985:
810:
suffered the most significant damage from the tornado. The tornado struck east
Vancouver at 12:51 p.m. (PST) on April 5, 1972, where it destroyed a grocery store, along with Peter S. Ogden Elementary School injuring 70 students. Nearby, the storm demolished a bowling alley, a drive-in theater
524:
A wind event/possible tornado was later confirmed to be a tornado along with large hail up to 2 inches (5.1 cm). Flowers and shrub leaves were shredded, paint surfaces were speckled and peeled, four granaries were destroyed, and many buildings were damaged. Losses from the tornado reached $
598:
A twin-funneled, strong tornado moved through the east side of
Creston. A trailer was obliterated, critically injuring the woman inside, and another was moved 3 feet (0.91 m) off its foundation. Two barns and a chicken house were destroyed as well. Losses totaled $ 250,000.
239:
during the late morning hours of April 5, 1972. After moving inland, the storms produced strong winds, large hail, and tornadoes to the region. Weakening of the storms did not take place until late that evening; by then storms had moved over 50 miles (80 km) inland.
852:
Overall, the
Portland–Vancouver F3 tornado killed six people and left $ 25.25 million (1972 USD) in damage. The small outbreak was the deadliest and most significant tornado event to occur in the Pacific Northwest, with two F3 tornadoes.
843:
National
Weather Service office, approximately one mile east of the tornado touchdown, recorded winds gusting up to 63 mph (101 km/h). Another weather station reported sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).
787:, moving 1½ miles before crossing the river. The tornado was difficult to observe because of the fog and the mud and flying debris drawn up by the tornado. After making landfall on the
625:
862:
550:
476:
399:
867:
835:, the thunderstorm that spawned the tornado tore the roof off a warehouse and damaged several parked cars. A pressure jump of 0.12 inches (3.0 mm) was recorded by the
1569:
791:
side of the river, it continued its 9-mile (14 km) journey before dissipating. The storm was classed as a tornado by the
National Weather Service on April 6.
219:, causing heavy damage, killing six people, and injuring 300 while causing $ 25.25 million (1972 USD) in damage. It was tied as the deadliest tornado in the
1660:
1655:
216:
1640:
1650:
1361:
1305:
1249:
1167:
929:
811:
screen and damaged around 100 homes, some severely. Trees and power lines were downed and several vehicles were flipped as well. The
1468:
1114:
1604:
1043:
1555:
1491:
1014:
215:, the first F3 tornado to strike Oregon since June 3, 1894. It tracked 8.7 miles (14.0 km) across the heavily populated
63:
1562:
1635:
674:
1630:
892:
613:
538:
343:
1145:
1047:
836:
768:
608:
464:
383:
379:
1645:
1119:
819:
crossed the state border to help transport the injured and direct traffic in the aftermath of the tornado.
374:
1625:
812:
807:
212:
370:
1440:
1391:
1335:
1279:
1223:
1197:
1132:
959:
803:
459:
816:
533:
788:
618:
543:
469:
392:
200:
156:
1418:
203:
on
Wednesday, April 5, 1972. Of the four tornadoes, the most catastrophic event was a deadly F3
1599:
1589:
1578:
1448:
896:
236:
224:
166:
1534:
Robinson, Erik (April 5, 2002). "Vancouver's tornado of 1972: What a twister turned deadly".
1369:
1313:
1257:
1175:
1140:
1110:
937:
840:
795:
776:
208:
1472:
1136:
1520:
1426:
832:
784:
780:
366:
227:. In all, the outbreak killed six, injured 301, and caused $ 25.55 million in damage.
1619:
1536:
1055:
220:
1487:
828:
772:
758:
720:
694:
321:
250:
174:
99:
192:
908:
Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.
641:
627:
566:
552:
492:
478:
415:
401:
1547:
1512:
888:
1085:
783:. The tornado formed from this storm and touched down near the edge of the
798:, the tornado damaged four boat moorings and 50 small boats. Damage in
235:
A sharp cold front triggered an intense squall line that moved into the
204:
1044:"NWS Forecast Office - Portland Oregon - Some of the Area's Tornadoes"
1128:
1086:"Storm Data Publication | IPS | National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)"
870:– An EF1 tornado struck the northern suburbs of Vancouver, Washington
799:
388:
196:
152:
1115:"On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity"
1441:"Tornado Archive - EF3 tornado on Apr. 05, 1972 14:50 PM CST"
1051:
223:
in 1972 and remains the deadliest tornado in the history of the
1551:
677:, including some that were uprooted. Losses totaled $ 25,000.
