1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado
The tornado outbreak of June 18–22, 2011 was a large and damaging tornado outbreak that produced widespread tornado activity across much of the Midwest and Central U.S. The most intense activity occurred on June 20, when multiple supercell thunderstorms produced numerous tornadoes across the Great Plains. Some of these tornadoes were large and intense, but for the most part only affected rural areas. The strongest of these tornadoes impacted Kansas and Nebraska. Another notable event occurred on June 22, when a series of 5 tornadoes struck the Louisville metropolitan area. One of these tornadoes caused severe damage at the famous Churchill Downs racetrack. Despite the number and intensity of some of the tornadoes, the outbreak caused no fatalities.
Meteorological synopsis
On June 18, a total of 11 tornadoes touched down across the Great Plains and Midwest. These tornadoes were mostly weak or remained over open country. The worst of the damage was to trees and outbuildings.
On June 19, the Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk of severe weather for the Central Plains. By the evening hours, several tornadoes had touched down over rural areas. Most of these tornadoes were weak. However, an EF2 tornado caused significant damage near Cherryville, Missouri, and injured 3 people. Another EF2 tornado also caused considerable damage in Breckinridge County, Kentucky as well. An EF1 tornado caused severe damage south of Du Quoin, Illinois and injured 1 person.[2]
During the afternoon of June 20, a particularly dangerous situation (PDS) tornado watch was issued for much of central Nebraska and north-central Kansas due to the threat of significant tornadoes. Additionally, very large hail, at least 4 in (10 cm) in diameter, was expected within the watch area. Around 1:00 p.m. local time, storm chasers reported a large EF3 tornado on the ground north of Hill City, Kansas and again later that afternoon near Elm Creek, Nebraska. Numerous other tornadoes were reported across the region including near Ravenna and in York County, some reported to have been very large and intense, but mostly over open country. However, some of the tornadoes impacted numerous rural farmsteads, and caused severe damage. Several of these tornadoes reached EF3 intensity. Tornado warnings stretched from North Dakota to Kansas. Additionally, a major derecho event developed farther south – a PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued for parts of Oklahoma and North Texas as well. On June 21, tornado watches were issued for several areas, including central Minnesota and Wisconsin, southern Illinois and parts of Missouri, and lower Michigan. Tornadoes were reported in Anoka County, Minnesota, and Green Lake and Fond du Lac Counties in Wisconsin. Several tornadoes touched down across the area, causing mostly minor damage.[3] Additionally, local law enforcement reported a tornado in Allegan County in Michigan, with photos taken also showing what looked like a tornado, but no damage was seen in the area, and the National Weather Service determined it to have been low hanging clouds.[4] Meanwhile, a major derecho event impacted the Chicago Metropolitan Area.[5] The worst damage was in Wheeling, Illinois. A tornado touched down in Downers Grove, Illinois[6]
A series of tornadoes tracked across the Louisville, Kentucky area late on June 22.[7] A total of five tornadoes were confirmed in the area, including two that were rated EF2. One of the tornadoes directly hit Churchill Downs racetrack severely damaging several buildings on the site. Other significant damage was reported in several industrial parks in the metropolitan area with buildings heavily damaged. A few other tornadoes caused minor damage in Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Michigan.[8]
Numerous trees snapped and uprooted along the path. Two homes were also damaged, one of which lost a significant portion of its roof and parts of the walls. Support beams were found up to 0.75 mi (1.21 km) from the home. Three people inside the home sustained minor injuries.
A house sustained significant roof damage and two barns were heavily damaged. Trees were uprooted and snapped. Power poles were pushed over and sheet metal was found thrown up to 300 yards as well.
Tornado struck the Du Quion State Fairgrounds and caused severe damage. Multiple trees were snapped and uprooted in the area, some of which landed on a shower/restroom building and the Farm Service Building, destroying them both. Several RV's were flipped or demolished, in one of which 3 people were trapped and required rescue. An arena building sustained damage to its doors and had air conditioning units torn from its roof. Several nearby homes had shingles torn off and sustained damage from falling trees. Uprooted trees ruptured gas lines in the area as well. One person was injured.
A modular building was mostly destroyed and a few gravestones were toppled in a cemetery. Numerous trees were downed, some of which landed on homes. Power poles were downed as well and cars were pushed over into a ditch.
Large wedge tornado produced severe damage in the area. Power poles were destroyed and irrigation pivots were overturned. Heavy farm equipment was thrown up to 3/4 of a mile. Grain bins and outbuildings were destroyed, and vehicles were flipped. One home sustained heavy roof damage and tree damage occurred as well.
A house was completely destroyed, where four people were injured. Many homes and farmsteads sustained significant damage in the area. Multiple outbuildings were destroyed and heavy farm equipment was thrown and destroyed as well.
Tornado began west of Elm Creek and tracked east-southeast into the city. Numerous trees and were snapped or uprooted and several homes were damaged, some of which lost their roofs. One man was injured when his semi-truck was flipped by the tornado. A few outbuildings were also destroyed and power poles were snapped. While moving through the city, the storm took a sharp northward turn and weakened. Further down the track, the tornado briefly re-intensified as it damaged a home. It dissipated roughly 2.5 mi (4.0 km) southwest Amherst.
Large wedge tornado damaged or destroyed over 48 homes, some of which were completely flattened. Large metal high-tension power line trusses were knocked down and over 40 irrigation pivots were damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees and power lines were snapped and outbuildings were destroyed as well.
7 homes were damaged by the tornado. Numerous trees and power poles were snapped and multiple outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. A grain truck was overturned and several grain bins were damaged. At least 60 irrigation pivots were damaged or destroyed, some of which were found wrapped around trees.
A train was derailed, grain bins damaged and over 40 power poles were downed. One home was badly damaged and a combine was tossed into a field and destroyed. Trees were also damaged and irrigation pivots were overturned.
One home was destroyed and two others were damaged. Trees were debarked and power poles were snapped, irrigation pivots were overturned, and crops were stripped from the ground. Outbuildings were destroyed and a tractor was thrown and destroyed almost beyond recognition. An ATV, a car, and a semi-truck trailer were tossed by the tornado as well.
Tornado downed numerous trees and power poles and destroyed barns and outbuildings. Irrigation pivots were overturned and a section of roof was torn from a home. Farm equipment was thrown up to 300 yards and other debris was thrown up to a quarter of a mile. A steel bin was thrown into a car, totaling the vehicle, and injuring the occupant.
Tornado struck the northeast side of town. Numerous trees and power poles were snapped, some of which landed on homes and vehicles, and a garage was badly damaged. A YMCA sustained severe roof damage and a vehicle was flipped.
Short-lived tornado downed numerous trees, some of which fell on homes, and damaged several tractor sheds. One person was injured after a tree fell on a home.
Several barns were badly damaged in Churchill Downs, along with a church on the property. Elsewhere a large industrial building suffered heavy damage and numerous trees were uprooted and snapped. An office building lost a large section of its roof as well. A hotel also sustained roof damage and numerous power poles were snapped. Homes sustained shingle and siding damage and metal stoplight poles were downed. Several horses were displaced by the tornado but were later rounded up uninjured.
Tornado moved through a subdivision and caused roof, gutter, and siding damage. A locked pool gate was thrown 35 yards (32 m). Several trees were downed as well.
Numerous trees snapped and uprooted, some of which landed on structures and vehicles. A warehouse and a nursing home were badly damaged and cars were flipped and tossed 25 feet. A small shed was thrown 30 feet and a metal light pole was bent over. A gas station was damaged as well.
