List of deadliest tornadoes in the Americas
Damage inflicted by the 2011 Joplin tornado , the deadliest tornado thus far in the 21st century in the US.
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 April 26, 1989. With a rating of at least F3 from the World Meteorological Organization and top winds estimated at greater than 200 mph (320 km/h), the tornado killed an estimated 1,300 people and injured at least 12,000 others. Of all the recorded tornadoes with death tolls of 100 or greater, at least 24 of them occurred in Bangladesh and/or India, and two of them occurred in Europe (in the countries of Italy and Malta).
In the Americas, there are 15 tornadoes on record that caused at least 100 fatalities, the most recent being the Joplin F5 tornado which killed 158 people in May 2011. There are at least 450 tornadoes on record that caused greater than ten fatalities; the most recent of these was the Rolling Fork, Mississippi EF4 tornado which killed 17 people in March 2023.
100+ fatalities
Rank[ a]
Affected Communities [ b]
Year
Month & Day
Fatalities[ c]
Injuries [ d]
F or EF [ e]
Notes
Other References
1
Ellington, Missouri -Murphysboro /De Soto, Illinois -Griffin /Princeton, Illinois
1925
March 18
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
1925 Tri-State tornado
2
Natchez, Mississippi
1840
May 6
317
109
F5
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
Encarnación, Paraguay
1926
September 20
300+
500+
F4
1926 Encarnación tornado
3
St. Louis, Missouri —East St. Louis, Illinois
1896
May 27
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
April 5
216
700
F5
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
April 6
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
April 9
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 tornado outbreak (Grazulis, p. 927)
7
Joplin, Missouri
2011
May 22
158
1,150
EF5
As of 2024, this is the only 21st century tornado in the Americas with a death toll greater than 100. Five additional people died from a rare Mucormycosis fungal infection (caused by Apophysomyces trapeziformis ) that was found in their wounds; a police officer was struck by lightning and killed the following day while engaged in recovery efforts; and four others died from their injuries in the two weeks after the tornado. Those ten deaths were considered "indirect fatalities" and are not counted in the final death toll.[ 1]
2011 Joplin tornado
8
Amite /Pine, Louisiana —Purvis /Richton, Mississippi
1908
April 24
143
770
F4
1908 Dixie tornado outbreak
9
New Richmond, Wisconsin
1899
June 12
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
June 8
116
844
F5
1953 Flint–Beecher tornado
11
Waco, Texas
1953
May 11
114
597
F5
1953 Waco tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 970)
Goliad, Texas
1902
May 18
114
250
F4
1902 Goliad, Texas, tornado
13
Omaha, Nebraska
1913
March 23
103
350
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913
14
Mattoon —Charleston, Illinois
1917
May 26
101
638
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917 , (Grazulis, p. 752)
15
Shinnston, West Virginia
1944
June 23
100
381
F4
Historians suggested a death toll as high as 153.[ 2]
1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak
50–99 fatalities
Rank[ a]
Affected Communities [ b]
Year
Month & Day
Fatalities[ c]
Injuries [ d]
F or EF [ e]
Notes
Other References
16
Marshfield, Missouri
1880
April 18
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
May 9
98
300
F4
Tornado outbreak of May 1927 ,[ 3] (Grazulis, p. 809)
Gainesville, Georgia
1903
June 1
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
May 10
97
150
F5
1905 Snyder tornado
20
Petersham —Barre —Rutland —Holden —Worcester —Shrewsbury —Westborough —Southborough, Massachusetts
1953
June 9
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
June 3
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
April 24
91
400
F4
1908 Dixie tornado outbreak
23
Starkville /Cedarbluff /Aberdeen, Mississippi —Bexar /Hackleburg /Phil Campbell /Spruce Pine /Waco /Mehama, Alabama
1920
April 20
88
700
F4
April 1920 tornado outbreak
24
Sandusky -Lorain, Ohio
1924
June 28
85
300
F4
1924 Lorain–Sandusky tornado (Grazulis, p. 790)
25
Udall, Kansas
1955
May 25
80
273
F5
Grazulis reported 270 injuries (Grazulis, p. 987)
1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak
26
St. Louis, Missouri
1927
September 29
79
550
F3
Tornado outbreak of September 29, 1927
27
Louisville /Jefferson County, Kentucky
1890
March 27
76
200
F4
Tornado outbreak of March 27, 1890
28
Rocksprings, Texas
1927
April 12
74
205
F5
One-third of the town was killed by this tornado.[ 6]
29
Farmington —Howe —Sherman, Texas
1896
May 15
73
200
F5
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 , (Grazulis, p. 674)
30
Hackleburg —Phil Campbell —Tanner —Harvest —Athens, Alabama
2011
April 27
72
145
EF5
"Hackleburg-Phil Campbell tornado" The deadliest single tornado in the 2011 Super Outbreak and in Alabama history.
2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado
St. Cloud —Sauk Rapids, Minnesota
1886
April 14
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
July 6
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
May 2
71
100
F4
[ 7]
34
Antlers, Oklahoma
1945
April 12
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)
Tornado outbreak of April 12, 1945 [ 8]
35
Rippey —Grinnell —Malcom, Iowa
1882
June 17
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
May 27
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
April 27
64
1,500
EF4
"Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado" Second highest toll for a single tornado during the 2011 Super Outbreak.