451:– 300 people were injured and losses totaled $ 25.25 million.
141:
673:
Trees were damaged in circular pattern near the mouth of the
1146:
10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2
1015:""Tornado of April 5, 1972, Vancouver, Washington" Details"
448:
891:
where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in
1519:. Muncie, IN. UPI. April 6, 1972. p. 2 – via
1419:"Vancouver twister classified tornado by weather bureau"
1398:(Report). National Centers for Environmental Information
1342:(Report). National Centers for Environmental Information
1286:(Report). National Centers for Environmental Information
1230:(Report). National Centers for Environmental Information
1204:(Report). National Centers for Environmental Information
1513:"6 Die, 250 Hurt as Wind Rips Roofs Off School, Stores"
316:
List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, April 5, 1972
16:
F-3 tornado that impacted
Washington and Oregon in 1972
863:
List of North
American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
747:
739:
713:
693:
357:
328:
325:
148:
136:
128:
106:
92:
82:
56:
36:
992:. National Centers for Environmental Information
966:. National Centers for Environmental Information
960:"Oregon Event Report: 55 kts. Thunderstorm Wind"
868:Tornado outbreak sequence of January 7–11, 2008
802:from the tornado totaled up to $ 250,000 (1972
779:, the strongest of which was near the city of
603:
529:
455:
362:
1563:
8:
688:
19:
1080:
1078:
1076:
1074:
1072:
195:with embedded strong tornadoes that struck
1570:
1556:
1548:
687:
314:
18:
1368:. Storm Prediction Center. Archived from
1312:. Storm Prediction Center. Archived from
1256:. Storm Prediction Center. Archived from
1174:. Storm Prediction Center. Archived from
1144:
936:. Storm Prediction Center. Archived from
1131:: American Meteorological Society: 310.
771:tracked a very turbulent squall line of
247:
921:
880:
189:1972 Portland–Vancouver tornadoes
180:Time from first tornado to last tornado
20:1972 Portland–Vancouver tornadoes
1425:. Longview, WA. p. 5 – via
689:Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington
684:Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington
7:
217:Portland–Vancouver metropolitan area
191:were caused by an unusually intense
1392:Washington Event Report: F2 Tornado
1336:Washington Event Report: F3 Tornado
1280:Washington Event Report: F2 Tornado
1224:Washington Event Report: F3 Tornado
1037:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1009:
1007:
337:
1661:April 1972 events in North America
14:
1490:. Vanderbilt Television Archive.
1042:National Weather Service (2006).
887:All dates are based on the local
1656:History of Vancouver, Washington
1417:Spiro, Richard (April 7, 1972).
895:and dates are split at midnight
757:Most severe tornado damage; see
173:Most severe tornado damage; see
1641:Tornadoes in Washington (state)
1494:from the original on 2011-09-30
1198:Oregon Event Report: F3 Tornado
831:caused minimal tree damage. In
714:
352:
93:
1488:"Headline: Washington Tornado"
64:Portland International Airport
1:
775:moving northeasterly across
592:3–4 miles (4.8–6.4 km)
449:See section on this tornado
60:65 mph (105 km/h)
1677:
1651:1972 in Washington (state)
893:Coordinated Universal Time
827:High winds brought by the
743:6 fatalities, 300 injuries
653:Kettle Falls (April 5, F2)
132:6 fatalities, 301 injuries
1585:
1579:Tornado outbreaks of 1972
1486:NBC Evening News (1972).
