# Tornado outbreak sequence of April 1996

The Tornado outbreak sequence of April 1996 was a series of tornado outbreaks that occurred across a large area of eastern North America over a three-day period between April 19 and April 21, 1996. A total of 118 tornadoes touched down in the Great Lakes, Midwest and Southeast region over the three-day period, killing six people and becoming the most notable outbreaks of the year.
The 19th was the most prolific tornado outbreak in Illinois history with 33 tornadoes touching down across the state, breaking the old record of 25 set on August 10, 1974. This outbreak can also be compared to the May 2004 tornado outbreak sequence as it was a very large, deep, and vigorous system. The same system produced tornadoes in Ontario on the 20th and destructive tornadoes in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas on the 21st.

## Meteorological synopsis
### April 19

The outbreak occurred when the warm front of a deep storm system moved north and east out of Missouri. April 19 started off cool and skies were overcast ahead of the warm front. Meteorologists were trying to figure out if the warm front would move into Illinois that afternoon. As the day wore on, temperatures warmed, dew points rose, and thunderstorms started to explode in Iowa during the mid-afternoon hours. Although there were some doubts on specifics, the potential significance of the outbreak was rather foreseeable, with storm chasers traveling from the Great Plains and the Storm Prediction Center issuing a high risk early on.

#### Illinois

A total of 33 tornadoes hit Illinois before spreading west and south into Missouri, and Iowa and east and north into Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana on Friday, April 19. The town of Decatur was hit by a large F3 tornado, as were the towns of Urbana and Ogden. Major damage and injuries occurred in all three locations, and one person was killed in Ogden.

#### Indiana

In Indiana, 21 tornadoes were produced as the cold front moved into the area during the evening hours. Temperatures had warmed well into the 70's and lower 80's (20 to 26 °C) before the storms hit. Five people were injured in Morgan County.

### April 20

One of Canada's most prolific tornado events struck Ontario.
A vigorous branch of the jet stream from the Pacific Ocean combined with rich low-level moisture kept the storm system rolling, spinning off more tornadoes in the Southeast. One tornado hit Carroll County, Mississippi, killing teenager Dexter Forman when a tree fell on his mobile home. Another tornado did massive damage to Berea, Kentucky, but no one was killed.

### April 21

The outbreak across the south-central U.S. on the 21st was produced by a different weather system.
A final tornado was produced by the first system in southern Quebec, more tornadoes raked through eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, killing a father and son in St. Paul and two other children in Fort Smith. Shortly after the outbreak, the local CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas, KFSM-TV, produced Sunday's Fury, a video production outlining the sequence of events that surrounded the Fort Smith tornado that day.

## Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating :
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
| 0 | 56 | 33 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 118 |

