NWS Confirms Four Additional Tornadoes

NWS Northern Indiana has confirmed four additional tornadoes from the June 30-July 1 outbreak, all of which were EF1.  Also, one of the previously confirmed tornadoes had its rating changed from EF0 to EF1 (tornado #3 in this post, which has been edited to reflect the change).

TORNADO #8 - LAPORTE COUNTY  
  
RATING:                 EF-1  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    105 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  AROUND 0.25 MILE  
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 200 YARDS   
FATALITIES: NONE  
INJURIES: NONE  
  
START DATE:              JUL 01 2014   
TIME:                    EST. 1211 AM EDT  
START LOCATION:          PINHOOK, IN   
START LAT/LON:           41.5625 / -86.858   
  
END DATE:                JUL 01 2014  
END TIME:                EST. 1212 AM EDT  
END LOCATION:            PINHOOK, IN   
END LAT/LON:             41.5617 / -86.853  
  
SURVEY SUMMARY: A BRIEF EF1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF   
HIGHWAY 2 NEAR THE TOWN OF PINHOOK AND LIFTED JUST EAST OF SOUTH   
WOZNIAK ROAD. THE TORNADO CAUSED WIDESPREAD SEVERE TREE DAMAGE AND   
DAMAGED MANY STRUCTURES INCLUDING A 2 STORY BARN WHICH WAS   
DESTROYED.   

TORNADO #9 - LAPORTE COUNTY  
  
RATING:                 EF-1  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    95 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  4.8 MILES  
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 200 YARDS   
FATALITIES: NONE  
INJURIES: NONE  
  
START DATE:              JUL 01 2014   
TIME:                    EST. 1224 AM EDT  
START LOCATION:          1 EAST KINGSFORD HEIGHTS, IN   
START LAT/LON:           41.4787 / -86.6837   
  
END DATE:                JUL 01 2014  
END TIME:                EST. 1228 AM EDT  
END LOCATION:            3 ENE OF SOUTH CENTER, IN  
END LAT/LON:             41.4849 / -86.5928  
  
SURVEY SUMMARY: AN EF1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST EAST OF KINGSFORD   
HEIGHTS AND TRAVELED ENE TO JUST NORTH OF US 6 BEFORE DISSIPATING AS   
IT CROSSED THE KANKAKEE RIVER. EXTENSIVE WIDESPREAD TREE DAMAGE   
ALONG THE PATH OF THE TORNADO WAS NOTED. MANY HOMES IN THE PATH OF   
THE TORNADO SUFFERED DAMAGE FROM FELLED TREES.   

TORNADO #10 - STARKE COUNTY  
  
RATING:                 EF-1  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    100 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  5 MILES  
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 400 YARDS   
FATALITIES: NONE  
INJURIES: NONE  
  
START DATE:              JUL 01 2014   
TIME:                    EST. 1225 AM EDT  
START LOCATION:          4 S OF SOUTH CENTER, IN   
START LAT/LON:           41.4189 / -86.6409   
  
END DATE:                JUL 01 2014  
END TIME:                EST. 1228 AM EDT  
END LOCATION:            3 WNW OF KOONTZ LAKE, IN  
END LAT/LON:             41.4317 / -86.5472  
  
SURVEY SUMMARY: AN EF1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF   
N CR 300 E AND E CR 800 N. EXTENSIVE WIDESPREAD TREE DAMAGE ALONG   
THE PATH OF THE TORNADO WAS NOTED. SEVERAL HOMES IN THE PATH OF THE   
TORNADO SUSTAINED DAMAGE AS THE TORNADO MOVES EAST. A BARN WAS   
DESTROYED NEAR CR 700 E AND ROBBINS ROAD. MULTIPLE CENTER PIVOTS   
WERE FLIPPED IN CORN FIELDS.   

