Tornadoes of 2004
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2004. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.
The United States recorded more tornadoes during this year than any other year on record, with 1,817 touching down across the country.
Synopsis
United States yearly total
January
3 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.February
9 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.March
46 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.March 4–5
On March 4, a large storm system produced 29 tornadoes across Texas into parts of Oklahoma. In addition to the tornadoes, heavy rain caused flooding in the Plains and an unusual derecho produced heavy damage, primarily in Texas.March 27
April
125 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.April 7 (Ukraine)
A strong F2 tornado struck the towns of Velikaya Kostromka and Pervoye-Maya in Ukraine on April 7, killing one person and damaging or destroying 130 homes.April 14 (Bangladesh)
A powerful tornado struck portions of North-Central Bangladesh, killing 111 and injuring nearly 1,500 others.April 20–24
A powerful tornado struck the town of Utica, Illinois. It was part of an outbreak of 30 tornadoes that formed in eastern Iowa, northern Illinois, and northern Indiana in a short period of time. The Utica tornado caused the only fatalities. Another tornado struck the city of Joliet, Illinois, causing US$5 million in damage to the historic district in town.April 21 (China)
Seven people were killed by a tornado in China.May
509 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.May 9 (China)
Two people were killed by a tornado in China.May 12
A massive, slow-moving, high-end F4 tornado passed near the town of Harper, Kansas. The rating, however, is a source of controversy. At peak intensity it deeply scoured the ground, completely swept away two homes, chipping the foundation of one home in the process, and debarked nearby trees. Vehicles were pulverized into small pieces and thrown very large distances. The reason for the F4 rating was that the tornado was very slow moving, which may have added to the extent of the damage.May 22–30
The Hallam, Nebraska, tornado on May 22 was the widest tornado ever recorded at the time at in diameter. The F4 tornado caused one death and 37 injuries in the city of Hallam.Beginning on May 29, after the Storm Prediction Center issued a high risk for severe weather, 149 tornadoes were confirmed in 32 hours, killing five people. The Memorial Day Weekend outbreak is considered to be one of the most prolific in US history in terms of the number of tornadoes.
June
268 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.June 1 (Russia)
One June 1, at least 11 tornadoes touched down in Russia, including a high-end F3 that damaged or destroyed 342 homes.June 11-12
A small tornado outbreak began across the Midwestern United States on June 11, mainly in Iowa and Wisconsin. Most of the tornadoes that occurred this day were weak, being rated F0 or F1. However, a few strong tornadoes did touch down, the most significant being an F3 tornado that caused deep ground scouring and destroyed a home near Le Roy, Minnesota. The next day would bring more tornadoes, this time to Kansas. The first tornado was reported near Belle Plaine, which was rated F0. After the first tornado lifted, the same supercell produced another tornado, which would go on to impact structures near Mulvane. This tornado directly hit a house and completely removed it from its foundation. After the Mulvane tornado dissipated, another photogenic tornado touched down near Rock and was rated F0. This supercell would go on to produce several more tornadoes, all of which were rated F0. Overall, 46 tornadoes touched down during this outbreak.June 18 (Russia)
On June 18, another F3 tornado touched down in Russia, injuring seven people.June 23 (Germany)
A severe F3 tornado hit the Saxony-Anhaltian villages of Micheln and Trebbichau. Both villages have suffered from damages.July
124 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.July 7–9 (Europe)
In Poland, a tornado touched down in Wiktorów and Borzęcin near Warsaw. 21 houses were damaged. One 36-old man was lifted by tornado. An F2 tornado struck Jelonka and Kleszczele near Dubicze Cerkiewne, Podlaskie Voivodeship. 200 buildings were damaged.July 13–15
On July 13, a large, violent F4 tornado struck Roanoke, Illinois, destroying the Pearson Manufacturing Plant and some civilian residences. Despite the extensive damage along its 9.6 mile path of destruction, well advance warning of the storm's approach led to only a few minor injuries and no fatalities. Three other F0 tornadoes were confirmed on this day as well.On July 14, a large storm system passed over the Northeastern United States. It produced several severe storms, and a few tornadoes. The worst destruction was in Campbelltown, Pennsylvania, where 272 properties were damaged or destroyed by an F3 twister that struck the town around 3:00 PM.
