Tornado outbreak of April 20, 2004
Memorial crosses, Utica | |
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | April 20, 2004 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 31 |
| Max. rating1 | F3 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | Approximately 4 hours |
| Fatalities | 8 fatalities (+1 indirect), 21 injuries |
| Areas affected | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa |
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2004 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
A destructive tornado outbreak devastated parts of the U.S. Upper Midwest on April 20, 2004. A total of 31 tornadoes formed in eastern Iowa, extending into northern and central Illinois and Indiana. A tornado that struck Utica, Illinois, was the only one to cause fatalities. The outbreak was largely unexpected, as the SPC had only predicted a "slight risk" of severe weather in the afternoon of the event.