On March 18,1925,one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in recorded history generated at least 12 significant tornadoes and spanned a large portion of the midwestern and southern United States. In all,at least 751 men,women and children were killed and more than 2,298 were injured,making the outbreak the deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history. The outbreak generated several destructive tornadoes in Missouri,Illinois,and Indiana on the same day,as well as significant tornadoes in Alabama and Kansas. In addition to confirmed tornadoes,there were undoubtedly others with lesser impacts,the occurrences of which have been lost to history.
An extremely devastating and deadly tornado outbreak sequence impacted the Midwestern and Northeastern United States at the beginning of June 1953. It included two tornadoes that caused at least 90 deaths each—an F5 tornado occurring in Flint,Michigan,on June 8 and an F4 tornado in Worcester,Massachusetts,on June 9. These tornadoes are among the deadliest in United States history and were caused by the same storm system that moved eastward across the nation.
A deadly tornado outbreak occurred in Central Texas during the afternoon and evening of May 27,1997,in conjunction with a southwestward-moving cluster of supercell thunderstorms. These storms produced 20 tornadoes,mainly along the Interstate 35 corridor from northeast of Waco to north of San Antonio. The strongest tornado was an F5 tornado that leveled parts of Jarrell,killing 27 people and injuring 12 others. Overall,30 people were killed and 33 others were hospitalized by the severe weather.
On April 5–6,1936,an outbreak of at least 14 tornadoes struck the Southeastern United States,killing at least 454 people and injuring at least 2,500 others. Over 200 people died in Georgia alone,making it the deadliest disaster ever recorded in the state.
From April 9–11,1947,a significant tornado outbreak produced catastrophic effects over portions of the southern Great Plains,in the contiguous United States. The outbreak generated at least 12,and possibly 17 or more,tornadoes,many of which were significant. On Wednesday,April 9,a series of related tornadoes spawned by a single supercell,dubbed the Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornadoes,swept through the U.S. states of Texas,Oklahoma,and Kansas. Most of the damage and nearly all of the deaths are still blamed on one large tornado,known as the Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornado,that traveled 98 mi (158 km) from Texas to Oklahoma,beginning over the South Plains. This event,up to nearly 2 mi (3.2 km) in width,was often compared to the Tri-State tornado,because it was originally thought to have left a 198-to-221-mile-long path,was similarly large and intense for much of its path,and was also retroactively rated F5 on the modern-day Fujita scale,but it is now believed to have been part of a 125-to-170-mile-long family of nine or 10 tornadoes.
The 1985 United States–Canada tornado outbreak,referred to as the Barrie tornado outbreak in Canada,was a major tornado outbreak that occurred in Ohio,Pennsylvania,New York,and Ontario,on May 31,1985. In all 44 tornadoes were counted including 14 in Ontario,Canada. It is the largest and most intense tornado outbreak ever to hit this region,and the worst tornado outbreak in Pennsylvania history in terms of deaths and destruction.
A deadly series of at least 33 tornadoes hit at least 10 different U.S. states on May 9–11,1953. Tornadoes appeared daily from Minnesota in the north to Texas in the south. The strongest and deadliest tornado was a powerful F5 tornado that struck Waco,Texas on May 11,causing 114 of the 144 deaths in the outbreak. Alongside the 1902 Goliad tornado,it was the deadliest tornado in Texas history and is the 11th deadliest tornado in U.S. history. The tornado's winds demolished more than 600 houses,1,000 other structures,and over 2,000 vehicles. 597 injuries occurred,and many survivors had to wait more than 14 hours for rescue. The destruction dispelled a myth that the geography of the region spared Waco from tornadoes,and along with other deadly tornadoes in 1953,the Waco disaster was a catalyst for advances in understanding the link between tornadoes and radar-detected hook echoes. It also generated support for improved civil defense systems,the formation of weather radar networks,and improved communications between stakeholders such as meteorologists,local officials,and the public.
Portions of Lubbock,Texas,were struck by a powerful multiple-vortex tornado after nightfall on May 11,1970,resulting in 26 fatalities and an estimated $250 million in damage. It was in its time the costliest tornado in U.S. history,damaging nearly 9,000 homes and inflicting widespread damage to businesses,high-rise buildings,and public infrastructure. The tornado's damage was surveyed by meteorologist Ted Fujita in what researcher Thomas P. Grazulis described as "the most detailed mapping ever done,up to that time,of the path of a single tornado." Originally,the most severe damage was assigned a preliminary F6 rating on the Fujita scale,making it one of only two tornadoes to receive the rating,alongside the 1974 Xenia tornado. Later,it was downgraded to an F5 rating. The extremity of the damage and the force required to displace heavy objects as much as was observed indicated that winds produced by vortices within the tornado may have exceeded 290 mph (470 km/h).
On Thursday,March 27,1890,a major tornado outbreak struck the Middle Mississippi Valley. To this day,this outbreak is still one of the deadliest tornado events in United States history. At least 24 significant tornadoes,several of which were generated by cyclic supercells,were recorded to have spawned from this system,and at least 187 people were killed by tornadoes that day,including a devastating F4 tornado that struck Downtown Louisville,Kentucky,killing at least 115 people and injuring at least 200 others. Five other violent tornadoes occurred elsewhere,including a long-tracked F4 tornado family that crossed two states,killing 21 people and injuring 200,and two other F4s that killed 14 altogether. A pair of F3s near the Tennessee–Kentucky state line may have killed a combined 37 people.
