Tornadoes · United States

Tornadoes of 1908

Grazulis's record has 124 significant tornadoes in the United States in 1908, which killed 476 people and injured 2,496. 19 were rated F4 or above, 2 of them F5. Before 1950 the record is Thomas P. Grazulis’s list of significant tornadoes: those rated F2 or stronger, and weaker ones that killed somebody.

1907 1909

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.

  1. F040 to 72 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. F173 to 112 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. F4207 to 260 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. 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.

  7. 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 1908

The deadliest of 1908

By state

Filed under the state each path begins in.

Every significant tornado of 1908

Times are local standard time, where the record has one. Blank cells are not recorded.

January 25 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
January 25F2Sweetwater/Pond Creek Valley/Philadelphia, TN7.919

January 26 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
January 266:00 PM CSTF2Hokes Bluff/Coats Bend, AL4.9

January 31 2 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
January 31F2Lucedale, MS26
January 311:55 PM CSTF4E Delmar to S Hazelhurst, MS40.6500740

February 14 2 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
February 143:50 AM CSTF3Tyler, TX4.550415
February 1410:30 AM CSTF3S Soso/N Service/N Laurel to Moss, MS14.7300420

March 27 5 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 27F2N Humboldt/SE Murdock, IL14.9
March 276:00 PM CSTF3Willmathsville/NE Kirksville, MO40015
March 276:30 PM CSTF2New Boston, IA70
March 277:30 PM CSTF3N Smithshire/NW Galesburg/Coldbrook/Henderson, IL22.520016
March 278:00 PM CSTF2E Galesburg/E Wataga, IL7.5

April 23 10 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 23F2Hector, AR320
April 2312:30 PM CSTF2W Valley Springs/E Benclare, SD4.8
April 234:15 PM CSTF2Oak Grove, TX15.12507
April 234:30 PM CSTF2W Foreman/S DeQueen, AR28.93
April 234:30 PM CSTF3W Inwood/W Larchwood, IA21.21001
April 235:30 PM CSTF2Clifton/N Cayote, TX10.010
April 236:00 PM CSTF4Deport, TX10.030016
April 236:00 PM CSTF5SW Pender to N Thurston, NE15.1400310
April 236:30 PM CSTF3S Rice, TX7.015036
April 239:00 PM CSTF2S Daingerfield, TX9.41005

April 24 14 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 242:30 AM CSTF2Walls, MS6.81
April 243:00 AM CSTF2Mason, TN3.6
April 243:00 AM CSTF2Buntyn, TN5.040015
April 245:00 AM CSTF4N Lamourie, LA to Natchez, MS to Tillman, MS122.670091400
April 249:15 AM CSTF2Braxton, MS10
April 2411:45 AM CSTF2N Wahalak/S Shuqualak, MS9.8310
April 2411:45 AM CSTF4Amite–Purvis tornado, Louisiana and Mississippi154.91,000143770
April 242:40 PM CSTF4Dora/Albertville, AL104.850035188
April 242:45 PM CSTF2N Brooklyn/NE Epps/SSE Janet, MS25.3520
April 245:30 PM CSTF2N Thomasboro/E Rantoul, IL6.130
April 247:10 PM CSTF4Bluffton, AL to Cave Spring, GA15.64001150
April 249:00 PM CSTF2Fort Deposit, AL4.9250222
April 2410:00 PM ESTF3Stamper/Climer/Sweetwater/E Cleveland, TN40018
April 249:30 PM CSTF2NE Montgomery, AL4.0

April 25 7 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 2512:00 AM ESTF2Atlanta, GA50
April 251:00 AM ESTF3Pine Mountain/Harris to S Greenville, GA14.91501040
April 251:30 AM ESTF2N Columbus, GA2.3200212
April 252:30 AM ESTF2NW Griffin/S McDonough, GA16.62008100
April 256:00 AM ESTF2Poulan, GA1004
April 256:30 PM ESTF2S Fort Oglethorpe, GA2.8100
April 258:00 PM ESTF2Diamond, GA7.92005

April 26 2 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 263:00 PM CSTF2South Memphis, TN2.3702
April 264:30 PM ESTF2Bargersville/Pushville, IN4.711

April 30 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 301:00 AM CSTF2S Red Level, AL1
April 301:30 AM CSTF2Grady, AL3.84008
April 302:00 AM CSTF3S Tarentum/E Brundidge, AL14.610

May 4 7 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 4F2S Mills/N Dumas/S Reedville/W Watson, AR17.2
May 4F2Cushman, AR
May 4F2Rose Bud, AR
May 45:00 PM CSTF2W Center Point, AR
May 45:00 PM CSTF2W Conway, AR4.915018
May 47:00 PM CSTF2Marche, AR15026
May 49:00 PM CSTF2NW Monticello, AR4.02009

May 10 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 102:30 PM CSTF3S Millersburg/Cleveland, IL42.8100120
May 104:30 PM CSTF4NW Antelope Hills, TX to N Chester, OK79.9800540
May 106:00 PM CSTF2SW Aline, OK15.3

May 11 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 111:00 AM CSTF2Tuttle, OK8.470
May 111:15 PM CSTF2N Cascade/Worthington/Dyersville/Holy Cross, IA19.250
May 111:20 PM CSTF2Moscow, IA2.9100

