On April 19–21, 1973, a significant tornado outbreak sequence affected portions of the Southern and Midwestern United States, primarily in the states of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The severe weather event generated at least 68 tornadoes, 12 of which were rated as intense events on the Fujita scale. A destructive F3 tornado struck Batesville, Arkansas, injuring 18 people. An F4 tornado killed one person and injured three others near Atlanta, Missouri, though its rating is disputed among tornado specialists. Additionally, destructive F3 tornadoes occurred near Ada, Oklahoma, and Harrison, Arkansas, respectively, killing one person and injuring 40 others.

Outbreak statistics

At least four other tornadoes were reported by either Storm Data or Grazulis, but are not listed in the official records maintained by the Storm Prediction Center. They are as follows:

•Benton County, Missouri (west of Lincoln) – Possible F2 tornado razed a barn and a trailer. •Andrew County, Missouri (Savannah) – Tornado reported. •DeKalb County, Missouri – Tornado reported. •Harrison County, Missouri (Eagleville) – Tornado reported.

+Impacts by regionRegionLocaleDeathsInjuriesDamagesSourceUnited StatesArizona 0 0 Arkansas 1 39 Illinois 0 2 Iowa 0 6 Kansas 0 0 Kentucky 0 0 Missouri 1 29 Oklahoma 0 27 North Dakota 0 0 South Dakota 0 2 Tennessee 0 1 Total2106

Confirmed tornadoes April 19 event + Confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, April 19, 1973F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStartTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary F1NashvilleSevierAR15:45–?A brief, narrow tornado produced minimal damage, accompanied by hail. Losses only totaled $30. F1E of MillingtonShelbyTN16:15–?This short-lived tornado struck a number of mobile homes, six of which were damaged significantly. Nearby, 13 others sustained minor damage. Losses totaled $25,000. The tornado occurred near present-day Naval Support Activity Mid-South. F2N of KensingtonSmithKS16:31–?A tornado affected farmland in northern Kansas, wrecking farm equipment and several outbuildings. Losses totaled $2,500. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F1E of Mountain ValleyGarlandAR16:55–?Another short-lived tornado downed trees and electrical lines. Nearby, it leveled a barn as well. Losses totaled $2,500. The actual touchdown location may have been south of Hot Springs. F3Southern BatesvilleIndependenceAR17:15–?See section on this tornado – A total of 18 people were injured. F2Northeastern North Little RockPulaskiAR17:17–?This tornado occurred near present-day Lakewood Park and caused general tree damage as it skipped along. Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F1N of Olive BranchLauderdaleTN17:30–?A store received minimal damage to its roof and one of its walls. A home in the area slid off its foundation, and several trees were downed. Losses totaled $25,000. F1WSW of TylersvilleDyerTN18:35–?A very brief tornado inflicted damage to several structures, including a mobile home that was flattened, as well as an electrical wire. One person was injured and losses totaled $25,000. F2N of CovingtonPemiscotMO19:00–?This tornado occurred near Gibson and Hayti. Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F2S of Hickman to WNW of FarmingtonFulton, Hickman, GravesKY19:30–?A long-tracked, skipping tornado or tornado family produced three intermittent areas of damage. It first caused minimal damage to a cemetery near Hickman. Later, it leveled several barns and felled trees in its path near Pryorsburg and Mayfield. Losses totaled $25,000. F2ESE of Artesian to ENE of AlpenaSanbornSD20:15–?A tornado tracked northwest across Sanborn County, tearing the roof off a business and leveling a barn. Some other barns sustained damage as well. The time of occurrence may have been 23:15 UTC. Two people were injured and losses totaled $25,000. F2S of EnglandLonokeAR20:15–?A short-lived tornado caused damage to four mobile homes, trees, electrical wires, and farm equipment. Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F2SSE of Hendron to NW of Little CypressMcCracken, MarshallKY21:30–?A skipping tornado or series of tornadoes first appeared south of Paducah and struck the edge of the Little Cypress settlement, where it leveled a few trailers and caused marginal F2-level damage. Power lines were blown down as well, and nearby structures sustained some damage. Losses totaled $25,000. F1WNW of Oak LevelMarshallKY22:00–?A short-lived tornado occurred near Kaler and struck a rural area, producing minimal damage to trees and structures. Losses were unknown. F1S of AlvordLyonIA22:00–?Losses totaled $25,000. F1SSE of GoodwinLeeAR22:15–?A tornado struck a home, causing minor damage, and leveled outbuildings before dissipating. Nearby trees were prostrated as well. Losses totaled $2,500. F2ENE of HardingUnionKY22:30–?A low-end F2 tornado near Grove Center killed cattle on a farm and damaged or destroyed several structures. Losses totaled $25,000. F2ENE of King City to NE of GentryvilleGentryMO23:00–?A strong tornado caused $2,500 in damage. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F1ENE of KironCrawfordIA23:00–?This tornado caused $25,000 in damage. F1NW of VolinTurnerSD23:07–?This tornado caused $25,000 in damage. F2WNW of Rockham to SW of MirandaFaulkSD23:30–?This tornado caused $2,500 in damage. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F1NE of SpencerMcCookSD23:30–?This tornado caused $25,000 in damage. F2N of Carbon HillGrundyIL23:45–?Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F1NE of Miranda to WNW of DevoeEdmundsSD00:00–?Losses totaled $25,000. F2SE of CameronClinton, CaldwellMO00:00–?Losses totaled $2,500. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F1SW of BeaconsfieldRinggoldIA00:15–?Losses totaled $25,000. F1Southeastern CrestonUnionIA00:20–?Losses totaled $25,000. F4Western WindsorHenryMO01:30–?A large tornado, reportedly up to wide at times, struck the Windsor area, resulting in five injuries. Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F2NW of OsceolaClarkeIA02:00–?This tornado passed a short distance west-southwest of Jamison. Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F0W of WishekMcIntoshND02:00–?A brief, very weak tornado demolished some structures on a couple of farms, including granaries. Losses totaled $25,000.

