U.S. Tornadoes

Updated April 19, 2023 | Infoplease Staff

Find a list of the most deadly and intense tornadoes in the U.S. with casualty information.

1840

May 6, Natchez, Miss.: tornado struck heart of the city, killing 317 and injuring over 1,000.

1880

April 18, Marshfield, Mo.: series of 24 tornadoes demolished city, killing 99 people.

1884

Feb. 19, Miss., Ala., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Ky., Ind.: series of 60 tornadoes caused estimated 800 deaths.

1890

March 27, Louisville, Ky.: twister hit community and caused 76 deaths.

1896

May 27, eastern Mo. and southern Ill.: series of 18 tornadoes; 1 tornado destroyed large section of St. Louis, Mo., killing 255.

1899

June 12, New Richmond, Wis.: tornado struck while circus was in town, causing 117 deaths.

1902

May 18, Goliad, Tex.: tornado killed 114.

1903

June 1, Gainesville, Holland, Ga.: twister caused 98 deaths.

1905

May 10, Snyder, Okla.: tornado killed 97.

1908

April 24-25, La., Miss., Ala., Ga.: 18 tornadoes resulted in 310 deaths (143 of these caused by 1 tornado that moved from Amite, La. to Purvis, Miss.).

 

April 24, Natchez, Miss.: twister struck, causing 91 deaths.

1913

March 23, eastern Nebr. and western Iowa: Easter Sunday: 8 tornadoes resulted in 181 deaths (103 in Omaha, Nebr.).

1917

May 26, Mattoon, Ill.: tornado smashed area, causing 101 deaths.

1920

April 20, Starkville, Miss.; Waco, Ala.: tornado killed 88.

1924

June 28, Lorain, Sandusky, Ohio: tornado swept through cities, causing 85 deaths.

1925

March 18, Mo., Ill., Ind.: the “Tri-State Tornado“ was the most violent single twister in U.S. history. It caused the deaths of 695 people and injured over 2,000. Property damage was estimated at $16.5 million.

1927

May 9, Poplar Bluff, Mo.: twister killed 98.

Sept. 29, St. Louis, Mo.: a five-minute tornado ripped through the city and caused 79 deaths.

1932

March 21-22, Ala., Miss., Ga., Tenn.: outbreak of 33 tornadoes killed 334 (268 in Ala.).

1936

April 5-6, Deep South: series of 17 tornadoes; 216 killed in Tupelo, Miss., and 203 killed in Gainesville, Ga.

1944

June 23, W. Va., Pa., Md.: 4 tornadoes caused 153 deaths.

1947

April 9, Woodward, Okla.: tornado demolished town, killing 181.

1952

March 21-22, Ark. and Tenn.: 28 tornadoes caused 204 deaths.

1953

May 11, Waco, Tex.: a single tornado killed 114.

June 8, Flint, Mich.: tornado killed 115.

June 9, Worcester, Mass.: tornado hit town, killing 90.

1955

May 25, Udall, Kans.: tornado killed 80.

1965

April 11-12, Midwest-Great Lakes region: tornadoes in Iowa, Ill., Ind., Ohio, Mich., and Wis. caused 256 deaths.

1967

April 21, northern Ill., also Mo., Iowa, lower Mich.: series of 52 tornadoes caused 58 deaths.

1971

Feb. 21, Miss., La., Ark., Tenn.: series of 10 tornadoes resulted in 121 deaths.

1974

April 3-4: a series of 148 twisters within 16 hours comprised the deadly “Super Tornado Outbreak“ that struck 13 states in the East, South, and Midwest. Before it was over, 330 died and 5,484 were injured in a damage path covering more than 2,500 mi.

1979

April 10, northern Tex. and southern Okla.: 11 tornadoes caused 59 deaths.

1984

March 28, N.C. and S.C.: 22 tornadoes caused 57 deaths.

1985

May 31, Pa. and Ohio: 27 tornadoes resulted in 75 deaths. Estimated damages were $450 million.

1990

Aug. 28, northern Ill.: fast-moving tornado struck the southwest suburbs of Chicago, killing 29 and injuring more than 300.

1992

Nov. 21-23, southeast Tex. to Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley: total of 94 tornadoes caused 26 deaths and $291 million in damage.

1994

March 27, Ala., Ga., and N.C.: Palm Sunday tornado outbreak resulted in 42 deaths and 320 injuries. Property damages reached $107 million. Twenty people died and 90 were injured when a tornado caused the roof of a church near Piedmont, Ala., to collapse.

