October 2013 North American storm complex

The October 2013 North American storm complex was a massive blizzard and tornado outbreak that affected the Northwest, Rockies, and much of the Midwest in early-October 2013. A total of 22 tornadoes were confirmed as the system moved eastward across the eastern half of the United States, including two that were rated EF4. The storm was unofficially named Winter Storm Atlas by The Weather Channel.Winter Storm Atlas: Snow Totals and Photos from South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana, The Weather Channel, October 15, 2013

Additionally, the system's tail end cold front absorbed the remnants of Tropical Storm Karen, later becoming a nor'easter off the East Coast of the United States and caused minor flooding in a few states, including Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Summary of events On October 3, 2013, the National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for Rapid City and the Black Hills in advance of the storm urging people to delay or cancel travel plans.

Heavy snowfall trapped over six dozen people inside of their automobiles and tornadoes injured 17 people in Iowa and Nebraska. Rapid City, the second largest city in South Dakota, was engulfed in close to two feet of snow, which exceeds the amount of snow that the city has ever recorded during any whole month of October. Furthermore, on October 4, 2013, the city received over of snow, which exceeded the previous one day record in October by more than .Ten years on, South Dakota remembers lessons from Winter Storm Atlas, Rapid City Journal, October 3, 2023 Over 20,000 people lost electricity in Black Hills, where more than a meter of watered down, dense snow had fallen. The storm system also included thunderstorms that brought iced precipitation, significant rain and over half a dozen tornadoes to Nebraska and Iowa. Two of these tornadoes were violent enough to be rated EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. Over of Interstate 90 was shut down from South Dakota to Wyoming.

The storm affected about 5,000 ranches in western South Dakota producing snow totals as high as and winds that scattered herds for miles and resulted in the deaths of many cattle due to exhaustion and hypothermia. In a storm South Dakotans called the Cattleman's Blizzard, at least 14,000 cattle, 1300 sheep, 300 horses, and 40 bison were killed with South Dakota ranchers reporting losses of 20 to 50 percent of their herds. Thousands of people were without power. Three people died in a motor vehicle accident on US 20.

The storm coincided with the United States federal government shutdown of 2013, which limited timely federal response to the disaster.

Confirmed tornadoes

October 3 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, October 3, 2013EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary EF2SW of Hickman to N of PalmyraLancaster, OtoeNE0308 – 0339Two homes lost large portions of their roofs, and others sustained lesser damage. Trees were downed, and three storage buildings were destroyed. Outbuildings were destroyed and vehicles were moved as well. EF0SE of Elmwood CassNE0355 – 0409Tornado touched down south-southwest of Elmwood and moved mostly over open country before lifting east of town. A few trees were downed.