1469:"Columbian.com - History"
930:"April 5, 1972 Tornadoes"
755:
735:
731:
727:
709:
705:
701:
518:0.1 miles (0.16 km)
441:8.7 miles (14.0 km)
351:
348:
341:
334:
331:
320:
277:
274:
271:
268:
265:
262:
259:
256:
167:tornado outbreaks of 1972
162:
124:
120:
116:
78:
74:
70:
52:
48:
44:
32:
28:
24:
1396:National Weather Service
1340:National Weather Service
1284:National Weather Service
1228:National Weather Service
1202:National Weather Service
990:National Weather Service
964:National Weather Service
837:National Weather Service
769:National Weather Service
249:Confirmed tornadoes by
1366:Tornado History Project
1310:Tornado History Project
1254:Tornado History Project
1172:Tornado History Project
1120:Weather and Forecasting
934:Tornado History Project
444:400 yards (370 m)
231:Meteorological synopsis
1168:"Oregon-Washington F3"
670:100 yards (91 m)
521:10 yards (9.1 m)
504:Hartline (April 5, F2)
140:$ 25.55 million (1972
813:Oregon National Guard
808:Vancouver, Washington
667:1 mile (1.6 km)
595:83 yards (76 m)
578:Creston (April 5, F3)
213:Vancouver, Washington
1445:statesmanjournal.com
427:Faloma (April 5, F3)
1636:Tornadoes in Oregon
1423:Longview Daily News
1372:on 25 February 2020
1316:on 24 February 2020
1260:on 24 February 2020
1178:on 24 February 2020
1137:2004WtFor..19..310B
986:"Tornado Summaries"
823:Non-tornadic events
817:Oregon State Police
690:
637: /
562: /
488: /
411: /
317:
253:
244:Confirmed tornadoes
21:
315:
248:
1631:Tornadoes of 1972
1613:
1612:
1475:on March 7, 2007.
1449:Statesman Journal
1111:Brooks, Harold E.
1090:www.ncdc.noaa.gov
940:on 27 August 2020
765:
764:
681:
680:
308:
307:
237:Pacific Northwest
225:Pacific Northwest
185:
184:
66:
1668:
1572:
1565:
1558:
1549:
1542:
1541:
1531:
1525:
1524:
1509:
1503:
1502:
1500:
1499:
1483:
1477:
1476:
1471:. Archived from
1465:
1459:
1458:
1456:
1455:
1437:
1431:
1430:
1414:
1408:
1407:
1405:
1403:
1388:
1382:
1381:
1379:
1377:
1358:
1352:
1351:
1349:
1347:
1332:
1326:
1325:
1323:
1321:
1302:
1296:
1295:
1293:
1291:
1276:
1270:
1269:
1267:
1265:
1246:
1240:
1239:
1237:
1235:
1220:
1214:
1213:
1211:
1209:
1194:
1188:
1187:
1185:
1183:
1164:
1158:
1157:
1155:
1153:
1148:
1107:
1101:
1100:
1098:
1096:
1082:
1067:
1066:
1064:
1063:
1054:. Archived from
1039:
1026:
1025:
1023:
1022:
1011:
1002:
1001:
999:
997:
982:
976:
975:
973:
971:
956:
950:
949:
947:
945:
926:
909:
906:
900:
899:for consistency.
885:
841:Portland, Oregon
796:Portland, Oregon
777:Portland, Oregon
716:
691:
661:
660:
658:
657:
656:
654:
649:
648:
643:
642:48.60°N 118.10°W
638:
635:
634:
633:
630:
586:
585:
583:
582:
581:
579:
574:
573:
568:
567:47.75°N 118.52°W
563:
560:
559:
558:
555:
512:
511:
509:
508:
507:
505:
500:
499:
494:
493:47.70°N 119.10°W
489:
486:
485:
484:
481:
435:
434:
432:
431:
430:
428:
423:
422:
417:
416:45.60°N 122.63°W
412:
409:
408:
407:
404:
354:
339:
329:County / Parish
318:
254:
209:Portland, Oregon
109:tornado outbreak