2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado
38
Itta Bena —Greenwood —Avalon, Mississippi —Cascilla —Otoucalofa —Tula, Mississippi
1942
March 16
63
500
F4
Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942
San Justo, Santa Fe Province , Argentina
1973
January 10
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
October 8
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
April 15
59
300
F4
Grazulis, p. 773)
42
Cary /Gooden Lake /Pugh City /Morgan City /Money, Mississippi —Middleton, Tennessee
1971
February 21
58
795
F4
Grazulis reported 700 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,121)
Tornado outbreak of February 21–22, 1971
Jackson, Mississippi
1966
March 3
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
December 10
57
515+
EF4
2021 Western Kentucky tornado
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
1919
June 22
57
200
F5
1919 Fergus Falls tornado (Grazulis, p. 764)
46
Wesson —Beauregard —Georgetown, Mississippi
1883
April 22
56
300
F4
(Grazulis, p. 617)
47
Warren, Arkansas
1949
January 3
55
435
F4
(Grazulis, p. 941)
Fort Smith —Van Buren, Arkansas
1898
January 11
55
113
F4
1898 Fort Smith, Arkansas, tornado (Grazulis, p. 681)
49
Steedman —Horrell Hill —Gaillard Crossroads, South Carolina
1924
April 30
53
534
F4
"The Horrell Hill Tornado"
April 1924 tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 788)
50
Pryor, Oklahoma
1942
April 27
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.[citation needed ]
(Grazulis, p. 899)
51
Kensett —Judsonia —Bald Knob —Russell, Arkansas
1952
March 21
50
325
F4
Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 , (Grazulis, p. 962)
30–49 fatalities
Rank[ a]
Affected Communities [ b]
Year
Month & Day
Fatalities[ c]
Injuries [ d]
F or EF [ e]
Notes
Other References
52
Brinkley, Arkansas
1909
March 8
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
March 21
49
150
F4
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 842)
Gilliam —Bolinger —Belcher, Louisiana
1908
May 13
49
135
F4
(Grazulis, p. 715)
55
Waverly /Melbourne Plantation, Louisiana —Delta City /Inverness /Moorhead, Mississippi
1971
February 21
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
May 25
47
100
F5
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 , (Grazulis, p. 676)
57
New Albany, Indiana
1917
March 23
46
250
F4
March 1917 tornado outbreak
58
Orland, Indiana —East Gilead /Reading /Hillsdale /Manitou Beach, Michigan
1965
April 11
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
May 20
44
531
F5
"The Ruskin Heights Tornado"
May 1957 Central Plains tornado outbreak sequence , (Grazulis, p. 1,007)
60
Wichita Falls, Texas
1979
April 10
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
March 21
41
325
F4
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 843)
Bynum —Mertens —Rankin —Bardwell —Ensign —Frost, Texas
1930
May 6
41
200
F4
(Grazulis, p. 834)
Gallatin, Tennessee —Holland /Beaumont, Kentucky
1925
March 18
41
95
F4
Grazulis reported 39 fatalities (Grazulis, p. 796)
Tri-State tornado outbreak
64
Norristown —Statesboro —Oliver, Georgia
1929
April 25
40
300
F4
(Grazulis, p. 825)
65
Lacey's Spring /Paint Rock /Jackson County, Alabama —Ladds Switch, Tennessee
1932
March 21
38
500
F4
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 844)
Vicksburg, Mississippi
1953
December 5
38
270
F5
1953 Vicksburg, Mississippi, tornado (Grazulis, p. 976)
Bolivar —Henderson —Jack's Creek —Darden, Tennessee
1952
March 21
38
157
F4
Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 (Grazulis, p. 963)
68
Rochester, Minnesota
1883
August 21
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
March 21
37
200
F4
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 842)
Sandersville —Harmony—Nancy, Mississippi
1933
March 31
37
170
F4
(Grazulis, p. 848)
71
Bridge Creek —Moore —Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1999
May 3
36
583
F5
1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado
Elkhart —Dunlap, Indiana
1965
April 11
36
321
F4
Grazulis reported 320 injuries. (Grazulis, p. 1,066)
1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Bay Springs —Rose Hill —Savoy —Meridian, Mississippi
1920
April 20
36
200
F4
April 1920 tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 769)
Moundville, Alabama
1904
January 22
36
150
F4
(Grazulis, p. 701)
Tyler, Minnesota
1918
August 21
36
100
F4
Grazulis reported 225 injuries (Grazulis, p. 761)
1918 Tyler tornado
Tompkinsville —Sewell —Cundiff —Russell Springs, Kentucky
1933
May 9
36
87
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933
Kenedy —Runge —Nordheim, Texas
1930
May 6
36
60
F4
(Grazulis, p. 834)
78
Tuckerman —Jonesboro, Arkansas
1968
May 15
35
364
F4
Grazulis reported 361 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,099)
Tornado outbreak of May 1968
Sulphur Springs —Pine Bluff, Arkansas
1947
June 1
35
300
F4
(Grazulis, p. 931)
Dora —Bergens —Warrior —Royal —Wynnville —Albertville —Sylvania, Alabama
1908
April 24
35
188
F4
1908 Dixie tornado outbreak
Livingston —Beatty Swamps, Tennessee
1933
May 10
35
150
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933 , (Grazulis, p. 851)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1942
June 12
35
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 902)
83
Xenia, Ohio
1974
April 3
34
1,150
F5
1974 Xenia tornado , (Grazulis, p. 1,154)
Kirksville, Missouri
1899
April 27
34
125
F4
(Grazulis, p. 686)
Wallingford, Connecticut
1878
August 9
34
70
F4
Number of fatalities range from 29 to 34, depending on source (Grazulis, p. 596)
1878 Wallingford tornado
Zephyr, Texas
1909
May 30
34
70
F4
(Grazulis, p. 723)
Marquette, Kansas
1905
May 8
34
50
F4
(Grazulis, p. 705)
88
Oak Lawn —Evergreen Park —Chicago Illinois
1967
April 21
33
500
F4
1967 Oak Lawn tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 1,089)
Fosterburg —Bunker Hill —Gillespie, Illinois
1948
March 19
33
449
F4
(Grazulis, p. 934)
90
Birmingham, Alabama
1998
April 8
32
259
F5
Tornado outbreak of April 6–9, 1998
Hazlehurst —Sardis, Mississippi
1969
January 23
32
241
F4
1969 Hazlehurst, Mississippi, tornadoes , (Grazulis, p. 1,103)
93
Brandenburg, Kentucky
1974
April 3
31
257
F5
Grazulis reported 270 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1.154)
1974 Brandenburg tornado
Goshen —Midway, Indiana
1965
April 11
31
252
F4
1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Plantersville —Stanton —Lomax —Marble Valley, Alabama
1932
March 21
31
200
F4
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Crane Creek —Flat Creek Township —Ozark —Linden —Panther Creek, Missouri
1880
April 18
31
100
F4
"The Finley Creek Tornado"
Tornado outbreak of April 1880 , (Grazulis, p. 608)
Gardner —Oconee, Georgia
1921
February 10
31
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 771)
Moore, Oklahoma
1893
April 25
31
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 652)
98
Wellsburg, West Virginia —Chartiers Township /Dry Tavern, Pennsylvania —Oakland, Maryland
1944
June 23
30
300
F4
1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 915)
Saragosa, Texas
1987
May 22
30
121
F4
1987 Saragosa tornado , (Grazulis, p. 1,278)
Lula /Dundee /Strayhorn /Arkabutla /Coldwater, Mississippi —La Grange, Tennessee
1900
November 20
30
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 692)
Piedmont /Goshen /Rock Run, Alabama —Cave Spring, Georgia
1884
February 19
30
100
F4
Enigma tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 625)
Stafford, Virginia —Charles County, Maryland
1818
August 15
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
August 25
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[ a]
Affected Communities [ b]
Year
Month & Day
Fatalities[ c]
Injuries [ d]
F or EF [ e]
Notes
Other References
Plainfield —Joliet, Illinois
1990
August 28
29
350
F5
1990 Plainfield tornado
England —Cotton Plant —Hillemann, Arkansas
1952
March 21
29
180
F4
Grazulis reported 40 deaths and 274 injuries (Grazulis, p. 962)
Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952
Berryville, Arkansas
1942
October 29
29
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 904)
Horn Lake, Mississippi —Whitehaven /Newcastle /Bolivar /Scotts Hill /Perryville, Tennessee
1909
April 29
29
100
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909 , (Grazulis, p. 721)
Bee Spring —Millville, Tennessee
1909
April 29
29
70
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909 , (Grazulis, p. 721)
Minden (Gillark), Louisiana
1933
May 1
28
400
F4
The following day, one newspaper suggested as many as 55 deaths (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; May 2, 1933; p. 1)
(Grazulis, p. 850)
Regina, Saskatchewan , Canada
1912
June 30
28
300
F4
This is the deadliest tornado in Canada's history.
