Belvidere Tornado Outbreak
Encyclopedia
The Belvidere Tornado Outbreak was the tornado outbreak
that occurred on April 21, 1967 across the Upper Midwest of the United States, in particular the Chicago area including the towns of Belvidere
and Oak Lawn, Illinois
. It was the most notable tornado outbreak
of 1967 and one of the most notable to occur in the Chicago area. The Belvidere disaster was documented in an episode of The Weather Channel
's Storm Stories
.
The 21st of April was a warm Friday afternoon in northern Illinois. A warm front
part of a very deep storm system had been marching through Illinois all day and by afternoon moved north of the state. Temperatures ahead of the storms into the low to mid 70s with dewpoints in the 60s, a 120 knots (235.2 km/h) upper level jet and increasing low-level shear. By 3 P.M., more than 12 tornadoes had already been spawned from the storm system. The National Weather Service
was able to issue a tornado watch at 1:50 P.M.
, moved through Belvidere, Illinois
, damaging the high school and overturning buses. Twenty-four people were killed and another 410 injured. 127 homes were destroyed and 379 damaged. The storm continued into McHenry County
, spawning another tornado in Woodstock
. The two tornadoes covered a 25 miles (40.2 km) swath. Thirteen of the 24 people killed in Belvidere were killed at the school, making this tornado the 6th deadliest ever to hit a school http://www.tornadoproject.com/toptens/topten2.htm. The Belvidere Tornado was especially devastating because it hit the school just as students were getting on the buses to go home. Just before 4pm, the F4 Tornado reached the school. Twelve buses, already filled with elementary school and middle school students, were tossed about. Shortly after the passing of the tornado, faculty and some of the stronger students used the fireproof doors of the high school as stretchers to carry the injured into the cafeteria, the severely injured to the library, and the dead to the gymnasium.
At 5:30 P.M., another strong, later F4-estimated, tornado touched down near Palos Hills
. It strengthened and in the space of six minutes, tore a 16.2-mile (65 mph ground speed) swath of destruction through Oak Lawn
, Hometown
, Evergreen Park
, and devastated the south side of Chicago before moving offshore to Lake Michigan
as people were stuck in traffic during Friday rush hour. For that reason, this tornado ended up being the deadliest in the outbreak. Thirty-three people were killed and 1000 were injured, including 16 deaths alone at the intersection of Southwest Highway and W. 95th St. (US-12
/20
) in Oak Lawn. It destroyed 152 homes and damaged 900, causing $50 million in damage.
, southeast Iowa
, and southern lower Michigan
. There were a total of 19 tornadoes in Illinois. The entire outbreak killed 58 people.
was declared for Boone County, and the reserves came to assist in the cleanup effort. Senator
Charles Percy
and Illinois Governor
Otto Kerner
visited to speak with victims and thank the recovery volunteers.
Tornado outbreak
While there is no single agreed upon definition, generally at least 6-10 tornadoes produced by the same synoptic scale weather system is considered a tornado outbreak. The tornadoes usually occur within the same day, or continue into the early morning hours of the succeeding day, and within the...
that occurred on April 21, 1967 across the Upper Midwest of the United States, in particular the Chicago area including the towns of Belvidere
Belvidere, Illinois
Belvidere is a city in Boone County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,585 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Boone County. Belvidere is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and Oak Lawn, Illinois
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Oak Lawn is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 55,245 at the 2000 census.Oak Lawn is a suburb of the city of Chicago, located southwest of the city...
. It was the most notable tornado outbreak
Tornado outbreak
While there is no single agreed upon definition, generally at least 6-10 tornadoes produced by the same synoptic scale weather system is considered a tornado outbreak. The tornadoes usually occur within the same day, or continue into the early morning hours of the succeeding day, and within the...
of 1967 and one of the most notable to occur in the Chicago area. The Belvidere disaster was documented in an episode of The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel is a US cable and satellite television network since May 2, 1982, that broadcasts weather forecasts and weather-related news, along with entertainment programming related to weather 24 hours a day...
