Tornadoes of 1965

Last updated

Tornadoes of 1965
1965 Tornadoes.png
Tracks of all US tornadoes in 1965
TimespanJanuary 8–December 23, 1965
Maximum rated tornado F5 tornado
Tornadoes in U.S.897 [1]
Damage (U.S.)Unknown
Fatalities (U.S.)301
Fatalities (worldwide)>301

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1965, 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.

Contents

Events

Fatal United States tornadoes in 1965
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Approximate touchdown location of killer tornadoes in 1965
Summary of tornadoes [2]
  • March 17 – North Carolina (2 deaths)
  • April 10 Arkansas (6 deaths)
  • April 11 Iowa (1 death)
  • April 11 Wisconsin (3 deaths)
  • April 11 Illinois (6 deaths)
  • April 11 Indiana (10 deaths)
  • April 11 Michigan (5 deaths)
  • April 11 Indiana (31 deaths)
  • April 11 Indiana (5 deaths)
  • April 11 Indiana, Michigan (23 deaths)
  • April 11 Michigan (1 death)
  • April 11 Indiana (36 deaths)
  • April 11 Indiana (25 deaths)
  • April 11 Michigan (21 deaths)
  • April 11 Indiana (28 deaths)
  • April 11 Indiana, Ohio (4 deaths)
  • April 11 Michigan (1 death)
  • April 11 Ohio, Michigan (18 deaths)
  • April 11 Ohio (13 deaths)
  • April 11 Ohio (3 deaths)
  • April 11 Ohio (4 deaths)
  • April 11 Ohio (18 deaths)
  • April 11 Ohio (4 deaths)
  • April 15 – Tennessee (1 death)
  • April 19 – Texas (1 death)
  • May 6 Minnesota (3 deaths)
  • May 6 Minnesota (1 death)
  • May 6 Minnesota (3 deaths)
  • May 6 Minnesota (6 deaths)
  • May 8 Nebraska (4 deaths)
  • June 2 – Texas (4 deaths)
  • June 4 – Texas (1 death)
  • June 7 – South Dakota (1 death)
  • June 7 – South Dakota (1 death)
  • August 26 – Iowa (1 death)
  • October 7 – North Carolina (1 death)
  • November 12 – Illinois (2 deaths)
  • November 16 – Ohio (2 deaths)
  • November 26 – Kentucky (1 death)

Total fatalities: 301

1965 picked up where 1964 left off, becoming the most active year on record at the time. A total of 31 violent (F4 and F5) tornadoes also touched down, which was also a record, with 17 of the F4 tornadoes occurring during the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak.

United States yearly total

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FUF0F1F2F3F4F5Total
024630024971301897

January

There were 21 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in January.

February

There were 32 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in February. [3]

February 8–9

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0172300

An outbreak sequence of 13 tornadoes struck the Mississippi Valley, Utah and the Midwest, injuring 10. [3]

February 11

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0129300

An outbreak of 15 tornadoes struck the Southeast, injuring 28. [3]

February 23

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0021100

An outbreak of four tornadoes struck South Florida between 10 a.m.–1 p.m. EST (15–18 UTC); the strongest was an F3 tornado that moved through the Fort Lauderdale metro area, injuring six people. Two other people were injured from the three other tornadoes, resulting in eight people being injured in total from the outbreak. [3] [4]

March

There were 34 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in March.

March 16–18

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0585510

A deadly and destructive outbreak of 24 tornadoes struck the Great Plains and Southeast, killing two and injuring 129.

April

There were 123 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in April. [5]

April 1

A rare F1 tornado touched down in California. [5]

April 7–9

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0169200

Just before the Palm Sunday outbreak, an outbreak sequence of 19 tornadoes pummeled the Midwest, California, and the Great Lakes, injuring 16. [6]

April 10–12

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0116146180
Picture of the "double tornado" that hit the Midway Trailer Park in Indiana, killing 14. 1965 Elkhart Double Tornado-Palm Sunday.jpg
Picture of the "double tornado" that hit the Midway Trailer Park in Indiana, killing 14.

