86°43′W / 34.70°N 86.72°W / 34.70; -86.72 April 1 0340 8.4 miles (13.5 km) — 1 death – A powerful nighttime tornado struck the northern edge of Huntsville. The tornado produced its most severe impact to the Sherwood Park subdivision on the northern outskirts of Huntsville.[33] There, winds tore off roofs and caused some walls to collapse. Grazulis assigned an F2 rating to this damage, rather than the official F3 ranking.[5] The fatality occurred in a mobile home; seven other occupants did not sustain injuries.[33] The tornado injured six people.[34]
F1 S of Murphy to NE of Andrews Cherokee NC 35°04′N 84°02′W / 35.07°N 84.03°W / 35.07; -84.03 April 2 0601 16.8 miles (27.0 km) — A tornado generated isolated damage as it skipped along.[26] There were no injuries or fatalities.[35]
F2 WNW of Lanett Chambers AL 32°53′N 85°14′W / 32.88°N 85.23°W / 32.88; -85.23 April 2 0700 0.1 miles (0.16 km) — A strong tornado traversed forested areas without affecting structures.[36][37]
F1 W of McNeill Pearl River MS 30°40′N 89°41′W / 30.67°N 89.68°W / 30.67; -89.68 April 2 0732 0.1 miles (0.16 km) — Outbuildings on farms sustained damage, in addition to a few homes.[6][38]
F1 NW of Tryon to E of Hardins Gaston NC 35°21′N 81°20′W / 35.35°N 81.33°W / 35.35; -81.33 April 2 0753 9.7 miles (15.6 km) — 1 death – A tornado produced scattered damage near Cherryville, damaging several mobile homes. The tornado wrecked fifteen mobile homes in the area. One person died as the tornado destroyed her mobile home. A nearby house also lost its roof. Grazulis assigned an F2 rating to the damage, rather than the official F1 ranking.[5] Ten people sustained injuries,[39] primarily in mobile homes.[26]

Non-tornadic effects

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Peak wind gusts reached 69 mph (111 km/h) in the strongest thunderstorms, over Daviess County, Kentucky.[40] The largest hailstones peaked at 3 in (7.6 cm) in circumference, as measured in Washington County, Mississippi.[41]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Numbers for early outbreaks are likely underestimated, due in part to limited human and technological monitors. More complete documentation began in the 1990s, when NEXRAD premiered and the National Weather Service systemized detailed storm surveys.[1][2]
  2. ^ All losses are in 1974 USD unless otherwise noted.
  3. ^ Coordinates, if any, derived from the Storm Events Database.[4]
  4. ^ 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

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  1. ^ Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001). The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 207–208. ISBN 978-0-8061-3538-0.
  2. ^ Cook, A. R.; Schaefer, J. T. (August 2008). "The Relation of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to Winter Tornado Outbreaks". Monthly Weather Review. 136 (8): 3135. Bibcode:2008MWRv..136.3121C. doi:10.1175/2007MWR2171.1.
  3. ^ a b "The Widespread Tornado Outbreak of April 3–4, 1974" (PDF). Rockville, Maryland. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. December 1974. p. 4. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d "Search Results". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes, 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. p. 1153. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
  6. ^ a b c d "Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena". Storm Data. 16 (4). Asheville, North Carolina: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 10. April 1974.
  7. ^ "Mississippi Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  8. ^ Storm Data 1974, p. 2
  9. ^ "Arkansas Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  10. ^ Storm Data 1974, p. 4
  11. ^ "Illinois Event Report: F3 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  12. ^ a b c Storm Data 1974, p. 5
  13. ^ "Indiana Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  14. ^ Storm Data 1974, p. 21
  15. ^ "Alabama Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  16. ^ Storm Data 1974, p. 9
  17. ^ "Michigan Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Indiana Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  19. ^ "Mississippi Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  20. ^ "Louisiana Event Report: F0 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  21. ^ a b Storm Data 1974, p. 7
  22. ^ "Kentucky Event Report: F3 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  23. ^ "Kentucky Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  24. ^ a b c d e Storm Data 1974, p. 16
  25. ^ "Tennessee Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  26. ^ a b c Storm Data 1974, p. 13
  27. ^ "Ohio Event Report: F0 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  28. ^ "Tennessee Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  29. ^ "Mississippi Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  30. ^ "Tennessee Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  31. ^ "Mississippi Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  32. ^ "Alabama Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  33. ^ a b Staff (April 2, 1974). "Tornado Strikes, One Dead; Sherwood Damage Extensive". The Huntsville Times. Huntsville, Alabama.
  34. ^ "Alabama Event Report: F3 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  35. ^ "North Carolina Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  36. ^ Storm Data 1974, p. 22
  37. ^ "Alabama Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  38. ^ "Mississippi Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  39. ^ "North Carolina Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  40. ^ "Kentucky Event Report: Thunderstorm Wind". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  41. ^ "Mississippi Event Report: Hail". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
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