Regina Cyclone
Guin —Delmar, Alabama
1974
April 3
28
272
F5
Grazulis reported 30 deaths and 280 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,161)
1974 Guin tornado
Moulton —Tanner (#1) —Harvest, Alabama
1974
April 3
28
267
F5
Grazulis reported 260 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,160)
1974 Tanner tornadoes
Elwood /Preston /Riggs /Delmar /Quigley (Petersville), Iowa —Savanna /Lanark /Forreston /Adeline, Illinois
1898
May 18
28
150
F4
(Grazulis, p. 683)
Crawfordsville —Lebanon —Sheridan —Arcadia, Indiana
1965
April 11
28
123
F4
1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 1,066)
Sparta, Georgia —Edgefield, South Carolina
1875
March 20
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
July 31
27
253
F4
Edmonton tornado
LaGrange, Georgia
1920
March 28
27
100
F3
As many as "200 people dead + injured" (Grazulis, p. 768)
1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Lily Flagg —Brownsboro —Gurley, Alabama
1920
April 20
27
100
F4
April 1920 tornado outbreak
Sayre —Bradford —Village Springs, Alabama
1917
May 27
27
100
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917 , (Grazulis, p. 753)
Charleston, South Carolina
1938
September 29
27
80
F2
Many fatalities occurred in collapsed buildings (Grazulis, p. 881)
[ 10]
Columbia —Macedonia, Tennessee
1900
November 20
27
75
F4
Most of the fatalities occurred in Macedonia (Grazulis, p. 693)
[ 11]
Drew County, Arkansas
1939
April 16
27
62
F4
(Grazulis, p. 883)
Lower Peach Tree —Scyrene, Alabama
1913
March 21
27
60
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913 , (Grazulis, p. 737)
Deemer/New Deemer —Philadelphia, Mississippi
1920
April 20
27
60
F4
April 1920 tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 769)
Jarrell, Texas
1997
May 27
27
12
F5
1997 Jarrell tornado
Lubbock, Texas
1970
May 11
26
500
F5
Grazulis reported 28 deaths (Grazulis, p. 1,113)
Lubbock tornado
Montgomery —Chisholm, Alabama
1945
February 12
26
293
F3
Tornado outbreak of February 12, 1945 , (Grazulis, p. 918)
Arab —Granite Bend —Dongola —Zalma, Missouri
1917
May 30
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
November 12
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
March 28
26
125
F4
1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 768)
Alto —Kokomo —Greentown —Swayzee —Marion, Indiana
1965
April 11
25
835
F4
1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
McDonald Chapel —Birmingham, Alabama
1956
April 15
25
200
F4
1956 McDonald Chapel tornado
Seneca /Oneida /Sabetha /Reserve, Kansas —Falls City, Nebraska
1896
May 17
25
200
F5
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896
Barney —Heber Springs —Banner, Arkansas
1916
June 5
25
150
F4
June 1916 tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 747)
Campbell —Poinciana —Kissimmee —Buenaventura Lakes —Lake Hart —Lake Mary Jane, Florida
1998
February 22
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
April 16
25
120
F4
(Grazulis, p. 912)
Louisville, Kentucky
1854
August 27
25
100
F?
(Grazulis, p. 562)
Council Bluffs —Gilliatt —Weston —Neola —Harlan, Iowa
1913
March 23
25
75
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913 , (Grazulis, p. 737)
Hancock —Kossuth —Worth Counties in Iowa
1894
September 21
25
60
F4
(Grazulis, p. 667)
Lakeview /Fyffe /Rainsville /Sylvania, Alabama —Rising Fawn, Georgia
2011
April 27
25
EF5
Unknown number of injuries. "Rainsville EF5 tornado"
2011 Rainsville tornado
20–24 fatalities
Rank[ a]
Affected Communities [ b]
Year
Month & Day
Fatalities[ c]
Injuries [ d]
F or EF [ e]
Notes
Other References
Belvidere, Illinois
1967
April 21
24
410
F4
Grazulis reported 500 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,088)
1967 Oak Lawn tornado outbreak
Smith Mills, Kentucky —Evansville —Paradise —Gentryville, Indiana
2005
November 6
24
238
F3
Evansville tornado outbreak of November 2005
Moore, Oklahoma
2013
May 20
24
212
EF5
2013 Moore tornado
Ingomar —Baker —Keownville —Glen, Mississippi
1920
April 20
24
180
F4
April 1920 tornado outbreak
New Baden —Germantown —Mascoutah, Illinois
1896
May 27
24
125
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 , (Grazulis, p. 677)
Eureka Springs —Green Forest —Berryville, Arkansas
1927
March 18
24
110
F4
(Grazulis, p. 806)
New Castle —Millville (Henry County) —Hagerstown —Greens Fork, Indiana
1917
March 11
24
110
F4
(Grazulis, p. 750)
Mineola —Blodgett —Spring Hill, Texas
1919
April 9
24
100
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 1919
Mayersville —Grace —Isola —Moorhead, Mississippi
1919
March 16
24
80
F4
Grazulis reported that the death toll may have been higher.
(Grazulis, p. 762)
Mount Vernon, Illinois
1888
February 19
24
80
F4
This was the only fatal tornado during this rare February outbreak. (Grazulis, p. 643)
[ 12]
Stantonville —Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee
1909
October 14
24
80
F3
(Grazulis, p. 725)
Strong, Arkansas
1927
May 9
24
72
F4
Tornado outbreak of May 1927
St. Mary's —Lisbon —Mount Vernon —Mechanicsville, Iowa
1860
June 3
24
60
F?
(Grazulis, p. 566)
Cordele —Crisp County, Georgia
1936
April 2
23
500
F4
1936 Cordele-Greensboro tornado outbreak . (Grazulis, p. 865)
Coldwater Lake –Hillsdale –Manitou Beach –Devils Lake –Tecumseh, Michigan
1965
April 11
23
294
F4
List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Howard —Mitchell Counties, Texas
1923
May 14
23
250
F5
A man and his three sons were killed in one house (Grazulis, p. 783)
[ 13]
Cisco, Texas
1893
April 28
23
150
F4
Death toll may have been as high as 26
(Grazulis, p. 662)
Smithville, Mississippi —Hodges, Alabama
2011
April 27
23
137
EF5
2011 Smithville tornado
Cape Girardeau, Missouri —Alexander County, Illinois
1949
May 21
23
130
F4
(Grazulis, p. 948)
Oklahoma City —Bethany, Oklahoma
1930
November 19
23
125
F4
(Grazulis, p. 839)
Pee Dee —Rockingham—Philadelphia (Church) —Manly, North Carolina
1884
February 19
23
100
F4
Enigma tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 626)
Beauregard, Alabama
2019
March 3
23
97
EF4
2019 Beauregard tornado
Greenbrier —Enders —Heber Springs, Arkansas
1926
November 25
23
90
F4
Reported as 20 deaths and 75 injuries elsewhere[ 14]
(Grazulis, p. 804)
Batesville —Moorefield —Sneed —Swifton, Arkansas
1929
April 10
23
80
F5
(Grazulis, p. 824)
Andale —Sedgwick —McLain —Elbing, Kansas
1917
May 25
23
70
F5
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917 , (Grazulis, p. 751)
Meridian, Mississippi
1906
March 2
23
60
F4
(Grazulis, p. 707)
Ossian /Townley, Indiana —Brunersburg /Raabs Corner, Ohio
1920
March 28
23
54
F4
1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 768)
Canoinhas , Santa Catarina, Brazil
1948
May 16
23
F?
