Earth:List of deadliest tornadoes in the Americas
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
The deadliest tornado on record was the Daulatpur–Saturia tornado which occurred in the Dhaka division of Bangladesh on 26 April 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] | Year | Month & Day | Fatalities[lower-alpha 3] | Injuries [lower-alpha 4] | F or EF [lower-alpha 5] | Notes | Other References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ellington, Missouri-Murphysboro/De Soto, Illinois-Griffin/Princeton, Illinois | 1925 | 18 March | 689 | 2,027 | F5 | By 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 | 1840 | 6 May | 317 | 109 | F4 | These 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 | 1896 | 27 May | 255 | 1,000 | F4 | These 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 | 1936 | 5 April | 216 | 700 | F4 | At 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 | 1936 | 6 April | 203 | 1,600 | F4 | At 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 | 1947 | 9 April | 181 | 970 | F5 | This 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 tornadoes (Grazulis, p. 927) |
7 | Joplin, Missouri | 2011 | 22 May | 158 | 1,150 | EF5 | As of May 2023, this is the only tornado in the 21st century 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 | 1908 | 24 April | 143 | 770 | F4 | 1908 Dixie tornado outbreak | |
9 | New Richmond, Wisconsin | 1899 | 12 June | 117 | 200 | F5 | The 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 | 1953 | 8 June | 116 | 844 | F5 | 1953 Flint–Beecher tornado | |
11 | Waco, Texas | 1953 | 11 May | 114 | 597 | F5 | 1953 Waco tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 970) | |
Goliad, Texas | 1902 | 18 May | 114 | 250 | F4 | 1902 Goliad, Texas, tornado | ||
13 | Omaha, Nebraska | 1913 | 23 March | 103 | 350 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913 | |
14 | Mattoon—Charleston, Illinois | 1917 | 26 May | 101 | 638 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 752) | |
15 | Shinnston, West Virginia | 1944 | 23 June | 100 | 381 | F4 | Historians 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] | Year | Month & Day | Fatalities[lower-alpha 3] | Injuries [lower-alpha 4] | F or EF [lower-alpha 5] | Notes | Other References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 | Marshfield, Missouri | 1880 | 18 April | 99 | 200 | F4 | The death toll was probably higher. (Grazulis, p. 608) | Tornado outbreak of April 1880 |
17 | Maynard/Brockett, Arkansas—Poplar Bluff, Missouri | 1927 | 9 May | 98 | 300 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of May 1927, (Grazulis, p. 809) | [3] |
Gainesville, Georgia | 1903 | 1 June | 98 | 180 | F4 | A 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 | 1905 | 10 May | 97 | 150 | F5 | 1905 Snyder tornado | |
20 | Petersham—Barre—Rutland—Holden—Worcester—Shrewsbury—Westborough—Southborough, Massachusetts | 1953 | 9 June | 94 | 1,288 | F4 | Grazulis 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 | 1860 | 3 June | 92 | 200 | F4 | Grazulis 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 | 1908 | 24 April | 91 | 400 | F4 | 1908 Dixie tornado outbreak | |
23 | Starkville/Cedarbluff/Aberdeen, Mississippi—Bexar/Hackleburg/Phil Campbell/Spruce Pine/Waco/Mehama, Alabama | 1920 | 20 April | 88 | 700 | F4 | April 1920 tornado outbreak | |
24 | Sandusky-Lorain, Ohio | 1924 | 28 June | 85 | 300 | F4 | 1924 Lorain–Sandusky tornado (Grazulis, p. 790) | |
25 | Udall, Kansas | 1955 | 25 May | 80 | 273 | F5 | Grazulis reported 270 injuries (Grazulis, p. 987) | 1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak |
26 | St. Louis, Missouri | 1927 | 29 September | 79 | 550 | F3 | Tornado outbreak of September 29, 1927 | |
27 | Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky | 1890 | 27 March | 76 | 200 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of March 27, 1890 | |
28 | Rocksprings, Texas | 1927 | 12 April | 74 | 205 | F5 | One-third of the town was killed by this tornado.[6] | |
29 | Farmington—Howe—Sherman, Texas | 1896 | 15 May | 73 | 200 | F5 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 674) | |
30 | Hackleburg—Phil Campbell—Tanner—Harvest—Athens, Alabama | 2011 | 27 April | 72 | 145 | EF5 | "Hackleburg-Phil Campbell tornado" The deadliest single tornado in the 2011 Super Outbreak and in Alabama history. | List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak |
St. Cloud—Sauk Rapids, Minnesota | 1886 | 14 April | 72 | 213 | F4 | A 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 | 1893 | 6 July | 71 | 200 | F5 | One report suggested a death toll as high as 89, but this could not be confirmed. | (Grazulis, p. 664) |
Peggs, Oklahoma | 1920 | 2 May | 71 | 100 | F4 | [7] | ||
34 | Antlers, Oklahoma | 1945 | 12 April | 69 | 353 | F5 | This 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) | [8] |
35 | Rippey—Grinnell—Malcom, Iowa | 1882 | 17 June | 68 | 300 | F5 | One report suggested a death toll as high as 130.[9] | (Grazulis, p. 615) |
36 | Tiptonville, Tennessee—Bondurant/Hickman/Clinton/Dublin, Kentucky | 1917 | 27 May | 67 | 345 | F4 | 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 | 2011 | 27 April | 64 | 1,500 | EF4 | "Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado" Second highest toll for a single tornado during the 2011 Super Outbreak. | List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak |
38 | Itta Bena—Greenwood—Avalon, Mississippi—Cascilla—Otoucalofa—Tula, Mississippi | 1942 | 16 March | 63 | 500 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of March 16-17, 1942 | |
San Justo, Santa Fe Province, Argentina | 1973 | 10 January | 63 | 350 | F5 | 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 | 1871 | 8 October | 60 | *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 | 1921 | 15 April | 59 | 300 | F4 | Grazulis, p. 773) | |
42 | Cary/Gooden Lake/Pugh City/Morgan City/Money, Mississippi—Middleton, Tennessee | 1971 | 21 February | 58 | 795 | F4 | Grazulis reported 700 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,121) | Tornado outbreak of February 21-22, 1971 |
Jackson, Mississippi | 1966 | 3 March | 58 | 518 | F5 | Grazulis reported 57 deaths and 504 injuries. (Grazulis, p. 1,079) | 1966 Candlestick Park tornado outbreak | |
44 | Mayfield—Princeton—Dawson Springs—Bremen, Kentucky | 2021 | 10 December | 57 | 515+ | EF4 | 2021 Western Kentucky tornado | |
Fergus Falls, Minnesota | 1919 | 22 June | 57 | 200 | F5 | 1919 Fergus Falls tornado (Grazulis, p. 764) | ||
46 | Wesson—Beauregard—Georgetown, Mississippi | 1883 | 22 April | 56 | 300 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 617) | |
47 | Warren, Arkansas | 1949 | 3 January | 55 | 435 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 941) | |
Fort Smith—Van Buren, Arkansas | 1898 | 11 January | 55 | 113 | F4 | 1898 Fort Smith, Arkansas, tornado (Grazulis, p. 681) | ||
49 | Steedman—Horrell Hill—Gaillard Crossroads, South Carolina | 1924 | 30 April | 53 | 534 | F4 | "The Horrell Hill Tornado" | April 1924 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 788) |
50 | Pryor, Oklahoma | 1942 | 27 April | 52 | 350 | F4 | Two 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.[10] | (Grazulis, p. 899) |
51 | Kensett—Judsonia—Bald Knob—Russell, Arkansas | 1952 | 21 March | 50 | 325 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 962) |
30–49 fatalities
Rank[lower-alpha 1] | Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] | Year | Month & Day | Fatalities[lower-alpha 3] | Injuries [lower-alpha 4] | F or EF [lower-alpha 5] | Notes | Other References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
52 | Brinkley, Arkansas | 1909 | 8 March | 49 | 600 | F4 | A 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 | 1932 | 21 March | 49 | 150 | F4 | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 842) | ||
Gilliam—Bolinger—Belcher, Louisiana | 1908 | 13 May | 49 | 135 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 715) | ||
55 | Waverly/Melbourne Plantation, Louisiana—Delta City/Inverness/Moorhead, Mississippi | 1971 | 21 February | 47 | 510 | F5 | Grazulis reported 46 deaths and 400 injuries. (Grazulis, p. 1,121) | Tornado outbreak of February 21–22, 1971 |
Ortonville—Thomas—North Oxford—Whigville, Michigan | 1896 | 25 May | 47 | 100 | F5 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 676) | ||
57 | New Albany, Indiana | 1917 | 23 March | 46 | 250 | F4 | March 1917 tornado outbreak | |
58 | Orland, Indiana—East Gilead/Reading/Hillsdale/Manitou Beach, Michigan | 1965 | 11 April | 44 | 587 | F4 | Per 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 | 1957 | 20 May | 44 | 531 | F5 | "The Ruskin Heights Tornado" | May 1957 Central Plains tornado outbreak sequence, (Grazulis, p. 1,007) | |
