Tornadoes · United States
Tornadoes of 1917
Grazulis's record has 146 significant tornadoes in the United States in 1917, which killed 587 people and injured 3,621. 24 were rated F4 or above, 1 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.
1916 1918
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 1917
- F5, Andale/Sedgwick, KSMay 25, 191723 killed
- F4 Mattoon–Charleston tornado, IllinoisMay 26, 1917101 killed
- F4, TN to Bondurant, KY to Dublin, KYMay 27, 191767 killed
- F4 New Albany tornado, Indiana and KentuckyMarch 23, 191746 killed
- F4, Bradford, ALMay 27, 191727 killed
- F4, New Castle, INMarch 11, 191724 killed
- F4, Centralia, MOJune 5, 191720 killed
- F4, AR to Dyersburg, TNMay 27, 191718 killed
- F4, Dongola, MOMay 30, 191718 killed
- F4, Coalgate, OKJune 1, 191714 killed
- F4, S Hazelton, MOMay 30, 191710 killed
- F4, Mineral Point, MOMay 30, 191710 killed
- F4, Elmont, KSJune 5, 19179 killed
- F4, N Dalark, ARMarch 20, 19176 killed
- F4, Linden, TNMay 27, 19175 killed
- F4, Hebron, INMay 26, 19174 killed
- F4, Manahttan, IL to NE Crown Point, INMay 26, 19173 killed
- F4, Pittman, OKMay 31, 19173 killed
- F4, Blackhawk, INMay 26, 19172 killed
- F4, Delhi, MIJune 6, 19172 killed
- F4, Springport, MIJune 6, 19172 killed
- F4, S Dodson to S Trotwood, OHMarch 11, 19171 killed
- F4, NE Shaw to SE Savonburg, KSJune 5, 19171 killed
- F4, S Bloomington, INMay 26, 19172.8 mi (5 km)
- F4 Mattoon–Charleston tornado, IllinoisMay 26, 1917101 killed, 638 injured
- F4, TN to Bondurant, KY to Dublin, KYMay 27, 191767 killed, 345 injured
- F4 New Albany tornado, Indiana and KentuckyMarch 23, 191746 killed, 250 injured
- F4, Bradford, ALMay 27, 191727 killed, 100 injured
- F4, New Castle, INMarch 11, 191724 killed, 110 injured
- F5, Andale/Sedgwick, KSMay 25, 191723 killed, 70 injured
- F4, Centralia, MOJune 5, 191720 killed, 68 injured
- F4, AR to Dyersburg, TNMay 27, 191718 killed, 175 injured
- F4, Dongola, MOMay 30, 191718 killed, 200 injured
- F3, Richville, OKJanuary 4, 191716 killed, 20 injured
January 4 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| January 4 | 11:00 AM CST | F3 | Richville, OK | 15.1 | 200 | 16 | 20 | |
January 5 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| January 5 | 1:00 AM CST | F2 | Louisville, MS | 4.3 | 100 | | 2 | |
February 23 6 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 23 | 10:00 AM CST | F2 | Georgetown, MS | | | | 6 | |
| February 23 | | F2 | Hurtsboro, AL | | | | | |
| February 23 | 2:00 PM CST | F3 | Whitsitt/E Greensboro/Rosemary, AL | 17.5 | | 6 | 15 | |
| February 23 | 3:15 PM CST | F2 | Wetumpka, AL | 0.6 | | | 2 | |
| February 23 | 4:15 PM EST | F2 | Lithonia/Pine Mountain, GA | 4.0 | | 2 | 8 | |
| February 23 | 3:30 PM CST | F3 | WSW Stewartsville/ENE Hollins, AL | 14.7 | 600 | 9 | 50 | |
March 11 5 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 11 | 2:55 PM EST | F4 | New Castle, IN | 20.5 | 300 | 24 | 110 | |
| March 11 | 4:00 PM EST | F2 | S Johnsville/New Lebanon, OH | 2.7 | | | | |
| March 11 | 4:20 PM EST | F4 | S Dodson to S Trotwood, OH | 9.0 | 250 | 1 | 3 | |
