# Tornado outbreak sequence of April 5–8, 1954

From April 5–8, 1954, a tornado outbreak sequence affected portions of the Central and Southern United States, primarily the Upper Midwest. The U.S. states of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin were hardest hit by tornadoes. The first day of the severe weather event featured three intense (F3 or stronger) tornadoes along the Missouri–Iowa border, including a long-tracked F4 that obliterated rural farmsteads. The deadliest tornado of the sequence, retroactively rated F3, struck Illinois a few days later, killing one person and injuring 13 others. Other strong tornadoes hit Kansas, Indiana, Michigan, and Georgia during the sequence. In all, the event resulted in 22 injuries.

## Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating :
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
| 0 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 25 |
Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.
Color/symbol key :
| Color / symbol | Description |
| † | Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b |
| ¶ | Data from a local National Weather Service office |
| ※ | Data from the 1954 Climatological Data National Summary publication |
| ‡ | Data from the NCEI database |
| ♯ | Maximum width of tornado |
| ± | Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable. |

### April 5 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, April 5, 1954 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Width | Damage |
| F1 | Mexico※ | Audrain | Missouri | 39°23′N 91°56′W﻿ / ﻿39.38°N 91.93°W﻿ / 39.38; -91.93﻿ (Mexico (April 5, F1)) | 08:00–? | 0.2 mi (0.32 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | $2,500 |
| This and the following event destroyed a home. Outbuildings were wrecked or damaged as well. Agricultural implements were also damaged. |||||||||
| F1 | S of Benton City | Audrain | Missouri | 39°06′N 91°46′W﻿ / ﻿39.10°N 91.77°W﻿ / 39.10; -91.77﻿ (Benton City (April 5, F1)) | 08:00–? | 0.3 mi (0.48 km) | 17 yd (16 m) | $25,000 |
| See previous event. |||||||||
| F3† | E of Scranton to NW of Farlin | Greene | Iowa | 42°02′N 94°32′W﻿ / ﻿42.03°N 94.53°W﻿ / 42.03; -94.53﻿ (Scranton (April 5, F3)) | 23:10–? | 7 mi (11 km)† | 800 yd (730 m)† | $100,000※ |
| This intense tornado badly damaged five farmsteads and caused less severe damage to 13 others. One or more farmhouses were wrecked, and a boxcar was lofted through the air. Timbers also pierced the walls of homes. An injury occurred. |||||||||
| F3† | NW of Westboro (MO)† to SE of Northboro (IA)※ | Atchison (MO), Page (IA) | Missouri, Iowa | 40°33′N 95°23′W﻿ / ﻿40.55°N 95.38°W﻿ / 40.55; -95.38﻿ (Westboro (April 5, F3)) | 23:30–?† | 8 mi (13 km)† | 500 yd (460 m)† | $200,000† |
| This was probably a family of "twin" tornadoes that damaged farmsteads at "near-F4" intensity. A pickup truck in Missouri was tossed 300 yd (900 ft), and four homes were torn apart in that state. Three additional homes were wrecked in Iowa. A few injuries occurred, both in Missouri. |||||||||
| F4† | Near Elmo (MO) to S of Braddyville (IA) to N of Bedford (IA)† | Nodaway (MO)†, Page (IA), Taylor (IA)† | Missouri, Iowa | 40°36′N 95°14′W﻿ / ﻿40.60°N 95.23°W﻿ / 40.60; -95.23﻿ (Elmo (April 5, F4)) | 23:30–? | 25 mi (40 km)† | 900 yd (820 m)† | Un­known |
| This long-lived, violent tornado caused F4 damage to numerous farms. A pair of farmhouses were obliterated northwest of Siam, Iowa. |||||||||
| F2± | W to NE of Bedford | Taylor | Iowa | 40°40′N 94°53′W﻿ / ﻿40.67°N 94.88°W﻿ / 40.67; -94.88﻿ (Bedford #1 (April 5, F2)) | 23:45–? | 11.5 mi (18.5 km) | 333 yd (304 m) | $250 |
| Details are unavailable. |||||||||
| F2† | NW of Bedford | Taylor | Iowa | 40°41′N 94°44′W﻿ / ﻿40.68°N 94.73°W﻿ / 40.68; -94.73﻿ (Bedford #2 (April 5, F2)) | 00:15–? | 5 mi (8.0 km)† | 200 yd (180 m) | $250 |
| A pair of spacious barns were blown to pieces, their debris strewn "for miles". 20 farmsteads received some manner of wind-related damage, and livestock in the path was killed. |||||||||
| F2± | N of Milford to ESE of Riley | Geary | Kansas | 39°11′N 96°55′W﻿ / ﻿39.18°N 96.92°W﻿ / 39.18; -96.92﻿ (Milford (April 5, F2)) | 00:45–? | 9 mi (14 km)※ | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| This tornado damaged many farms in or near Fort Riley. |||||||||
| F1 | S of Soldier※ | Jackson | Kansas | 39°22′N 95°57′W﻿ / ﻿39.37°N 95.95°W﻿ / 39.37; -95.95﻿ (Soldier (April 5, F1)) | 01:30–? | 5 mi (8.0 km)※ | 100 yd (91 m) | $5,000※ |
| Rural trees and structures were damaged. |||||||||
| F2+ | ESE of Northboro | Page | Iowa | Un­known | Un­known | Un­known | Un­known | Un­known |
| A short-lived tornado, related to the Westboro F3, tore the roof off a home. |||||||||

