Quick facts for kids
Tornado outbreak of April 20–22, 1912
| Type |
Tornado outbreak |
| Duration |
April 20–22, 1912 |
| Tornadoes confirmed |
≥ 32 |
| Max rating1 |
F4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 |
~2 days |
| Total fatalities |
≥ 56 fatalities, ≥ 410 injuries |
| Areas affected |
Midwestern and Southern United States |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado |
On April 20–22, 1912, a large tornado outbreak affected portions of the High Plains, the Upper Midwest, and the Southern United States, including portions of what is now known as the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The severe-weather event produced at least 32 tornadoes, at least nine—and possibly 10 or more—of which were violent tornadoes, all of which rated F4 on the Fujita scale. Powerful tornado activity was distributed from the Great Plains to South Carolina. The first day of the outbreak occurred on April 20 and produced numerous strong to violent tornadoes across parts of North Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. A second day of intense tornadoes occurred on April 21, with several strong to violent tornadoes across Illinois and Indiana. The final day, April 22, produced an F4 tornado in Georgia as well. The entire outbreak killed 56 people, and was followed days later by another intense tornado outbreak on April 27. That outbreak killed about 40 people, mostly in Oklahoma. Both outbreaks produced a combined total of nine F4 tornadoes in Oklahoma alone.
Confirmed tornadoes
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
| FU |
F0 |
F1 |
F2 |
F3 |
F4 |
F5 |
Total |
| 1 |
? |
1 |
12 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
≥ 32 |
April 20 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, April 20, 1912
| F# |
Location |
County / Parish |
State |
Time (UTC) |
Path length |
Max. width |
Summary |
| F3 |
Alvord to S of Rosston |
Wise, Cooke |
TX |
21:00–? |
22 miles (35 km) |
150 yards (140 m) |
First of four strong tornadoes to hit North Texas on April 20 destroyed or damaged 22 structures in Alvord, including a church and nine homes. Tornado then destroyed farms near Audubon and "Dan", scattering debris for miles around. 12 more barns and homes were destroyed near Rosston. 10 people were injured along the path. |
| F4 |
SE of Rush Center to Bison |
Rush |
KS |
21:00–? |
15 miles (24 km) |
400 yards (370 m) |
2 deaths – Intense tornado leveled entire farms near Rush Center, 12 of which were almost swept away. Debris was reported 8 mi (13 km) from the destroyed farms. Tornado also destroyed or damaged approximately 50 homes in Bison, or about half of the town, with losses estimated at $70,000. 15 people were injured along the path. |
| F4 |
W of Yukon to E of Edmond |
Canadian, Oklahoma |
OK |
21:45–? |
20 miles (32 km) |
200 yards (180 m) |
1 death – Tornado leveled a schoolhouse, along with at least a few farmhouses. Students departed from the school only 15 minutes before the tornado arrived. Tornado resembled a large elephant's trunk as it passed just 15 mi (24 km) northwest of Oklahoma City. One person was injured. |
| F3 |
E of Nashville to NE of Willowdale |
Kingman |
KS |
21:45–? |
15 miles (24 km) |
100 yards (91 m) |
Tornado injured four people, two each near both ends of its path. |
| F3 |
NW of Waldron |
Harper |
KS |
22:00–? |
7 miles (11 km) |
200 yards (180 m) |
1 death – Powerful, highly visible tornado leveled six farms and injured eight people. Tornado may have attained F4 intensity between Waldron and Corwin. |
| F3 |
NW of Arcadia to N of Fallis |
Oklahoma, Logan, Lincoln |
OK |
22:20–? |
15 miles (24 km) |
300 yards (270 m) |
Tornado destroyed at least six farmhouses. |
| F4 |
SW of Hennessey |
Kingfisher |
OK |
22:30–? |
12 miles (19 km) |
800 yards (730 m) |
2 deaths – Very intense tornado swept away farms and destroyed 15 homes, some of which it leveled, in and near Hennessey. Losses at Hennessey totaled approximately $100,000. Six injuries occurred along the path. Tornado may have reached F5 intensity. |
| F2 |
Northwestern Liberty Township to Eureka Township |
Harper, Kingman |
KS |
23:00–? |
25 miles (40 km) |
Unknown |
Tornado only destroyed a barn. The path extended past Nashville and Penalosa. |
| F4 |
SE of Perry to SW of Ralston |
Noble, Pawnee |
OK |
23:30–? |
30 miles (48 km) |
800 yards (730 m) |
3 deaths – Destructive tornado affected 25 farms and swept away 12 homes. 12 injuries were reported. |
| F3 |
NW of Orlando to Perry |
Noble |
OK |
23:30–? |
10 miles (16 km) |
Unknown |
Tornado injured 14 people and damaged or destroyed about 50 structures. One hotel in Perry lost its second story. Tornado ended as a downburst in Perry. |
| F3 |
S of Princeton to NE of Farmersville |
Collin |
TX |
23:30–? |
9 miles (14 km) |
300 yards (270 m) |
2 deaths – Tornado destroyed or damaged 26 homes. Two children died, one each in different farmhouses. Tornado briefly lifted over Farmersville, but touched down again northeast of town. Seven injuries were reported. |
| F4 |
S of Boonsville to Boyd |
Wise |
TX |
00:00–? |
15 miles (24 km) |
300 yards (270 m) |
