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Tornado outbreak of April 1880

On April 18–20, 1880, a tornado outbreak impacted the Midwestern United States, producing numerous strong tornadoes, killing at least 167 people, and injuring more than 516 others.[note 2] 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.

Tornado outbreak of April 1880
Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes≥ 27
Maximum ratingF4 tornado
DurationApril 18–20, 1880
Highest winds80 mph (130 km/h) in Lawrence, Kansas
Overall effects
Fatalities≥ 167
Injuries> 516
Damage> $1,175,000 ($38,280,000 in 2025 USD)[note 1]
Areas affectedMidwestern and Southern United States
Part of the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1880

Confirmed tornadoes

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Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
3 0 0 16 3 5 0 ≥ 27*
  • On April 18 a tornado may have damaged 26 structures at Oakbower in Crawford County, Arkansas.[2]

Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991.[3][note 3] 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments.[7][note 4] Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.

April 18 event

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List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, April 18, 1880
F#[note 4] Location County / Parish State Time (UTC)[note 5] Path length Width[note 6] Damage
F2 S of Pineville to Cyclone to ENE of Powell McDonald MO 22:00–? 15 mi (24 km) Un­known Un­known
1 death – An intermittent tornado killed a child, but otherwise did unspecified damage.[17]
F4 S of Rockton (IL) to near Turtleville (WI) to western Shopiere (WI) Winnebago (IL), Rock (WI) IL, WI 22:30–? 15 mi (24 km) 500 yd (460 m) $75,000
1 death – A violent tornado obliterated a pair of farms in Illinois, leaving little debris behind. The only F4 damage occurred there, just south-southwest of Beloit, Wisconsin. 23 structures were unroofed, destroyed, or otherwise damaged in Wisconsin, indicating F2 or F3 intensity. 20 people were injured. Two-thirds of the losses were at Shopiere. Wind-related damage extended to near Johnstown.[18][17][19]
F3 ENE of Edgerton Johnson KS 22:30–? 5 mi (8.0 km) Un­known Un­known
1 death – An intense tornado destroyed one or more homes, killing a mother.[17]
F4 S of Rocky Comfort to SE of Grovespring McDonald, Barry, Stone, Christian, Greene, Webster, Wright MO 22:30–? 93 mi (150 km) 1,200 yd (1,100 m) Un­known
31+ deaths – Dubbed the Finley Creek tornado, this was the first, strongest, and southernmost of two violent, long-tracked, parallel events south of Springfield, each of which was seen 20 to 55 minutes—about 30 mi (48 km)—apart at times. While tracking 5–10 mi (8.0–16.1 km) south of its successor, 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 land in the Ozark–Linden area, destroying 35 farms, killing eight people, and injuring 52 others, 19 badly. 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.[20][21][22]
F4 NE of McDowell to Marshfield to Niangua Barry, Lawrence, Stone, Christian, Greene, Webster MO 22:30–? 64 mi (103 km) 800 yd (730 m) Un­known
99+ deaths – See section on this tornado – 200 people were injured.[20][18][17][22]
F2 Conway Laclede MO 23:30–? Un­known Un­known Un­known
2 deaths – A tornado wrecked a house, killing a few children.[17]
F2 Near Skullyville (IT) to N of Charleston (AR) Choctaw Nation (IT), Sebastian (AR), Franklin (AR) IT, AR 23:30–? 35 mi (56 km) Un­known Un­known
4 deaths – Forming over present-day Leflore County, Oklahoma, a strong tornado family wrecked five or more homes and caused one fatality in Oklahoma. Entering Arkansas, it claimed two more lives in a home near Fort Smith, injuring five people nearby. The final death occurred near Charleston. 20 injuries were confirmed.[23]
F3 Near Stiles (IA) to W of Troy (IA) Schuyler (MO), Davis (IA) MO, IA 23:30–? 15 mi (24 km) 150 yd (140 m) Un­known
An intense tornado hit seven farms, destroying many buildings and moving debris 4 mi (6.4 km). Two injuries occurred.[23]
F4 NE of Climax Springs to Barnettsville to N of New Bloomfield Camden, Morgan, Miller, Moniteau, Cole, Callaway MO 23:30–? 65 mi (105 km) 1,760 yd (1,610 m)# Un­known
