EF-4 Tornado Research Articles

Design and rocket deployment of a trackable pseudo-Lagrangian drifter-based meteorological probe into the Lawrence/Linwood EF4 tornado and mesocyclone on 28 May 2019

Abstract. A custom lightweight, miniaturized, and trackable meteorological probe was launched by a model rocket into the inflow region of an EF4, long-tracked tornado south of Lawrence, Kansas, on 28 May 2019 and sampled tornado core flow. The rocket reached apogee at 439 m a.g.l., releasing the “pseudo-Lagrangian drifter” by parachute directly into the tornado vortex. The probe reached a three-dimensional (3D) speed of 85.1 m s−1 in the first revolution around the tornado, measured an altitude-corrected pressure deficit of −113.5 hPa at 475 m a.s.l., and sampled a tornadic updraft speed of 65.0 m s−1. The probe then transitioned to an environment exhibiting a more tilted ascent above an altitude of 4300 m a.s.l. at speeds up to 84.0 m s−1 to a maximum altitude of 11 914 m a.s.l. 1 Hz pressure, temperature, relative humidity, GPS, acceleration, gyroscope, and magnetometer data for the flight were transmitted in real time to a ground station until 10 680 m a.s.l. and the probe landed 51 km northeast of the launch position. The probe was recovered without damage, which is attributed to the pseudo-Lagrangian drifter design, and then higher-resolution and complete 10 Hz data were downloaded for the flight. This novel deployment method and design facilitate data collection in real time from within tornadoes, the mesocyclone, and downdraft without requiring the probes to be recovered or for researchers to enter the circulation to deploy equipment.

A Prospective Study of Co-Rumination in Parent-Adolescent Conversations Several Years After a Devastating Tornado

ABSTRACT Objective This study examined the association between youth post-disaster stress responses and co-rumination in conversations with a parent several years after a devastating tornado. Method Adolescents (N = 200) drawn from an ongoing study for aggressive youth (ages 13 to 17; 80% African American) and their parents experienced an EF-4 tornado in 2011 and then provided joint recollections about their tornado experiences approximately 5 years later. Recollections were coded for the four components of co-rumination: rehashing problems, dwelling on negative affect, mutual encouragement of problem talk, and speculating about problems. Parent-rated post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and youth resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were measured approximately 6-months and 1-year post-tornado, respectively. Results Results indicated that co-rumination could be identified, and reliably measured, in the tornado conversations. Resting RSA moderated the association between post-disaster PTSS and the co-rumination component dwelling on negative affect, such that youth PTSS was associated with higher levels of dwelling on negative affect but only at lower levels of resting RSA (an index of physiological dysregulation). There was no association between youth PTSS and dwelling on negative affect at high resting RSA (an index of better physiological regulation). Youth PTSS and resting RSA were unrelated to the other three co-rumination components. No gender differences were found. Conclusions Results provide preliminary evidence establishing the co-rumination coding scheme in a sample of disaster-exposed parents and adolescents. Results also indicated that PTSS and resting RSA are important youth-level factors that relate to how parents and adolescents discuss their disaster experiences even years post-exposure.

Subvortices within a Numerically Simulated Tornado: The Role of Unstable Vortex Rossby Waves

Abstract Multiple subvortices corresponding to suction vortices in observations are obtained within a simulated tornado for the EF4 tornado case of Funing, China, on 23 June 2016. Within the simulation, the tornado evolves from a one-cell structure with vorticity maximum at its center to a two-cell structure with a ring of vorticity maximum. Five well-defined subvortices develop along the ring. The radial profile of tangential wind across the vorticity ring satisfies the necessary condition of barotropic instability associated with phase-locked, counterpropagating vortex Rossby waves (VRWs) along the ring edges. The phased-locked waves revolve around the parent vortex at a speed less than the maximum azimuthal-mean tangential velocity, agreeing with theoretically predicted VRW phase speed. The radii within which the wave activities are confined are also correctly predicted by the VRW theory where radial group velocity approaches zero. Several other characteristics related to the simulated subvortices agree with VRW theories also. The most unstable azimuthal wavenumber depends on the width and the relative magnitude of vorticity of the vortex ring. Their values estimated from the simulation prior to subvortex formation correctly predict wavenumber 5 as the most unstable. The largest contribution to wave kinetic energy is diagnosed to be from the radial shear of azimuthal wind term, consistent with barotropic instability. Vorticity diagnostics show that vertical vorticity stretching is the primary vorticity source for the intensification and maintenance of the simulated subvortices. Significance Statement Multiple subvortices or suction vortices in tornadoes can produce extreme damage but their cause is not well understood. An intense tornado from China that developed five strong subvortices, along a vorticity ring a distance from the tornado vortex center, was successfully simulated. By examining the propagation and other characteristics of these subvortices and comparing them with theoretical models of vortex Rossby waves (VRWs) that have been studied mostly in the context of typhoons/hurricanes, it is believed that nonlinear growth of unstable VRWs associated with barotropic instability is the primary reason for the development of subvortices within the tornado. The conclusion is further supported by analyses of the primary source of wave growth energy. Vertical vorticity stretching is the main vorticity source for intensifying and maintaining the subvortices at their development and mature stages. The unstable growth of VRWs as the cause of tornado suction vortices has not been analyzed in detail for realistic tornadoes until now.

