1991 Itu tornado
During the evening of September 30, 1991, an extremely destructive and violent tornado struck the municipalities of Itu and Salto, in São Paulo, Brazil, killing sixteen people, and injuring approximately 300 others, causing catastrophic widespread damage. Considered as the strongest tornado ever registered in Brazil's history, the tornado had a peak width of 400 m (440 yds), and was initially rated as F3, but several years later was reassessed and rated high-end F4 by Unicamp in 2012, one year later, Metsul also estimated an F4 rating.[1][2] It was also rated using the Brazilian Wind Scale (Escala Brasileira dos Ventos), being rated as intensity 7 (F5 equivalent on the F-scale). One of the worst damages noted is a rolled over bus that caused ten fatalities, cars thrown away several metres, well-built homes swept clean, and a 100-ton obelisk that toppled.[3]
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 One of the worst damage caused by the tornado, a rolled over bus where 10 fatalities occurred | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Duration | ~60 minutes |
| Date | 30 September 1991 |
| Formed | 6:30 pm (UTC-3) |
| Dissipated | ~7:20 pm (UTC-3) |
| F4 tornado | |
| on the Fujita scale | |
| Path width | 400 m (440 yd) |
| Path length | 30 km (19 mi) |
| Highest winds | 334–419 km/h (208–260 mph)[4] |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 16[5] |
| Injuries | 350[3] |
| Damage | ~$2 million (~$Error when using {{Inflation}}: |index=US (parameter 1) not a recognized index. in 2018 USD)[3] |
| Areas affected | Itu, Salto, São Paulo |
| Script error: The function "split" does not exist. IBTrACS | |
Part of the Tornadoes of 1991 | |
Impacts
The tornado devasted surrounding areas in a range of 200-400 metres wide and travelled 19 mi (30 km), stretching from Açúcar Highway to Serra do Japi range. Various vehicles were found 600 m (660 yd) away from their original positions, including a blue Chevrette with two occupants that was thrown 700 m (770 yds) away, resulting in both fatalities. Two gas stations, five factories, three schools, and at least 200 homes were destroyed, mostly being made of masonry. A 100-ton, 25-metre-high obelisk was toppled by the tornado, power lines and towers were thrown several metres away while trees were uprooted and distorted. A 22-ton bus carrying various students was overturned and rolled 30 m (33 yds) away, resulting in the death of ten students.[3]
Rating discussion
There is a debate about the rating of this tornado as sources use the original F3 rating, as more trustworthy sources (like MetSul) uses F4, and supposedly, and one study cite a F5 rating given by a later reassessment by the same meteorologists that gave the high-end F4 rating.
Despite this, no sources mention or discuss about this study, nor about the F5 rating.[2]
See also
- Tornadoes of 1991
- List of Brazil tornadoes
- 2025 Rio Bonito do Iguaçu tornado – Brazil's most recent violent tornado.
- Disagreements on the intensity of tornadoes – Where other tornadoes also face the same disagreement in the intensity.
- 1973 San Justo tornado – Rating also debated, some sources uses F4 rating and others use the F5 rating.
- 1926 Encarnación tornado – Rating also debated, some sources uses F4 rating and others use the F5 rating.
References
- ↑ "Pode um tornado como dos Estados Unidos atingir o Estado?". MetSul Meteorologia (in português). 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Estudo identifica corredor de tornados na região de Campinas" (in português). 2016-06-21. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Zona de Risco, Blogspot (2015-02-02). "História: Tornado destrói e mata 15 pessoas em Itu". Zona de Risco (in português). Retrieved 2026-01-15.
- ↑ "História de tempestades em Itu". Itu (in português). 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ↑ "Itu faz missa pelas vítimas do tornado de 91". Folha de Londrina (in português). 1999-09-26. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
Category:Tornadoes of 1991 Category:Tornadoes in South America Category:Pages with unreviewed translations Category:F4, EF4 and IF4 tornadoes
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