's Storm Stories
Storm Stories
Storm Stories is a non-fiction television series aired on The Weather Channel and Zone Reality hosted and narrated by meteorologist and Storm-Tracker Jim Cantore. Storm Stories showcases various types of severe weather, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards. Each episode features a famous...
.
Confirmed tornadoes
| F# Fujita scale The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation... |
Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
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| F0 | NE of Azen | Scotland | 1400 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | ||
| F1 | NE of Gower Gower, Missouri Gower is a city in Buchanan and Clinton Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 1,399 at the 2000 census.The Buchanan County portion of Gower is part of the St... |
Clinton Clinton County, Missouri As of the census of 2000, there were 18,979 people, 7,152 households, and 5,299 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 7,877 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile... |
1830 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | ||
| F1 | Cameron Cameron, Missouri Cameron is a city in Clinton and DeKalb Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 8,312 at the 2000 census.The Clinton County portion of Cameron is part of the Kansas City, MO–KS Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the DeKalb County portion is part of the St... area |
Clinton Clinton County, Missouri As of the census of 2000, there were 18,979 people, 7,152 households, and 5,299 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 7,877 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile... |
1900 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| F2 | E of Pattonsburg Pattonsburg, Missouri Pattonsburg is a city in Daviess County, Missouri, United States. The population was 261 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pattonsburg is located at .... |
Daviess | 1900 | 8.4 miles (13.4 km) | ||
| F0 | NE of Gallatin Gallatin, Missouri Gallatin is a city in Daviess County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,789 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Daviess County.-History:... |
Daviess | 1915 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| F3 | N of Mandeville | Ray, Carroll | 1920 | 14.6 miles (23.4 km) | ||
| F2 | S of Humphreys Humphreys, Missouri Humphreys is a village in Sullivan County, Missouri, United States. The population was 118 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Humphreys is located at .... |
Grundy, Sullivan Sullivan County, Missouri Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. In 2010, the population was 6,714. Its county seat is Milan.-History:Sullivan County, Missouri encompasses of high glaciated prairie covered by steep rolling hills and numerous creeks and streams in north central Missouri... |
2000 | 6.3 miles (10.1 km) | ||
| F2 | NE of Cunningham | Chariton Chariton County, Missouri Chariton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 8,438. Its county seat is Keytesville. The county was organized in 1820 from part of Howard County and was named from the Chariton River.-History:... |
2010 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | ||
| F4 | SE of Forker to W of Pelvna | Linn Linn County, Missouri As of the census of 2000, there were 13,754 people, 5,697 households, and 3,760 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile . There were 6,554 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile... , Macon Macon County, Missouri Macon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 15,566. Its county seat is Macon. The county was organized in 1837 and named for Nathaniel Macon, a North Carolina politician... , Knox Knox County, Missouri As of the census of 2010, there are 4,131 people in the county, organized into 1,791 households and 1,217 families. The population density is 9 people per square mile . There are 2,317 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile... |
2020 | 59 miles (94.4 km) | ||
| F2 | SE of Salt Springs to E of Orearville | Saline | 2020 | 20.4 miles (32.6 km) | ||
| F0 | W of Corder Corder, Missouri Corder is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 427 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Corder is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... |
Lafayette | 2103 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| F1 | NE of Adrian Adrian, Missouri Adrian is a city in Bates County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,780 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Adrian is located at .... |
Bates Bates County, Missouri Bates County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population is 16,653. Its county seat is Butler. The county was organized in 1833 and named after Frederick Bates, the second governor of Missouri.... |
2110 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| Indiana Indiana Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is... |
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| F1 | Rushville Rushville, Indiana Rushville is a city in Rushville Township, Rush County, Indiana, United States. The population was 6,341 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Rush County. It was the campaign headquarters for Wendell Willkie's 1940 presidential campaign against Franklin D. Roosevelt. Willkie is buried... area |
Rush Rush County, Indiana As of the census of 2000, there were 18,261 people, 6,923 households, and 5,046 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 7,337 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile... |