60 | Wichita Falls, Texas | 1979 | 10 April | 42 | 1,740 | F4 | Twenty-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 | 1932 | 21 March | 41 | 325 | F4 | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 843) | |
Bynum—Mertens—Rankin—Bardwell—Ensign—Frost, Texas | 1930 | 6 May | 41 | 200 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 834) | ||
Gallatin, Tennessee—Holland/Beaumont, Kentucky | 1925 | 18 March | 41 | 95 | F4 | Grazulis reported 39 fatalities (Grazulis, p. 796) | Tri-State tornado outbreak | |
64 | Norristown—Statesboro—Oliver, Georgia | 1929 | 25 April | 40 | 300 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 825) | |
65 | Sumner County/Oak Grove/Liberty, Tennessee—Holland/Beaumont, Kentucky | 1925 | 18 March | 39 | 95 | F4 | (Grazulis, p.796), Tri-State tornado outbreak | |
66 | Lacey's Spring/Paint Rock/Jackson County, Alabama—Ladds Switch, Tennessee | 1932 | 21 March | 38 | 500 | F4 | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 844) | |
Vicksburg, Mississippi | 1953 | 5 December | 38 | 270 | F5 | 1953 Vicksburg, Mississippi, tornado (Grazulis, p. 976) | ||
Bolivar—Henderson—Jack's Creek—Darden, Tennessee | 1952 | 21 March | 38 | 157 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 (Grazulis, p.963) | ||
69 | Rochester, Minnesota | 1883 | 21 August | 37 | 200 | F5 | The 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 | 1932 | 21 March | 37 | 200 | F4 | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 842) | ||
Sandersville—Harmony—Nancy, Mississippi | 1933 | 31 March | 37 | 170 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 848) | ||
72 | Bridge Creek—Moore—Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 1999 | 3 May | 36 | 583 | F5 | 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado | |
Elkhart—Dunlap, Indiana | 1965 | 11 April | 36 | 321 | F4 | Grazulis reported 320 injuries. (Grazulis, p. 1,066) | 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak | |
Bay Springs—Rose Hill—Savoy—Meridian, Mississippi | 1920 | 20 April | 36 | 200 | F4 | April 1920 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 769) | ||
Moundville, Alabama | 1904 | 22 January | 36 | 150 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 701) | ||
Tyler, Minnesota | 1918 | 21 August | 36 | 100 | F4 | Grazulis reported 225 injuries (Grazulis, p. 761) | 1918 Tyler tornado | |
Tompkinsville—Sewell—Cundiff—Russell Springs, Kentucky | 1933 | 9 May | 36 | 87 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933 | ||
Kenedy—Runge—Nordheim, Texas | 1930 | 6 May | 36 | 60 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 834) | ||
79 | Tuckerman—Jonesboro, Arkansas | 1968 | 15 May | 35 | 364 | F4 | Grazulis reported 361 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,099) | Tornado outbreak of May 1968 |
Sulphur Springs—Pine Bluff, Arkansas | 1947 | 1 June | 35 | 300 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 931) | ||
Dora—Bergens—Warrior—Royal—Wynnville—Albertville—Sylvania, Alabama | 1908 | 24 April | 35 | 188 | F4 | 1908 Dixie tornado outbreak | ||
Livingston—Beatty Swamps, Tennessee | 1933 | 10 May | 35 | 150 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933, (Grazulis, p. 851) | ||
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 1942 | 12 June | 35 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 902) | ||
84 | Xenia, Ohio | 1974 | 3 April | 34 | 1,150 | F5 | 1974 Xenia tornado, (Grazulis, p. 1,154) | |
Kirksville, Missouri | 1899 | 27 April | 34 | 125 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 686) | ||
Wallingford, Connecticut | 1878 | 9 August | 34 | 70 | F4 | Number of fatalities range from 29 to 34, depending on source (Grazulis, p. 596) | 1878 Wallingford tornado | |
Zephyr, Texas | 1909 | 30 May | 34 | 70 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 723) | ||
Marquette, Kansas | 1905 | 8 May | 34 | 50 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 705) | ||
89 | Oak Lawn—Evergreen Park—Chicago | 1967 | 21 April | 33 | 500 | F4 | 1967 Oak Lawn tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,089) | |
Fosterburg—Bunker Hill—Gillespie, Illinois | 1948 | 19 March | 33 | 449 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 934) | ||
91 | Birmingham, Alabama | 1998 | 8 April | 32 | 259 | F5 | Tornado outbreak of April 6–9, 1998 | |
Hazlehurst—Sardis, Mississippi | 1969 | 23 January | 32 | 241 | F4 | 1969 Hazlehurst, Mississippi, tornadoes, (Grazulis, p. 1,103) | ||
93 | Brandenburg, Kentucky | 1974 | 3 April | 31 | 257 | F5 | Grazulis reported 270 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1.154) | List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak |
Goshen—Midway, Indiana | 1965 | 11 April | 31 | 252 | F4 | 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak | ||
Plantersville—Stanton—Lomax—Marble Valley, Alabama | 1932 | 21 March | 31 | 200 | F4 | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak | ||
Crane Creek—Flat Creek Township—Ozark—Linden—Panther Creek, Missouri | 1880 | 18 April | 31 | 100 | F4 | "The Finley Creek Tornado" | Tornado outbreak of April 1880, (Grazulis, p. 608) | |
Gardner—Oconee, Georgia | 1921 | 10 February | 31 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 771) | ||
Moore, Oklahoma | 1893 | 25 April | 31 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 652) | ||
99 | Wellsburg, West Virginia—Chartiers Township/Dry Tavern, Pennsylvania—Oakland, Maryland | 1944 | 23 June | 30 | 300 | F4 | 1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 915) | |
Saragosa, Texas | 1987 | 22 May | 30 | 121 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 1,278) | ||
Lula/Dundee/Strayhorn/Arkabutla/Coldwater, Mississippi—La Grange, Tennessee | 1900 | 20 November | 30 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 692) | ||
Piedmont/Goshen/Rock Run, Alabama—Cave Spring, Georgia | 1884 | 19 February | 30 | 100 | F4 | Enigma tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 625) | ||
Stafford, Virginia—Charles County, Maryland | 1818 | 15 August | 30 | F? | "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. | 1814 | 25 August | 30 | F? | 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] | Year | Month & Day | Fatalities[lower-alpha 3] | Injuries [lower-alpha 4] | F or EF [lower-alpha 5] | Notes | Other References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plainfield—Joliet, Illinois | 1990 | 28 August | 29 | 350 | F5 | 1990 Plainfield tornado | ||
England—Cotton Plant—Hillemann, Arkansas | 1952 | 21 March | 29 | 180 | F4 | Grazulis reported 40 deaths and 274 injuries (Grazulis, p. 962) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 | |
Berryville, Arkansas | 1942 | 29 October | 29 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 904) | ||
Horn Lake, Mississippi—Whitehaven/Newcastle/Bolivar/Scotts Hill/Perryville, Tennessee | 1909 | 29 April | 29 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 721) | ||
Bee Spring—Millville, Tennessee | 1909 | 29 April | 29 | 70 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of late-April 1909, (Grazulis, p. 721) | ||
Minden (Gillark), Louisiana | 1933 | 1 May | 28 | 400 | F4 | The following day, one newspaper suggested as many as 55 deaths (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; 2 May 1933; p. 1) | (Grazulis, p. 850) | |
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | 1912 | 30 June | 28 | 300 | F4 | Regina Cyclone | ||
Guin—Delmar, Alabama | 1974 | 3 April | 28 | 272 | F5 | Grazulis reported 30 deaths and 280 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,161) | List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak | |
Moulton—Tanner (#1)—Harvest, Alabama | 1974 | 3 April | 28 | 267 | F5 | Grazulis 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 | 1898 | 18 May | 28 | 150 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 683) | ||
Crawfordsville—Lebanon—Sheridan—Arcadia, Indiana | 1965 | 11 April | 28 | 123 | F4 | 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,066) | ||
Sparta, Georgia—Edgefield, South Carolina | 1875 | 20 March | 28 | 70 | F4 | Death 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, Canada | 1987 | 31 July | 27 | 253 | F4 | Edmonton tornado | ||
LaGrange, Georgia | 1920 | 28 March | 27 | 100 | F3 | As many as "200 people dead + injured" (Grazulis, p. 768) | 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak | |
Lily Flagg—Brownsboro—Gurley, Alabama | 1920 | 20 April | 27 | 100 | F4 | April 1920 tornado outbreak | ||
Sayre—Bradford—Village Springs, Alabama | 1917 | 27 May | 27 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 753) | ||
Charleston, South Carolina | 1938 | 29 September | 27 | 80 | F2 | Many fatalities occurred in collapsed buildings (Grazulis, p. 881) | [11] | |
