List of deadliest tornadoes in the Americas

Last updated

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

The following is a list of the deadliest tornadoes in the Americas including Canada, Mexico, and the United States as well as the countries and islands of the Caribbean and the countries included in both Central America and South America. While the significant majority of tornadoes on this list occurred in the United States, there are also entries for Argentina, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, and Uruguay

Contents

The deadliest tornado on record was the Daulatpur–Saturia tornado which occurred in the Dhaka division of Bangladesh on April 26, 1989. With a rating of at least F3 from the World Meteorological Organization and top winds estimated at greater than 200 mph (320 km/h), the tornado killed an estimated 1,300 people and injured at least 12,000 others. Of all the recorded tornadoes with death tolls of 100 or greater, at least 24 of them occurred in Bangladesh and/or India, and two of them occurred in Europe (in the countries of Italy and Malta).

In the Americas, there are 15 tornadoes on record that caused at least 100 fatalities, the most recent being the Joplin F5 tornado which killed 158 people in May 2011. There are at least 450 tornadoes on record that caused greater than ten fatalities; the most recent of these was the Rolling Fork, Mississippi EF4 tornado which killed 17 people in March 2023.

100+ fatalities

Rank [lower-alpha 1] Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] YearMonth & DayFatalities [lower-alpha 3] Injuries [lower-alpha 4] F or EF [lower-alpha 5] NotesOther References
1 Ellington, Missouri-Murphysboro/De Soto, Illinois-Griffin/Princeton, Illinois 1925March 186892,027F5By far, the deadliest tornado in United States history and the second deadliest in world history. While the National Weather Service’s official death toll was 689, the American Red Cross reported 695 fatalities; however, the actual death toll was probably much higher than either figure as many people later died of their injuries Tri-State tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 796)
2 Natchez, Mississippi 1840May 6317109F5These figures probably do not take into account the number of African-American or slave casualties as they were often not included in official statistics; therefore, the actual numbers of casualties from this tornado were probably much higher than what is listed here. Great Natchez Tornado, (Grazulis, p. 559)
3 St. Louis, Missouri—East St. Louis, Illinois 1896May 272551,000F4These figures probably do not include actual numbers of African-American people or residents of Shanty town boats in the Mississippi River who were killed or injured. 1896 St. Louis – East St. Louis tornado, (Grazulis, p. 676)
4 Tupelo, Mississippi 1936April 5216700F5At least 100 people were still hospitalized when this death toll was published, so the actual death toll may be much higher. The Mississippi State Geologist estimated a death toll of 233. African-American casualties were not counted properly. (Grazulis gave this tornado an F5 rating.) 1936 Tupelo–Gainesville tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 865)
5 Gainesville, Georgia 1936April 62031,600F4At least 40 people were still missing in collapsed buildings when these figures were published, so the actual death toll may be much higher. 1936 Tupelo–Gainesville tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 866)
6 Glazier/Higgins, Texas—Woodward, Oklahoma 1947April 9181970F5This was a family of tornadoes. Widely accepted death tolls per city are as follows: 107 in Woodward, 51 in Higgins, and 17 in Glazier. Six others were killed in rural parts of southern Oklahoma. 1947 Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornado outbreak (Grazulis, p. 927)
7 Joplin, Missouri 2011May 221581,150EF5As of 2024, this is the only 21st century tornado in the Americas with a death toll greater than 100. Five additional people died from a rare Mucormycosis fungal infection (caused by Apophysomyces trapeziformis) that was found in their wounds; a police officer was struck by lightning and killed the following day while engaged in recovery efforts; and four others died from their injuries in the two weeks after the tornado. Those ten deaths were considered "indirect fatalities" and are not counted in the final death toll. [1] 2011 Joplin tornado
8 Amite/Pine, Louisiana—Purvis/Richton, Mississippi 1908April 24143770F4 1908 Dixie tornado outbreak
9 New Richmond, Wisconsin 1899June 12117200F5The number of fatalities could have been much lower, but a circus had come to town and a number of people from nearby communities were there when the tornado struck. 1899 New Richmond tornado
10 Flint—Beecher, Michigan 1953June 8116844F5 1953 Flint–Beecher tornado
11 Waco, Texas 1953May 11114597F5 1953 Waco tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 970)
Goliad, Texas 1902May 18114250F4 1902 Goliad, Texas, tornado
13 Omaha, Nebraska 1913March 23103350F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913
14 Mattoon—Charleston, Illinois 1917May 26101638F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 752)
15 Shinnston, West Virginia 1944June 23100381F4Historians suggested a death toll as high as 153. [2] 1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak

50–99 fatalities

Rank [lower-alpha 1] Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] YearMonth & DayFatalities [lower-alpha 3] Injuries [lower-alpha 4] F or EF [lower-alpha 5] NotesOther References
16 Marshfield, Missouri 1880April 1899200F4The death toll was probably higher. (Grazulis, p. 608) Tornado outbreak of April 1880
17 Maynard/Brockett, Arkansas—Poplar Bluff, Missouri 1927May 998300F4 Tornado outbreak of May 1927, [3] (Grazulis, p. 809)
Gainesville, Georgia 1903June 198180F4A 1932 newspaper reported a death toll of 104, which included deaths that occurred later due to injuries sustained during the tornado. (Grazulis, p. 700) 1903 Gainesville, Georgia, tornado
19 Snyder, Oklahoma 1905May 1097150F5 1905 Snyder tornado
20 Petersham—Barre—Rutland—Holden—Worcester—Shrewsbury—Westborough—Southborough, Massachusetts 1953June 9941,288F4Grazulis has stated that this tornado should have been rated F5 (Grazulis, p. 974). He also stated that the previously reported death toll of 90 is incorrect, based on overwhelming evidence in John O’Toole's book Tornado! 84 Minutes, 94 Lives [4] 1953 Worcester Tornado
21 DeWitt/Camanche, Iowa—Albany/Morrison Township, Illinois 1860June 392200F4Grazulis gave this an F4 rating. He also reported a death toll as high as 111. [5] (Grazulis, p. 566)
22 Concordia Parish, Louisiana—Natchez/Pine Ridge/Church Hill, Mississippi 1908April 2491400F4 1908 Dixie tornado outbreak
23 Starkville/Cedarbluff/Aberdeen, Mississippi—Bexar/Hackleburg/Phil Campbell/Spruce Pine/Waco/Mehama, Alabama 1920April 2088700F4 April 1920 tornado outbreak
24 Sandusky-Lorain, Ohio 1924June 2885300F4 1924 Lorain–Sandusky tornado (Grazulis, p. 790)
25 Udall, Kansas 1955May 2580273F5Grazulis reported 270 injuries (Grazulis, p. 987) 1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak
26 St. Louis, Missouri 1927September 2979550F3 Tornado outbreak of September 29, 1927
27 Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky 1890March 2776200F4 Tornado outbreak of March 27, 1890
28 Rocksprings, Texas 1927April 1274205F5One-third of the town was killed by this tornado. [6]
29 Farmington—Howe—Sherman, Texas 1896May 1573200F5 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 674)
30 Hackleburg—Phil Campbell—Tanner—Harvest—Athens, Alabama 2011April 2772145EF5"Hackleburg-Phil Campbell tornado" The deadliest single tornado in the 2011 Super Outbreak and in Alabama history. 2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado
St. Cloud—Sauk Rapids, Minnesota 1886April 1472213F4A couple was killed on their wedding day, with nine of their wedding guests also among the fatalities. (Grazulis, p. 637) 1886 St. Cloud-Sauk Rapids tornado outbreak
32 Pomeroy, Iowa 1893July 671200F5One report suggested a death toll as high as 89, but this could not be confirmed.(Grazulis, p. 664)
Peggs, Oklahoma 1920May 271100F4 [7]
34 Antlers, Oklahoma 1945April 1269353F5This tornado occurred the same afternoon as the death of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; as a result, this extremely violent and deadly tornado received little or no media attention, even from local newspapers. (Grazulis, p. 919) Tornado outbreak of April 12, 1945 [8]
35 Rippey—Grinnell—Malcom, Iowa 1882June 1768300F5One report suggested a death toll as high as 130. [9] (Grazulis, p. 615)
36 Tiptonville, Tennessee—Bondurant/Hickman/Clinton/Dublin, Kentucky 1917May 2767345F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 752)
37 Tuscaloosa—Holt—Alberta City—Concord—Pleasant Grove—Birmingham (Pratt City)—Fultondale, Alabama 2011April 27641,500EF4"Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado" Second highest toll for a single tornado during the 2011 Super Outbreak. 2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado
38 Itta Bena—Greenwood—Avalon, Mississippi—Cascilla—Otoucalofa—Tula, Mississippi 1942March 1663500F4 Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942
San Justo, Santa Fe Province, Argentina1973January 1063350F5 Dr. Ted Fujita studied this and determined it was "the worst tornado ever recorded in the world outside the borders of the United States." It was only on the ground for 0.9 mi (1.45 km) San Justo tornado
40* Williamsonville, Wisconsin 1871October 860*A "Fire-nado", an extension of a forest fire that engulfed about half of the Door County peninsula, killed three-quarters of the people (reports range between 57 and 60) in this small village. The National Weather Service now issues tornado warnings when conditions are favorable for the formation of "Fire-nadoes" during wildfires. Peshtigo fire, (Grazulis, p. 575)
41 Mims Chapel/Avinger, Texas—Trigenta/Shiloh/Hempstead County, Arkansas 1921April 1559300F4Grazulis, p. 773)
42 Cary/Gooden Lake/Pugh City/Morgan City/Money, Mississippi—Middleton, Tennessee 1971February 2158795F4Grazulis reported 700 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,121) Tornado outbreak of February 21–22, 1971
Jackson, Mississippi 1966March 358518F5Grazulis reported 57 deaths and 504 injuries. (Grazulis, p. 1,079) 1966 Candlestick Park tornado outbreak
44 Mayfield—Princeton—Dawson Springs—Bremen, Kentucky 2021December 1057515+EF4 2021 Western Kentucky tornado
Fergus Falls, Minnesota 1919June 2257200F5 1919 Fergus Falls tornado (Grazulis, p. 764)
46 Wesson—Beauregard—Georgetown, Mississippi 1883April 2256300F4(Grazulis, p. 617)
47 Warren, Arkansas 1949January 355435F4(Grazulis, p. 941)
Fort Smith—Van Buren, Arkansas 1898January 1155113F4 1898 Fort Smith, Arkansas, tornado (Grazulis, p. 681)
49 Steedman—Horrell Hill—Gaillard Crossroads, South Carolina 1924April 3053534F4"The Horrell Hill Tornado" April 1924 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 788)
50 Pryor, Oklahoma 1942April 2752350F4Two days after the tornado struck, the Associated Press reported a total of 60 deaths; "an unofficial check of mortuaries in the storm area showed 70 known dead." The World History Project reported greater than 400 injuries.[ citation needed ](Grazulis, p. 899)
51 Kensett—Judsonia—Bald Knob—Russell, Arkansas 1952March 2150325F4 Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952, (Grazulis, p. 962)