### April 19 event

| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage |
| Illinois ||||||
| F0 | N of Mattoon | Coles | 2120 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Brief tornado with no damage. |
| F0 | N of Fairgrange | Coles | 2135 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Brief tornado with no damage. |
| F1 | NW of Paris (1st tornado) | Edgar | 2210 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Machine sheds, barns, and grain bins were destroyed. One house was damaged. Six farms in the area were also affected. |
| F0 | NW of Paris (2nd tornado) | Edgar | 2212 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | A machine shed was destroyed while another shed, a garage, and a baseball field were all damaged. |
| F1 | Rutland area | LaSalle | 2240 | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | A large building, a house, and a garage were damaged. |
| F0 | SW of Winchester | Scott | 2244 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | A tree fell onto a car. |
| F0 | NE of Valmeyer | Monroe | 2245 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Damage was limited to trees. |
| F0 | W of Raritan | Henderson | 2300 | 5 miles (8 km) | Caused minor damage. Most of the damage occurred when a second tornado hit the same area later that evening. |
| F2 | S of Havana | Mason | 2307 | 9 miles (14.4 km) | Two trailers and some farm buildings were destroyed. One house had major damage, and eleven others had minor damage. A “semi-truck” was blown off the road and into a field, and a number of trees were knocked down. One person was injured during the storm. |
| F1 | E of Raritan | Henderson | 2310 | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | Fifteen houses, a barn, and some outbuildings were damaged. At one farm, three grain bins and some irrigation equipment were either heavily damaged or destroyed. |
| F0 | Brimfield area | Peoria | 2310 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Minor damage to a church and a business. A van was pushed sideways into bushes, and some trees were damaged. |
| F1 | Easton | Mason | 2317 | 9 miles (14.4 km) | Two houses were destroyed and five others sustained major damage. The high school was also damaged. A barn and a house were both lifted off of their foundations. |
| F2 | E of Jacksonville | Morgan | 2318 | 6 miles (9.6 km) | One house was destroyed, and some farm buildings were either damaged or destroyed. Two guard towers, one greenhouse, and some fencing at a prison were damaged. A chemical plant sustained damage, and two nearby railroad cars were overturned. |
| F0 | Freeburg | St. Clair | 2320 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | Caused damage to trees and power lines. |
| F0 | N of Dickeys | Kankakee | 2325 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Caused minor damage to farm buildings. |
| F0 | W of Island Grove | Morgan | 2331 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Brief tornado with no damage. |
| F0 | NE of New Berlin | Sangamon | 2332 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Three houses, a barn, and a machine shed were all damaged. Two “semi-trucks” were blown over on Interstate 72. |
| F3 | E of Armington | Logan, Tazewell, McLean | 2358 | 9.4 miles (15 km) | Two houses, a church, and several outbuildings were destroyed while 15 other houses were damaged. In addition, some barns, farm equipment, trees, and grain bins were damaged or destroyed. |
| F0 | W of Chester | Randolph | 0000 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | Utility sheds and trees were destroyed. |
| F3 | Bishop Hill/Galva | Henry | 0000 | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | At least 150 houses were damaged; of those, 26 sustained major damage and 15 were beyond repair. In addition, Galva's sewage treatment plant was heavily damaged. Four people were injured. |
| F0 | Momence | Kankakee | 0001 | 5 miles (8 km) | Two houses had roof damage. |
| F0 | Galva | Henry | 0010 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Gravestones at a cemetery were pushed over. |
| F3 | Decatur | Macon | 0022 | 14.5 miles (23.2 km) | At least eight - possibly ten - houses were destroyed and several others were damaged. In addition, a church, a grain silo, and the Sims Lumber Company were destroyed while a school gymnasium and several buildings at a manufacturing plant were damaged. Twenty-nine people were injured, and total damages were estimated at $9 million. |
| F2 | Salem | Marion | 0035 | 20 miles (32 km) | Several buildings at the County Fairgrounds, eight mobile homes, and two houses were destroyed while 46 other houses and mobile homes as well as 23 businesses were damaged. Two-ton trucks were turned 180 degrees by the tornado. Seven people were injured, and total damages were estimated at $7 million. |
| F0 | NW of Tiskilwa | Bureau | 0040 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Damage was limited to a utility pole. |
| F1 | S of Milmine | Piatt | 0055 | 0.3 mile (0.5 km) | A grain bin was destroyed while houses, cars, and trees were damaged. Trucks were overturned, and a grain auger was thrown over a set of railroad tracks. |
| F0 | SW of Baldwin | Randolph | 0059 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Caused damage to trees and power lines. |
| F1 | S of Monticello | Piatt | 0100 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Two houses were destroyed and one other house was damaged. A church and a machine shed also sustained damage. At a nearby airport, three single engine planes, two gliders, and a hangar were destroyed. |
| F1 | Greendale | Marion, Clay | 0105 | 5 miles (8 km) | A farmhouse, barn, and other farm buildings were destroyed. Trees and power lines were knocked down. |
| F0 | S of Tilden | Randolph | 0112 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Damage to trees and power lines. |
