Tornado outbreak of April 19–22, 2011

Tornado outbreak of April 19–22, 2011
NEXRAD radar mosaic at the time of the St. Louis tornado on April 22.
Meteorological history
DurationApril 19–22, 2011
Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes110
Max. rating
EF4 tornado
Duration3 days, 7 hours, 28 minutes
Highest windsTornadic – 170 mph (270 km/h)
(St. Louis, Missouri EF4 on April 22)
Highest gustsNon-tornadic – 120 mph (190 km/h)
(Three locations on April 19)[1]
Overall effects
Fatalities0
Injuries14
Damage≥ $300 million (2011 USD)[2][1][3]
Areas affectedCentral and Eastern regions of the United States
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2011

A major tornado outbreak affected the Midwestern and Southern United States from April 19–22, 2011, with 110 tornadoes being spawned across six days. From April 19–22, a storm system moved through from the Great Plains to the eastern U.S.. Thunderstorms began in the late afternoon and early evening with large hail and several tornadoes. Significant damage was reported near Bowling Green, Missouri and Girard, Illinois as a result of tornadoes, the latter of which was rated EF3. Another large tornado was reported near Octavia, Oklahoma before the supercells merged into a very large squall line. Overnight, the squall line tracked eastward with widespread wind damage and many embedded tornadoes across several states, a few as strong as EF2, but most were brief and weak. In the early hours of April 20, 2011, a tornado tore through a neighborhood in Oregon, Ohio, leaving some significant damage but no injuries. Also, three tornadoes struck New Albany, Indiana, and Jeffersonville, Indiana. Both are cities just north of Louisville, Kentucky.[4]

Severe weather once again developed across parts of the Midwest on April 22. The hardest-hit area was parts of the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area. A destructive tornado tracked across the region with severe damage in several communities including houses destroyed in communities such as Bridgeton, Ferguson, Florissant, Hazelwood, Maryland Heights and New Melle. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport was hard hit with severe damage to numerous facilities there and injuries reported. Windows were blown out of the terminals there and airplanes were flipped in the field. Concourse C was the hardest hit, taking nearly a year to reopen; it reopened on April 2, 2012.[5][6] The tornado was given a rating of EF4 based on finding of flattened houses in Bridgeton, one of them was fully leveled. Following assessments by the local National Weather Service, it was determined that a single tornado tracked for around 22 miles (35 km) through parts of Missouri and Illinois, reaching a maximum width of 0.5 miles (0.80 km). Elsewhere, there were several reported tornadoes, including an EF2 tornado which tracked through Henderson, Webster and Union Counties in Kentucky.[7]

Throughout this outbreak, other tornadoes also caused damage in Illinois, Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, and other parts of Missouri during the period. No fatalities were reported in this multi-day outbreak.[8][9] Just a few days after this outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak on record would occur, the 2011 Super Outbreak.

Meteorological synopsis

April 19–20

A severe weather event developed across the Midwest and southern Great Plains on April 19 as a dynamic low pressure system tracked across the area. Thunderstorms began in the late afternoon and early evening with large hail and several tornadoes. Significant damage was reported near Bowling Green, Missouri and Girard, Illinois as a result of an EF3 tornado.[10] The individual storm cells later merged into a very large squall line. Overnight, the squall line tracked eastward with widespread wind damage[11] and many embedded tornadoes across several states. A few tornadoes were as strong as EF2, but most were brief and weak.[12]

April 22

On April 21, 8:00 PM CDT (01:00 UTC), the Storm Prediction Center issued two slight risk areas of severe thunderstorm activity across one region in west-central Texas to southwest Oklahoma, and another over the latter's northeastern corner, eastern Kansas, west-central Missouri and northwestern Arkansas for the following day. A large area of cyclonic flow interacted with two short-wave trough over the Pacific Northwest. Strong perturbation traveled from eastern Washington and Oregon towards Idaho. A leading, southern trough was forecasted to move eastward across the central Rocky Mountains, eastern Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle.[13]

SPC outlooks on April 22, 2011.
The first of severe weather outlooks issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. It shows a categorical risk for severe weather.
Day 1 20z categorical outlooks.
The second of severe weather outlooks issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. It shows a categorical risk for tornadoes.
Day 1 20z tornado outlooks.
The second of severe weather outlooks issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. It shows a categorical risk for hail.
Day 1 20z hail outlooks.
The second of severe weather outlooks issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. It shows a categorical risk for wind.
Day 1 20z wind outlooks.