"Several animal casualties" were also reported
List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
Charleston —Beaufort County, South Carolina
1814
June 30
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
October 3
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
March 27
22
150
F4
1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Birmingham—Smithfield, Alabama
1977
April 4
22
125
F5
Tornado outbreak of April 1977
Cartersville —Jasper —Cagle —Tate —Mount Oglethorpe, Georgia
1884
February 19
22
100
F4
Enigma tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 625)
Viroqua, Wisconsin
1865
June 28
22
100
F?
1865 Viroqua tornado , (Grazulis, p. 568)
Margaret /Ragland /Shoal Creek Valley /Ohatchee /Piedmont, Alabama —Cave Spring /Kingston, Georgia
2011
April 27
22
85
EF4
List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak
Macon, Mississippi
1880
April 25
22
72
F4
(Grazulis, p. 609)
Castalian Springs /Lafayette, Tennessee —Tompkinsville, Kentucky
2008
February 5
22
63
EF3
List of tornadoes in the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak
Yutan, Nebraska —Logan, Iowa
1913
March 23
22
50
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913 , (Grazulis, p. 737)
Goodwater /Oak Bowery, Alabama —Harris /Talbot Counties, Georgia
1875
May 1
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
May 10
22
F?
Possibly greater than 22 deaths
List of Central American tornadoes
Huntsville, Alabama
1989
November 15
21
463
F4
November 1989 tornado outbreak
Picher, Oklahoma —Racine /Neosho, Missouri
2008
May 10
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.
2008 Picher–Neosho tornado
St. Louis, Missouri
1959
February 10
21
345
F4
St. Louis tornado outbreak of February 1959
Coldwater Lake –Hillsdale –Manitou Beach –Devils Lake –Tecumseh, Michigan
1965
April 11
21
293
F4
-->
List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Prescott, Kansas —Sprague, Missouri
1887
April 21
21
250
F4
(Grazulis, p. 642)
Terre Haute, Indiana
1913
March 23
21
250
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913 , (Grazulis, p. 738)
Brent —Centreville —Helena, Alabama
1933
May 5
21
200
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933
Metropolis, Illinois —Sheridan /Blackford /Dixon /Delaware /West Louisville, Kentucky
1890
March 27
21
200
F4
Tornado outbreak of March 27, 1890 , (Grazulis, p. 650)
Colfax, Wisconsin
1958
June 4
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
September 16
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
May 7
21
62
F?
At least 21 deaths
(Grazulis, p. 561)
Bondurant —Santiago —Valeria —Mingo, Iowa
1896
May 24
21
60
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 , (Grazulis, p. 676)
Casscoe —Holly Grove —Duncan, Arkansas
1944
April 10
21
50
F4
(Grazulis, p. 911)
Rodessa, Louisiana
1938
February 17
21
50
F4
(Grazulis, p. 873)
McAlester, Oklahoma
1882
May 8
21
42
F3
(Grazulis, p. 615)
Ringgold, Georgia —Apison /Cleveland /Etowah, Tennessee
2011
April 27
20
335
EF4
List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak
Bellwood —Maywood —Melrose Park —Dunning (Chicago), Illinois
1920
March 28
20
300
F4
1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Blackwell, Oklahoma
1955
May 25
20
280
F5
1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 987)
Commerce Landing, Mississippi
1955
February 1
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
July 15
20
93
F4
1881 Minnesota tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 612)
Silverton, Texas
1957
May 15
20
80
F4
(Grazulis, p. 1,006)
Deanburg —Pinson, Tennessee
1923
March 11
20
70
F5
(Grazulis, p. 782)
Overton —Rocheport —Midway —-Hinton, Missouri —Centralia, Missouri
1917
June 5
20
68
F4
(Grazulis, p. 756)
15-19 fatalities
Rank[ a]
Affected Communities [ b]
Year
Month & Day
Fatalities[ c]
Injuries [ d]
F or EF [ e]
Notes
Other References
Asherville —Coatesville —Amo —Hadley —Danville, Indiana
1948
March 26
19
200
F4
Grazulis, p. 936)
Anderson —Belton, South Carolina
1933
May 5
19
100
F3
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 4–10, 1933
Hopewell (Blount County)—Summit, Alabama
1903
April 8
19
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 697)
Nevada —Josephine —Farmersville —Tigertown, Texas
1927
May 9
19
100
F4
Tornado outbreak of May 1927
Rainbow Lake (Shipshewana) —Ontario —Brighton, Indiana
1965
April 11
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)
Putnam County —Cookeville, Tennessee
2020
March 3
19
87
EF4
2020 Cookeville tornado
Ellison, Illinois
1858
May 31
19
60
F?
