There were more than 300 tornadoes in April, including at least 27 EFUs, 84 EF-0s, 161 EF-1s, 35 EF-2s, nine EF-3s and one EF-4. At least 11 tornado-related fatalities were recorded, with fatalities spread across several of the outbreaks.
NOAA/NCEI said “During April, there were 384 preliminary tornado reports. This was more than double the 1991-2020 average of 182.4 tornadoes for the month of April, the second highest April count on record, and the most tornadoes reported since April 2011. This is also more than double the 3-year tornado average during the month of April for the years 2021-2023. The preliminary tornado count for the January-April year-to-date period was 547, which is similar to the total from the last couple of years and above the 1991-2020 average of 337.9 tornadoes. It was also the third highest count for this period on record.”
Two of April’s tornado outbreaks produced billion-dollar disasters: April 1-3 at $1.8 billion and April 8-11 at $1.5 billion. The worst tornado outbreak of the year, with more than 100 tornadoes, occurred between April 25 and April 28 in the Midwest and Great Plains. Almost fifty tornado warnings were issued by the National Weather Service in Omaha, on April 26 — the most tornado warnings ever issued by the office in one single day. The late April outbreak has not had a final cost assessment or a billion-dollar disaster classification determination.
States affected include Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and Texas. Alaska experienced its fifth-ever tornado on April 19; the first since 2005.
April 30
One person was killed in a mobile home and three people were injured after an EF-3 tornado hit the town of Westmoreland in northeast Kansas on April 30. On the ground for just 8 minutes, the twister with winds of 140 mph traveled through the city with a population of about 700 residents and significantly damaged homes along its 2.58-mile path.
According to Becky Ryan, spokesperson for Pottawatomie County, 22 homes and five outbuildings were destroyed, and 13 other homes and one business were damaged. Additionally, the twister struck an RV park, damaging at least six trailers.
April 26–27
Multiple storm systems moved through the Midwest and Central Plains between April 26 and 28, spawning at least 16 EF-2, eight EF-3 and one EF-4 tornadoes. These twisters resulted in at least five fatalities, four of which occurred in Oklahoma, where President Biden approved a major disaster declaration on May 1. This was the first federal disaster declaration since FEMA implemented its new Individual Assistance guidelines. Other declarations were issued later for earlier storms.
Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma issued a state of emergency for 12 counties after the state department reported around 300 injuries, and some of the hardest-hit towns, Holdenville, Marietta and Sulphur, showed flattened homes and overturned vehicles.
Multiple businesses were damaged or destroyed, including a Dollar Tree distribution center and a Dollar General, which are major sources of household supplies, including groceries. The loss of the distribution center, which serves many smaller towns, could be significant.
The NWS found that an EF-3 in Sulphur reached 160 to 165 mph wind speeds and destroyed nearly every business on West Muskogee Avenue.
The first EF-4 of 2024 occurred in Love, Carter and Johnston Counties of Oklahoma on April 27. The amount of damage and impact in Marietta, specifically the destruction of the Dollar Tree distribution center, led the NWS to upgrade the level to an EF-4. This is also the state’s first EF-4 tornado since 2016.
According to Native News Online, tornadoes also touched down on the Mvskoke Creek Nation (MCN) Reservation, close to the Morris and Holdenville areas. No tribal facilities were damaged, but MCN Principal Chief, David Hill, signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency due to the storms. The declaration will engage emergency response plans and ensure coordination with federal partners for relief and recovery efforts.
In Nebraska, two supercells produced five tornadoes across the southern region. An EF-3 tornado hit Howard County, gaining significant strength when it entered the town of Elba, damaging homes, outbuildings and farmsteads. An airfield with four hangar buildings, which housed 32 private planes, was destroyed. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen announced at least 450 homes were “totally destroyed” in Omaha following the twisters. FEMA declared a major disaster declaration for Nebraska’s tornadoes [DR-4778] for two counties with both eligible for IA and PA categories A and B.