The following day on April 22, 1:00 AM CDT (06:00 UTC) the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a widespread slight risk area spanning from central Texas to western Ohio, alongside a large 2% tornado risk for most of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and northwestern Kentucky, as one of the two short-wave troughs was forecasted to weaken as it entered Wyoming from the northeast. Meanwhile the leading trough was expected to become even further perturbated, evolving into a 500-millibar low pressure area over northwestern South Dakota by 1:00 PM CDT (18:00 UTC) and accelerate to the east-northeast. Lee cyclogenesis over southeastern Colorado was forecasted to lift northeastwards along a strengthening front extending from southern Kansas to western Illinois, evolving into a triple point cyclone for the occluded surface low associated with the upper trough over South Dakota. At the same time, a cold front was forecasted to sweep eastwards across Missouri, Illinois to Ohio, with it later stalling over northwest Texas to southeast Oklahoma as a secondary, and weaker low developed. Advection and mixing was expected to force the dry line move to the east across west-central Texas and southern Oklahoma by day. The cold front was forecasted to overtake the dry line in south-central Oklahoma towards the surface low, where the triple point should be set up soon. As a result, multiple rounds of thunderstorms were expected to affect portions of this area to the Ohio River Valley, with 1000–3000 J/kg of CAPE from southern Missouri to the Indiana/Ohio state border area.[14]

Severe weather once again developed across parts of the Midwest on April 22. The St. Louis metropolitan area was hit hardest by the storm system. An EF4 tornado tracked across the region. Severe effects occurred in several communities, including houses and other buildings destroyed in Bridgeton, Ferguson, Florissant, Hazelwood and Maryland Heights, Missouri, but also in Granite City, Illinois.[15] Another tornado nearby struck areas near New Melle, Missouri.[16] The EF4 tornado caused extensive damage to numerous facilities at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, with injuries reported; airplanes were damaged from the high winds and terminal windows blew out. American Airlines claimed four of their jets were damaged, two significantly.[17] The airport was closed for days after the tornado.[6] The EF4 rating was based on finding of a leveled house in Bridgeton. Following assessments by the local National Weather Service, it was determined that a single tornado tracked for 21.3 miles (34.3 km) through parts of Missouri and Illinois.[18] It reached a maximum width of 0.4 miles (0.64 km). Elsewhere, there were several reported tornadoes, including an EF2 which tracked through Henderson, Webster, and Union counties.[19][20][21]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total
0 46 49 13 1 1 0 110

Girard, Illinois

Girard, Illinois
The tornado near Girard.
Meteorological history
FormedApril 19, 2011, 5:58 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
DissipatedApril 19, 2011, 6:05 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration7 minutes
EF3 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Highest winds150 mph (240 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities0
Injuries2
DamageUnknown

This intense and damaging tornado first touched down in the northeastern portions of Macoupin County at 5:58 p.m. CDT (22:58 UTC) on April 19, on Emerson Airline Road around 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to the west of Girard. Along this road, several homes suffered extensive damage as the tornado began to track northeastward. As it crossed Henry Road just to the north of the Henry Road/Emerson Airline Road intersection, it demolished several barns and struck three homes, with one being destroyed and another suffering significant damage, with debris trapping the homeowners in the basement until first responders arrived. Around this time, the tornado inflicted minor injuries to two individuals who were heading to the basement. The tornado then began to turn more eastward, destroying more outbuildings and striking several farm homes along Neff Road, with one being destroyed.[22][23]

EF3 damage to a brick home along Prose Road.

