Tornadoes · United States
Tornadoes of 1942
Grazulis's record has 148 significant tornadoes in the United States in 1942, which killed 393 people and injured 3,074. 26 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.
1941 1943
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 1942
- F5, E Oberlin, KSApril 29, 194215 killed
- F5, Lacon, ILMarch 16, 19427 killed
- F4, O'Tuckalofa/Baldwin, MSMarch 16, 194263 killed
- F4 Pryor tornado, OklahomaApril 27, 194252 killed
- F4, Oklahoma City, OKJune 12, 194235 killed
- F4, Berryville, AROctober 29, 194229 killed
- F4, Childsville, OKMay 2, 194216 killed
- F4, Bethel Springs, TNMarch 16, 194215 killed
- F4, Alvin, ILMarch 16, 194211 killed
- F4, Crowell, TXApril 28, 194211 killed
- F4, Caneyville, KYMarch 16, 19429 killed
- F4, S Cushing to N Owasso, OKMay 2, 19427 killed
- F4, S Ewing, NEMay 12, 19426 killed
- F4, Baldwyn, MSMarch 16, 19425 killed
- F4, Talala, OKApril 27, 19424 killed
- F4, SSE McClave to E Eads, COApril 30, 19424 killed
- F4, Mulvane, KSJune 20, 19424 killed
- F4, Pawhuska, OKMay 2, 19423 killed
- F4, Kokomo, INJune 20, 19423 killed
- F4, Goshen, INMarch 16, 19422 killed
- F4, Mound City, KSMay 2, 19422 killed
- F4, Altoona, KSMay 2, 19421 killed
- F4, N Iola to N Lone Elm, KSMay 2, 194220.0 mi (32 km)
- F4, SE Silverton, TXMay 29, 19425.8 mi (9 km)
- F4, WSW Delphos, KSMay 31, 19427.0 mi (11 km)
- F4, NW Manhattan, KSJune 19, 194214.8 mi (24 km)
- F4, O'Tuckalofa/Baldwin, MSMarch 16, 194263 killed, 500 injured
- F4 Pryor tornado, OklahomaApril 27, 194252 killed, 350 injured
- F4, Oklahoma City, OKJune 12, 194235 killed, 100 injured
- F4, Berryville, AROctober 29, 194229 killed, 100 injured
- F4, Childsville, OKMay 2, 194216 killed, 80 injured
- F4, Bethel Springs, TNMarch 16, 194215 killed, 200 injured
- F5, E Oberlin, KSApril 29, 194215 killed, 25 injured
- F4, Alvin, ILMarch 16, 194211 killed, 60 injured
- F3, SE Greenville/Browder, KYMarch 16, 194211 killed, 50 injured
- F4, Crowell, TXApril 28, 194211 killed, 250 injured
January 1 5 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| January 1 | 5:35 AM CST | F2 | Union Church/Theodore, AL | 7.1 | 200 | 1 | 11 | |
| January 1 | 12:30 PM CST | F2 | Ebro/Greenhead, FL | 13.4 | 50 | | 5 | |
| January 1 | 12:30 PM CST | F2 | SE Clarksville, TN | 13.5 | 100 | 1 | 8 | |
| January 1 | 1:00 PM CST | F3 | Deer Park to N McIntosh, AL | 15.3 | | | | |
| January 1 | 2:00 PM CST | F2 | Megargel/Excel, AL | 10.8 | 400 | | 11 | |
January 30 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| January 30 | 4:00 AM CST | F2 | Bristol, TX | 4.6 | 50 | 7 | 9 | |
| January 30 | 6:00 AM CST | F2 | NW Greggton, TX | | | | 3 | |
| January 30 | 6:00 AM CST | F2 | NW Hallsville/Karnack, TX | 14.1 | | | | |
February 5 7 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 5 | 7:15 PM CST | F3 | Langley, AR | 14.5 | 200 | 1 | 12 | |
| February 5 | 7:30 PM CST | F2 | S Berryville/Green Forest, AR | 11.1 | 400 | | 10 | |
| February 5 | 8:00 PM CST | F2 | W Arkadelphia/Oden/Sims/S Malvern, AR | 33.9 | 100 | | 24 | |
| February 5 | 8:50 PM CST | F3 | Congo/N Benton to S Little Rock, AR | 20.0 | 150 | 3 | 19 | |
| February 5 | 10:30 PM CST | F2 | Dogwood/Paxton/Coon Spur/W Sheridan, AR | 18.0 | 200 | | 12 | |
