Timespan | January –December 1968 |
---|---|
Maximum rated tornado | F5 tornado
|
Tornadoes in U.S. | 657 [1] |
Damage (U.S.) | Unknown |
Fatalities (U.S.) | 131 |
Fatalities (worldwide) | >135 |
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1968, 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. Two F5 tornadoes struck Iowa in the Charles City and Maynard areas, combined they claimed 18 lives and this was one of very few cases in history where two F5 or EF5 tornadoes hit the same state, on the same day.
|
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 192 | 251 | 163 | 39 | 8 | 4 | 657 |
There were 5 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in January, all rated F1 or F0. [3]
There were 7 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in February. [4]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
An F2 tornado moved through the North Miami Beach, Florida, destroying two homes, damaging 144 homes and businesses, and injuring 21 people. An F1 tornado also struck west of Miami. [4] [5]
There were 28 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in March. [6]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
An outbreak of 14 recorded tornadoes struck the Southeastern United States, producing an F3 tornado in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. [7]
There were 102 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in April. [8]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 2 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
A multi-day tornado outbreak produced strong tornadoes from Texas and Iowa to Alabama. The outbreak started with several tornadoes touching down in the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma on the evening of April 2 to shortly after midnight on April 3. An F2 tornado near Newlin, Texas destroyed barns and killed cattle. The most intense part of the outbreak took place on the afternoon and evening of April 3. An F4 tornado passed southeast of Star City, Arkansas to near Gould, destroying farm homes and killing 5 people. The tornado crossed Arkansas Highway 81 (now U.S. Route 425), tossing cars and peeling up a 60 foot (18 m) section of asphalt. A second F4 tornado traveled for 40 miles (64 km) across western Kentucky, damaging or destroying more than 50 homes and killing a couple in Calloway County. An F3 tornado damaged killed 4 people in Brighton and Atoka, Tennessee and damaged or destroyed about 100 trailers in Millington as well as many rural homes along its path. Another F3 tornado near Paragould, Arkansas swept away a small house, killing a person inside, and severely damaged a large factory. [9] [5]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
A short-lived but powerful F4 tornado destroyed most of Greenwood, Arkansas, killing 14 people and injuring 270. The town was left as a "sea of rubble." [10] [5]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
A tornado outbreak struck portions of the Midwestern and Southern United States. The worst day of the outbreak was April 23, which spawned the strongest and deadliest tornadoes of the event. A violent tornado, which may have started in Kentucky, damaged or destroyed 550 homes in Wheelersburg, Ohio, killing 7 people and destroyed more homes in Gallipolis. This tornado was officially rated F5, but its rating is disputed as tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis assigned a rating of F4. A long-tracked F4 tornado traveled more than 70 miles across parts of portions Kentucky and Ohio. The tornado first devastated Falmouth, Kentucky, where it killed 4 people, injured 350, destroyed 180 houses, and damaged another 200. The tornado heavily damaged most of the buildings in Dover. It crossed into Ohio near Ripley, where another person was killed and 30 homes were damaged. In all this tornado killed 6 people. Grazulis notes that it may have reached F5 strength. Another F4 tornado destroyed 35 homes near Newtonsville, Ohio, killing 1 person and injuring 29. [11] [5]