14 deaths – A tornado leveled numerous farmsteads and caused five deaths in southern Morgan County. The 1-mile-wide (1.6 km) funnel wrecked Barnettsville, shattering buildings and causing eight deaths there. Heavily damaging the Lohman–Russellville area, it did spotty damage afterward. Near New Bloomfield it destroyed a church and 10 homes, causing another death. The tornado left debris on the Missouri Pacific Railroad near Scott, causing a passenger train to derail and resulting in a few injuries. Injuries totaled 90.[20][18][17][22]
F2 Southern Ottawa to S of Oconomowoc Waukesha WI 00:00–? 6 mi (9.7 km) 300 yd (270 m) Un­known
A tornado destroyed a pair of barns and caused minor damage to 12 other structures, including homes. It also unroofed a home near Waterville and killed sheep. One injury was reported.[23]
F2 Between Elston and Centertown to Carrington Cole, Boone, Callaway MO 00:00–? 21 mi (34 km) 100 yd (91 m) Un­known
2 deaths – A tornado destroyed or damaged farmhouses near Fulton. Eight or more injuries occurred in Callaway County, along with deaths.[23][22]
F2 Bloomfield to W of Floris to near Lick Creek Davis IA 02:00–? 8 mi (13 km) 200 yd (180 m) Un­known
A tornado destroyed and unroofed a farmhouse, while partly unroofing an Odd Fellows lodge. It also damaged other structures, treetops, and fences.[23][24]
F2 Near Dardanelle Yell AR 02:00–? Un­known Un­known Un­known
A tornado destroyed a number of homes.[23]
FU Franks Pulaski MO 02:00–? Un­known Un­known Un­known
This tornado belonged to the Marshfield family.[22]
F2 SW of Licking to SW of Salem Texas, Dent MO 02:10–? 25 mi (40 km) 400 yd (370 m) Un­known
1 death – A tornado damaged most of Licking, leaving 300 people homeless. It rendered 64 of the 67 homes in town uninhabitable, of which it wrecked 29, injuring 17 people, five seriously.[2][22]
F2 Southeastern Fayetteville Washington AR 02:20–? 6 mi (9.7 km) 100 yd (91 m) $100,000
2 deaths – A tornado destroyed or badly damaged at least 100 structures in Fayetteville, including homes and a three-story hotel. Trees and fences were downed as well. 25 injuries were reported, many of which were severe. This or a related tornado may have subsequently struck and destroyed Goshen.[2][22]
F4 El Paso Faulkner, White AR 02:30–? 8 mi (13 km) 400 yd (370 m) Un­known
4+ deaths – A violent tornado virtually leveled a third of El Paso, where all known fatalities occurred. Four bodies were reportedly carried 1 mi (1.6 km) and homesites were swept clean, with debris being found 2 mi (3.2 km) away. 15 injuries occurred. According to tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis, some sources listed as many as 10 deaths, of which three or more belonged to multiple "prominent" families each.[18][2]
F2 Western Eureka Springs Carroll AR 03:00–? 10 mi (16 km) Un­known Un­known
1 death – A tornado destroyed 18 homes, inflicting eight injuries. Its path may have crossed into southern Missouri.[2][22]
F2+ Forsyth Taney MO 03:30–? Un­known Un­known Un­known
2 deaths – Based on contextual evidence, a tornado of unknown but likely significant—at least F2—intensity hit town, possibly resulting in multiple injuries, and "cut across" Taney County, Grazulis reported.[25]
F2 Near Chester Eaton MI Un­known Un­known 440 yd (400 m)# Un­known
A strong tornado "clear-cut" timber, killing livestock and leveling barns, Grazulis noted.[17]
F2 Near Lyndon Whiteside IL Un­known 8 mi (13 km) Un­known Un­known
A tornado wrecked outbuildings on half a dozen farmsteads.[17]
FU Cuba Crawford MO Un­known Un­known Un­known Un­known
According to the Monthly Weather Review, a tornado "laid waste" to the town and its environs.[22]
FU Greenville Bond IL Un­known Un­known Un­known Un­known
A tornado destroyed many homes and other structures, reportedly causing several major injuries.[24]

April 19 event

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List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, April 19, 1880
F#[note 4] Location County / Parish State Time (UTC)[note 5] Path length Width[note 6] Damage
F3 S of Gravelly to near Bluffton to S of Rover Yell AR 05:00–? 25 mi (40 km) 200 yd (180 m) Un­known
1 death – This intense tornado destroyed several small homes at near-F4 intensity, lofting debris for miles. Five injuries were reported.[18][2]
F2 N of Fort Smith Crawford AR 05:00–? Un­known Un­known Un­known
A tornado downed trees and barns.[2]
F2 N of Dyersburg Dyer TN 16:00–? 4 mi (6.4 km) 200 yd (180 m) Un­known
1 death – A tornado unroofed and wrecked several homes. A tree fell onto one of them, killing a woman. Five injuries were reported.[2]