October 4 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, October 4, 2013EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary EF0E of MadisonStantonNE2132 – 2142No damage was reported with this tornado as it moved through rural areas southwest of Stanton. EF2E of RoyalAntelopeNE2148 – 2201A strong tornado touched down south-southeast of Royal and ended just to the east-northeast of town. Several farmsteads were damaged (with outbuildings being the primary structures impacted) and numerous trees and power lines were downed. EF4SW of Wayne to NNW of WakefieldWayne, DixonNE2212 – 2253See article on this tornado – Fifteen people were injured; caused $50.5 million in damage.Wayne, NE EF4 Tornado – October 4, 2013, TornadoTalk This became the first F4/EF4 tornado in October in the US since the Windsor Locks, Connecticut tornado of 1979, and the first tornado in Nebraska in October since 2001.Recap: October Tornadoes Hammer Northeast Nebraska, Northwest Iowa, The Weather Channel, October 31, 2013 EF3SSE of Creighton to N of Bazile MillsAntelope, KnoxNE2220 – 2236This intense tornado touched down just inside Antelope County (to the south-southeast of Creighton) before moving north and into Knox County, where it dissipated north of Creighton. It was initially weak with damage confined to irrigation systems, siding, and shingles. The tornado then strengthened and completely destroyed a building that housed antique Trackers (scattering rubble for the equivalent of three city blocks) before hitting the Creighton Municipal Airport, where several buildings were either heavily damaged or destroyed, including three hangars receiving roof, garage, and siding damage and a storage building losing its roof. The airport beacon was blown away as well. The tornado then took a track to the northwest, where a 10,000-bushel grain bin was completely destroyed, and five more irrigation systems where destroyed. Many trees were downed, and power poles snapped at their base as well. EF2SW of Macy, NE to E of Bronson, IAThurston (NE), Monona (IA), Woodbury (IA)NE, IA2255 – 2347This long-tracked, strong tornado began southwest of Macy before moving through the town. Six homes in the town were either heavily damaged or destroyed, while twelve more homes and one business sustained minor damage. Numerous vehicles, a center pivot irrigation system, and several buildings at farmsteads were damaged as well. The tornado crossed the Missouri River into Iowa west-northwest of Whiting and continued north-northeastward to the west of Sloan, where it spawned the EF1 satellite tornado listed below. Two buildings were destroyed southeast of Salix and open-air buildings were severely damaged at a dairy farm east of Salix. Other homes and buildings were either severely damaged or destroyed between Salix and Bronson before the tornado lifted just east of Bronson. Many trees and four power poles were downed, and corn crops were flattened along the path. Two people were injured, both in Thurston County. EF0ESE of AllenDixonNE2259 – 2301A brief tornado caused no damage. EF1W of SloanWoodburyIA2317 – 2320This was a satellite tornado to the long-tracked EF2 tornado listed above. Trees were downed and farm buildings were either damaged or destroyed. EF1NNW of Jackson, NE to SSE of Jefferson, SDDakota (NE), Union (SD)NE, SD2325 – 2335A tornado touched down in Dakota County, causing no damage before crossing the Missouri River into South Dakota. It then damaged homes, overturned an irrigation system, and downed many trees in a subdivision west of McCook Lake before dissipating. One of the homes had a collapsed chimney, carport, porch roof, and walls of a garage, and at least four other houses had roof, siding, and/or gutter damage. EF1NE of Jefferson, SD Union (SD), Plymouth (IA)SD, IA2335 – 2345This tornado touched down south of Jefferson just after the previous tornado lifted, damaging a feedlot before crossing I-29. The roof and gutters of a house and the walls and roof of at least two storage equipment buildings were severely damaged, a road sign was damaged, several grain bins were either blown over or crushed, trees and power poles were downed, and corn crops were flattened. One of the grain bins was wrapped around a house, causing damage to the roof, siding, and gutters of the house. The tornado tracked in total for in South Dakota before crossing the Big Sioux River into Plymouth County, Iowa and lifting northeast of Jefferson after causing no damage. EF4SW of Climbing Hill to W of WashtaWoodbury, CherokeeIA2335 – 0017This very large, violent tornado tracked northeast through rural Woodbury and Cherokee counties, moving west and north of Climbing Hill, southeast of Moville and Pierson, and northwest of Correctionville before dissipating west of Washta. Numerous houses were either heavily damaged or destroyed, with some losing their entire roofs, having collapse of walls, and being shifted off of their foundations. Many sheds, outbuildings, barns, silos, pieces of farm equipment, and garages were destroyed, and a car was thrown . Farm equipment was tossed about at a farmstead south of Pierson, including a large grain cart that put gouges in a road and had its axle and wheels broken off, and many trees and power lines were downed along the path. EF1NW of HintonPlymouthIA2350 – 2352Farm buildings were damaged, and trees were downed. EF0E of AdavillePlymouthIA2355 – 2356A brief tornado downed several trees. EF0NNE of QuimbyCherokeeIA0041 – 0043A brief tornado caused no damage. EF0SW of CherokeeCherokeeIA0046 – 0047A brief tornado caused no damage. EF0NE of CherokeeCherokeeIA0118 – 0119A brief tornado to the east-southeast of Larrabee caused no damage. EF1SSW of AltaBuena VistaIA0133 – 0142This tornado touched down south-southwest of Alta and ended just outside the south side of town. A few farmsteads were damaged, with a drive-thru garage and several outbuildings suffering significant damage at one farmstead, farm equipment being damaged, a school suffering roof and air conditioning damage, and a baseball complex sustaining considerable damage, including to bleachers. EF0NW of WebbClayIA0147 – 0148A brief tornado to the south-southwest of Gillett Grove downed a few trees.

October 5 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, October 5, 2013EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary EF0W of EndeavorMarquetteWI2323 – 2330Numerous trees were snapped along this tornado's path, including one the fell on and destroyed a vehicle and damaged the roof of a house. Other homes had shingle damage, and a section of metal was peeled off of the roof of a farmhouse. Corn crops were downed, a farm building was damaged, and a boat was moved as well. EF0SW of ObionObionTN2352 – 2353A brief tornado in an open field just north of the Obion River caused no damage.

October 7 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, October 7, 2013EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary EF1Paramus BergenNJ1916 – 1918Trees were downed in George Washington Memorial Park (a cemetery) and across adjoining golf courses – the Paramus Golf Course and the Ridgewood Country Club.

Wayne–Wakefield, Nebraska