Roanoke Tornado Map
During the afternoon hours of July 13, 2004, a powerful F4 tornado formed outside of Roanoke, a small town in central Illinois. It is best known for the numerous videos and pictures taken of it as well as the complete destruction of the Parsons Manufacturing plant. Despite the damage, there were only three minor injuries and no fatalities. It was one of six tornadoes to touch down that day.
The path of the Roanoke tornado
On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 13, 2004, a tornado touched down 8 miles west of Roanoke. Over the next 9.6 miles it traveled east-southeast before lifting just southeast of Roanoke.
At its widest the damage path was 440 yards across. It was rated F4 on the Fujita Scale, a violent tornado. It injured 3 people; no one was killed.
The track, widths and figures on this map come from the Storm Prediction Center's survey record, so they can differ slightly from totals published elsewhere.
What was the Roanoke tornado?
The Roanoke tornado struck central Illinois during the afternoon of July 13, 2004. This powerful storm earned an F4 rating on the Fujita scale due to its extreme damage. It formed outside of the small town of Roanoke and stands as one of six tornadoes occurring that day. The storm remains famous for its extensive video and photographic documentation.
What was the Roanoke tornado wind speed?
The provided data does not list a specific maximum wind speed for the Roanoke tornado. The National Weather Service officially classified the storm as an F4 event based on the severity of the damage. This classification indicates violent intensity. Detailed wind measurements were not included in the available incident summary.
What was the Roanoke tornado path?
The tornado touched down approximately 1.8 miles north of Metamora. It traveled roughly 9.6 miles in a southeasterly direction over a duration of 25 minutes. The vortex reached a maximum width of one-quarter mile while moving across the countryside. It eventually lifted approximately 2.5 miles southeast of Roanoke.
How many people died in the Roanoke tornado?
Zero fatalities occurred during the Roanoke tornado despite the severe destruction of the Parsons Manufacturing plant. Three minor injuries affected the population during the event. Staff members reached storm shelters in time thanks to an alarm sounded by internal spotters. This preparation prevented any loss of life.
What did the Roanoke tornado destroy?
The tornado leveled the Parsons Manufacturing plant, ripping away the outer walls and roof. It threw large steel beams approximately 3/4-mile away from the original site. The storm also swept away three neighboring farmsteads and mangled heavy farm machinery. Many employee vehicles sustained enough force to land in nearby cornfields.
What caused the Roanoke tornado?
The Roanoke tornado grew from a highly unstable environment as part of a larger tornado outbreak. This event transitioned into a destructive derecho that crossed the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. The National Weather Service analyzed the tornadogenesis during this session as part of a severe weather series. It originated from a supercell that spawned other weaker tornadoes that same day.
What happened after the Roanoke tornado?
Emergency recovery involved the reopening of the Parsons plant in April 2005 with seven new storm shelters. The community sold a video of the event to raise funds for employees who lost their personal vehicles. Researchers from the National Weather Service studied the warning process used at the manufacturing plant to improve future safety protocols. Officials cited structural planning and spotter training as key factors in the successful survival of the workers.