1833 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| F2 | NE of Commiskey Commiskey, Indiana Commiskey is an unincorporated community in central Montgomery Township, Jennings County, Indiana, United States. It lies along local roads just west of State Road 3, south of the town of Vernon, the county seat of Jennings County. Its elevation is 696 feet , and it is located at... |
Jennings Jennings County, Indiana Jennings County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 28,525. The county seat is Vernon.-History:... , Jefferson Jefferson County, Indiana Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 32,428. The county seat is Madison.-History:Jefferson County was formed in 1811... |
2310 | 6.3 miles (10.1 km) | ||
| F0 | NE of Monticello Monticello, Indiana Monticello is a city in White County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,378 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of White County.... |
White White County, Indiana As of the census of 2000, there were 25,267 people, 9,727 households, and 7,090 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 12,083 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile... |
0227 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| Iowa Iowa Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New... |
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| F3 | E of Fairfield Fairfield, Iowa Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :... |
Jefferson Jefferson County, Iowa -2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,843 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,594 housing units, of which 6,846 were occupied.-2000 census:... |
2000 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| F2 | E of Birmingham Birmingham, Iowa Birmingham is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 423 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Birmingham is located at 40°52'43" North, 91°56'48" West .... to NE of Mount Union Mount Union, Iowa Mount Union is a city in Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 132.-Geography:Mount Union is located at .... |
Van Buren, Hancock Hancock County, Iowa -2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 11,341 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,330 housing units, of which 4,741 were occupied.-2000 census:... |
2100 | 32.8 miles (52.5 km) | ||
| Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
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| F1 | SW of Spring Hill | Whiteside | 2130 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | ||
| F2 | E of Coal Valley Coal Valley, Illinois The Village of Coal Valley is in both Rock Island County and Henry County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 3,743 at the 2010 census, up from 3,606 at the 2000 census. It is mostly residential, housing families that work in or out of the greater Quad Cities Area... to S of Hooppole Hooppole, Illinois Hooppole is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 204 at the 2010 census, up 162 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hooppole is located at .... |
Henry Henry County, Illinois Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,486, which is a decrease of 1.0% from 51,020 in 2000. Its county seat is Cambridge... |
2135 | 25.1 miles (40.2 km) | ||
| F2 | N of Hooppole Hooppole, Illinois Hooppole is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 204 at the 2010 census, up 162 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hooppole is located at .... |
Henry Henry County, Illinois Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,486, which is a decrease of 1.0% from 51,020 in 2000. Its county seat is Cambridge... |
2150 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) | ||
| F4 | SW of Belvidere Belvidere, Illinois Belvidere is a city in Boone County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,585 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Boone County. Belvidere is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... to N of Woodstock Woodstock, Illinois Woodstock is a far northwest suburb of Chicago in McHenry County, Illinois. The population was 20,151 at the 2000 census. The 2010 Census shows 24,770 residents. It is the county seat of McHenry County... |
Boone, McHenry McHenry County, Illinois McHenry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 308,760, which is an increase of 18.7% from 260,077 in 2000. Its county seat is Woodstock. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest county, in... |
2150 | 25.5 miles (40.8 km) | 25 deaths | |
| F1 | S of Daysville Daysville, Illinois Daysville, Illinois is an unincorporated community in Ogle County, Illinois, USA. It is located along the Rock River, southeast of Oregon, Illinois.- History :... |
Ogle Ogle County, Illinois Ogle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 53,497, which is an increase of 4.8% from 51,032 in 2000. Its county seat is Oregon, and its largest city is Rochelle... |
2200 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | ||
| F2 | W of Maytown | Lee | 2202 | 5.6 miles (9 km) | ||
| F1 | SE of Amboy Amboy, Illinois Amboy is a city in Lee County, Illinois, along the Green River. The population was 2,561 at the 2000 census. The chain of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. began in Amboy when Samuel Carson opened his first dry goods store there in 1854... |
Lee | 2215 | 5.6 miles (9 km) | ||
| F1 | W of Kasbeer Kasbeer, Illinois Kasbeer is an unincorporated community in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. Kasbeer is located along Illinois Route 26 north of Princeton and south of Ohio.... |
Bureau Bureau County, Illinois Bureau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 34,978, which is a decrease of 1.5% from 35,503 in 2000. Its county seat is Princeton. Bureau County is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area... |
