The April 14, 2012 tornado
EF4Rice, Ellsworth, McPherson and Saline counties, Kansas
An EF4 tornado on a 50.3-mile path. It was one of 84 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 6 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Watch how it happened Part of the outbreak of April 14, 2012: 84 tornadoes in 4 statesEF4 tornado · April 14, 2012
How it happened
Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.
The tornado
- Rating
- EF4
- Enhanced Fujita scale
- Path length
- 50.3 mi
- Width up to 400 yards
- Killed
- 0
- Along the whole path
- Injured
- 0
- Along the whole path
- Date and time
- Saturday, April 14, 2012
- 4:33 PM CST
The National Weather Service account
Written by the local Weather Service office after its damage survey.
Tornado scoured and dug out a section gravel road about 4 to 5 inches deep. Home was swept off foundation and destroyed with small stair case remaining in center. Debris from home was tossed into adjacent tree line to the northeast. Numerous trees around the house were snapped and shredded. Some trees were also debarked from the intense wind speeds. Car was flipped and tossed upside down. This tornado moved into McPherson County.
The storm system that day
A significant severe weather outbreak with several damaging long track tornadoes occurred. The strongest tornado moved through portions of central Kansas and produced EF-4 damage at one home stead. Two other tornadoes touched down producing EF-3 damage in south central Kansas.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
Counties on its path
Other notable tornadoes that day
- EF3, Ellis County6 killed
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.