| March 11 | 5:30 PM EST | F3 | Bookwalter/Wesley Chapel, OH | 7.0 | 200 | | 10 | |
| March 11 | 7:20 PM EST | F3 | Cincinnati, OH | 3.5 | 100 | 3 | 32 | |
March 16 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 16 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Dunn, TN | 5.6 | | 1 | 8 | |
| March 16 | 7:30 PM CST | F2 | NW Verona, MS | 4.0 | 50 | 1 | 2 | |
March 20 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 20 | 9:00 PM CST | F4 | N Dalark, AR | 9.0 | | 6 | 4 | |
| March 20 | 10:00 PM CST | F2 | Junet/Bookman, AR | 1.7 | | 1 | 2 | |
March 21 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 21 | 8:10 AM CST | F2 | Mellwood, AR | 1.8 | | 1 | 8 | |
March 22 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 22 | 5:30 PM CST | F3 | NE Moline/NE Howard, KS | 9.9 | | | | |
| March 22 | 8:00 PM CST | F2 | Carlyle, KS | 3.0 | 30 | | | |
March 23 9 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 23 | 12:30 PM CST | F2 | NW Vienna, IL | 3.9 | 100 | | 1 | |
| March 23 | 1:45 PM EST | F2 | W Pittsboro, IN | 8.2 | 150 | | 1 | |
| March 23 | 1:15 PM CST | F3 | NE Flat Rock, IL/S Carlisle/Pleasantville, IN | 22.1 | 400 | 1 | 20 | |
| March 23 | 2:30 PM EST | F2 | N Swayzee, IN | 2.1 | 200 | | 2 | |
| March 23 | 2:55 PM EST | F2 | S Preble/E Monmouth, IN | 9.7 | 70 | | 7 | |
| March 23 | 3:08 PM EST | F4 | New Albany tornado, Indiana and Kentucky | 14.9 | 400 | 46 | 250 | |
| March 23 | 3:30 PM EST | F3 | SE Desoto, IN | 3.5 | 200 | | 2 | |
| March 23 | 3:30 PM EST | F3 | N Corydon, IN | 7.1 | 600 | | 20 | |
| March 23 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | SE Hartsville, TN | 4.8 | 200 | | 8 | |
March 26 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 26 | 1:00 PM CST | F2 | Prairieville, AL | 5.4 | 800 | 1 | | |
March 27 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 27 | 12:30 AM CST | F3 | Petrey/E Saco, AL | 24.5 | 500 | 9 | 50 | |
March 31 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 31 | 10:00 PM CST | F2 | Belleville, AR | 2.7 | | 1 | 1 | |
April 5 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 5 | 1:40 PM EST | F2 | Tampa/N Plant City, FL | 23.8 | 100 | 1 | 3 | |
April 8 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 8 | 11:30 PM CST | F2 | Noxubee County, MS | 5.2 | 400 | | 3 | |
April 13 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 13 | 1:15 PM EST | F2 | N Miami, FL | 14.8 | 200 | | | |
April 18 5 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 18 | 2:30 PM CST | F3 | SW Satanta, KS | 30.6 | 500 | | 6 | |
| April 18 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | NW Frederick/W Snyder, OK | 15.2 | 600 | 1 | 20 | |
| April 18 | 6:55 PM CST | F3 | Snyder, OK | 5.3 | 50 | | 15 | |
| April 18 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | White Deer/Borger, TX | | | 1 | 5 | |
| April 18 | 8:00 PM CST | F2 | S Miami, TX | | | | | |
May 4 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 4 | 2:30 PM EST | F2 | Orangeburg, NC | 6.3 | 70 | | 2 | |
