Hoisington, KS F4 Tornado – April 21, 2001

A tornado given a rating of F4 crossed 5 miles through parts of Barton County, KS.  The tornado developed 1 mile SW of Hoisington.  It rapidly intensified as it entered the west side of town climbing to F4 intensity within minutes.  Per the NWS summary, “while crossing northwest Hoisington, the tornado inflicted a path about 2 miles long and about 2 blocks wide of almost complete destruction.”  

182 homes were destroyed, 52 with major damage.  12 businesses were destroyed.  The roof was torn off the hospital.  Power was lost to most of the northwest and north side of town.

After leaving this area, the tornado weakened.  It produced F1/F2 damage near Deception Creek.  After crossing the creek, the tornado suddenly turned to the northwest and damaged 2 farmsteads.

There were 28 injuries, 3 were critical.  Gerald F. Tauscher, 69 was killed when a minivan fell on him.  

The only discrepancy I have found is in the coordinates for the path.  I have plotted below what SPC has for the beginning and end coordinates.  Starts south town and pretty much moves just east of north.  In a summary from the NWS Wichita, they included a track map and it looks much different.  Starts SW of town, moves ENE and then jaunts NE.  The summary states that the tornado began 1 mile SW of Hoisington. I have attached the NWS track map for comparison purposes.