The tornado then approached Pleasant Hill Road around 1.2 miles (1.9 km) north of Girard, where a brick home suffered extensive damage with all nearby outbuildings being destroyed. The tornado continued to the east, destroying a farm and killing several cows before turning to the southeast. The tornado then crossed Prose Road around half a mile south of the intersection connecting Prose and Substation Roads, where a brick home had most exterior walls collapsed while interior walls remained standing. This home was given an EF3 rating, with wind speeds estimated at 150 mph (240 km/h). The tornado turned and began to track southeast, inflicting moderate roof damage to a home along the Kimes Road/Adams Road intersection. The tornado then struck a farmstead along Adams Road, inflicting minor damage before lifting at 6:05 p.m. CDT (23:05 UTC).[22][23]

The tornado had a very curved path as it went north around Girard, with a total length of 5.1 miles (8.2 km) and reached a maximum width of 200 yards (180 m). Along its path, the tornado injured two people and killed numerous cattle.[22][23]

Maryland Heights–Bridgeton–Ferguson, Missouri/Granite City, Illinois

Maryland Heights–Bridgeton–Ferguson, Missouri/Granite City, Illinois
The tornado being illuminated by a power flash near Bridgeton.
Meteorological history
FormedApril 22, 2011, 7:59 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00)
DissipatedApril 22, 2011, 8:31 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00)
Duration32 minutes
EF4 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Highest winds170 mph (270 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities0
Injuries5
Damage>$250 million (2011 USD)[24]

During the evening hours of Good Friday, April 22, a supercell dropped a powerful tornado in the northwestern suburbs of the St. Louis, Missouri metro, at 7:59 p.m. CDT (00:59 UTC). The tornado touched down north of Creve Coeur Lake, in the northern parts of Maryland Heights at around EF1 intensity. After moving east and crossing the Missouri Eastern Railroad tracks, the storm intensified to EF2 strength, damaging poles along a 0.25-mile (440 yd; 400 m) wide swath before it slammed into its first neighborhood.[25][22]

The tornado then became intense as it persisted eastwards, now at EF3 intensity as along Jeannette Mary Drive, one house had most of its walls collapsed, though some interior ones were left standing. EF2 damage occurred throughout suburban areas within Maryland Heights, located west of Interstate 270. Crossing over the freeway, the tornado maintained significant status, as it immediately tore the roof off one home along Charleston Drive before weakening down to EF1 strength. At the same time, path jogged a little northeastward, before the tornado returned on its easterly course. The storm then restrengthened back to EF2 status along Parkwood Lane, with a residence that had its garage collapsed and roof ripped away.[25][22]

A home in Bridgeton, Missouri was completely leveled.
A house that was completely destroyed at EF4 intensity in Bridgeton, Missouri.

Now crossing over into Bridgeton and paralleling Old St. Charles Road, the tornado weakened slightly again and causing EF1 damage, before abruptly intensifying as it approached the three-way junction connecting Old St. Charles Road with Harmann Estates Drive. Encroaching on the T-junction, the storm gained intensity as it first caused high-end EF2 damage to a house, with winds now at 130 mph (210 km/h) at this spot prior to the tornado abruptly becoming intense as it moved a house down east. At this neighboring residence, the tornado with mid-range EF3 winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) only left a few walls standing. Thereafter, the tornado became violent as it inflicted EF4 damage to a house just to next door. Winds of 170 mph (270 km/h) winds collapsed all walls on this particular home, and EF3 tree debarking occurred north of the property. The tornado then weakened down to EF3 strength after crossing Harmann Estates Drive.[25][22]

Along Beaverton Drive, a neighborhood was impacted at high-end EF3 status. The tornado afterwards paralleled Interstate 70 whilst remaining intense. Some buildings in a business district along the freeway were heavily damaged or destroyed, before weakening down to EF2 strength. Remaining strong, the tornado then skirted northern St. Ann before it struck St. Louis Lambert International Airport with surprise, despite earlier warnings.[26] Parts of Terminal 1 were heavily impacted, with EF2 damage inflicted here. East of the airport, the tornado impacted neighborhoods within Berkeley, Ferguson and Bellefontaine Neighbors, leaving localized spots of EF2 damage behind. Crossing the Mississippi River into Illinois, the tornado weakened before entering northern portions of Granite City. For the last time, it caused EF2 damage to homes along Dawn Place before dissipating at 8:31 p.m. CDT (01:31 UTC).[25][22]

This violent tornado was the strongest to affect St. Louis since the F4 tornado over 44 years ago on January 24, 1967. It was the strongest tornado during the sequence, with winds of 170 mph (270 km/h). The tornado tracked for 21.3 miles (34.3 km) and was 880 yards (0.50 mi; 800 m) wide. Five people were injured at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, after being struck by debris. No fatalities were reported during the event.[25][22][27][15]