30–49 fatalities

Rank [lower-alpha 1] Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] YearMonth & DayFatalities [lower-alpha 3] Injuries [lower-alpha 4] F or EF [lower-alpha 5] NotesOther References
52 Brinkley, Arkansas 1909March 849600F4A report from the NWS indicated 64 deaths and 671 injuries, although this may have been a combination of two tornadoes.(Grazulis, p. 719)
Perry County—Lawley—Jemison—Union Grove—Chilton County, Alabama 1932March 2149150F4 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 842)
Gilliam—Bolinger—Belcher, Louisiana 1908May 1349135F4(Grazulis, p. 715)
55 Waverly/Melbourne Plantation, Louisiana—Delta City/Inverness/Moorhead, Mississippi 1971February 2147510F5Grazulis reported 46 deaths and 400 injuries. (Grazulis, p. 1,121) Tornado outbreak of February 21–22, 1971
Ortonville—Thomas—North Oxford—Whigville, Michigan 1896May 2547100F5 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 676)
57 New Albany, Indiana 1917March 2346250F4 March 1917 tornado outbreak
58 Orland, Indiana—East Gilead/Reading/Hillsdale/Manitou Beach, Michigan 1965April 1144587F4Per Grazulis, these two tornadoes were "inseparable" with regards to damage paths. Grazulis also reported a total of 612 injuries. (Grazulis, p. 1,065) 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Williamsburg/Spring Hill, Kansas—Ruskin Heights/Raytown, Missouri 1957May 2044531F5"The Ruskin Heights Tornado" May 1957 Central Plains tornado outbreak sequence, (Grazulis, p. 1,007)
60 Wichita Falls, Texas 1979April 10421,740F4Twenty-five fatalities and 30 (out of 59) serious injuries were related to people trying to seek shelter or outrun the tornado in their cars (Grazulis, p. 1,209) 1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak
61 Gantts Quarry—Sylacauga—Chandler Springs—Ashland, Alabama 1932March 2141325F4 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 843)
Bynum—Mertens—Rankin—Bardwell—Ensign—Frost, Texas 1930May 641200F4(Grazulis, p. 834)
Gallatin, Tennessee—Holland/Beaumont, Kentucky 1925March 184195F4Grazulis reported 39 fatalities (Grazulis, p. 796) Tri-State tornado outbreak
64 Norristown—Statesboro—Oliver, Georgia 1929April 2540300F4(Grazulis, p. 825)
65 Lacey's Spring/Paint Rock/Jackson County, Alabama—Ladds Switch, Tennessee 1932March 2138500F4 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 844)
Vicksburg, Mississippi 1953December 538270F5 1953 Vicksburg, Mississippi, tornado (Grazulis, p. 976)
Bolivar—Henderson—Jack's Creek—Darden, Tennessee 1952March 2138157F4 Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 (Grazulis, p. 963)
68 Rochester, Minnesota 1883August 2137200F5The lack of medical facilities needed to care for the injured indirectly led to the establishment of the Mayo Clinic 1883 Rochester tornado (Grazulis, p. 623)
Tuscaloosa—Northport, Alabama 1932March 2137200F4 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 842)
Sandersville—Harmony—Nancy, Mississippi 1933March 3137170F4(Grazulis, p. 848)
71 Bridge Creek—Moore—Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1999May 336583F5 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado
Elkhart—Dunlap, Indiana 1965April 1136321F4Grazulis reported 320 injuries. (Grazulis, p. 1,066) 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Bay Springs—Rose Hill—Savoy—Meridian, Mississippi 1920April 2036200F4 April 1920 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 769)
Moundville, Alabama 1904January 2236150F4(Grazulis, p. 701)
Tyler, Minnesota 1918August 2136100F4Grazulis reported 225 injuries (Grazulis, p. 761) 1918 Tyler tornado
Tompkinsville—Sewell—Cundiff—Russell Springs, Kentucky 1933May 93687F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933
Kenedy—Runge—Nordheim, Texas 1930May 63660F4(Grazulis, p. 834)
78 Tuckerman—Jonesboro, Arkansas 1968May 1535364F4Grazulis reported 361 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,099) Tornado outbreak of May 1968
Sulphur Springs—Pine Bluff, Arkansas 1947June 135300F4(Grazulis, p. 931)
Dora—Bergens—Warrior—Royal—Wynnville—Albertville—Sylvania, Alabama 1908April 2435188F4 1908 Dixie tornado outbreak
Livingston—Beatty Swamps, Tennessee 1933May 1035150F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933, (Grazulis, p. 851)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1942June 1235100F4(Grazulis, p. 902)
83 Xenia, Ohio 1974April 3341,150F5 1974 Xenia tornado, (Grazulis, p. 1,154)
Kirksville, Missouri 1899April 2734125F4(Grazulis, p. 686)
Wallingford, Connecticut 1878August 93470F4Number of fatalities range from 29 to 34, depending on source (Grazulis, p. 596) 1878 Wallingford tornado
Zephyr, Texas 1909May 303470F4(Grazulis, p. 723)
Marquette, Kansas 1905May 83450F4(Grazulis, p. 705)
88 Oak Lawn—Evergreen Park—Chicago Illinois 1967April 2133500F4 1967 Oak Lawn tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,089)
Fosterburg—Bunker Hill—Gillespie, Illinois 1948March 1933449F4(Grazulis, p. 934)
90 Birmingham, Alabama 1998April 832259F5 Tornado outbreak of April 6–9, 1998
Hazlehurst—Sardis, Mississippi 1969January 2332241F4 1969 Hazlehurst, Mississippi, tornadoes, (Grazulis, p. 1,103)
93 Brandenburg, Kentucky 1974April 331257F5Grazulis reported 270 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1.154) List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak
Goshen—Midway, Indiana 1965April 1131252F4 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Plantersville—Stanton—Lomax—Marble Valley, Alabama 1932March 2131200F4 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Crane Creek—Flat Creek Township—Ozark—Linden—Panther Creek, Missouri 1880April 1831100F4"The Finley Creek Tornado" Tornado outbreak of April 1880, (Grazulis, p. 608)
Gardner—Oconee, Georgia 1921February 1031100F4(Grazulis, p. 771)
Moore, Oklahoma 1893April 2531100F4(Grazulis, p. 652)
98 Wellsburg, West Virginia—Chartiers Township/Dry Tavern, Pennsylvania—Oakland, Maryland 1944June 2330300F4 1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 915)
Saragosa, Texas 1987May 2230121F4 1987 Saragosa tornado, (Grazulis, p. 1,278)
Lula/Dundee/Strayhorn/Arkabutla/Coldwater, Mississippi—La Grange, Tennessee 1900November 2030100F4(Grazulis, p. 692)
Piedmont/Goshen/Rock Run, Alabama—Cave Spring, Georgia 1884February 1930100F4 Enigma tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 625)
Stafford, Virginia—Charles County, Maryland 1818August 1530F?"The Potomac Gale" may have been a tornado or associated with a tornado, but it also may not have been a tornado at all. (Grazulis, p. 556)
Washington, D.C.1814August 2530F?Grazulis stated the fatalities probably included some British soldiers. (Grazulis, p. 555) Burning of Washington, List of tornadoes in Washington, D.C.

