Tornadoes · United States

Tornadoes of 1930

Grazulis's record has 154 significant tornadoes in the United States in 1930, which killed 185 people and injured 1,176. 18 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.

1929 1931

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 1930

The deadliest of 1930

By state

Filed under the state each path begins in.

Every significant tornado of 1930

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

February 3 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
February 3F2SW Lafayette, LA17

February 4 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
February 47:30 PM ESTF2Mint Hill, NC4.5200

February 24 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
February 245:30 PM ESTF2Ironspot, OH1.11504

March 6 5 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 64:30 PM CSTF3Skene, MS2.3250213
March 65:00 PM CSTF2Gregory, AR7
March 66:00 PM CSTF2N Kosciusko, MS1
March 67:15 PM CSTF2SW Homer, LA9.0100125
March 69:30 PM CSTF2Robeline, LA8.3356

March 7 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 72:00 AM CSTF2Seman, AL1503

March 15 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 159:40 AM PSTF2Palos Verdes Hills/Lawndale/Hawthorne, CA21.3254

March 19 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 199:00 PM CSTF2SW Headland, AL5.21501

April 16 2 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 162:30 PM CSTF2Ulysses, KS6.050
April 1610:00 PM CSTF2Colt, AR

April 17 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 1710:30 AM CSTF2W Gentry, AR6.650
April 17F2Spottsville, KY
April 176:00 PM CSTF2S Tilden, IL12.2150

May 1 20 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 15:10 PM CSTF2S Thurston/N Homer/S Dakota City, NE/Moville/Salix/Sioux City, IA42.470
May 15:15 PM CSTF3SW Bancroft to E Bancroft, NE7.11204
May 15:30 PM CSTF2Mound City/Maitland, MO23.775
May 15:40 PM CSTF2SE Spencer, IA6.4
May 16:00 PM CSTF3E Clio to S Allerton/E Corydon, IA18.24007
May 16:15 PM CSTF4Tekamah NE to IA15.5600440
May 16:15 PM CSTF4Winchester, KS to MO27.2400220
May 16:20 PM CSTF2N Fillmore/S Bolckow, MO7.5150
May 16:30 PM CSTF3SW Rosendale to S Union Star, MO17.23001
May 16:40 PM CSTF2SE Bethlehem, IA6.1503
May 17:00 PM CSTF2S Norwich, KS0.7100
May 17:10 PM CSTF4WSW Bethleham, to N Melrose, IA17.2100115
May 17:30 PM CSTF3S Holmen/N West Salem/Sparta to Tomah, WI35.010015
May 17:30 PM CSTF2W Conway Springs/Ewell, KS9.575
May 17:30 PM CSTF2S Smithville, MO7.870
May 17:30 PM CSTF2SE Ettrick/Melrose, WI32.310013
May 18:15 PM CSTF2Westby, WI7.8100111
May 19:15 PM CSTF4Norborne, MO11.0200620
May 110:30 PM CSTF2W Kewaunee, WI10.1400
May 111:50 PM CSTF2Decatur, IL1.3200

May 2 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 212:00 AM ESTF2Grand Rapids, MI7.11004

May 3 4 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 33:30 PM CSTF2Fletcher, OK1.850
May 35:10 PM CSTF2Tuttle, OK5.01204
May 35:30 PM CSTF2E Dover, OK10.5502
May 39:00 PM CSTF2Delhi, OK30

