Tornado outbreak of November 11, 1911

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Tornado outbreak of November 11, 1911
Black-and-white map of the United States with red textual labels indicating locations of tornadoes, with ratings on the Fujita scale listed
Map of confirmed tornadoes on November 11, 1911
TypeTornado outbreak
Tornadoes
confirmed		≥ 13 confirmed
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Fatalities16 fatalities, ≥ 101 injuries
Damage> $1.755 million (1911 USD)[nb 1]
> $48.8 million (2022 USD)
Areas affectedMidwestern 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[]

Main article: Great Blue Norther of November 11, 1911

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[]

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
4+ ? ? 6 2 1 0 13+*
Confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, November 11, 1911[nb 4][nb 5]
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[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ All losses are in 1911 USD unless otherwise noted.
  2. ^ 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]
  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.[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]
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[15]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Grazulis 1990, p. 125.
  2. ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 141.
  3. ^ Grazulis 2001, p. 131.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ Grazulis 2001, pp. 251–4.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Cook & Schaefer 2008, p. 3135
  10. ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 731.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ a b c Timothy Taugher (11 November 2017). Wisconsin Tornadoes of 11 November 1911 (Report). Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  15. ^ Brooks 2004, p. 310
  16. ^ a b c d e Grazulis 1990, p. 124.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Mike McCormick (December 25, 2011). "Historical Perspective: November 1911 tornado causes havoc in city, county". Tribune Star. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  19. ^ a b Wendland & Hoffman 1993, p. 7.

Sources[]

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