(Grazulis, p. 565)
Duncan, Mississippi
1929
February 25
19
42
F4
(Grazulis, p. 822)
Otterbein —Monticello —Valentine, Indiana
1974
April 3
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
May 31
18
310
F5
List of tornadoes in the 1985 United States-Canada tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 1,268)
Albany —Dougherty County, Georgia
1940
February 10
18
300
F4
[ 15] (Grazulis, p. 889)
Warner Robins —Robins Air Force Base —Jeffersonville, Georgia
1953
April 30
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
April 11
18
236
F4
List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Cotton Valley —Leton —Dykesville —Haynesville, Louisiana
1947
December 31
18
225
F4
(Grazulis, p. 933)
Pittsfield —Grafton —Strongsville, Ohio
1965
April 11
18
200
F5
List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Tomato, Arkansas —Dyersburg /Sharon /Ore Springs, Tennessee
1917
May 27
18
175
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917 , (Grazulis, p. 752)
Sheridan —England —Hazen, Arkansas
1949
March 26
18
150
F4
(Grazulis, p. 942)
Cullman —Phelan —Berlin —Fairview, Alabama
1932
March 21
18
100
F4
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 842)
Douglas /Syracuse /Berlin (Otoe) /Rock Bluff, Nebraska —Bartlett /Glenwood, Iowa
1913
March 23
18
100
F4
"The Berlin Tornado" (Grazulis, p. 737)
Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913
Logansport —Shreveport —Barksdale (Slack) AFB, Louisiana
1950
February 12
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
April 8
18
60
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 1919
Crenshaw —Pike Counties, Alabama
1925
October 25
18
60
F4
(Grazulis, p. 800)
Delphos —Irving, Kansas
1879
May 30
18
60
F4
(Grazulis, p. 601)
Rib Lake —Withee —Thorp —Owen, Wisconsin
1924
September 21
18
50
F4
[ 16]
Montague County, Texas
1905
July 5
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
June 8
17
379
F4
Flint-Worcester tornado outbreak sequence
Saugatuck —Hudsonville —Standale —Grand Rapids, Michigan
1956
April 3
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
December 26
17
240
F4
Deadliest and most violent tornado in Cuba’s history
List of Caribbean Tornadoes
Haysville —McConnell AFB —Andover, Kansas
1991
April 26
17
225
F5
1991 Andover tornado
McKeesport —Dravosburg —Port Vue —Versailles —Boston —Greenock —Donegal —Somerset, Pennsylvania
1944
June 23
17
200
F4
1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 915)
Melvindale, Michigan , United States—Windsor /Tecumseh, Ontario , Canada
1946
June 17
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)
Milton, Florida
1962
March 31
17
200
F3
Tornado outbreak of March 30–31, 1962 , (Grazulis, p. 1,040)
Rolling Fork —Midnight —Silver City, Mississippi
2023
March 24
17
165
EF4
2023 Rolling Fork–Silver City tornado
Birmingham —Avondale —Irondale, Alabama
1901
March 25
17
100
F3
(Grazulis, p. 693)
Harper —Kellogg —Wellington, Kansas
1892
May 27
17
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 657)
Smith Chapel—Princedale —Parkin, Arkansas
1929
April 10
17
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 824)
Yarbro, Arkansas —Cooter, Missouri —Owl Hoot /Miston /Ridgely /Elbridge, Tennessee
1952
March 21
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
March 28
17
70
F4
1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 768)
La Plata —Cedarville, Maryland
1926
November 9
17
65
F4
(Grazulis, p. 804)
Eustace —Big Rock —Tundra —Grand Saline, Texas
1919
April 9
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
March 16
17
50
F3
[ 17]
Mifflin Township (Owensville) —Linden Township (Lost Grove) —Mineral Point —Oregon —Fitchburg, Wisconsin
1878
May 23
17
45
F4
(Grazulis, p. 594)
Wall Lake —Sac City —Pomeroy, Iowa
1878
April 21
17
29
F4
"Boyer River Tornado"
(Grazulis, p. 594)
Jud —O'Brien —Knox City, Texas
1953
March 13
17
25
F4
Grazulis reported as many as 60 injuries (Grazulis, p. 966)
Tornado outbreak of March 12–15, 1953
Bellevue —Stoneburg, Texas
1906
April 26
17
20
F4
Grazulis reported 50 injuries (Grazulis, p. 707)
[ 18]
Topeka, Kansas
1966
June 8
16
450
F5
Grazulis reported 406 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,081)
Tornado outbreak sequence of June 1966
Itu, São Paulo , Brazil
1991
September 30
16
350
F4
List of tornadoes in Brazil
Colby —Prescott, Kansas
1887
April 21
16
250
F4
(Grazulis, p. 642)
Kingsport /Hancock County, Tennessee
1933
March 14
16
235
F3
March 1933 Nashville tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 847)
Abbeville —Ninety Six —Chappells —Prosperity —Greenwood, South Carolina
1944
April 16
16
200
F4
(Grazulis, p. 912)
Mayflower —Vilonia, Arkansas
2014
April 27
16
193
EF4
2014 Mayflower–Vilonia tornado
Tanner, Alabama (#2) —Manchester, Tennessee
1974
April 3
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)
1974 Tanner tornadoes
Snow Hill —Ayden —Winterville —Greenville, North Carolina
1984
March 28
16
153
F4
1984 Carolinas tornado outbreak
Jamestown —Atlantic, Pennsylvania —Sheakleyville —Dempseytown —Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania
1985
May 31
16
125
F4
List of tornadoes in the 1985 United States-Canada tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 1,268)
Wilburton —Keota —Sallisaw, Oklahoma
1960
May 5
16
106
F4
May 1960 tornado outbreak sequence
Mount Carmel, Illinois
1877
June 4
16
100
F4
Some historical accounts suggest as many as 30 fatalities but this is unconfirmed.
(Grazulis, p. 588)
Missouri City —Richmond, Missouri
1878
June 1
16
90
F4
Six months after the tornado, a local newspaper reported 21 fatalities
(Grazulis, p. 595)
McLoud —Paden —Boley (Childsville) —Welty, Oklahoma
1942
May 2
16
80
F4
(Grazulis, p. 900)
Byhalia, Mississippi —Moscow, Tennessee
1952
March 21
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
September 21
16
70
F4
(Grazulis, p. 667)
Newbern, Tennessee
2006
April 2
16
70
F3
Tornado outbreak of April 2, 2006
Bowling Green, Kentucky
2021
December 11
16
63
EF3
Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021
Talihina —Reichert —Howe, Oklahoma
1961
May 5
16
58
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 3–9, 1961 , (Grazulis, p. 1,035)
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
1890
August 19
16
50
F3
Grazulis reported 60 injuries (Grazulis, p. 653)
1890 Wilkes-Barre tornado
Clarendon—Sherwood Shores/Green Belt Reservoir —McLean, Texas
1970
April 18
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
January 4
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
June 17
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
April 28
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 .[ 19] The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) reported that 100 were killed, and many others were injured.[ 20]
(Grazulis, p. 706)
Bauxite —Vimy Ridge —Shannon Hills —North Little Rock, Arkansas
1997
March 1
15
200
F4
At least 200 injuries
March 1997 tornado outbreak
Bethel Springs —Reagan (Henderson County) —Finger —Enville —Beacon, Tennessee
1942
March 16
15
200
F4
Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942
Alexandria —Pineville —Libuse, Louisiana
1923
April 4
15
150
F4
(Grazulis, p. 783)
Schlater —Philipp —Water Valley —Pinedale, Mississippi
1984
April 21
15
76
F3
[ 21] (Grazulis, p. 1,255)
Hamburg, Arkansas
1941
October 26
15
75
F4
(Grazulis, p. 896)
Palestine, Texas
1946
January 4
15
60
F4
Tornado outbreak of January 4–6, 1946
Armuchee —Everett Springs —Curryville —Oostanaula —Resaca, Georgia
1913
March 13
15
50
F4
(Grazulis, p. 736)
Beaverdale, Georgia —Conasauga, Polk County, Tennessee
1932
March 21
15
50
F4
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Braxton, Mississippi
1921
April 26
15
50
F4
Grazulis, p. 774)
Chambers County, Alabama —Troup /Meriwether Counties, Georgia
1875
May 1
15
50
