Tornadoes · United States
Tornadoes of 1949
Grazulis's record has 208 significant tornadoes in the United States in 1949, which killed 217 people and injured 2,052. 19 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.
1948 1950
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 1949
- F4 Warren tornado, ArkansasJanuary 3, 194955 killed
- F4, Cape Girardeau, MO to ILMay 21, 194923 killed
- F4, WSW to N England, ARMarch 26, 194918 killed
- F4, Shelburn, INMay 21, 194914 killed
- F4, Amarillo, TXMay 15, 19497 killed
- F4, W Poplar Bluff, MODecember 11, 19496 killed
- F4, E Florrisant, MO to Wood River, ILMay 21, 19495 killed
- F4, Canton, OKMarch 30, 19494 killed
- F4, Palestine, IL to Sullivan, INMay 21, 19494 killed
- F4, Oneonta, ALNovember 24, 19494 killed
- F4, Sundown, TXMay 6, 19492 killed
- F4, NE Dalhart, TX to Guymon, OKMay 15, 19491 killed
- F4, W Spur, TXMay 17, 19491 killed
- F4, SE Gypsum to NE Solomon, KSMay 20, 19491 killed
- F4, Etna, OKMay 20, 19491 killed
- F4, S Fairfax to E Tarkio, MOJune 1, 19491 killed
- F4, Desdemona, TXMarch 25, 194911.6 mi (19 km)
- F4, Norman, OKApril 30, 194922.3 mi (36 km)
- F4, Bingham, IAJune 1, 19499.8 mi (16 km)
- F4 Warren tornado, ArkansasJanuary 3, 194955 killed, 435 injured
- F4, Cape Girardeau, MO to ILMay 21, 194923 killed, 130 injured
- F4, WSW to N England, ARMarch 26, 194918 killed, 150 injured
- F4, Shelburn, INMay 21, 194914 killed, 251 injured
- F2, Hackneyville/NE Alexander City, ALNovember 24, 194910 killed, 10 injured
- F3, West Carroll Parish, LA to S Indianola, MSMarch 24, 19497 killed, 69 injured
- F4, Amarillo, TXMay 15, 19497 killed, 82 injured
- F4, W Poplar Bluff, MODecember 11, 19496 killed, 30 injured
- F3, E Howell to Beedeville, ARMarch 26, 19495 killed, 30 injured
- F4, E Florrisant, MO to Wood River, ILMay 21, 19495 killed, 55 injured
January 3 12 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| January 3 | 2:00 PM CST | F3 | NE Altoona to SW Petrolia, KS | 13.4 | 150 | | 1 | |
| January 3 | 2:30 PM CST | F3 | NE Iola to E Bush City, KS | 24.8 | 100 | | | |
| January 3 | 2:45 PM CST | F2 | Dixie/Sarepta, LA | 25.5 | 100 | | 14 | |
| January 3 | 3:15 PM CST | F3 | Cotton Valley to Gordon, LA | 25.3 | 300 | 1 | 7 | |
| January 3 | 4:00 PM CST | F3 | Hopewell to N El Dorado, AR | 11.6 | | 2 | 18 | |
| January 3 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Bunn/Farindale/Grapevine, AR | 22.5 | 150 | 1 | 7 | |
| January 3 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Bismarck/Magnet Cove, AR | 20.4 | 200 | | 1 | |
| January 3 | 4:15 PM CST | F4 | Warren tornado, AR | 40.2 | 500 | 55 | 435 | |
| January 3 | 4:20 PM CST | F2 | Malvern, AR | 7.1 | 100 | | | |
| January 3 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | Kentucky/Congo, AR | 6.7 | 100 | | 2 | |
| January 3 | 6:30 PM CST | F3 | Choudrant to E Farmersville, LA | 20.2 | | 1 | 14 | |
| January 3 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | S Gould, AR | 6.2 | 100 | | 5 | |
January 18 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| January 18 | 4:00 PM CST | F3 | S Caledonia, MS | 4.9 | 100 | 3 | 17 | |
February 12 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 12 | 9:30 PM CST | F2 | Edna, KS | 11.7 | 200 | | | |
February 14 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 14 | 11:30 PM CST | F2 | Hough/NE Charleston, MO | 9.1 | 16 | | 9 | |
February 15 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 15 | 12:10 AM CST | F2 | ENE Princeton/Oatesville/Glezen, IN | 14.6 | 400 | | 2 | |
February 19 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 19 | 9:00 AM CST | F2 | SW Red Level, AL | 0.6 | 100 | | 5 | |
March 9 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 9 | 10:30 AM CST | F2 | N Banks/W Warren, AR | | 100 | | | |
| March 9 | 11:30 AM CST | F2 | Deridder, LA | 7.2 | 50 | | 1 | |
March 14 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 14 | 11:55 PM EST | F2 | Dade City, FL | 0.9 | | | | |
March 21 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 21 | 12:00 PM CST | F2 | NW Alexandria/Olla, LA | 39.4 | 20 | | 11 | |
| March 21 | 1:00 PM CST | F2 | Fair Oaks Springs, MS | | 50 | | 1 | |
| March 21 | 1:30 PM CST | F2 | S Yazoo/Tchula, MS | 31.4 | 100 | 1 | 19 | |
March 24 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 24 | 1:50 PM CST | F2 | NE Vermillion, SD | 2.1 | | | | |