TORNADO #11 - STARKE/MARSHALL COUNTIES  
  
RATING:                 EF-1  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    110 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  4.9 MILES  
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 400 YARDS   
FATALITIES: NONE  
INJURIES: NONE  
  
START DATE:              JUL 01 2014   
TIME:                    EST. 1229 AM EDT  
START LOCATION:          2 W OF KOONTZ LAKE, IN   
START LAT/LON:           41.4187 / -86.5304   
  
END DATE:                JUL 01 2014  
END TIME:                EST. 1233 AM EDT  
END LOCATION:            3 ENE OF KOONTZ LAKE, IN  
END LAT/LON:             41.4384 / -86.4407  
  
SURVEY SUMMARY: A STRONG EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST EAST OF CR   
850 E AND JUST NORTH OF CR 800 N IN STARKE COUNTY. AS THE TORNADO   
MOVED ENE IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO HARDWOOD TREES...ESPECIALLY   
NORTH OF KOONTZ LAKE ALONG THE STARKE/MARSHALL COUNTY LINE. MINOR   
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO SEVERAL HOMES NEAR THE END OF THE   
TORNADO. THE TORNADO LIFTED IN A GROVE OF TREES JUST EAST OF UNION   
ROAD.   

NWS Confirms Additional Tornado In Kosciusko County

TORNADO #7 - KOSCIUSKO COUNTY  
  
RATING:                 EF-1  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    95 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  AROUND 0.6 MILE  
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 150 YARDS   
FATALITIES: NONE  
INJURIES: NONE  
  
START DATE:              JUL 01 2014   
TIME:                    EST. 106 AM EDT  
START LOCATION:          2 MI S OF GRAVELTON, IN   
START LAT/LON:           41.1982 / -85.9226   
  
END DATE:                JUL 01 2014  
END TIME:                EST. 108 AM EDT  
END LOCATION:            2 MI ENE OF PALESTINE, IN   
END LAT/LON:             41.1915 / -85.9154  
  
SURVEY SUMMARY: A BRIEF EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SOUTH OF GRAVELTON   
NEAR A PROPERTY ON SOUTH COUNTY ROAD 400 WEST WHERE SEVERAL TREE   
TRUNKS WERE SNAPPED AT THE TOPS OF THE TREES WITH 2 TREES UPROOTED.   
A SMALL BARN SUFFERED EXTENSIVE ROOF DAMAGE AND PARTIAL WALL   
FAILURE. THE TORNADO QUICKLY SHIFTED TOWARDS THE SOUTHEAST CROSSING   
STATE ROUTE 25 WHERE IS BEGAN TO LIFT. PRIOR TO LIFTING...OVER 20   
HEALTHY TREES WERE EITHER UPROOTED OR SNAPPED SEVERAL FEET IN THE   
AIR. ONE OF THE UPROOTED TREES FELL ONTO A RESIDENCE.   

NWS Confirms Two Additional Tornadoes

NWS Northern Indiana has confirmed two additional tornadoes, one of which occurred in Wabash/Kosciusko counties and the other which occurred in Whitley county.  Both of them have been rated EF1.  This brings the total number of tornadoes from this outbreak to 9 as of this time.

TORNADO #5 - WABASH/KOSCIUSKO COUNTY  
  
RATING:                 EF-1  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    100 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  APPROX 7 MILES  
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 150 YARDS   
FATALITIES: NONE  
INJURIES: NONE  
  
START DATE:              JUL 01 2014   
TIME:                    EST. 1208 AM EDT  
START LOCATION:          2.8 MI SSW OF SILVER LAKE, IN   
START LAT/LON:           41.0314 / -85.8964   
  
END DATE:                JUL 01 2014  
END TIME:                EST. 1215 AM EDT  
END LOCATION:            6.9 MI ESE OF SILVER LAKE, IN   
END LAT/LON:             41.048 / -85.7639  
  
SURVEY SUMMARY: AN EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF SR 15 IN A   
CORN FIELD IN NORTHWEST WABASH COUNTY. THIS TORNADO PROCEEDED EAST   
NORTHEAST WITH EXTENSIVE TREE AND CROP DAMAGE NOTED. SEVERAL   
FARMSTEADS ALONG THE PATH SUSTAINED MINOR TO MODERATE DAMAGE. ONE   
FARM JUST NORTH OF THE COUNTY LINE ROAD IN KOSCIUSKO COUNTY HAD A   
HOG BARN DESTROYED WITH MUCH OF THE DEBRIS THROWN SOUTHEASTWARD INTO   
A LARGE GRAIN SILO FACILITY WITH ONE LARGE GRAIN BIN COMPLETELY   
FLATTENED AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO A HARVESTER SILO. IN ADDITION A CORN   
CROP FIELD TO THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTY LINE ROAD AND JUST EAST OF THE   
FARM WAS FLATTENED AND SHREDDED. ADDITIONAL EXTENSIVE TREE AND CROP   
DAMAGE CONTINUED BEFORE THE TORNADO DISSIPATED IN A GROVE OF TREES   
JUST WEST OF CR 400E.  