May 20 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 20 | 6:15 PM CST | F3 | W Codell/E Plainville, KS | 25.2 | 1,000 | | | |
May 21 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 21 | 7:00 AM CST | F2 | Scurry, TX | 0.9 | 30 | 1 | 1 | |
| May 21 | 2:00 PM CST | F2 | Mansfield, MO | 16.9 | | | 2 | |
| May 21 | 3:15 PM CST | F2 | McLeansboro, IL | 15.0 | | | 1 | |
May 22 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 22 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Whitwell, TN | | 50 | | 1 | |
| May 22 | 6:30 PM EST | F2 | E Calhoun Falls/S Greenwood, SC | 53.2 | 150 | | 9 | |
May 25 6 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 25 | 12:30 PM CST | F2 | NW Jennings, KS | 3.8 | 120 | | | |
| May 25 | 2:00 PM CST | F5 | Andale/Sedgwick, KS | 66.5 | 1,200 | 23 | 70 | |
| May 25 | 2:00 PM MST | F2 | Ogallala, NE | 0.9 | 50 | | 2 | |
| May 25 | 3:00 PM CST | F2 | S Sylvan Grove, KS | | 70 | | | |
| May 25 | 5:15 PM CST | F2 | S Fall River, KS | 17.6 | 100 | | | |
| May 25 | 5:30 PM CST | F3 | NW Howard/New Albany, KS | 25.3 | 400 | 1 | 15 | |
May 26 6 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 26 | 3:00 PM CST | F4 | Mattoon–Charleston tornado, IL | 26.3 | 800 | 101 | 638 | |
| May 26 | 3:45 PM CST | F3 | ESE Charleston/Westfield/Marshall/Livingston, IL | 25.4 | 200 | | 15 | |
| May 26 | 4:45 PM CST | F4 | Manahttan, IL to NE Crown Point, IN | 32.7 | 400 | 3 | 60 | |
| May 26 | 6:00 PM EST | F4 | Blackhawk, IN | 13.3 | 600 | 2 | 8 | |
| May 26 | 5:40 PM CST | F4 | Hebron, IN | 19.8 | 200 | 4 | 60 | |
| May 26 | 6:45 PM EST | F4 | S Bloomington, IN | 2.8 | 800 | | 8 | |
May 27 20 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 27 | 11:30 AM CST | F2 | Hurley/Boaz/N Ozark, MO | 19.9 | | | 50 | |
| May 27 | 12:00 PM CST | F1 | Bruner/Seymour, MO | 13.4 | 100 | | 4 | |
| May 27 | 12:15 PM CST | F3 | W Ozark, MO | 6.1 | 100 | | 4 | |
| May 27 | 2:15 PM CST | F2 | Coldspring, MO | | | | 4 | |
| May 27 | 3:00 PM CST | F4 | AR to Dyersburg, TN | 82.6 | 800 | 18 | 175 | |
| May 27 | 3:30 PM CST | F2 | Bardwell, KY | | | 3 | 35 | |
| May 27 | 4:00 PM CST | F4 | TN to Bondurant, KY to Dublin, KY | 49.1 | 800 | 67 | 345 | |
| May 27 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | W Milan/Trezevant/Hico/Manlyville/N Indian Mound, TN | 80.8 | 200 | 6 | 21 | |
| May 27 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | W Manilla/Cottonwood Point, AR | 4.8 | | 6 | 20 | |
| May 27 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | E Grenada, MS | | 100 | | 3 | |
| May 27 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | Pontotoc/Sherman, MS | 11.1 | 200 | | 3 | |
| May 27 | 5:00 PM CST | F3 | S St. Marys, MO/SE Chester/Willisville, IL | 22.4 | 200 | 1 | 25 | |
| May 27 | 6:00 PM CST | F4 | Linden, TN | 46.2 | 400 | 5 | 67 | |
| May 27 | 6:30 PM CST | F2 | Hallidayboro, IL | | | | | |
| May 27 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | N Brentwood/Lebanon, TN | 35.3 | 200 | 2 | 30 | |
| May 27 | 8:45 PM CST | F4 | Bradford, AL | 24.7 | 800 | 27 | 100 | |
| May 27 | 8:45 PM CST | F3 | Carbon Hill/NE Manchester, AL | 17.4 | 800 | 9 | 100 | |