Polarimetric Radar Observations of a Long-Lived Supercell and Associated Tornadoes on 10–11 December 2021

Abstract We present environmental and polarimetric radar observations of a long-lived December supercell that tracked approximately 750 km from Arkansas to northern Kentucky. The storm was associated with two long-track EF4 tornadoes, one of which was among the longest-tracked tornadoes recorded in the United States. The supercell’s life cycle is documented from 2000 UTC 10 to 0700 UTC 11 December 2021, using data from five operational polarimetric weather radars. After convection initiation in central Arkansas, it took nearly 4 h for a supercell to develop. Afterward, the storm’s ZDR column and arc became anomalously large leading up to genesis of the first EF4 tornado. During this time, the storm’s environment had moderate convective available potential energy (CAPE) and strong deep-layer shear. A cell interaction at about 0200 UTC disrupted the supercell updraft, weakening the ZDR arc and column, and initiating the largest radar-implied hailfall event observed with this storm. The remnant circulation associated with the first EF4 tornado did not fully dissipate, and it appeared to merge with the low-level mesocyclone on the nose of a rear-flank downdraft surge likely initiated by the hailfall. It is hypothesized that this merger was important to the intensification of the storm’s second EF4 tornado, which lasted nearly 3 h and traveled approximately 267 km. During the second EF4 tornado the storm experienced decreasing CAPE and increasing storm relative helicity. Increasing interactions with other cells eventually weakened the storm, and its original updraft was obscured before the storm’s remnants dissipated in northern Kentucky. Significance Statement In December 2021, a long-lived supercell thunderstorm produced two long-track, violent tornadoes, including one that produced historic damage across western Kentucky. Radar observations indicate that, once the storm became a supercell, its updraft became anomalously large relative to similar storms studied prior. Simultaneously its storm-relative inflow strengthened markedly, supporting the first long-lived tornado. Interactions with a developing thunderstorm disrupted the supercell’s updraft, leading to hail fallout and updraft weakening. The remnant circulation associated with the first strong tornado merged with the supercell’s updraft and became a rotation source for the second long-track tornado, which persisted for nearly 3 h. Eventually interactions with other thunderstorms weakened the supercell.

Assessment of wind speeds along the damage path of the Alonsa, Manitoba EF4 tornado on 3 August 2018

Given the impracticality of attempting to directly measure wind speeds in tornadoes, wind speed estimation typically relies on the assessment of damage to structures and vegetation using classifications described in the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale. The advent of technology enabling the collection of large amounts of data, including detailed ground, drone, and aerial imagery, has led to a growth in research on non-conventional approaches for estimating tornado wind speeds. Research methods focused on defining the tornadic wind field based on forensic analysis of damage observations have shown promise for improving tornado assessments in a quantitative manner. In this study, novel methods for collecting forensic data following tornadoes are presented. Data from the Alonsa, MB tornado are applied to estimating the wind field along the damage path using treefall pattern analysis and threshold debris flight speed calculations. Comparison of the resulting wind speed estimates show reasonable agreement, with maximum speeds from both methods in the EF5 range. These research methods yield higher wind speeds than the maximum value obtained from the conventional EF-Scale assessment, which is in the low-end of the EF4 range based on a wood-frame house with sub-standard construction that was swept entirely from its foundation. Further work is still needed to make these methods operational for routine tornado intensity estimates.

Factors Associated with Housing Damage Caused by an EF4 Tornado in Rural Areas of Funing, China.

