— 38 NCDC. Storm Events Database. Search results for all U.S. States and Areas. Tornado. 5-4-2003.

— 37 NWS, NOAA. Service Assessment. Record Tornado Outbreaks of May 4-10, 2003, p. ii.[1]

— 24 NWS WFO, Springfield MO. Natural Haz. Risk Assess. Info…: Vernon Co. MO. 2009, 9.

Kansas ( 8)

–8 NCDC. Storm Events Database.

–2 Wyandotte County, 15:18-15:35 CST, 15 miles long, 500 yards wide.[2]

–1 Victim was a female, 46, who died of injuries Oct 10.

– 1 Kansas City, 15:18-15:35 CST. Male, 82, in home.

–3 Crawford County, 15:35-16:15, 27 miles long.[3]

— 1 Sharon Lasbrook, 48, thrown from mobile home into field.

— 1 George Boyle, 68, killed by debris on floor of manufactured home.

— 1 Josephine Maghe, 87, swept from frame home into the ground.

–3 Cherokee County, May 4, 16:45-17:50, F3, 20 miles long, 880 yards wide.[4]

–1 Julie Green, 50, thrown from home about quarter-mile, where she died.

–2 Crestline area; Charles Ross, Jr., 80 and Phyllis Ross, 73; killed by debris at home.

–6 NOAA Magazine. “Cold Front Spawns Super-Cell Storms, Deadly Tornadoes…” 5-5-2003.

Missouri (19)

–1 Barton County, Liberal area,. Rex Smith, 88; killed by flying debris in his frame house.[5]

–4 Camden County, Decaturville area, F3; 14 miles long, 400 yards wide; 18:36-19:08 CST.[6]

–1 Roy Wright, 53; tossed from his mobile home.

–2 George and Betty Jones, 75 and 76; sought cover in bath tub, but thrown into field.

–1 Grace Racy, 83, taking shelter in her frame home; back broken; died in ~6 weeks.

–3 Cedar County, Jerico Springs vicinity. F3, 25 miles long, 880 yards wide; 17:00-17:45.[7]

–1 Rob Hewitt, 40, taking cover in his frame home; hit by flying debris.

–1 Mark Wilcox, 34, leaving home to help neighbor, hit by flying debris outside.

–1 John Cassell, 86, handicapped; refused to go to basement with wife; hit by debris.

–1 Christian County, Billings area, F3, 13 miles long, 880 yards wide; 18:35-18:50 CST.[8]

–1 Ruth Little, 63; sought cover in frame home with husband and daughter; swept outside.

–2 Dallas County, Louisburg area, F3, 14 miles long, 880 yards wide, 18:20-18:42 CST.[9]

–2 Bob and Robin Moroni, 49 and 47; swept from modular home bed to outdoors.

–1 Greene County, Battlefield area. F3, 4 miles long, 500 yards wide, 18:50-19:03 CST.[10]

–1 Stephanie Allton, 40; outdoors caring for pets when hit by falling oak tree.

–2 Jasper County, Carl Junction, F3, 5 miles long, 880 yards wide; 17:15-17:25.[11]

–Kenneth LaNear, 71, and wife Ethel LaNear, 62; swept from closet shelter to outdoors.

–5 Lawrence County, Pierce City, F3, 25 miles long, 880 yards wide, 17:58-18:35 CST.[12]

–1 Dale Taunton, 52, taking cover in NG armory tornado shelter, but not in basement.

–1 Wanda Sue Handly, 46, in mobile home north of Monett; swept from trailer, hit by debris.

–1 Jacob Aldaba Rueda, 20-weeks; swept from mother in mobile home, thrown quarter mile.

–1 Janet Eskridge, 52; swept from modular home and tossed several yards away.

–1 Vicki Lynn Lawrence, 39, hit by debris when mobile home was destroyed.

Tennessee (11)

–11 Madison County, Denmark area. F4, 26 miles long, 880 yards wide, 22:35-22:57 CST.[13]

Male, 1, permanent home. Female, 22, permanent home. Male 33 mobile home

Male, 7, mobile home. Female, 23, mobile home. Male 39 mobile home

Male, 8, mobile home. Female, 25, mobile home. Male 53 mobile home

Female, 40, mobile home. Female, 44, mobile home.