| F0 | NW of Breman | Randolph | 0115 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Houses and barns sustained roof damage. Trees and power lines were brought down by the storm. |
| F1 | W of Mulkeytown | Perry, Franklin | 0120 | 2.5 miles (4 km) | A church, a house, and trees were damaged while some outbuildings were destroyed. A tractor-trailer was overturned. |
| F1 | Vernon | Fayette, Marion | 0120 | 11.5 miles (18.4 km) | Three barns, several sheds, and a house were destroyed. |
| F3 | Urbana | Champaign | 0134 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | A total of 33 houses were destroyed while 83 other houses and five businesses sustained minor to moderate damage. Twelve people were injured, and damage was estimated at $9 million. |
| F3 | Ogden | Champaign | 0155 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 1 death - Major damage throughout most of Ogden. A total of 68 houses, 12 businesses, three churches, and a library were destroyed. The town’s elementary school was heavily damaged. Twenty businesses and 179 houses showed major or minor damage. A woman in a “semi-truck” was killed when the tornado crossed I-74, and 13 others were injured. |
| F0 | NW of Catlin | Vermilion | 0208 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| F3 | NE of Frisco to SW of Barnhill | Jefferson, Hamilton, Wayne | 0215 | 17 miles (27.2 km) | Three houses were destroyed and 50 others sustained moderate to severe damage. At least 45 outbuildings and barns as well as 60 (as many as 70) grain bins were either damaged or destroyed. The town of Piopolis was devastated; however, there were no fatalities or injuries reported. |
| F1 | N of Carmi | White | 0230 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Ten hangars, eight planes, and an automobile were destroyed at the airport. A church was also damaged. |
| F2 | Zion | Lake | 0432 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | A total of 400 houses and businesses were damaged with 32 sustaining major damage. Five trucks were overturned, and trees were blown down. Two people were injured. |
| Missouri ||||||
| F0 | NE of Bloomsdale | Ste. Genevieve | 0000 | 0.3 mile (0.5 km) | Damage was limited to trees. |
| F0 | SE of Mine La Motte | Madison | 0210 | 0.3 mile (0.5 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| F3 | Perryville | Perry | 0230 | 11.5 miles (18.4 km) | A total of 13 houses were destroyed and 68 others were damaged including five with major damage. Six businesses and 69 outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. |
| F2 | S of Doniphan | Ripley | 0300 | 10 miles (16 km) | A mobile home was overturned. Trees fell on houses and cars. |
| F2 | NW of Poplar Bluff | Butler | 0305 | 2.5 miles (4 km) | Numerous barns and utility poles were destroyed while houses, hay balers, and farm equipment were all damaged. Grain bins and other items were carried some distance. |
| F1 | N of Bernie | Stoddard | 0403 | 0.6 mile (1 km) | A house trailer was destroyed and several houses were damaged. Two schools and a grocery store sustained roof damage. |
| Texas ||||||
| F0 | W of Pidcoke | Coryell | 0030 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Several barns were destroyed. |
| F2 | N of Commerce | Hunt | 0038 | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | Two mobile homes were destroyed. Trees, power lines, and two houses were damaged. |
| Indiana ||||||
| F1 | Landersdale | Morgan, Johnson | 0040 | 5 miles (8 km) | Six buildings were destroyed, and 50 others were damaged. Four people were injured. |
| F1 | SW of Burr Oak | Marshall | 0150 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Farm buildings were damaged, and power lines were downed. |
| F1 | SE of Plymouth | Marshall | 0205 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | A mobile home was damaged and a truck was overturned. |
| F0 | N of Milford | Kosciusko | 0252 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| F0 | NW of Emison | Knox | 0315 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | A pole barn was destroyed, and two train cars were blown over. |
| F2 | SW of Yankeetown | Warrick | 0440 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Two mobile homes were destroyed, and several buildings at a manufacturing plant were damaged. Five railroad box cars were overturned, and two metal culverts were lifted. |
| F2 | W of Arthur | Pike | 0442 | 0.8 mile (1.3 km) | One house was destroyed and ten others sustained minor to moderate damage. Also, as many as 15 barns and small sheds were reported as destroyed. |
| F0 | NW of Heltonville | Lawrence | 0457 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Several houses were damaged and numerous trees were downed. |
| F0 | E of Freetown | Jackson | 0505 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | |
| F1 | SW of Burnsville | Bartholomew | 0545 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Damage to several farm buildings and a transmission tower. |
| F0 | Westport | Decatur | 0555 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Several farm buildings were destroyed while the South Decatur High School sustained damage. A transmission tower was also blown down. |
| F1 | E of Harris City | Decatur | 0601 | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) | Several buildings were damaged or destroyed. |
| F2 | NW of Greenville | Floyd | 0608 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Six houses were damaged, and some mobile homes were overturned. |
| Iowa ||||||
| F0 | Preston | Jackson | 0117 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Damage to trees and power lines. |
| F0 | S of Preston | Clinton | 0117 | 0.2 mile (0.32 km) | One house had roof damage. |
| Kentucky ||||||
| F1 | Mount Washington | Bullitt | 0640 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 118 houses were damaged, with three houses and two mobile homes completely destroyed. |
| Source: Tornado History Project - April 19, 1996 Storm Data, NCDC Storm Data ||||||

