The Outbreak
According to Joseph Leonard as written in History of Olmsted County, Minnesota,
| “ | At Rochester the day had been hot with a strong southeast wind, the air was smoky and oppressive, the heavens were overcast with clouds of a dull leaden line, and there were, apparently, three strata, all moving in different directions. | ” |
Although meteorology in 1883 was primitive compared with modern science, Leonard's observations reveal quite a bit about the atmospheric conditions in Rochester that day. High temperatures, high humidity, strong surface winds, and vertical wind shear appear to have been present; all are key factors in the development of thunderstorms and tornadoes. The Rochester tornado was one of at least 3 violent tornadoes that hit southeastern Minnesota that day, but because the Rochester twister was so devastating, the other two were largely ignored by the press and relatively little is known about them.
- The first tornado touched down at 3:30 PM just 10 miles (16 km) south of Rochester near Pleasant Grove. This tornado was approximated at an F3 and killed 2 people, injuring 10.
- The second tornado was the large F5 that made a direct hit on Rochester. It touched down at 5:30 PM near Hayfield, traveling 25 miles (40 km) before lifting back up after it hit Rochester. It killed 37 and injured over 200, mostly in Rochester. Forty farms were hit with at least 10 leveled.The northern third of Rochester was devastated with 135 homes destroyed and 200 damaged.
- The third tornado, also approximated at an F2, touched down at 8:30 PM just 15 miles (24 km) to the east of Rochester near St. Charles. It killed 1 person and injured 19.
Read more about this topic: 1883 Rochester Tornado