25–29 fatalities

Rank [lower-alpha 1] Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] YearMonth & DayFatalities [lower-alpha 3] Injuries [lower-alpha 4] F or EF [lower-alpha 5] NotesOther References
Plainfield—Joliet, Illinois 1990August 2829350F5 1990 Plainfield tornado
England—Cotton Plant—Hillemann, Arkansas 1952March 2129180F4Grazulis reported 40 deaths and 274 injuries (Grazulis, p. 962) Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952
Berryville, Arkansas 1942October 2929100F4(Grazulis, p. 904)
Horn Lake, Mississippi—Whitehaven/Newcastle/Bolivar/Scotts Hill/Perryville, Tennessee 1909April 2929100F4 Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909, (Grazulis, p. 721)
Bee Spring—Millville, Tennessee 1909April 292970F4 Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909, (Grazulis, p. 721)
Minden (Gillark), Louisiana 1933May 128400F4The following day, one newspaper suggested as many as 55 deaths (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; May 2, 1933; p. 1)(Grazulis, p. 850)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada1912June 3028300F4 Regina Cyclone
Guin—Delmar, Alabama 1974April 328272F5Grazulis reported 30 deaths and 280 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,161) List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak
Moulton—Tanner (#1)—Harvest, Alabama 1974April 328267F5Grazulis reported 260 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,160) List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak
Elwood/Preston/Riggs/Delmar/Quigley (Petersville), Iowa—Savanna/Lanark/Forreston/Adeline, Illinois 1898May 1828150F4(Grazulis, p. 683)
Crawfordsville—Lebanon—Sheridan—Arcadia, Indiana 1965April 1128123F4 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,066)
Sparta, Georgia—Edgefield, South Carolina 1875March 202870F4Death toll was as high as 20 in Columbia County, Georgia but only eight were counted (which suggests a total death toll of at least 40) (Grazulis, p. 582) March 1875 Southeast tornado outbreak
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada1987July 3127253F4 Edmonton tornado
LaGrange, Georgia 1920March 2827100F3As many as "200 people dead + injured" (Grazulis, p. 768) 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Lily Flagg—Brownsboro—Gurley, Alabama 1920April 2027100F4 April 1920 tornado outbreak
Sayre—Bradford—Village Springs, Alabama 1917May 2727100F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 753)
Charleston, South Carolina 1938September 292780F2Many fatalities occurred in collapsed buildings (Grazulis, p. 881) [10]
Columbia—Macedonia, Tennessee 1900November 202775F4Most of the fatalities occurred in Macedonia (Grazulis, p. 693) [11]
Drew County, Arkansas 1939April 162762F4(Grazulis, p. 883)
Lower Peach Tree—Scyrene, Alabama 1913March 212760F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913, (Grazulis, p. 737)
Deemer/New Deemer—Philadelphia, Mississippi 1920April 202760F4 April 1920 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 769)
Jarrell, Texas 1997May 272712F5 1997 Jarrell tornado
Lubbock, Texas 1970May 1126500F5Grazulis reported 28 deaths (Grazulis, p. 1,113) Lubbock tornado
Montgomery—Chisholm, Alabama 1945February 1226293F3 Tornado outbreak of February 12, 1945, (Grazulis, p. 918)
Arab—Granite Bend—Dongola—Zalma, Missouri 1917May 3026210F4Two tornadoes merged, estimated death tolls from each = 18 + 8, estimated total injuries = 200 + 10 (Grazulis, p. 754) Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917
Villa María—Villa Nueva, Córdoba Province, Argentina 1928November 1226150F?"Villa María tornado" List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
Red Hill/Susanna/Red Ridge/Agricola, Alabama—West Point, Georgia 1920March 2826125F4 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 768)
Alto—Kokomo—Greentown—Swayzee—Marion, Indiana 1965April 1125835F4 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
McDonald Chapel—Birmingham, Alabama 1956April 1525200F4 1956 McDonald Chapel tornado
Seneca/Oneida/Sabetha/Reserve, Kansas—Falls City, Nebraska 1896May 1725200F5 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896
Barney—Heber Springs—Banner, Arkansas 1916June 525150F4 June 1916 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 747)
Campbell—Poinciana—Kissimmee—Buenaventura Lakes—Lake Hart—Lake Mary Jane, Florida 1998February 2225150F3This was the deadliest single tornado in Florida’s recorded history. 1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak
Franklin Springs/Royston/Nuberg/Sandy Cross, Georgia—Abbeville County, South Carolina 1944April 1625120F4(Grazulis, p. 912)
Louisville, Kentucky 1854August 2725100F?(Grazulis, p. 562)
Council Bluffs—Gilliatt—Weston—Neola—Harlan, Iowa 1913March 232575F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913, (Grazulis, p. 737)
Hancock—Kossuth—Worth Counties in Iowa 1894September 212560F4(Grazulis, p. 667)
Lakeview/Fyffe/Rainsville/Sylvania, Alabama—Rising Fawn, Georgia 2011April 2725EF5Unknown number of injuries. "Rainsville EF5 tornado" 2011 Rainsville tornado

20–24 fatalities

Rank [lower-alpha 1] Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] YearMonth & DayFatalities [lower-alpha 3] Injuries [lower-alpha 4] F or EF [lower-alpha 5] NotesOther References
Belvidere, Illinois 1967April 2124410F4Grazulis reported 500 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,088) 1967 Oak Lawn tornado outbreak
Smith Mills, Kentucky—Evansville—Paradise—Gentryville, Indiana 2005November 624238F3 Evansville tornado outbreak of November 2005
Moore, Oklahoma 2013May 2024212EF5 2013 Moore tornado
Ingomar—Baker—Keownville—Glen, Mississippi 1920April 2024180F4 April 1920 tornado outbreak
New Baden—Germantown—Mascoutah, Illinois 1896May 2724125F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 677)
Eureka Springs—Green Forest—Berryville, Arkansas 1927March 1824110F4(Grazulis, p. 806)
New Castle—Millville (Henry County)—Hagerstown—Greens Fork, Indiana 1917March 1124110F4(Grazulis, p. 750)
Mineola—Blodgett—Spring Hill, Texas 1919April 924100F4 Tornado outbreak of April 1919
Mayersville—Grace—Isola—Moorhead, Mississippi 1919March 162480F4Grazulis reported that the death toll may have been higher.(Grazulis, p. 762)
Mount Vernon, Illinois 1888February 192480F4This was the only fatal tornado during this rare February outbreak. (Grazulis, p. 643) [12]
Stantonville—Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee 1909October 142480F3(Grazulis, p. 725)
Strong, Arkansas 1927May 92472F4 Tornado outbreak of May 1927
St. Mary's—Lisbon—Mount Vernon—Mechanicsville, Iowa 1860June 32460F?(Grazulis, p. 566)
Cordele—Crisp County, Georgia 1936April 223500F4 1936 Cordele-Greensboro tornado outbreak. (Grazulis, p. 865)
Coldwater Lake–Hillsdale–Manitou Beach–Devils Lake–Tecumseh, Michigan 1965April 1123294F4 List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Howard—Mitchell Counties, Texas 1923May 1423250F5A man and his three sons were killed in one house (Grazulis, p. 783) [13]
Cisco, Texas 1893April 2823150F4Death toll may have been as high as 26(Grazulis, p. 662)
Smithville, Mississippi—Hodges, Alabama 2011April 2723137EF5 2011 Smithville tornado
Cape Girardeau, Missouri—Alexander County, Illinois 1949May 2123130F4(Grazulis, p. 948)
Oklahoma City—Bethany, Oklahoma 1930November 1923125F4(Grazulis, p. 839)
Pee Dee—Rockingham—Philadelphia (Church)—Manly, North Carolina 1884February 1923100F4 Enigma tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 626)
Beauregard, Alabama 2019March 32397EF4 2019 Beauregard tornado
Greenbrier—Enders—Heber Springs, Arkansas 1926November 252390F4Reported as 20 deaths and 75 injuries elsewhere [14] (Grazulis, p. 804)
Batesville—Moorefield—Sneed—Swifton, Arkansas 1929April 102380F5(Grazulis, p. 824)
Andale—Sedgwick—McLain—Elbing, Kansas 1917May 252370F5 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 751)
Meridian, Mississippi 1906March 22360F4(Grazulis, p. 707)
Ossian/Townley, Indiana—Brunersburg/Raabs Corner, Ohio 1920March 282354F4 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 768)
Canoinhas, Santa Catarina, Brazil1948May 1623F?"Several animal casualties" were also reported List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
Charleston—Beaufort County, South Carolina 1814June 3023F?Started as a tornado on land then moved into Port Royal Sound; as a waterspout, killed 23 of the 40 people who were onboard the schooner "Alligator"(Grazulis, p. 555)
Larose, Louisiana 1964October 322165F4Deadliest hurricane-spawned tornado on record (since 1900) and one of only two to reach F4 intensity Hurricane Hilda tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1057)
Ragland—Piedmont—Goshen—Rock Run, Alabama 1994March 2722150F4 1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Birmingham—Smithfield, Alabama 1977April 422125F5 Tornado outbreak of April 1977
Cartersville—Jasper—Cagle—Tate—Mount Oglethorpe, Georgia 1884February 1922100F4 Enigma tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 625)
Viroqua, Wisconsin 1865June 2822100F? 1865 Viroqua tornado, (Grazulis, p. 568)
Margaret/Ragland/Shoal Creek Valley/Ohatchee/Piedmont, Alabama—Cave Spring/Kingston, Georgia 2011April 272285EF4 List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak
Macon, Mississippi 1880April 252272F4(Grazulis, p. 609)
Castalian Springs/Lafayette, Tennessee—Tompkinsville, Kentucky 2008February 52263EF3 List of tornadoes in the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak
Yutan, Nebraska—Logan, Iowa 1913March 232250F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913, (Grazulis, p. 737)
Goodwater/Oak Bowery, Alabama—Harris/Talbot Counties, Georgia 1875May 12230F3Death toll may have been at least 35 based on a total of 26 (unconfirmed) deaths in Talbot County.(Grazulis, p. 583)
Sabinas—Hondo Coal Mine, Coahuila, Mexico1899May 1022F?Possibly greater than 22 deaths List of Central American tornadoes
Huntsville, Alabama 1989November 1521463F4 November 1989 tornado outbreak
Picher, Oklahoma—Racine/Neosho, Missouri 2008May 1021350EF4This was one of the catalysts that made Picher a ghost town. It was already mostly abandoned due to mining waste that had sickened many of its residents. Tornado outbreak sequence of May 7–11, 2008
St. Louis, Missouri 1959February 1021345F4 St. Louis tornado outbreak of February 1959
Coldwater Lake–Hillsdale–Manitou Beach–Devils Lake–Tecumseh, Michigan 1965April 1121293F4--> List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Prescott, Kansas—Sprague, Missouri 1887April 2121250F4(Grazulis, p. 642)
Terre Haute, Indiana 1913March 2321250F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913, (Grazulis, p. 738)
Brent—Centreville—Helena, Alabama 1933May 521200F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933
Metropolis, Illinois—Sheridan/Blackford/Dixon/Delaware/West Louisville, Kentucky 1890March 2721200F4 Tornado outbreak of March 27, 1890, (Grazulis, p. 650)
Colfax, Wisconsin 1958June 421110F5Grazulis reported 20 deaths and an F4 rating (Grazulis, p. 1,015) Tornado outbreak of June 3–4, 1958
Rojas, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina1816September 162182F?"The Rojas Tornado" was one of the first tornadoes on record in Argentina. List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
Grenada, Mississippi 1846May 72162F?At least 21 deaths(Grazulis, p. 561)
Bondurant—Santiago—Valeria—Mingo, Iowa 1896May 242160F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 676)
Casscoe—Holly Grove—Duncan, Arkansas 1944April 102150F4(Grazulis, p. 911)
Rodessa, Louisiana 1938February 172150F4(Grazulis, p. 873)
McAlester, Oklahoma 1882May 82142F3(Grazulis, p. 615)
Ringgold, Georgia—Apison/Cleveland/Etowah, Tennessee 2011April 2720335EF4 List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak
Bellwood—Maywood—Melrose Park—Dunning (Chicago), Illinois 1920March 2820300F4 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Blackwell, Oklahoma 1955May 2520280F5 1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 987)
Commerce Landing, Mississippi 1955February 120141F3Official records stated that this was not a tornado despite witness reports to the contrary and the carrying/throwing of heavy objects for long distances.(Grazulis, p. 985)
Wellington Township—Cairo Township—West Newton—New Ulm, Minnesota 1881July 152093F4 1881 Minnesota tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 612)
Silverton, Texas 1957May 152080F4(Grazulis, p. 1,006)
Deanburg—Pinson, Tennessee 1923March 112070F5(Grazulis, p. 782)
Overton—Rocheport—Midway—-Hinton, Missouri—Centralia, Missouri 1917June 52068F4(Grazulis, p. 756)