April 20 event + Confirmed tornadoes – Friday, April 20, 1973F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStartTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary F2N of VelmaStephensOK05:00–?This tornado destroyed or damaged several homes. Four minor injuries were reported. Losses totaled $25,000. F2NE of HiawathaBrownKS05:30–?Losses totaled only $30. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. The tornado may have occurred earlier than officially listed, at around 17:00 UTC. F2SW of Pauls Valley to W of ByarsGarvin, McClainOK05:45–?Outbuildings and a school were destroyed or extensively damaged. Two people were injured. Losses totaled $2.5 million. F3Ada to WNW of FrancisPontotocOK06:15–?A large and intense tornado, attended by downbursts, destroyed numerous homes and a trailer park as it moved through parts of Ada. At the Ada Municipal Airport, the tornado flattened a hangar and destroyed many airplanes. A phonograph record became lodged in a utility pole. The tornado attained a peak width of up to at times. 21 people were injured and losses totaled $2.5 million. F1SSE of SubiacoLoganAR13:30–?A very short-lived tornado touched down north-northeast of Corley. A barn and a chicken coop sustained minor damage. Losses totaled $2,500. The tornado may have first affected Cove Lake. F2E of Morrison BluffLoganAR13:50–?11 homes and barns were damaged. Two people were injured and losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F3ENE of Gaither to NE of HarrisonBooneAR16:15–?1 death – About 200 structures were destroyed or damaged. Several homes shifted on their foundations and partly disintegrated, large fragments of which careened through the air. A woman was thrown from her home and killed. 19 people were injured and losses totaled $2.5 million. This tornado may have first touched down near Mount Sherman in Newton County. F1N of KalonaWashingtonIA18:15–?Losses totaled $25,000. F0NW of Osceola to ENE of Lowry CitySt. ClairMO19:00–?Losses totaled $2,500. F1E of Crooks SpringsSt. ClairMO19:08–?This tornado, which touched down south-southwest of Roscoe, leveled barns and cabins in its path. Losses totaled $250,000. The tornado may have continued as far as Osceola, as homes sustained damage or had their roofs torn off there. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. F2W of Roscoe to WSW of OsceolaSt. ClairMO19:10–?Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F1ESE of BillingsvilleCooperMO19:50–?Losses totaled $2,500. F3SW of CrispCedar, DadeMO20:30–?This tornado developed east-northeast of Arcola. Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F3ESE of SantiagoPettis, BentonMO20:30–?Losses totaled $2,500. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F0SW of HolbrookNavajoAZ20:55–?A brief tornado was reported by aircraft flying in the vicinity. Losses were unknown. F0WNW of PulaskiDavisIA22:00–?Losses totaled $2,500. F2S of CarrolltonCarrollMO22:55–?Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F1NE of Vista to ENE of IconiumSt. Clair, BentonMO23:05–?Losses totaled $25,000. F3NE of Warsaw to Western Cole Camp to W of BahnerBenton, PettisMO23:15–?This intense tornado leveled numerous structures, including both small and large homes in its path. The tornado tore off the roof of a farmhouse and dispersed debris more than from foundations. Four injuries (possibly three) occurred, two of which were inside a barn. Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F4. The tornado may have occurred at 23:45 UTC. F4N of Atlanta to SE of La PlataMaconMO23:30–?1 death – A violent tornado leveled a couple of homes, 12 barns, and several garages. A woman died in a home that crumpled and disintegrated. Three injuries occurred. Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F3. F2MoraBentonMO00:00–?Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F3NNW of Santiago to NNW of ManilaBenton, PettisMO00:25–?This tornado severely damaged a home near Brandon and caused significant damage to farm equipment. Other homes and barns had their roofs ripped off and sustained general damage. Losses totaled $250,000. The tornado ended southeast of Green Ridge. F3SW of Arbela to NE of Prospect GroveScotlandMO00:35–?This tornado destroyed or damaged at least nine homes, one of which it unroofed. Only the kitchen of one home remained. A gas station was destroyed as well, and a car was thrown and tumbled for . Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. F2SSW of HoffmanCooperMO00:35–?This tornado occurred outside Pilot Grove. It struck and leveled a pair of large barns. A nearby home lost its roof as well. Losses totaled $25,000. F2E of SedaliaPettisMO01:25–?This tornado, which struck near the Sedalia Memorial Airport, injured eight (possibly 13) people as it leveled numerous mobile homes and barns in its path. Airborne boards reportedly pierced vehicles, and debris was strewn for a few miles. Losses totaled $2.5 million. F3WSW of Lockwood to N of GreenfieldDadeMO04:40–?An intense tornado wrecked 15 homes as it passed through Lockwood, injuring six (possibly 12) people. A few of the homes were reportedly leveled. The tornado also damaged or destroyed half a dozen mobile homes and 31 other residences. Winds lofted and dispersed debris for . Grazulis classified the tornado as an F4.

April 21 event