An extremely destructive and deadly outbreak of 55 tornadoes caused major damage from the Southern Plains to the Midwest. The main outbreak was the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, which started in the afternoon of April 11 and continued through the overnight hours of April 12. The second-biggest tornado outbreak on record at the time, this deadly series of 48 twisters inflicted a swath of destruction from Cedar County, Iowa, to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and a swath 450 miles long (724 km) from Kent County, Michigan, to Montgomery County, Indiana. The outbreak lasted 16 hours and 35 minutes and is among the most intense outbreaks, in terms of number, strength, width, path, and length of tornadoes, ever recorded, including at least four "double/twin funnel" tornadoes. In addition, 17 tornadoes were rated F4, the second-largest number of violent twisters in one outbreak, after the 1974 Super Outbreak. At one point, all nine counties in the northern Indiana office's jurisdiction were under a tornado warning, marking the first occurrence of a "blanket tornado warning" in the U.S. Weather Bureau's history. [7] However, as was the case in many other areas heavily affected, the outbreak began on Palm Sunday, an important holy day for most Christians, and many people were attending church services, which may explain why some tornado warnings were never received. As a result, 266 people were killed and 3,662 injured with 1,795 of them in Indiana alone. It was also the deadliest tornado outbreak in Indiana history, with 137 people killed. [8] [9]

April 14–15

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0336400

Just two days after the deadly Palm Sunday outbreak, yet another deadly outbreak of 16 tornadoes struck the Great Plains and the Southeast, killing one and injuring 58. [5]

April 18–19

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0001200

Three destructive tornadoes struck Arkansas and Texas, killing one and injuring seven. [5]

April 23–27

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0084200

Tornado terror continued across the Midwest and Southeast with an outbreak of 14 tornadoes hitting the area, injuring three. [5]

May

273 tornadoes were confirmed in the United States in May. [10]

May 5–8

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0202022681

This major severe weather event affected much of the Central United States on May 5–8, 1965. For four consecutive days, tornado outbreaks produced at least three significant (F2+) tornadoes each day, and at least two violent (F4–F5) tornadoes on three of the four days. The strongest tornado of the year occurred on May 8, when an F5 tornado struck Gregory, South Dakota. The entire sequence generated 77 tornadoes, including 37 significant tornadoes with nine of them becoming violent. There were 17 fatalities and 772 injuries. [10] [11] [12]

May 25–27

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
016118100

A large outbreak produced multiple strong tornadoes from the Great Plains to the Mississippi Valley. Areas near Pratt, Kansas were struck by an F3 tornado, just one of nine significant tornadoes during the event. There were 39 tornadoes confirmed and 48 people were injured, although there were no fatalities. [13]

June

There were 147 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in June.

June 2

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0010010

An F1 tornado in Iowa was followed by a long-tracked, violent F4 tornado that killed four and injured 76 in Texas.

June 4

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0421100

An outbreak of nine tornadoes struck the Midwest and Georgia, killing one and injuring three.

June 7

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0214210

An intense, localized outbreak of 10 tornadoes hit South Dakota and Iowa, killing two.

July

There were 85 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in July.

July 5

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0230000

Two of the five weak tornadoes that touched down on this day occurred in California. There were no casualties.

August

There were 61 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in August.

August 17

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0201100

Four widely scattered tornadoes touched down with an F3 twister in South Carolina injuring 46.

August 26–27

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0232010

A small, but destructive outbreak of eight tornadoes hit areas from Kansas to Pennsylvania, killing one and injuring 19.

September

There were 64 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in September. [14]

September 3

An isolated, brief, but strong F3 tornado injured 27 in Kansas.

September 8–12 (Hurricane Betsy)

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0241000

Hurricane Betsy produced seven isolated tornadoes throughout Florida and the Mississippi Valley. The strongest was an F2 tornado Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. There were no fatalities or injuries from the tornadoes. [14]

September 8–9 (Elsewhere)

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0132000

An outbreak sequence of six tornadoes occurred from Colorado to New York, although there were no casualties.

September 14

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0015100

An outbreak of seven tornadoes hit Illinois and Indiana, injuring 34.

September 20–23

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0886400

An outbreak sequence of 26 tornadoes hit various regions of the country, injuring four. F0 tornadoes also touched down in Hawaii and Puerto Rico at the end of the outbreak.

October

There were 16 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in October.