### April 20 event

| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage |
| Kentucky ||||||
| F1 | SW of Goodnight | Barren | 0830 | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | A mobile home was swept away, injuring four people. |
| F1 | E of Hiseville | Barren, Metcalfe | 0834 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | A church was heavily damaged, and two trailers as well as several barns were destroyed. Other unknown property damage occurred. |
| F0 | S of Pierce | Green | 0845 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Several barns were destroyed, and utility poles were snapped. |
| F2 | NW of Geneva to NE of Preachersville | Lincoln | 0926 | 12 miles (18.4 km) | Twenty houses and mobile homes, six businesses, a church, and two show pavilions at the county fairgrounds were all destroyed. One house was picked up and slammed into the ground 50–100 feet away. Seven people were injured. |
| F1 | SW of Quail | Rockcastle, Pulaski | 0928 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Barns, trees, and houses were hit. A church steeple was also toppled. Many trees were downed with some of them falling onto and damaging houses. A flying trailer knocked out power lines and landed on a mobile home. |
| F1 | N of Ottawa | Garrard | 0930 | 6 miles (9.6 km) | A dozen barns were destroyed, and six cows were killed. |
| F2 | Berea | Madison | 0945 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | At least 800 homes were damaged, and 35 of them were completely destroyed or heavily damaged. Forty businesses were damaged; of those, 26 businesses were severely damaged or destroyed. A storage tank was also toppled into a plant producing equipment for space shuttles. A tourist center was also damaged. Ten people were injured, and damage was estimated at close to $13 million. |
| F1 | Wagersville | Estill | 0955 | 5 miles (8 km) | At least 40 houses and 20 barns were damaged with three of the houses and 12 of the barns sustaining significant damage. Farm machinery was also damaged. |
| Tennessee ||||||
| F2 | SE of Barnesville | Lawrence | 1145 | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | One house lost its roof, and 12 people were injured. |
| F2 | SE of Summertown | Lawrence | 1150 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | At least 25 houses were damaged, and two of those houses sustained severe damage. |
| F2 | N of Lynnville | Giles | 1156 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | A brick structure was damaged, and a mobile home was leveled. |
| F2 | W of Cornersville | Marshall | 1203 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | Seven mobile homes were destroyed, and 10 others were damaged. |
| Mississippi ||||||
| F1 | W of Winona | Carroll | 1340 | 6 miles (9.6 km) | 1 death - A pump house was destroyed while a veterinary clinic, a barn, a cabin, trees, and a church were all damaged. The fatality occurred when a tree fell onto a mobile home. |
| Alabama ||||||
| F0 | Birmingham | Jefferson | 1709 | 0.3 mile (0.5 km) | Some minor structural damage occurred, and trees were downed. |
| North Carolina ||||||
| F0 | SE of Sugar Hill | McDowell | 1750 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Roof was partially removed from a house. |
| F1 | SE of Boone | Watauga | 1800 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Sixteen vehicles at an amusement park were damaged, and one person was injured. |
| Texas ||||||
| F1 | Timpson | Shelby | 2115 | 5 miles (8 km) | Two trailers were destroyed, and both trees and power lines were downed. |
| Louisiana ||||||
| F0 | SW of Kingston | De Soto | 2145 | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | Damage was limited to trees. |
| Ontario ||||||
| F3 | SW of Williamsford to NE of Blantyre | Grey | 2350 | 25 miles (40 km) | See article on this tornado |
| F3 | SW of Arthur to E of Violet Hill | Wellington, Dufferin | 0010 | 37.5 miles (60 km) | See article on this tornado |
| F0 | SW of Orillia | Simcoe | unknown | unknown | See article on this tornado |
| Source: Tornado History Project - April 20, 1996 Storm Data, Southern Ontario Tornadoes of 1996, NCDC Storm Data ||||||