TORNADO #6 - WHITLEY COUNTY  
  
RATING:                 EF-1  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    100 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  APPROX 0.4 MILES  
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 50 YARDS   
FATALITIES: NONE  
INJURIES: NONE  
  
START DATE:              JUL 01 2014   
TIME:                    EST. 1222 AM EDT  
START LOCATION:          2.7 MI SW OF SOUTH WHITLEY, IN   
START LAT/LON:           41.0516 / -85.6567   
  
END DATE:                JUL 01 2014  
END TIME:                EST. 1223 AM EDT  
END LOCATION:            2.2 MI SSW OF SOUTH WHITLEY, IN   
END LAT/LON:             41.0551 / -85.6495  
  
SURVEY SUMMARY: A BRIEF EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF CR   
850W IN A BEAN FIELD AND HIT A FARMSTEAD DESTROYING A BARN AND   
CHICKEN COOP ALONG WITH EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE. MUCH OF THE DEBRIS   
FROM THE BARN WAS LOFTED AND SCATTERED ACROSS THE ADJACENT FIELD TO   
NORTHEAST AND EMBEDDED THROUGH THE TREELINE ONE QUARTER MILE   
NORTHEAST. THIS IS ALSO WHERE A HORSE BARN LOST MOST OF ITS ROOF AND   
A NEARBY HOME AND GARAGE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO ROOFING AND   
SIDING MATERIAL. HOWEVER SEVERE TREE DAMAGE OCCURRED THROUGH A LARGE   
GROVE OF TREES JUST NORTH OF THIS LOCATION WITH SIGNIFICANT DEBRIS   
LOADING NOTED IN THE TREES...MANY OF WHICH WERE SNAPPED AND/OR UPROOTED.  

NWS Confirms Tornadoes In Marshall County

NWS Northern Indiana has confirmed two additional tornadoes from July 1, both of which occurred in Marshall county. 

TORNADO #3 - MARSHALL COUNTY  
  
RATING:                 EF-1  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    105 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  APPROX 7 MILES  
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 150 YARDS   
FATALITIES: NONE  
INJURIES: NONE  
  
START DATE:              JUL 01 2014   
TIME:                    EST. 1235 AM EDT  
START LOCATION:          1 MI S OF DONALDSON, IN   
START LAT/LON:           41.346 / -86.4435   
  
END DATE:                JUL 01 2014  
END TIME:                EST. 1242 AM EDT  
END LOCATION:            1 MI N OF PLYMOUTH, IN   
END LAT/LON:             41.361 / -86.3138  
  
SURVEY SUMMARY: AN EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF DONALDSON   
WHERE IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO HARDWOOD TREES. THE TORNADO   
MOVED EAST AND HEAVILY DAMAGED A FARM ON SYCAMORE ROAD JUST SOUTH OF   
THE RAILROAD TRACKS. EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE CONTINUED TO THE   
EAST/NORTHEAST INTO THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH TO THE LEAR CORPORATION   
WHERE MULTIPLE TREES WERE SNAPPED AND TOPPED. AN EMPTY SEMI TRAILER   
WAS FLIPPED. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NE WITH WIDESPREAD MIXED   
HARDWOOD/SOFTWOOD TREE DAMAGE AND MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE   
BEHAVIOR SCIENCE BUILDING ON N OAK ROAD. THE TORNADO CAUSED PARTIAL   
UPLIFT OF THE NW SIDE OF THE ROOF AND COLLAPSED THE INTERIOR CINDER   
BLOCK WALL ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION GARAGE   
JUST SOUTH OF US 30 BEFORE LIFTING.   