Aftermath

State and federal response

After the Good Friday tornado event, then Missouri state governor Jay Nixon issued during the later hours of April 22, 2011 a state of emergency for the region, allowing Missouri state agencies to assist local jurisdictions that were affected by the tornado.[28] On April 27, representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) arrived in St. Louis to assess the damage. FEMA teams collected information on a diverse scale of factors. This included the number of displaced residents, effects on the local economy, and how much property was uninsured.[29] In early-May of 2011, former U.S. president Barack Obama declared that the state of Missouri was a disaster area, following tornadoes, severe weather and flooding events that began on April 19. FEMA under the Obama administration, granted individuals across Butler, Mississippi, New Madrid and Taney Counties, alongside St. Louis County, access to assistance and federal funding on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures. This included temporary housing and home repairs.[30]

Rebuilding and legacy

In St. Louis, Missouri, the recovery process was rapid. Cleanup "swung into full gear" by Saturday, according to The Mercury News. Homeowners sifted through the wreckages of their homes while others brought repair kits, such as chainsaws and hammers to begin rebuilding damaged houses. “It’s crazy — like something you’d see in a movie,” mentioned 27-year old Bridgeton resident Tim Kreitler, who was helping out a neighbor. One Bridgeton family, the Maganas, were cleaning up debris the tornado left behind at their home. Trees were uprooted and split in half. The 17-year old daughter of the family, Vivi Magana, remembered how a lawn chair smashed through the glass door inside the home. “Everyone was screaming to make sure we were all OK,” Magana relayed when the storm struck.[31]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Search Results for all U.S. States and Areas: Event Types: Thunderstorm Wind". Storm Events Database. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Search Results for all U.S. States and Areas: Event Types: Tornado". Storm Events Database. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Search Results for all U.S. States and Areas: Event Types: Thunderstorm Wind". Storm Events Database. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Storm Reports for April 19, 2011". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. April 19, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  5. ↑ Leiser, Ken (April 2, 2012). "Lambert opens refurbished C Concourse after twister". Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Storm Reports for April 22, 2011". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. April 22, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Preliminary rating for St. Louis Tornado". National Weather Service. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. April 23, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Preliminary Assessment of Climate Factors Contributing to the Extreme 2011 Tornadoes". NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory. July 8, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Tornadoes Report". National Centers for Environmental Information. May 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Illinois Event Report: EF3 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Severe Weather Event: Apr 19, 2011". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Search Results for all U.S. States and Areas: Event Types: Tornado". Storm Events Database. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  13. ↑ National Weather Service (April 21, 2011). "Apr 22, 2011 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  14. ↑ National Weather Service (April 22, 2011). "Apr 22, 2011 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  15. 1 2 "...TORNADO SURVEY OF ST. LOUIS AND MADISON COUNTIES..." Iowa Environmental Mesonet. National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri. April 24, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  16. ↑ "...INITIAL DAMAGE SURVEY INDICATES EF1 TORNADO DAMAGE NEAR NEW MELLE..." Iowa Environmental Mesonet. National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri. April 23, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  17. ↑ CBS News (April 23, 2011). "Airlines cancel St. Louis flights after tornado". Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  18. ↑ "...SURVEY TEAM RATE DAMAGE IN BRIDGETON AS EF4..." Iowa Environmental Mesonet. National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri. April 23, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Kentucky Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Kentucky Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Kentucky Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Damage Assessment Toolkit". NOAA. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  23. 1 2 3 "Storm Events Database - Event Details (EF3 tornado in Macoupin County, Illinois)". NOAA. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Missouri Event Report: EF4 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri. 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "Good Friday Tornadoes April 22, 2011". NWS St. Louis. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Despite warning, St. Louis tornado caught airport, passengers off guard". Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  27. ↑ The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's finalized damage survey by county:
  28. ↑ "Devastating Missouri storms". CBS News. April 23, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  29. ↑ "FEMA teams in St. Louis to assess damage from tornadoes". St. Louis Public Radio. April 27, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  30. ↑ "President Obama Signs Missouri Disaster Declaration". The Barack Obama White House Archives. May 10, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  31. ↑ Associated Press (April 23, 2011). "Tornado cleanup starts quickly in St. Louis area". The Mercury News. Retrieved July 9, 2026.

For the latest severe weather information:

This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.