Rural areas are vulnerable to natural disasters and tend to suffer severe losses. An EF4 tornado occurred in Funing on 23 June 2016, killing 99 people, injuring at least 846 people, and destroying more than 2000 houses. Using a multinomial logistic regression model, this study explored the influencing factors between housing damage and variables of building conditions, tornado intensity, and village environmental factors. The results show that 2-story houses and masonry houses were more likely to be slightly damaged or be in a dangerous state. Furthermore, the building area was positively related to houses in two categories: slight damage (SD) and dangerous and requiring immediate repair (DR), indicating that the larger or taller the house, the more severe the damage. In terms of tornado intensity, houses classified as SD were more likely to be hit by EF4 tornados than by EF3 tornados, and houses were damaged more by EF1 or EF2 tornados. This finding demonstrates that the level of housing damage was not strongly correlated with the tornado intensity. Slightly damaged houses exhibited the highest correlation with environmental factors. The proportion of slightly damaged houses was positively correlated with the water area in the village, unlike the proportion of houses in the DR and unable to be repaired (UR) categories. Moreover, the larger the water area of a village, the less housing damage it suffered. These findings provide new insights into minimizing housing damage in wind disasters to improve disaster prevention planning in rural areas.

Investigation of a supercell merger leading to the EF4 tornado in the Czech Republic on June 24, 2021 using radar data and numerical model outputs

An unprecedented deadly and destructive EF4 tornado struck the Czech Republic across Břeclav and Hodonín districts on June 24, 2021. On this day, several supercells developed in Central Europe, however, in Austria and the Czech Republic region only one cell produced a tornado. For this reason, in addition to the macrosynoptic setup, it is also worth exploring the small-scale cell interactions that can lead to the formation of a devastating EF4 tornado. We use ECMWF analysis and forecast fields, sounding profiles, and radar measurements to examine the synoptic weather situation and convective processes. Moreover, to investigate the evolution and structure of convection, two Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulations were carried out at 1.5 km grid spacing with onemoment and two-moment microphysical parameterizations. WRF captures the overall spatial distribution and supercellular nature of thunderstorms, although discrepancies exist in the magnitude and spatial location of individual cells. The low-reflectivity region accompanying the thunderstorms is better represented by the one-moment microphysics scheme.

What's the problem with disaster? Anthropology, social work, and the qualitative slot

On March 3, 2019, an EF4 tornado devastated the rural Alabama communities of Beauregard and Smith Station, killing 23 people and causing direct injuries to another 97. This storm was unusually devastating, with twice the predicted casualty rate based on the tornado’s power, the impacted population, and impacted housing stock. In this paper, we apply qualitative methods from anthropology, geography, and planning to better understand the social context of this unusually devastating tornado. Recognizing that there are multiple formulations of the problem of disasters, we aim to highlight how interdisciplinary qualitative research can deepen our understanding of tornado disasters. Combining policy analysis, political economic critique, and ethnographic description, we seek to showcase how qualitative research enables us to interrogate and reimagine the problem of disasters. Rather than simply juxtaposing qualitative and quantitative methods, we emphasize how the heterogeneity of qualitative research methods can strengthen interdisciplinary research projects by generating dialogue about the multiple contexts relevant to understanding a social problem. While problem definition remains a central challenge to establishing a dialogue between anthropology and social work, here, we intend to extend this discussion to larger interdisciplinary collaborations. Situating the issue of problem formation within a broader ecology of qualitative inquiry, we highlight how dialogue about problem definition can, itself, produce meaningful insights into how we understand disasters.

Examining Tornado Vulnerability in Kansas with Recent Findings from an EF4 Tornado

AbstractTornadoes are one of the most frequently occurring natural hazards in the United States, yet historically they have been understudied in the engineering and social science literature. This ...

Effects of Autonomic Nervous System Functioning and Tornado Exposure on Long-Term Outcomes of Aggressive Children.