4 deaths – Tornado destroyed least 10 farms, many barns, and an iron bridge, scattering debris for miles. Only fragments remained of a home near Agnes. 10 people were injured. |
| F4 |
W of Roanoke to Flower Mound to S of Lewisville |
Denton |
TX |
03:00–? |
18 miles (29 km) |
800 yards (730 m) |
1 death – Massive, intense tornado swept away at least five farms. Hundreds of livestock were maimed or killed as well. 10 people were injured and losses totaled $60,000. |
| F1 |
Taylor |
Williamson |
TX |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
1 death – Tornado destroyed frail structures, killing a man and injuring his wife. |
April 21 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, April 21, 1912
| F# |
Location |
County / Parish |
State |
Time (UTC) |
Path length |
Max. width |
Summary |
| F3 |
NE of Streator to N of Coal City |
La Salle, Grundy |
IL |
22:00–? |
20 miles (32 km) |
200 yards (180 m) |
Tornado swept away two farmsteads near Kinsman and Verona. Most of the 37 injuries occurred in barns and losses totaled $100,000. Damage may have reached F4 intensity. |
| F2 |
Rowell to E of Clinton |
DeWitt |
IL |
22:30–? |
11 miles (18 km) |
70 yards (64 m) |
Tornado unroofed, destroyed, or otherwise damaged barns. 15 farms were impacted and one person was injured. Tornado passed within 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km) of a similar event on May 18, 1883. |
| F3 |
SW of Dwight to W of Kankakee |
Livingston, Kankakee |
IL |
22:35–? |
26 miles (42 km) |
200 yards (180 m) |
5 deaths – Farmhouses and other structures were destroyed near Reddick. 16 injuries occurred along the path. |
| F2 |
Southern Chatsworth |
Livingston |
IL |
23:35–? |
6 miles (9.7 km) |
50 yards (46 m) |
Short-lived tornado unroofed homes. 10 people were injured and losses totaled $40,000. |
| F2 |
Saint George, IL to W of Lowell, IN |
Kankakee (IL), Lake (IN) |
IL, IN |
00:00–? |
13 miles (21 km) |
100 yards (91 m) |
Tornado unroofed homes and destroyed a building in a brickyard at Grant Park, Illinois. Barns were leveled on six farms in Indiana. 20 people were injured and losses in Illinois totaled $100,000. |
| F4 |
N of Crescent City, IL to NE of Morocco, IN |
Iroquois (IL), Newton (IN) |
IL, IN |
00:00–? |
25 miles (40 km) |
200 yards (180 m) |
9 deaths – Tornado swept away farms near Pittwood and Donovan. The family of Sam Rice and their hired hand died on one of the farms. A wood stove was found 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km) away. 22 people were injured. |
| F4 |
N of Murphysboro to Bush to Pershing |
Jackson, Williamson, Franklin |
IL |
00:05–? |
20 miles (32 km) |
400 yards (370 m) |
11 deaths – Tornado roughly paralleled the 1925 Tri-State tornado. Tornado leveled farms near Murphysboro and Herrin and destroyed frail homes in Bush. 83 people were injured and losses totaled over $125,000. Tornado divided into several parts as it moved along—a possible reference to multiple vortices. |
| F2 |
S of Wellington |
Iroquois |
IL |
01:00–? |
10 miles (16 km) |
70 yards (64 m) |
Tornado unroofed homes. Five people were injured. |
| F3 |
NNW of Rensselaer |
Jasper |
IN |
01:00–? |
7 miles (11 km) |
Unknown |
1 death – Tornado destroyed a church, barns, and homes in Union Township. Four injuries occurred and losses totaled $25,000. |
| F2 |
Southeastern Willisville |
Randolph, Perry |
IL |
01:10–? |
8 miles (13 km) |
70 yards (64 m) |
3 deaths – Tornado destroyed or damaged 16 homes. 23 injuries were reported. |
| F2 |
S of Dale |
Hamilton |
IL |
02:30–? |
7 miles (11 km) |
200 yards (180 m) |
1 death – Homes shifted on their foundations or were unroofed. Eight injuries occurred. |
| FU |
N of Murphysboro |
Jackson |
IL |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Tornado-generating storm hit 6 mi (9.7 km) north of Murphysboro. No details are available. |
April 22 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, April 22, 1912
| F# |
Location |
County / Parish |
State |
Time (UTC) |
Path length |
Max. width |
Summary |
| F2 |
Sargent to NW of Madras |
Coweta |
GA |
10:00–? |
6 miles (9.7 km) |
Unknown |
1 death – Tornado destroyed three tenant homes near Newnan. Two people were injured. |
| F2 |
N of Hampton to McDonough |
Henry |
GA |
12:00–? |
7 miles (11 km) |
200 yards (180 m) |
Tornado unroofed large homes, destroyed small ones, and killed livestock near Locust Grove. Three injuries occurred. |
| F4 |
E of Stewart to Pitts Chapel |
Jasper, Newton, Morgan |
GA |
12:30–? |
20 miles (32 km) |
800 yards (730 m) |
6 deaths – Large, intense tornado swept away 12 homes, scattering debris for miles around. 20 people were injured. |
| F2 |
Southern Aiken |
Aiken |
SC |
16:15–? |
Unknown |
300 yards (270 m) |
Tornado unroofed many homes and other structures. |
| F2 |
Adamsville to Pinkney City to Brookside |
Jefferson |
AL |
Unknown |
10 miles (16 km) |
Unknown |
1 death – Tornado damaged or destroyed more than 100 homes. A live infant was found 1 mi (1.6 km) away. 50 people were injured. |
| F2 |
Waldron |
Harper |
KS |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
1 death – Tornado destroyed homes. Eight people were injured. |
