Type Tornado outbreak Tornadoes confirmed 42 confirmed | Duration February 28–29, 2012 Max rating | |
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Duration of tornado outbreak 2 Days 26 hours, 17 minutes Damage $475 million (estimated) | ||
The 2012 Leap Day tornado outbreak was a tornado outbreak on February 28 and February 29, 2012. It caused severe damage in several regions especially in the Ohio Valley region. It also resulted in several tornadoes in the Central Plains, a rarity for the time of year. The most destructive tornado hit Harrisburg, Illinois, killing 8 people in one neighborhood. In total, 15 people died in the outbreak.
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Meteorological synopsis
A severe weather system that started in Central Nebraska and Central Kansas brought straight-line winds, golfball-size hail, torrential rain, and significant tornadoes to Kansas's midsection. There was a small confirmed tornado touchdown near North Platte, Nebraska - the first tornado officially recorded in that state in the month of February since record keeping began in 1950. Late on February 28, a strong EF2 tornado struck the small town of Harveyville, Kansas near Topeka, killing one person and injuring 11 others. The town's only church was completely destroyed, several homes received moderate to severe damage, and every building in the small community received a form of damage. Other tornado touchdowns were reported near Hutchinson, Kansas earlier in the day. As the storms moved into Missouri and Arkansas overnight, the threat grew stronger. At 3:00 am CST on February 29, Branson, Missouri was reporting severe damage to the town from an EF2 tornado, with homes destroyed and several houses sustaining severe damage as the storms rocketed along the Missouri/Arkansas border at more than 60 mph (95 km/h). Numerous people were injured there. Three other deaths occurred in southern Missouri due to strong tornadoes, one of which was an EF3.
The storms continued to grow stronger as they progressed eastward, and they impacted Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio on February 29. A moderate risk of severe weather was issued, with strong tornadoes mentioned as possible. An EF4 tornado slammed into Harrisburg, Illinois early that morning. The southern part of the city was heavily damaged with houses and businesses destroyed, many of which were completely leveled. Eight people were killed by that tornado. The storm went on to produce two EF1s in the Evansville, Indiana area. Other severe damage, due to two tornadoes, was reported in Middle Tennessee east of Nashville that afternoon, where three people were killed. This was only the second significant tornado outbreak to occur on February 29 since records have been kept in 1950, the other outbreak on Leap Day was back in 1952. The Harrisburg, Illinois tornado is only the second F/EF4 tornado to strike on Leap Day ever, the other was in 1952 when a F4 went through Fayetteville, Tennessee.
Harrisburg, Illinois
An EF-4 tornado slammed into Harrisburg, Illinois early on the morning of 29 February 2012. The tornado touched down just north of Carrier Mills at 4:51 a.m., damaged a church and damaged homes along Town Park Road and then traveled ENE towards Harrisburg just north of Ledford and then through Liberty where it caused very minor damage to the Harrisburg Middle School. The tornado then entered the south-western edge of the city at 4:56 a.m., specifically the Dorrisville neighborhood, where it caused significant property damage, and then east to Gaskins City neighborhood where several homes were destroyed; 7 people were confirmed dead in that area, most killed in the Brady Street apartment complex where several small, one-story apartment buildings were swept away. 110 people were injured overall. On June 3 another victim died in the hospital from their injuries raising the death toll to 8. Harrisburg Medical Center was also damaged in Gaskins City. Peak winds were estimated to have been about 180 mph and the width of the tornado path was 275 yards (251 m), traveling 26.5 miles (42.6 km). In Harrisburg over 200 homes and about 25 businesses were destroyed or damaged heavily. At least 10 homes and other buildings were leveled completely and several structures were swept from their foundations. Early estimates indicated nearly 40% of the city was damaged or destroyed. The following night a mandatory curfew was in place in the effected area's, 5PM Wednesday afternoon through 7AM Thursday morning. Counting damage and death toll it was reported to be the worst storm since the Joplin, MO tornado. Harrisburg Unit 3 schools were closed until 5 March 2012 and upon reopening offered trauma counseling to its students.
Westboro Baptist Church commented on the event, which prompted locals to create a "Shield of support" around the funeral processions with thousands attending, standing in large groups around the city. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and IEMA began doing preliminary damage assessments on 5 March 2012 to determine the need for public assistance from FEMA. The storm damage in Harrisburg dominated national airwaves for several days with both Anderson Cooper, and Diane Sawyer doing special reports. Both the New York Times and Chicago Tribune wrote articles on the resilient history and nature of Harrisburg in the wake of the tornado and floods that have hit the city since its founding in 1889. The tornado moved eastward before striking the town of Ridgway, where additional severe damage occurred. In Ridgway, the tornado damaged about 140 homes and businesses, causing 1 critical injury and 12 minor injuries. Numerous cars were tossed around, mainly on the east side of Ridgway. A large church building and a half dozen grain bins were completely destroyed. Final assessment rated the tornado as an EF4 with wind gusts estimated at 180 miles per hour (290 km/h).