This study examined whether pre-disaster indicators of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity moderated the relation between degree of disaster exposure from an EF-4 tornado and changes in the externalizing and internalizing behavior problems of children at-risk for aggression. Participants included 188 children in 4th-6th grades (65% male; 78% African American; ages 9-13) and their parents from predominantly low-income households who were participating in a prevention study when the tornado occurred in 2011. Fourth-grade children who exhibited elevated levels of aggressive behavior were recruited in three annual cohorts. Parent-rated externalizing and internalizing problems were assessed prior to the tornado (Wave 1; W1), and at 4-12months (W2), 16-24months (W3), 42-28months (W4) and 56-60months (W5) post-tornado. Children's pre-tornado Skin Conductance Level (SCL) reactivity and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) withdrawal were assessed at W1 using SCL and RSA measured during resting baseline and during the first 5min of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Children and parents reported their exposure to tornado-related trauma and disruptions at Wave 3. Children displayed less reduction in externalizing problems if there had been higher child- or parent-reported tornado exposure and less RSA withdrawal, or if they had lower parent-reported TORTE and less SCL reactivity or lower SCL baseline. Highlighting the importance of children's pre-disaster arousal, higher levels of disaster exposure negatively affected children's level of improvement in externalizing problems when children had less vagal withdrawal, and when tornado exposure disrupted the protective effects of higher SCL reactivity and higher SCL baseline.

Co-reminiscing with a caregiver about a devastating tornado: Association with adolescent anxiety symptoms.

This study explores the association between caregivers' style of co-reminiscing with their adolescents about an EF4 tornado and youth anxiety symptoms several years following the disaster. Caregiver reward of their children's emotional expression, defined as attending to and validating emotionally salient content, is generally associated with adaptive youth psychosocial outcomes. However, caregiver reward of youth recollections that are centered around the youth's negative emotional expression could be an indicator that both caregivers and adolescents are engaged in co-rumination regarding negative emotional experiences. This process may contribute to relatively higher levels of anxiety over time. Adolescents (N = 169) drawn from an ongoing study for aggressive youth (ages 12 to 17; 82% African American) provided individual recollections about their experiences during a devastating tornado 4 to 5 years following the disaster. Caregivers and youth then co-reminisced about their tornado-related experiences. Individual youth recollections were coded for negative personal impact and use of negative emotion words; caregiver-adolescent conversations were coded for caregiver reward of negative emotional expression. Youth who noted more negative personal impacts and used more negative emotion words were higher in parent-rated youth anxiety, and these associations were moderated by caregiver reward of negative emotional expression. The associations between youth recollection qualities and anxiety emerged only when caregivers exhibited high levels of reward of negative emotional expression. These patterns were generally stronger for girls compared to boys. Findings suggest that excessively discussing and rehashing negative experiences, especially several years after the disaster, may be a risk factor for anxiety among disaster-exposed adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Polarimetric Radar Observations of Simultaneous Tornadoes on 10 May 2010 near Norman, Oklahoma

Abstract This study utilizes data collected by the University of Oklahoma Advanced Radar Research Center’s Polarimetric Radar for Innovations in Meteorology and Engineering (OU-PRIME) C-band radar as well as the federal KTLX and KOUN WSR-88D S-band radars to study a supercell that simultaneously produced a long-track EF-4 tornado and an EF-2 landspout tornado (EF indicates the enhanced Fujita scale) near Norman, Oklahoma, on 10 May 2010. Contrasting polarimetric characteristics of two tornadoes over similar land cover but with different intensities are documented. Also, the storm-scale sedimentation of debris within the supercell is investigated, which includes observations of rotation and elongation of a tornadic debris signature with height. A dual-wavelength comparison of debris at S and C bands is performed. These analyses indicate that lofted debris within the tornado was larger than debris located outside the damage path of the tornado and that debris size outside the tornado increased with height, likely as the result of centrifuging. Profiles of polarimetric variables were observed to become more vertically homogeneous with time.

Women's experiences across disasters: a study of two towns in Texas, United States.

Gender, although gaining attention, remains under-researched in disaster risk reduction protocols and response and recovery efforts. This study examines women's experiences of two disasters in small towns in the United States, utilising qualitative interviews with residents of Granbury and West, Texas, during the first year of disaster recovery. Granbury was struck by an EF-4 tornado on 15 May 2013, whereas an explosion occurred at a local fertiliser facility in West on 17 April 2013. The paper explores how women's experiences of inter-gender power dynamics in decision-making, the prioritisation of childcare, and women's participation in the community affect their post-disaster recovery. Previous research highlights different forms of human response and recovery vis-à-vis 'natural' and technological disasters, with less attention paid to gender differences. The results point to the persistent, and similar, effect of gender stratification on women's experiences across different types of disasters in the US and the continued importance of gender-sensitive disaster policies and programmes.