Columbia—Macedonia, Tennessee | 1900 | 20 November | 27 | 75 | F4 | Most of the fatalities occurred in Macedonia (Grazulis, p. 693) | [12] | |
Drew County, Arkansas | 1939 | 16 April | 27 | 62 | F4 | (Grazulis, p.883) | ||
Lower Peach Tree—Scyrene, Alabama | 1913 | 21 March | 27 | 60 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913, (Grazulis, p. 737) | ||
Deemer/New Deemer—Philadelphia, Mississippi | 1920 | 20 April | 27 | 60 | F4 | April 1920 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 769) | ||
Jarrell, Texas | 1997 | 27 May | 27 | 12 | F5 | 1997 Central Texas tornado outbreak | ||
Lubbock, Texas | 1970 | 11 May | 26 | 500 | F5 | Grazulis reported 28 deaths (Grazulis, p. 1,113) | Lubbock tornado | |
Montgomery—Chisholm, Alabama | 1945 | 12 February | 26 | 293 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 918) | ||
Arab—Granite Bend—Dongola—Zalma, Missouri | 1917 | 30 May | 26 | 210 | F4 | Two 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 | 1928 | 12 November | 26 | 150 | F? | "Villa María tornado" | List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks | |
Red Hill/Susanna/Red Ridge/Agricola, Alabama—West Point, Georgia | 1920 | 28 March | 26 | 125 | F4 | 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 768) | ||
Alto—Kokomo—Greentown—Swayzee—Marion, Indiana | 1965 | 11 April | 25 | 835 | F4 | 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak | ||
McDonald Chapel—Birmingham, Alabama | 1956 | 15 April | 25 | 200 | F4 | 1956 McDonald Chapel tornado | ||
Seneca/Oneida/Sabetha/Reserve, Kansas—Falls City, Nebraska | 1896 | 17 May | 25 | 200 | F5 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 | ||
Barney—Heber Springs—Banner, Arkansas | 1916 | 5 June | 25 | 150 | F4 | June 1916 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 747) | ||
Campbell—Poinciana—Kissimmee—Buenaventura Lakes—Lake Hart—Lake Mary Jane, Florida | 1998 | 22 February | 25 | 150 | F3 | This 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 | 1944 | 16 April | 25 | 120 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 912) | ||
Louisville, Kentucky | 1854 | 27 August | 25 | 100 | F? | (Grazulis, p. 562) | ||
Council Bluffs—Gilliatt—Weston—Neola—Harlan, Iowa | 1913 | 23 March | 25 | 75 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913, (Grazulis, p. 737) | ||
Hancock—Kossuth—Worth Counties in Iowa | 1894 | 21 September | 25 | 60 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 667) | ||
Lakeview/Fyffe/Rainsville/Sylvania, Alabama—Rising Fawn, Georgia | 2011 | 27 April | 25 | EF5 | Unknown number of injuries. "Rainsville EF5 tornado" | List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak |
20–24 fatalities
Rank[lower-alpha 1] | Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] | Year | Month & Day | Fatalities[lower-alpha 3] | Injuries [lower-alpha 4] | F or EF [lower-alpha 5] | Notes | Other References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belvidere, Illinois | 1967 | 21 April | 24 | 410 | F4 | Grazulis reported 500 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,088) | 1967 Oak Lawn tornado outbreak | |
Smith Mills, Kentucky—Evansville—Paradise—Gentryville, Indiana | 2005 | 6 November | 24 | 238 | F3 | Evansville tornado outbreak of November 2005 | ||
Ingomar—Baker—Keownville—Glen, Mississippi | 1920 | 20 April | 24 | 180 | F4 | April 1920 tornado outbreak | ||
New Baden—Germantown—Mascoutah, Illinois | 1896 | 27 May | 24 | 125 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 677) | ||
Eureka Springs—Green Forest—Berryville, Arkansas | 1927 | 18 March | 24 | 110 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 806) | ||
New Castle—Millville (Henry County)—Hagerstown—Greens Fork, Indiana | 1917 | 11 March | 24 | 110 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 750) | ||
Mineola—Blodgett—Spring Hill, Texas | 1919 | 9 April | 24 | 100 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of April 1919 | ||
Mayersville—Grace—Isola—Moorhead, Mississippi | 1919 | 16 March | 24 | 80 | F4 | Grazulis reported that the death toll may have been higher. | (Grazulis, p. 762) | |
Mount Vernon, Illinois | 1888 | 19 February | 24 | 80 | F4 | This was the only fatal tornado during this rare February outbreak. (Grazulis, p. 643) | [13] | |
Stantonville—Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee | 1909 | 14 October | 24 | 80 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 725) | ||
Strong, Arkansas | 1927 | 9 May | 24 | 72 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of May 1927 | ||
St. Mary's—Lisbon—Mount Vernon—Mechanicsville, Iowa | 1860 | 3 June | 24 | 60 | F? | (Grazulis, p. 566) | ||
Cordele—Crisp County, Georgia | 1936 | 2 April | 23 | 500 | F4 | 1936 Cordele-Greensboro tornado outbreak. (Grazulis, p. 865) | ||
Howard—Mitchell Counties, Texas | 1923 | 14 May | 23 | 250 | F5 | A man and his three sons were killed in one house (Grazulis, p. 783) | [14] | |
Cisco, Texas | 1893 | 28 April | 23 | 150 | F4 | Death toll may have been as high as 26 | (Grazulis, p. 662) | |
Smithville, Mississippi—Hodges, Alabama | 2011 | 27 April | 23 | 137 | EF5 | List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak | ||
Cape Girardeau, Missouri—Alexander County, Illinois | 1949 | 21 May | 23 | 130 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 948) | ||
Oklahoma City—Bethany, Oklahoma | 1930 | 19 November | 23 | 125 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 839) | ||
Pee Dee—Rockingham—Philadelphia (Church)—Manly, North Carolina | 1884 | 19 February | 23 | 100 | F4 | Enigma tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 626) | ||
Greenbrier—Enders—Heber Springs, Arkansas | 1926 | 25 November | 23 | 90 | F4 | Reported as 20 deaths and 75 injuries elsewhere[15] | (Grazulis, p. 804) | |
Batesville—Moorefield—Sneed—Swifton, Arkansas | 1929 | 10 April | 23 | 80 | F5 | (Grazulis, p. 824) | ||
Andale—Sedgwick—McLain—Elbing, Kansas | 1917 | 25 May | 23 | 70 | F5 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 751) | ||
Meridian, Mississippi | 1906 | 2 March | 23 | 60 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 707) | ||
Ossian/Townley, Indiana—Brunersburg/Raabs Corner, Ohio | 1920 | 28 March | 23 | 54 | F4 | 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 768) | ||
Canoinhas, Santa Catarina, Brazil | 1948 | 16 May | 23 | F? | "Several animal casualties" were also reported | List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks | ||
Charleston—Beaufort County, South Carolina | 1814 | 30 June | 23 | F? | 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 | 1964 | 3 October | 22 | 165 | F4 | Deadliest 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 | 1994 | 27 March | 22 | 150 | F4 | 1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak | ||
Birmingham—Smithfield, Alabama | 1977 | 4 April | 22 | 125 | F5 | Tornado outbreak of April 1977 | ||
Cartersville—Jasper—Cagle—Tate—Mount Oglethorpe, Georgia | 1884 | 19 February | 22 | 100 | F4 | Enigma tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 625) | ||
Viroqua, Wisconsin | 1865 | 28 June | 22 | 100 | F? | 1865 Viroqua tornado, (Grazulis, p. 568) | ||
Margaret/Ragland/Shoal Creek Valley/Ohatchee/Piedmont, Alabama—Cave Spring/Kingston, Georgia | 2011 | 27 April | 22 | 85 | EF4 | List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak | ||
Macon, Mississippi | 1880 | 25 April | 22 | 72 | F4 | (Grazulis, p.609) | ||
Castalian Springs/Lafayette, Tennessee—Tompkinsville, Kentucky | 2008 | 5 February | 22 | 63 | EF4 | List of tornadoes in the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak | ||
Yutan, Nebraska—Logan, Iowa | 1913 | 23 March | 22 | 50 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913, (Grazulis, p. 737) | ||
Goodwater/Oak Bowery, Alabama—Harris/Talbot Counties, Georgia | 1875 | 1 May | 22 | 30 | F3 | Death 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, Mexico | 1899 | 10 May | 22 | F? | Possibly greater than 22 deaths | List of Central American tornadoes | ||
Huntsville, Alabama | 1989 | 15 November | 21 | 463 | F4 | November 1989 tornado outbreak | ||
Picher, Oklahoma—Racine/Neosho, Missouri | 2008 | 10 May | 21 | 350 | EF4 | This 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 | 1959 | 10 February | 21 | 345 | F4 | St. Louis tornado outbreak of February 1959 | ||
Prescott, Kansas—Sprague, Missouri | 1887 | 21 April | 21 | 250 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 642) | ||
Terre Haute, Indiana | 1913 | 23 March | 21 | 250 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 738) | ||
Brent—Centreville—Helena, Alabama | 1933 | 5 May | 21 | 200 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933 | ||
Metropolis, Illinois—Sheridan/Blackford/Dixon/Delaware/West Louisville, Kentucky | 1890 | 27 March | 21 | 200 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of March 27, 1890, (Grazulis, p. 650) | ||
