The April 24, 2002 tornado
F4Carter and Butler counties, Missouri
An F4 tornado on a 40.5-mile path that injured 16. It was one of 9 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day.
Watch how it happenedF4 tornado · April 24, 2002
How it happened
Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.
The tornado
- Rating
- F4
- Fujita scale
- Path length
- 40.5 mi
- Width up to 650 yards
- Killed
- 0
- Along the whole path
- Injured
- 16
- Along the whole path
- Date and time
- Wednesday, April 24, 2002
- 3:13 PM CST
The National Weather Service account
Written by the local Weather Service office after its damage survey.
The tornado damage path began on the west side of Van Buren, right along the Current River, and crossed U.S. Route 60 very close to the Current River bridge. Two businesses in Van Buren, a lodge and a restaurant, were heavily damaged by F-2 intensity winds. The tornado travelled southeast across hilly and forested terrain until reaching the community of Ellsinore. Damage on the south side of Ellsinore was severe, where about 7 businesses were destroyed. Most of the damage at Ellsinore, which was inflicted by F-4 intensity winds, occurred along and near U.S. Highway 60. Across Carter County, 13 homes were destroyed and 12 homes suffered major damage. The tornado then moved into the Mark Twain National Forest and crossed into Butler County north of Highway 60.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
Counties on its path
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.