Tornado outbreak of June 18–22, 2011

On June 18–22, 2011, a large and damaging tornado outbreak produced widespread tornado activity across much of the Midwest and Central U.S. The most intense activity occurred on June 20, when multiple supercell thunderstorms produced numerous tornadoes across the Great Plains. Some of these tornadoes were large and intense, but for the most part only affected rural areas. The strongest of these tornadoes impacted Kansas and Nebraska. Another notable event occurred on June 22, when a series of 5 tornadoes struck the Louisville metropolitan area. One of these tornadoes caused severe damage at the famous Churchill Downs racetrack. Despite the number and intensity of some of the tornadoes, the outbreak caused no fatalities.

Tornado outbreak of June 18–22, 2011

Type	Tornado outbreak
Duration	June 18–22, 2011
Tornadoes confirmed	78
Max. rating1	EF3 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak2	around 4 days
Fatalities	0 fatalities, 4 injuries
Damage	$44 million (2011 USD)[1]
Areas affected	Great Plains, Midwest, Central United States
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2011 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Meteorological synopsis

On June 18, a total of 11 tornadoes touched down across the Great Plains and Midwest. These tornadoes were mostly weak or remained over open country. The worst of the damage was to trees and outbuildings.

On June 19, the Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk of severe weather for the Central Plains. By the evening hours, several tornadoes had touched down over rural areas. Most of these tornadoes were weak. However, an EF2 tornado caused significant damage near Cherryville, Missouri, and injured 3 people. Another EF2 tornado also caused considerable damage in Breckinridge County, Kentucky as well. An EF1 tornado caused severe damage south of Du Quoin, Illinois and injured 1 person.^[2]

During the afternoon of June 20, a particularly dangerous situation (PDS) tornado watch was issued for much of central Nebraska and north-central Kansas due to the threat of significant tornadoes. Additionally, very large hail, at least 4 in (10 cm) in diameter, was expected within the watch area. Around 1:00 p.m. local time, storm chasers reported a large EF3 tornado on the ground north of Hill City, Kansas and again later that afternoon near Elm Creek, Nebraska. Numerous other tornadoes were reported across the region including near Ravenna and in York County, some reported to have been very large and intense, but mostly over open country. However, some of the tornadoes impacted numerous rural farmsteads, and caused severe damage. Several of these tornadoes reached EF3 intensity. Tornado warnings stretched from North Dakota to Kansas. Additionally, a major derecho event developed farther south – a PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued for parts of Oklahoma and North Texas as well. On June 21, tornado watches were issued for several areas, including central Minnesota and Wisconsin, southern Illinois and parts of Missouri, and lower Michigan. Tornadoes were reported in Anoka County, Minnesota, and Green Lake and Fond du Lac Counties in Wisconsin. Several tornadoes touched down across the area, causing mostly minor damage.^[3] Additionally, local law enforcement reported a tornado in Allegan County in Michigan, with photos taken also showing what looked like a tornado, but no damage was seen in the area, and the National Weather Service determined it to have been low hanging clouds.^[4] Meanwhile, a major derecho event impacted the Chicago Metropolitan Area.^[5] The worst damage was in Wheeling, Illinois. A tornado touched down in Downers Grove, Illinois^[6]

A series of tornadoes tracked across the Louisville, Kentucky area late on June 22.^[7] A total of five tornadoes were confirmed in the area, including two that were rated EF2. One of the tornadoes directly hit Churchill Downs racetrack severely damaging several buildings on the site. Other significant damage was reported in several industrial parks in the metropolitan area with buildings heavily damaged. A few other tornadoes caused minor damage in Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Michigan.^[8]

Tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating

EFU	EF0	EF1	EF2	EF3	EF4	EF5	Total
0	43	21	9	5	0	0	78

June 18 event

List of reported tornadoes – Saturday, June 18, 2011
EF#	Location	County	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path Length	Comments/Damage
Oklahoma
EF0	W of Hulah	Osage	36.93°N 96.16°W / 36.93; -96.16 (Hulah (Jun 18, EF0))	0125		Tornado lasted for 10 to 15 minutes over an open field, producing no known damage.
EF0	E of Copan	Washington	36.54°N 95.52°W / 36.54; -95.52 (Copan (Jun 18, EF0))	unknown		Brief tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF0	E of Grainola	Osage	36.57°N 96.33°W / 36.57; -96.33 (Grainola (Jun 18, EF0))	unknown		Brief tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF0	SW of Boulangerville	Osage	36.55°N 96.17°W / 36.55; -96.17 (Boulangerville (Jun 18, EF0))	unknown		Brief tornado remained over open country with no damage.
Missouri
EF0	SE of Brighton	Polk, Greene	37.42°N 93.32°W / 37.42; -93.32 (Brighton (Jun 18, EF0))	0503	3 mi (4.8 km)	A metal barn was destroyed, a home had minor siding damage and several trees were felled.
EF1	NE of Everton	Dade, Greene	37.22°N 93.37°W / 37.22; -93.37 (Everton (Jun 18, EF1))	0435	11 mi (18 km)	Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted.
EF1	SE of Dadeville	Dade, Polk	37.27°N 93.37°W / 37.27; -93.37 (Dadeville (Jun 18, EF1))	Unknown	6 mi (9.7 km)	Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted and outbuildings were destroyed.
Colorado
EF0	NE of Wild Horse	Cheyenne	38.54°N 102.57°W / 38.54; -102.57 (Wild Horse (Jun 18, EF0))	unknown	unknown	Tornado remained over open fields with no damage.
EF0	SW of Firstview	Cheyenne	38.46°N 102.34°W / 38.46; -102.34 (Firstview (Jun 18, EF0))	unknown	unknown	Tornado remained over open fields with no damage.
Kansas
EF0	SW of Gove	Gove	38.51°N 100.3°W / 38.51; -100.3 (Gove (Jun 18, EF0))	unknown	unknown	Tornado remained over open fields with no damage.
Nebraska
EF0	W of Mitchell	Scotts Bluff	41.57°N 103.51°W / 41.57; -103.51 (Mitchell (Jun 18, EF0))	unknown	unknown	Tornado remained over open fields with no damage.
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 06/18/11

June 19 event

List of reported tornadoes – Sunday, June 19, 2011
EF#	Location	County	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Comments/Damage
Missouri
EF0	W of Cherryville (1st tornado)	Crawford		0700	0.75 mi (1.21 km)	Extensive tree damage occurred.
EF2	W of Cherryville (2nd tornado)	Crawford		0710	3.1 mi (5.0 km)	Numerous trees snapped and uprooted along the path. Two homes were also damaged, one of which lost a significant portion of its roof and parts of the walls. Support beams were found up to 0.75 mi (1.21 km) from the home. Three people inside the home sustained minor injuries.
EF0	NW of Westboro	Atchison		unknown	1 mi (1.6 km)	Tornado remained over open country with no damage.
Kentucky
EF2	S of Harned	Breckinridge	37.75°N 86.42°W / 37.75; -86.42 (Harned (Jun 19, EF2))	1139	1 mi (1.6 km)	A house sustained significant roof damage and two barns were heavily damaged. Trees were uprooted and snapped. Power poles were pushed over and sheet metal was found thrown up to 300 yards as well.
EF0	SE of Harned	Breckinridge	37.73°N 86.40°W / 37.73; -86.40 (Harned (Jun 19, EF0))	1142	0.1 mi (160 m)	Brief tornado damaged a barn.
Indiana
EF0	S of Sulphur Springs	Perry	38.19°N 86.50°W / 38.19; -86.50 (Sulphur Springs (Jun 19, EF0))	1531	0.2 mi (320 m)	Brief tornado uprooted several trees
Wisconsin
EF0	S of Theresa	Dodge	43.45°N 88.45°W / 43.45; -88.45 (Theresa (Jun 19, EF0))	2156	Unknown	Brief tornado flattened grass in a swirl pattern and snapped tree limbs.
Kansas
EF0	E of Woodbine	Morris	38.80°N 96.90°W / 38.80; -96.90 (Woodbine (Jun 19, EF0))	0112	Unknown	Brief touchdown with no damage. Tornado lasted less than one minute.
Colorado
EF0	NW of Sedgwick	Sedgwick		unknown	unknown	Brief tornado over open country with no damage.
Iowa
EF0	E of Rake	Winnebago		unknown	unknown	Landspout tornado over open country with no damage. Tornado was very slow moving.
Illinois
EF1	S of Du Quion	Perry	37.59°N 89.15°W / 37.59; -89.15 (Clinch (Jun 19, EF1))	unknown	3 mi (4.8 km)	Tornado struck the Du Quion State Fairgrounds and caused severe damage. Multiple trees were snapped and uprooted in the area, some of which landed on a shower/restroom building and the Farm Service Building, destroying them both. Several RV's were flipped or demolished, in one of which 3 people were trapped and required rescue. An arena building sustained damage to its doors and had air conditioning units torn from its roof. Several nearby homes had shingles torn off and sustained damage from falling trees. Uprooted trees ruptured gas lines in the area as well. One person was injured.
Nebraska
EF0	NW of Max(1st tornado)	Dundy		unknown	3 mi (4.8 km)	Tornado damaged the roof of a barn and overturned an irrigation pivot.
EF0	NW of Max(2nd tornado)	Dundy		unknown	2 mi (3.2 km)	Tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF0	N of Perry	Red Willow		unknown	3 mi (4.8 km)	Large dusty tornado remained over open country with no damage.
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 06/18/11 and 06/19/11