15-19 fatalities

Rank [lower-alpha 1] Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] YearMonth & DayFatalities [lower-alpha 3] Injuries [lower-alpha 4] F or EF [lower-alpha 5] NotesOther References
Asherville—Coatesville—Amo—Hadley—Danville, Indiana 1948March 2619200F4Grazulis, p. 936)
Anderson—Belton, South Carolina 1933May 519100F3 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933
Hopewell (Blount County)—Summit, Alabama 1903April 819100F4(Grazulis, p. 697)
Nevada—Josephine—Farmersville—Tigertown, Texas 1927May 919100F4 Tornado outbreak of May 1927
Rainbow Lake (Shipshewana)—Ontario—Brighton, Indiana 1965April 1119100F4The National Weather Service reported only five deaths and 41 injuries List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,065)
Putnam County—Cookeville, Tennessee 2020March 31987EF4 2020 Cookeville tornado
Ellison, Illinois 1858May 311960F?(Grazulis, p. 565)
Duncan, Mississippi 1929February 251942F4(Grazulis, p. 822)
Otterbein—Monticello—Valentine, Indiana 1974April 318362F4Grazulis reported 19 fatalities (Grazulis, p. 1,159) List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak
Newton Falls/Niles/Hubbard, Ohio—Wheatland/Hermitage/Greenfield, Pennsylvania 1985May 3118310F5 List of tornadoes in the 1985 United States-Canada tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,268)
Albany—Dougherty County, Georgia 1940February 1018300F4 [15] (Grazulis, p. 889)
Warner Robins—Robins Air Force Base—Jeffersonville, Georgia 1953April 3018300F4Grazulis reported 19 deaths (Grazulis, p. 968) Tornado outbreak sequence of April 28 – May 2, 1953
Toledo, Ohio—Lost Peninsula (Michigan) 1965April 1118236F4 List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Cotton Valley—Leton—Dykesville—Haynesville, Louisiana 1947December 3118225F4(Grazulis, p. 933)
Pittsfield—Grafton—Strongsville, Ohio 1965April 1118200F5 List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Tomato, Arkansas—Dyersburg/Sharon/Ore Springs, Tennessee 1917May 2718175F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 752)
Sheridan—England—Hazen, Arkansas 1949March 2618150F4(Grazulis, p. 942)
Cullman—Phelan—Berlin—Fairview, Alabama 1932March 2118100F4 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 842)
Douglas/Syracuse/Berlin (Otoe)/Rock Bluff, Nebraska—Bartlett/Glenwood, Iowa 1913March 2318100F4"The Berlin Tornado" (Grazulis, p. 737) Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913
Logansport—Shreveport—Barksdale (Slack) AFB, Louisiana 1950February 121877F4Grazulis reported eight deaths and 70 injuries (Grazulis, p. 953) Tornado outbreak of February 11–13, 1950
Blue Ridge—Delba—Trenton—Ector—Ravenna, Texas 1919April 81860F4 Tornado outbreak of April 1919
Crenshaw—Pike Counties, Alabama 1925October 251860F4(Grazulis, p. 800)
Delphos—Irving, Kansas 1879May 301860F4(Grazulis, p. 601)
Rib Lake—Withee—Thorp—Owen, Wisconsin 1924September 211850F4 [16]
Montague County, Texas 1905July 51840F4Not listed as an official tornado in the State of Texas (or elsewhere) but was witnessed as such (funnel cloud, debris carried for many miles). This atypically violent (for Texas) July tornado wiped out the Long Branch, Barrel Springs, and Dixie farming communities. Path width reportedly varied from 0.25–3 miles.(Grazulis, p. 706)
Deshler—Cygnet—West Cleveland, Ohio 1953June 817379F4 Flint-Worcester tornado outbreak sequence
Saugatuck—Hudsonville—Standale—Grand Rapids, Michigan 1956April 317292F5Grazulis reported 18 deaths and 340 injuries (Grazulis, p. 995) Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1956
Bejucal, Mayabeque Province, Cuba 1940December 2617240F4Deadliest and most violent tornado in Cuba’s history List of Caribbean Tornadoes
Haysville—McConnell AFB—Andover, Kansas 1991April 2617225F5 1991 Andover tornado outbreak
McKeesport—Dravosburg—Port Vue—Versailles—Boston—Greenock—Donegal—Somerset, Pennsylvania 1944June 2317200F4 1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 915)
Melvindale, Michigan, United States—Windsor/Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada1946June 1717200F4Likely greater than 200 injuries. All of the fatalities, many of the injuries, and all of the F4 damage occurred in Ontario. Grazulis reported a death toll of 15 but an unknown Canadian source suggested as high as 18. 1946 Windsor-Tecumseh tornado, (Grazulis, p. 924)
Milton, Florida 1962March 3117200F3 Tornado outbreak of March 30–31, 1962, (Grazulis, p. 1,040)
Rolling Fork—Midnight—Silver City, Mississippi 2023March 2417165EF4 2023 Rolling Fork–Silver City tornado
Birmingham—Avondale—Irondale, Alabama 1901March 2517100F3(Grazulis, p. 693)
Harper—Kellogg—Wellington, Kansas 1892May 2717100F4(Grazulis, p. 657)
Smith Chapel—Princedale—Parkin, Arkansas 1929April 1017100F4(Grazulis, p. 824)
Yarbro, Arkansas—Cooter, Missouri—Owl Hoot/Miston/Ridgely/Elbridge, Tennessee 1952March 2117100F4Grazulis reported 25 deaths and 150 injuries (Grazulis, p. 963) Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952
West Liberty (Jay County)/Geneva/Ceylon, Indiana—Van Wert, Ohio 1920March 281770F4 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 768)
La Plata—Cedarville, Maryland 1926November 91765F4(Grazulis, p. 804)
Eustace—Big Rock—Tundra—Grand Saline, Texas 1919April 91760F4Grazulis reported 20 deaths (Grazulis, p. 764) Tornado outbreak of April 1919
Franklin/Richland/Madison/East Carroll Parish, Louisiana—Issaquena/Sharkey Counties, Mississippi 1919March 161750F3 [17]
Mifflin Township (Owensville)—Linden Township (Lost Grove)—Mineral Point—Oregon—Fitchburg, Wisconsin 1878May 231745F4(Grazulis, p. 594)
Wall Lake—Sac City—Pomeroy, Iowa 1878April 211729F4"Boyer River Tornado"(Grazulis, p. 594)
Jud—O’Brien—Knox City, Texas 1953March 131725F4Grazulis reported as many as 60 injuries (Grazulis, p. 966) Tornado outbreak of March 12–15, 1953
Bellevue—Stoneburg, Texas 1906April 261720F4Grazulis reported 50 injuries (Grazulis, p. 707) [18]
Topeka, Kansas 1966June 816450F5Grazulis reported 406 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,081) Tornado outbreak sequence of June 1966
Itu, São Paulo, Brazil 1991September 3016350F4 List of tornadoes in Brazil
Colby—Prescott, Kansas 1887April 2116250F4(Grazulis, p. 642)
Kingsport/Hancock County, Tennessee 1933March 1416235F3 March 1933 Nashville tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 847)
Abbeville—Ninety Six—Chappells—Prosperity—Greenwood, South Carolina 1944April 1616200F4(Grazulis, p. 912)
Mayflower—Vilonia, Arkansas 2014April 2716193EF4 List of tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of April 27–30, 2014
Tanner, Alabama (#2)—Manchester, Tennessee 1974April 316190F5Grazulis reported 22 deaths and 250 injuries. This was the second F5 tornado to pass through Tanner during the 1974 Super Outbreak. (Grazulis, p. 1,160) List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak
Snow Hill—Ayden—Winterville—Greenville, North Carolina 1984March 2816153F4 1984 Carolinas tornado outbreak
Jamestown—Atlantic, Pennsylvania—Sheakleyville—Dempseytown—Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania 1985May 3116125F4 List of tornadoes in the 1985 United States-Canada tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,268)
Wilburton—Keota—Sallisaw, Oklahoma 1960May 516106F4 May 1960 tornado outbreak sequence
Mount Carmel, Illinois 1877June 416100F4Some historical accounts suggest as many as 30 fatalities but this is unconfirmed.(Grazulis, p. 588)
Missouri City—Richmond, Missouri 1878June 11690F4Six months after the tornado, a local newspaper reported 21 fatalities(Grazulis, p. 595)
McLoud—Paden—Boley (Childsville)—Welty, Oklahoma 1942May 21680F4(Grazulis, p. 900)
Byhalia, Mississippi—Moscow, Tennessee 1952March 211674F4Grazulis reported 17 fatalities and 94 injuries (Grazulis, p. 963) Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952
Mason City/Osage, Iowa—LeRoy/Spring Valley, Minnesota 1894September 211670F4(Grazulis, p. 667)
Newbern, Tennessee 2006April 21670F3 Tornado outbreak of April 2, 2006
Bowling Green, Kentucky 2021December 111663EF3 Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021
Talihina—Reichert—Howe, Oklahoma 1961May 51658F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 3–9, 1961, (Grazulis, p. 1,035)
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 1890August 191650F3Grazulis reported 60 injuries (Grazulis, p. 653) 1890 Wilkes-Barre tornado
Clarendon—Sherwood Shores/Green Belt Reservoir—McLean, Texas 1970April 181642F4Grazulis reported 17 fatalities and 41 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,111) Tornado outbreak sequence of April 17–19, 1970
Vireton (now McAlester), Oklahoma 1917January 41620F3All 16 fatalities were children at a poorly-constructed Choctaw Indiana Baptist Mission school. Nine other children and their teacher sustained serious injuries. In an attempt to save the children, the teacher braced herself against the door; her jaw was broken as the building fell apart around them. It’s one of the worst such incidents in United States history.(Grazulis, p. 749)
Pomona Lake, in Osage County, Kansas 1978June 17163F1The "Whippoorwill Disaster" occurred when a tornado struck a tourist boat of the same name, causing it to capsize. At least 16 of the 58 people on board were killed. It remains the deadliest F1 tornado in recorded history. 1978 Whippoorwill tornado
Laredo, Texas—Nuevo Laredo, Mexico 1905April 2816F?Grazulis states that information about this tornado is scarce. Of the 16 fatalities, nine were in Texas and seven were in Nuevo Laredo. Numerous other sources report deaths tolls from 21 to 100 but none of these are confirmed. The New York Times reported that 21 people were killed and "scores" were injured . [19] The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) reported that 100 were killed, and many others were injured. [20] (Grazulis, p. 706)
Bauxite—Vimy Ridge—Shannon Hills—North Little Rock, Arkansas 1997March 115200F4At least 200 injuries March 1997 tornado outbreak
Bethel Springs—Reagan (Henderson County)—Finger—Enville—Beacon, Tennessee 1942March 1615200F4 Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942
Alexandria—Pineville—Libuse, Louisiana 1923April 415150F4(Grazulis, p. 783)
Schlater—Philipp—Water Valley—Pinedale, Mississippi 1984April 211576F3 [21] (Grazulis, p. 1,255)
Hamburg, Arkansas 1941October 261575F4(Grazulis, p. 896)
Palestine, Texas 1946January 41560F4 Tornado outbreak of January 4–6, 1946
Armuchee—Everett Springs—Curryville—Oostanaula—Resaca, Georgia 1913March 131550F4(Grazulis, p. 736)
Beaverdale, Georgia—Conasauga, Polk County, Tennessee 1932March 211550F4 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Braxton, Mississippi 1921April 261550F4Grazulis, p. 774)
Chambers County, Alabama—Troup/Meriwether Counties, Georgia 1875May 11550F3(Grazulis, p. 583)
El Dorado, Kansas 1958June 101550F4(Grazulis, p. 1,015)
Nashville—Lebanon—Bellwood, Tennessee 1933March 141545F3 March 1933 Nashville tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 847)
Garland, Texas 1927May 91540F4 Tornado outbreak of May 1927, (Grazulis, p. 809)
Oberlin—Cedar Bluffs, Kansas 1942April 291525F5 [22] (Grazulis, p. 900)
El Dorado, Kansas 1958June 10155F4 [23]

