Tornado outbreak of November 11, 1911
Type | Tornado outbreak |
---|---|
Tornadoes confirmed | ≥ 13 confirmed |
Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
Fatalities | 16 fatalities, ≥ 101 injuries |
Damage | > $1.755 million (1911 USD)[nb 1] > $48.8 million (2022 USD) |
Areas affected | Midwestern United States |
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale |
On Saturday, November 11, 1911, a regionally and seasonally significant tornado outbreak affected the Great Lakes region of the United States.[1][nb 2][nb 3] The outbreak generated at least 13 tornadoes, including a violent, long-tracked F4 that impacted Wisconsin, killing at least nine people and injuring 50 more. Other intense tornadoes occurred in Illinois and Indiana, resulting in two additional fatalities. Several other tornadoes were reported from multiple states. In all, the outbreak killed 16 people and injured at least 101. Total losses exceeded $1.755 million (1911 USD). Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis considered the outbreak to be the worst in the month of November on record at the time in the Great Lakes region.[10]
Background[]
A cold snap, known as the Great Blue Norther or 11/11/11, affected the Central United States. Many cities broke record highs, going into the 70s and 80s early that afternoon. By nightfall, cities were dealing with temperatures in the teens and single-digits on the Fahrenheit scale. This is the only day in many Midwest cities' weather bureau jurisdictions where the record highs and lows were broken for the same day. Some cities experienced tornadoes on Saturday and a blizzard on Sunday.[11] The passage of a cold front, marked by strong winds, produced severe weather, including tornadoes, across the upper Mississippi River Valley, a blizzard in Ohio, and a dust storm in Oklahoma.[12][13]
Confirmed tornadoes[]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4+ | ? | ? | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13+* |
- A possible tornado caused extensive damage in Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana, with losses reaching $500,000. Another possible tornado killed horses and cattle near Kingsland in Eaton County, Michigan.[1] At least three other tornadoes may have affected Green, Dane, and Walworth counties, respectively, in the state of Wisconsin.[14]
F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F2 | W of Davenport | Scott | IA | 18:55–? | 9 miles (14 km) | 20 yards (18 m) | The first known tornado of the outbreak touched down 1 mi (1.6 km) west of Davenport and tracked northeast. Along its path, five farms sustained damage and a barn was destroyed. One person was injured by the tornado.[16] |
F4 | Avon to Lima | Rock | WI | 20:00–? | 35 miles (56 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | 12 deaths – The most powerful tornado of the outbreak caused extensive damage to Rock County, Wisconsin. Beginning at 2:00 p.m. CST, the tornado tracked north-northeastward past Orfordville, passed through Hanover, skirted the northwest edge of Janesville, struck Milton, and dissipated in Lima. Nearly $1 million in damage was reported. The worst damage occurred near Milton. Several farms were also leveled near Milton. Overall losses from the tornado reached $1,000,000. Blizzard conditions ensued within an hour of the tornado's passage. Estimates of the death toll vary, with one publication listing nine deaths. 50 people were injured along the path.[1][17][14] |
F2 | Arenzville to Virginia | Cass | IL | 22:00–? | 18 miles (29 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | Tornado touched down near Arenzville and tracked northeast into the town of Virginia. There, about 100 structures were damaged or destroyed. The worst damage occurred on the west side of town where 30 homes and businesses, including a church and high school, were destroyed. Overall, 12 people were injured by the tornado and losses reached $150,000.[16] |
F3 | S of Easton | Mason | IL | 22:45–? | 11 miles (18 km) | Unknown | 2 deaths – A strong tornado touched down south of Easton and destroyed several homes. Two people were killed in separate incidents near the town. Nine other people were injured by the tornado and losses reached $20,000.[16] |
F2 | E of Aurora | DuPage | IL | 23:30–? | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Unknown | A tornado touched down east of Aurora and damaged several buildings. One home lost its roof and another was struck by debris from a barn. The tornado was last noted moving into the "big woods" northeast of Aurora. Losses from the storm reached $10,000.[16] |
F3 | Leroy to S of Michigan City | Lake, Porter | IN | 01:00–? | 30 miles (48 km) | 150 yards (140 m) | A strong, long-lived tornado first touched down near Leroy and tracked northeast to Michigan City. The most significant damage took place near where a school was destroyed. Debris from the building was tossed up to 2 mi (3.2 km) away. Another school in Jackson Township was also destroyed. Along the tornado's path, buildings were destroyed on 15 farms. One person was picked up and tossed to his neighbor's house by the storm. According to Thomas P. Grazulis, this tornado was likely a tornado family and not a single, continuous event. Five injuries occurred along the path.[16] |
FU | Terre Haute | Vigo | IN | 02:10–? | ≥0.5 miles (0.80 km) | Unknown | Apparent tornado struck Terre Haute and injured three people. Touching down in the heart of the town, the tornado soon struck a grocery store, blowing out lights and windows. Several barns along the tornado's path were completely destroyed or flattened. One home in the city was flattened and swept clean off its foundation, leaving just an underground cellar behind. The second floor of the John Rankin School was destroyed. The caboose of a train in the town was thrown off the tracks, injuring the occupants.[18] |