–11 NOAA Magazine. “Cold Front Spawns Super-Cell Storms, Deadly Tornadoes…” 5-5-2003.

Narrative Information

NWS WFO, Springfield, MO: “May 4^th – 2003…Three tornadic supercell thunder-storms formed over southeast Kansas and moved across the Missouri Ozarks, spawning 13 tornadoes. This was a very rare event for this part of Missouri since many of the tornadoes experienced across this area are short lived small tornadoes. This event surpassed the December 17-18, 2002 tornado event in both loss of lives and property damage, and exceeded tornado events that occurred over the past 100 Years for this part of Missouri. The hardest hit locations included Battlefield, Stockton and Pierce City. 14 tornadoes resulted in extensive damage and 24 deaths. Several of the tornadoes tracked long distances ranging from 15 to 80 miles.” (NWS WFO, Springfield MO. Natural Haz. Risk Assess. Info…: Vernon Co. MO. 2009, 9.)

NCDC, Wyandotte, KS 15:18 CST: “A dry line moved into eastern Kansas and initiated severe thunderstorm development the afternoon of May 4th. Several of the thunderstorms became tornadic in Miami, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties. The strongest tornado reached F4 intensity in Kansas City Kansas before moving into Missouri. This tornado killed an 82 year old man and injured 30 others. Wyandotte county also had $15.5 million dollars in damage, with 69 buildings destroyed, and 390 suffering damage. Leavenworth county had 9 homes destroyed, 8 with major damage and 17 with minor damage. Damage estimates for Leavenworth county are around $4 million dollars. This was the most significant tornado outbreak in the Kansas City Metropolitan areas, since the Pleasant Hill tornado outbreak of 1977. A 46 year old woman died from injuries received with this tornado on October 10th, 2003.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Kansas, Wyandotte County, May 4, 2003, 15:18 CST.)

NCDC, Crawford, KS, 15:35-16-15 CST: “This storm is known to have initiated the unforgettable series of events of 4 May, 2003. This classic supercell rapidly developed over Montgomery County, Kansas, eventually moving into southwestern Crawford County, Kansas where it spawned a very large and destructive tornado. This tornado laid out a path of destruction for 27 miles of farm land and small communities through Crawford County. This event also claimed three lives and injured 20 in eastern sections of the county, where the tornado had strengthened to F-4 status. The tornado continued on the ground into Barton County, Missouri.

“Sharon Lasbrook age 48, was deceased from being thrown out of her mobile home and into a field. Her home was completely disintegrated by the twister.

“George Bolte age 68, was taking cover in his manufactured home and laying over his wife to protect her from flying debris. While saving her life, he was deceased from the debris.

“Josephine Maghe age 87, was taking cover within her frame home as the tornado arrived. She was deceased from being struck into the ground.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Kansas, Crawford County, May 4, 2003, 15:35-16:15, 27 miles long, 880 yards wide.)

NCDC, Barton, MO, 16:15-16:35 CST, 6 Miles long, 880 yards wide: “An F-4 tornado tracked over the Kansas-Missouri state line and into west central Barton County. The tornado destroyed several farm houses and outbuildings prior to dissipating one mile north of Liberal. Ten injuries and one fatality can be accounted for from this large tornado. Rex Smith age 88, was in his frame house two miles west of Liberal when the tornado approached. He was deceased from flying debris.

“While this tornado was dissipating, a second tornado had formed one mile east of Liberal. This feature then tracked 23 miles through mainly rural farm land of central and northeast Barton County, and eventually through Cedar, Polk, Hickory, and Dallas counties. Altogether there were approximately 50 homes and outbuildings that were destroyed from the twisters.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Missouri, Barton County, May 4, 2003.)

NCDC, MO, Cedar County, 17:00-17:45 CST: “A large tornado laid out a path of destruction across the entire county. During this time, it took a path through the center of Stockton, which is the most populated community in the county. 350 homes, businesses, and outbuildings were destroyed while 650 received major damage. 37 local residents sustained injuries as three individuals lost their lives. The tornado continued on the ground into northern Polk County.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Cedar, May 4, 2003, 17:00-17:45 CST.)