12-14 fatalities

Rank [lower-alpha 1] Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] YearMonth & DayFatalities [lower-alpha 3] Injuries [lower-alpha 4] F or EF [lower-alpha 5] NotesOther References
Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico2015May 2514290EF3 2015 Texas–Oklahoma flood and tornado outbreak [24]
Greenwood, Arkansas 1968April 1914270F4(Grazulis, p. 1,096)
Shelburn—Lewis—Clay City—Cloverdale, Indiana 1949May 2114251F4 [25] (Grazulis, p. 947)
Gloster—Gillsburg, Mississippi 1935April 614220F3(Grazulis, p. 860)
Wakarusa—Elliott—Goshen—Middlebury, Indiana 1965April 1114200F4 List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,063)
Drumright—Olive—Oak Grove (Pawnee County)—Skiatook, Oklahoma 1974June 814150F4 Tornado outbreak of June 8, 1974, (Grazulis, p. 1,165)
Greensboro, North Carolina 1936April 214144F4 1936 Cordele-Greensboro tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 865)
Lynchburg—Sardis—Effingham—Pamplico, South Carolina 1924April 3014144F3 April 1924 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 788)
Clarita—Coalgate, Oklahoma 1917June 114100F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 754)
Plum Creek/Kossuth County/Buffalo Center, Iowa—Kiester, Minnesota 1894September 2114100F5(Grazulis, p. 667)
Rockford, Illinois 1928September 1414100F4(Grazulis, p. 821)
Barnettsville (now Barnett)—New Bloomfield, Missouri 1880April 181490F4 Tornado outbreak of April 1880, (Grazulis, p. 608)
Columbiana, Alabama 1932March 211475F4 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 843)
Converse—Pleasant Hill (Sabine Parish)—Lake End, Louisiana 1927February 171470F3(Grazulis, p. 805)
Savoy, Texas 1880May 281460F4(Grazulis, p. 610)
Covington—Bells—Medina, Tennessee 1909April 291450F3 Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909, (Grazulis, p. 721)
New Minden—Hoyleton—Richview—Irvington—Boyd, Illinois 1896May 271450F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 676)
Pisgah/Flat Rock/Higdon, Alabama—Trenton/Valley View/Flintstone/Fairview/(Western) Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia 2011April 271450EF4 List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak
Oxford—Worth—Denver, Missouri 1947April 291445F4(Grazulis, p. 928)
Chandler, Oklahoma 1897March 301440F4(Grazulis, p. 680)
Clyde, Texas 1938June 101440F5(Grazulis, p. 879)
Monroe City—Miller Township (Marion County), Missouri 1876March 101440F4(Grazulis, p. 586)
Mulberry Township—Cravens—Jethro—Watalula, Arkansas 1908November 231440F3These are all unincorporated communities within Franklin County, Arkansas(Grazulis, p. 717)
Tuscumbia—“Brickville”, Alabama 1874November 221430F4(Grazulis, p. 581)
Charles City, Iowa 1968May 1513450F5 Tornado outbreak of May 1968, (Grazulis, p. 1,097)
Selma—Plantersville, Alabama 1885November 613400F4(Grazulis, p. 637)
Muskogee, Oklahoma 1945April 1213200F4 Tornado outbreak of April 1945, (Grazulis, p. 919)
Bovina—Little Yazoo—Bentonia, Mississippi 1971February 2113182F4Grazulis reported 200 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,121) Tornado outbreak of February 21–22, 1971
San Angelo, Texas 1953May 1113159F4 1953 Waco tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 970)
Bool’s Gap—Quenalda—Hassell Gap—Bellview (Clay’s County)—Newell, Alabama 1932March 2113150F4Grazulis reported 160 injuries (Grazulis, p. 843) 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Odell—Huntington—Etoile, Texas 1933March 3013150F3(Grazulis, p. 848)
Atkins—Clinton—Mountain View—Highland, Arkansas 2008February 513140EF4 List of tornadoes in the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak
Cairo—Bluffton, Ohio 1965April 1113104F4 List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,071)
Lake Bruin, Louisiana 1927February 1713100F2(Grazulis, p. 805)
Robinsonville, Mississippi 1893April 1213100F3(Grazulis, p. 661)
Rye Cove, Virginia 1929May 213100F2 1929 Rye Cove tornado outbreak
West Feliciana—East Feliciana Parishes, Louisiana 1907April 513100F3(Grazulis, p. 709)
Kellerville—Timewell—Mount Sterling—Rushville—Astoria—South Pekin—Morton—Eureka, Illinois 1938March 301373F3(Grazulis, p. 876)
West Brooklyn—Compton—Paw Paw—Sublette, Illinois 1890June 201360F4(Grazulis, p. 652)
Jackson, Mississippi 1916June 61356F3 June 1916 tornado outbreak
Carrollton—Reform—Cordova—Sipsey—Blountsville, Alabama 2011April 271354EF4 List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak
Paisley—Lake Mack—DeLand, Florida 2007February 21351EF3 2007 Groundhog Day tornado outbreak
Felton—Rockmart—Cartersville—Stilesboro, Georgia 1909April 301340F3Actual death toll could have been 15 (Grazulis, p. 722) Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909
Ogden/Bismarck, Illinois—Hedrick, Indiana 1922April 171340F4(Grazulis, p. 779)
Longwood—Sanford, Florida 1998February 231336F3 1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak
Gray—Milledgeville, Georgia 1875March 201330F4Death toll should be 14 as a child was still missing when the official damage survey was completed. That child was never found and presumed dead, but the official numbers were never updated. March 1875 Southeast tornado outbreak
Oxmoor (now Homewood)—Brock Gap—Leeds, Alabama 1884February 191330F4There may have been several more deaths but this was unconfirmed. Enigma Tornado Outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 625)
Drew County—Desha Counties, Arkansas 1929April 21137F3(Grazulis, p. 825)
Gainesville, Georgia 1998March 2012171F3 1998 Gainesville-Stoneville tornado outbreak
Jellico—Newcomb—Pruden, Tennessee—Cumberland Gap (KY) 1933March 1412162F4 March 1933 Nashville tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 847)
Florence—Brandon—Carthage—Weir, Mississippi 1992November 2112122F4 Tornado outbreak of November 21–23, 1992, (Grazulis, p. 1,342)
Beaver Dam—Salemburg—Roseboro—Clinton, North Carolina 1984March 2812101F3 1984 Carolinas tornado outbreak
Pine Lake, Alberta, Canada2000July 1412100F3 Pine Lake tornado
Rowena—Hatchel—Oplin, Texas 1922April 81290F3(Grazulis, p. 778)
Monroe Center, Ohio—Albion/Cranesville, Pennsylvania 1985May 311282F4 List of tornadoes in the 1985 United States-Canada tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,268)
Seney—Macedonia—Kingston—Pine Log, Georgia 1932March 211280F3 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Sherburn—Easton, Minnesota 1892June 151276F5 1892 Southern Minnesota tornado
Marathon County, Wisconsin 1898May 181275F5 [26]
Leola—England—Carlisle—Des Arc—Cotton Plant, Arkansas 1916December 261272F4(Grazulis, p. 749)
Nineveh—Darsey—Reynard, Texas 1935February 81270F2(Grazulis, p. 859)
Swanburg—Roosevelt Lake—Hill City, Minnesota 1969August 61270F4 Tornado outbreak of August 6, 1969, (Grazulis, p. 1,106)
Elaine, Arkansas 1930May 181260F3(Grazulis, p. 835)
Savoy—Mayview—St. Joseph—Alvin, Illinois 1942March 161260F4 Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942
Askewville—Bertie County, North Carolina 2011April 161258EF3 List of tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of April 14–16, 2011
Austin, Texas (#2) 1922May 41250F4Newspapers later reported death toll of 13 with injured greater than 50. Several areas of Austin affected including Penn Field, St. Elmo, Oak Hill, Davis Hill, and Manchaca. (Grazulis, p. 780) 1922 Austin twin tornadoes
Blountsville—Milledgeville, Georgia 1884February 191250F3 Enigma tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 625)
Literberry—Philadelphia, Illinois 1883May 181250F4(Grazulis, p. 621)
Orfordville—Hanover—Janesville—Milton, Wisconsin 1911November 111250F4 Great Blue Norther of November 11, 1911
Panama City, Panama1992July 151250F?Numbers of injured were likely greater than 50 List of Central American Tornadoes
Clovercroft—Nolensville—La Vergne—Thompson's Station, Tennessee 1900November 201244F3Death toll could be as high as 17 or even 22 because several people died from their injuries within a few days, but these were unconfirmed. [27]
Dent—Crawford Counties, Missouri 1893April 111240F4Unincorporated communities like Conroy (a mining town), Dry Fork, and Jadwin were all affected.(Grazulis, p. 660)
Harris—Newtown, Missouri 1899April 271240F4(Grazulis, p. 686)
Mer Rouge, Louisiana 1926November 251238F3(Grazulis, p. 805)
Athens—University of Georgia—Colbert—Comer—Paoli, Georgia 1932March 221235F3 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Deshler—Carleton—Geneva, Nebraska 1908June 51230F5(Grazulis, p. 717)
Iron City—Heflin—Edwardsville, Alabama 1899March 181230F4(Grazulis, p. 686)
Slocomb—Collegeville, Arkansas 1927March 171227F3(Grazulis, p. 806)
Egypt—Stanford—Pauls Switch or Lanieve, Arkansas 1927May 9128F3 Tornado outbreak of May 1927, (Grazulis, p. 810)