TORNADO #4 - MARSHALL COUNTY  
  
RATING:                 EF-1  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    95 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  APPROX 0.2 MILES  
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 50 YARDS   
FATALITIES: NONE  
INJURIES: NONE  
  
START DATE:              JUL 01 2014   
TIME:                    EST. 1241 AM EDT  
START LOCATION:          2 MI NE OF PLYMOUTH, IN   
START LAT/LON:           41.361 / -86.2893   
  
END DATE:                JUL 01 2014  
END TIME:                EST. 1242 AM EDT  
END LOCATION:            2.2 MI NE OF PLYMOUTH, IN   
END LAT/LON:             41.3629 / -86.2875  
  
SURVEY SUMMARY: A BRIEF EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE   
INTERSECTION OF LILAC ROAD AND PLYMOUTH GOSHEN TRAIL JUST NE OF   
PLYMOUTH AROUND 1241 AM EDT. HARDWOOD TREE DAMAGE WAS NOTED IN THIS   
LOCATION WITH SEVERAL UPROOTED TREES AND A SHED WAS FLATTENED. AS   
THE CIRCULATION MOVED NE IT SHIFTED A BARN OFF ITS FOUNDATION AND   
CAUSED WIDESPREAD SEVERE TREE DAMAGE IN A GROVE OF TREES BEFORE   
LIFTING IN A FIELD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TREE GROVE.   

NWS Confirms Tornadoes In Kosciusko And LaGrange Counties

NWS Northern Indiana has confirmed that two tornadoes struck Kosciusko and LaGrange counties during the early morning hours of July 1.  Survey results are posted below.  Note that storm surveys are not complete and the total number of tornadoes from this event is likely to increase.


.TORNADO #1 - LAGRANGE COUNTY...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    95 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  AROUND 1 MILE
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 50 YARDS
FATALITIES: NONE
INJURIES: NONE

START DATE:              JUL 01 2014
TIME:                    EST. 138 AM EDT
START LOCATION:          1 MI WSW OF LAGRANGE, IN
START LAT/LON:           41.6414 / -85.4399

END DATE:                JUL 01 2014
END TIME:                EST. 140 AM EDT
END LOCATION:            LAGRANGE, IN
END LAT/LON:             41.6428 / -85.4218

SURVEY SUMMARY: A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF LAGRANGE ON
U.S. 20 AROUND 130 AM EDT...WHERE TREE LIMB DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED.
THE TORNADO TRACKED EAST TOWARD LAGRANGE...UPROOTING TREES AS IT
ENTERED THE TOWN SOUTH OF THE HOSPITAL. NUMEROUS TREES WERE
UPROOTED AND SNAPPED JUST WEST OF S COUNTY ROAD 00 E BETWEEN
U.S. 20 AND GRANT STREET. THE TORNADO PRODUCED MINOR STRUCTURAL
DAMAGE TO HOMES ALONG GRANT STREET BEFORE LIFTING JUST WEST OF S
MOUNTAIN STREET. THIS TORNADO WAS EMBEDDED ALONG THE NORTH FLANK OF
A MUCH LARGER ONE MILE WIDE SWATH OF INTENSE DAMAGING WINDS OF 70-80
MPH ALONG AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 20 IN LAGRANGE. ESTIMATED WINDS WITH
THE TORNADO WERE 95 MPH.




.TORNADO #2 - KOSCIUSKO COUNTY...

RATING:                 EF-0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    80 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  1.9 MILES
MILES PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: EST. 50 YARDS
FATALITIES: NONE
INJURIES: NONE

START DATE:              JUL 01 2014
TIME:                    EST. 106 AM EDT
START LOCATION:          3.5 MI W OF MILFORD, IN
START LAT/LON:           414122 / -85.9188

END DATE:                JUL 01 2014
END TIME:                EST. 108 AM EDT
END LOCATION:            2.2 MI WNW MILFORD, IN
END LAT/LON:             41.4194 / -85.8855

SURVEY SUMMARY: A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF CR 1250N AND EAST
OF CR 400W AROUND 106 AM EDT...WHERE A LARGE METAL FARM BUILDING WAS
DESTROYED. TORNADO CROSSED CR 1250N AND WENT THROUGH A CORN FIELD AND
THEN DESTROYED A BARN NEAR 200W NORTH OF CR 1250N WITH MISSILE DEBRIS
SCATTERED TO THE EAST ACROSS 200W AND INTO ANOTHER CORN FIELD WHERE THE
CIRCULATION LIFTED AND OR DISSIPATED.