F2 | Waterloo | DeKalb | IN | 03:00–? | 5 miles (8.0 km) | 70 yards (64 m) | A significant tornado struck the town of Waterloo, damaging or destroying at least 100 structures. An opera house in Waterloo collapsed due to the tornado. Just outside town, several farms were also severely damaged. Losses from the storm reached $75,000.[1] |
F2 | SE of Battle Creek | Calhoun | MI | 03:00–? | Unknown | Unknown | Tornado touched down well to the southeast of Battle Creek. Several barns were leveled and homes were damaged.[1] |
F2 | Laingsburg to Owosso | Shiawassee | MI | 04:05–? | 12 miles (19 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | 2 deaths – Extensive damage took place in Laingsburg. Five factories and twenty homes were destroyed. Two people were killed when the upper floor of their home collapsed on them. 21 people were injured throughout the town. Just outside Laingsburg, 15 barns were destroyed by the tornado. Overall losses from the storm reached $500,000.[1] |
FU | Unknown | Kankakee | IL | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | A study in 1993 chronicling all tornadoes in Illinois prior to 1916 revealed that a tornado touched down in Kankakee County.[19] |
FU | Unknown | Cumberland | IL | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | A study in 1993 chronicling all tornadoes in Illinois prior to 1916 revealed that a tornado touched down in Cumberland County.[19] |
FU | Genesee to Lisbon | Waukesha | WI | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Homes, barns, chicken coops, sheds, and various outbuildings were unroofed or blown off their foundations.[14] |
See also[]
- List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- Tornado outbreak of November 17, 2013 – Deadliest and costliest November outbreak on record in Illinois and the largest for that month on record in Indiana
Notes[]
- ^ All losses are in 1911 USD unless otherwise noted.
- ^ 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 utilized 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]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[15]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f Grazulis 1990, p. 125.
- ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 141.
- ^ Grazulis 2001, p. 131.
- ^ Edwards, Roger (5 March 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ "Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale)". Environment and Climate Change Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ "The International Tornado Intensity Scale". Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ Grazulis 2001, pp. 251–4.
- ^ Edwards, Roger (5 March 2015). "The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)". Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ Cook & Schaefer 2008, p. 3135
- ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 731.
- ^ "Waterloo Swept By Cyclone; Cutting Swath Through the Business Section of Town". Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. November 12, 1911. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- ^ Albert, Drew (October 2003). "The Great "Blue Norther" of November 11, 1911". Ozarks Weather Observer. Springfield, Missouri: National Weather Service. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- ^ Branick, Mike (Winter 2003–2004). "The Record Events of November 11, 1911" (PDF). The Southern Plains Cyclone. Norman, Oklahoma: National Weather Service. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ a b c Timothy Taugher (11 November 2017). Wisconsin Tornadoes of 11 November 1911 (Report). Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ Brooks 2004, p. 310
- ^ a b c d e Grazulis 1990, p. 124.
- ^ DuPré, Mike (11 November 2011). "A century ago, deadly tornado devastated Rock County". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin: Madison.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ Mike McCormick (December 25, 2011). "Historical Perspective: November 1911 tornado causes havoc in city, county". Tribune Star. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
- ^ a b Wendland & Hoffman 1993, p. 7.
Sources[]
- Brooks, Harold E. (April 2004). "On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity". Weather and Forecasting. Boston: American Meteorological Society. 19 (2): 310. Bibcode:2004WtFor..19..310B. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- Cook, A. R.; Schaefer, J. T. (August 2008). Written at Norman, Oklahoma. "The Relation of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to Winter Tornado Outbreaks". Monthly Weather Review. Boston: American Meteorological Society. 136 (8): 3135. Bibcode:2008MWRv..136.3121C. doi:10.1175/2007MWR2171.1. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- Grazulis, Thomas P. (November 1990). Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989. Vol. 2. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-02-3.
- Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
- Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001a). The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-3538-0.
- Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001b). F5-F6 Tornadoes. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films.
- Wayne M. Wendland and Herbert Hoffman (1993). "Illinois Tornadoes Prior to 1916" (PDF). Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science. 86 (1). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
- F4 tornadoes by date
- F4 tornadoes by location
- Tornadoes in Illinois
- Tornadoes in Indiana
- Tornadoes in Iowa
- Tornadoes in Michigan
- Tornadoes in Wisconsin