Colfax, Wisconsin | 1958 | 4 June | 21 | 110 | F5 | Grazulis reported 20 deaths and an F4 rating (Grazulis,p. 1,015) | Tornado outbreak of June 3-4, 1958 | |
Rojas, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina | 1816 | 16 September | 21 | 82 | F? | "The Rojas Tornado" was one of the first tornadoes on record in Argentina. | List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks | |
Grenada, Mississippi | 1846 | 7 May | 21 | 62 | F? | At least 21 deaths | (Grazulis, p. 561) | |
Bondurant—Santiago—Valeria—Mingo, Iowa | 1896 | 24 May | 21 | 60 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 676) | ||
Casscoe—Holly Grove—Duncan, Arkansas | 1944 | 10 April | 21 | 50 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 911) | ||
Rodessa, Louisiana | 1938 | 17 February | 21 | 50 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 873) | ||
McAlester, Oklahoma | 1882 | 8 May | 21 | 42 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 615) | ||
Ringgold, Georgia—Apison/Cleveland/Etowah, Tennessee | 2011 | 27 April | 20 | 335 | EF4 | List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak | ||
Bellwood—Maywood—Melrose Park—Dunning (Chicago), Illinois | 1920 | 28 March | 20 | 300 | F4 | 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak | ||
Blackwell, Oklahoma | 1955 | 25 May | 20 | 280 | F5 | 1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 987) | ||
Commerce Landing, Mississippi | 1955 | 1 February | 20 | 141 | F3 | Official 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 | 1881 | 15 July | 20 | 93 | F4 | 1881 Minnesota tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 612) | ||
Silverton, Texas | 1957 | 15 May | 20 | 80 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 1,006) | ||
Deanburg—Pinson, Tennessee | 1923 | 11 March | 20 | 70 | F5 | (Grazulis, p. 782) | ||
Overton—Rocheport—Midway—-Hinton, Missouri—Centralia, Missouri | 1917 | 5 June | 20 | 68 | F4 | (Grazulis, p.756) |
15-19 fatalities
Rank[lower-alpha 1] | Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] | Year | Month & Day | Fatalities[lower-alpha 3] | Injuries [lower-alpha 4] | F or EF [lower-alpha 5] | Notes | Other References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asherville—Coatesville—Amo—Hadley—Danville, Indiana | 1948 | 26 March | 19 | 200 | F4 | Grazulis, p. 936) | ||
Anderson—Belton, South Carolina | 1933 | 5 May | 19 | 100 | F3 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4-10, 1933 | ||
Hopewell (Blount County)—Summit, Alabama | 1903 | 8 April | 19 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 697) | ||
Nevada—Josephine—Farmersville—Tigertown, Texas | 1927 | 9 May | 19 | 100 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of May 1927 | ||
Rainbow Lake (Shipshewana)—Ontario—Brighton, Indiana | 1965 | 11 April | 19 | 100 | F4 | The National Weather Service reported only five deaths and 41 injuries List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak | (Grazulis, p. 1,065) | |
Ellison, Illinois | 1858 | 31 May | 19 | 60 | F? | (Grazulis, p. 565) | ||
Duncan, Mississippi | 1929 | 25 February | 19 | 42 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 822) | ||
Otterbein—Monticello—Valentine, Indiana | 1974 | 3 April | 18 | 362 | F4 | Grazulis reported 19 fatalities (Grazulis, p. 1,159) | List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak | |
Newton Falls/Niles/Hubbard, Ohio—Wheatland/Hermitage/Greenfield, Pennsylvania | 1985 | 31 May | 18 | 310 | F5 | List of tornadoes in the 1985 United States-Canada tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,268) | ||
Albany—Dougherty County, Georgia | 1940 | 10 February | 18 | 300 | F4 | [16] (Grazulis, p. 889) | ||
Warner Robins—Robins Air Force Base —Jeffersonville, Georgia | 1953 | 30 April | 18 | 300 | F4 | Grazulis reported 19 deaths (Grazulis, p. 968) | Tornado outbreak sequence of April 28-May 2, 1953 | |
Toledo, Ohio—Lost Peninsula (Michigan) | 1965 | 11 April | 18 | 236 | F4 | List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak | ||
Cotton Valley—Leton—Dykesville—Haynesville, Louisiana | 1947 | 31 December | 18 | 225 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 933) | ||
Pittsfield—Grafton—Strongsville, Ohio | 1965 | 11 April | 18 | 200 | F5 | List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak | ||
Tomato, Arkansas—Dyersburg/Sharon/Ore Springs, Tennessee | 1917 | 27 May | 18 | 175 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25-June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 752) | ||
Sheridan—England—Hazen, Arkansas | 1949 | 26 March | 18 | 150 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 942) | ||
Cullman—Phelan—Berlin—Fairview, Alabama | 1932 | 21 March | 18 | 100 | F4 | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 842) | ||
Douglas/Syracuse/Berlin (Otoe)/Rock Bluff, Nebraska—Bartlett/Glenwood, Iowa | 1913 | 23 March | 18 | 100 | F4 | "The Berlin Tornado" (Grazulis, p. 737) | Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913 | |
Logansport—Shreveport—Barksdale Air Force Base | 1950 | 12 February | 18 | 77 | F4 | Grazulis reported eight deaths and 70 injuries (Grazulis, p. 953) | Tornado outbreak of February 11-13, 1950 | |
Blue Ridge—Delba—Trenton—Ector—Ravenna, Texas | 1919 | 8 April | 18 | 60 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of April 1919 | ||
Crenshaw—Pike Counties, Alabama | 1925 | 25 October | 18 | 60 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 800) | ||
Delphos—Irving, Kansas | 1879 | 30 May | 18 | 60 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 601) | ||
Rib Lake—Withee—Thorp—Owen, Wisconsin | 1924 | 21 September | 18 | 50 | F4 | [17] | ||
Montague County, Texas | 1905 | 5 July | 18 | 40 | F4 | Not 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 | 1953 | 8 June | 17 | 379 | F4 | Flint-Worcester tornado outbreak sequence | ||
Saugatuck—Hudsonville—Standale—Grand Rapids, Michigan | 1956 | 3 April | 17 | 292 | F5 | Grazulis reported 18 deaths and 340 injuries (Grazulis, p. 995) | Tornado outbreak of April 2-3, 1956 | |
Bejucal, Mayabeque Province, Cuba | 1940 | 26 December | 17 | 240 | F4 | Deadliest and most violent tornado in Cuba’s history | List of Caribbean Tornadoes | |
Haysville—McConnell AFB—Andover, Kansas | 1991 | 26 April | 17 | 225 | F5 | 1991 Andover tornado outbreak | ||
McKeesport—Dravosburg—Port Vue—Versailles—Boston—Greenock—Donegal—Somerset, Pennsylvania | 1944 | 23 June | 17 | 200 | F4 | 1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 915) | ||
Melvindale, Michigan, United States—Windsor/Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada | 1946 | 17 June | 17 | 200 | F4 | Likely 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) | |
Rolling Fork—Midnight—Silver City, Mississippi | 2023 | 24 March | 17 | 165 | EF4 | Tornado outbreak of March 24-27, 2023 | ||
Birmingham—Avondale—Irondale, Alabama | 1901 | 25 March | 17 | 100 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 693) | ||
Harper—Kellogg—Wellington, Kansas | 1892 | 27 May | 17 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 657) | ||
Milton, Florida | 1962 | 31 March | 17 | 200 | F3 | Tornado outbreak of March 30-31, 1962, (Grazulis, p. 1,040) | ||
Smith Chapel—Princedale—Parkin, Arkansas | 1929 | 10 April | 17 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 824) | ||
Yarbro, Arkansas—Cooter, Missouri—Owl Hoot/Miston/Ridgely/Elbridge, Tennessee | 1952 | 21 March | 17 | 100 | F4 | Grazulis 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 | 1920 | 28 March | 17 | 70 | F4 | 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 768) | ||
La Plata—Cedarville, Maryland | 1926 | 9 November | 17 | 65 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 804) | ||
Eustace—Big Rock—Tundra—Grand Saline, Texas | 1919 | 9 April | 17 | 60 | F4 | Grazulis reported 20 deaths (Grazulis, p. 764) | Tornado outbreak of April 1919 | |
Franklin/Richland/Madison/East Carroll Parish, Louisiana—Issaquena/Sharkey Counties, Mississippi | 1919 | 16 March | 17 | 50 | F3 | [18] | ||
Mifflin Township (Owensville)—Linden Township (Lost Grove)—Mineral Point—Oregon—Fitchburg, Wisconsin | 1878 | 23 May | 17 | 45 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 594) | ||
Wall Lake—Sac City—Pomeroy, Iowa | 1878 | 21 April | 17 | 29 | F4 | "Boyer River Tornado" | (Grazulis, p. 594) | |
Jud—O’Brien—Knox City, Texas | 1953 | 13 March | 17 | 25 | F4 | Grazulis reported as many as 60 injuries (Grazulis, p. 966) | Tornado outbreak of March 12-15, 1953 | |
Bellevue—Stoneburg, Texas | 1906 | 26 April | 17 | 20 | F4 | Grazulis reported 50 injuries (Grazulis, p. 707) | [19] | |
Topeka, Kansas | 1966 | 8 June | 16 | 450 | F5 | Grazulis reported 406 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,081) | Tornado outbreak sequence of June 1966 | |