| February 5 | 10:30 PM CST | F2 | Maynard, AR | 10.5 | 100 | | 2 | |
| February 5 | 10:30 PM CST | F2 | De Witt/Ethel, AR | 11.4 | 100 | | 5 | |
February 6 15 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 6 | 2:00 AM CST | F2 | S Pontotoc/Palmetto/NE Verona, MS | 18.8 | 200 | 1 | 10 | |
| February 6 | 2:00 AM CST | F2 | Shannon/Dorsey, MS | 15.4 | 200 | | 25 | |
| February 6 | 2:30 AM CST | F2 | Russellville, AL | 4.5 | 100 | 1 | 25 | |
| February 6 | 2:45 AM CST | F2 | E Russellville/Waco, AL | 5.4 | 100 | 2 | 10 | |
| February 6 | 4:00 AM CST | F2 | Ardmore, TN | 6.1 | 400 | | 1 | |
| February 6 | 7:05 AM EST | F2 | Cleveland, TN | 1.5 | 100 | | 3 | |
| February 6 | 8:30 AM CST | F2 | Marbury/E Verbena, AL | 12.8 | 100 | | 8 | |
| February 6 | 9:45 AM CST | F2 | Milltown/Stroud/Standing Rock, AL | 14.0 | 200 | | 13 | |
| February 6 | 1:00 PM EST | F3 | N Alvaton to SW Griffin, GA | 15.7 | 400 | 6 | 25 | |
| February 6 | 1:30 PM EST | F3 | Butts County to Putnam County, GA | 31.3 | 500 | 6 | 70 | |
| February 6 | 1:30 PM EST | F2 | White Plains/Crawfordville, GA | 15.1 | 200 | | 10 | |
| February 6 | 2:00 PM EST | F2 | Eatonton, GA | 6.3 | 200 | 1 | 35 | |
| February 6 | 3:30 PM EST | F2 | Edgefield, SC | 4.7 | 200 | | 4 | |
| February 6 | 4:00 PM EST | F2 | Dublin, GA | 8.3 | 100 | | 2 | |
| February 6 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | S Hodgen/S Heavener, OK | 10.9 | 100 | 1 | 5 | |
March 11 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 11 | 4:35 PM CST | F2 | Paris, TN | | 20 | | 3 | |
| March 11 | 5:20 PM CST | F2 | Southside, TN | | 50 | | | |
| March 11 | 5:50 PM CST | F3 | Adams/Cedar Hill, TN | 7.8 | 100 | 2 | 10 | |
March 13 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 13 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | NW Morehouse, MO | 5.6 | 300 | | | |
March 15 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 15 | 11:10 PM CST | F3 | SW Okarche to E Kingfisher, OK | 12.8 | 500 | | | |
March 16 25 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 16 | 10:30 AM CST | F4 | Alvin, IL | 52.1 | 400 | 11 | 60 | |
| March 16 | 3:00 PM CST | F4 | O'Tuckalofa/Baldwin, MS | 110.2 | 600 | 63 | 500 | |
| March 16 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Fairview, IL | 13.3 | | | 11 | |
| March 16 | 4:15 PM CST | F2 | N Middle Grove/Yates City, IL | 11.8 | 200 | | | |
| March 16 | 4:15 PM CST | F2 | Grenada, MS | 5.8 | 100 | 1 | 4 | |
| March 16 | 4:20 PM CST | F3 | W Holly Springs to NE Spring Hill, MS | 17.4 | 400 | 5 | 40 | |
| March 16 | 4:30 PM CST | F5 | Lacon, IL | 35.1 | 400 | 7 | 70 | |
| March 16 | 4:30 PM CST | F4 | Bethel Springs, TN | 35.8 | 880 | 15 | 200 | |
| March 16 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | SW Huntingdon/Mansfield/Manlyville/Springville, TN | 54.9 | 800 | 5 | 67 | |
| March 16 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | WNW Bolivar, TN | | | | 12 | |
| March 16 | 4:45 PM CST | F3 | Hornsby/Series, TN | 7.9 | | | 5 | |
| March 16 | 5:00 PM CST | F3 | W Lincoln to N Lincoln, IL | 4.7 | 400 | 2 | 3 | |
| March 16 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | S Ofahoma/Carthage, MS | 24.5 | | 1 | 10 | |
| March 16 | 6:00 PM EST | F2 | Shelbyville/Mays/NE Lewisville, IN | 35.8 | 400 | | 7 | |