95:
62:
22:
1676:
1675:
1671:
1670:
1669:
1667:
1666:
1665:
1616:
1615:
1614:
1609:
1581:
1576:
1546:
1545:
1533:
1532:
1528:
1517:The Muncie Star
1511:
1510:
1506:
1497:
1495:
1485:
1484:
1480:
1467:
1466:
1462:
1453:
1451:
1439:
1438:
1434:
1416:
1415:
1411:
1401:
1399:
1390:
1389:
1385:
1375:
1373:
1362:"Washington F2"
1360:
1359:
1355:
1345:
1343:
1334:
1333:
1329:
1319:
1317:
1306:"Washington F3"
1304:
1303:
1299:
1289:
1287:
1278:
1277:
1273:
1263:
1261:
1250:"Washington F2"
1248:
1247:
1243:
1233:
1231:
1222:
1221:
1217:
1207:
1205:
1196:
1195:
1191:
1181:
1179:
1166:
1165:
1161:
1151:
1149:
1109:
1108:
1104:
1094:
1092:
1084:
1083:
1070:
1061:
1059:
1041:
1040:
1029:
1020:
1018:
1013:
1012:
1005:
995:
993:
984:
983:
979:
969:
967:
958:
957:
953:
943:
941:
928:
927:
923:
918:
913:
912:
907:
903:
886:
882:
877:
859:
850:
825:
751:$ 25.25 million
686:
652:
650:
646:
644:
640:
639:
636:
631:
628:
626:
624:
623:
577:
575:
571:
569:
565:
564:
561:
556:
553:
551:
549:
548:
503:
501:
497:
495:
491:
490:
487:
482:
479:
477:
475:
474:
426:
424:
420:
418:
414:
413:
410:
405:
402:
400:
398:
397:
336:
313:
246:
233:
178:
171:
170:
153:Northern Oregon
108:
84:
61:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1674:
1672:
1664:
1663:
1658:
1653:
1648:
1646:1972 in Oregon
1643:
1638:
1633:
1628:
1618:
1617:
1611:
1610:
1608:
1607:
1602:
1597:
1592:
1586:
1583:
1582:
1577:
1575:
1574:
1567:
1560:
1552:
1544:
1543:
1526:
1521:Newspapers.com
1504:
1478:
1460:
1432:
1427:Newspapers.com
1409:
1383:
1353:
1327:
1297:
1271:
1241:
1215:
1189:
1159:
1113:(April 2004).
1102:
1068:
1027:
1003:
977:
951:
920:
919:
917:
914:
911:
910:
901:
879:
878:
876:
873:
872:
871:
865:
858:
855:
849:
846:
824:
821:
785:Columbia River
763:
762:
753:
752:
749:
745:
744:
741:
737:
736:
733:
732:
729:
728:
725:
724:
718:
711:
710:
707:
706:
703:
702:
699:
698:
685:
682:
679:
678:
675:Colville River
671:
668:
665:
662:
647:48.60; -118.10
621:
616:
611:
605:
601:
600:
596:
593:
590:
587:
572:47.75; -118.52
546:
541:
536:
531:
527:
526:
522:
519:
516:
513:
498:47.70; -119.10
472:
467:
462:
457:
453:
452:
445:
442:
439:
436:
421:45.60; -122.63
395:
386:
380:Multnomah (OR)
377:
375:Mill Plain, WA
364:
360:
359:
356:
350:
347:
340:
333:
330:
327:
324:
312:
309:
306:
305:
302:
299:
296:
293:
290:
287:
284:
280:
279:
276:
273:
270:
267:
264:
261:
258:
245:
242:
232:
229:
183:
182:
163:
160:
159:
150:
149:Areas affected
146:
145:
138:
134:
133:
130:
126:
125:
122:
121:
118:
117:
114:
113:
110:
104:
103:
97:
90:
89:
86:
80:
79:
76:
75:
72:
71:
68:
67:
58:
54:
53:
50:
49:
46:
45:
42:
41:
38:
34:
33:
30:
29:
26:
25:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1673:
1662:
1659:
1657:
1654:
1652:
1649:
1647:
1644:
1642:
1639:
1637:
1634:
1632:
1629:
1627:
1624:
1623:
1621:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1591:
1588:
1587:
1584:
1580:
1573:
1568:
1566:
1561:
1559:
1554:
1553:
1550:
1540:. p. A1.