According to preliminary reports from the NWS, at least 24 tornadoes struck west and central Iowa. Six EF-2 and four EF-3 twisters were recorded in the state, leading Governor Kim Reynolds to declare a disaster emergency for Pottawattamie County, which saw 40 to 50 homes completely destroyed and four reports of injuries.
Two EF-3 tornadoes crossed over from Omaha, Nebraska, into Iowa. One of them reached peak wind speeds of 165 mph, traveled for over 31 miles and, at its widest, was nearly one mile. The second traveled nearly 41 miles, ran through the town of Minden, and killed one person and injured three. The rapidly intensifying twister destroyed trees and outbuildings, barns and homes. In a town of 600 people, the tornado damaged 120 homes.
April 16, 2024
On April 16, severe storms moved into the Midwest and spawned twisters in Iowa and Kansas, hurting several people. This included an EF-2 tornado that made landfall in Greenwood County. At least 15 tornadoes touched down across Iowa on April 16, including a 900-feet wide long-track EF-2 tornado that ran for more than 42 miles, with peak wind speeds of 130 mph. It is the longest tornado path in the area since almost exactly a decade ago, April 27, 2014.
April 10, 2024
NWS New Orleans determined at least 12 tornadoes hit Louisiana and Mississippi as part of the same storm system, which left at least one dead due to a fallen tree and power line. This is the only storm-related accidental death confirmed as of April 22.
A high-end EF-1 twister, known as the Labarre-Spillman, ran for over 32 miles from Louisiana until it dissipated in Mississippi. While it moved over mostly rural land, it left widespread tree damage and downed wooden electrical transmission poles. Fallen trees on roads and highways impeded ground surveys on parts of the track. It is likely to be upgraded to an EF-2 after survey teams assess damages.
Initially an EF-1, a 120 mph twister near Slidell left bent metal beams and roofs blown off. It was later upgraded to an EF-2 after survey teams assessed for damages to businesses, apartment buildings, trees and homes. Multiple injuries were reported but the total number is currently unknown.
A short-lived 115 mph EF-2 tornado touched down near McNeese State University before moving southeast. The twister destroyed roofs and caused widespread tree and electrical damages before weakening and dissipating after tracking for 1.06 miles.
April 2, 2024
A powerful line of storms passed through the Midwest and into much of the Central and Southeast U.S., causing severe thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes on April 2.
In the late hours of April 2, an EF-2 twister with winds at 115 mph touched down in Rockdale County, Georgia. Officials found downed trees and power lines and damaged homes, vehicles and businesses.
At least nine tornadoes touched down in Kentucky and southern Indiana, prompting Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky to declare a state of emergency on April 3. While initially rated at EF-1, one of the twisters was upgraded to an EF-2 after a survey of damages in Jeffersonville, Indiana and Prospect, Kentucky.
Ten people were reported to have minor injuries. Crews will continue assessing damages, but initial images and videos show debris on roads, trees down and damaged homes.
Kentucky also saw a short-lived EF-2 tornado in Boyd County, which caused significant tree and home damage. Several barns and buildings were destroyed and further assessments were limited due to access issues. A death was reported after a car accident during the intense storms.
The NWS Louisville says despite issuing warning sirens, many drivers and motorists continued to drive through the storm.
Four low-grade tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down across Ohio during storms and severe weather. While the tornadoes were EF-1 and under, the storm brought heavy rain, resulting in 44 flood reports and the Ohio River swell well above flood levels. The impact of the flooded Ohio River was felt in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where homeless encampments were wiped out.
Ohio saw a record number of tornadoes within the first three months of 2024, with 22 twisters as of April 2. The previous record was 12 tornadoes in 1986.
In West Virginia, preliminary findings by NWS Charleston indicated an EF-2 tornado with winds up to 130 mph in Fayette County. As of April 4, further assessments are still ongoing. The strong storms left debris on the streets, damaged buildings and nearly 140,000 customers without power, prompting Governor Jim Justice to declare a state of emergency.
