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NOUS43 KICT 251200
PNSICT
KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-251500-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
700 AM CDT Thu Apr 25 2024

...ON THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY...

In 2011, the worst tornado outbreak in the United States
history began.Over a four day period from April 25th to
the 28th, an inconceivable 327 confirmed tornadoes
occurred.  They unleashed an expansive swath of appalling
death and destruction over 21 states extending from Texas
to New York and even Southern Ontario, Canada.The
outbreak leveled the previous record of 148 set on April
3rd and 4th, 1974 by just over a 2 to 1 margin.
Widespread and destructive tornadoes occurred each day.
The April 3rd-4th, 1974 record was broken on the 27th
alone, when a staggering 173 tornadoes occurred.  The
hardest hit states were Mississippi and Alabama where 3
EF5 tornadoes struck both states.  The first EF5 struck
East Central Mississippi with a track 29 miles long and
around one half mile wide.  It killed 3 and 2 homes
vanished.  The second was perhaps the most violent.  It
tore through the Northeast Mississippi town of Smithville
where 14 were killed.  Eighteen homes, 14 businesses, the
police station and post office were all leveled.  The
tornado`s track was 75 miles long and averaged one half
mile wide as it crossed the state line, after which it
dissipated in Northwest Alabama.  The third EF5 tornado
struck Northwest Alabama where it killed 78.  This was
the deadliest in Alabama history and the deadliest since
the May 25, 1955 Udall Tornado.  Dozens of well built
homes were swept from their foundations.  Three churches,
3 restaurants, and a high school were leveled.A large
cargo container was thrown 600 yards and sections of
asphalt were scoured from highways.  It missed a nuclear
power plant by 2 miles.  The track was stunning: 132
miles and reached 1.25 miles wide.  The tornado drawing
the greatest attention was a huge EF4 that roared along a
track 80 miles long from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham.  It
averaged between 1 and 1.5 miles wide and killed 61.
Forty one of the fatalities were in Tuscaloosa where
around 1,000 were injured.  The University of Alabama
suspended operations and postponed commencement
ceremonies until August 6th.  In all, 324 people were
killed of which 238 were in Alabama.

&&

In 1898, Volcano Springs California lived up to its name
by soaring to a high of 118 degrees, thereby establishing
the all-time hottest temperature in the United States for
the month of April.  In 1984, a late season snowstorm
spanning a 3-day period overwhelmed parts of the Northern
Rockies and Northwestern Plains.  Red Lodge Montana was
snowed under by 6 FEET, while around FIVE AND A HALF FEET
buried Lead South Dakota.  It was the worst late season
snowstorm to hit the affected areas.

$$
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