10-11 fatalities

Rank [lower-alpha 1] Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] YearMonth & DayFatalities [lower-alpha 3] Injuries [lower-alpha 4] F or EF [lower-alpha 5] NotesOther References
Largo—Clearwater—Carrollwood—Temple Terrace—Galloway—Gibsonia—Loughman, Florida 1966April 411350F4 Tornado outbreak of April 4–5, 1966, (Grazulis, p. 1,079)
Hanover College—Madison, Indiana 1974April 311300F4Grazulis reported 190 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,154) List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak
Crowell, Texas 1942April 2811250F4 [28] [29]
Anchor Bay (Michigan) 1964May 811224F4(Grazulis, p. 1,055)
Gorham—Sand Ridge—Murphysboro—Plumfield, Illinois 1957December 1811200F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of December 18–20, 1957, (Grazulis, p. 1,013)
Hoxie—Walnut Ridge, Arkansas 1927May 911200F4 Tornado outbreak of May 1927, (Grazulis, p. 809)
Camilla, Georgia 2000February 1311175F3 Tornado outbreak of February 13–14, 2000
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 2000December 1611144F4 Tornado outbreak of December 16, 2000
Brownsville (Sweet Springs), Missouri 1882April 1811100F3(Grazulis, p. 615)
Georgetown—Harrisville—Morton, Mississippi 1883April 2211100F3(Grazulis, p. 617)
Mankato—Green Gables, Minnesota 1946August 1711100F4(Grazulis, p. 925)
San Pedro, Misiones, Argentina 2009September 711100EF4 List of tornadoes in Argentina
Jackson, Tennessee 2003May 41186F4 List of tornadoes in the May 2003 tornado outbreak sequence
Murphysboro—Bush—Herrin, Illinois 1912April 211183F4 Tornado outbreak of April 20–22, 1912, (Grazulis, p. 732)
Melissa, Texas 1921April 131180F4(Grazulis, p. 772)
Great Bend, Kansas 1915November 101175F4(Grazulis, p. 744)
Arthur City, Texas—Fort Towson, Oklahoma 1927April 181172F4(Grazulis, p. 808)
Lockett/Vernon, Texas—Davidson, Oklahoma 1979April 101167F4 1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,207)
Apex, Missouri—Hardin/Carrollton/Wrights/Athensville/Loami/Springfield, Illinois 1927April 191163F4(Grazulis, p. 808)
Greensburg, Kansas 2007May 41163EF5 Tornado outbreak of May 4–6, 2007
York—Livingston, Alabama 1945February 121163F4 Tornado outbreak of February 12, 1945, (Grazulis, p. 918)
La Cygne, Kansas—Merwin—Bates County, Missouri 1912June 151160F4(Grazulis, p. 735)
Walterboro, South Carolina 1879April 161160F3Death toll could be as high as 16 as five people may have died later from their injuries.(Grazulis, p. 598)
Clinton, Kentucky 1890January 121153F4 [30] (Grazulis, p. 648)
Augusta, Georgia 1804April 41150F? [31] (Grazulis, p. 554)
Bluffton, Alabama—Cave Spring, Georgia 1908April 241150F4 1908 Dixie tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 714)
Browder—Drakesboro, Kentucky 1942March 161150F3 Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942
Jacksonville, Illinois 1859May 261150F?(Grazulis, p. 565)
Round Prairie—Dawson—Buffalo—Kenney, Illinois 1883May 181150F4(Grazulis, p. 620)
Barney—Adel—Nashville, Georgia 2017January 221145EF3 Tornado outbreak of January 21–23, 2017
Hamilton—Shiloh, Georgia 1875March 201140F4Possibly as many as 15 deaths as many plantations/farms in the area were flattened. (Grazulis, p. 581) March 1875 Southeast tornado outbreak
Oakdale—Tomah, Wisconsin 1907July 31140F4 [32]
Shamrock—Drumright, Oklahoma 1922November 41140F4(Grazulis, p. 782)
Still Pond—Kent County, Maryland 1888August 211140F2(Grazulis, p. 645)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1891July 61138F2(Grazulis, p. 655)
Perry—Williamstown, Kansas 1893June 211130F4(Grazulis, p. 664)
Vasa/Burnside Township, Minnesota—Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin 1879July 21130F4(Grazulis, p. 604)
Dunkirk—Carey, Ohio 1886May 141125F3(Grazulis, p. 640)
Herman, Nebraska 1899June 131125F4(Grazulis, p. 640)
Marks, Mississippi 1926November 261122F3(Grazulis, p. 805)
Clifton—Morganville—Palmer, Kansas 1896April 251120F4Grazulis reported 9 deaths and 20 injuries, but also stated that 11 people may have died, all of them in Clay County.(Grazulis, p. 672)
Golden—Viola, Missouri 1909April 291118F4 Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909, (Grazulis, p. 720)
Slidell—Sanger, Texas 1909March 231110F2Grazulis reported 10 deaths and 8 injuries (Grazulis, p. 719) [33]
Ivy, Virginia 1959September 30119F3(Grazulis, p. 1,023)
Owens—Phillips (mining communities), Alabama 1924May 27117F3(Grazulis, p. 789)
Arcadia (Hays Creek), Nebraska 1953June 7115F4 Flint-Worcester tornado outbreak sequence, (Grazulis, p. 973)
Charleston, South Carolina 1811September 1011F?”Hurricane-spawned tornado” moved directly through the middle of the city.(Grazulis, p. 554)
Fray Marcos, Florida Department, Uruguay 1970April 2111F4”several” injuries List of tornadoes in Uruguay
New Pekin—Henryville—Marysville—Chelsea, Indiana 2012March 211EF4 Tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012
Dallas County, Texas 2015December 2610468EF4 2015 Garland tornado
Medicine Lodge—Kingman—Hutchinson—McPherson, Kansas 1927May 710300F5 Tornado outbreak of May 1927, (Grazulis, p. 808)
Dallas, Texas 1957April 210216F3 Tornado outbreak sequence of April 2–5, 1957, (Grazulis, p. 1,000)
Hollow, Oklahoma—Chetopa/Faulkner/Columbus, Kansas 1938March 3010200F4(Grazulis, p. 875)
Nacogdoches, Texas 1946January 410200F4 Tornado outbreak of January 4–6, 1946, (Grazulis, p. 922)
Carterville—Crainville—Marion, Illinois 1982May 2910181F4 Marion, Illinois, tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,242)
Paris—Reno—Blossom, Texas 1982April 210170F4 Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1982, (Grazulis, p. 1,236)
Tallulah, Louisiana—Yazoo City/Durant, Mississippi 2010April 2410146EF4 2010 Yazoo City tornado
Dothan—Cowarts—Webb, Alabama 1918January 1110120F3(Grazulis, p. 757)
Clinton County, Kentucky 1974April 310113F4 List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak
West Liberty, Kentucky—Dunlow/Cove Gap, West Virginia 2012March 210112EF3 Tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012
Fargo, North Dakota 1957June 2010103F5Unofficial death toll was 12 based on two people who later died from their injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,009) Fargo tornado
Monticello, Mississippi 1882April 2210100F4(Grazulis, p. 615)
Success—Licking—Eye—Mineral Point, Missouri 1917May 3010100F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 753)
Louisville, Mississippi 2014April 281084EF4 List of tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of April 27–30, 2014
Koontz Lake—LaPaz—Lakeville—Wyatt, Indiana 1965April 111082F3 List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,063)
Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe, Argentina1891November 131080F4 List of tornadoes in Argentina
Parrott—Plains—Americus, Georgia 1883April 221080F4(Grazulis, p. 618)
Booneville—Paris—Minnow Creek—Clarksville, Arkansas 1945April 121070F4 Tornado outbreak of April 1945, (Grazulis, p. 919)
Tamo—New Hope Church 1926November 251066F3All of the fatalities and 40 of the injuries resulted from the tornado hitting a wedding party as they were leaving the church. The church itself was destroyed and all that remains is the cemetery on the same property.(Grazulis, p. 804)
Elysian Fields, Texas—Flournoy/Shreveport, Louisiana 1940March 121060F3(Grazulis, p. 889)
Paragould, Arkansas—Bakerville/Bragg City/Wardell/Kennett, Missouri 1938March 151060F4(Grazulis, p. 874)
Springfield—Buffalo Hart—Cornland—Chestnut—Mount Pulaski—Riverton, Illinois 1927April 191060F4(Grazulis, p. 808)
Belleville—O’Fallon, Illinois 1938March 151052F4At least 52 injuries(Grazulis, p. 874)
Cookeville—Putnam County, Tennessee 1974April 31051F4An 11th person later died from their injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,161) List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak
Commerce—Hernando, Mississippi 1881April 121050F3(Grazulis, p. 611)
Gowan (or Gowen), Oklahoma 1922March 131050F2At least 23 people were seriously injured and some may have later died from their injuries.(Grazulis, p. 777)
Middleton—McNairy—Henderson, Tennessee 1913March 131050F4(Grazulis, p. 736)
Newburg—La Vergne, Tennessee 1877April 181050F4(Grazulis, p. 588)
Hot Springs, Arkansas 1915November 151045F4(Grazulis, p. 745)
Battle Creek—Eureka Township—Hayes Township—Storm Lake, Iowa 1878April 211040F4(Grazulis, p. 594)
Centerville—Leiper's Fork, Tennessee 1909April 291040F3 Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909, (Grazulis, p. 721)
Chipley/Pine Mountain—Harris—Greenville, Georgia 1908April 251040F3 1908 Dixie tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 714)
Chipley/Pine Mountain, Georgia 1924April 301035F3 April 1924 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 788)
Bay Springs—Increase, Mississippi 1924May 261030F3(Grazulis, p. 788)
Laneville—Hale County—Scott Station, Alabama 1932March 211030F3As many as 20 deaths in Laneville alone, poorly documented, unconfirmed (Grazulis, p. 843) 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Oasis—Melva—Bradleyville, Missouri 1920March 111030F4Nine children were killed by this tornado, some reports suggest 11 total fatalities (see Melva, Missouri page)(Grazulis, p. 767)
Unionville—Dyersburg—Newbern, Tennessee 1952March 211030F3Grazulis reported nine deaths and 50 injuries (Grazulis, p. 963) Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952
Eaton, Tennessee 1932January 141028F4(Grazulis, p. 842)
Wetumka—Lenna, Oklahoma 1948March 251025F4Occurred on the same day as the second of the 1948 Tinker Air Force Base tornadoes (Grazulis, p. 935)
Gans, Oklahoma 1957January 221021F4(Grazulis, p. 999
Manes—Hazleton—Lenox—Anutt, Missouri 1917May 301020F4 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 753)
Troy—Durango, Texas 1892May 311020F4(Grazulis, p. 658)
Alpha—Harkey Valley, Arkansas 1920April 191010F3 April 1920 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 769)
Biwabik, Minnesota 1900October 6108F3(Grazulis, p. 692)
Boyd County, Nebraska 1901June 21108F4(Grazulis, p. 694)
Thurman, Colorado 1924August 10108F4All ten people died when the house in which they were having dinner was destroyed; nine of them were children (Grazulis, p. 792) under the age of 15. An 11th person died from his injuries four months later. [34]
Harpersville, Alabama 1964January 24106F4 [35] (Grazulis, p. 1,049)
Codell—Alton—Bloomington, Kansas 1918May 2010F4This town was struck by progressively stronger tornado on the same day, three years in a row (1916, 1917, and 1918). Grazulis reported nine deaths and 65 injuries (Grazulis, p. 759)references

