Anniversary of april 3, 1974 super outbreak stormtrack. The 1974 super outbreak was the secondlargest tornado outbreak on record for a single 24hour period, just behind the 2011 super outbreak. This natural disaster survey team was formed by the evening of april 4. Xenia, ohio f5 tornado april 3, 1974 the day of the killer tornadoes duration. Super outbreak of 1974, also called tornado super outbreak of 1974, series of tornadoes that caused severe damage to the midwestern, southern, and eastern united states and ontario, canada, on april 34, 1974. The palm sunday outbreak 1112 april 1965 and the super outbreak 34 april 1974 are widely regarded as two of the most extensive and violent outbreaks of tornadoes in the united states in the last half century. The devastating tornado outbreak of 1974 by mark levine. The april 34, 1974 super outbreak was one for the record books. A look back at the deadly tornado outbreak of april 3 and 4, 1974 updated mar 07, 2019. The super outbreak of tornadoes of 34 april 1974 remains one of the most outstanding severe convective weather episodes of record in the continental united states. Fortyfive years ago, april 34, 1974, a super outbreak of tornadoes killed more than 300 people.
The april 34, 1974 super outbreak overview tornado talk. In terms of total number, path length, and total damage, the massive tornado occurrence of april 34, 1974, was more extensive than all previously known outbreaks. Looking back at the april 34, 1974 super outbreak by us tornadoes. How 148 tornadoes in one day in 1974 changed emergency preparedness the super outbreak flattened towns and killed and injured thousands, all with little warning and in the space of 24 hours. Iconic images from april 3, 1974 the super outbreak wdrb. It was also the most violent tornado outbreak ever recorded, with 30 f4f5 tornadoes confirmed.
F5 is the story of the april 34, 1974 super outbreak of tornadoes which spanned from alabama to ontario and from illinois to virginia. Entire years noted for their prominent tornado counts e. Whnt alabama was among several states hit hard in the super outbreak of tornadoes on april 3 and 4, 1974. Super outbreak of 1974 tornado disaster, north america. April 3, 1974, is known as the day of the killer tornadoes but it was also a turning point for severe weather forecasting across the weather enterprise. Twisters en masse on april 34, 1974, an outbreak of 148 tornadoes devastated portions of eight american states illinois, indiana, michigan, ohio, alabama, tennessee, georgia and north carolina and one canadian province ontario. The widespread tornado outbreak of april 24, 1974 noaa natural disaster survey report 741. This outbreak included a tornado that touched down in augusta county. Remembering the 1974 april 34 super tornado outbreak. In terms of total number, path length, and total damage, the massive tornado occurrence of april 34, 1974, was more extensive than all previously. Revisiting the 34 april 1974 super outbreak of tornadoes storm. The april 34th, 1974 super outbreak affected states across the eastern us, from the great lakes region down into the deep south.
A new look at the super outbreak of tornadoes on 34 april. A very basic and to the point account of the super outbreak of april 34, 1974. Iconic images from april 3, 1974 the super outbreak. This is the list of tornadoes confirmed that occurred during the recordbreaking 1974 super outbreak tornado event that occurred on april 34, 1974 across the eastern half of the united states and in ontario, canada. Temperatures on april 3, were very hot in the southeast with texas over 100 degrees and much of the south over 90 degrees. Posted apr 03, 2016 destruction from the april 3, 1974 tornado outbreak.
In the united states, tornadoes struck illinois, indiana, michigan, ohio, kentucky, tennessee, alabama, mississippi, georgia, north carolina, virgin. In all, 148 tornadoes were documented from this event, of which 95 were rated f2 or stronger on the fujita scale and 30 were f4 or f5. Generally, state tornado numbers were assigned in the order the tornado occurred, but that is not always the case. Remembering the april 1974 super tornado outbreak whsv. If it takes too long to load the home page, tap on the button below. The tornado outbreak of april 12, 1974, affected much of the eastern and central united states.
Louisville still feels impact of 1974 tornado, 45 years later. In 17 hours time, a staggering 148 tornadoes appeared, including two killer twisters which hit limestone county, alabama, the. The book concentrates primarily on limestone county, alabama. Theodore fujita at the university of chicago, this gave these twisters a ruinous rating of at least 207 mph winds. In one of the worst outbreaks of tornados in us history, 147 tornadoes touched down in states april 34, 1974.
