Tornado outbreak of April 27–29, 1912 facts for kids
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | April 27–28, 1912 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 26 |
| Max rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | Approximately 24 hours |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
From April 27 to 29, 1912, a huge group of tornadoes hit the United States. This event mainly affected Oklahoma, but also parts of Texas, Nebraska, and Louisiana. Many strong tornadoes formed, causing damage for about 24 hours. At least 15 towns were hit. Around 47 people died, and more than 175 others were hurt. A tornado expert, Thomas P. Grazulis, said this was one of the worst tornado events in Oklahoma's history.
Contents
How the Storms Started
Weather experts in 1912 did not have as much information as they do today. They mostly used human observations. They also recorded temperature, air pressure, wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall.
A cold front moved south through Oklahoma on April 26. It then stopped over Central Texas. Early on April 27, this cold front started moving north again. It pushed against a warm front that was moving from the east. This happened because of a strong weather system approaching from the west. The warm air moving against the cold front, near a low-pressure area in western Oklahoma, created the perfect conditions. This mix of air helped fuel the powerful storms that caused the tornadoes.
Tornadoes Confirmed During the Outbreak
This tornado outbreak included at least 26 confirmed tornadoes. Many of these were very strong. Tornadoes are rated using the Fujita scale. This scale goes from F0 (weakest) to F5 (strongest). Most tornadoes in this outbreak were F2, F3, or F4. An F4 tornado is very powerful. It can destroy well-built homes and throw cars.
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 0 | ≥ 26 |
Tornadoes on April 27
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F4 | SE of Kirkland, TX to N of Eldorado, OK | Childress, Hardeman, Jackson | TX, OK | 16:30–? | 40 miles (64 km) | 800 yards (730 m) | 5 deaths – This very long tornado killed five people. It also hurt 23 others. It caused $77,000 in damage. Four of the deaths were from one family. The tornado hit 43 farms. It destroyed or damaged 30 homes. Some homes were completely swept away. |
| F2 | Warren | Jackson | OK | 18:15–? | Unknown | Unknown | A tornado hit Warren around noon. More details are not available. |
| F4 | SE of Granite to Lugert to NW of Hobart | Greer, Kiowa | OK | 18:30–? | 20 miles (32 km) | 800 yards (730 m) | 7+ deaths – This tornado destroyed almost all buildings in Lugert. A mother and her daughter died there. Papers from Lugert were found 75 miles away. The tornado also caused at least three deaths near Hobart. It killed at least 100 cattle. 25 people were injured. The damage cost $300,000. |
| F3 | Rocky | Washita | OK | 19:15–? | 20 miles (32 km) | 800 yards (730 m) | This tornado destroyed about 50 homes. It also destroyed a school and 10 barns in and near Rocky. The tornado started southwest of town and ended northeast of town. Two people were injured. |
| F2 | Corn | Washita | OK | 19:50–? | 10 miles (16 km) | Unknown | 4 deaths – A tornado hit Corn, which was called Korn back then. It also hit the nearby "Korn Valley." Four people died there. No other information is available. |
| F4 | W of Colony to S of Geary | Washita, Caddo, Blaine | OK | 20:00–? | 27 miles (43 km) | 800 yards (730 m) | 2 deaths – This large and powerful tornado destroyed farms across Caddo County. It caused $5,000 in damage. 15 people were injured. |
| F3 | W of Altus to W of Blair | Jackson | OK | 20:30–? | 11 miles (18 km) | 250 yards (230 m) | This tornado destroyed about 12 farms near Martha. One person was injured. The damage cost $19,000. |
| F3 | SW of Hinton to Calumet to NW of El Reno | Caddo, Canadian | OK | 21:00–? | 23 miles (37 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | 3+ deaths – A strong tornado hit Hinton and Calumet. It destroyed 26 buildings in Calumet, where three people died. Four more people might have died in Hinton. A sign from Hinton was found north of Calumet. The damage cost $125,000. Four injuries were reported. |