From Sunday to Monday,February 21–22,1971,a devastating tornado outbreak,colloquially known as the Mississippi Delta outbreak,struck portions of the Lower Mississippi and Ohio River valleys in the Southern and Midwestern United States. The outbreak generated strong tornadoes from Texas to Ohio and North Carolina. The two-day severe weather episode produced at least 19 tornadoes,and probably several more,mostly brief events in rural areas;killed 123 people across three states;and wrecked entire communities in Mississippi. The strongest tornado of the outbreak was an F5 that developed in Louisiana and crossed into Mississippi,killing 48 people,while the deadliest was an F4 that tracked across Mississippi and entered Tennessee,causing 58 fatalities in the former state. The former tornado remains the only F5 on record in Louisiana,while the latter is the deadliest on record in Mississippi since 1950. A deadly F4 also affected other parts of Mississippi,causing 13 more deaths. Other deadly tornadoes included a pair of F3s—one each in Mississippi and North Carolina,respectively—that collectively killed five people.
The tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 was a series of violent and deadly tornado outbreaks that struck much of the Central and Southern United States from May 15 to 28,1896. It is considered one of the worst tornado outbreak sequences on record with tornado expert Tom Grazulis stating that the week of May 24–28 was "perhaps the most violent single week of tornado activity in United States history". There were four particularly notable tornado outbreaks during the two-week period. It produced three F5 tornadoes as well as the third deadliest tornado ever in United States history. A total of at least 484 people were killed during the entire outbreak sequence by at least 38 different tornadoes which struck Texas,Oklahoma,Kansas,Nebraska,Kentucky,Iowa,Illinois,Michigan,Missouri,Pennsylvania,New Jersey and Maryland.
The 1953 Worcester tornado was an extremely powerful and destructive tornado that struck the city of Worcester,Massachusetts and surrounding areas on Tuesday,June 9,1953,the final day of the Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence. It stayed on the ground for 48 miles (77 km) and 78 minutes. The tornado injured 1,288 people and killed 94,making it one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history and the deadliest tornado to ever strike New England. A total of 4,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed and,per National Weather Service estimates,10,000 people were left homeless. The tornado caused $52.193 million which,at the time,was the costliest tornado ever recorded.
The following is a glossary of tornado terms. It includes scientific as well as selected informal terminology.
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 1973,but mostly features events in the United States. According to tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis,documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive,owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and,in some cases,to internal political controls on public information. Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life. Consequently,available documentation in 1973 mainly covered the United States. On average,most recorded tornadoes,including the vast majority of significant—F2 or stronger—tornadoes,form in the U.S.,although as many as 500 may take place internationally. Some locations,like Bangladesh,are as prone to violent tornadoes as the U.S.,meaning F4 or greater events on the Fujita scale.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1971,primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S.,although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1953,primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S.,although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. This was the first year to record an F5 tornado as well as one of the deadliest tornado seasons in official U.S. records,which go back to 1950.
A widespread,destructive,and deadly tornado outbreak sequence affected the Southeastern United States from April 28 to May 2,1953,producing 24 tornadoes,including five violent F4 tornadoes. The deadliest event of the sequence was an F4 tornado family that ravaged Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins,Georgia,on April 30,killing at least 18 people and injuring 300 or more others. On May 1,a pair of F4 tornadoes also struck Alabama,causing a combined nine deaths and 15 injuries. Additionally,another violent tornado struck rural Tennessee after midnight on May 2,killing four people and injuring eight. Additionally,two intense tornadoes impacted Greater San Antonio,Texas,on April 28,killing three people and injuring 20 altogether. In all,36 people were killed,361 others were injured,and total damages reached $26.713 million (1953 USD). There were additional casualties from non-tornadic events as well,including a washout which caused a train derailment that injured 10.
The first six days of December 1953 produced a destructive and deadly tornado outbreak sequence across the Southern United States. There were 19 confirmed tornadoes,including a large and violent F4 tornado that hit the northwest side of Alexandria,Louisiana and even more large and violent F5 tornado that hit Vicksburg,Mississippi. In all,the tornadoes killed 49 people,injured 404 others,and caused $45,709 million in damage. The death toll made this deadliest December tornado outbreak ever recorded and it would not be surpassed until 2021. This was also the last of the series of deadly and catastrophic tornado outbreaks to strike the US in 1953.
The tornado outbreak of June 8,1995 was a severe,localized outbreak in the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma. It is most well known for the tornado that hit Pampa,along with the Allison F4,the Kellerville F4,and the Hoover F2. In total,29 tornadoes were recorded during that day,with 23 being in Western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. One cyclic supercell in the Texas Panhandle produced at least 5 of those 23 tornadoes,while another spawned at least 8. There were 3 F4s,and the tornadoes caused 11 injuries.