May 12 7 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 124:00 PM CSTF3Louisville/SW Springfield, NE6.3217
May 124:15 PM CSTF2WSW Leonard/Valley Creek, TX8.51001
May 124:30 PM CSTF2W Bellevue, NE12
May 124:45 PM CSTF4Hickory Creek, TX8.830025
May 125:00 PM CSTF4SW Watson, MO to N Clarinda, IA33.940020
May 125:10 PM CSTF3Shubert/Stella/Nemaha, NE8.3358
May 125:30 PM CSTF2Bellevue, NE9.91025

May 13 5 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 1310:00 AM CSTF2WNW Shawnee, OK4.050
May 1312:30 PM CSTF2Chataignier/N Opelousas/S St. Francisville/SE Ethel, LA69.1110
May 134:30 PM CSTF2Linden, TX10.2150310
May 135:15 PM CSTF2W Ladonia/Honey Grove, TX11.61004
May 135:30 PM CSTF4Gilliam, LA24.530049135

May 17 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 178:30 PM CSTF2Nash, OK

May 21 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 213:00 AM CSTF3S Lincoln/Colbert, KS9.811
May 218:45 AM CSTF1N Georgetown/Albia, IA7.8501
May 216:30 PM CSTF2SE Avard/Dacoma, OK8.4

May 22 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 22F1Frederick, OK3

May 23 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 233:30 PM CSTF2W Denton, TX6.21002

May 24 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 241:45 PM CSTF2Council Bluffs, IA10
May 244:20 PM CSTF2S Imogene, MN2.8505
May 244:30 PM CSTF2N Mapleton/E Eagle Lake, MN21.21501

May 26 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 266:30 PM CSTF4NW Quinlan to N Ingersol, OK49.940078
May 268:00 PM CSTF2Alfalfa County, OK
May 2611:45 PM CSTF2E Doniphan, NE1.7

May 27 2 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 27F2NE Chadron, NE2.3
May 2710:00 PM CSTF3SE Ionia/NW Jewell, KS10.1150119

May 28 2 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 2812:00 PM CSTF3W Nellie to W Marlow, OK8.4200
May 284:30 PM CSTF3Cashion, OK10.02503

June 1 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 13:15 PM CSTF3S Seguin to SE Hoxie, KS14.5100

June 4 5 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 44:30 PM CSTF2S Kearney, NE2.1503
June 45:00 PM CSTF2NW Axtell, NE1
June 45:30 PM CSTF2N Glenwood Park, NE1
June 46:00 PM CSTF2SW Hildreth, NE
June 46:30 PM CSTF3E Hildreth, NE4.6200

June 5 9 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 5F2Gibbon, NE2
June 512:00 PM CSTF3NW Boelus, NE10.42
June 54:30 PM CSTF4SW Phillipsburg, KS to S Republican City, NE24.640010
June 55:00 PM CSTF4N Athol, KS to NE Franklin, NE29.9800115
June 56:30 PM CSTF4SW Burr Oak, KS to SE Guide Rock, NE18.340025
June 56:45 PM CSTF3Fairfield, NE12.3150
June 57:30 PM CSTF2SW Scandia/W Republic, KS15.2100
June 57:45 PM CSTF4W Scandia, KS to NNW Deshler, NE29.8400320
June 58:30 PM CSTF5Carleton, NE34.98001130

June 7 4 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 71:40 PM CSTF2E Mt. Vernon/N Lisbon, IA5.070
June 72:00 PM CSTF3W Willow River, MN1
June 73:30 PM CSTF3Hillsboro to SE Mauston, WI16.85023
June 74:50 PM CSTF3Charles City, IA11.1100110

June 11 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 115:45 PM CSTF3SE Offerle/W Kinsley, KS8.44

June 13 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 132:00 AM CSTF2Columbia, OK4.721

June 17 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 173:30 PM CSTF4W Quinter, KS12.3250

June 19 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 196:30 PM ESTF2Steubenville, OH5.2

June 22 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 225:30 PM CSTF3NW Windom/N Bingham Lake to NW Mountain Lake10.140017

June 27 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 275:50 PM CSTF4Clinton, MN6.4300745

November 23 6 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
November 23F2Uniontown, AR6.0150
November 232:00 PM CSTF2NW Huntsville/S Rockhouse/Berryville, AR/Blue Eye, MO33.51005
November 232:30 PM CSTF3Mulberry Township/Cravens/Jethro/Watalula Township, AR11.52001440
November 233:00 PM CSTF2E Knoxville, AR11.830040
November 235:00 PM CSTF2Potter/N Mena, AR8.27028
November 236:30 PM CSTF2NW McNeil, AR1501

November 25 4 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
November 252:00 PM CSTF2S Marissa, IL21.4253
November 253:45 PM CSTF2NW Jonesboro/SE Walcott, AR9.410029
November 256:45 PM CSTF3W Rudolph/Carson Township/Eau Plaine Township to N Junction City, WI8.87011
November 257:10 PM CSTF3E Wisconsin Rapids/S Mecham to N Stevens Point, WI11.9100110

December 3 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
December 3F2Westville, OK

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.

Nearby

Every year before 19501950, the first year of SPC's databaseThe tornado profiles

What this means

Ratings are Grazulis's, read from written accounts of the damage; the rating scale is above. About the record before 1950 says what it holds and what it leaves out.

Sources

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.