La Plata tornado
The 2002 La Plata tornado ( lə-PLAY-tə) was an extremely powerful and fast-moving multi-vortex tornado that devastated the town of La Plata, Maryland, killing 3 people and injuring 122 others. It was the costliest tornado of the tornado outbreak of April 27–28, 2002, causing at least $115 million in damages. It is also one of the worst storms to affect the greater Baltimore-Washington D.C. area.
What was the La Plata tornado?
The La Plata tornado was an extremely powerful multi-vortex tornado that struck Maryland on April 28, 2002. It reached F4 intensity and caused $115 million in damages across several counties. The storm killed 5 people and injured 122 others. It remains one of the most significant storms to affect the greater Baltimore-Washington D.C. area.
What was the La Plata tornado wind speed?
The La Plata tornado exhibited an exceptionally fast forward speed of 58 mph. This rate made it one of the fastest-moving violent tornadoes on record. While the tornado displayed F4 intensity, surveyors eventually downgraded it from a preliminary F5 rating. Damage assessments indicated that the destruction resulted from a combination of wind and flying debris from local structures like the lumber yard.
What was the La Plata tornado path?
The tornado touched down south of Marbury in Charles County at 6:56 p.m. It traveled eastward for 78 miles through Maryland. The path crossed the Patuxent River into Calvert County and continued across the Chesapeake Bay. It entered Dorchester County, intensified to F3 strength, and finally dissipated west of Salisbury in Wicomico County.
How many people died in the La Plata tornado?
The La Plata tornado caused 5 total fatalities and 122 injuries. One person died in La Plata when their house was swept away. Two additional people perished in Calvert County after their home was lifted and thrown. Another man died on Hawkins Gate Road, and the final fatality occurred when an elderly couple suffered injuries in a home that lacked a proper foundation.
What did the La Plata tornado destroy?
The tornado destroyed roughly 65 percent of downtown La Plata. It leveled businesses, including a CVS Pharmacy and a KFC, and snapped a 125-foot steel water tower. The storm obliterated the Archbishop Neale School, where it threw heavy cement roof slabs into classrooms. Hundreds of residential homes sustained damage or total destruction across Charles and Calvert Counties.
What caused the La Plata tornado?
A supercell thunderstorm developed in central West Virginia on the afternoon of April 28. This system traveled across the Appalachian Mountains and exhibited tornadic characteristics near Quicksburg, Virginia. Forecasters noted a weakening in the hook echo as the supercell approached the Potomac River. Despite this apparent decline in radar signatures, the system produced a violent tornado shortly after crossing into Maryland.
What happened after the La Plata tornado?
Governor Parris N. Glendening declared a state of emergency for the affected counties. The Red Cross provided housing for displaced families while cleanup crews cleared 90 percent of debris within two days. The town later installed tornado sirens to improve future preparedness. This event also spurred the development of the modern Enhanced Fujita scale to improve future damage surveys.
La Plata Tornado Track
The mapped ground track below shows the surveyed touchdown point, damage corridor, and dissipation coordinates recorded by NWS field crews. The La Plata tornado traveled 78 miles across Charles County, Calvert County, Dorchester County, and Wicomico County. Coordinates are derived from the official SPC historical tornado database.
Was the La Plata tornado an F5?
The La Plata tornado was initially rated F5 but was later downgraded to F4 after a survey determined the damage was enhanced by debris and improper building anchorage.
How long did the La Plata tornado last?
The tornado lasted for 1 hour and 30 minutes, producing a 78-mile trail of destruction.
When did the La Plata tornado happen?
The tornado touched down on April 28, 2002, at approximately 6:56 p.m. EST.
What is the history of tornadoes in La Plata?
A previous violent tornado struck La Plata on November 9, 1926, killing 17 people and injuring 35 to 65 others.