June 20 event

List of reported tornadoes – Monday, June 20, 2011
EF#	Location	County	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Comments/Damage
Iowa
EF1	New Sharon area	Mahaska	41.47°N 92.65°W / 41.47; -92.65 (New Sharon (Jun 20, EF1))	1005	0.5 mi (800 m)	A modular building was mostly destroyed and a few gravestones were toppled in a cemetery. Numerous trees were downed, some of which landed on homes. Power poles were downed as well and cars were pushed over into a ditch.
EF0	NW of Kingsley	Plymouth	42.67°N 96.08°W / 42.67; -96.08 (Kingsley (Jun 20, EF0))	0240	1 mi (1.6 km)	Numerous farm buildings and grain bins were damaged
EF1	SW of Moorhead	Monona	42.00°N 95.54°W / 42.00; -95.54 (Moorhead (Jun 20, EF1))	unknown	7 mi (11 km)	Numerous trees and power lines were downed. One farm house lost section of its roof. A grain bin and several outbuildings were destroyed as well.
EF1	NW of St. Joseph	Kossuth	42.57°N 97.19°W / 42.57; -97.19 (St. Joseph (Jun 20, EF1))	unknown	1 mi (1.6 km)	One home was badly damaged and grain bins were destroyed. Trees were downed as well.
Illinois
EF1	SE of Bonfield	Kankakee	41.13°N 88.03°W / 41.13; -88.03 (Bonfield (Jun 20, EF1))	1114	2.5 mi (4.0 km)	Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, causing severe damage to several homes. One outbuilding was destroyed.
Kansas
EF0	SE of Quinter	Gove		1755	1 mi (1.6 km)	Dusty tornado remained over open fields with no damage.
EF0	NNE of Quinter	Gove		1800	3 mi (4.8 km)	Tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF0	WNW of St. Peter	Graham		1812	5 mi (8.0 km)	Tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF3	NNW of Hill City (1st tornado)	Graham, Norton	39.50°N 99.85°W / 39.50; -99.85 (Hill City (Jun 20, EF3))	1854	11 mi (18 km)	Large wedge tornado produced severe damage in the area. Power poles were destroyed and irrigation pivots were overturned. Heavy farm equipment was thrown up to 3/4 of a mile. Grain bins and outbuildings were destroyed, and vehicles were flipped. One home sustained heavy roof damage and tree damage occurred as well.
EF1	NNW of Hill City (2nd tornado)	Graham		1857	1 mi (1.6 km)	Satellite tornado to the EF3 Hill City storm
EF1	N of Hill City	Graham		1904	1 mi (1.6 km)	Satellite tornado to the EF3 Hill City storm.
EF0	NNW of Densmore	Norton		1915	2 mi (3.2 km)	Dusty tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF3	N of Densmore	Norton		1925	4 mi (6.4 km)	One home was badly damaged. Outbuildings were destroyed and power poles were snapped. Trees were snapped and debarked as well.
EF1	S of Calvert	Norton		1926	2 mi (3.2 km)	A barn was destroyed and four power poles were snapped.
EF2	SSE of Calvert	Norton		1930	4 mi (6.4 km)	A barn and grain bin were destroyed. Power lines were damaged and irrigation pivots were overturned. One home was heavily damaged.
EF0	SE of Almena	Norton		1940	2 mi (3.2 km)	Tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF3	NE of Almena	Norton, Phillips	39.89°N 99.71°W / 39.89; -99.71 (Almena (Jun 20, EF3))	1941	5 mi (8.0 km)	A house was completely destroyed, where four people were injured. Many homes and farmsteads sustained significant damage in the area. Multiple outbuildings were destroyed and heavy farm equipment was thrown and destroyed as well.
EF0	S of Selden	Sheridan		2227	9 mi (14 km)	Tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF0	NW of Norcatur	Decatur		2325	1 mi (1.6 km)	Brief tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF0	NE of Norcatur	Norton		2344	1 mi (1.6 km)	Brief tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF0	N of Norcatur	Decatur		2345	1 mi (1.6 km)	Brief tornado remained over open country with no damage.
Nebraska
EF1	S of Stamford	Harlan	40.04°N 99.59°W / 40.04; -99.59 (Stamford (Jun 20, EF1))	2000	13 mi (21 km)	Multi-vortex tornado. Several outbuildings were destroyed and many windows were broken. Tornado also destroyed a grain bin and snapped tree limbs.
EF0	ENE of Westmark	Phelps, Buffalo		2035	5 mi (8.0 km)	Tornado overturned multiple irrigation pivots along the path. Minor tree damage also occurred.
