April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak facts for kids

In late April 2011, there was a major tornado outbreak, the worst in U.S history. 3 EF5 tornadoes dropped down along with 13 EF4 tornadoes and 23 EF3 tornadoes. That was a major tornado outbreak.

Meteorogical synopsis

April 25

On the evening of April 25, dangerous supercells started forming across Arkansas, Northeast Texas, and Southeast Oklahoma. The supercells then merged into a massive squall line of severe thunderstorms. The severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes. Then, heavy rain formed northwest of the line of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. An EF2 tornado struck Vilonia, Arkansas, and an EF3 tornado struck Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Later, the severe thunderstorms and tornadoes moved into Tennessee and Mississippi.

April 26

On April 26, the severe thunderstorms and tornadoes moved back into Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. On the evening of April 26, dangerous supercells formed over Texas. Those supercells produced dangerous tornadoes, like EF2 or EF3. Then, those supecells moved into Oklahoma and Arkansas. The squall line of severe thunderstorms moved back into Tennessee and Mississippi.

April 27

On April 27, the supercells moved into Tennessee and Mississippi, and the squall line of severe thunderstorms moved into Alabama. Then, the supercells moved into Alabama, and produced 3 EF5 tornadoes, 13 EF4 tornadoes, and 23 EF3 tornadoes. The squall line of severe thunderstorms moved into Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

April 28

On April 28, the supercells merged into a very large squall line, and moved into Kentucky and the Carolinas. The old squall line of severe thunderstrms moved into Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. Then later, the new squall line moved into Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. The storm produced some tornadoes.

Images for kids

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  Map of all tornado (red), severe thunderstorm (yellow), and flood (green) warnings issued on April 27.

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  Remains of a mobile home that was destroyed by the Vilonia tornado.

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  A car that was thrown against a stand of trees by the Philadelphia tornado.

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  Damage to the First Methodist Church in downtown Cullman, Alabama.

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  Major structural damage to businesses in downtown Cullman.

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  EF5 damage in Phil Campbell, with multiple homes swept away and grass scoured from hillsides.

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  Large area of pavement scoured from a road in Phil Campbell.

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  Aerial view of the damage path through Cordova from the west (looking east).

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  Major damage in a residential area of Cordova.

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  Extreme damage at a residence along Highway 25 near Smithville, with part of the foundation slab pulled up and dislodged slightly.

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  Aerial view of damage in Trenton.

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  Satellite image of the tornado's track through Tuscaloosa.

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  The demolished Chastain Manor apartment complex in Tuscaloosa.

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  Concrete steps that were ripped from the foundation of a house, with a small concrete porch slab pulled up in the background.

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  The destroyed Eoline Volunteer Fire Department building.

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  Photo of the EF4 Enterprise tornado as it was in southeast Mississippi.

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  School bus stripped down to its chassis in Rainsville.

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  The Shoal Creek Valley/Ohatchee EF4 tornado.

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  EF4 damage in a subdivision at the north edge of Ringgold, Georgia. Seven fatalities occurred at this location.

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  This brick home in Apison, Tennessee, received EF4 damage.

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  Rainfall totals within the United States for the week ending during the morning of April 29, 2011, which shows the extent of the heavy rain event this cyclone contributed towards.

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  Transmission tower bent near Huntsville, Alabama.