There were 142 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in May. [12]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A small tornado outbreak impacted the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. Three tornadoes touched down near Pampa, Texas. One of these tornadoes struck Miami, Texas at F3 strength, destroying a high school and several homes and businesses and injuring 6 people. Sirens in Miami sounded early enough that most residents were able to take shelter before the tornado struck. An F2 tornado destroyed barns and tore the roof from a farm home near Vinson, Oklahoma. [13] [5]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A tornado outbreak hit the Great Plains. A long-tracked F3 tornado or tornado family traveled for 140 miles across western and central Kansas, injuring 5 people. Another F3 tornado destroyed 7 homes and a church near Konawa, Oklahoma. One house was carried 250 yards (230 m). [14] [5]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 5 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
A low pressure system produced a major tornado outbreak across the Midwestern and Southern United States. It was one of only a few outbreaks to have produced more than one F5 tornado. The first F5 tornado struck Charles City and Elma, Iowa, killing 13 people and damaging or destroying nearly 924 homes with a damage cost of $30 million. The second F5 tornado, also in Iowa, stuck Oelwein and Maynard, killing 5 people. Homes were leveled and swept away in both towns. Two F4 tornadoes struck Arkansas. The first destroyed much of Oil Trough, killing 7 people and leaving most buildings in town with some form of damage. The second F4 tornado struck Tuckerman, Jonesboro, and Nettleton, killing 35 people. There were 164 homes destroyed in Jonesboro. Some of the deaths were in cars that were swept of a highway and wrapped around trees. An F3 tornado completely destroyed a trailer park in Freeburg, Illinois, killing 4 people. A tornado killed 4 people in Wapella, Illinois, causing near-F4 damaged and tore apart the library in Waynesville. While officially rated F1, Grazulis rated this tornado F3 and noted near-F4 damage. Another F3 tornado destroyed trailers, cottages, and small homes in and near Henderson, Arkansas, killing 3 people. Tornadic activity continued past midnight into May 16. An F3 tornado traveled on a long, skipping path from near Wabash, Indiana to New Haven, killing 1 person. [15] [5]
There were 136 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in June. [16] [5]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scattered tornadoes occurred across the United States on June 10 and June 11. An F1 tornado destroyed a trailer near Mora, Minnesota on June 10, killing a person inside. An F2 tornado killed another person near Pompeii, Michigan. [5] [17]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
A small tornado outbreak struck the Midwestern United States. The most notable storm was an F5 tornado that hit Tracy, Minnesota, destroying 111 homes and killing 9 people. Some farms and businesses were completely swept away. An F2 tornado destroyed cottages near Arnolds Park, Iowa, injuring 17 people. [5] [18]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A 2-day outbreak produced tornadoes across a broad region stretching from Colorado to Florida and Pennsylvania. An F2 tornado near Granada, Colorado severely damaged a feed lot, killing cattle, and caused destruction to three farms, a cemetery, and paving company, injuring 1 person. A second F2 tornado near Concord, Ohio destroyed several barns and tore the roof from a house, injuring 5 people. A person was injured by a third F2 tornado near Holbrook, Pennsylvania. [5] [19]
There were 56 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in July. [20]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
A cold front brought storms to France and Germany. An F4 tornado struck tore through the Black Forest and Pforzheim, killing 2 people and injuring 300. [21] [22] [23] An F3 tornado struck Uberach. [24]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A low pressure system produced a small tornado outbreak in the Midwest with two strong tornadoes in Nebraska. The first destroyed a house near Waco. A second tornado destroyed 2 farms and a power substation near Stromsburg. While both tornadoes were officially rated F2, Grazulis rated them F3, noting near-F4 damage from the Stromsburg tornado. A separate storm system over the southeastern U.S. spawned another F2 tornado, which killed 2 people in Port Charlotte, Florida. [25] [26] [5]
There were 66 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in August. [27]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
A record setting 500 hPa trough [28] moved across the northern United States, producing a multi-day tornado outbreak.