2230 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | ||
| F2 | SE of Hennepin Hennepin, Illinois Hennepin is a village on the Illinois River in Putnam County, Illinois, United States. The population was 707 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Putnam County.Hennepin is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
Putnam | 2230 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | ||
| F1 | SE of DeKalb DeKalb, Illinois DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War.... |
DeKalb DeKalb County, Illinois DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 105,160, which is an increase of 18.2% from 88,969 in 2000. Its county seat is Sycamore. DeKalb County is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area.-History:DeKalb County... |
2240 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | ||
| F4 | NW of Middlebury to W of Hawthorn Woods Hawthorn Woods, Illinois Hawthorn Woods is a village in the Fremont and Ela Townships of Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,002 at the 2000 census and estimated to have grown to over 8,000 by 2008. The village is located approximately 40 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. It was officially... |
McHenry McHenry County, Illinois McHenry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 308,760, which is an increase of 18.7% from 260,077 in 2000. Its county seat is Woodstock. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest county, in... , Lake Lake County, Illinois Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area... |
2300 | 8.8 miles (14.1 km) | 1 death | |
| F2 | NE of South Elgin South Elgin, Illinois South Elgin is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 16,100 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 20,758 as of 2005. In July 2007, Money magazine named South Elgin as 82 of 100 entries in its "America's Best Places To Live" edition.- Geography :South Elgin is... |
Kane Kane County, Illinois Kane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 515,269, which is an increase of 27.5% from 404,119 in 2000. Its county seat is Geneva, and its largest city is Aurora.- Geography :... |
2310 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | ||
| F1 | NW of Bloomingdale Bloomingdale, Illinois Bloomingdale is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States, approximately 25 miles west of Chicago. The population was 21,675 at the 2000 census.-History:... |
DuPage DuPage County, Illinois As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 916,924, White Americans made up 77.9% of Dupage County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 70.5% of the population. Black Americans made up 4.6% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.3% of Dupage County's population... |
2310 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | ||
| F1 | Addison Addison, Illinois Addison is a village located west of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 35,914 at the 2000 census. The estimated population was 36,378 as of 2002.The Village of Addison lies on Salt Creek... to Schiller Park Schiller Park, Illinois Schiller Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,850 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Schiller Park is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.... |
DuPage DuPage County, Illinois As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 916,924, White Americans made up 77.9% of Dupage County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 70.5% of the population. Black Americans made up 4.6% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.3% of Dupage County's population... , Cook Cook County, Illinois Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than... |
2310 | 6.8 miles (10.9 km) | ||
| F4 | Palos Park Palos Park, Illinois Palos Park is an affluent village, in southwestern Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,689 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Palos Park is located at .... to Chicago (South Side-entering Lake Michigan at 79th Street) |
Cook Cook County, Illinois Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than... |
2324 | 15 miles (24 km) | 33 deaths | |
| F1 | South Holland South Holland, Illinois South Holland is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States and serves as the seat of Thornton Township. The population was 22,147 at the 2000 census.-History:... area |
Cook Cook County, Illinois Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than... |
2340 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | ||
| F1 | Champaign Champaign, Illinois Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of... area |
Champaign Champaign County, Illinois Champaign County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 201,081, which is an increase of 11.9% from 179,669 in 2000.. It is the 10th most populous county in Illinois... |
0250 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| Michigan Michigan Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake".... |
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| F2 | E of Spring Grove to SE of Bentheim | Allegan Allegan County, Michigan -Interstates:* I-196* I-196 Business Loop serves the city of Holland.-US highways:* US-31* US-131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-40* M-89* M-179* M-222-Allegan County Intercounty Highways:* A-2* A-37* A-42* A-45-Demographics:... |
2355 | 18.6 miles (29.8 km) | ||
| F3 | SW of Grandville Grandville, Michigan Grandville is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 16,263 at the 2000 census. Grandville is one of the oldest suburbs of Grand Rapids, and was incorporated as a city in 1933.... to N of Cascade |
Kent Kent County, Michigan -Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,... |
