Tornadoes · United States
Tornadoes of 1890
Grazulis's record has 88 significant tornadoes in the United States in 1890, which killed 245 people and injured 1,521. 12 were rated F4 or above. Before 1950 the record is Thomas P. Grazulis’s list of significant tornadoes: those rated F2 or stronger, and weaker ones that killed somebody.
1889 1891
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. Grazulis rated these tornadoes on the Fujita scale decades after the fact, from written accounts of the damage. The scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
F040 to 72 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F173 to 112 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2113 to 157 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3158 to 206 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4207 to 260 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5261 to 318 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
Grazulis gave no rating: the surviving account records a tornado without enough about the damage to rate it. Almost all of these are before 1880.
The violent tornadoes of 1890
- F4 Louisville tornado, Kentucky and IndianaMarch 27, 189076 killed
- F4, KY to Metropolis, IL to Dixon, KYMarch 27, 189021 killed
- F4, Paw Paw/Sublette, ILJune 20, 189012 killed
- F4, NE New Madrid, MO to Clinton, KYJanuary 12, 189011 killed
- F4, NE Shawneetown, MO to N Carbondale, ILMarch 27, 18907 killed
- F4, Grand River, KYMarch 27, 18907 killed
- F4, NW Hartford to Rineyville, KYMarch 27, 18907 killed
- F4, Bradshaw, NEJune 3, 18907 killed
- F4, NE Albany to Blytheville, MOMay 9, 18904 killed
- F4, NW Thebes, MO to W Stonefort, ILMarch 27, 18902 killed
- F4, Taunton, MNJuly 22, 18901 killed
- F4, Indian Gap, TXMay 4, 189012.6 mi (20 km)
- F4 Louisville tornado, Kentucky and IndianaMarch 27, 189076 killed, 200 injured
- F4, KY to Metropolis, IL to Dixon, KYMarch 27, 189021 killed, 200 injured
- F3, South Wilkes-Barre, PAAugust 19, 189016 killed, 60 injured
- F4, Paw Paw/Sublette, ILJune 20, 189012 killed, 60 injured
- F4, NE New Madrid, MO to Clinton, KYJanuary 12, 189011 killed, 53 injured
- F3, Lawrence/North Andover, MAJuly 26, 18908 killed, 63 injured
- F4, NE Shawneetown, MO to N Carbondale, ILMarch 27, 18907 killed, 80 injured
- F4, Grand River, KYMarch 27, 18907 killed, 50 injured
- F4, NW Hartford to Rineyville, KYMarch 27, 18907 killed, 40 injured
- F4, Bradshaw, NEJune 3, 18907 killed, 40 injured
January 12 7 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| January 12 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | St. Louis, MO/S Venice, IL | 29.8 | 100 | 4 | 15 | |
| January 12 | 5:00 PM CST | F4 | NE New Madrid, MO to Clinton, KY | 25.1 | 300 | 11 | 53 | |
| January 12 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | Cookville, IL | 4.6 | 70 | | | |
| January 12 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | Wickliffe, KY | 8.7 | | | 8 | |
| January 12 | 8:00 PM EST | F2 | Fairbanks, IN | | | | | |
| January 12 | 7:30 PM CST | F3 | N Olney/Machburg, IL | 7.6 | 200 | 1 | 15 | |
| January 12 | 8:30 PM EST | F2 | SW Brazil/Hoosierville, IN | 3.8 | | | | |
February 7 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 7 | | F2 | Eunola, AL | 12.8 | | 1 | 3 | |
February 27 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 27 | | F2 | Cox Pond/Talladaga City/Needmore Cemetery, AL | 5.1 | | | 10 | |
| February 27 | 12:00 PM CST | F2 | Carthage, MS | 10.0 | | | 7 | |
| February 27 | 7:30 PM CST | F2 | SW Carrolton/S Carrolton, AL | 4.6 | | 1 | 2 | |
March 11 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 11 | 5:00 AM CST | F2 | Excelsior, AR | 5.8 | 100 | | 5 | |
March 22 6 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 22 | 1:30 PM EST | F2 | Fort Valley, GA | | | | 1 | |
| March 22 | 1:30 PM EST | F2 | SW Thomson/Thomson, GA | 4.9 | | | | |
| March 22 | 3:00 PM EST | F2 | Newberry/Shelton, SC | 16.3 | | | 1 | |
| March 22 | 3:00 PM EST | F2 | Union/Edgemoor, SC/Alton, NC | 62.0 | | | 3 | |
| March 22 | 3:30 PM EST | F2 | Sumter, SC | 5.0 | | 2 | 2 | |
| March 22 | 5:00 PM EST | F2 | Potecasi, NC | 2.6 | 400 | | 13 | |