### April 21 event

| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage |
| Quebec ||||||
| F0 | Ormstown | Le Haut-Saint-Laurent | unknown | unknown | |
| Oklahoma ||||||
| F0 | NE of Perry | Noble | 2200 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| F1 | NE of Ratliff City | Carter | 2242 | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | Power poles, outbuildings, and trees were damaged. |
| F1 | W of Healdton | Jefferson, Carter | 2330 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) | A mobile home was damaged, and windows were blown out of other houses. |
| F0 | SE of Fox | Carter | 2335 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| F0 | NW of Wilson | Carter | 2335 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| F0 | N of Oil City | Carter | 2345 | 2.5 miles (4 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. |
| F0 | SE of Chigley | Murray | 2351 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| F1 | N of Barnsdall | Osage | 0000 | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | |
| F0 | SE of Davis | Murray | 0025 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | One house had roof damage, and a mobile home was blown off its foundation. |
| F1 | NW of Sulphur | Murray | 0028 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | A church, a number of houses, an apartment complex, and a restaurant were damaged. Outbuildings, radio antennas and trees were destroyed. At least homes had minor to major damage. |
| F0 | NW of Nowata | Nowata | 0028 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | |
| F0 | NW of Scullin (1st tornado) | Murray | 0049 | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | Damage to barns and silos. |
| F0 | NW of Scullin (2nd tornado) | Murray | 0050 | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | Damage to barns and silos. |
| F1 | W of Fairland | Ottawa | 0115 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | |
| F3 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Sequoyah (OK), Sebastian (AR), Crawford (AR) | 0212 | 10.1 miles (16.2 km) | 2 deaths - Nearly 500 houses and 246 apartment units were destroyed, 620 other houses had major damage, and another 1,275 houses showed minor damage. Ninety-eight businesses were damaged or destroyed. The downtown business district of Fort Smith was devastated near the Garrison Avenue Bridge. Homes were also destroyed in Van Buren. A two-year-old girl and five-year-old boy were both killed when their houses (about three blocks apart) collapsed on them during the storm. At least 40 others were injured. The National Weather Service reported damages in excess of $300 million. |
| F0 | McAlester | Pittsburg | 0215 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | |
| F1 | NE of Richville | Pittsburg | 0230 | 5 miles (8 km) | |
| F1 | NE of Lewisville | Haskell | 0300 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | |
| Texas ||||||
| F0 | E of Sunset | Montague | 0125 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Power lines were blown down. |
| F0 | NE of Bowie | Montague | 0130 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| F0 | NW of Gainesville | Cooke | 0200 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Two barns were destroyed, and trees were damaged. |
| F0 | NW of Lindsay | Cooke | 0205 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | The siding on several houses was damaged. Significant tree damage was also reported. |
| F0 | S of Gainesville | Cooke | 0220 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| F0 | SW of Dixie | Grayson | 0233 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | A barn was destroyed, and trees were damaged. |
| F0 | W of Denison | Grayson | 0307 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | Damage to trees and power lines. |
| F0 | NW of Lindsay (2nd tornado) | Cooke | 0325 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | A fence was destroyed, and trees were damaged. |
| F0 | NW of Dixie | Grayson | 0358 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | A barn was destroyed, and trees were damaged. |
| F0 | SE of Locust | Grayson | 0440 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Trees and power lines were damaged. |
| Missouri ||||||
| F0 | S of Seymour | Webster | 0430 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | A garage and a barn were destroyed. |
| Arkansas ||||||
| F2 | S of Fern | Franklin | 0455 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Seven houses were destroyed, and several other buildings were damaged. Numerous trees were also downed. Two people were injured. |
| F3 | SW of Dutton to SW of Weathers | Madison | 0515 | 15 miles (24 km) | 2 deaths - Worst damage occurred near St. Paul. Eight houses and a mobile home were destroyed; in addition, a church was damaged. Six people were injured. |
| F2 | NE of Yellville | Marion | 0640 | 12 miles (18.4 km) | Trailers were either damaged or destroyed with houses and businesses also sustaining damage. Six people were injured. |
| F1 | N of Natural Dam | Crawford | 0708 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Several houses were damaged. |
| Source: Tornado History Project - April 21, 1996 Storm Data, Quebec tornadoes 1985-present, NCDC Storm Data ||||||