 A map of that day's tornado tracks | |
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | March 27, 1994 |
| Highest gust | 104 mph (167 km/h) at Randolph AFB, Texas |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 29 |
| Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 21 hours, 45 minutes |
| Largest hail | 4.5 in (11 cm) |
| Fatalities | 40 fatalities, 491 injuries |
| Damage | $140 million (2005 USD) |
| Areas affected | Southeastern United States |
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 1994 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
The 1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak was the third notable US tornado outbreak to occur on Palm Sunday and the second to take place in the Southeastern United States. The outbreak produced 29 tornadoes from Texas to North Carolina, killing 40 people and injuring 491, and causing $140 million in damage. The deadliest storm of the outbreak, as well as in the US in 1994, was an F4 tornado that devastated Piedmont, Alabama.[1] It struck the Goshen United Methodist Church right in the middle of the Palm Sunday service, collapsing the roof on the congregation and killing 20 people inside, including the Rev. Kelly Clem's 4-year-old daughter Hannah. Two other houses of worship were also destroyed mid-service. The supercell that formed this tornado tracked for 200 miles (322 km) to South Carolina.
- ^ Grazulis 1997, p. 1357