March 27 24 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 27 | 3:00 PM CST | F2 | Ste. Genevieve, MO/Turkey Island, IL | 6.9 | 100 | | | |
| March 27 | 3:00 PM CST | F2 | Bloomsdale, MO | 4.8 | 100 | | 2 | |
| March 27 | 3:00 PM CST | F2 | Rockwood/Shiloh Hill/Campbell Hill/Sunfield, IL | 31.4 | 150 | 3 | 25 | |
| March 27 | 3:30 PM CST | F2 | Falling Spring/Harmony Station/Centreville/Cahokia, IL | 7.0 | | 1 | 7 | |
| March 27 | 4:20 PM CST | F4 | NE Shawneetown, MO to N Carbondale, IL | 30.2 | 400 | 7 | 80 | |
| March 27 | 4:25 PM CST | F3 | SE Charleston to S Bird's Point, MO | 19.8 | 400 | 4 | 5 | |
| March 27 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | Wheatland, IL | 4.8 | | | | |
| March 27 | 4:45 PM CST | F4 | NW Thebes, MO to W Stonefort, IL | 48.0 | 800 | 2 | 30 | |
| March 27 | 5:15 PM CST | F4 | KY to Metropolis, IL to Dixon, KY | 95.3 | 400 | 21 | 200 | |
| March 27 | 5:15 PM CST | F3 | Sparta/Pollander/Little Prairie/Nasvhille, IL | 40.1 | 500 | 2 | 50 | |
| March 27 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | Olney, IL | 6.0 | 100 | | 5 | |
| March 27 | 6:00 PM CST | F4 | Grand River, KY | 25.5 | 400 | 7 | 50 | |
| March 27 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | Xenia, IL | 10.0 | | | 10 | |
| March 27 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | Carmi/Crossville, IL | 5.6 | | 1 | 10 | |
| March 27 | 7:57 PM EST | F4 | Louisville tornado, KY | 8.5 | 300 | 76 | 200 | |
| March 27 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | S Knottsville/N Patesville, KY | 10.2 | | 2 | 15 | |
| March 27 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | Caledonia/W Hopkinsville, KY | 9.5 | | | 8 | |
| March 27 | 8:15 PM EST | F3 | S Eminence/N Pleasureville, KY | 5.3 | 150 | 3 | 10 | |
| March 27 | 8:00 PM CST | F4 | NW Hartford to Rineyville, KY | 59.9 | 1,200 | 7 | 40 | |
| March 27 | 8:00 PM CST | F3 | S New Harmony/SE Owensville/S Princeton, IN | 25.2 | | | 10 | |
| March 27 | 8:45 PM CST | F3 | N Gallatin/Rogana to NE Eulia, TN | 25.4 | 400 | 5 | 50 | |
| March 27 | 9:00 PM CST | F3 | S Scottsville to Tracy, KY | 14.7 | 600 | 4 | 25 | |
| March 27 | 9:30 PM CST | F2 | Fosterville/SE Murfreesboro, TN | 10.2 | | | | |
| March 27 | 10:00 PM CST | F2 | Fayetteville, TN | 4.8 | | 1 | 15 | |
April 8 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 8 | 5:25 PM EST | F2 | Norwalk, OH | 2.1 | 50 | 1 | 15 | |
| April 8 | 6:00 PM EST | F2 | SE Medina/Montville/Sharon/SE Akron, OH | 19.5 | 70 | | 15 | |
| April 8 | 6:30 PM EST | F3 | S Norwalk/Townsend Township/Wakeman Township, OH | 12.3 | 200 | | 18 | |
April 27 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 27 | 4:00 AM CST | F2 | Yorkville/S Cotton Plant/Gum Flat, AR | 9.3 | 150 | | 5 | |
May 4 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 4 | 4:30 PM CST | F4 | Indian Gap, TX | 12.6 | 400 | | | |
| May 4 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | NW Fall Creek to W Cleburne | 13.0 | 200 | 6 | 25 | |
May 9 4 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 9 | 4:00 PM CST | F3 | SW Fredonia/Altoona, KS | 14.9 | 300 | 2 | 15 | |
| May 9 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | S Memphis, MO | 4.7 | | | | |
| May 9 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | NW Maryville, MO | 5.0 | | | | |
| May 9 | 5:30 PM CST | F4 | NE Albany to Blytheville, MO | 22.3 | 200 | 4 | 20 | |
May 10 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 10 | 4:50 PM EST | F3 | Akron, OH | 3.7 | 70 | | 8 | |
| May 10 | 5:30 PM EST | F3 | SW Hendersonville to SE Franklin, PA | 17.3 | 100 | 2 | 17 | |
May 16 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 16 | | F2 | New Market Junction, NH | | | 1 | | |
May 24 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 24 | 5:30 PM EST | F3 | NE Ithaca/SE Wheeler, MI | 9.0 | 200 | | 1 | |
June 3 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 3 | 8:30 PM CST | F4 | Bradshaw, NE | 15.1 | 800 | 7 | 40 | |
June 4 6 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 4 | 1:30 PM CST | F2 | Adair, IA | 4.2 | | | | |
| June 4 | 2:30 PM CST | F3 | W Dawson/NE Rippey | 20.4 | 150 | | 40 | |
| June 4 | 2:45 PM CST | F2 | N Boone, IA | 3.9 | 150 | | 6 | |
| June 4 | 3:00 PM CST | F3 | W Hubbard, IA | 10.6 | 200 | | 4 | |