### April 6 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, April 6, 1954 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Width | Damage |
| F1 | ENE of Wheatland | Knox | Indiana | 38°40′N 87°17′W﻿ / ﻿38.67°N 87.28°W﻿ / 38.67; -87.28﻿ (Wheatland (April 6, F1)) | 10:00–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 27 yd (25 m) | $4,000※ |
| Some buildings were stripped of their roofs. Fallen roofing damaged a truck. |||||||||
| F1 | Glezen※ | Pike | Indiana | 38°30′N 87°17′W﻿ / ﻿38.50°N 87.28°W﻿ / 38.50; -87.28﻿ (Glezen (April 6, F1)) | 11:00–? | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $5,000※ |
| This tornado damaged a pair of houses and a few barns, along with the roof of a store. A few porches were ripped off, one of which was stripped of most roofing. |||||||||
| F2± | Eastern Ferdinand to SSE of Saint Anthony | Dubois | Indiana | 38°14′N 86°51′W﻿ / ﻿38.23°N 86.85°W﻿ / 38.23; -86.85﻿ (Ferdinand (April 6, F2)) | 13:00–? | 3.3 mi (5.3 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $6,000※ |
| This tornado hit many homes and a church, damaging their roofs. Garages and barns were affected as well. |||||||||
| F1 | Petersburg | Pike | Indiana | 38°30′N 87°17′W﻿ / ﻿38.50°N 87.28°W﻿ / 38.50; -87.28﻿ (Petersburg (April 6, F1)) | 20:00–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $800※ |
| A chicken coop was destroyed. |||||||||