| F4 | S of Bartley to Cambridge | Red Willow, Furnas | NE | 22:00–? | 10 miles (16 km) | Unknown | This powerful tornado destroyed at least five barns. It also destroyed three farmhouses. One entire farm was swept clean. Four people survived the tornado in an orchard, but they were injured. |
| F4 | E of Erick to E of Sayre to Elk City | Beckham | OK | 22:45–? | 23 miles (37 km) | 150 yards (140 m) | 2 deaths – This tornado destroyed 35 buildings. It killed 15 farm animals and injured 15 people. It destroyed 11 homes near Sayre and caused deaths there. People saw five funnel clouds along the storm's path. Debris from homes was spread for miles. |
| F4 | W of Foss to Butler | Washita, Custer | OK | 00:30–? | 20 miles (32 km) | 150 yards (140 m) | 6 deaths – This tornado destroyed the town of Foss. It also destroyed 32 homes on the east side of Butler. Debris from Butler was found in Putnam, 15 miles northeast. The damage cost $50,000. 20 people were injured. |
| F3 | SW of Speer to S of Dela | Choctaw | OK | 00:30–? | 7 miles (11 km) | 167 yards (153 m) | 1 death – Details are not fully known. Three people were injured. |
| F2 | Granite | Greer | OK | 02:20–? | 8 miles (13 km) | Unknown | Details are not fully known. |
| F3 | NW of Stratford to SE of Butler | Custer | OK | 02:30–? | 5 miles (8.0 km) | Unknown | 1 death – This tornado damaged or destroyed eight farmhouses. The damage cost $50,000. |
| F4 | NW of Hobart to Sentinel to NW of Cordell | Kiowa, Washita | OK | 02:45–? | 20 miles (32 km) | 600 yards (550 m) | 4 deaths – This powerful tornado damaged or destroyed about 60 homes in Sentinel. Most of these were in the western part of town. No one was injured in Sentinel because the whole town saw the tornado coming 15 minutes before it hit. Two people died on a farm southwest of Sentinel. The tornado then went to the northwest edge of Cordell. It destroyed six more homes and killed two people before it disappeared. The damage reached $75,000. 15 people were injured along its path. |
| F3 | S of Granite to N of Lone Wolf | Greer, Kiowa | OK | 02:45–? | 12 miles (19 km) | Unknown | 1 death – This tornado destroyed buildings and farmhouses on at least 14 farms. Five people were injured. |
Tornadoes on April 28
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F2 | Crescent to Mulhall | Logan | OK | 05:45–? | 5 miles (8.0 km) | Unknown | 2 deaths – This tornado destroyed at least two homes. Two people died when they were crushed in a storm shelter. |
| F2 | W of Butler | Custer | OK | 05:45–? | Unknown | Unknown | This tornado destroyed several barns. |
| F2 | E of Cashion to Cedar Valley | Logan | OK | 05:55–? | 5 miles (8.0 km) | Unknown | This tornado destroyed a home and a barn southwest of Guthrie. |
| F0 | SE of Hobart | Kiowa | OK | 07:30–? | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Unknown | A tornado was reported here. |
| F2 | SW of Sallisaw | Sequoyah | OK | 08:30–? | 10 miles (16 km) | Unknown | This tornado destroyed six homes. |
| F2 | N of Marble to E of Bunch | Sequoyah, Adair | OK | 08:30–? | 12 miles (19 km) | Unknown | 2 deaths – Details are not fully known. Four people were injured. |
| F2 | N of Bono to S of Joshua | Johnson | TX | 17:00–? | 5 miles (8.0 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | This tornado destroyed barns and small homes. |
| F4 | SSW of Henderson to S of Church Hill to Tatum | Rusk, Panola | TX | 19:30–? | 30 miles (48 km) | 200 yards (180 m) | 4 deaths – This long tornado destroyed 30 or more homes in six towns. It destroyed a brick home, killing a man inside. Two people were thrown 500 yards. Strong winds also caused damage in Tatum. 14 people were injured along the path. |
| F1 | Fouke | Cass | TX | 01:00–? | Unknown | Unknown | 2 deaths – This tornado happened 12 miles south of Texarkana. It killed two women under a fallen tree. 10 other people were injured. |
Tornadoes on April 29
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F2 | S of Liddieville to N of Winnsboro | Franklin | LA | Unknown | 10 miles (16 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | 3 deaths – This tornado destroyed many trees. It also destroyed several homes. 15 people were injured. |
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