August
179 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.August 11 (France)
On August 11, a waterspout moved onshore in Houat, France, damaging the harbor and village. One person was killed after being lifted by the tornado and falling on rocks while twelve others were injured.August 12
The second storm of the 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Tropical Storm Bonnie caused minor damage while spawning several tornadoes when it made landfall several hours before Hurricane Charley.August 13–14
Hurricane Charley caused major damage along the Florida coast and the Mid-Atlantic while spawning several tornadoes including an F2 storm.September
297 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.September 4-8
produced the third highest number of tornadoes spawned by a single tropical cyclone. At the time of the outbreak, it was the second highest but was surpassed by Hurricane Ivan later that month.September 15-18
produced the highest number of tornadoes from a single tropical cyclone on record. During the storm's 3.5 day outbreak, 120 tornadoes touched down over eight states. The outbreak killed nine people, six of which were in Florida and four were from a single tornado.September 25-28
Hurricane Jeanne was the final hurricane to strike the U.S. during the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It spawned several tornadoes upon and after its landfall, which caused some damage, but no deaths.October
79 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.October 18–19
November
150 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S.November 12–13 (Italy and Tunisia)
Several powerful tornadoes struck southern Sicily and northern Tunisia on November 12 and 13. The strongest was a high-end F3 multiple-vortex tornado that touched down near Scicli on November 12 which inflicted roughly €25 million in damage. Another tornado, rated F2, began just offshore Donnalucata before moving inland. The following day, a long-tracked F2 tornado struck several towns in northern Tunisia, most notably Kelibia, El Haouaria, and Hammamet, killing 9–12 people and injuring 60–73 others. Three homes were completely destroyed by the tornado while many others sustained varying degrees of damage. Significant agricultural damage as well as loss of livestock also resulted from the storm. A third F2 touched down near Rakkada and injured 21 people. In light of the damage in Tunisia, the Tunisian Red Crescent society assisted approximately 200 affected persons with recovery funds and supplies.November 22–24
In late November, a significant three-day outbreak of tornadoes took place across the Southern United States. The outbreak began on the 22nd, producing six F0 tornadoes in Louisiana and Texas, three of which occurred in the Houston area. The tornadoes caused minimal damage and no injuries.Tornado activity continued in the same general area on the 23rd. Early on, most of the touchdowns were weak, though an F2 tornado near Kountze, Texas damaged between 10 and 20 houses and killed a woman when trees crushed her mobile home. Several other tornadoes occurred in Texas throughout the afternoon, and soon began touch down in Louisiana as well. An F2 struck the town of Hutton, damaging about 15 houses and injuring three people. Further north, an F3 touched down and ripped directly through the town of Olla, where major damage occurred. A high school in town sustained significant damage, along with 106 homes. Some of the homes only had interior rooms left. A pickup truck outside of town was thrown 200 feet, and in the nearby town of Standard, four homes and a store were destroyed. Overall, the tornado killed one person and injured 20 others. Another F3 touched down near Fayette, Mississippi, destroying a steel-frame shed, damaging several homes, and flattening large swaths of trees.
Vigorous tornado activity continued on the 24th, mainly across Mississippi and Alabama. However, an F2 tornado tore through the northwest side of Slidell, Louisiana, damaging 152 homes in a single subdivision and injuring four people. Numerous tornadoes touched down in Mississippi, with the strongest being an F3 that passed near Noxapater. The tornado downed hundreds of trees, tossed vehicles, and destroyed chicken houses. A house was completely destroyed, resulting in a fatality and two injuries. In Alabama, a large F2 tracked across Autauga, Chilton, and Coosa Counties. The tornado struck the Cooper community, resulting in major structural damage. Another F2 touched down and struck the Talladega Superspeedway, where two concession stands within the infield area of the race track had their roofs blown off. The Bush Garage area received building damage and the garage doors were bowed out. Debris was scattered between the garage area and Victory Lane. One digital leader board was completely destroyed and another one sustained major damage. The tornado continued east through Eastaboga, where two homes suffered major roof damage, two porches were destroyed and many trees were blown down. The tornado then struck Bynum where downed trees heavily damaged two mobile homes, with a 75-year-old woman being killed in one of them. The tornado then caused roof and structural damage in Southern Anniston before dissipating. Overall, the outbreak produced 104 tornadoes and killed four people.