Itu, São Paulo, Brazil | 1991 | 30 September | 16 | 350 | F4 | List of tornadoes in Brazil | ||
Colby—Prescott, Kansas | 1887 | 21 April | 16 | 250 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 642) | ||
Kingsport/Hancock County, Tennessee | 1933 | 14 March | 16 | 235 | F3 | March 1933 Nashville tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 847) | ||
Abbeville—Ninety Six—Chappells—Prosperity—Greenwood, South Carolina | 1944 | 16 April | 16 | 200 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 912) | ||
Tanner, Alabama (#2)—Manchester, Tennessee | 1974 | 3 April | 16 | 190 | F5 | Grazulis 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 | 1984 | 28 March | 16 | 153 | F4 | 1984 Carolinas tornado outbreak | ||
Jamestown—Atlantic, Pennsylvania—Sheakleyville—Dempseytown—Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania | 1985 | 31 May | 16 | 125 | F4 | List of tornadoes in the 1985 United States-Canada tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,268) | ||
Wilburton—Keota—Sallisaw, Oklahoma | 1960 | 5 May | 16 | 106 | F4 | May 1960 tornado outbreak sequence | ||
Mount Carmel, Illinois | 1877 | 4 June | 16 | 100 | F4 | Some historical accounts suggest as many as 30 fatalities but this is unconfirmed. | (Grazulis, p. 588) | |
Missouri City—Richmond, Missouri | 1878 | 1 June | 16 | 90 | F4 | Six months after the tornado, a local newspaper reported 21 fatalities | (Grazulis, p. 595) | |
McLoud—Paden—Boley (Childsville)—Welty, Oklahoma | 1942 | 2 May | 16 | 80 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 900) | ||
Byhalia, Mississippi—Moscow, Tennessee | 1952 | 21 March | 16 | 74 | F4 | Grazulis reported 17 fatalities and 94 injuries (Grazulis, p. 963) | Tornado outbreak of March 21-22, 1952 | |
Mason City/Osage, Iowa—LeRoy/Spring Valley, Minnesota | 1894 | 21 September | 16 | 70 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 667) | ||
Newbern, Tennessee | 2006 | 2 April | 16 | 70 | F3 | Tornado outbreak of April 2, 2006 | ||
Talihina—Reichert—Howe, Oklahoma | 1961 | 5 May | 16 | 58 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 3-9, 1961, (Grazulis, p. 1,035) | ||
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | 1890 | 19 August | 16 | 50 | F3 | Grazulis reported 60 injuries (Grazulis, p. 653) | 1890 Wilkes-Barre tornado | |
Clarendon—Sherwood Shores/Green Belt Reservoir—McLean, Texas | 1970 | 18 April | 16 | 42 | F4 | Grazulis reported 17 fatalities and 41 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,111) | Tornado outbreak sequence of April 17-19, 1970 | |
Vireton (now McAlester), Oklahoma | 1917 | 4 January | 16 | 20 | F3 | All 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 | 1978 | 17 June | 16 | 3 | F1 | The "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 | 1905 | 28 April | 16 | F? | 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 . [20] The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) reported that 100 were killed, and many others were injured. [21] | (Grazulis, p. 706) | ||
Bauxite—Vimy Ridge—Shannon Hills—North Little Rock, Arkansas | 1997 | 1 March | 15 | 200 | F4 | At least 200 injuries | March 1997 tornado outbreak | |
Bethel Springs—Reagan (Henderson County)—Finger—Enville—Beacon, Tennessee | 1942 | 16 March | 15 | 200 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of March 16-17, 1942 | ||
Alexandria—Pineville—Libuse, Louisiana | 1923 | 4 April | 15 | 150 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 783) | ||
Schlater—Philipp—Water Valley—Pinedale, Mississippi | 1984 | 21 April | 15 | 76 | F3 | [22] (Grazulis, p. 1,255) | ||
Hamburg, Arkansas | 1941 | 26 October | 15 | 75 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 896) | ||
Palestine, Texas | 1946 | 4 January | 15 | 60 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of January 4-6, 1946 | ||
Armuchee—Everett Springs—Curryville—Oostanaula—Resaca, Georgia | 1913 | 13 March | 15 | 50 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 736) | ||
Beaverdale, Georgia—Conasauga, Polk County, Tennessee | 1932 | 21 March | 15 | 50 | F4 | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak | ||
Braxton, Mississippi | 1921 | 26 April | 15 | 50 | F4 | Grazulis, p. 774) | ||
Chambers County, Alabama—Troup/Meriwether Counties, Georgia | 1875 | 1 May | 15 | 50 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 583) | ||
El Dorado, Kansas | 1958 | 10 June | 15 | 50 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 1,015) | ||
Nashville—Lebanon—Bellwood, Tennessee | 1933 | 14 March | 15 | 45 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 847) | ||
Garland, Texas | 1927 | 9 May | 15 | 40 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of May 1927, (Grazulis, p. 809) | ||
Oberlin—Cedar Bluffs, Kansas | 1942 | 29 April | 15 | 25 | F5 | [23] (Grazulis, p. 900) |
12-14 fatalities
Rank[lower-alpha 1] | Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] | Year | Month & Day | Fatalities[lower-alpha 3] | Injuries [lower-alpha 4] | F or EF [lower-alpha 5] | Notes | Other References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico | 2015 | 25 May | 14 | 290 | EF3 | [24] | ||
Greenwood, Arkansas | 1968 | 19 April | 14 | 270 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 1,096) | ||
Shelburn—Lewis—Clay City—Cloverdale, Indiana | 1949 | 21 May | 14 | 251 | F4 | [25] (Grazulis, p. 947) | ||
Gloster—Gillsburg, Mississippi | 1935 | 6 April | 14 | 220 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 860) | ||
Wakarusa—Elliott—Goshen—Middlebury, Indiana | 1965 | 11 April | 14 | 200 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 1,063) | ||
Drumright—Olive—Oak Grove (Pawnee County)—Skiatook, Oklahoma | 1974 | 8 June | 14 | 150 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of June 8, 1974, (Grazulis, p. 1,165) | ||
Greensboro, North Carolina | 1936 | 2 April | 14 | 144 | F4 | 1936 Cordele-Greensboro tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 865) | ||
Lynchburg—Sardis—Effingham—Pamplico, South Carolina | 1924 | 30 April | 14 | 144 | F3 | April 1924 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 788) | ||
Clarita—Coalgate, Oklahoma | 1917 | 1 June | 14 | 100 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25-June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 754) | ||
Plum Creek/Kossuth County/Buffalo Center, Iowa—Kiester, Minnesota | 1894 | 21 September | 14 | 100 | F5 | (Grazulis, p. 667) | ||
Rockford, Illinois | 1928 | 14 September | 14 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 821) | ||
Barnettsville (now Barnett)—New Bloomfield, Missouri | 1880 | 18 April | 14 | 90 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of April 1880, (Grazulis, p. 608) | ||
Columbiana, Alabama | 1932 | 21 March | 14 | 75 | F4 | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 843) | ||
Converse—Pleasant Hill (Sabine Parish)—Lake End, Louisiana | 1927 | 17 February | 14 | 70 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 805) | ||
Savoy, Texas | 1880 | 28 May | 14 | 60 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 610) | ||
Covington—Bells—Medina, Tennessee | 1909 | 29 April | 14 | 50 | F3 | Tornado outbreak of late-April 1909, (Grazulis, p. 721) | ||
New Minden—Hoyleton—Richview—Irvington—Boyd, Illinois | 1896 | 27 May | 14 | 50 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 676) | ||
Pisgah/Flat Rock/Higdon, Alabama—Trenton/Valley View/Flintstone/Fairview/(Western) Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia | 2011 | 27 April | 14 | 50 | EF4 | List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak | ||
Oxford—Worth—Denver, Missouri | 1947 | 29 April | 14 | 45 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 928) | ||
Chandler, Oklahoma | 1897 | 30 March | 14 | 40 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 680) | ||
Clyde, Texas | 1938 | 10 June | 14 | 40 | F5 | (Grazulis, p. 879) | ||
Monroe City—Miller Township (Marion County), Missouri | 1876 | 10 March | 14 | 40 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 586) | ||
Mulberry Township—Cravens—Jethro—Watalula, Arkansas | 1908 | 23 November | 14 | 40 | F3 | These are all unincorporated communities within Franklin County, Arkansas | (Grazulis, p. 717) | |
Tuscumbia—“Brickville”, Alabama | 1874 | 22 November | 14 | 30 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 581) | ||
Charles City, Iowa | 1968 | 15 May | 13 | 450 | F5 | Tornado outbreak of May 1968, (Grazulis, p. 1,097) | ||
Selma—Plantersville, Alabama | 1885 | 6 November | 13 | 400 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 637) | ||
Muskogee, Oklahoma | 1945 | 12 April | 13 | 200 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of April 1945, (Grazulis, p. 919) | ||