| June 4 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | S Chester, IA | 9.7 | 150 | | 18 | |
| June 4 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | NW Vincent/S Thor/E Renwick, IA | 14.3 | 200 | | 2 | |
June 10 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 10 | 9:15 PM CST | F2 | S Channahon, IL | | | | | |
June 11 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 11 | 11:30 AM CST | F2 | S Waynesville/Birkbeck/E Clinton, IL | 14.7 | 50 | 1 | 6 | |
June 13 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 13 | 5:00 PM EST | F2 | N Monticello/Lodge/White Heath/Seymour, IL | 4.3 | | | | |
June 16 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 16 | 4:05 AM CST | F2 | Lincoln, NE | | 50 | | 1 | |
| June 16 | 7:00 PM CST | F3 | Kirkfield/SE Kinsley, KS | 4.8 | | | 2 | |
June 20 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 20 | 2:30 PM CST | F4 | Paw Paw/Sublette, IL | 25.9 | 200 | 12 | 60 | |
| June 20 | 3:10 PM CST | F2 | Cornell, IL | 4.2 | 400 | | 10 | |
June 22 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 22 | 3:20 PM CST | F3 | W Pleasanton/Sweetwater/S Loup City, NE | 15.0 | 100 | | 8 | |
June 23 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 23 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | Riceville/S Saratoga, IA | 14.9 | | | | |
July 8 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 8 | 6:30 PM EST | F1 | Winthrop, ME | 0.5 | 70 | 1 | 2 | |
July 13 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 13 | 5:30 PM CST | F3 | NW St. Paul, MN | 10.1 | 300 | 6 | 30 | |
July 22 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 22 | 12:10 PM CST | F2 | N Galesburg, ND | | | | 2 | |
| July 22 | 5:45 PM CST | F4 | Taunton, MN | 12.1 | 150 | 1 | 5 | |
July 26 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 26 | 7:50 AM EST | F1 | Fiskdale, MA | | | | | |
| July 26 | 9:10 AM EST | F3 | Lawrence/North Andover, MA | 3.0 | 150 | 8 | 63 | |
| July 26 | 12:00 PM EST | F1 | Newburyport, MA | | | | | |
August 19 4 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 19 | 4:30 PM EST | F2 | W Reading/NW Reading, PA | 5.0 | | | | |
| August 19 | 5:00 PM EST | F3 | N Shickshinny/Silkworth, PA | 24.8 | 600 | 4 | 10 | |
| August 19 | 5:20 PM EST | F3 | South Wilkes-Barre, PA | 16.5 | 200 | 16 | 60 | |
| August 19 | 6:00 PM EST | F3 | W New Milford to E Summerville | 5.2 | 70 | 2 | 5 | |
August 21 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 21 | 12:30 PM EST | F2 | Fryburg, PA | | 50 | | 7 | |
| August 21 | 5:00 PM EST | F2 | W Sheridan, PA | | 50 | | 4 | |
September 18 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 18 | | F2 | E Manilla, IA | | | 1 | | |
October 16 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 16 | 3:30 PM EST | F2 | SW Maxton/Hasty/Floral College, NC | 12.7 | 125 | 2 | 10 | |
December 8 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 8 | 10:00 PM EST | F3 | SW Jersey, GA | 3.1 | 50 | 2 | 2 | |
About the record before 1950
- Significant tornadoes only
- Grazulis listed tornadoes rated F2 or stronger, and weaker ones that killed somebody. Most tornadoes are weaker than F2, so the list holds a fraction of the tornadoes that happened.
- The early years are thin
- A tornado is on record only where somebody saw it and wrote it down. The count rises through the 1800s with settlement and newspapers, not with the weather.
- Rated from accounts
- Grazulis rated each tornado decades later from newspaper reports, Weather Bureau records and local histories, not from a damage survey.
- The tracks are reconstructed
- Tornado Archive drew each path through the places Grazulis names, most often as a straight line from the first to the last. A track can miss a town it hit, and a tornado with one named place is a point. The counties are today’s.
- A separate record
- SPC’s database, from 1950, counts every confirmed tornado of any strength. The two are kept apart on every page and never added together.
Thomas P. Grazulis, Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991 and Significant Tornadoes 1880-1989, as digitized by Tornado Archive (Maas and others, 2024). Public domain. Counties assigned by this site from today’s NWS county lines.