Today, April 3, 2006, national news is reporting that 27 people were killed in tornadic storms across the Midwest. Tragedies such as these are not uncommon, but the events that happened in the Midwest 32 years ago today, on April 3, 1974, were far from common. In fact, they were downright horrifying.
On April 3, 1974, a large weather system over the Midwest produced 148 tornadoes in a mere twenty-four hours, an outrageous number of twisters for one system and by far the record. The History Channel sums it up best: "On this day in 1974, 148 tornadoes hit the United States heartland within 16 hours. By the time the deadly storm ended, 330 people had died. This was the largest grouping of tornadoes recorded in its time, affecting 11 states and Ontario, Canada. At any one moment during the storm, there were as many as 15 separate tornadoes touching the ground. " (The History Channel Website)
The system began its path of destruction over the Ohio River Valley, and Illinois was the first state hit by a tornado that afternoon. The system was not only unusual in the number of tornadoes it produced, but also in the number of severe tornadoes it created: According to the History Channel, 22 F4 tornadoes and 6 F5 tornadoes resulted from the system.
Among the hardest-hit areas were the towns of Xenia, OH and Brandenburg, KY. Over thirty people died in each town, and thousands were injured and left homeless. By the time the "Super Outbreak of '74" had ended, six states were declared Federal Disaster Areas.
The events that occurred on April 3, 2006 were tragedies, but they pale in comparison with that terrifying day in 1974.
Sources: The History Channel Website
Other Sites of Interest: April 3, 1974 - The Tornado Super Outbreak
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