1997

May 27, central Tex.: multiple tornadoes, including one particularly strong twister that devastated the town of Jarrell, caused 29 deaths and an estimated $20 million in damage.

1999

Jan. 17-22, Tenn. and Ark.: a series of tornadoes left 17 dead. Damages were estimated at $1.3 billion.

May 3, Okla. and Kans.: unusually large twister, thought to have been a mile wide at times, killed 44 people and injured at least 748. A separate tornado killed another 5 and injured about 150 in Kans. Damages totaled at least $1 billion.

2000

Feb. 14, southwest Ga.: at least 5 tornadoes struck southwest Ga., killing 19 people and injuring over 100.

2002

Nov. 9-11, central and southeast U.S.: series of more than 70 tornadoes across 9 states from Miss. to Pa. killed 36 people.

2003

May 1-10, southern and midwestern U.S.: more than 400 tornadoes in 10 days killed 42.

2006

March-April, plains, Tenn, and Ohio valley, U.S.: more than 500 tornadoes killed 47 people in the 2-month period.

2007

March 1, Ala., Minn., Miss., and Ga.: a series of tornados killed about 20 people, including eight high school students.

May 7, Kans.: ten people died in a Category F-5 tornado that completely wiped out a small Kansas farming town.

2008

Jan. 7-8, Ark., Ill., Mo., and Wis.: a series of tornados caused by record-breaking temperatures killed at least six people, including two children, destroyed houses, and flooded roads.

Feb. 5-6, Tenn., Ark., Ala., Ky., and Mo.: 47 people are killed and hundreds more injured after violent tornadoes rip through the southern United States. According to emergency officials, the victims include 24 people in Tenn., 13 in Ark., 7 in Kentucky, and 3 in Ala..

March 14-15, Ga.: two people are killed and at least 30 people are injured when violent tornadoes strike Atlanta and northwestern counties of Georgia including Polk County and Floyd County. The storms cause damage to the CNN Center, the Georgia Dome, and the Convention Center in Atlanta, and leave thousands of homes without power statewide.

May 1-2, Ark.: seven people are killed and 13 more injured in Arkansas when storms hit 16 counties Thursday night and Friday morning.

May 11, Okla., Mo., Ga.: more than 20 people die and hundreds more are injured when tornadoes hit Missouri, Oklahoma, and Georgia. Racine, a town about 170 miles south of Kansas City, Missouri saw the most damage, leaving about 9,000 people without electricity for over three days.

May 22-23, Co., Kans.: one person dies when a tornado hits an RV park, west of Greeley, Colorado. People hide in a cement block restroom as one man tries to outrun the tornado in his RV. The tornado rips the RV in half, throwing at 100 feet. A couple dies on their way from Colorado to a Kansas family reunion when a tornado sweeps their car from a road 13 miles east of Pratt, Kansas.

May 25, Ia., Minn.: a tornado rips through the southern and eastern half of Parkersburg, Iowa, killing 5 die in Parkersburg and 2 others one mile north of New Hartford. At least 50 people are hospitalized and 400 homes are destroyed. Also on May 25th, a tornado moves east across the northern tip of Hugo, Minnesota. It rips apart 25 homes, killing a two-year-old child and injuring the rest of the family.

June 11, Ia., Kans.: a tornado plows through a Boy Scout camp in Monona County, Iowa. Four scouts, ages 13 -14, die and at least 42 other people are injured. About an hour and a half later, a series of tornados hit northeast Kansas. One strikes the town of Chapman, Dickinson County, and kills a 21-year-old woman. About half the town is damaged or destroyed, including both schools. Another tornado touches down and causes $20 million damage at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Another hits Soldier, Kansas, destroying 32 homes and killing a 62-year-old-man in a mobile home east of town.

July 24, N.H.: the second most intense tornado in New Hampshire history touches down in Deerfield. It moves north-northeast for nearly 50 miles, pulling up thousands of trees and ripping apart more than 100 homes in 11 towns. A 57-year-old woman dies protecting her 3-month-old grandson, who is uninjured. The most intense tornado to hit New Hampshire happened on September 9, 1821, killing 6 people.

Sept. 3, La.: Hurricane Gustav causes at least 25 tornados. One of them destroys a mobile home near Mamou, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, killing a man and a woman.

2009

Feb. 10–11, Okla., Ark., Tex., Ala., Miss, Ga., Tenn., Ind.: a series of tornados strike killing 8 people.

April 9–10, Okla., Tex., Mo., Ark., La., Miss., Tenn., Ky., Ala., Ga., S.C., N.C.: sixty-six tornados are confirmed, and 111 are reported. Three peopled die in Mena, Arkansas, and two people are killed in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

May 8, Kan., Mo., Ill., Ky., Tenn., Va., N.C.: a series of 39 tornados strike, killing 6 people.