The Mechanism and Predictability of an Elevated Convection Initiation Event in a Weak-Lifting Environment in Central-Eastern China

Abstract An elevated convection initiation (CI) of a quasi-linear mesoscale convective system (MCS) that occurred in a weak-lifting environment in the early morning on 23 June 2016 in central-eastern China was investigated using observational analysis and convection-permitting numerical simulations. This MCS gradually developed into a surface-based MCS and eventually produced a strong supercell that spawned an EF4 tornado in Yancheng City of Jiangsu Province and killed 98 people. This elevated MCS was initiated ahead of a surface front without identifiable boundaries at the surface. An elevated moist absolutely unstable layer (MAUL) was found to be conducive to the CI. The MAUL provided negligible convective inhibition and contributed to CI without strong-lifting mechanisms. Numerical simulation results showed that the formation of the elevated MAUL was mainly attributed to adiabatic cooling by weak vertical ascent and sufficient horizontal moisture transport near the terminus of a low-level jet. The weak vertical ascent before the CI was sloping and was likely to be relevant to the layer-lifting process associated with the realization of potential instability. The results showed that the MAUL in this weak-lifting environment was characterized by a shallower depth, a weaker lapse rate, and a longer sustaining period than the conditions in a strong-lifting environment. The predictability of this elevated CI case was examined using a 10-member ensemble forecast. A total of 80% of the ensemble members captured the CI. Rather than a difference in lifting, whether having an elevated MAUL or not was the major difference between CI and non-CI members in the present case.

Caregiver-adolescent co-reminiscing and adolescents' individual recollections of a devastating tornado: Associations with enduring posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Although disaster-related posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) typically decrease in intensity over time, some youth continue to report elevated levels of PTSS many years after the disaster. The current study examines two processes that may help to explain the link between disaster exposure and enduring PTSS: caregiver emotion socialization and youth recollection qualities. One hundred and twenty-two youth (ages 12 to 17) and their female caregivers who experienced an EF-4 tornado co-reminisced about the event, and adolescents provided independent recollections between 3 and 4 years after the tornado. Adolescent individual transcripts were coded for coherence and negative personal impact, qualities that have been found to contribute to meaning making. Parent-adolescent conversations were coded for caregiver egocentrism, a construct derived from the emotion socialization literature to reflect the extent to which the caregiver centered the conversation on her own emotions and experiences. Egocentrism predicted higher youth PTSS, and this association was mediated by the coherence of adolescents' narratives. The association between coherence and PTSS was stronger for youth who focused more on the negative personal impacts of the tornado event during their recollections. Results suggest that enduring tornado-related PTSS may be influenced in part by the interplay of caregiver emotion socialization practices and youth recollection qualities.

Performance of structures and infrastructure facilities during an EF4 Tornado in Yancheng

Heavy damages to properties with attendant losses were frequently caused by tornadoes in recent years. This natural hazard is one of the most destructive wind events that must be fully studied and well understood in order to keep the safety of structures and infrastructure facilities. On June 23, 2016, a severe tornado, which is an Enhanced Fujita (EF) 4 storm, occurred in the rim of a coastal city named as Yancheng in China. Numerous low-rise buildings as well as facilities (e.g., transmission towers) were destroyed or damaged. In this paper, damages to structures and infrastructure facilities by the severe tornado are reviewed. The collapses of residential buildings, industrial structures and other infrastructure facilities are described. With an overview of the damages, various possible mechanisms of the collapse are then discussed and utilized to reveal the initiation of the damage to various facilities. It is hoped that this paper can provide a concise but comprehensive reference for the researchers and engineers to help understand the tornado effects on structures and expose the vulnerabilities that need to be improved in current wind-resistant design practices.

Investigation into the Formation, Structure, and Evolution of an EF4 Tornado in East China Using a High-Resolution Numerical Simulation

Devastating tornadoes in China have received growing attention in recent years, but little is known about their formation, structure, and evolution on the tornadic scale. Most of these tornadoes develop within the East Asian monsoon regime, in an environment quite different from tornadoes in the U.S. In this study, we used an idealized, high-resolution (25-m grid spacing) numerical simulation to investigate the deadly EF4 (Enhanced Fujita scale category 4) tornado that occurred on 23 June 2016 and claimed 99 lives in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province. A tornadic supercell developed in the simulation that had striking similarities to radar observations. The violent tornado in Funing County was reproduced, exceeding EF4 (74 m s–1), consistent with the on-site damage survey. It was accompanied by a funnel cloud that extended to the surface, and exhibited a double-helix vorticity structure. The signal of tornado genesis was found first at the cloud base in the pressure perturbation field, and then developed both upward and downward in terms of maximum vertical velocity overlapping with the intense vertical vorticity centers. The tornado’s demise was found to accompany strong downdrafts overlapping with the intense vorticity centers. One of the interesting findings of this work is that a violent surface vortex was able to be generated and maintained, even though the simulation employed a free-slip lower boundary condition. The success of this simulation, despite using an idealized numerical approach, provides a means to investigate more historical tornadoes in China.