EF2	Elm Creek area	Buffalo	40.72°N 99.38°W / 40.72; -99.38 (Elm Creek (Jun 20, EF2))	2051	4 mi (6.4 km)	Tornado began west of Elm Creek and tracked east-southeast into the city. Numerous trees and were snapped or uprooted and several homes were damaged, some of which lost their roofs. One man was injured when his semi-truck was flipped by the tornado. A few outbuildings were also destroyed and power poles were snapped. While moving through the city, the storm took a sharp northward turn and weakened. Further down the track, the tornado briefly re-intensified as it damaged a home. It dissipated roughly 2.5 mi (4.0 km) southwest Amherst.
EF3	W of Amherst	Buffalo	40.87°N 99.27°W / 40.87; -99.27 (Pleasanton (Jun 20, EF3))	2109	10 mi (16 km)	Large wedge tornado damaged or destroyed over 48 homes, some of which were completely flattened. Large metal high-tension power line trusses were knocked down and over 40 irrigation pivots were damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees and power lines were snapped and outbuildings were destroyed as well.
EF0	N of Pleasanton	Buffalo	40.94°N 99.05°W / 40.94; -99.05 (Pleasanton (Jun 20, EF0))	2135	4 mi (6.4 km)	Tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF2	SW of Rockville	Sherman	41.10°N 98.88°W / 41.10; -98.88 (Rockville (Jun 20, EF2))	2146	3 mi (4.8 km)	One home was damaged along with several trees. A pole building was destroyed as well.
EF0	WSW of Farwell	Howard		2205	unknown	Brief tornado touchdown in a field damaged an irrigation pivot.
EF2	SSW of Hampton	Hamilton	40.80°N 97.93°W / 40.80; -97.93 (Hampton (Jun 20, EF2))	2225	9 mi (14 km)	7 homes were damaged by the tornado. Numerous trees and power poles were snapped and multiple outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. A grain truck was overturned and several grain bins were damaged. At least 60 irrigation pivots were damaged or destroyed, some of which were found wrapped around trees.
EF1	S of North Loup	Valley	41.42°N 98.77°W / 41.42; -98.77 (North Loup (Jun 20, EF1))	2235	1 mi (1.6 km)	Damage occurred at Davis Creek campground. Numerous trees were downed and two restroom facilities had their roofs torn off.
EF2	SW of Bradshaw to NE of Polk	York, Polk	40.88°N 97.78°W / 40.88; -97.78 (Bradshaw (Jun 20, EF2))	2240	17 mi (27 km)	A train was derailed, grain bins damaged and over 40 power poles were downed. One home was badly damaged and a combine was tossed into a field and destroyed. Trees were also damaged and irrigation pivots were overturned.
EF3	W of Osceola	Polk	41.18°N 97.70°W / 41.18; -97.70 (Osceola (Jun 20, EF3))	2302	9 mi (14 km)	One home was destroyed and two others were damaged. Trees were debarked and power poles were snapped, irrigation pivots were overturned, and crops were stripped from the ground. Outbuildings were destroyed and a tractor was thrown and destroyed almost beyond recognition. An ATV, a car, and a semi-truck trailer were tossed by the tornado as well.
EF1	SE of Pierce	Pierce		0027	12 mi (19 km)	Tornado downed numerous trees and power poles and destroyed barns and outbuildings. Irrigation pivots were overturned and a section of roof was torn from a home. Farm equipment was thrown up to 300 yards and other debris was thrown up to a quarter of a mile. A steel bin was thrown into a car, totaling the vehicle, and injuring the occupant.
EF1	Fremont area	Dodge		0100	6 mi (9.7 km)	Tornado struck the northeast side of town. Numerous trees and power poles were snapped, some of which landed on homes and vehicles, and a garage was badly damaged. A YMCA sustained severe roof damage and a vehicle was flipped.
Texas
EF0	E of Eliasville	Stephens	32.95°N 98.72°W / 32.95; -98.72 (Eliasville (Jun 20, EF0))	0145	Unknown	Brief tornado with no damage
North Dakota
EF0	SW of Raub	McLean	47.36°N 102.06°W / 47.36; -102.06 (Raub (Jun 20, EF0))	unknown	unknown	Slow moving tornado remained over open country with no damage.
EF0	NE of Almont	Morton	46.46°N 101.25°W / 46.46; -101.25 (Almont(Jun 20, EF0))	unknown	unknown	Brief tornado remained over open country with no damage.
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 06/20/11, NWS Goodland, NWS Hastings