1539:
1538:
1537:The Columbian
1530:
1527:
1522:
1518:
1514:
1508:
1505:
1493:
1489:
1482:
1479:
1474:
1470:
1464:
1461:
1450:
1446:
1442:
1436:
1433:
1428:
1424:
1420:
1413:
1410:
1397:
1393:
1387:
1384:
1371:
1367:
1363:
1357:
1354:
1341:
1337:
1331:
1328:
1315:
1311:
1307:
1301:
1298:
1285:
1281:
1275:
1272:
1259:
1255:
1251:
1245:
1242:
1229:
1225:
1219:
1216:
1203:
1199:
1193:
1190:
1177:
1173:
1169:
1163:
1160:
1147:
1142:
1138:
1134:
1130:
1126:
1122:
1121:
1116:
1112:
1106:
1103:
1091:
1087:
1081:
1079:
1077:
1075:
1073:
1069:
1058:on 2018-10-03
1057:
1053:
1049:
1045:
1038:
1036:
1034:
1032:
1028:
1016:
1010:
1008:
1004:
991:
987:
981:
978:
965:
961:
955:
952:
939:
935:
931:
925:
922:
915:
905:
902:
898:
894:
890:
884:
881:
874:
869:
866:
864:
861:
860:
856:
854:
847:
845:
842:
838:
834:
830:
829:thunderstorms
822:
820:
818:
814:
809:
805:
801:
797:
792:
790:
786:
782:
778:
774:
773:thunderstorms
770:
761:
760:
754:
750:
746:
742:
738:
734:
730:
726:
722:
719:
712:
708:
704:
700:
696:
692:
683:
676:
672:
669:
666:
663:
659:
622:
620:
617:
615:
612:
610:
606:
602:
597:
594:
591:
588:
584:
547:
545:
542:
540:
537:
535:
532:
528:
523:
520:
517:
514:
510:
473:
471:
468:
466:
463:
461:
458:
454:
450:
446:
443:
440:
437:
433:
396:
394:
390:
387:
385:
381:
378:
376:
372:
368:
365:
361:
345:
323:
319:
311:April 5 event
310:
303:
300:
297:
294:
291:
288:
285:
282:
281:
255:
252:
251:Fujita rating
243:
241:
238:
230:
228:
226:
222:
221:United States
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
181:
177:
176:
169:
168:
161:
158:
154:
151:
147:
143:
139:
135:
131:
127:
123:
119:
115:
111:
105:
101:
98:
91:
87:
81:
77:
73:
69:
65:
59:
55:
51:
47:
43:
40:April 5, 1972
39:
35:
31:
27:
23:
1626:F3 tornadoes
1594:
1535:
1529:
1516:
1507:
1496:. Retrieved
1481:
1473:the original
1463:
1452:. Retrieved
1444:
1435:
1422:
1412:
1400:. Retrieved
1395:
1386:
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793:
766:
759:Fujita scale
756:
609:Kettle Falls
438:20:30–21:00
349:Path length
234:
207:that struck
188:
186:
179:
175:Fujita scale
172:
165:
164:Part of the
57:Highest gust
1590:March 26–29
645: /
570: /
496: /
447:6 deaths –
419: /
193:squall line
107:Duration of
1620:Categories
1605:June 18–19
1498:2006-12-05
1454:2021-02-23
1062:2021-02-23
1021:2006-12-05
916:References
789:Washington
740:Fatalities
651: (
576: (
502: (
425: (
384:Clark (WA)
367:Faloma, OR
201:Washington
157:Washington
129:Fatalities
1017:. Waymark
889:time zone
848:Aftermath
373:to SE of
371:Image, WA
326:Location
85:confirmed
83:Tornadoes
1492:Archived
857:See also
815:and the
664:02:30–?
632:118°06′W
589:01:30–?
557:118°31′W
525:25,000.
515:00:30–?
483:119°06′W
460:Hartline
406:122°38′W
358:Summary
37:Duration
1595:April 5
1402:31 July
1376:31 July
1346:31 July
1320:31 July
1290:31 July
1264:31 July
1234:31 July
1208:31 July
1182:31 July
1133:Bibcode
1095:31 July
996:31 July
970:31 July
944:31 July
897:CST/CDT
723:tornado
697:tornado
629:48°36′N
614:Stevens
554:47°45′N
539:Lincoln
534:Creston
480:47°42′N
403:45°36′N
205:tornado
112:6 hours
102:tornado
1600:May 14
1129:Boston
839:. The
833:Tigard
800:Oregon
781:Tigard
748:Damage
717:rating
355:width
342:Time (
338:coord.
332:State
278:Total
211:, and
197:Oregon
137:Damage
96:rating
1127:(2).
875:Notes
607:W of
465:Grant
335:Start
1404:2020
1378:2020
1348:2020
1322:2020
1292:2020
1266:2020
1236:2020
1210:2020
1184:2020
1154:2019
1097:2020
1052:NOAA
998:2020
972:2020
946:2020
767:The
715:Max.
353:Max.
199:and
187:The
94:Max.
1141:doi
1048:NWS
806:).
804:USD
794:In
604:F2
530:F3
456:F2
369:to
363:F3
344:UTC
275:F5
272:F4
269:F3
266:F2
263:F1
260:F0
257:FU
142:USD
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