April 3, 1974 super outbreak national weather service. List of tornadoes in the 1974 super outbreak wikipedia. The state tornado number assigned to the tornado for that specific state for that specific year. In what was the worst tornado outbreak of the 20 th century, there were 148 tornadoes over the course of just 18 hours, over half of which were classified as significantstrong at f2 strength or higher. A look back at the deadly april 1974 tornado outbreak. As i grew older my knowledge of the destruction and death of those days in 1974 grew, as i read through the pages of this book by the courier journal in louisville, ky. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the april 34, 1974 tornado outbreak one of the worst tornado outbreaks to ever affect the u. Revisiting the 34 april 1974 super outbreak of tornadoes. A costly war had just come to its demoralizing end, and an unpopular. The super outbreak of april 34, 1974 national weather service. Tornado numbers are not unique and reset each year. Many believe that the 1974 tornado outbreak remains the most violent in history due to the greater number of ef3, ef4 and ef5 tornadoes. A look back at april 34, 1974 tornado super outbreak.
In closing, i have to say, out of all the research ive done, it was truly a dark day that day. Im reading a book about extreme weather and it talks about the 148 tornadoes that occurred in an 18 hour period from illinois to alabama and east to virginia. According to the national weather service, 148 documented tornadoes hit states in 18. Devastation, survival, and the most violent tornado. In 17 hours time, a staggering 148 tornadoes appeared, including two killer twisters which hit limestone county, alabama, the focal point of levines book. The 1974 super outbreak, at that time, was the most violent tornado outbreak ever recorded with nearly 30 tornadoes rated to be at least an f4 or f5. One of the largest outbreaks of tornadoes ever recorded, it consisted of 148 tornadoes. Meaning no disrespect to this wellwritten and engaging book, but this would make one heckuva disaster movie. Jordans book are used with specific permission by the author in moulton, alabama. Another book you may all find interesting i think also mentioned in an eariler post tornado. The april 34, 1974 super outbreak affected states across the eastern united states, from the great lakes region all the way to the deep. Map of the paths of tornadoes during the april 34, 1974. The super outbreak was the worst tornado outbreak in u.
Devastation, survival, and the most violent tornado outbreak of the 20th century at. The super outbreak of that date impacted cities and towns in several states. From april 3 to 4, 1974, there were 148 tornadoes confirmed in u. In the latter areas, tornadoes produced f3 damage on the fujita. Tornado outbreak of april 34, 1974 real climate science. Tornado super outbreak is it possible again does anyone think there will ever be another outbreak like the jumbo outbreak of april 34, 1974. Looking back at the april 34, 1974 super outbreak lets look at the april 1974 outbreak from a different, visual perspective. Looking back at the april 34, 1974 super outbreak u. How one of the worst tornado outbreaks in history led to meteorological innovation.
The super outbreak of april 34, 1974 occurred across portions of the midwest, lower mississippi valley, and southeast. Fortyfive years later, april 3, 1974 the day of the tornado super outbreak still stands as a dark day in louisvilles history. Revisiting the 34 april 1974 super outbreak of tornadoes spc publication. Devastation, survival, and the most violent tornado outbreak of the 20th century. Dubbed the super outbreak, at least 148 tornadoes struck states from the gulf coast to the great lakes over a 16 hour period from the afternoon of april 3, 1974 into the early morning hours of april 4, 1974. Before the tornado outbreak on april 27, 2011, 1974.
We use maps to first look at the event from the past, then present the same information with a fresh face using some thoughtprovoking interactions and overlays. The april 34, 1974 super outbreak affected states across the eastern united states, from the great lakes region all the way to the deep south. The worst tornado outbreak in recent history occurred on april 34, 1974 at the peak of the 1970s ice age scare. The super outbreak of tornadoes of 34 april 1974 remains the most outstanding severe convective weather episode on record in the continental. The outbreak far surpassed previous and succeeding events in severity, longevity and extent, with the notable exception of the april 2011 outbreak. Four fatalities and more than seventy injuries were confirmed in this outbreak. Mustsee photos of super outbreak of tornadoes in 1974. Striking in two waves, one in the afternoon and a second during evening hours the. Devastation, survival, and the most violent tornado outbreak of. Remembering the april 34, 1974 tornado outbreak photo. Devastation, survival, and the most violent tornado outbreak of the 20th century levine, mark on. Damaging, deadly tornadoes struck kentucky, tennessee, and alabamaincluding the nashville and huntsville metropolitan areas. How 148 tornadoes in one day in 1974 changed emergency. How does the frequency of the most severe tornadoes of the april 34, 1974, outbreak compare with normal tornado formation.
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