June 21 event

List of reported tornadoes – Tuesday, June 21, 2011
EF#	Location	County	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Comments/Damage
Iowa
EF0	NE of Clutier	Tama	42.09°N 92.39°W / 42.09; -92.39 (Clutier (Jun 21, EF0))	0615	300 yards (270 m)	Brief tornado snapped several trees and tore the roof off an outbuilding.
Wisconsin
EF1	WSW of Alto	Fond du Lac, Green Lake	43.66°N 88.85°W / 43.66; -88.85 (Alto (Jun 21, EF1))	2021	4.6 mi (7.4 km)	A pole-shed was flattened and a barn was damaged. Homes were also damaged. Several trees and power lines were downed.
EF1	SSE of Green Lake	Fond du Lac, Green Lake	43.78°N 88.92°W / 43.78; -88.92 (Green Lake (Jun 21, EF1))	2036	2.5 mi (4.0 km)	A barn had part of its roof torn off and a pole shed sustained roof damage. Many trees were snapped or uprooted.
Minnesota
EF0	Coon Rapids area	Anoka	45.17°N 93.31°W / 45.17; -93.31 (Coon Rapids (Jun 21, EF0))	2010	5.5 mi (8.9 km)	Damage was mostly confined to downed trees and power lines, a few of which landed on homes.
Texas
EF0	E of Timpson	Shelby	31.91°N 94.36°W / 31.91; -94.36 (Timpson (Jun 21, EF0))	2055	4 mi (6.4 km)	Several trees and branches were snapped
EF0	W of Center	Shelby	31.79°N 94.23°W / 31.79; -94.23 (Center (Jun 21, EF0))	2200	1.5 mi (2.4 km)	Several trees and branches were snapped
Illinois
EF1	S of Downers Grove	DuPage	41.77°N 88.02°W / 41.77; -88.02 (Downers Grove (Jun 21, EF1))	0131	2.1 mi (3.4 km)	Many trees were snapped and uprooted, which damaged over 35 homes. A fence was blown down as well.
EF1	WSW of Mount Prospect	Cook	42.06°N 87.96°W / 42.06; -87.96 (Mount Prospect (Jun 21, EF1))	0148	2.3 mi (3.7 km)	Numerous trees snapped and uprooted along the path, a few of which landed on homes and caused structural damage.
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 06/21/11, National Weather Service – June 21st Suburban Chicago Tornadoes