F3
(Grazulis, p. 583)
El Dorado, Kansas
1958
June 10
15
50
F4
(Grazulis, p. 1,015)
Nashville —Lebanon —Bellwood, Tennessee
1933
March 14
15
45
F3
March 1933 Nashville tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 847)
Garland, Texas
1927
May 9
15
40
F4
Tornado outbreak of May 1927 , (Grazulis, p. 809)
Oberlin —Cedar Bluffs, Kansas
1942
April 29
15
25
F5
[ 22] (Grazulis, p. 900)
El Dorado, Kansas
1958
June 10
15
5
F4
[ 23]
12-14 fatalities
Rank[ a]
Affected Communities [ b]
Year
Month & Day
Fatalities[ c]
Injuries [ d]
F or EF [ e]
Notes
Other References
Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila , Mexico
2015
May 25
14
290
EF3
2015 Texas–Oklahoma flood and tornado outbreak [ 24]
Greenwood, Arkansas
1968
April 19
14
270
F4
(Grazulis, p. 1,096)
Shelburn —Lewis —Clay City —Cloverdale, Indiana
1949
May 21
14
251
F4
[ 25] (Grazulis, p. 947)
Gloster —Gillsburg, Mississippi
1935
April 6
14
220
F3
(Grazulis, p. 860)
Wakarusa —Elliott —Goshen —Middlebury, Indiana
1965
April 11
14
200
F4
List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 1,063)
Drumright —Olive —Oak Grove (Pawnee County) —Skiatook, Oklahoma
1974
June 8
14
150
F4
Tornado outbreak of June 8, 1974 , (Grazulis, p. 1,165)
Greensboro, North Carolina
1936
April 2
14
144
F4
1936 Cordele-Greensboro tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 865)
Lynchburg —Sardis —Effingham —Pamplico, South Carolina
1924
April 30
14
144
F3
April 1924 tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 788)
Clarita —Coalgate, Oklahoma
1917
June 1
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
September 21
14
100
F5
(Grazulis, p. 667)
Rockford, Illinois
1928
September 14
14
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 821)
Barnettsville (now Barnett) —New Bloomfield, Missouri
1880
April 18
14
90
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 1880 , (Grazulis, p. 608)
Columbiana, Alabama
1932
March 21
14
75
F4
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 843)
Converse —Pleasant Hill (Sabine Parish) —Lake End, Louisiana
1927
February 17
14
70
F3
(Grazulis, p. 805)
Savoy, Texas
1880
May 28
14
60
F4
(Grazulis, p. 610)
Covington —Bells —Medina, Tennessee
1909
April 29
14
50
F3
Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909 , (Grazulis, p. 721)
New Minden —Hoyleton —Richview —Irvington —Boyd, Illinois
1896
May 27
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
April 27
14
50
EF4
List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak
Oxford —Worth —Denver, Missouri
1947
April 29
14
45
F4
(Grazulis, p. 928)
Chandler, Oklahoma
1897
March 30
14
40
F4
(Grazulis, p. 680)
Clyde, Texas
1938
June 10
14
40
F5
(Grazulis, p. 879)
Monroe City —Miller Township (Marion County), Missouri
1876
March 10
14
40
F4
(Grazulis, p. 586)
Mulberry Township—Cravens—Jethro—Watalula, Arkansas
1908
November 23
14
40
F3
These are all unincorporated communities within Franklin County, Arkansas
(Grazulis, p. 717)
Tuscumbia —“Brickville”, Alabama
1874
November 22
14
30
F4
(Grazulis, p. 581)
Charles City, Iowa
1968
May 15
13
450
F5
1968 Hansell-Charles City tornado
Selma —Plantersville, Alabama
1885
November 6
13
400
F4
(Grazulis, p. 637)
Muskogee, Oklahoma
1945
April 12
13
200
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 1945 , (Grazulis, p. 919)
Bovina —Little Yazoo —Bentonia, Mississippi
1971
February 21
13
182
F4
Grazulis reported 200 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,121)
Tornado outbreak of February 21–22, 1971
San Angelo, Texas
1953
May 11
13
159
F4
1953 Waco tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 970)
Bool’s Gap—Quenalda—Hassell Gap—Bellview (Clay’s County) —Newell, Alabama
1932
March 21
13
150
F4
Grazulis reported 160 injuries (Grazulis, p. 843)
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Odell —Huntington —Etoile, Texas
1933
March 30
13
150
F3
(Grazulis, p. 848)
Atkins —Clinton —Mountain View —Highland, Arkansas
2008
February 5
13
140
EF4
List of tornadoes in the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak
Cairo —Bluffton, Ohio
1965
April 11
13
104
F4
List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 1,071)
Lake Bruin, Louisiana
1927
February 17
13
100
F2
(Grazulis, p. 805)
Robinsonville, Mississippi
1893
April 12
13
100
F3
(Grazulis, p. 661)
Rye Cove, Virginia
1929
May 2
13
100
F2
1929 Rye Cove tornado outbreak
West Feliciana —East Feliciana Parishes, Louisiana
1907
April 5
13
100
F3
(Grazulis, p. 709)
Kellerville —Timewell —Mount Sterling —Rushville —Astoria —South Pekin —Morton —Eureka, Illinois
1938
March 30
13
73
F3
(Grazulis, p. 876)
West Brooklyn —Compton —Paw Paw —Sublette, Illinois
1890
June 20
13
60
F4
(Grazulis, p. 652)
Jackson, Mississippi
1916
June 6
13
56
F3
June 1916 tornado outbreak
Carrollton —Reform —Cordova —Sipsey —Blountsville, Alabama
2011
April 27
13
54
EF4
2011 Cordova–Blountsville tornado
Paisley —Lake Mack —DeLand, Florida
2007
February 2
13
51
EF3
2007 Groundhog Day tornado outbreak
Felton —Rockmart —Cartersville —Stilesboro, Georgia
1909
April 30
13
40
F3
Actual death toll could have been 15 (Grazulis, p. 722)
Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909
Ogden /Bismarck, Illinois —Hedrick, Indiana
1922
April 17
13
40
F4
(Grazulis, p. 779)
Longwood —Sanford, Florida
1998
February 23
13
36
F3
1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak
Gray —Milledgeville, Georgia
1875
March 20
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
February 19
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
April 21
13
7
F3
(Grazulis, p. 825)
Gainesville, Georgia
1998
March 20
12
171
F3
1998 Gainesville-Stoneville tornado outbreak
Jellico —Newcomb —Pruden, Tennessee —Cumberland Gap (KY)
1933
March 14
12
162
F4
March 1933 Nashville tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 847)
Florence —Brandon —Carthage —Weir, Mississippi
1992
November 21
12
122
F4
Tornado outbreak of November 21–23, 1992 , (Grazulis, p. 1,342)
Beaver Dam —Salemburg —Roseboro —Clinton, North Carolina
1984
March 28
12
101
F3
1984 Carolinas tornado outbreak
Pine Lake, Alberta , Canada
2000
July 14
12
100
F3
Pine Lake tornado
Rowena —Hatchel —Oplin, Texas
1922
April 8
12
90
F3
(Grazulis, p. 778)
Monroe Center, Ohio —Albion /Cranesville, Pennsylvania
1985
May 31
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
March 21
12
80
F3
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Sherburn —Easton, Minnesota
1892
June 15
12
76
F5
1892 Southern Minnesota tornado
Marathon County, Wisconsin
1898
May 18
12
75
F5
[ 26]
Leola —England —Carlisle —Des Arc —Cotton Plant, Arkansas
1916
December 26
12
72
F4
(Grazulis, p. 749)
Nineveh—Darsey —Reynard, Texas
1935
February 8
12
70
F2
(Grazulis, p. 859)
Swanburg —Roosevelt Lake —Hill City, Minnesota
1969
August 6
12
70
F4
Tornado outbreak of August 6, 1969 , (Grazulis, p. 1,106)
Elaine, Arkansas
1930
May 18
12
60
F3
(Grazulis, p. 835)
Savoy —Mayview —St. Joseph —Alvin, Illinois
1942
March 16
12
60
F4
Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942
Askewville —Bertie County, North Carolina
2011
April 16
12
58
EF3
List of tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of April 14–16, 2011
Austin, Texas (#2)
1922
May 4
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
February 19
12
50
F3
Enigma tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 625)
Literberry —Philadelphia, Illinois
1883
May 18
12
50
F4
(Grazulis, p. 621)
Orfordville —Hanover —Janesville —Milton, Wisconsin
1911
November 11
12
50
F4
Great Blue Norther of November 11, 1911
Panama City , Panama
1992
July 15
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
November 20
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
April 11
12
40
F4
Unincorporated communities like Conroy (a mining town), Dry Fork, and Jadwin were all affected.