2358 | 13.6 miles (21.8 km) | ||
| F2 | NE of Middleville Middleville, Michigan Middleville is a village in Thornapple Township, Barry County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,721 at the 2000 census.- History :... to NW of Lake Odessa Lake Odessa, Michigan -External links:... |
Barry Barry County, Michigan -Highways:* M-37* M-43* M-50* M-66* M-78* M-79* M-89* M-179-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of... |
0000 | 14.5 miles (23.2 km) | ||
| F2 | Derby area | Berrien Berrien County, Michigan Berrien County is a county located in the extreme southwest of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 156,813. The county seat is St. Joseph.... |
0025 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | ||
| F0 | S of Holton | Muskegon Muskegon County, Michigan -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 170,200 people, 63,330 households, and 44,267 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile . There were 68,556 housing units at an average density of 135 per square mile... |
0110 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| F2 | Portland Portland, Michigan Portland is a city in Ionia County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,789. The city is situated in the south central portion of Portland Township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:... area |
Ionia Ionia County, Michigan -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile... |
0115 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| F4 | NE of Westphalia Westphalia, Michigan Westphalia is a village in Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 876.The village is within Westphalia Township in the western portion of Clinton County, about 8 miles north of Interstate 96 on county roads and about 25 miles northwest of... |
Clinton Clinton County, Michigan -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile... |
0115 | 12 miles (19.2 km) | ||
| F2 | N of Cascade | Kent Kent County, Michigan -Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,... |
0130 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | ||
| F1 | N of Sunfield Sunfield, Michigan Sunfield is a village in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 591 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Sunfield Township.-Geography:... |
Eaton Eaton County, Michigan Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 107,759. The county seat is Charlotte. Eaton County was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under U.S. President Andrew Jackson, making it one of Michigan's Cabinet counties... |
0148 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | ||
| F2 | Potterville Potterville, Michigan Potterville is a city in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,168 at the 2000 census.-History:Potterville is named after Linus Potter, who settled his family in the area in November, 1844. Linus was elected supervisor of Benton Township in 1846... to Lansing Lansing, Michigan Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan... |
Eaton Eaton County, Michigan Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 107,759. The county seat is Charlotte. Eaton County was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under U.S. President Andrew Jackson, making it one of Michigan's Cabinet counties... , Ingham Ingham County, Michigan -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 279,320 people, 108,593 households, and 63,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 500 people per square mile . There were 115,056 housing units at an average density of 206 per square mile... |
0210 | 10.9 miles (17.4 km) | ||
| Sources: Tornado History Project Storm Data - April 21, 1967 |
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Meteorological synopsis
| State | Total | County | County total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
58 | Boone | 24 |
| Cook Cook County, Illinois Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than... |
33 | ||
| Lake Lake County, Illinois Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area... |
1 | ||
| Totals | 58 | ||
| All deaths were tornado-related | |||
The 21st of April was a warm Friday afternoon in northern Illinois. A warm front
Weather front
A weather front is a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities, and is the principal cause of meteorological phenomena. In surface weather analyses, fronts are depicted using various colored lines and symbols, depending on the type of front...
part of a very deep storm system had been marching through Illinois all day and by afternoon moved north of the state. Temperatures ahead of the storms into the low to mid 70s with dewpoints in the 60s, a 120 knots (235.2 km/h) upper level jet and increasing low-level shear. By 3 P.M., more than 12 tornadoes had already been spawned from the storm system. The National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
was able to issue a tornado watch at 1:50 P.M.
Belvidere High School
At 3:50 P.M., a violent tornado rated F4 on the Fujita scaleFujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
, moved through Belvidere, Illinois
Belvidere, Illinois
Belvidere is a city in Boone County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,585 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Boone County. Belvidere is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, damaging the high school and overturning buses. Twenty-four people were killed and another 410 injured. 127 homes were destroyed and 379 damaged. The storm continued into McHenry County
McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 308,760, which is an increase of 18.7% from 260,077 in 2000. Its county seat is Woodstock. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest county, in...