June 22 event

List of reported tornadoes – Wednesday, June 22, 2011
EF#	Location	County	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Comments/Damage
Mississippi
EF1	Vardaman area	Calhoun	33.87680°N 89.18581°W / 33.87680; -89.18581 (Vardaman (Jun 22, EF1))	1750	3 mi (4.8 km)	Short-lived tornado downed numerous trees, some of which fell on homes, and damaged several tractor sheds. One person was injured after a tree fell on a home.
Tennessee
EF0	NW of Loudon	Roane	35.77°N 84.47°W / 35.77; -84.47 (Loudon (Jun 22, EF0))	2240	0.1 mi (160 m)	Brief tornado downed several trees.
Indiana
EF0	SW of New Middletown	Harrison	31.84°N 86.04°W / 31.84; -86.04 (Middletown (Jun 22, EF0))	2327	0.3 mi (480 m)	A row of trees was damaged and a house lost some siding.
Michigan
EF0	Lake Leelanau	Leelanau		1837	unknown	Trees were downed and boats and docks were damaged. Tornado moved over the lake and dissipated.
Kentucky
EF2	Louisville area	Jefferson	38.22°N 85.74°W / 38.22; -85.74 (Louisville (Jun 22, EF2))	0004	1.2 mi (1.9 km)	Several barns were badly damaged in Churchill Downs, along with a church on the property. Elsewhere a large industrial building suffered heavy damage and numerous trees were uprooted and snapped. An office building lost a large section of its roof as well. A hotel also sustained roof damage and numerous power poles were snapped. Homes sustained shingle and siding damage and metal stoplight poles were downed. Several horses were displaced by the tornado but were later rounded up uninjured.
EF1	W of downtown Jeffersontown	Jefferson	38.21°N 85.61°W / 38.21; -85.61 (Jefferson (Jun 22, EF1))	0129	1.9 mi (3.1 km)	Tornado moved through a subdivision and caused roof, gutter, and siding damage. A locked pool gate was thrown 35 yards (32 m). Several trees were downed as well.
EF2	Downtown Jeffersontown area	Jefferson	38.21°N 85.55°W / 38.21; -85.55 (Jefferson (Jun 22, EF2))	0134	1.6 mi (2.6 km)	Numerous trees snapped and uprooted, some of which landed on structures and vehicles. A warehouse and a nursing home were badly damaged and cars were flipped and tossed 25 feet. A small shed was thrown 30 feet and a metal light pole was bent over. A gas station was damaged as well.
EF1	NE of downtown Jeffersontown	Jefferson	38.21°N 85.55°W / 38.21; -85.55 (Jefferson (Jun 22, EF1))	0138	1.7 mi (2.7 km)	Several warehouses suffered roof damage. An air handler was thrown 100–125 yards. Dozens of trees were uprooted as well.
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 06/22/11, NWS louisville

See also

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• Tornado outbreak sequence of June 14–19, 2023