| March 16 | 5:05 PM CST | F4 | Baldwyn, MS | 4.9 | 300 | 5 | 50 | |
| March 16 | 5:40 PM CST | F3 | Baldwyn, MS | 5.0 | 200 | | 15 | |
| March 16 | 5:40 PM CST | F3 | SE Greenville/Browder, KY | 9.6 | 300 | 11 | 50 | |
| March 16 | 6:00 PM CST | F3 | Waterloo, AL | 1.8 | 400 | 2 | 30 | |
| March 16 | 6:15 PM CST | F4 | Caneyville, KY | 29.4 | 200 | 9 | 40 | |
| March 16 | 6:30 PM CST | F3 | Hurricane Mills/Bold Spring, TN | | 150 | 2 | 10 | |
| March 16 | 7:30 PM EST | F3 | N Bardstown/Deatsville/Cox's Creek, KY | 15.0 | 200 | 4 | 20 | |
| March 16 | 7:00 PM CST | F3 | Cooperstown, TN | 9.2 | 880 | 1 | 20 | |
| March 16 | 8:00 PM CST | F3 | Goodspring/Pulaski to Diana, TN | 20.2 | 150 | 2 | 4 | |
| March 16 | 9:15 PM EST | F2 | SW Plymouth, IN | | | | 2 | |
| March 16 | 9:32 PM EST | F4 | Goshen, IN | 10.0 | 200 | 2 | 53 | |
March 17 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 17 | 6:30 PM EST | F3 | Springfield to Norway, SC | 10.2 | 400 | | 7 | |
April 4 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 4 | 4:55 PM CST | F3 | S Cadott/S Thorp, WI | 20.2 | 100 | | | |
April 6 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 6 | 2:00 PM CST | F2 | Boonsville, TX | | | | | |
April 18 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 18 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | S Coldwater, KS | 0.9 | | | | |
April 23 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 23 | 2:00 PM CST | F1 | Breckenridge, TX | 0.9 | 20 | 1 | 2 | |
April 27 4 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 27 | | F1 | S Glasgow, MO | | | 1 | | |
| April 27 | 3:05 PM CST | F3 | SW Ortonville/E Clinton/W Johnson to E Dumont, MN | 38.5 | 200 | 2 | 7 | |
| April 27 | 3:15 PM CST | F4 | Pryor tornado, OK | 19.8 | 400 | 52 | 350 | |
| April 27 | 3:45 PM CST | F4 | Talala, OK | 15.2 | 200 | 4 | 12 | |
April 28 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 28 | 9:30 PM CST | F4 | Crowell, TX | 3.1 | 1,500 | 11 | 250 | |
April 29 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 29 | 6:30 PM CST | F3 | NE Kidder, SD | 5.3 | 200 | 1 | 5 | |
| April 29 | 9:30 PM CST | F2 | W Wallace, NE | 4.3 | 400 | | | |
| April 29 | 10:30 PM CST | F5 | E Oberlin, KS | 20.0 | 300 | 15 | 25 | |
April 30 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 30 | 1:30 AM MST | F4 | SSE McClave to E Eads, CO | 30.1 | 800 | 4 | 12 | |
| April 30 | 7:45 PM CST | F2 | Castlewood, SD | | | 1 | | |
| April 30 | 11:45 PM CST | F3 | W Seymour to NE Seymour, MO | 8.6 | 500 | 1 | 1 | |
May 2 7 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 2 | 2:30 PM CST | F4 | Pawhuska, OK | 80.4 | 600 | 3 | 28 | |
| May 2 | 3:15 PM CST | F4 | S Cushing to N Owasso, OK | 55.5 | 400 | 7 | 20 | |
| May 2 | 3:30 PM CST | F4 | Childsville, OK | 57.4 | 800 | 16 | 80 | |
| May 2 | 3:30 PM CST | F4 | Altoona, KS | 29.7 | 300 | 1 | 10 | |
| May 2 | 4:00 PM CST | F4 | N Iola to N Lone Elm, KS | 20.0 | 400 | | 10 | |
| May 2 | 4:20 PM CST | F4 | Mound City, KS | 30.9 | 200 | 2 | 15 | |
| May 2 | 8:10 PM CST | F2 | SE Fayette, MO | | | 1 | 2 | |
May 6 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 6 | 9:00 PM EST | F2 | New Petersburg, OH | | 100 | | | |