, spawning another tornado in Woodstock
Woodstock, Illinois
Woodstock is a far northwest suburb of Chicago in McHenry County, Illinois. The population was 20,151 at the 2000 census. The 2010 Census shows 24,770 residents. It is the county seat of McHenry County...
. The two tornadoes covered a 25 miles (40.2 km) swath. Thirteen of the 24 people killed in Belvidere were killed at the school, making this tornado the 6th deadliest ever to hit a school http://www.tornadoproject.com/toptens/topten2.htm. The Belvidere Tornado was especially devastating because it hit the school just as students were getting on the buses to go home. Just before 4pm, the F4 Tornado reached the school. Twelve buses, already filled with elementary school and middle school students, were tossed about. Shortly after the passing of the tornado, faculty and some of the stronger students used the fireproof doors of the high school as stretchers to carry the injured into the cafeteria, the severely injured to the library, and the dead to the gymnasium.
Palos Hills - Oak Lawn - Chicago
Palos Hills, Illinois
Palos Hills is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb of Chicago. The population was 17,665 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Moraine Valley Community College as well as Amos Alonzo Stagg High School.-Geography:...
. It strengthened and in the space of six minutes, tore a 16.2-mile (65 mph ground speed) swath of destruction through Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Oak Lawn is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 55,245 at the 2000 census.Oak Lawn is a suburb of the city of Chicago, located southwest of the city...
, Hometown
Hometown, Illinois
Hometown is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,467 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hometown is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Evergreen Park
Evergreen Park, Illinois
Evergreen Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,044 at the 2009 census.-Geography:Evergreen Park is located at . The suburb is surrounded by the city of Chicago on three of its sides, while Oak Lawn and Hometown border it on the west...
, and devastated the south side of Chicago before moving offshore to Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
as people were stuck in traffic during Friday rush hour. For that reason, this tornado ended up being the deadliest in the outbreak. Thirty-three people were killed and 1000 were injured, including 16 deaths alone at the intersection of Southwest Highway and W. 95th St. (US-12
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
/20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
) in Oak Lawn. It destroyed 152 homes and damaged 900, causing $50 million in damage.
Other tornadoes
These tornadoes were a part of a tornado outbreak which also affected parts of Illinois, northern MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, southeast Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, and southern lower Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. There were a total of 19 tornadoes in Illinois. The entire outbreak killed 58 people.
Recovery
Two days later on Sunday, April 23, 1967, three inches (76 mm) of snow fell on Belvidere, which only exacerbated the cleanup from Friday's tornadoes. In fact, many cities and towns in the Midwest broke record overnight lows on April 24 and 25. A state of emergencyState of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
was declared for Boone County, and the reserves came to assist in the cleanup effort. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Charles Percy
Charles H. Percy
Charles Harting "Chuck" Percy was president of the Bell & Howell Corporation from 1949 to 1964. He was elected United States Senator from Illinois in 1966, re-elected through his term ending in 1985; he concentrated on business and foreign relations...
and Illinois Governor
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
Otto Kerner
Otto Kerner
Otto Kerner is the name of two political figures from Illinois:*Otto Kerner, Sr. , Attorney General of Illinois & judge on U.S. Court of Appeals for Seventh Circuit...
visited to speak with victims and thank the recovery volunteers.
See also
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of tornado-related deaths at schools
- Plainfield TornadoPlainfield TornadoThe 1990 Plainfield tornado was a devastating tornado that occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 28, 1990. The violent tornado killed 29 people and injured 353. It is the only F5 tornado ever recorded in August and the only F5 tornado to ever strike the Chicago area...
External links
- The 1967 Oak Lawn Tornado (Oak Lawn Public Library)
- ComPortOne article on the Belvidere Tornado
- Chicago area remembers 30th anniversary of tornado outbreak (USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
) - The Oak Lawn, Illinois Tornado (Storm Track)
- Map of April 21, 1967 tornadoes
- RRStar.com's tribute
- 40th Anniversary of Northern Illinois’ Worst Tornado Disaster (NWS Chicago)
- Federal Disaster Declaration (Federal Emergency Management AgencyFederal Emergency Management AgencyThe Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
) - Personal Memories Of The Oak Lawn Tornado