May 5 22 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 5F2E Durant, OK
May 5F2Lorraine, KS1.6
May 53:15 PM CSTF2Maywood, IL30
May 53:30 PM CSTF2Walters, OK8.8200
May 53:55 PM CSTF4NW Holstein to S Highland, NE11.4200
May 54:00 PM CSTF3SE Turon to N Langdon, KS14.95009
May 54:20 PM CSTF2SE Lorraine/NW Ellsworth, KS19.3500
May 55:15 PM CSTF4Ellinwood, KS26.64003
May 55:30 PM CSTF2Park Center/Ely, NE9.7602
May 55:30 PM CSTF2W Juniata, NE
May 55:50 PM CSTF4NE Walters, OK7.21,000116
May 56:00 PM CSTF3E Greenfield to SE Watonga, OK10.1600318
May 56:00 PM CSTF2SE Lincoln/E Barnard, KS21.74402
May 56:15 PM CSTF2SE St. Libory, NE8.4
May 56:15 PM CSTF2NE Doniphan, NE
May 56:30 PM CSTF3SW Duncan to NW Duncan, OK10.33007
May 57:00 PM CSTF4Greeley, NE15.22005
May 57:00 PM CSTF3SW Albion, NE
May 57:00 PM CSTF2SE Petersburg, NE5.0501
May 57:45 PM CSTF2S Chase, KS12.22
May 510:40 PM CSTF4NE Rush Springs, OK4.040029
May 511:00 PM CSTF3SW Solomon to NE Riley, KS50.010018

May 6 8 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 610:40 AM CSTF2Delhi, OK11.13004
May 611:00 AM CSTF2Lamoni/Decatur City, IA9.520
May 612:25 PM CSTF2SE Oskaloosa, IA6.1
May 62:30 PM CSTF1San Antonio, TX1.45014
May 63:30 PM CSTF4Frost, TX35.350041200
May 64:45 PM CSTF4Karnes/Dewitt Co. TX20.23003660
May 66:00 PM CSTF2Ottine, TX1.917
May 69:30 PM CSTF2Bronson, TX5.020021

May 8 4 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 86:00 PM CSTF2S Hendley/Beaver City/S Hollinger, NE13.9400
May 88:00 PM CSTF3S Keene to E Minden, NE14.7800
May 89:00 PM CSTF3E Upland to Hastings, NE30.2120
May 811:00 PM CSTF2NE York, NE5.0

May 9 9 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 92:30 AM CSTF2Storm Lake, IA13.2502
May 95:00 AM CSTF2Durant, OK
May 92:40 PM CSTF2NW Arpelar, OK0.63024
May 94:00 PM CSTF2E Roff, OK5.6400
May 94:00 PM CSTF2NW Fremont, NE1.530
May 94:30 PM CSTF2SE North Bend/E Webster, NE15.930
May 94:30 PM CSTF2SE Crowder/S Enterprise, OK17.1
May 95:10 PM CSTF4SE Quinton to NW Keota, OK25.5300415
May 96:00 PM CSTF4Barnsdall to Bartlesville, OK15.230015

May 10 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 104:00 PM CSTF2W Satanta, KS

May 13 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 132:45 PM ESTF2Westphalia/S St. John/Ovid, MI24.0

May 15 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 155:30 PM CSTF2Dundee/Mankins, TX9.84006
May 157:00 PM CSTF2Vernon, TX4.870
May 159:00 PM CSTF2Pittsburg, TX

May 18 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 183:30 AM CSTF3Tichnor to Wabash, AR30.9250830
May 184:00 AM CSTF3Elaine, AR10.12001260
May 1811:50 AM CSTF2Somerville, TN1.32007

May 27 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 275:30 PM CSTF3SW Streator to NE Streator, IL15.04

May 31 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 315:10 PM MSTF2Wagon Mound, NM6.270213

June 2 4 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 24:15 PM CSTF2Sumner, NE5.8
June 24:30 PM CSTF2Loup City, NE
June 25:00 PM CSTF2S Mason City, NE
June 25:45 PM CSTF3S Merna, NE2.92001

June 5 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 56:00 PM ESTF3Eagle/N Lansing to NE Owasso, MI40.6300

June 6 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 63:00 PM ESTF2Florence, SC6.235

June 8 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 84:30 PM MSTF3Hat Creek to SE Lusk, WY20.31001