(Grazulis, p. 660)
Harris —Newtown, Missouri
1899
April 27
12
40
F4
(Grazulis, p. 686)
Mer Rouge, Louisiana
1926
November 25
12
38
F3
(Grazulis, p. 805)
Athens —University of Georgia —Colbert —Comer —Paoli, Georgia
1932
March 22
12
35
F3
1932 Deep South tornado outbreak
Deshler —Carleton —Geneva, Nebraska
1908
June 5
12
30
F5
(Grazulis, p. 717)
Iron City —Heflin —Edwardsville, Alabama
1899
March 18
12
30
F4
(Grazulis, p. 686)
Slocomb—Collegeville, Arkansas
1927
March 17
12
27
F3
(Grazulis, p. 806)
Egypt —Stanford —Pauls Switch or Lanieve, Arkansas
1927
May 9
12
8
F3
Tornado outbreak of May 1927 , (Grazulis, p. 810)
10-11 fatalities
Rank[ a]
Affected Communities [ b]
Year
Month & Day
Fatalities[ c]
Injuries [ d]
F or EF [ e]
Notes
Other References
Largo —Clearwater —Carrollwood —Temple Terrace —Galloway —Gibsonia —Loughman, Florida
1966
April 4
11
350
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 4–5, 1966 , (Grazulis, p. 1,079)
Hanover College —Madison, Indiana
1974
April 3
11
300
F4
Grazulis reported 190 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,154)
List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak
Crowell, Texas
1942
April 28
11
250
F4
[ 28] [ 29]
Anchor Bay (Michigan)
1964
May 8
11
224
F4
(Grazulis, p. 1,055)
Gorham —Sand Ridge —Murphysboro —Plumfield, Illinois
1957
December 18
11
200
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of December 18–20, 1957 , (Grazulis, p. 1,013)
Hoxie —Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
1927
May 9
11
200
F4
Tornado outbreak of May 1927 , (Grazulis, p. 809)
Camilla, Georgia
2000
February 13
11
175
F3
Tornado outbreak of February 13–14, 2000
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
2000
December 16
11
144
F4
Tornado outbreak of December 16, 2000
Brownsville (Sweet Springs), Missouri
1882
April 18
11
100
F3
(Grazulis, p. 615)
Georgetown —Harrisville —Morton, Mississippi
1883
April 22
11
100
F3
(Grazulis, p. 617)
Mankato—Green Gables, Minnesota
1946
August 17
11
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 925)
San Pedro, Misiones , Argentina
2009
September 7
11
100
EF4
List of tornadoes in Argentina
Jackson, Tennessee
2003
May 4
11
86
F4
List of tornadoes in the May 2003 tornado outbreak sequence
Murphysboro —Bush —Herrin, Illinois
1912
April 21
11
83
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 20–22, 1912 , (Grazulis, p. 732)
Melissa, Texas
1921
April 13
11
80
F4
(Grazulis, p. 772)
Great Bend, Kansas
1915
November 10
11
75
F4
(Grazulis, p. 744)
Arthur City, Texas —Fort Towson, Oklahoma
1927
April 18
11
72
F4
(Grazulis, p. 808)
Lockett /Vernon, Texas —Davidson, Oklahoma
1979
April 10
11
67
F4
1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 1,207)
Apex, Missouri —Hardin /Carrollton /Wrights /Athensville /Loami /Springfield, Illinois
1927
April 19
11
63
F4
(Grazulis, p. 808)
Greensburg, Kansas
2007
May 4
11
63
EF5
2007 Greensburg tornado
York —Livingston, Alabama
1945
February 12
11
63
F4
Tornado outbreak of February 12, 1945 , (Grazulis, p. 918)
La Cygne, Kansas —Merwin —Bates County, Missouri
1912
June 15
11
60
F4
(Grazulis, p. 735)
Walterboro, South Carolina
1879
April 16
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
January 12
11
53
F4
[ 30] (Grazulis, p. 648)
Augusta, Georgia
1804
April 4
11
50
F?
[ 31] (Grazulis, p. 554)
Bluffton, Alabama —Cave Spring, Georgia
1908
April 24
11
50
F4
1908 Dixie tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 714)
Browder —Drakesboro, Kentucky
1942
March 16
11
50
F3
Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942
Jacksonville, Illinois
1859
May 26
11
50
F?
(Grazulis, p. 565)
Round Prairie —Dawson —Buffalo —Kenney, Illinois
1883
May 18
11
50
F4
(Grazulis, p. 620)
Barney —Adel —Nashville, Georgia
2017
January 22
11
45
EF3
Tornado outbreak of January 21–23, 2017
Hamilton —Shiloh, Georgia
1875
March 20
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
July 3
11
40
F4
[ 32]
Shamrock —Drumright, Oklahoma
1922
November 4
11
40
F4
(Grazulis, p. 782)
Still Pond —Kent County, Maryland
1888
August 21
11
40
F2
(Grazulis, p. 645)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
1891
July 6
11
38
F2
(Grazulis, p. 655)
Perry —Williamstown, Kansas
1893
June 21
11
30
F4
(Grazulis, p. 664)
Vasa /Burnside Township, Minnesota —Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin
1879
July 2
11
30
F4
(Grazulis, p. 604)
Dunkirk —Carey, Ohio
1886
May 14
11
25
F3
(Grazulis, p. 640)
Herman, Nebraska
1899
June 13
11
25
F4
(Grazulis, p. 640)
Marks, Mississippi
1926
November 26
11
22
F3
(Grazulis, p. 805)
Clifton —Morganville —Palmer, Kansas
1896
April 25
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
April 29
11
18
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909 , (Grazulis, p. 720)
Slidell —Sanger, Texas
1909
March 23
11
10
F2
Grazulis reported 10 deaths and 8 injuries (Grazulis, p. 719)
[ 33]
Ivy, Virginia
1959
September 30
11
9
F3
(Grazulis, p. 1,023)
Owens—Phillips (mining communities), Alabama
1924
May 27
11
7
F3
(Grazulis, p. 789)
Arcadia (Hays Creek), Nebraska
1953
June 7
11
5
F4
Flint-Worcester tornado outbreak sequence , (Grazulis, p. 973)
Charleston, South Carolina
1811
September 10
11
F?