2013 Year In Review

With 2013 now complete, here is a recap of this year's tornadoes.


January:

2 tornadoes occurred in southern Indiana during the early morning hours of January 30.  A brief EF1 occurred in Orange county and an EF0 occurred in Harrison county.


May:

After no tornadoes in February, March and April, several tornadoes occurred in the month of May.  Two EF0 tornadoes occurred in Vigo county on May 9.  Two more EF0 tornadoes occurred in Hendricks and Putnam counties during the early morning hours of May 21.  Finally, an EF0 struck Benton county on May 31.  


June:

Much of June was quiet in terms of tornadoes until June 26.  On that day, two EF1 tornadoes occurred in Pike and Perry counties.  The Perry county tornado was on the ground for over 5 miles and caused damage in and around Tell City.


July:

One tornado occurred in July.  An EF1 struck Miami county on July 10, resulting in 2 injuries.  This tornado was on the ground for about 3.5 miles. 


November:

This month will be remembered for the massive tornado outbreak that occurred on the 17th.  This outbreak is the biggest fall tornado outbreak on record in Indiana and is one of the more impressive fall outbreaks to ever occur in the United States.  28 tornadoes struck the state with major damage occurring in numerous locations.  Some of the hardest hit areas were Kokomo, Lebanon and Lafayette.  For more on this outbreak, see this post.

NWS Confirms Tornado In Miami County

The NWS in North Webster has confirmed an EF1 tornado struck Peru on July 10.


 
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
124 PM EDT FRI JUL 12 2013 /1224 PM CDT FRI JUL 12 2013/
   
 
..TORNADO /MIAMI COUNTY/

RATING: EF-1
MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: 95 MPH
PATH LENGTH: 3.5 MILES
PATH WIDTH: /MAXIMUM/ 200 YARDS
TIME: 128 PM EDT JULY 10...2013
LOCATION: 2.3 MILES WSW OF PERU TO 1.4 MILES SE OF PERU
DESCRIPTION: AN EF1 TORNADO WAS CONFIRMED ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF
THE TOWN OF PERU. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN A CORN FIELD JUST TO
THE WEST OF COUNTRYMARK REFINERY SOUTH OF US HIGHWAY 24. DAMAGE
CONTINUED IN AN EAST...SOUTHEAST FOR APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES. THE
TORNADO PATH ENDED ACROSS STATE ROAD 19 BETWEEN ASTRUP DRIVE AND
PARKWAY TERRACE. EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE WAS NOTED ALONG THE PATH WITH
NUMEROUS TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED OFF. MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO
HOMES WAS NOTED FROM FALLING TREES. SEVERAL BUSINESSES SUSTAINED
MINOR FACADE OR ROOF DAMAGE.

2011 Year In Review

As we move toward the end of 2011, I thought it would be prudent to post a summary of this year's tornadoes.  Here it is month by month.


February:

6 tornadoes occurred, all of them on the last day of the month.  An EF2 tornado cut a 14 mile swath in Dubois county, injuring 1 person.  A separate EF2 struck portions of Gibson and Pike counties.


April:

This was a quiet month for tornadoes until the 19th.  29 tornadoes struck the state on the 19th and into the 20th, the second most in a single outbreak.  This event was followed up on the 23rd by an EF0 tornado in Jackson county.  Three additional tornadoes struck the state on the 26th and 27th, one of them an EF2 which had a 5 mile path through Warrick county.  There were 33 tornadoes in total during April, making it our second most active month on record.


May:

May followed a similar trend as April with a quiet early and middle part of the month.  Then an EF1 tornado in Jasper county kicked things off on May 22.  EF0 tornadoes struck Huntington and Ripley and Dearborn counties on the 23rd.  After a 1 day break, another significant outbreak happened on May 25.  This outbreak produced 22 tornadoes, including several EF2's and an EF3 in Lawrence county.  The Lawrence county tornado began east of Bedford and moved northeast for about 7 miles before lifting.  In all, there were 25 tornadoes in May.