| May 27 | 9:15 PM CST | F2 | Belfast, MO | 5.2 | | | 5 | |
| May 27 | 9:45 PM CST | F2 | Lees Chapel, AL | | | 1 | 15 | |
| May 27 | 10:35 PM CST | F3 | Windham Springs, AL | 4.9 | 500 | 5 | 10 | |
May 28 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 28 | 12:10 AM CST | F2 | SE Tuscaloosa, AL | 21.0 | 300 | 1 | 10 | |
| May 28 | 12:45 AM CST | F2 | Sycalauga, AL | | 800 | 1 | 4 | |
| May 28 | 1:00 AM CST | F3 | New Hope, AL | 18.1 | 200 | 6 | 35 | |
May 30 14 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 30 | | F2 | W Washington, MO | 0.9 | | | 1 | |
| May 30 | 12:30 PM CST | F4 | S Hazelton, MO | 55.0 | 400 | 10 | 20 | |
| May 30 | 1:00 PM CST | F4 | Mineral Point, MO | 108.0 | 400 | 10 | 100 | |
| May 30 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | S Knob Lick/Libertyville, MO | 14.6 | 100 | | | |
| May 30 | 4:00 PM CST | F3 | Graniteville/S Bismarck/Elvins/Flat River, MO | 27.9 | 300 | 7 | 25 | |
| May 30 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | SE Fredericktown, MO | 5.0 | | 3 | 5 | |
| May 30 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | Lawrenceton, MO | 13.3 | | | | |
| May 30 | 5:00 PM CST | F4 | Dongola, MO | 50.0 | 400 | 18 | 200 | |
| May 30 | 5:00 PM CST | F3 | S Taskee/NW Hendrickson/S Chaonia/ENE Arab, MO | 51.1 | 400 | 8 | 10 | |
| May 30 | 6:00 PM CST | F3 | N Ozora, MO/Fort Gage, IL | 12.9 | 100 | 1 | 4 | |
| May 30 | 6:00 PM CST | F3 | W Acorn Ridge/Zeta/Ardeola/Oran, MO | 31.1 | 200 | 6 | 25 | |
| May 30 | 6:15 PM CST | F2 | Crowder/Blodgett, MO | 10.3 | | | 10 | |
| May 30 | 6:30 PM CST | F2 | S Winona/Low Wassie, MO | 5.6 | | | | |
| May 30 | 9:00 PM CST | F3 | Hornersville, MO | 3.0 | | 2 | 4 | |
May 31 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 31 | 9:15 PM CST | F2 | Muenster/Lindsay/Gainesville, TX | 15.1 | 150 | | 5 | |
| May 31 | 9:30 PM CST | F4 | Pittman, OK | 7.9 | 200 | 3 | 20 | |
June 1 13 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 1 | 6:30 AM CST | F2 | Viola, KY | 5.0 | | | 11 | |
| June 1 | 10:30 AM EST | F2 | Lexington, KY | | | | 3 | |
| June 1 | 2:00 PM CST | F2 | S Guthrie, OK | | | | | |
| June 1 | 3:00 PM CST | F2 | Sapulpa, OK | | | | | |
| June 1 | 3:00 PM CST | F2 | Drumright/Oilton, OK | 2.2 | | | | |
| June 1 | 3:15 PM CST | F3 | Drake, OK | 3.2 | 50 | 5 | 5 | |
| June 1 | 3:30 PM CST | F2 | Earlington, KY | | | | | |
| June 1 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Okmulgee, OK | | | | | |
| June 1 | 4:00 PM CST | F3 | N Seminole, OK | 7.0 | 200 | | 12 | |
| June 1 | 4:20 PM CST | F4 | Coalgate, OK | 12.1 | 150 | 14 | 100 | |
| June 1 | 5:05 PM CST | F3 | Coffeyville, KS | 10.5 | 150 | 3 | 20 | |
| June 1 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | Pomona, KS | 9.8 | 400 | | 3 | |
| June 1 | 6:30 PM CST | F2 | Montana/McCune, KS | 9.9 | 60 | | 1 | |
June 5 12 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 5 | 4:10 PM CST | F2 | Eskridge, KS | 11.1 | | | | |
| June 5 | 4:50 PM CST | F4 | Elmont, KS | 25.0 | 800 | 9 | 50 | |
| June 5 | 5:00 PM CST | F3 | Clinton, KS | 11.1 | 400 | 1 | 8 | |