May 10 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 10 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | N Sublette/NE Dodge City, KS | 58.2 | 100 | | 2 | |
| May 10 | 7:30 PM CST | F2 | N Lenora, KS | 3.8 | | | | |
May 11 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 11 | 5:30 PM CST | F3 | W Bradshaw, NE | 1.0 | 400 | | | |
May 12 7 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 12 | 4:15 PM MST | F3 | Venango to SE Madrid, NE | 22.1 | 300 | | 3 | |
| May 12 | 6:30 PM CST | F3 | Oconto/E Berwyn/N Comstock/S Weissert, NE | 40.1 | 400 | | 3 | |
| May 12 | 8:00 PM CST | F4 | S Ewing, NE | 40.3 | 400 | 6 | 10 | |
| May 12 | 8:30 PM CST | F3 | SW Verdigre, NE to NW Springfield, SD | 29.6 | 600 | | 7 | |
| May 12 | 9:30 PM CST | F2 | NE Oakdale, NE | 8.1 | 100 | | | |
| May 12 | 10:00 PM CST | F2 | NE Foster/SE Osmond/S Wausa, NE | 15.6 | 100 | | 2 | |
| May 12 | 11:00 PM CST | F2 | S Randolph, NE | 6.7 | 100 | | | |
May 13 7 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 13 | 12:10 PM CST | F3 | NW Springfield to N Morton, MN | 27.3 | 100 | | 19 | |
| May 13 | 2:15 PM CST | F2 | W Dayton, MN | 6.5 | 70 | | | |
| May 13 | 2:30 PM CST | F3 | W Anoka to Dayton, MN | 5.5 | 70 | | 2 | |
| May 13 | 3:00 PM CST | F3 | S Black River Falls to Loyal, WI | 39.7 | 150 | 1 | 1 | |
| May 13 | 3:00 PM CST | F3 | E Star Prairie to NE Deronda, WI | 11.8 | 30 | | 2 | |
| May 13 | 3:07 PM CST | F3 | ENE Columbia, MO | 4.8 | 50 | | | |
| May 13 | 3:45 PM CST | F2 | SW Antigo/S Neva, WI | 10.2 | 100 | | | |
May 17 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 17 | 3:45 PM CST | F2 | W Fox/Clemscot/Woodford/Springer, OK | 21.8 | | | 1 | |
May 27 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 27 | 6:15 PM CST | F2 | Bryant, SD | | 100 | | | |
May 29 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 29 | 9:00 PM CST | F4 | SE Silverton, TX | 5.8 | 1,000 | | | |
May 30 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 30 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | SSE Little Rock, IA | | | | | |
| May 30 | 5:45 PM CST | F3 | W Lake Park, IA to Jackson County, MN | 19.9 | 600 | | | |
May 31 4 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 31 | 4:18 PM CST | F3 | Guymon, OK | 4.8 | 200 | | | |
| May 31 | 4:30 PM CST | F4 | WSW Delphos, KS | 7.0 | 200 | | 2 | |
| May 31 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | ESE Delphos/S Lamar, KS | 6.0 | 200 | | 5 | |
| May 31 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | SE Longford, KS | 3.2 | 880 | | 1 | |
June 3 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 3 | 3:00 AM CST | F2 | S Cherokee, IA | 0.9 | 50 | | | |
June 12 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 12 | 8:41 PM CST | F4 | Oklahoma City, OK | 2.4 | 500 | 35 | 100 | |
June 14 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 14 | 1:00 PM MST | F2 | W San Acacio, CO | 6.8 | 300 | | | |
June 19 4 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 19 | 1:30 PM CST | F2 | Robinson/Wabash River, IL | 7.6 | 400 | | 1 | |
| June 19 | 9:15 PM CST | F4 | NW Manhattan, KS | 14.8 | 150 | | | |
| June 19 | 10:15 PM CST | F2 | S Riley, KS | 2.1 | | | | |
| June 19 | 10:30 PM CST | F2 | WSW Manhattan, KS | | | | | |