Bovina—Little Yazoo—Bentonia, Mississippi | 1971 | 21 February | 13 | 182 | F4 | Grazulis reported 200 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,121) | Tornado outbreak of February 21-22, 1971 | |
San Angelo, Texas | 1953 | 11 May | 13 | 159 | F4 | 1953 Waco tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 970) | ||
Bool’s Gap—Quenalda—Hassell Gap—Bellview (Clay’s County)—Newell, Alabama | 1932 | 21 March | 13 | 150 | F4 | Grazulis reported 160 injuries (Grazulis, p. 843) | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak | |
Odell—Huntington—Etoile, Texas | 1933 | 30 March | 13 | 150 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 848) | ||
Atkins—Clinton—Mountain View—Highland, Arkansas | 2008 | 5 February | 13 | 140 | EF4 | List of tornadoes in the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak | ||
Cairo—Bluffton, Ohio | 1965 | 11 April | 13 | 104 | F4 | List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,071) | ||
Lake Bruin, Louisiana | 1927 | 17 February | 13 | 100 | F2 | (Grazulis, p. 805) | ||
Robinsonville, Mississippi | 1893 | 12 April | 13 | 100 | F3 | (Grazulis,p. 661) | ||
Rye Cove, Virginia | 1929 | 2 May | 13 | 100 | F2 | 1929 Rye Cove tornado outbreak | ||
West Feliciana—East Feliciana Parishes, Louisiana | 1907 | 5 April | 13 | 100 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 709) | ||
Kellerville—Timewell—Mount Sterling—Rushville—Astoria—South Pekin—Morton—Eureka, Illinois | 1938 | 30 March | 13 | 73 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 876) | ||
West Brooklyn—Compton—Paw Paw—Sublette, Illinois | 1890 | 20 June | 13 | 60 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 652) | ||
Jackson, Mississippi | 1916 | 6 June | 13 | 56 | F3 | June 1916 tornado outbreak | ||
Carrollton—Reform—Cordova—Sipsey—Blountsville, Alabama | 2011 | 27 April | 13 | 54 | EF4 | List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak | ||
Paisley—Lake Mack—DeLand, Florida | 2007 | 2 February | 13 | 51 | F3 | 2007 Groundhog Day tornado outbreak | ||
Felton—Rockmart—Cartersville—Stilesboro, Georgia | 1909 | 30 April | 13 | 40 | F3 | Actual death toll could have been 15 (Grazulis, p. 722) | Tornado outbreak of late-April 1909 | |
Ogden/Bismarck, Illinois—Hedrick, Indiana | 1922 | 17 April | 13 | 40 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 779) | ||
Longwood—Sanford, Florida | 1998 | 23 February | 13 | 36 | F3 | 1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak | ||
Gray—Milledgeville, Georgia | 1875 | 20 March | 13 | 30 | F4 | Death 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 | 1884 | 19 February | 13 | 30 | F4 | There may have been several more deaths but this was unconfirmed. | Enigma Tornado Outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 625) | |
Drew County—Desha Counties, Arkansas | 1929 | 21 April | 13 | 7 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 825) | ||
Gainesville, Georgia | 1998 | 20 March | 12 | 171 | F3 | 1998 Gainesville-Stoneville tornado outbreak | ||
Jellico—Newcomb—Pruden, Tennessee—Cumberland Gap (KY) | 1933 | 14 March | 12 | 162 | F4 | March 1933 Nashville tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 847) | ||
Florence—Brandon—Carthage—Weir, Mississippi | 1992 | 21 November | 12 | 122 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of November 21-23, 1992, (Grazulis, p. 1,342) | ||
Beaver Dam—Salemburg—Roseboro—Clinton, North Carolina | 1984 | 28 March | 12 | 101 | F3 | 1984 Carolinas tornado outbreak | ||
Pine Lake, Alberta, Canada | 2000 | 14 July | 12 | 100 | F3 | Pine Lake tornado | ||
Rowena—Hatchel—Oplin, Texas | 1922 | 8 April | 12 | 90 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 778) | ||
Monroe Center, Ohio—Albion/Cranesville, Pennsylvania | 1985 | 31 May | 12 | 82 | F4 | List of tornadoes in the 1985 United States-Canada tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,268) | ||
Seney—Macedonia—Kingston—Pine Log, Georgia | 1932 | 21 March | 12 | 80 | F3 | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak | ||
Sherburn—Easton, Minnesota | 1892 | 15 June | 12 | 76 | F5 | 1892 Southern Minnesota tornado | ||
Marathon County, Wisconsin | 1898 | 18 May | 12 | 75 | F5 | [26] | ||
Leola—England—Carlisle—Des Arc—Cotton Plant, Arkansas | 1916 | 26 December | 12 | 72 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 749) | ||
Nineveh—Darsey—Reynard, Texas | 1935 | 8 February | 12 | 70 | F2 | (Grazulis, p. 859) | ||
Swanburg—Roosevelt Lake—Hill City, Minnesota | 1969 | 6 August | 12 | 70 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of August 6, 1969, (Grazulis, p. 1,106) | ||
Elaine, Arkansas | 1930 | 18 May | 12 | 60 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 835) | ||
Savoy—Mayview—St. Joseph—Alvin, Illinois | 1942 | 16 March | 12 | 60 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of March 16-17, 1942 | ||
Askewville—Bertie County, North Carolina | 2011 | 16 April | 12 | 58 | EF3 | List of tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of April 14-16, 2011 | ||
Austin, Texas | 1922 | 4 May | 12 | 50 | F4 | Newspapers 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 | 1884 | 19 February | 12 | 50 | F3 | Enigma tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 625) | ||
Literberry—Philadelphia, Illinois | 1883 | 18 May | 12 | 50 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 621) | ||
Orfordville—Hanover—Janesville—Milton, Wisconsin | 1911 | 11 November | 12 | 50 | F4 | Great Blue Norther of November 11, 1911 | ||
Panama City, Panama | 1992 | 15 July | 12 | 50 | F? | Numbers of injured were likely greater than 50 | List of Central American Tornadoes | |
Clovercroft—Nolensville—La Vergne—Thompson's Station, Tennessee | 1900 | 20 November | 12 | 44 | F3 | Death 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 | 1893 | 11 April | 12 | 40 | F4 | Unincorporated communities like Conroy (a mining town), Dry Fork, and Jadwin were all affected. | (Grazulis, p. 660) | |
Harris—Newtown, Missouri | 1899 | 27 April | 12 | 40 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 686) | ||
Mer Rouge, Louisiana | 1926 | 25 November | 12 | 38 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 805) | ||
Athens—University of Georgia—Colbert—Comer—Paoli, Georgia | 1932 | 22 March | 12 | 35 | F3 | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak | ||
Deshler—Carleton—Geneva, Nebraska | 1908 | 5 June | 12 | 30 | F5 | (Grazulis, p. 717) | ||
Iron City—Heflin—Edwardsville, Alabama | 1899 | 18 March | 12 | 30 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 686) | ||
Slocomb—Collegeville, Arkansas | 1927 | 17 March | 12 | 27 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 806) | ||
Egypt—Stanford—Pauls Switch or Lanieve, Arkansas | 1927 | 9 May | 12 | 8 | F3 | Tornado outbreak of May 1927, (Grazulis, p. 810) |
10-11 fatalities
Rank[lower-alpha 1] | Affected Communities [lower-alpha 2] | Year | Month & Day | Fatalities[lower-alpha 3] | Injuries [lower-alpha 4] | F or EF [lower-alpha 5] | Notes | Other References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Largo—Clearwater—Carrollwood—Temple Terrace—Galloway—Gibsonia—Loughman, Florida | 1966 | 4 April | 11 | 350 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 1,079) | ||
Hanover College—Madison, Indiana | 1974 | 3 April | 11 | 300 | F4 | Grazulis reported 190 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,154) | List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak | |
Crowell, Texas | 1942 | 28 April | 11 | 250 | F4 | [28][29] | ||
Anchor Bay (Michigan) | 1964 | 8 May | 11 | 224 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 1,055) | ||
Gorham—Sand Ridge—Murphysboro—Plumfield, Illinois | 1957 | 18 December | 11 | 200 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of December 18-20, 1957, (Grazulis, p. 1,013) | ||
Hoxie—Walnut Ridge, Arkansas | 1927 | 9 May | 11 | 200 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of May 1927, (Grazulis, p. 809) | ||
Camilla, Georgia | 2000 | 13 February | 11 | 175 | F3 | Tornado outbreak of February 13-14, 2000 | ||
Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 2000 | 16 December | 11 | 144 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of December 16, 2000 | ||
Brownsville (Sweet Springs), Missouri | 1882 | 18 April | 11 | 100 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 615) | ||
Georgetown—Harrisville—Morton, Mississippi | 1883 | 22 April | 11 | 100 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 617) | ||
Mankato—Green Gables, Minnesota | 1946 | 17 August | 11 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 925) | ||
San Pedro, Misiones, Argentina | 2009 | 7 September | 11 | 100 | EF4 | List of tornadoes in Argentina | ||
Murphysboro—Bush—Herrin, Illinois | 1912 | 21 April | 11 | 83 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of April 20-22, 1912, (Grazulis, p. 732) | ||