Notable tornadoes with fewer than ten fatalities

Rank [lower-alpha 1] Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] YearMonth & DayFatalities [lower-alpha 3] Injuries [lower-alpha 4] F or EF [lower-alpha 5] NotesOther References
Barrie, Ontario, Canada 1985May 318155F4One of the deadliest and costliest tornadoes in Canadian history. The number of casualties was most likely higher. 1985 Barrie tornado
Bouctouche, New Brunswick 1879August 68F3Anywhere between 5 and 8 fatalities have been reported, “many” others were injured. This is the easternmost strong tornado ever to occur in North America. 1879 Bouctouche tornado
Havana, Cuba 2019January 278190EF4 2019 Havana tornado
Pozo del Tigre, Formosa Province, Argentina 2010October 216116F? Tornadoes of 2010
Maravilha, Santa Catarina, Brazil 1984October 95400F? List of tornadoes in Brazil
Guernica, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2001January 105250F3This was the second time in 16 days that this town took a direct hit from a strong (F3) tornado. A total of six people died and greater than 300 were injured between both events. List of tornadoes in Argentina
Córdoba, Argentina 2003December 26590F3This tornado was on the ground for 24 minutes and caused an enormous amount of damage throughout the province. It is rumored to be the "longest-lasting tornado" in South American history. List of tornadoes in Argentina
Freeport, Bahamas 2010March 2934F?An extremely rare tornado toppled a crane at a construction site which resulted in all of the above fatalities and injuries. Tornado outbreak of March 28–29, 2010
Hamilton—Harrington Sound, Bermuda 1953April 51F?Four waterspouts made landfall near Hamilton. “Several” injuries were confirmed as well. Easter tornadoes of 1953

Bibliography

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 As of May 2023 (when this article was created).
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 These are the communities (e.g. cities, towns, counties) where the greatest damage or loss of life occurred or at the beginning or end of the tornado’s track. The number of places that experience loss of life or damage is often higher than this. Colloquial tornado/event names, if applicable, are included in the Notes column of this table.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The number of fatalities and injuries may vary from source to source. Most injury figures are approximate.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The number of fatalities and injuries may vary from source to source. Most injury figures are approximate.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 After the Fujita Scale was implemented in 1971, tornadoes from the previous 100 years (1871-1971) were retrospectively reviewed to determine their ratings. These reviews were completed by either Ted Fujita or Thomas P. Grazulis. Damage assessments from 1971-2006 were completed by using the Fujita Scale or, since 2007, the Enhanced Fujita Scale. These reviews have been handled by teams of meteorologists and structural engineers as assigned by National Weather Service (NWS) offices around the United States.

Related Research Articles

On March 18, 1925, one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in recorded history generated at least twelve significant tornadoes and spanned a large portion of the midwestern and southern United States. In all, at least 695 men, women and children were killed and more than 2,027 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado records</span> List of world records related to tornadoes

This article lists various tornado records. The most "extreme" tornado in recorded history was the Tri-State tornado, which spread through parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana on March 18, 1925. It is considered an F5 on the Fujita Scale, holds records for longest path length at 219 miles (352 km) and longest duration at about 3+1⁄2 hours, and held the fastest forward speed for a significant tornado at 73 mph (117 km/h) anywhere on Earth until 2021. In addition, it is the deadliest single tornado in United States history with 695 fatalities. It was also the second costliest tornado in history at the time, and when costs are normalized for wealth and inflation, it still ranks third today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Blue Norther of November 11, 1911</span> 1911 severe weather event in the Central United States

On Saturday, November 11, 1911, a cold snap, known as the Great Blue Norther of 11/11/11, affected the Central United States. Many cities broke record highs, going into the 70s and 80s early that afternoon. By nightfall, cities were dealing with temperatures in the teens and single-digits on the Fahrenheit scale. This is the only day in many midwest cities' weather bureau jurisdictions where the record highs and lows were broken for the same day. Some cities experienced tornadoes on Saturday and a blizzard on Sunday. A blizzard even occurred within one hour after an F4 tornado hit Rock County, Wisconsin.