October 7–8

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0144100

An outbreak of 10 tornadoes struck the Southeast and Great Lakes with an F3 tornado in North Carolina killing one and injuring four.

November

There were 34 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in November.

November 10

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0101000

Two rare tornadoes hit Washington and Oregon with no casualties being reported.

November 12

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0105100

A deadly and destructive outbreak of seven tornadoes hit Illinois and Indiana, killing two and injuring 104.

November 16

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0015100

Another outbreak of seven tornadoes hit Ohio and Pennsylvania, killing two and injuring 28.

November 25–27

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0066600

A widespread outbreak of 18 tornadoes hit areas from the West Coast to the East Coast, killing one and injuring 26.

December

There were 7 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in December.

December 11–12

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0042000

One final outbreak of six tornadoes hit the Southeast, injuring six.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Early May 1965 tornado outbreak</span>

On May 5–8, 1965, a significant tornado outbreak affected much of the Central United States. For four consecutive days, tornado outbreaks produced at least three significant (F2+) tornadoes each day, and at least two violent (F4–F5) tornadoes on three of the four days. The entire sequence generated 37 significant tornadoes, including at least nine violent tornadoes, one of which was rated F5. On May 5, two F4s struck Iowa, including a long-tracked tornado family that injured 11 people. On May 6, an outbreak of six strong tornadoes, four of them violent F4s, affected Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, and has been nicknamed "The Longest Night", killing 13 people and causing major damages—at the time the most damaging single weather event in Minnesota history. Three of the six tornadoes occurred on the ground simultaneously, and two of them hit the section of Minnesota State Highway 100 and University Avenue in the city of Fridley. Both Fridley tornadoes damaged 1,100 homes and destroyed about 425; total losses reached $14.5 million, $5 million of which was to the Fridley school system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2002</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2002, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. The year had several large outbreaks that included the Veterans Day Weekend tornado outbreak and the Midwest to Mid-Atlantic United States tornado outbreak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2001</span>

This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2001. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1994</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1994, 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, however by the 1990s tornado statistics were coming closer to the numbers we see today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1982</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1982, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1980</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1980, 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. NOTE: On June 7, 1980, Red Lion, Pennsylvania was struck by an F3 tornado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1967</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1967, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1964</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1964, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1963</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1963, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1960</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1960, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1959</span> Tornadoes that appeared primarily in the United States in 1959

Tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1959 were tornadoes that appeared primarily in the United States in that year. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1958</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1958, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1957</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1957, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1956</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1956, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1955</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1955, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1953</span>

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.

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1951, 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 1950, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado outbreak sequence of December 1–6, 1953</span> Weather event affecting Southeastern United States

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 violent F4 tornado that hit the northwest side of Alexandria, Louisiana and even more violent F5 tornado that hit Vicksburg, Mississippi. In all, the tornadoes killed 49 people, injured 404 others, and caused $45,709 million in damage. This was the last in a series of deadly and catastrophic outbreaks to strike the US in 1953.

<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. "1965 Tornadoes". Tornado Archive.
  2. "Severe Weather Database Files (1950-2021)". Storm Prediction Center . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. July 11, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "February 1965 Tornado Summary". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  4. Hagemeyer, B. C. (September 1997). "Peninsular Florida Tornado Outbreaks". Weather and Forecasting. American Meteorological Society. 12 (3): 399–427. Bibcode:1997WtFor..12..399H. doi: 10.1175/1520-0434(1997)012<0399:PFTO>2.0.CO;2 . S2CID   120588681.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "April 1965 Tornado Summary". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  6. "April 7-9, 1965 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  7. Blake Naftel. "April 11, 1965: The Palm Sunday Outbreak". Western Michigan University. Archived from the original on 2005-04-08. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  8. Heidorn, Keith C. (April 1, 2007). "1965 Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak Part I: The Beginning". The Weather Doctor. Archived from the original on 2007-12-01. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  9. "April 10-12, 1965 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  10. 1 2 "May 1965 Tornado Summary". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  11. Lattery, Robert. "Six Deadly Twisters". Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  12. "Summary of May 6, 1965 Tornado Outbreak". Chanhassen, Minnesota: National Weather Service. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  13. "Tornado Summaries". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  14. 1 2 "September 1965 Tornado Summary". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2020.