2010

March 28, N.C.: a series of tornados hit, causes substantial damage to the Piedmont Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point) area of North Carolina.

April 22–24, Miss., La: ten people die in Mississippi as a series of tornados hit, including the 4th longest in the state's history.

April 30– May 2, Ark., Miss., Tenn.: five people are killed as a series of tornados hit.

May 10–11, Ark., Kans., Okla.: three people die as a series of tornados hit. Major damage is caused to areas near Norman, Moore, Choctaw and Little Axe, Oklahoma.

June 5–6, Ill., Ind., Oh., Mi.: a series of tornados hit, killing 8 people. One tornado in Ohio alone causes 7 of the fatalities, making it the second deadliest in 2010.

June 17, N.D., Minn. Iowa: a series of tornados roar across the Midwest. Four of them cause substantial damage throughout Minnesota.

Dec. 31– Jan. 1, Okla., Ark., Mo., Ill.: a series of tornados strike on New Year's Eve, killing 9 people.

2011

April 4–5, Ark., Ky., Tenn., Oh., La, Miss., Ga., N.C., Md.: several tornados hit southern and eastern states, causing six deaths.

April 14–16, various southern states: one of the largest outbreaks of tornados on record, killing 38 people. This is also the deadliest U.S. tornado outbreak since 2008.

April 19– ongoing, various southern and midwestern states: more than 100 tornados strike, killing at least 213 people. One tornado hits the St. Louis area, including the airport, briefly causing it to shut down.

May 22– Joplin, MO: about one-third of the city is leveled and some 2,000 buildings are destroyed in the tornado that registered 200-mile-an-hour winds. More than 120 people are killed and 1,500 are missing. It is the deadliest tornado in more than 60 years.

2012

Jan. 22–23, Ark., Tenn., Miss., Ala.: two dozen confirmed tornados hit southern states, causing severe damage. Two people were killed. The damage in just the state of Alabama was at least $30 million.

Feb. 28–29, Oh., Ind., Ill., Kans., Nebr., Mo., Ark., Ky., Tenn.: twenty-six tornados struck across the Central Plains, Mid-South and Ohio Valley regions, causing 15 casualties and an estimated $475 million in damages.

March 2–3, the Ohio Valley and various Southern states: seventy confirmed tornados touched down in the South and Ohio Valley region, causing 42 casualties and an estimated $1.5 billion in damages.

March 18–24, various Southern and Midwestern states: sixty-three confirmed tornados caused one casualty and an estimated $325 million in damages.

April 3, Tex., La.: twenty-two confirmed tornados cause an estimated $1 billion in damages. The Dallas-Fort Worth area was hit and more than 1,100 homes were damaged. Despite striking heavily populated areas, there were no casualties.

April 13–16, Great Lakes region, central United States: one hundred fourteen confirmed tornados caused six casualties and an estimated $283 million in damages in Wichita alone.

June 4, Mo., Ark., Tex.: three tornados touched down briefly. One hit a mobile home, killing three.

June 23–26, Fla.: twenty-five confirmed tornados caused one casualty and an estimated $1.8 million in damages. The tornados were caused by Tropical Storm Debby.

Aug. 27–Sept. 4, Fla., Ala., Miss., La., Ill., Mo.: Hurricane Isaac caused thirty-four confirmed tornados over a period of nine days, but no fatalities are reported.

Oct. 17–19, Miss., Ark., Md., Pa.: several tornadoes touched down due to a powerful low-pressure system. The most damage was done by the Pennsylvania tornado where 15 people were injured and several structures were damaged.

Dec. 25–26, Miss., Tex., N.C., Ala., La.: the largest ever tornado outbreak in the U.S. on Christmas happened in 2012 when 30 confirmed tornados touched down in various Southern states. No one was killed, but twenty-four people were injured. The tornados caused at least 140 million in damages.

2013

May 20, Okla.: an enormous category 5 tornado hit Oklahoma City, Moore, and Newcastle. Moore was hardest hit. The city's Plaza Towers Elementary School was flattened. About 25 people were killed in the storm, including seven children. The tornado, stretching more than a mile wide, was on the ground for 40 minutes. Wind speeds reached 210 mph.

May 27–31, Tex., Okla., Ill., Ind., Kans., Mo., N.Y.: ninety-two tornadoes touched down. One deadly tornado hit El Reno, Oklahoma hard. Ten people in all were killed by these tornadoes. Major damage was caused by hail and wind.