| June 5 | 5:45 PM CST | F2 | Troy, KS | 2.7 | | | | |
| June 5 | 6:00 PM CST | F4 | NE Shaw to SE Savonburg, KS | 12.9 | 300 | 1 | 1 | |
| June 5 | 6:30 PM CST | F2 | S Pomona/SE Olathe, KS | 40.9 | | | 3 | |
| June 5 | 7:00 PM CST | F3 | Richmond/N Stet, MO | 14.9 | 100 | 4 | 4 | |
| June 5 | 7:30 PM CST | F3 | Morse, KS/Kansas City, MO | 11.6 | 250 | 4 | 2 | |
| June 5 | 8:30 PM CST | F2 | N Harrison, AR | 5.2 | 75 | | 2 | |
| June 5 | 8:30 PM CST | F4 | Centralia, MO | 42.6 | 400 | 20 | 68 | |
| June 5 | 8:30 PM CST | F3 | S Bosworth, MO | 10.7 | 100 | 1 | 50 | |
| June 5 | 10:00 PM CST | F3 | SW Norwood, MO | 9.3 | 800 | 9 | 25 | |
June 6 6 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 6 | 11:45 AM EST | F3 | S Climax/Battle Creek, MI | 25.0 | 200 | | 20 | |
| June 6 | 12:10 PM EST | F2 | S Grand Haven, MI | 10.2 | 70 | | | |
| June 6 | 1:10 PM EST | F4 | Delhi, MI | 26.3 | 500 | 2 | 27 | |
| June 6 | 1:30 PM EST | F4 | Springport, MI | 21.8 | 400 | 2 | 29 | |
| June 6 | 3:00 PM EST | F2 | E Somerset, PA | 1.3 | | 1 | 3 | |
| June 6 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | N Greenville/Powderly, KY | 17.2 | 75 | 7 | 30 | |
June 7 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 7 | 2:00 AM CST | F2 | Sequoyah County, OK/Uniontown, AR | 6.2 | 200 | 2 | | |
| June 7 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Perry, OK | | 800 | | | |
| June 7 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | W Crescent, OK | | | | 1 | |
June 12 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 12 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | Hale, IA | 3.7 | 50 | | 1 | |
| June 12 | 7:00 PM CST | F3 | N Princeton/S Mercer/N Ravanna, MO | 8.1 | 200 | 2 | 15 | |
| June 12 | 8:45 PM CST | F3 | NE Louisville/E Wamego/W Belvue | 12.2 | 600 | | 7 | |
June 23 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 23 | 6:30 PM EST | F2 | Mecca/Bristol, OH | 7.4 | | | | |
| June 23 | 7:30 PM EST | F2 | Saegertown, PA | | 20 | | 3 | |
July 13 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 13 | 5:30 PM EST | F3 | Hickory Hill/E Nashville, IN | 2.1 | 100 | 2 | 2 | |
August 5 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 5 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | NE Pocasset, OK | 1.1 | 200 | 1 | 4 | |
August 10 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 10 | 6:00 PM MST | F2 | Two Buttes, CO | 7.8 | 100 | 1 | 7 | |
October 28 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 28 | 7:00 PM CST | F3 | W Springfield/W Elwood/SE Willard/N Glidewell, MO | 14.9 | 800 | | 5 | |
October 29 4 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 29 | 12:30 PM CST | F2 | W Bon Aqua, TN | 5.3 | 100 | 1 | 1 | |
| October 29 | 2:00 PM CST | F2 | S Clarksville, TN | | | | | |
| October 29 | 9:30 PM EST | F2 | W Lancaster, SC | | 200 | | 10 | |
| October 29 | 10:30 PM EST | F2 | Gretna/E Motley, VA | 2.3 | 100 | 1 | 4 | |
December 8 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 8 | | F2 | Atlanta, LA | | | 1 | 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.