June 20 4 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 20 | 3:40 AM CST | F2 | Amity, MO | 11.8 | 1,500 | | 2 | |
| June 20 | 6:30 PM EST | F4 | Kokomo, IN | 27.6 | 300 | 3 | 150 | |
| June 20 | 8:32 PM CST | F4 | Mulvane, KS | 8.3 | 400 | 4 | 10 | |
| June 20 | 11:05 PM CST | F2 | W Modoc, KS | | | | | |
June 25 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 25 | 7:00 PM MST | F2 | W Wheatland, WY | 6.9 | | 2 | 4 | |
June 27 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 27 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | Santee, NE | 0.9 | | | 1 | |
June 28 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 28 | 5:45 PM CST | F2 | Guthrie Center/Perry/Luther, IA | 48.9 | 880 | | | |
| June 28 | 8:00 PM CST | F2 | Wilmington/Winnebago, MN | 9.3 | 30 | | | |
July 5 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 5 | 6:30 PM CST | F2 | N Goodell/Belmond, IA | 11.5 | 50 | | | |
July 28 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 28 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Hancock, WI | 2.1 | 30 | | | |
August 17 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 17 | 11:00 AM EST | F2 | N Deer Park/Swanton, MD | 9.1 | 70 | | | |
August 22 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 22 | 1:15 AM CST | F2 | Center, TX | 2.1 | 300 | | 16 | |
September 17 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 17 | 11:30 PM CST | F2 | Edson, WI | 1.0 | 100 | | | |
September 24 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 24 | 5:05 PM EST | F2 | Bristol/Plainville, CT | 3.9 | 100 | | | |
September 27 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 27 | 3:30 PM EST | F2 | Carysbrook, VA | | 500 | | | |
October 29 4 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 29 | 5:40 PM CST | F2 | Mena, AR | 1.1 | 100 | | 6 | |
| October 29 | 6:50 PM CST | F2 | S Bedison, MO | 2.1 | 200 | | 8 | |
| October 29 | 7:30 PM CST | F2 | Dardanelle, AR | 1.3 | 50 | | 1 | |
| October 29 | 10:30 PM CST | F4 | Berryville, AR | 2.3 | 800 | 29 | 100 | |
November 16 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| November 16 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | W Bush City/Parker, KS | 18.4 | 500 | | | |
December 1 5 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 1 | | F2 | Clyburn, SC | | | 1 | 2 | |
| December 1 | 5:30 PM EST | F2 | Goldmine, GA | | | | | |
| December 1 | 5:30 PM EST | F2 | Wrightsville, GA | 7.6 | 50 | | 2 | |
| December 1 | 7:06 PM EST | F2 | Newberry, SC | 1.1 | 250 | | 4 | |
| December 1 | 9:00 PM EST | F2 | S Whiteville/Bolton, NC | 15.9 | 300 | 1 | 30 | |
December 5 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 5 | 11:30 AM CST | F2 | Port Arthur, TX | | 100 | | | |
| December 5 | 10:00 PM CST | F2 | Hurtsboro, AL | 6.5 | 200 | | 31 | |
December 22 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 22 | 2:00 AM CST | F2 | Maringouin/Livonia, LA | 1.9 | 100 | 2 | 4 | |
December 26 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 26 | 11:20 AM CST | F2 | SW Mendenhall/Merit/D'Lo, MS | 8.3 | 200 | | 5 | |
| December 26 | 4:45 PM CST | F3 | S Cookville, TX | 7.0 | 100 | | 15 | |
| December 26 | 8:17 PM CST | F2 | Appleby/Arlam/Caledonia, TX | 13.7 | 100 | 5 | 13 | |
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.