On April 2, forecasters started to detect storms coming quickly. At first, they just believed it was severe thunderstorms.The storms were just predicted to hit the lower Mississippi Valley. Severe weather watches were broadcasted on the morning of April 3. On April 3rd and 4th,1974 an outbreak of tornados struck the Midwest, Mississippi Valley, and the Southeast United States.

Super Tornado Outbreak

One-hundred and forty-eight tornados struck on these two days. All the tornados took place within eighteen hours.