”Hurricane-spawned tornado” moved directly through the middle of the city.
(Grazulis, p. 554)
Fray Marcos , Florida Department , Uruguay
1970
April 21
11
F4
”several” injuries
List of tornadoes in Uruguay
New Pekin —Henryville —Marysville —Chelsea, Indiana
2012
March 2
11
EF4
Tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012
Dallas County, Texas
2015
December 26
10
468
EF4
2015 Garland tornado
Medicine Lodge —Kingman —Hutchinson —McPherson, Kansas
1927
May 7
10
300
F5
Tornado outbreak of May 1927 , (Grazulis, p. 808)
Dallas, Texas
1957
April 2
10
216
F3
Tornado outbreak sequence of April 2–5, 1957 , (Grazulis, p. 1,000)
Hollow, Oklahoma —Chetopa /Faulkner /Columbus, Kansas
1938
March 30
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
May 29
10
181
F4
Marion, Illinois, tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 1,242)
Paris —Reno —Blossom, Texas
1982
April 2
10
170
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1982 , (Grazulis, p. 1,236)
Tallulah, Louisiana —Yazoo City /Durant, Mississippi
2010
April 24
10
146
EF4
2010 Yazoo City tornado
Dothan —Cowarts —Webb, Alabama
1918
January 11
10
120
F3
(Grazulis, p. 757)
Clinton County, Kentucky
1974
April 3
10
113
F4
List of tornadoes in the 1974 Super Outbreak
West Liberty, Kentucky —Dunlow /Cove Gap, West Virginia
2012
March 2
10
112
EF3
Tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012
Fargo, North Dakota
1957
June 20
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
April 22
10
100
F4
(Grazulis, p. 615)
Success —Licking —Eye —Mineral Point, Missouri
1917
May 30
10
100
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917 , (Grazulis, p. 753)
Louisville, Mississippi
2014
April 28
10
84
EF4
List of tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of April 27–30, 2014
Koontz Lake —LaPaz —Lakeville —Wyatt, Indiana
1965
April 11
10
82
F3
List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 1,063)
Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe , Argentina
1891
November 13
10
80
F4
List of tornadoes in Argentina
Parrott —Plains —Americus, Georgia
1883
April 22
10
80
F4
(Grazulis, p. 618)
Booneville —Paris —Minnow Creek —Clarksville, Arkansas
1945
April 12
10
70
F4
Tornado outbreak of April 1945 , (Grazulis, p. 919)
Tamo —New Hope Church
1926
November 25
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
March 12
10
60
F3
(Grazulis, p. 889)
Paragould, Arkansas —Bakerville /Bragg City /Wardell /Kennett, Missouri
1938
March 15
10
60
F4
(Grazulis, p. 874)
Springfield —Buffalo Hart —Cornland —Chestnut —Mount Pulaski —Riverton, Illinois
1927
April 19
10
60
F4
(Grazulis, p. 808)
Belleville —O’Fallon, Illinois
1938
March 15
10
52
F4
At least 52 injuries
(Grazulis, p. 874)
Cookeville —Putnam County, Tennessee
1974
April 3
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
April 12
10
50
F3
(Grazulis, p. 611)
Gowan (or Gowen), Oklahoma
1922
March 13
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
March 13
10
50
F4
(Grazulis, p. 736)
Newburg —La Vergne, Tennessee
1877
April 18
10
50
F4
(Grazulis, p. 588)
Hot Springs, Arkansas
1915
November 15
10
45
F4
(Grazulis, p. 745)
Battle Creek —Eureka Township —Hayes Township —Storm Lake, Iowa
1878
April 21
10
40
F4
(Grazulis, p. 594)
Centerville —Leiper's Fork, Tennessee
1909
April 29
10
40
F3
Tornado outbreak of April 29 – May 1, 1909 , (Grazulis, p. 721)
Chipley/Pine Mountain —Harris —Greenville, Georgia
1908
April 25
10
40
F3
1908 Dixie tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 714)
Chipley/Pine Mountain, Georgia
1924
April 30
10
35
F3
April 1924 tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 788)
Bay Springs —Increase, Mississippi
1924
May 26
10
30
F3
(Grazulis, p. 788)
Laneville—Hale County —Scott Station, Alabama
1932
March 21
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
March 11
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
March 21
10
30
F3
Grazulis reported nine deaths and 50 injuries (Grazulis, p. 963)
Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952
Eaton, Tennessee
1932
January 14
10
28
F4
(Grazulis, p. 842)
Wetumka —Lenna, Oklahoma
1948
March 25
10
25
F4
Occurred on the same day as the second of the 1948 Tinker Air Force Base tornadoes
(Grazulis, p. 935)
Gans, Oklahoma
1957
January 22
10
21
F4
(Grazulis, p. 999
Manes —Hazleton —Lenox —Anutt, Missouri
1917
May 30
10
20
F4
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917 , (Grazulis, p. 753)
Troy —Durango, Texas
1892
May 31
10
20
F4
(Grazulis, p. 658)
Alpha —Harkey Valley, Arkansas
1920
April 19
10
10
F3
April 1920 tornado outbreak , (Grazulis, p. 769)
Biwabik, Minnesota
1900
October 6
10
8
F3
(Grazulis, p. 692)
Boyd County, Nebraska
1901
June 21
10
8
F4
(Grazulis, p. 694)
Thurman, Colorado
1924
August 10
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
January 24
10
6
F4
[ 35] (Grazulis, p. 1,049)
Codell —Alton —Bloomington, Kansas
1918
May 20
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[ a]
Affected Communities [ b]
Year
Month & Day
Fatalities[ c]
Injuries [ d]
F or EF [ e]
Notes
Other References
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
1985
May 31
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
August 6
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
January 27
8
190
EF4
2019 Havana tornado
Pozo del Tigre , Formosa Province, Argentina
2010
October 21
6
116
F?
Tornadoes of 2010
Maravilha, Santa Catarina, Brazil
1984
October 9
5
400
F?
List of tornadoes in Brazil
Guernica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2001
January 10
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
December 26
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
March 29
3
4
F?
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
April 5
1
F?
Four waterspouts made landfall near Hamilton. “Several” injuries were confirmed as well.
Easter tornadoes of 1953
Bibliography
See also
Notes
^ a b c d e f g h i As of May 2023 (when this article was created).
^ a b c d e f g h i 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.
^ a b c d e f g h i The number of fatalities and injuries may vary from source to source. Most injury figures are approximate.
^ a b c d e f g h i The number of fatalities and injuries may vary from source to source. Most injury figures are approximate.
^ a b c d e f g h i After the Fujita Scale was implemented in 1971, tornadoes from the previous 100 years (1871-1971) were retrospectively reviewed to determine their ratings. These reviews were completed by either Ted Fujita or Thomas P. Grazulis . Damage assessments from 1971-2006 were completed by using the Fujita Scale or, since 2007, the Enhanced Fujita Scale. These reviews have been handled by teams of meteorologists and structural engineers as assigned by National Weather Service (NWS) offices around the United States.
References
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