On August 18 at 6:45 PM, an F3 tornado struck Omaha, Nebraska, damaging 46 homes and causing one serious and eight minor injuries in addition to $10.5 million in damage (2016 dollars). 14 homes were destroyed and 32 sustained major damage. A department store and grocery store also sustained major damage. [28]
The next day, an F4 tornado struck Pound, Wisconsin and dissipated just outside Marinette, destroying farms near both towns and killing 2 people. An F3 tornado in Weare, New Hampshire destroyed a barn, tossed a trailer, and damaged a horsemanship training school. Several horses were injured and one was thrown over 100 feet (30 m). [5] [29] [26]
There were 25 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in September. [30]
There were 14 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in October. [31]
A tornado struck the Plain of Catania, Sicily, killing 2 people and injuring 100. [24]
There were 44 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in November. [32]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A small but intense tornado outbreak struck the Gulf Coast. A long-track F3 tornado or tornado family cut across part of southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. The worst damage and most of the 18 injuries were in Saraland, Alabama where 15 houses and 5 trailer homes were destroyed and another 240 homes and trailers were damaged. Another 3 houses were destroyed in Bay Minette and a school complex and industrial site were severely damaged in Baldwin County. An F3 tornado in Gulfport, Mississippi damaged a manufacturing site and several homes and smashed a trailer into a building. An F2 tornado in White Sand, Mississippi destroyed a tenant house and downed 60 acres of trees. [5] [33]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
An F3 tornado hit Victoria, Texas, damaging 25 homes, 5 of which lost roofs and exterior walls. A brief tornado, officially rated F0, touched down northeast of downtown Houston and tore the roof from a dormitory at Southern Bible College. Another tornado, rated F1, destroyed six trailers in one trailer park and rolling several trailers in another, and injuring 15 people. Grazulis rated all of these tornadoes F2 [5] [34]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
An outbreak produced at least 9 tornadoes across central and southern Florida. An F2 tornado or tornado family that touched down near Naples knocked down a 705 foot (215 m) tower, destroyed a hunting camp, can killed 2 people at a farm labor camp. Another F2 tornado destroyed 2 small homes and damaged 20 in Venice, injuring 2 people. an F1 tornado or tornado family started in Tampa and traveled to near Orlando, injuring 3 people. [5] [35]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A low pressure system produced tornado from Louisiana to Georgia. An F3 tornado struck Clanton, Alabama, destroying 15 homes, 3trailers, and 10 barns and damaging several homes and a motel. A fisherman drowned on Lake Mitchell and 24 people were injured. Another F3 tornado tossed cars and tore apart a home near Waycross, Georgia. an F2 tornado near Needham, Alabama injured 2 people, destroyed a trailer, and damaged a house. [5] [36] [26]
There were 32 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in December. [37]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A low pressure system spawned tornadoes from Texas to Georgia. An F2 tornado hit Stover, Mississippi, killing 1 person, leveling a house, and tearing several others apart. An F2 tornado destroyed a barn and damaged homes and businesses in Carthage, Mississippi. Another F2 tornado hit Columbus and Caledonia, Mississippi, where it destroyed one business, tore part of the roof from a gym, and rolled a trailer, wrapping its top around a telephone pole. [5] [38] [26]
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1999, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally, particularly in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season, as well as Europe. One particular event, the Bridge Creek-Moore, Oklahoma F5 tornado, produced the highest wind speed ever recorded on Earth, which was 301 ± 20 mph (484 ± 32 km/h).
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1989, 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 1997, 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.
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.
On June 8, 1974, a significant tornado outbreak affected portions of the southern Great Plains and the Upper Midwest. The outbreak produced 36 tornadoes, at least 19 of them significant or intense, and is the second-deadliest June tornado event in Oklahoma history, with 16 deaths reported in the state, second only to the 35 people killed by an F4 tornado on June 12, 1942, in Oklahoma City. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak was a powerful F4 that struck the town of Drumright in Oklahoma, killing 14 people, 12 of whom were killed at Drumright. Another deadly and destructive F4 tornado struck the town of Emporia in Kansas, killing six more people.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1974, 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 notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 1973, but mostly features events in the United States. According to tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis, documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information. Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life. Consequently, available documentation in 1973 mainly covered the United States. On average, most recorded tornadoes, including the vast majority of significant—F2 or stronger—tornadoes, form in the U.S., although as many as 500 may take place internationally. Some locations, like Bangladesh, are as prone to violent tornadoes as the U.S., meaning F4 or greater events on the Fujita scale.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1972, 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 1969, 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 1971, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 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.
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.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1954, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1953, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. This was the first year to record an F5 tornado as well as one of the deadliest tornado seasons in official U.S. records, which go back to 1950.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1952, 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 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.
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.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1947, 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.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1946, 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.