### April 7 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, April 7, 1954 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Width | Damage |
| F3† | N of Highland to SE of Avoca※ | Iowa | Wisconsin | 43°08′N 90°23′W﻿ / ﻿43.13°N 90.38°W﻿ / 43.13; -90.38﻿ (Highland (April 7, F3)) | 11:45–? | 8 mi (13 km)† | 400 yd (370 m) | $60,000※ |
| This intense tornado leveled several barns and destroyed a farmhouse. It also damaged seven other farmhouses and destroyed or damaged 50 outbuildings. Four people were injured. |||||||||
| F2± | E of Mount Calvary※ | Fond du Lac | Wisconsin | 43°42′N 88°32′W﻿ / ﻿43.70°N 88.53°W﻿ / 43.70; -88.53﻿ (Mount Calvary (April 7, F2)) | 18:30–? | 1.9 mi (3.1 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $2,500 |
| This tornado collapsed a 60-by-40-foot (20 by 13 yd) barn, crushing to death five cattle beneath. It also uplifted a 140-foot-long (47 yd) section of roofing and tore a 400-pound (180 kg) concrete covering off a silo. Strong winds in Mount Calvary also downed a few television transmission towers and shattered windows. |||||||||
| F1 | Oconomowoc | Waukesha | Wisconsin | 43°06′N 88°31′W﻿ / ﻿43.10°N 88.52°W﻿ / 43.10; -88.52﻿ (Oconomowoc (April 7, F1)) | 19:15–? | Un­known | Un­known | $25,000 |
| This tornado crossed downtown Oconomowoc, splintering trees and television antennae. It damaged 13 businesses in town, smashed plate glass, and tore off roofing. |||||||||
| F3± | SW of Saunemin | Livingston | Illinois | 40°53′N 88°25′W﻿ / ﻿40.88°N 88.42°W﻿ / 40.88; -88.42﻿ (Saunemin (April 7, F3)) | 21:00–? | 13 mi (21 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | $250,000 |
| This, the first member of a two-tornado family, dissipated and reformed as the Kankakee County F3. |||||||||
| F2† | NE of Neshkoro to Lohrville to Redgranite | Waushara | Wisconsin | Un­known | 21:00–? | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 30 yd (27 m) | Un­known |
| This tornado destroyed one or more barns. |||||||||
| F3 | Limestone Township† to Indian Oaks to W of Grant Park | Kankakee | Illinois | 41°00′N 88°13′W﻿ / ﻿41.00°N 88.22°W﻿ / 41.00; -88.22﻿ (Limestone Township (April 7, F3)) | 21:35–?† | 16 mi (26 km)† | 400 yd (370 m) | $250,000 |
| 1 death – This intense tornado struck 30 farms, destroying many structures. It also damaged or destroyed 38 homes, as well as most of Indian Oaks. Empty storage tanks were carried more than 1 mi (1.6 km). 13 people were injured. The NCEI incorrectly begin this event west of Cabery. |||||||||
| F2† | E of Albion to SE of Kendallville† | Noble | Indiana | 41°26′N 85°17′W﻿ / ﻿41.43°N 85.28°W﻿ / 41.43; -85.28﻿ (Albion (April 7, F2)) | 23:50–? | 6 mi (9.7 km)† | Un­known | $30,000† |
| This strong tornado leveled trees, wrecked two or more barns, and damaged the roofs of homes. Livestock was killed as well. |||||||||
| F2† | WNW of Fulton | Kalamazoo | Michigan | 42°07′N 85°22′W﻿ / ﻿42.12°N 85.37°W﻿ / 42.12; -85.37﻿ (Fulton (April 7, F2)) | 00:00–? | 1 mi (1.6 km)† | 30 yd (27 m)† | Un­known |
| A few barns were wrecked. |||||||||

### April 8 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, April 8, 1954 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Width | Damage |
| F2† | SW of Dawsonville | Dawson | Georgia | 34°22′N 84°12′W﻿ / ﻿34.37°N 84.20°W﻿ / 34.37; -84.20﻿ (Dawsonville (April 8, F2)) | 18:00–? | 5 mi (8.0 km)† | 300 yd (270 m)† | $8,000※ |
| This tornado flattened much timber and destroyed a pair of barns. |||||||||
| F0 | S of Iowa※ | Jefferson Davis | Louisiana | 30°14′N 92°57′W﻿ / ﻿30.23°N 92.95°W﻿ / 30.23; -92.95﻿ (Iowa (April 8, F0)) | 21:00–? | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | $30‡ |
| A brief touchdown occurred over farmland. |||||||||
| F2 | Swartz Creek | Genesee | Michigan | 42°57′N 83°50′W﻿ / ﻿42.95°N 83.83°W﻿ / 42.95; -83.83﻿ (Swartz Creek (April 7, F2)) | 00:40–? | 0.5 mi (0.80 km)† | 10 yd (9.1 m)† | $25,000 |
| This tornado formed alongside six funnel clouds. It destroyed a garage and a fire station, moving the former's roof 100 yd (300 ft). It also wrecked windows, a pair of barns, a few fire engines, and two automobiles. A few people were injured. |||||||||