Anomalous Lightning Behavior During the 26–27 August 2007 Northern Great Plains Severe Weather Event

AbstractPositive polarity lightning strokes can be useful indicators of thunderstorm behavior. A combination of National Lightning Detection Network and Next Generation Radar retrievals is used to analyze the anomalous positive cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning behavior of a rare, late summer severe weather event that occurred on 26–27 August 2007 in the Northern Great Plains region of the United States and southern Canada. Seven discrete supercells (SC1–SC7) exhibiting frequent and intense lightning were responsible for numerous reports of severe weather (e.g., severe hail and 16 tornadoes) including catastrophic damage to the town of Northwood, North Dakota, caused by SC2. Biomass burning smoke from wildfires in Idaho and Montana was present prior to convective initiation. A positive CG lightning stroke rate of nearly 30 strokes per minute was observed 10 min before the EF4 tornado struck Northwood. SC2 was also responsible for all the reports of tornadoes exceeding an EF2 rating. The strongest peak currents (>200 kA) were observed in SC1–SC4 with SC2 having a maximum value of 280 kA. SC2 dominated the statistics of the line of supercells accounting for 27% of all CG lightning strokes. Positive CG lightning accounted for over 40% of all CG lightning strokes in SC4–SC7 on average, and the maximum exceeded 90% in SC6 and SC7. Increasing positive CG lightning dominance was correlated with an increasing northward gradient of smoke aerosol loading in addition to severe weather being reported before the maximum in positive CG lighting stroke rate (SC5 and SC6). This suggests that a complex combination of synoptic forcing and aerosol perturbation likely led to the observed anomalous positive CG lightning behavior in the supercells.

Localized Effects of Tornado Damage on Ground Beetle Communities and Vegetation in a Forested Preserve

ABSTRACT: Natural disturbances, such as tornados, can alter local habitat conditions and have the potential to affect animal communities in preserves. When such disturbances occur in natural areas, understanding these effects can help land managers develop responses and restoration actions following a disturbance. The effects of tornado and other strong wind damage on insect communities is poorly known even though insects comprise the majority of macroscopic diversity in terrestrial systems and are important contributors to ecosystem function. We examined ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) communities in spring, summer, and fall following an EF-4 tornado that struck a forested preserve in Illinois. We compared the communities and vegetation structure in plots that were affected or unaffected by the tornado. Sites within the tornado's path had reduced canopy cover but increased ground-level vegetation throughout the growing season. Beetle abundance and species richness were unaffected, but Shannon diver...

Assessment of the Public Health Risks and Impact of a Tornado in Funing, China, 23 June 2016: A Retrospective Analysis.

(1) Background: Tornadoes are one of the deadliest disasters but their health impacts in China are poorly investigated. This study aimed to assess the public health risks and impact of an EF-4 tornado outbreak in Funing, China; (2) Methods: A retrospective analysis on the characteristics of tornado-related deaths and injuries was conducted based on the database from the Funing’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Funing People’s Hospital. A change-point time-series analysis of weekly incidence for the period January 2010 to September 2016 was used to identify sensitive infectious diseases to the tornado; (3) Results: The 75 to 84 years old group was at the highest risk of both death (RR = 82.16; 95% CIs = 19.66, 343.33) and injury (RR = 31.80; 95% CI = 17.26, 58.61), and females were at 53% higher risk of death than males (RR = 1.53; 95% CIs = 1.02, 2.29). Of the 337 injuries, 274 injuries (81%) were minor. Most deaths occurred indoors (87%) and the head (74%) was the most frequent site of trauma during the tornado. Five diseases showed downward change-points; (4) Conclusions: The experience of the Funing tornado underscores the relative danger of being indoors during a tornado and is successful in avoiding epidemics post-tornado. Current international safety guidelines need modification when generalized to China.