April Tornado Stats

 U.S. Tornado Outbreak Statistics – April 25-28, 2011

• Three-day Total: 362 twisters touched down between 8:00 a.m. EDT April 25 to 8:00 a.m. April 28, 2011. (NOAA’s preliminary estimate) 

• One-day Total: 312 tornadoes during a 24-hour period from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 27 to 8:00 a.m. April 28  (NWS estimate)

• April Total: 871 tornadoes  (SPC estimate for April 2011)

• YTD Total: 1,036 twisters have been reported between Jan 1 and April 30, 2011 (preliminary)

• The largest number of tornadoes on record previously:  148 tornadoes on April 3-4, 1974.

• “The April 26-28 period had the most people killed by tornadoes in a two-day period since April 5-6, 1936, when 454 people were killed, mostly in Tupelo, Mississippi, and Gainesville, Georgia.” NOAA reported.

• “April 27, 2011, is the deadliest single day for tornadoes since the March 18, 1925, tornado outbreak that had 747 fatalities across 7 states (including the Tri-State Tornado). “

• The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado caused at least 65 fatalities (Many are still reported as missing). This tornado had a maximum width of 1.5 miles and a track of 80 miles.

• Most fatalities from a single tornado in the United States: 80 people were killed in a tornado in southern Kansas, including 75 in Udall, Kansas on May 25, 1955.

• The deadliest single tornado in the United States:  695 people were killed in the Tri-State tornado that struck Missouri, Illinois and Indiana on March 18, 1925. [This figure should be treated as an estimate. FIRE-EARTH]

List of the Largest Tornadoes in April 2011 (preliminary)

• EF5: 2
• EF4: 11
• EF3: 21

[Note:  All numbers are based on combined NOAA and historical research records and current fatality estimates. The historical research records extend back to 1680.]

APRIL 2011 Stats

TOTAL NO OF SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS:  6,219

TORNADOES: 871
HAIL:  2,054
WIND: 3,294

The April 27  super-cell storm spawned an estimated 312 tornadoes, breaking the previous record of 148 set in 1974 by more than 210 percent (164 more twisters).

U-S Tornado Deaths 1875 – April 2011

Click images to enlarge.

U.S. Tornadoes Since 2000

NSSL image of April 27 tornado outbreak storm rotation tracks

Bright reds, oranges and yellows show tracks of where rotation was strongest as detected by NWS Doppler radars during the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak. Source: NOAA-WP

Related Links

• Tuscaloosa Tornado Damage Images
• The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history
• U.S. Tornado Update – April 29
• U.S. Tornadoes, Storms Kill at least 195

• Mile-wide Mega Tornado Devastates Alabama
• Tornado Record for April Smashed
• When Weather Went Really Crazy
• U.S. Tornado Outbreak – Update 19 April
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

Global Disasters

• U-S Tornadoes: Pray for the Dead
• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2010 Disasters [with links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• 2011 Disaster Calendar