Tornadoes · United States
Tornadoes of 1920
Grazulis's record has 98 significant tornadoes in the United States in 1920, which killed 514 people and injured 2,680. 20 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.
1919 1921
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 1920
- F4, Aberdeen/Starkville, MS and Waco, ALApril 20, 192088 killed
- F4, Peggs, OKMay 2, 192071 killed
- F4, Meridian, MSApril 20, 192036 killed
- F4, New Deemer, MSApril 20, 192027 killed
- F4, S Lily Flagg to S Huntsville, ALApril 20, 192027 killed
- F4, Red Hill, AL to West Point, GAMarch 28, 192026 killed
- F4, Ingomar, MSApril 20, 192024 killed
- F4, Unionville, IN to Rabbs Corner, OHMarch 28, 192023 killed
- F4, Arley, ALApril 20, 192021 killed
- F4, Melrose Park, ILMarch 28, 192020 killed
- F4, West Liberty, IN to Van Wert, OHMarch 28, 192017 killed
- F4, AR to Melva, MOMarch 11, 192010 killed
- F4, Fountain City, IN to Greenville, OHMarch 28, 19208 killed
- F4, Maple Grove, MIMarch 28, 19204 killed
- F4, NNE Fenton, MIMarch 28, 19204 killed
- F4, NW Monroe to Norwood, NCApril 12, 19203 killed
- F4, Orlando, IN to Coldwater, MIMarch 28, 19202 killed
- F4, N Chouteau, OKMay 2, 19203.6 mi (6 km)
- F4, Clinton Falls, MNMay 22, 192024.9 mi (40 km)
- F4, Corning, IAJuly 1, 192019.8 mi (32 km)
- F4, Aberdeen/Starkville, MS and Waco, ALApril 20, 192088 killed, 700 injured
- F4, Peggs, OKMay 2, 192071 killed, 100 injured
- F4, Meridian, MSApril 20, 192036 killed, 200 injured
- F3, SE LaGrange, GAMarch 28, 192027 killed, 100 injured
- F4, New Deemer, MSApril 20, 192027 killed, 60 injured
- F4, S Lily Flagg to S Huntsville, ALApril 20, 192027 killed, 100 injured
- F4, Red Hill, AL to West Point, GAMarch 28, 192026 killed, 125 injured
- F4, Ingomar, MSApril 20, 192024 killed, 180 injured
- F4, Unionville, IN to Rabbs Corner, OHMarch 28, 192023 killed, 54 injured
- F4, Arley, ALApril 20, 192021 killed, 50 injured
March 3 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 3 | | F2 | E Winfield, TX | 2.4 | | | 4 | |
March 11 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 11 | 1:10 PM CST | F2 | Nevada, MO | 1.5 | 50 | 3 | 15 | |
| March 11 | 3:00 PM CST | F4 | AR to Melva, MO | 29.9 | 100 | 10 | 30 | |
March 12 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 12 | 2:00 AM CST | F2 | Percy/Hollandale, MS | 5.0 | 200 | 5 | 30 | |
March 17 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 17 | 12:00 PM CST | F2 | E Troy, AL | 0.9 | 50 | | 1 | |
March 25 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 25 | 5:15 PM CST | F2 | W Cornland/NW Buffalo Hart/SW Broadwell/E Lincoln, IL | 22.3 | | | 4 | |
March 28 31 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 28 | 2:30 AM CST | F2 | Vanzant, MO | | 200 | | 5 | |
| March 28 | | F2 | SW Lansing/Mason, MI | | | | 1 | |
| March 28 | | F2 | E Free Soil/Sherman Township, MI | 6.7 | 150 | | | |
| March 28 | 12:30 PM EST | F2 | E Sodus Township, MI | | | | | |
| March 28 | 12:00 PM CST | F2 | S Courtland/NE Sycamore, IL | 11.8 | 100 | | | |
| March 28 | 12:05 PM CST | F3 | SE La Fox/Elgin, IL | 26.9 | 500 | 8 | 100 | |
| March 28 | 12:15 PM CST | F2 | E Elkhorn, W East Troy, WI | 6.2 | 400 | 1 | | |
| March 28 | 12:15 PM CST | F4 | Melrose Park, IL | 51.4 | 100 | 20 | 300 | |
| March 28 | 2:00 PM EST | F2 | Milner, Pike, GA | 1.4 | | 1 | 3 | |
| March 28 | 1:10 PM CST | F2 | Chicago, IL | 6.4 | 100 | | 6 | |
| March 28 | 3:00 PM EST | F2 | Weare, Oceana, MI | 9.9 | 100 | 1 | 3 | |
| March 28 | 2:00 PM CST | F3 | Cedar Springs/West Point, AL | 8.5 | 100 | 1 | 10 | |
| March 28 | 3:15 PM EST | F3 | S Mishawaka/NW Elkhart, IN/NW Union, MI | 21.2 | 200 | | 8 | |
| March 28 | 2:30 PM CST | F2 | N Deatsville, AL | | 100 | | 5 | |
| March 28 | 2:45 PM CST | F4 | Red Hill, AL to West Point, GA | 50.0 | 400 | 26 | 125 | |