NCDC, MO, Jasper County, Carl Junction, 17:15-17:25 CST: “This tornado is a continuation of the Cherokee County, Kansas tornado. This feature crossed the Kansas-Missouri state line near the community of Smithfield, and then wreaked havoc through the center of Carl Junction. Around 112 homes and outbuildings were destroyed while 487 were damaged. The tornado claimed the lives of two local residents and injuring 15.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Jasper County, May 4, 2003, 17:15-17:25 CST.)

NCDC, MO, Lawrence County, Pierce City, F3, 25M, 880 yards wide, 17:58-18:35 CST: This tornado is a continuation of the Newton County tornado. A large tornado laid out a half mile wide path of destruction across southwest, central, and east central Lawrence County. Several communities was affected, however, the community of Pierce City was hardest hit as the historic downtown of 100 plus year old buildings were completely destroyed. Around 229 homes, businesses, and outbuildings were destroyed while 320 were damaged. The tornado also claimed the lives of five local residents and injured 33. The tornado continued on the ground into the Christian County panhandle.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Lawrence Co., May 4, 2003, 17:58-18:35 CST.)

NCDC, MO, Dallas Co., Louisburg area, F3, 14M long, 880 yards wide, 18:20-18:42 CST: “This is a continuation of the Polk County tornado that entered the northwestern portion of Dallas County near the Polk-Hickory-Dallas County lines. The tornado then tracked through rural areas and small communities of northern Dallas County where it destroyed approximately 48 homes and outbuildings and claimed the lives of two local residents.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, MO, Dallas Co., Louisburg area, May 4, 2004., 18:20-18:42.)

NCDC, MO, Christian Co., Billings area, F3, 13M long, 880 yards wide; 18:35-18:50 CST: “This tornado is a continuation of the Lawrence County tornado that laid a half mile wide path of destruction across the Christian County panhandle. Populated areas between the communities of Billings and Clever were affected that resulted in one fatality and three injuries. 27 structures were destroyed while 150 were damaged that added up to around 5.1 million dollars of monetary losses. The tornado continued on the ground into southwestern Greene County.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, MO, Christian Co., May 4, 2003, 18:35-18:50 CST.)

NCDC, MO, Camden Co., Decaturville area, F3; 14M long, 400 yards wide; 18:36-19:08:

“A long lived cyclic supercell that had a history of producing large and destructive tornadoes spawned another large tornado in rural south central Camden County. This tornado then tracked northeast into more populated areas south of Camdenton, where it claimed the lives of four local residents. Approximately 50 homes and outbuildings were destroyed along with significant agricultural loss.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Camden County, May 4, 2003, 18:36-19:08 CST.)

NCDC, MO, Greene Co., Battlefield area. F3, 4M long, 500 yards wide, 18:50-19:03 CST: “This tornado is a continuation of the Christian County tornado that entered southwestern Greene County and laid down a path of destruction into the city of Battlefield. 100 homes and outbuildings were destroyed while another 150 were damaged causing estimated monetary losses of 14.7 million dollars. The tornado also claimed the life of one local resident and injured 12.” (National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Greene County, Battlefield area, May 4, 2003, 18:30-19:03 CST.)

NCDC, TN, Madison Co., Denmark area. F4, 26M long, 880 yards wide, 22:35-22:57 CST: “The tornado touched down in the southwest part of Madison county near Denmark and tracked east through the downtown section of Jackson. The tornado continued to move east and eventually crossed into Henderson county. Nine people were killed in mobile homes between Denmark and Jackson and two other persons were killed in an apartment complex in Jackson. Numerous buildings were destroyed, particularly in downtown Jackson. St. Luke Episcopal Church, one of the oldest churches in Tennessee built in 1844, was destroyed. The Carl Perkins Civic Center, Tennessee Supreme Court Building, the downtown Jackson Post Office and National Guard Armory were damaged. Also damaged was the Proctor and Gamble factory where Pringles Potato Chips are made and a Coca-Cola bottling plant was also damaged. Denmark Elementary School and Jackson Middle School were destroyed and 24 other schools in the county were damaged. The tornado caused severe damage to the local power and water utilities across the county. One of eight stone balls that were set up to commemorate the eight fatalities from the Jackson tornado of January 17, 1999 was blown across a street.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, TN, Madison Co., Denmark area, May 4, 22:35-22:57.)