From May 4–10, 1933, a tornado outbreak sequence produced at least 33 tornadoes. Among them was the Beaty Swamp tornado, a violent F4 that struck shortly after midnight CST on May 11, 1933, in Overton County, Tennessee, killing 35 people, injuring 150 others, and devastating the unincorporated communities of Beaty Swamp and Bethsaida. The storm was the second-deadliest tornado in the history of Middle Tennessee, even though it struck a sparsely populated, rural area. The community of Beaty Swamp ceased to exist and does not appear on any current maps. The only landmark that alludes to the former community is Beaty Swamp Road, which intersects Highway 111 in the northeast corner of Overton County. The severe weather event that generated the tornado also produced others, including long-tracked, intense tornadoes or tornado families that devastated portions of Alabama, South Carolina, and Kentucky, killing a combined total of 76 people.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado outbreak of May 19–22, 1957</span> Weather event in the United States

From May 19–22, 1957, a tornado outbreak took place across the US Central Plains. A total of 59 tornadoes were reported from Colorado to the Mississippi Valley. The most destructive tornado of the severe weather event—likely part of a long-lived family—was rated at F5, the highest level, and is often called the Ruskin Heights tornado, after the site of its worst damage, a suburb and housing development in southern Kansas City, Missouri. Additionally, a powerful F4 tornado virtually destroyed Fremont, Missouri, claiming seven lives, and an F3 tornado killed eight others in and near Belgrade, Missouri. A pair of F4s—one in Minnesota, the other in Kansas—also neared F5 intensity. In all, 59 people were killed during the outbreak, including 44 in the Ruskin Heights tornado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado outbreak of April 1977</span> Tornado outbreak in the United States

A violent severe weather outbreak struck the Southeast on April 4–5, 1977. A total of 22 tornadoes touched down with the strongest ones occurring in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. The strongest was a catastrophic F5 tornado that struck the northern Birmingham, Alabama, suburbs during the afternoon of Monday, April 4. In addition to this tornado, several other tornadoes were reported from the same system in the Midwest, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and North Carolina. One tornado in Floyd County, Georgia, killed one person, and another fatality was reported east of Birmingham in St. Clair County. In the end, the entire outbreak directly caused 24 deaths and 158 injuries. The storm system also caused the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242, which killed 72 and injured 22.

On April 23–25, 1908, a destructive tornado outbreak affected portions of the Midwestern and Southern United States, including the Great Plains. The outbreak produced at least 31 tornadoes in 13 states, with a total of at least 324 tornado-related deaths. Of these deaths, most were caused by three long-tracked, violent tornadoes—each rated F4 on the Fujita scale and considered to be a tornado family—that occurred on April 24. Most of the deaths were in rural areas, often consisted of African Americans, and consequently may have been undercounted. One of the tornadoes killed 143 people along its path, 73 of them in the U.S. state of Mississippi, making the tornado the third deadliest in Mississippi history, following the 1936 Tupelo F5, with 216 deaths, and the 1840 Natchez tornado, with 317 deaths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1905 Snyder tornado</span>

The 1905 Snyder, Oklahoma, tornado was a powerful tornado that struck the town of Snyder, Oklahoma, in Kiowa County on Wednesday, May 10, 1905. The event was one of the worst natural disasters ever to hit the state of Oklahoma. The cyclone killed 97 people, making it the second most deadly tornado in Oklahoma history. The tornado was part of a larger, multiple-day tornado outbreak that hit several states across the Midwestern United States, including Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

On March 21–22, 1952, a severe tornado outbreak generated eight violent tornadoes across the Southern United States, causing 209 fatalities—50 of which occurred in a single tornado in Arkansas. In addition, this tornado outbreak is the second deadliest on record to ever affect the state of Tennessee, with 66 of the fatalities associated with this outbreak occurring in the state; this is only surpassed by the 90 fatalities from a tornado outbreak in 1909, and in terms of fatalities is well ahead of both the 1974 Super Outbreak and the Super Tuesday tornado outbreak, each of which generated 45 and 31 fatalities, respectively. The severe weather event also resulted in the fourth-largest number of tornado fatalities within a 24-hour period since 1950. To date this was considered the most destructive tornado outbreak in Arkansas on record.

On March 21–22, 1932, a deadly tornado outbreak struck the Midwestern and Southern United States. At least 38 tornadoes—including 27 deadly tornadoes and several long-lived tornado families—struck the Deep South, killing more than 330 people and injuring 2,141. Tornadoes affected areas from Mississippi north to Illinois and east to South Carolina, but Alabama was hardest hit, with 268 fatalities; the outbreak is considered to be the deadliest ever in Alabama, and among the worst ever in the United States, trailing only the Tri-State tornado outbreak in 1925, with 751 fatalities, and the Tupelo–Gainesville outbreak in 1936, with 454 fatalities. The 1932 outbreak is believed to have produced 10 violent tornadoes, eight of which occurred in Alabama alone.

A deadly tornado outbreak affected much of the central and Southern United States from April 29 – May 1, 1909. Affecting particularly the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, it killed over 180 people, more than 90 of them in the U.S. state of Tennessee alone. The deadliest and longest-tracked tornado of the outbreak was a violent F4 tornado family that tracked across portions of northern Mississippi and western Tennessee on April 29, claiming at least 29 lives. Another deadly F4 tornado struck portions of southern Tennessee early the next day, killing 31. Other F4s in southern Missouri and southern Illinois on April 29 killed a combined 16 people. Deadly F3s in Georgia and Tennessee from April 30–May 1 killed a total of at least 53 people as well.

On April 9, 1919, a tornado outbreak occurred in the Southern Great Plains of the US, producing numerous strong tornadoes and killing at least 92 people, mainly in portions of North and East Texas. The entire outbreak occurred overnight and produced at least seven intense, deadly tornadoes, the deadliest of which was a long-tracked, extremely violent F4 in East Texas that killed 24 people and injured 100 others. A separate F4 long-tracker in the same region killed 17 others and injured 60 more. A deadly F3 also claimed nine or more lives in southern Oklahoma, and a long-lived F3 in East Texas crossed into Arkansas, killing eight. Several of the tornadoes in this outbreak may have been families of two or more twisters.

On November 7–8, 1957, a significant tornado outbreak affected portions of the Southern United States, particularly the Golden Triangle of Southeast Texas and parts of Acadiana in Louisiana. The severe weather event inflicted 12 deaths and more than 200 injuries, especially in the vicinity of Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas. The most intense tornado of the outbreak, retrospectively rated F4 on the Fujita scale, struck the town of Orange, Texas, killing one person, injuring 81 others, and causing $11⁄2 million in losses. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak was an F3 that killed four people northwest of Carencro, Louisiana. The costliest tornado of the outbreak, also rated F3, caused $2.3 million in losses in the town of Groves, Texas, killing a few people there. Other intense tornadoes occurred as far east as Mississippi and North Carolina. In all, at least 28 tornadoes were confirmed, yet others were likely present as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1949</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1949, primarily in the United States. Most recorded 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.

References

  1. ↑ "Tornado Survivors Battle Deadly Fungus in Joplin, Missouri". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Matters Blog. August 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Shinnston Tornado". West Virginia Archives and History. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Historic Tornadoes prior to 1950 in the Paducah NWS Forecast Area". National Weather Service (NWS), Paducah, Kentucky . Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  4. ↑ O'Toole, John M. (1993). Tornado! 84 Minutes, 94 Lives. Databooks. ISBN   9780963627704 . Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  5. ↑ "On This Day: June 3". Tornado Talk. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ "A list of the top 10 worst tornadoes in Texas history". National Weather Service, Amarillo . Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Top Ten Deadliest Oklahoma Tornadoes (1882–Present)". National Weather Service, Norman . Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Top Ten Deadliest Oklahoma Tornadoes (1882–Present)". National Weather Service, Norman . Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  9. ↑ Wolford, Laura (January 1960). "Tornado Occurrences in the United States" (PDF). National Weather Service. United States Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  10. ↑ "1938 Charleston Area Tornadoes". National Weather Service, Charleston, SC. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  11. ↑ "November 20, 1900 Tornado Outbreak". National Weather Service, Nashville, TN. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Historic Tornadoes prior to 1950 in the Paducah NWS Forecast Area". National Weather Service, Paducah, KY. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  13. ↑ "This Day in Weather History: May 14th". National Weather Service; Aberdeen, SD. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  14. ↑ Tornadoes in Arkansas, 1879–1926 (Report). Vol. 55. United States Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau. April 1927. pp. 176–182. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Dougherty County, GA Tornado Database". National Weather Service; Tallahassee, FL. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Clark County, WI Tornadoes". National Weather Service; La Crosse, WI. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  17. ↑ "MS 30 Longest Tornado Tracks". National Weather Service; Jackson, MS. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Severe Weather in Texas: 1900s". Office of the Texas State Climatologist. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Twenty-One Killed by Tornado in Texas; Storm from Mexico Wrecks Big Buildings at Laredo. Roof Ripped Off Hospital. Teachers at Seminary Have Narrow Escape – Students Rescue One –Governor Appeals for Aid". The New York Times. April 30, 1905. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Tornado in Texas: A Town Swept Away". Trove. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Mississippi Deadliest Tornadoes". National Weather Service; Jackson, MS. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Top Ten KS Tornadoes". National Weather Service; Wichita, KS. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Severe Weather Database Files (1950-2022)". Storm Prediction Center . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. April 25, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Meteorological analysis of the tornado in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila State, Mexico, on May 25, 2015". ResearchGate. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Violent Tornadoes in Indiana". National Weather Service; Louisville, KY. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  26. ↑ "A Tornado Climatology for Wisconsin (as of 2000)" (PDF). Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  27. ↑ "November 20, 1900 Tornado Outbreak". National Weather Service; Nashville, TN. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Severe Weather in Texas: 1940s". Office of the Texas State Climatologist. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Crowell, TX Tornadoes (1900-Present)". National Weather Service; Norman, OK. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Violent Tornadoes in Kentucky". National Weather Service; Louisville, KY. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  31. ↑ "This Day in Weather History: April 4th". National Weather Service; Aberdeen, SD. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Clark County, WI Tornadoes". National Weather Service; La Crosse, WI. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Monthly Weather Review, March 1909: Tornadoes of Texas" (PDF). National Weather Service. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Thurman Tornado August 10th 1924". National Weather Service; Denver/Boulder, CO. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Harpersville Tornado 1/24/1964". National Weather Service; Birmingham, Alabama. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.