April 20 event

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List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, April 20, 1880
F#[note 4] Location County / Parish State Time (UTC)[note 5] Path length Width[note 6] Damage
F2 Near Griffin Spalding GA 12:30–? 2 mi (3.2 km) 50 yd (46 m) Un­known
A tornado splintered trees and unroofed homes.[2]

Springfield–Marshfield, Missouri

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Springfield–Marshfield, Missouri
 
Damage in Marshfield
F4 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Overall effects
Fatalities99+
Injuries200
Main article: Marshfield Cyclone

Belonging to a pair of long-lived F4s, this violent tornado—possibly a family—formed near Camp Bliss Springs, a short distance from McDowell in northeastern Barry County, Missouri. In Stone County this and the previous F4 hit just 3 to 4 mi (4.8 to 6.4 km) apart near Aurora; as it crossed the county the former may have dissipated and redeveloped. Entering Christian County, the Marshfield F4 tracked south of Clever and north of present-day Boaz. Near Nixa in Greene County the tornado damaged many rural buildings and large tracts of timber. It then hit southeastern Springfield, causing seven or more deaths and 16 injuries there. Paralleling the James River, the tornado widened and intensified as it approached Marshfield (population 1,100–2,000 in 1880). After hitting Northview, the 1⁄2-mile-wide (0.80 km) tornado then struck downtown Marshfield, where it leveled most frame-and-brick structures in town, leaving between six and 15 intact. Of the 92 dead in town, 69 perished "within seconds" and the 23 remainders died within a few weeks, according to a study by Grant L. Darkow. Between 150–200 people were badly injured as well. According to the Monthly Weather Review, the tornado also shredded and ripped up 3-foot-diameter (0.91 m) trees, whose bark was stripped off "as if struck by lightning". In Webster and Greene counties alone losses from both F4s exceeded $1 million. Leaving Marshfield, the tornado continued as far as Niangua, 6 mi (9.7 km) beyond, before dissipating.[20][18][23][22]

Other effects

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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.[26]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ All losses are in 1916 United States dollars unless otherwise noted.
  2. ^ 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]
  3. ^ 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.[4] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.[5] 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.[6]
  4. ^ a b c d 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.[8][9] Tornado ratings were retroactively applied to events prior to the formal adoption of the F-scale by the National Weather Service.[10] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,[11] Canada used the old scale until April 1, 2013;[12] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.[13]
  5. ^ a b c All 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.
  6. ^ a b c The listed width values are primarily the average/mean width of the tornadoes, with those having known maximum widths denoted by ♯. From 1952 to 1994, reports largely list mean width whereas contemporary years list maximum width.[14] Values provided by Grazulis are the average width, with estimates being rounded down (i.e. 0.5 mi (0.80 km) is rounded down from 880 yards to 800 yards.[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ Schneider, Russell S.; Brooks, Harold E.; Schaefer, Joseph T. (2004). Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875–2003) (PDF). 22nd Conf. Severe Local Storms. Hyannis, Massachusetts: American Meteorological Society. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Grazulis 1993, p. 609.
  3. ^ Agee and Childs 2014, p. 1496.
  4. ^ Grazulis 2001a, pp. 251–4.
  5. ^ Edwards, Roger (March 5, 2015). "The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)". Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  6. ^ Cook & Schaefer 2008, p. 3135.
  7. ^ Agee and Childs 2014, pp. 1497, 1503.
  8. ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 141.
  9. ^ Grazulis 2001a, p. 131.
  10. ^ Edwards et al. 2013, p. 641–642.
  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.
  12. ^ "Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale)". Environment and Climate Change Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada. June 6, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  13. ^ "The International Tornado Intensity Scale". Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. 2016. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  14. ^ Agee and Childs 2014, p. 1494.
  15. ^ Brooks 2004, p. 310.
  16. ^ Grazulis 1990, p. ix.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h Grazulis 1993, p. 607.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Grazulis 1984, p. A-5.
  19. ^ MWR 1880, pp. 12–13.
  20. ^ a b c d Darkow, Grant L. (Winter 1984). "A Re-Evaluation of the Tornado Outbreak in Missouri of April 18, 1880 – the Marshfield Tornado Day". Winter Valley Historical Quarterly. 8 (6). University of Missouri. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Springfield-Greene County Library.
  21. ^ Grazulis 1993, pp. 607–8.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j MWR 1880, p. 12.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g Grazulis 1993, p. 608.
  24. ^ a b MWR 1880, p. 11.
  25. ^ Grazulis 1993, pp. 538, 609.
  26. ^ MWR 1880, pp. 11–12.

Sources

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