June 13 9 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 133:45 PM CSTF4N Austin to Oslo, MN14.7800
June 135:00 PM CSTF3W Randolph, MN to Ellsworth, WI30.1300130
June 136:00 PM CSTF4Menomonie, WI25.0540
June 136:00 PM CSTF2St. Paul Park, MN1.21004
June 136:15 PM CSTF2E Menomonie, WI5.81004
June 137:00 PM CSTF3Caryville to Chippewa Falls, WI19.320018
June 137:00 PM CSTF2N Augusta, WI15.71
June 1310:05 PM CSTF2Charter Oak/Ricketts, IA8.3
June 1311:30 PM CSTF2W Clarion/Lake Cornelia, IA13.61

June 23 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 232:30 PM ESTF2S Winona/S Lake Roland, MI13.0306

June 24 6 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 245:00 PM CSTF4SSW Maxwell to SSE Gothenburg, NE27.24003
June 247:00 PM ESTF2S Anderson, SC2.22001
June 247:00 PM CSTF3Dawson County to SE Lexington, NE10.916
June 247:45 PM CSTF4WNW Pratt to NNW Pratt, KS4.31,2002
June 248:00 PM CSTF2NNW Bertrand, NE8.5
June 2410:30 PM CSTF2E Hospers, IA5.1

June 25 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 2512:00 PM CSTF3N Ainsworth, NE
June 256:30 PM CSTF2NW Sedan, KS75
June 257:00 PM CSTF3W Meadville/NE Springview, NE15.5400

June 26 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 267:30 PM ESTF2Bridgeport, PA130

June 29 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 2910:45 PM ESTF2S Scottville/Cadillac, MI48.9150

July 20 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
July 204:30 PM CSTF2N Milladore, WI10.11

September 14 3 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
September 145:15 PM CSTF2SW Freeport, KS2.250
September 1410:45 PM CSTF2Mount Vernon, IL1.33005
September 1411:00 PM CSTF2Dahlgren, IL4.9100

September 15 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
September 153:00 AM CSTF2N Cleveland, MS20011

September 18 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
September 183:00 PM CSTF2SE Albia, IA8.040

September 23 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
September 235:00 AM CSTF2Port Arthur, TX0.92003

September 25 7 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
September 25F2Bald Hill, OK
September 253:00 PM CSTF2W Albia, IA11.31
September 253:30 PM CSTF2NNE Keokuk/Summitville/New Boston, IA2.121
September 254:30 PM CSTF2Lynne Lane/E Tulsa, OK1.380
September 255:00 PM CSTF3Fort Scott, KS/W Metz, MO to NE Rich Hill, MO31.33002
September 255:00 PM CSTF2S Richards, MO
September 255:45 PM CSTF2NW Grand Mound, IA7.2

September 26 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
September 2612:15 PM ESTF2Caro, MI0.9601

October 2 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
October 23:00 PM MSTF3NW Fowler, CO9.680034

October 6 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
October 61:35 PM CSTF2N Crockett/Latexo, TX7.220030

October 7 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
October 78:30 AM CSTF2Opelousas, LA0.9100

November 15 5 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
November 1512:45 PM CSTF2Alief/E Addicks, TX6.67512
November 153:00 PM CSTF2Hicksbaugh/S Jasper, TX33.420012
November 154:30 PM CSTF2Winnsboro/Bushes, LA10.140014
November 155:15 PM CSTF2Gardner/Ball, LA21.6200515
November 1510:00 PM CSTF3N Woodville/Rosetta/Knoxville, MS45.3500140

November 16 1 tornado

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
November 161:30 AM CSTF2Fearns Springs/Nashulaville, MS17.820015

November 19 8 tornadoes

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
November 199:30 AM CSTF4Bethany, OK7.115023125
November 199:30 AM CSTF3S Carrier, OK5.22504
November 1910:00 AM CSTF2S Hillsdale, OK6.92501
November 1910:15 AM CSTF3W Victoria to NE Victoria, KS15.47015
November 192:00 PM CSTF2SW Neal, KS11.22002
November 193:30 PM CSTF2Leanna/W Savonburg, KS6.9100
November 198:35 PM CSTF2Ola, AR9.5180115
November 1910:00 PM CSTF2Cleveland, AR0.960

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.