Nov. 17, Oh., Ind., Ill., Ky., Mi., Mo., Tenn.: at least 60 tornadoes hit the Midwest. It was the deadliest and most violent tornado outbreak on record in Illinois for the month of November. Thousands lost power. Sixty tornadoes were confirmed, 119 were reported. Eight people died due to the tornadoes, strong winds and heavy rain.

2014

April 25, N.C.: Eleven tornadoes including an EF3 that caused major damage near the town of Washington. An EF2 in Edenton resulted in a fatality.

April 27–30, Ark., Okla., Tex., Ala., Miss., Tenn., Nebr., Iowa: Tornadoes touched down throughout the Southeast, killing at least 29 people. A single half-mile wide tornado appeared to be responsible for much of the damage in Arkansas where 16 of the 29 casualties happened. The tornado was the largest of several that hit central and southern states. High winds, heavy rain, and hail caused damage to Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Nebraska. Tornadoes also touched down in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama causing severe damage and loss of life. Threats of tornadoes reached as far as Georgia and North Carolina.

May 10–12, Great Plains: Forty-four tornadoes produced a destructive EF2 damaged 80% of the structures in Orrick, Missouri. An EF3 caused major damage to farms near Sutton, Nebraska, and another very large EF3 damaged every structure in the town of Beaver Crossing, Nebraska.

June 16–18, Midwest: Seventy-six tornadoes caused two fatalities in Nebraska and caused major damage in Wisconsin, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

December 23–24, Southern U.S.: Small but damaging outbreak produced a large EF3 that caused major damage in Columbia, Mississippi, and killed 3 people. An EF2 killed 2 others near Laurel. Another EF2 caused considerable damage near Amite, Louisiana.

June 16–18, Midwest: Seventy-six tornadoes caused two fatalities in Nebraska and caused major damage in Wisconsin, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

2015

April 8–9, Midwest: A very powerful EF4 tornado moved across several counties in northern Illinois, causing major damage near Rochelle and devastating the small town of Fairdale, causing two fatalities.

May 5–10, Great Plains: Catedory EF3 tornadoes caused major damage in Bridge Creek, Oklahoma and Oklahoma City. A large EF3 caused significant damage and killed one person near Cisco, Texas, and a high-end EF2 severely damaged the town of Delmont, South Dakota. A nighttime EF3 killed two people and caused major damage in Van, Texas, while an EF2 killed two more at a mobile home park in Nashville, Arkansas.

May 23–25, Great Plains: A destructive early-morning F3 devastated the Mexican border city of Ciudad Acuña, killing 14 people. An EF2 killed one person near Cameron, Texas, while an EF3 killed another near Blue, Oklahoma. Tornado outbreak was accompanied by catastrophic flooding.

June 22–23, Great Lakes, Midwest: An EF2 and an EF3 caused significant damage in and around Albia, Iowa. An EF2 caused major damage in Edgington, Illinois, while another EF2 severely damaged a large campground near Sublette. A nighttime EF3 damaged or destroyed numerous homes in Coal City.

Nov. 16–18, Great Plains: Unusual nocturnal late-season tornado outbreak spawned multiple strong tornadoes across the lower Great Plains states. Two EF3 tornadoes caused major damage near Pampa, Texas, one of which destroyed a large chemical plant complex. A long-tracked EF3 began near Liberal, Kansas and dissipated near Montezuma, causing significant damage in rural areas.

Dec. 23–25:South, Midwest: Thirty-six tornadoes, including an EF4 that tracked through parts of Tenn. and Miss., causing major damage in Holly Springs, Mississippi and killing 9 people along its path. A high-end EF3 caused major damage near Clarksdale as well, killing two. Another EF3 destroyed many structures in the small community of Lutts, Tennessee, and an EF2 killed two people near Linden.

Dec. 26–28, South: The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex was severely impacted when an EF4 devastated parts of Garland and Rowlett, killing 9 people. An EF3 destroyed many homes in Ovilla and Glenn Heights, while an EF2 killed two people in Copeville. An EF1 killed caused a fatality near Blue Ridge as well.

2016

Feb. 23–24, South, Eastern seaboard The second largest February tornado outbreak on record produced many significant tornadoes across the Gulf Coast and East Coast states. An EF3 caused major damage in Paincourtville and Convent, Louisiana, killing two people, while an EF2 killed one person near Purvis, Mississippi. An EF3 caused severe damage in Pensacola, Florida, and an EF1 killed 3 people in Waverly, Virginia. An EF3 also destroyed multiple homes near Tappahannock, Virginia, while another EF3 killed one person in Evergreen.