| March 28 | 4:00 PM EST | F2 | W Three Rivers/W Parkville, MI | 29.8 | 50 | | | |
| March 28 | 4:00 PM EST | F2 | SW Kalamazoo, MI | | | | | |
| March 28 | 3:00 PM CST | F3 | W Leroy/W Palmer/Beatrice, IN | 7.9 | 100 | 1 | 1 | |
| March 28 | 4:30 PM EST | F4 | Orlando, IN to Coldwater, MI | 13.5 | 200 | 2 | 5 | |
| March 28 | 4:30 PM EST | F4 | Maple Grove, MI | 22.2 | 400 | 4 | 25 | |
| March 28 | 4:30 PM EST | F3 | S Mulliken/NE Eureka, MI | 50.6 | 150 | 1 | 1 | |
| March 28 | 4:30 PM EST | F3 | S Orangeville/ENE Hastings, MI | 8.7 | 200 | 1 | 5 | |
| March 28 | 5:00 PM EST | F4 | NNE Fenton, MI | 10.3 | 200 | 4 | 11 | |
| March 28 | 5:15 PM EST | F4 | Unionville, IN to Rabbs Corner, OH | 100.2 | 800 | 23 | 54 | |
| March 28 | 5:45 PM EST | F3 | SE LaGrange, GA | 4.4 | 800 | 27 | 100 | |
| March 28 | 6:00 PM EST | F2 | S Perry/NW Morrice, MI | 7.9 | 100 | | | |
| March 28 | 6:00 PM EST | F4 | West Liberty, IN to Van Wert, OH | 40.3 | 800 | 17 | 70 | |
| March 28 | 7:07 PM EST | F2 | W Saginaw, MI | 1.7 | 50 | | | |
| March 28 | 7:30 PM EST | F2 | Genoa, OH | 6.6 | 100 | 2 | 20 | |
| March 28 | 7:30 PM EST | F3 | S Union City, IN/SE Lightsville, OH | 14.8 | 200 | 5 | 10 | |
| March 28 | 8:00 PM EST | F4 | Fountain City, IN to Greenville, OH | 20.6 | 400 | 8 | 40 | |
April 2 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 2 | 6:00 AM EST | F2 | NE Cornwell/NE Lancaster, SC | 24.8 | 100 | | | |
April 8 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 8 | 9:00 PM CST | F2 | Eros, LA | 5.4 | 500 | | 5 | |
April 11 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 11 | 8:30 PM CST | F2 | Melrose, TX | 5.5 | 100 | 1 | 16 | |
April 12 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 12 | 4:00 PM EST | F2 | NE Oakway, SC | 6.2 | 500 | | 10 | |
| April 12 | 9:00 PM EST | F4 | NW Monroe to Norwood, NC | 32.0 | 150 | 3 | 20 | |
April 17 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 17 | 10:30 PM CST | F3 | Slick, OK | 6.1 | 1,500 | | 8 | |
April 19 5 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 19 | 12:15 AM CST | F3 | Huckleberry Mountain/Piney, AR | 15.5 | 400 | 9 | 40 | |
| April 19 | 12:15 AM CST | F3 | NE Stafford/W Mt. Nebo, AR | 12.0 | 400 | 10 | 10 | |
| April 19 | 1:00 AM CST | F2 | S Bellefonte, AR | 5.3 | 400 | | | |
| April 19 | 2:00 AM CST | F2 | St. Joe, AR | 4.8 | 100 | | 15 | |
| April 19 | 5:45 PM CST | F2 | Union, Franklin, MO | 12.5 | 100 | | 1 | |
April 20 7 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 20 | 7:00 AM CST | F4 | Ingomar, MS | 60.2 | 400 | 24 | 180 | |
| April 20 | 8:00 AM CST | F4 | Aberdeen/Starkville, MS and Waco, AL | 129.8 | 800 | 88 | 700 | |
| April 20 | 8:30 AM CST | F4 | New Deemer, MS | 40.1 | 400 | 27 | 60 | |
| April 20 | 9:55 AM CST | F4 | Meridian, MS | 48.9 | 400 | 36 | 200 | |
| April 20 | 10:00 AM CST | F4 | Arley, AL | 50.7 | 400 | 21 | 50 | |
| April 20 | 10:30 AM CST | F2 | NE Thompons Station, TN | 14.8 | | 1 | 10 | |
| April 20 | 12:30 PM CST | F4 | S Lily Flagg to S Huntsville, AL | 20.3 | 400 | 27 | 100 | |
April 21 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 21 | 3:00 AM EST | F2 | Ceder Rock, SC | | 50 | | 3 | |
| April 21 | 3:00 AM EST | F2 | Sandy Springs, SC | 3.1 | 200 | | 5 | |
April 22 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 22 | 12:30 AM EST | F2 | E Campobello, SC | 2.8 | 200 | | | |
| April 22 | 1:00 AM EST | F3 | Braselton/NW Maysville/S Homer, GA | 20.3 | 200 | 4 | 15 | |
April 26 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 26 | 8:00 PM EST | F1 | North, SC | 0.9 | | 1 | | |
May 2 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 2 | 6:30 PM CST | F3 | N Chelsea, OK | 5.2 | 200 | 4 | 8 | |
| May 2 | 7:30 PM CST | F4 | N Chouteau, OK | 3.6 | 800 | | 4 | |
| May 2 | 8:35 PM CST | F4 | Peggs, OK | 3.1 | 800 | 71 | 100 | |