June:

Like the preceding months, much of June was quiet.  The first tornado was a brief EF0 in Perry county on the 19th.  Another tornado struck Harrison county on the 22nd.  Two more tornadoes occurred during the early morning hours of the 26th, bringing the monthly total to 4. 


July:

Only 1 tornado happened in July, a brief EF0 in Newton county on the 23rd.


September:

After nearly 2 months without a tornado, an EF1 hit Jennings county early on the 26th.  An EF0 struck Elkhart county the following day. 


November:

An EF1 tornado touched down in Orange county on the 14th, the only tornado during November.  This was the last tornado of the year, bringing the 2011 total to 72.

No July Tornadoes This Year?

July is not known as one of our particularly active tornado months, but it has produced a non-trivial amount of activity over the years.  Although information is still preliminary and subject to change, it appears that no tornadoes have been confirmed this month. 

How common is it to have no tornadoes in July?  During the period from 1950-2010, 46 out of 61 years (or 75%) produced at least one tornado.  So while it is uncommon to not have any tornadoes in July, it is not unheard of. 

July 25, 1875 Tornadoes

Today, we take a trip in the time machine back to July 25, 1875.  Little is known about this severe weather event, but it appears there were at least 4 tornadoes.  Two of them were killers - one which struck the Fountain County community of Harveysburg and the other near the Boone/Hendricks county line just southwest of Fayette.  At least 4 people were killed and 14 injured.

July 9, 1980 Rush County Tornado

Today marks the anniversary of one of the strongest July tornadoes ever to occur in Indiana.  It happened in Rush county on July 9, 1980 and produced F4 damage along its 13 mile path, killing 2 and injuring 25.  This tornado initially tracked southeastward before turning more southerly and even southwesterly for a time.

A History Of July 4 Tornadoes

July 4 is a day that we celebrate by lighting off fireworks, but nature has been known to occasionally provide its own fireworks with tornadoes and other forms of severe weather here.  I was curious to find out just how common Independence Day tornadoes have been over the years.  Although I browsed tornado records back to the 1800's, I could not find any July 4 tornadoes before 1957.  This seems rather improbable and is likely due to poor documentation in earlier years, but I can only post what I know.  I found a total of 7 tornadoes and they are listed and mapped below.  In one instance there was a discrepancy with location which I have noted.

July Tornadoes Per County Since 1950

I changed the scale from previous months since tornado frequency starts to decrease in July.

 

Most Frequent Tornado Days Since 1950

I have put together a list of the most frequent tornado days since 1950.  In other words, those calendar days which have produced at least one tornado most often.  Here are all of the days which have produced at least 5 times and I have also included the total number of tornadoes for each day.  Bold represents days which have had tornadoes in every decade with the exception of the current young decade.


April 20...5 days...22 tornadoes
April 28...5 days...5 tornadoes
May 14...5 days...10 tornadoes
May 18...5 days...9 tornadoes
May 25...5 days...10 tornadoes
May 26...7 days...13 tornadoes
May 27...7 days...10 tornadoes
May 28...6 days...11 tornadoes
May 30...7 days...35 tornadoes
May 31...6 days...10 tornadoes
June 4.....5 days...9 tornadoes
June 7.....5 days...13 tornadoes
June 8.....5 days...13 tornadoes
June 11...7 days...17 tornadoes
June 12...8 days...13 tornadoes
June 13...7 days...13 tornadoes
June 14...5 days...11 tornadoes
June 15...5 days...6 tornadoes
June 17...6 days...9 tornadoes
June 21...6 days...6 tornadoes
June 23...5 days...13 tornadoes
June 24...7 days...9 tornadoes
June 28...5 days...8 tornadoes
July 1......7 days...7 tornadoes
July 4......5 days...7 tornadoes
July 9......6 days...9 tornadoes


Interestingly, the day with the greatest number of tornadoes - June 2 - isn't on the list.  While only 3 June 2nds have produced tornadoes, a total of 46 tornadoes have occurred.