Melissa, Texas | 1921 | 13 April | 11 | 80 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 772) | ||
Great Bend, Kansas | 1915 | 10 November | 11 | 75 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 744) | ||
Arthur City, Texas—Fort Towson, Oklahoma | 1927 | 18 April | 11 | 72 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 808) | ||
Lockett/Vernon, Texas—Davidson, Oklahoma | 1979 | 10 April | 11 | 67 | F4 | 1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,207) | ||
Apex, Missouri—Hardin/Carrollton/Wrights/Athensville/Loami/Springfield, Illinois | 1927 | 19 April | 11 | 63 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 808) | ||
Greensburg, Kansas | 2007 | 4 May | 11 | 63 | EF5 | Tornado outbreak of May 4-6, 2007 | ||
York—Livingston, Alabama | 1945 | 12 February | 11 | 63 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 918) | ||
La Cygne, Kansas—Merwin—Bates County, Missouri | 1912 | 15 June | 11 | 60 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 735) | ||
Walterboro, South Carolina | 1879 | 16 April | 11 | 60 | F3 | Death toll could be as high as 16 as five people may have died later from their injuries. | (Grazulis, p. 598) | |
Clinton, Kentucky | 1890 | 12 January | 11 | 53 | F4 | ,[30] (Grazulis, p. 648) | ||
Augusta, Georgia | 1804 | 4 April | 11 | 50 | F? | ,[31] (Grazulis, p. 554) | ||
Bluffton, Alabama—Cave Spring, Georgia | 1908 | 24 April | 11 | 50 | F4 | 1908 Dixie tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 714) | ||
Browder—Drakesboro, Kentucky | 1942 | 16 March | 11 | 50 | F3 | Tornado outbreak of March 16-17, 1942 | ||
Jacksonville, Illinois | 1859 | 26 May | 11 | 50 | F? | (Grazulis, p. 565) | ||
Round Prairie—Dawson—Buffalo—Kenney, Illinois | 1883 | 18 May | 11 | 50 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 620) | ||
Hamilton—Shiloh, Georgia | 1875 | 20 March | 11 | 40 | F4 | Possibly 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 | 1907 | 3 July | 11 | 40 | F4 | [32] | ||
Shamrock—Drumright, Oklahoma | 1922 | 4 November | 11 | 40 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 782) | ||
Still Pond—Kent County, Maryland | 1888 | 21 August | 11 | 40 | F2 | (Grazulis, p. 645) | ||
Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 1891 | 6 July | 11 | 38 | F2 | (Grazulis, p. 655) | ||
Perry—Williamstown, Kansas | 1893 | 21 June | 11 | 30 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 664) | ||
Vasa/Burnside Township, Minnesota—Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin | 1879 | 2 July | 11 | 30 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 604) | ||
Dunkirk—Carey, Ohio | 1886 | 14 May | 11 | 25 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 640) | ||
Herman, Nebraska | 1899 | 13 June | 11 | 25 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 640) | ||
Marks, Mississippi | 1926 | 26 November | 11 | 22 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 805) | ||
Clifton—Morganville—Palmer, Kansas | 1896 | 25 April | 11 | 20 | F4 | Grazulis 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 | 1909 | 29 April | 11 | 18 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of late-April 1909, (Grazulis, p. 720) | ||
Slidell—Sanger, Texas | 1909 | 23 March | 11 | 10 | F2 | Grazulis reported 10 deaths and 8 injuries (Grazulis, p. 719) | [33] | |
Ivy, Virginia | 1959 | 30 September | 11 | 9 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 1,023) | ||
Owens—Phillips (mining communities), Alabama | 1924 | 27 May | 11 | 7 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 789) | ||
Arcadia (Hays Creek), Nebraska | 1953 | 7 June | 11 | 5 | F4 | Flint-Worcester tornado outbreak sequence, (Grazulis, p. 973) | ||
Charleston, South Carolina | 1811 | 10 September | 11 | F? | ”Hurricane-spawned tornado” moved directly through the middle of the city. | (Grazulis, p. 554) | ||
Fray Marcos, Florida Department, Uruguay | 1970 | 21 April | 11 | F4 | ”several” injuries | List of tornadoes in Uruguay | ||
Dallas County, Texas | 2015 | 26 December | 10 | 468 | EF4 | December 2015 North American storm complex | ||
Medicine Lodge—Kingman—Hutchinson—McPherson, Kansas | 1927 | 7 May | 10 | 300 | F5 | Tornado outbreak of May 1927, (Grazulis, p. 808) | ||
Dallas, Texas | 1957 | 2 April | 10 | 216 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 1,000) | ||
Hollow, Oklahoma—Chetopa/Faulkner/Columbus, Kansas | 1938 | 30 March | 10 | 200 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 875) | ||
Nacogdoches, Texas | 1946 | January 4 | 10 | 200 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of January 4-6, 1946, (Grazulis, p. 922) | ||
Carterville—Crainville—Marion, Illinois | 1982 | 29 May | 10 | 181 | F4 | Marion, Illinois, tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,242) | ||
Paris—Reno—Blossom, Texas | 1982 | 2 April | 10 | 170 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of April 2-3, 1982, (Grazulis, p. 1,236) | ||
Tallulah, Louisiana—Yazoo City/Durant, Mississippi | 2010 | 24 April | 10 | 146 | EF4 | Tornado outbreak of April 22-25, 2010 | ||
Dothan—Cowarts—Webb, Alabama | 1918 | 11 January | 10 | 120 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 757) | ||
Fargo, North Dakota | 1957 | 20 June | 10 | 103 | F5 | Unofficial death toll was 12 based on two people who later died from their injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,009) | Fargo tornado | |
Monticello, Mississippi | 1882 | 22 April | 10 | 100 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 615) | ||
Success—Licking—Eye—Mineral Point, Missouri | 1917 | 30 May | 10 | 100 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25-June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 753) | ||
Koontz Lake—LaPaz—Lakeville—Wyatt, Indiana | 1965 | 11 April | 10 | 82 | F3 | List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 1,063) | ||
Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe, Argentina | 1891 | 13 November | 10 | 80 | F4 | List of tornadoes in Argentina | ||
Parrott—Plains—Americus, Georgia | 1883 | 22 April | 10 | 80 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 618) | ||
Booneville—Paris—Minnow Creek—Clarksville, Arkansas | 1945 | 12 April | 10 | 70 | F4 | Tornado outbreak of April 1945, (Grazulis, p. 919) | ||
Tamo—New Hope Church | 1926 | 25 November | 10 | 66 | F3 | All 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 | 1940 | 12 March | 10 | 60 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 889) | ||
Paragould, Arkansas—Bakerville/Bragg City/Wardell/Kennett, Missouri | 1938 | 15 March | 10 | 60 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 874) | ||
Springfield—Buffalo Hart—Cornland—Chestnut—Mount Pulaski—Riverton, Illinois | 1927 | 19 April | 10 | 60 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 808) | ||
Belleville—O’Fallon, Illinois | 1938 | 15 March | 10 | 52 | F4 | At least 52 injuries | (Grazulis, p. 874) | |
Cookeville—Putnam County, Tennessee | 1974 | 3 April | 10 | 51 | F4 | An 11th person later died from their injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,161) | List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak | |
Commerce—Hernando, Mississippi | 1881 | 12 April | 10 | 50 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 611) | ||
Gowan (or Gowen), Oklahoma | 1922 | 13 March | 10 | 50 | F2 | At least 23 people were seriously injured and some may have later died from their injuries. | (Grazulis, p. 777) | |
Middleton—McNairy—Henderson, Tennessee | 1913 | 13 March | 10 | 50 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 736) | ||
Newburg—La Vergne, Tennessee | 1877 | 18 April | 10 | 50 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 588) | ||
Hot Springs, Arkansas | 1915 | 15 November | 10 | 45 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 745) | ||
Battle Creek—Eureka Township—Hayes Township—Storm Lake, Iowa | 1878 | 21 April | 10 | 40 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 594) | ||
Centerville—Leiper's Fork, Tennessee | 1909 | 29 April | 10 | 40 | F3 | Tornado outbreak of late-April 1909, (Grazulis, p. 721) | ||
Chipley/Pine Mountain—Harris—Greenville, Georgia | 1908 | 25 April | 10 | 40 | F3 | 1908 Dixie tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 714) | ||
Chipley/Pine Mountain, Georgia | 1924 | 30 April | 10 | 35 | F3 | April 1924 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 788) | ||
Bay Springs—Increase, Mississippi | 1924 | 26 May | 10 | 30 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 788) | ||
Laneville—Hale County—Scott Station, Alabama | 1932 | 21 March | 10 | 30 | F3 | As many as 20 deaths in Laneville alone, poorly documented, unconfirmed (Grazulis, p. 843) | 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak | |
Oasis—Melva—Bradleyville, Missouri | 1920 | 11 March | 10 | 30 | F4 | Nine children were killed by this tornado, some reports suggest 11 total fatalities (see Melva, Missouri page) | (Grazulis, p. 767) | |
Unionville—Dyersburg—Newbern, Tennessee | 1952 | 21 March | 10 | 30 | F3 | Grazulis reported nine deaths and 50 injuries (Grazulis, p. 963) | Tornado outbreak of March 21-22, 1952 | |
Eaton, Tennessee | 1932 | 14 January | 10 | 28 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 842) | ||
Wetumka—Lenna, Oklahoma | 1948 | 25 March | 10 | 25 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 935) | ||
Gans, Oklahoma | 1957 | 22 January | 10 | 21 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 999 | ||
Manes—Hazleton—Lenox—Anutt, Missouri | 1917 | 30 May | 10 | 20 | F4 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25-June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 753) | ||
Troy—Durango, Texas | 1892 | 31 May | 10 | 20 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 658) | ||
Alpha—Harkey Valley, Arkansas | 1920 | 19 April | 10 | 10 | F3 | April 1920 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 769) | ||
Biwabik, Minnesota | 1900 | 6 October | 10 | 8 | F3 | (Grazulis, p. 692) | ||
Boyd County, Nebraska | 1901 | 21 June | 10 | 8 | F4 | (Grazulis, p. 694) | ||
Thurman, Colorado | 1924 | 10 August | 10 | 8 | F4 | All 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 | 1964 | 24 January | 10 | 6 | F4 | ,[35] (Grazulis, p. 1,049) | ||
Codell—Alton—Bloomington, Kansas | 1918 | 20 May | 10 | F4 | This 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] | Year | Month & Day | Fatalities[lower-alpha 3] | Injuries [lower-alpha 4] | F or EF [lower-alpha 5] | Notes | Other References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barrie, Ontario, Canada | 1985 | 31 May | 8 | 155 | F4 | One of the deadliest and costliest tornadoes in Canadian history. The number of casualties was most likely higher. | 1985 Barrie tornado | |
Bouctouche, New Brunswick | 1879 | 6 August | 8 | F3 | Anywhere 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 | 2019 | 27 January | 8 | 190 | EF4 | 2019 Havana tornado | ||
Pozo del Tigre, Formosa Province, Argentina | 2010 | 21 October | 6 | 116 | F? | Tornadoes of 2010 | ||
Maravilha, Santa Catarina, Brazil | 1984 | 9 October | 5 | 400 | F? | List of tornadoes in Brazil | ||
Guernica, Buenos Aires, Argentina | 2001 | 10 January | 5 | 250 | F3 | This 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 | 2003 | 26 December | 5 | 90 | F3 | This 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 | 2010 | 29 March | 3 | 4 | EF2 | 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 | 1953 | 5 April | 1 | F? | Four waterspouts made landfall near Hamilton. “Several” injuries were confirmed. | Easter tornadoes of 1953 |
Bibliography
- Grazulis, Thomas (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
- Grazulis, Thomas (1997). Significant Tornadoes Update, 1992–1995. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-04-X.
See also
- Ted Fujita, creator of the original Fujita Scale (used in the United States from 1971 to 2007)
- Thomas P. Grazulis, meteorologist and author of "Significant Tornadoes"
- List of natural disasters by death toll
- List of tornado-related deaths at schools
- List of tornadoes by calendar day
- List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of Canadian tornadoes and tornado outbreaks (before 2001)
- List of Canadian tornadoes and tornado outbreaks (since 2001)
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of costliest tornadoes in the Americas
- List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes
- List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes
- Tornado climatology
- Tornado records
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 As of May 2023 (when this article was created).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 The number of fatalities and injuries may vary from source to source. Most injury figures are approximate.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 The number of fatalities and injuries may vary from source to source. Most injury figures are approximate.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 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 National Weather Service (NWS) offices around the United States.]]
References
- ↑ "Tornado Survivors Battle Deadly Fungus in Joplin, Missouri". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Matters Blog. August 2011. https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2011/08/tornado.
- ↑ "Shinnston Tornado". West Virginia Archives and History. https://archive.wvculture.org/history/notewv/shinnston1.html.
- ↑ "Historic Tornadoes prior to 1950 in the Paducah NWS Forecast Area". National Weather Service (NWS), Paducah, Kentucky. https://www.weather.gov/pah/PAH_HistoricTornadoes.
- ↑ O'Toole, John M. (1993). Tornado! 84 Minutes, 94 Lives. Databooks. ISBN 9780963627704. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1889814.Tornado_84_Minutes_94_Lives. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ↑ "On This Day: June 3". Tornado Talk. https://www.tornadotalk.com/june-3.
- ↑ "A list of the top 10 worst tornadoes in Texas history". National Weather Service, Amarillo. https://www.weather.gov/ama/top10_tornadoes.
- ↑ "Top Ten Deadliest Oklahoma Tornadoes (1882–Present)". National Weather Service, Norman. https://www.weather.gov/oun/tornadodata-ok-deadliest.
- ↑ "Top Ten Deadliest Oklahoma Tornadoes (1882–Present)". National Weather Service, Norman. https://www.weather.gov/oun/tornadodata-ok-deadliest.
- ↑ Wolford, Laura (January 1960). "Tornado Occurrences in the United States". United States Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau. https://www.weather.gov/media/owp/oh/hdsc/docs/TP20.pdf.
- ↑ "April 27 1942 Pryor Tornado". World History Project. https://worldhistoryproject.org.
- ↑ "1938 Charleston Area Tornadoes". https://www.weather.gov/chs/1938CharlestonTornadoes.
- ↑ "November 20, 1900 Tornado Outbreak". https://www.weather.gov/ohx/19001120.
- ↑ "Historic Tornadoes prior to 1950 in the Paducah NWS Forecast Area". https://www.weather.gov/pah/PAH_HistoricTornadoes.
- ↑ "This Day in Weather History: May 14th". https://www.weather.gov/abr/This_Day_in_Weather_History_May_14.
- ↑ Tornadoes in Arkansas, 1879–1926 (Report). 55. United States Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau. April 1927. p. 176-182. https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/55/4/1520-0493_1927_55_176_tia_2_0_co_2.xml?tab_body=pdf. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ↑ "Dougherty County, GA Tornado Database". https://www.weather.gov/tae/tor_cli_dougherty.
- ↑ "Clark County, WI Tornadoes". https://www.weather.gov/arx/clark.
- ↑ "MS 30 Longest Tornado Tracks". https://www.weather.gov/jan/30_longesttortracks.
- ↑ "Severe Weather in Texas: 1900s". https://climatexas.tamu.edu/products/severe-weather-summaries/1900s-texas-severe-weather.html.
- ↑ "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. 30 April 1905. https://www.nytimes.com/1905/04/30/archives/twentyone-killed-by-tornado-in-texas-storm-from-mexico-wrecks-big.html.
- ↑ "Tornado in Texas: A Town Swept Away". https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14701485.
- ↑ "Mississippi Deadliest Tornadoes". https://www.weather.gov/jan/deadliest_tors.
- ↑ "Top Ten KS Tornadoes". https://www.weather.gov/ict/toptenkstors.
- ↑ "Meteorological analysis of the tornado in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila State, Mexico, on May 25, 2015". https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317958629.
- ↑ "Violent Tornadoes in Indiana". https://www.weather.gov/lmk/violent_tornadoes_indiana.
- ↑ "A Tornado Climatology for Wisconsin (as of 2000)". https://wgnhs.wisc.edu/pubshare/B100.pdf.
- ↑ "November 20, 1900 Tornado Outbreak". https://www.weather.gov/ohx/19001120.
- ↑ "Severe Weather in Texas: 1940s". https://climatexas.tamu.edu/products/severe-weather-summaries/1940s-texas-severe-weather.html.
- ↑ "Crowell, TX Tornadoes (1900-Present)". https://www.weather.gov/oun/tornadodata-city-tx-crowell.
- ↑ "Violent Tornadoes in Kentucky". https://www.weather.gov/lmk/violent_tornadoes_kentucky.
- ↑ "This Day in Weather History: April 4th". https://www.weather.gov/abr/This_Day_in_Weather_History_Apr_04.
- ↑ "Clark County, WI Tornadoes". https://www.weather.gov/arx/clark.
- ↑ "Monthly Weather Review, March 1909: Tornadoes of Texas". https://journals.ametsoc.org/downloadpdf/journals/mwre/37/3/1520-0493_1909_37_111a_tia_2_0_co_2.pdf.
- ↑ "Thurman Tornado August 10th 1924". https://www.weather.gov/bou/1924ThurmanTornado.
- ↑ "Harpersville Tornado 1/24/1964". https://www.weather.gov/bmx/event_01241964.