West Bend tornado
In the early morning hours of April 4, 1981, an unusual and deadly anticyclonic F4 tornado struck West Bend, Wisconsin. It killed three people, and injured another 53. The tornado was largely unexpected and the storm that produced it did not display features of a typical severe storm. Because of this, the National Weather Service issued only a Severe Thunderstorm Warning prior to the tornado which caused local law enforcement to not sound the tornado sirens in time for residents to take shelter.
What was the West Bend tornado?
The West Bend tornado struck West Bend, Wisconsin, on April 4, 1981. This unusual and deadly anticyclonic storm reached F4 intensity in the early morning hours. It stands as the strongest anticyclonic tornado ever recorded. The event resulted in three deaths and 53 injuries across the city.
What was the West Bend tornado wind speed?
The West Bend tornado produced maximum winds ranging from 207 to 260 miles per hour. These extreme wind speeds generated F4 damage to residential homes during the event. Such intensity was unexpected given the weakening state of the parent storm. The event remains a notable record for anticyclonic wind speeds.
What was the West Bend tornado path?
The tornado touched down on the north side of West Bend at the intersection of Jefferson Street and North 18th Avenue. It moved along and north of Green Tree Road through the campus of Moraine Park Technical College. The path continued across the Milwaukee River before the storm produced F4 damage near Newark Road. It lifted shortly after reaching that final area.
How many people died in the West Bend tornado?
The West Bend tornado killed three people and injured another 53 individuals. All fatalities occurred within a few blocks of the initial touchdown site. Medical teams and emergency services treated these casualties in the aftermath of the disaster. This death toll reflects the unexpected nature of the storm arrival.
What did the West Bend tornado destroy?
The tornado destroyed or damaged approximately 139 structures throughout West Bend. It leveled multiple homes near the touchdown point and along Newark Road with F4 intensity. The main building of the Moraine Park Technical College campus suffered severe damage at an F2 to F3 level. Debris from these structures littered the area following the storm.
What caused the West Bend tornado?
A thunderstorm developed over south central Wisconsin around 12:00am CST on April 4, 1981. This storm produced a downburst near the village of Clyman before reaching West Bend. Although it lacked typical severe storm features, it produced a rare anticyclonic tornado. Radar in Neenah observed a weak bow echo while the parent storm weakened.
What happened after the West Bend tornado?
Governor Lee S. Dreyfus declared a state of emergency to facilitate aid for homeless residents and the damaged city. The American Red Cross assessed the damage while the community grappled with the disruption of classes at Moraine Park Technical Institute. Police failed to activate sirens because they did not receive a formal Tornado Warning from the National Weather Service. This oversight highlighted significant challenges in operational meteorology and nowcasting procedures.
West Bend Tornado Track
The mapped ground track below shows the surveyed touchdown point, damage corridor, and dissipation coordinates recorded by NWS field crews. The West Bend tornado traveled Not specified across West Bend, Wisconsin. Coordinates are derived from the official SPC historical tornado database.
Was the West Bend tornado anticyclonic?
Yes, the West Bend tornado was an anticyclonic tornado and remains the strongest such storm ever recorded.
Did sirens sound before the West Bend tornado?
No, local police did not activate the city siren system because the National Weather Service issued only a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
What time did the West Bend tornado hit?
The tornado touched down a few minutes after midnight CDT on April 4, 1981.
How much damage did the West Bend tornado cause?
The West Bend tornado caused $25.0 million in damages based on 1981 USD valuations.