From February to April 2003, the local weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service confirmed 217 tornadoes in the United States. There were no tornadoes confirmed in the month of January, marking only the fifth time since accurate records began in 1950 that an entire calendar month went tornado-free.
January
January had no tornadoes confirmed in the United States. It was only the fifth time since 1950 that an entire calendar month went tornado-free. The other months were; October 1952, December 1963, November 1976, and January 1986. [1]
February
There were 18 tornadoes confirmed in the US in February. [1]
March
There were 43 tornadoes confirmed in the US in March. [1]
April
There were 156 tornadoes reported in the US in April. [1]
April 4–7
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 28 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A tornado outbreak spawned 41 tornadoes from Idaho to Alabama. There were no fatalities, but 14 people were injured. [1]
April 15
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A small tornado outbreak struck Oklahoma and Texas, injuring one. [1]
April 30 event
Confirmed tornadoes
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, April 30, 2003 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F# | Location | County | Time (CST) | Path length | Damage | |
| Colorado | ||||||
| F0 | E of Hudson | Weld | 1600 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Small tornado; no damage reported. | |
| F0 | SE of Prospect Valley | Weld | 1621 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
No damage reported. | |
| Iowa | ||||||
| F0 | E of Lockman | Monroe, Wapello | 1730 | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) |
Short-lived, weak tornado. Little damage reported. | |
| F0 | NE of Morning Sun | Louisa | 1735 | 16 miles (25.6 km) |
Tornadic circulation was initially almost a half-mile wide. It then consolidated into a 50-yard wide funnel. There was some light damage to buildings in the area. | |
| F0 | NE of Highland Center | Wapello | 1745 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
Brief touchdown in a field. | |
| Illinois | ||||||
| F1 | S of Aledo | Mercer | 1742 | unknown | Tornado damaged several farm buildings. | |
| F0 | SE of Aledo | Mercer | 1757 | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) |
Traveled through open country. | |
| F1 | S of Viola | Mercer | 1808 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
A farmhouse was damaged. | |
| F0 | SE of Viola (1st tornado) | Mercer | 1811 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Tornado damaged a house. | |
| F1 | SE of Viola | Mercer | 1812 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
A house was pushed six feet off its foundation. | |
| F0 | N of Alpha | Henry | 1829 | unknown | Brief touchdown in field. | |
| F0 | NE of Victoria | Knox | 1930 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
No damage reported. | |
| Missouri | ||||||
| F0 | NE of Albany | Gentry, Harrison | 1804 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
Tornado touched down in open country, causing no damage. | |
| F0 | NW of Weston | Platte | 1815 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Touchdown was noted near a ski resort. | |
| F0 | W of Ridgeway | Harrison | 1822 | 10 miles (16.0 km) |
Some damage to power lines and transformers was noted. | |
| F0 | W of Edgerton area | Platte | 1835 | 0.2 mile (0.32 km) |
Brief touchdown near Interstate 29. | |
| F0 | N of Lemons | Putnam | 1955 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
Tornado spotted in open country; no damage reported. | |
| F0 | N of Greentop | Schuyler | 2053 | 6 miles (9.6 km) |
Up to a quarter mile wide tornado reported in open country. | |
| Kansas | ||||||
| F0 | E of Cambridge | Cowley | 2117 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
Remained in open country. | |
| F0 | N of Cedar Vale | Chautauqua | 2137 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Remained in open country. | |
| F0 | NW of Sedan | Chautauqua | 2158 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Remained in open country. | |
| Sources: NOAA Storm Data | ||||||
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Tornado History Project: 2003". Archived from the original on 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-06-16.