May 3 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 3 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | Eureka, KS | 12.9 | 100 | | 3 | |
May 4 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 4 | 11:30 PM CST | F1 | Wilmer, TX | | 50 | 1 | 4 | |
May 5 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 5 | 12:00 PM MST | F3 | W Severance/W Nunn, CO | 35.5 | 200 | | | |
| May 5 | 1:30 PM MST | F2 | E Severance, CO | 0.7 | | | | |
May 8 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 8 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | Washington, Chickasaw, IA | | | | | |
May 9 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 9 | 5:00 PM MST | F2 | Scottsbluff, NE | | | | | |
May 11 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 11 | 2:15 PM CST | F3 | NW Paris/NE Paris, TX | 8.0 | 200 | 1 | 3 | |
May 22 7 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 22 | | F2 | N Dunlap, IA | 5.8 | 50 | | 1 | |
| May 22 | 1:15 PM CST | F3 | W Dundas/Castle Rock, MN | 10.1 | 200 | | 4 | |
| May 22 | 2:00 PM CST | F4 | Clinton Falls, MN | 24.9 | 400 | | 10 | |
| May 22 | 2:30 PM CST | F3 | Goodhue/Red Wing, MN | 5.7 | 300 | | 3 | |
| May 22 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | S Kelley, IA | 1.0 | 50 | | | |
| May 22 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | E Magnolia/NW Woodbine, IA | 9.7 | 50 | | | |
| May 22 | 5:40 PM CST | F2 | New Oregon Township, IA | | | | 1 | |
June 8 5 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 8 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | S Grandin/N Gardner, ND | 9.7 | | 1 | 8 | |
| June 8 | 5:30 PM CST | F3 | Doran/Everdell/N Foxhome, MN | 10.0 | 200 | 2 | 50 | |
| June 8 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | NE Campbell, MN | 6.7 | 500 | 2 | 8 | |
| June 8 | 6:00 PM CST | F3 | Campbell, MN | 6.3 | 500 | 2 | 8 | |
| June 8 | 10:00 PM CST | F2 | Brainerd, MN | | | | | |
June 10 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 10 | 1:45 PM EST | F2 | N Winona, MI | 24.3 | 200 | | | |
June 14 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 14 | 4:30 PM EST | F2 | SW Greenville, SC | 0.7 | | | 2 | |
June 20 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 20 | 2:00 PM EST | F2 | Waxhaw/Wesley Chapel, NC | 7.7 | 100 | | | |
June 24 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 24 | 4:00 PM MST | F2 | S Hillsdale, WY | 1.6 | 100 | | | |
July 1 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 1 | 5:45 PM CST | F4 | Corning, IA | 19.8 | 500 | | 4 | |
July 3 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 3 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | Golden Valley, ND | | 400 | | | |
August 27 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 27 | | F2 | NE Springer, NM | 6.7 | | | 2 | |
August 30 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 30 | | F2 | Bangorville, OH | | | | 2 | |
September 10 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 10 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | S Union City, TN | 3.9 | | 1 | 5 | |
September 11 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 11 | 5:00 PM EST | F2 | NW Bookwalter, OH | 14.4 | 70 | | | |
| September 11 | 6:00 PM EST | F2 | N Summerfield, OH | 8.4 | | | | |
September 23 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 23 | 7:30 PM CST | F2 | SE Winchester, KS | | 400 | | | |
October 14 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 14 | 11:00 PM CST | F2 | S Tyler, TX | 0.6 | 50 | 4 | 2 | |
October 19 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 19 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | NE San Antonio, TX | | 20 | | | |
December 22 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 22 | 4:00 PM EST | F2 | Snelling, SC | | 100 | 1 | 4 | |
| December 22 | 4:00 PM EST | F3 | W Barnwell, SC | 5.8 | 100 | 1 | 4 | |
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.