Severe Thunderstorm Threat From the Central Plains to the Northeast; Extreme HeatRisk for the East Coast

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible from the central Plains to the Northeast through this evening. Widespread damaging winds are the primary threat but hail and a tornado or two is also possible. Extremely dangerous heat continues across the Eastern U.S. Warm overnight low temperatures will provide little to no relief. Read More >

April 21, 1972
Counties: Butler
F-scale:  F3
Deaths: 0
Injuries:
Path width:
Path length: 5 miles
Time: 8:00pm
Grazulis narrative: Moved from three miles south of Cromwell to near Gilstrap. Three small homes were blown down. Twelve other homes and a church were damaged, and two barns were destroyed.
Noted discrepancies: SPC, Storm Data, and NCDC list no injuries, Grazulis lists 2. SPC and NCDC give a path length of six miles, Grazulis and Storm Data give 5. SPC gives a path width of 10 yards, NCDC 30 yards, Grazulis nothing.

April 21, 1972
Counties: Grayson
F-scale:  F3
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 4
Path width:
Path length: 1 mile
Time: 9:00pm
Grazulis narrative: Hit two miles east of Clarkson. Two trailers were destroyed, and pieces were carried for a mile. Six frame homes were damaged.
Noted discrepancies: SPC and NCDC rank this as an F3, Grazulis gives it an F2. SPC gives a path width of 10 yards, NCDC 30 yards, Grazulis nothing.
Notes: According to Storm Data, the tornado touched down 2 miles east of Clarkson, and moved northeast for about a mile.

April 21, 1972
Counties: Mercer
F-scale:  F2
Deaths:
Injuries:
Path width:
Path length:
Time: 10:10pm
Grazulis narrative: Moved northeast from six miles west of Salvisa to one mile east of Ballard. Five barns were destroyed, two of which had concrete foundations. A house and a metal silo were destroyed. Two cars and a truck were destroyed, and a 400-gallon water tank was moved three-quarters of a mile. A 16-inch rafter was driven into the ground.
Noted discrepancies: Grazulis lists this tornado at 11:10pm. SPC/NCDC stop this tornado at Salvisa, but Grazulis takes it into Anderson County, ending it one mile east of Ballard. In Storm Data the tornado touched down six miles west of Salvisa in Mercer County (one mile east of Ballard) and moved northeast along Stratton Road, Kirkwood Road, Gash Road, and Hickory Grove Road, all of which are in Mercer County. At this point, prefer to plot this tornado only in Mercer County.