This article is missing information about the path information and damage descriptions of major tornadoes. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.(March 2023)
On April 18–20, 1880, a tornado outbreak impacted the Midwestern United States, producing numerous strong tornadoes, killing at least 166 people, and injuring more than 516 others. The outbreak generated five violent tornadoes, including three long-tracked F4 tornadoes in Missouri that killed at least 144 people. Two of the tornadoes followed parallel paths and occurred simultaneously near Springfield, one of which devastated the town of Marshfield, causing 92 fatalities there. Other deadly, intense tornadoes occurred in the Great Lakes region and in Arkansas, including another F4 tornado that destroyed a third of El Paso, Arkansas, killing four or more people.[nb 1][nb 2][nb 3]
1 death – A violent tornado obliterated a pair of farms in Illinois, leaving little debris behind. The F4 damage occurred only in northernmost Illinois, just south-southwest of Beloit, Wisconsin. 23 structures were destroyed or damaged in Wisconsin, but only at up to F2- or F3-level intensity. 20 people were injured. Losses totaled $75,000, of which two-thirds were at Shopiere. Wind-related damage from the parent storm extended northeastward to near Johnstown.[13][14][12]
31+ deaths – This, known as the Finley Creek tornado, was the first and most intense of two violent, long-tracked, parallel tornadoes, south of Springfield. It first devastated a settlement on Crane Creek, killing 10 people there, and then killed six more beside Flat Creek. The tornado attained its maximum intensity over rural lands near Ozark and Linden, destroying 35 farmsteads; eight people were killed and 19 others severely injured. Seven or more fatalities occurred in southernmost Webster County. Some of the worst damage occurred at Dry Fork, along Panther Creek, near Fordland. In all, 100 people were injured.[15]
99+ deaths – This and the preceding event occurred simultaneously. The second of the two tornadoes initially caused extensive damage to rural timberland and outbuildings near McDowell. It then killed seven or more people in Springfield before rapidly intensifying and growing in size. It then devastated the town of Marshfield, destroying all but 15 structures. There the tornado killed 68 people instantly and caused 24 others to die of injuries, resulting in a total of 92 deaths. Near Marshfield the tornado debarked trees as well. 200 people were injured.[16][14][17]
4 deaths – This strong tornado family wrecked five or more homes and caused one fatality in Oklahoma before passing just south of Fort Smith, Arkansas. A pair of additional deaths occurred in a home near Fort Smith, along with five injuries. The final death occurred near Charleston. 20 injuries were confirmed.[17]
14 deaths – This large, violent, long-tracked tornado leveled numerous farmsteads and caused five deaths in southern Morgan County. In Barnettsville the tornado was up to 1 mi (1.6 km) wide, destroying the entire town and causing eight deaths. Near New Bloomfield the tornado destroyed a church and 10 homes, causing another death. The tornado left debris on a railroad, causing a passenger train to derail, resulting in a few injuries. In all, 90 injuries were confirmed.[16][17]
This tornado destroyed a pair of barns and caused minor damage to 12 other structures, some of which were homes. A home near Waterville was unroofed as well. One injury was reported.[17]
2+ deaths – This tornado developed between Elston and Centertown, but may have begun as far southwest as Russellville. All fatalities and eight or more injuries occurred in Callaway County, but there were rumors of more casualties near Russellville. Farmhouses were destroyed or damaged near Fulton.[16][17]
1 death – Nearly all buildings were damaged in Licking, and 300 people were left homeless. 64 of the 67 homes in town were rendered uninhabitable; of these, 29 were reportedly "'destroyed'." 17 injuries occurred, five of which were serious.[16][10]
2 deaths – At least 100 structures were destroyed or badly damaged in Fayetteville, including homes and a three-story hotel. Trees and fences were downed as well. 25 injuries were reported and losses in Fayetteville totaled $100,000. This or a related tornado may have subsequently struck and destroyed Goshen.[16][10]
4+ deaths – This violent tornado virtually leveled a third of El Paso. All of the known fatalities occurred there. Four bodies were reportedly carried 1 mi (1.6 km) and homesites were swept clean. 15 injuries occurred. Some sources listed as many as 10 deaths, of which three or more were assigned to multiple "prominent" families each.[14][10]
18 homes were destroyed at Eureka Springs. One fatality may have occurred there. In all, eight injuries were reported. The path of the tornado may have extended into southern Missouri.[16][10]
2 deaths – A number of injuries may have occurred. Detailed descriptions of the damage were unavailable, but contextual evidence suggested winds of at least F2 intensity.[19]
1 death – This intense tornado destroyed several small homes, with peak damage nearing F4 intensity. Debris was lofted for miles. Five injuries were reported.[14][10]
A tornado splintered trees and unroofed homes.[10]
Non-tornadic effects
In addition to tornadoes, there were numerous reports of severe thunderstorms. On April 18 intense windstorms affected Decatur, Wenona, Warren, Champaign, Ottawa, Peoria, Summerfield, Jacksonville, Tuscola, Clinton, Collinsville, and Chester, Illinois. These storms unroofed, destroyed, or partly wrecked numerous structures. Trees were extensively damaged and a bridge torn out as well. On the same date vigorous thunderstorms generated winds of up to 80 mph (130 km/h) in Lawrence, Kansas, tipping structures onto their sides and tearing roofs off. Early on April 19 severe thunderstorms also affected Richmond and Wabash, Indiana, along with other areas beside the White River. Telegraph wires and structures incurred substantial damage.[20]
^An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.[1]
^The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.[2][3] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,[4] Canada used the old scale until April 1, 2013;[5] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.[6]
^Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information.[7] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.[8] Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced NEXRAD was first installed and the National Weather Service began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.[9]
^ abcAll dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.
^ abcPrior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[11]
^Edwards, Roger (March 5, 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
— (November 1990). Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989. Vol. 2. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN1-879362-02-3.
— (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN1-879362-03-1.
