Significant April Tornadoes in the United States

Out of 7,885 tornadoes total in April (1950-2011), 2,161 — or 27% — were rated as significant F2/EF-2+ tornadoes. In each month, and in yearly examinations, it is these tornadoes that cause the vast majority of loss to life and property. For that reason, they deserve their own continuing analysis.

April Significant Tornado Stats (1950-2011)

Total significant tornadoes: 2,161 (27% of all April tornadoes)
April high: 166 (2011)
April low: 1 (1992)
1991-2010 average: 21

What’s quickly apparent when looking at a comparison to March is that numbers jump notably across the active tornado regions of the Southern Plains as we head toward peak season. Texas, thanks in large to its size, continues to lead the group by a hefty margin, with Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas and Illinois/Mississippi rounding out the top 5 states for significant April tornadoes.

This ordering matches the overall (F0/EF-0+) breakdown fairly closely, but we see Alabama and Arkansas jump a few spots while Kansas drifts out of the top-5 but remains in the top-10 on such a measure.

2011 featured more significant tornadoes than any other year in the period with 166 compared to the second place 1974 that had 157. Both of these powerhouse Aprils featured totals quite far above the third place 1957, which saw 91 significant tornado touchdowns.

Interestingly, the five lowest tornado counts for April (1-6 total tornadoes) all came from 1987-2005 and seven of the bottom-10 fell in that same time period. Unlike May and June, April can be more hit-or-miss when it comes to tornado action.

The F3/EF-3 tornado list looks much like that of overall significant tornadoes for the month. Perhaps notably, Tennessee moves from outside the top-5 to within it. Washington and Oregon, far removed from any recorded (since 1950) tornadoes above this intensity make the cut, though just barely.

When it comes to the first stage of violent tornadoes at F4/EF-4, Indiana rises to the top of the list. Indiana, however, tends to be a feast or famine place for strong to violent April tornadoes, with eight of them coming in just one event on Palm Sunday in 1965 and 9 during the super outbreak of 1974.  Of the top-5, only Oklahoma and Texas are consistently impacted with this level of violent tornado. Alabama and Kentucky have also both witnessed most of their F4/EF-4 tornadoes during a handful of outbreaks.

2012 April EF-4+ — An EF-4 struck Kansas south of Kanapolis Lake on April 14, 2012.

There’s no real April climatology to F5/EF-5 tornadoes, other than the month has the capability of producing several in one day, and it holds the record for the most on a day as well as the most for a month in the calendar year. Alabama does appear to be strongly favored for April F5/EF-5s, and while many are made up of the 1974 and 2011 outbreaks, the state has seen several other instances spread throughout the 1950-2011 period.