Sources

Fitzgerald, Daniel C. Sound and Fury: A History of Kansas Tornadoes, 1854-2008. Dan Fitzgerald Company, 2008-2009.

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Search results for all U.S. States and Areas. Tornado. 5-4-2003. Accessed 10-25-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=04&beginDate_yyyy=2003&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=04&endDate_yyyy=2003&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Kansas, Cherokee County, May 4, 2003, 16:45-17:15 CST. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358085

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Kansas, Crawford County, May 4, 2003, 15:35-16:15, 27 miles long, 880 yards wide. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358086

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Kansas, Wyandotte County, May 4, 2003, 15:18 CST, 15 miles length, 500 yards wide. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358918

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Missouri, Barton County, May 4, 2003, 16:15-16:35; 6M long, 880 yards wide. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358087

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Camden County, May 4, 2003, 18:36-19:08 CST. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358164

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Cedar County, May 4, 2003, 17:00-17:45 CST. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358167

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Christian County, May 4, 2003, 18:35-18:50 CST. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358169

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Dallas Co., Louisburg area, May 4, 2004., 18:20-18:42. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358172

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Greene County, Battlefield area, May 4, 2003, 18:30-19:03 CST. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358175

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Jasper County, May 4, 2003, 17:15-17:25 CST. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358178

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Lawrence Co., May 4, 2003, 17:58-18:35 CST. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5358181

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Tennessee, Madison County, Denmark area, May 4, 2003, 22:35-22:57 CST. Accessed 10-26-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5356963

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Cold Front Spawns Super-Cell Storms, Deadly Tornadoes in Central Plains States.” NOAA Magazine. 5-5-2003. Accessed 12-28-2017 at: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s1136.htm

National Weather Service, NOAA. Service Assessment. Record Tornado Outbreaks of May 4-10, 2003. Silver Spring, MD: NWS, December 2003, 58 pages. Accessed 10-25-2015 at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/record-may.pdf

National Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office, Springfield, MO. Natural Hazard Risk Assessment Information: Vernon County Missouri. 2009 Update. Accessed at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/sgf/hazard_book/Hazard_Book_Vernon.pdf

[1] Page ii notes 39 fatalities, which are also reflected in Appendix B: “Direct Fatalities in Each WFO’s CWA,” pp. B-1 through B-3, counting direct fatalities noted for May 4, 2003. However, Appendix C: “Event Statistics,” which notes fatalities per jurisdiction per day, totals 37 for May 4, and another two on May 6, reported by the Paducah, HY Weather Forecast Office.

[2] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Kansas, Wyandotte, May 4, 15:18-15:35.

[3] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Kansas, Crawford County, May 4, 2003, 15:35-16:15.

[4] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Kansas, Cherokee County, May 4, 2003, 16:45-17:15 CST.

[5] NCDC. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Missouri, Barton County, May 4, 2003, 16:15-16:35; 6M long. Fitzgerald notes that a tornado “killed a woman by throwing her from her mobile home while the home disintegrated.” (p. 337.)

[6] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Camden County, May 4, 2003, 18:36-19:08 CST.

[7] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Cedar County, May 4, 2003, 17:00-17:45 CST.

[8] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Christian County, May 4, 2003, 18:35-18:50 CST.

[9] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Dallas Co., Louisburg area, May 4, 2004., 18:20.

[10] NCDC. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, MO, Greene Co., Battlefield area, May 4, 18:30-19:03 CST.

[11] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Jasper County, May 4, 2003, 17:15-17:25 CST.

[12] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Missouri, Lawrence Co., May 4, 2003, 17:58-18:35 CST.

[13] NCDC. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, TN, Madison Co., Denmark area, May 4, 2003, 22:35-22:57 CST.

2003 — May 4, Tornadoes, SE KS (8) MO (19) TN (11) esp. Denmark area — 38