The 25 Deadliest Tornadoes in the United States
Updated February 12, 2020 |
Infoplease Staff
![Updated by an Infoplease Editor on February 12, 2020](/themes/ip/images/info-circle.png)
The following table lists tornadoes by the number of fatalities.
Date | Location(s) | Deaths |
---|---|---|
1. March 18, 1925 | Tri-State (Mo., Ill., Ind.) | 689 |
2. May 6, 1840 | Natchez, Miss. | 317 |
3. May 27, 1896 | St. Louis, Mo. | 255 |
4. April 5, 1936 | Tupelo, Miss. | 216 |
5. April 6, 1936 | Gainesville, Ga. | 203 |
6. April 9, 1947 | Woodward, Okla. | 181 |
7. April 24, 1908 | Amite La.; Purvis, Miss. | 143 |
8. May 22, 2011 | Joplin, MO | 122 |
9. June 12, 1899 | New Richmond, Wis. | 117 |
10. June 8, 1953 | Flint, Mich. | 115 |
11. May 11, 1953 | Waco, Tex. | 114 |
12. May 18, 1902 | Goliad, Tex. | 114 |
13. March 23, 1913 | Omaha, Neb. | 103 |
14. May 26, 1917 | Mattoon, Ill. | 101 |
15. June 23, 1944 | Shinnston, W. Va. | 100 |
16. April 18, 1880 | Marshfield, Mo. | 99 |
17. June 1, 1903 | Gainesville, Holland, Ga. | 98 |
18. May 9, 1927 | Poplar Bluff, Mo. | 98 |
19. May 10, 1905 | Snyder, Okla. | 97 |
20. April 24, 1908 | Natchez, Miss. | 91 |
21. June 9, 1953 | Worcester, Mass. | 90 |
22. April 20, 1920 | Starkville, Miss.; Waco, Ala. | 88 |
23. June 28, 1924 | Lorain, Sandusky, Ohio | 85 |
24. May 25, 1955 | Udall, Kans. | 80 |
25. Sept. 29, 1927 | St. Louis, Mo. | 79 |
Source: Storm Prediction Center at the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Web: www.spc.noaa.gov/archive/tornadoes/t-deadly.html.
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