| March 24 | 10:00 PM CST | F3 | West Carroll Parish, LA to S Indianola, MS | 55.6 | 100 | 7 | 69 | |
March 25 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 25 | 12:45 PM CST | F4 | Desdemona, TX | 11.6 | 800 | | 18 | |
| March 25 | 8:00 PM CST | F2 | Kirkville, MS | 1.5 | | | 10 | |
March 26 13 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 26 | 12:07 AM CST | F2 | N De Leon, TX | 17.5 | | | | |
| March 26 | 1:15 AM CST | F2 | S Millsap/Springtown, TX | 23.4 | 500 | | 8 | |
| March 26 | 3:45 AM CST | F3 | Haywood to Crowder, OK | 35.3 | 800 | 2 | 25 | |
| March 26 | 5:30 AM CST | F2 | S Christie/Westville, OK/Tontitown/W Springdale, AR | 26.5 | 70 | | | |
| March 26 | 2:45 PM CST | F3 | Whelen Springs, AR | 24.9 | 200 | 1 | 10 | |
| March 26 | 4:00 PM CST | F4 | WSW to N England, AR | 45.5 | 500 | 18 | 150 | |
| March 26 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | E Howell to Beedeville, AR | 30.9 | 100 | 5 | 30 | |
| March 26 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | NW Lutesville, MO | | | | 2 | |
| March 26 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | WSW Caruthersville, MO | 3.9 | 100 | | 4 | |
| March 26 | 6:35 PM CST | F2 | Troy, TN | 6.1 | 400 | | 2 | |
| March 26 | 7:30 PM CST | F3 | SW Furrs to New Site, MS | 40.1 | 200 | 2 | 33 | |
| March 26 | 7:45 PM CST | F2 | SW Dexter, KY | 6.5 | 200 | | 2 | |
| March 26 | 9:00 PM CST | F2 | Graham, KY | | | | 2 | |
March 30 5 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 30 | 12:20 AM CST | F4 | Canton, OK | 19.6 | | 4 | 31 | |
| March 30 | 2:00 AM CST | F3 | Enid to Blackwell, OK | 42.4 | | | 7 | |
| March 30 | 2:15 AM CST | F2 | S Jefferson/E Medford, OK | 15.1 | | | | |
| March 30 | 4:10 AM CST | F3 | SE Dexter, KS | 5.2 | 200 | | 2 | |
| March 30 | 9:15 PM CST | F2 | Kemper/W Chesterfield, IL | 12.5 | 440 | | | |
March 31 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 31 | 9:30 AM CST | F2 | Niceville, FL | 2.3 | 20 | | 1 | |
| March 31 | 6:15 PM EST | F2 | Uniontown/Hopwood, PA | 9.1 | 65 | | 3 | |
April 1 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 1 | 2:30 PM EST | F2 | Starke, FL | | | | 1 | |
April 12 6 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 12 | 12:00 PM EST | F3 | Hogansville, GA | | | | 3 | |
| April 12 | 6:30 PM EST | F2 | Pine Mountain/Manchester, GA | 12.5 | 100 | 1 | 20 | |
| April 12 | 7:10 PM EST | F2 | Zebulon, GA | 9.0 | 400 | 1 | 3 | |
| April 12 | 7:25 PM EST | F2 | Griffin, GA | 1.3 | 100 | | 5 | |
| April 12 | 7:45 PM EST | F3 | E McDonough, GA | 2.3 | 150 | 2 | 5 | |
| April 12 | 9:00 PM EST | F2 | Covington, GA | | | | | |
April 15 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 15 | 11:00 AM EST | F2 | Schrader Creek/SW Towanda, PA | 8.7 | 200 | | 3 | |
April 18 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 18 | 10:00 AM PST | F2 | Reno, NV | 9.7 | 70 | | | |
| April 18 | 9:30 PM CST | F2 | SE Shallowater, TX | 4.3 | 70 | | 1 | |
April 30 15 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 30 | 2:45 PM CST | F2 | S Eldorado, OK | 8.5 | 50 | | | |
| April 30 | 2:57 PM CST | F4 | Norman, OK | 22.3 | 400 | | 48 | |
| April 30 | 3:00 PM CST | F3 | S Lawton to McClain County, OK | 34.8 | 200 | | 4 | |
| April 30 | 4:00 PM CST | F3 | Frederick, OK | 6.2 | | | | |
| April 30 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Burt/Frederick/Tipton, OK | | | | 1 | |
| April 30 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | Antioch to NE Wayne, OK | 17.1 | 150 | | 1 | |
| April 30 | 4:45 PM CST | F2 | Econtuchka, OK | 6.9 | 200 | | | |
| April 30 | 4:50 PM CST | F3 | Stella to E Meeker, OK | 23.8 | 250 | 3 | 8 | |
| April 30 | 5:20 PM CST | F2 | E Comanche/E Duncan, OK | 15.1 | 300 | | | |
| April 30 | 5:30 PM CST | F3 | W Liberty to Bennington, OK | 35.2 | 600 | | 7 | |
| April 30 | 6:00 PM CST | F3 | S Boswell to W Soper, OK | 29.6 | 400 | 1 | 8 | |
| April 30 | 6:00 PM CST | F3 | E Davidson, OK | | | | | |
| April 30 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | SW Bonham, TX | 3.0 | 70 | | 7 | |
| April 30 | 7:05 PM CST | F3 | NE Bonham to NE Telephone, TX | 10.3 | 100 | 3 | 2 | |
| April 30 | 8:00 PM CST | F2 | NE Schooler Lake/W Sawyer, OK | 8.6 | | 1 | | |
May 1 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 1 | 8:50 AM CST | F2 | WNW Houston/Okolona, MS | 22.9 | | | 5 | |
| May 1 | 11:55 AM CST | F2 | W Pulaski, TN | | 50 | | | |
| May 1 | 5:00 PM CST | F3 | S Homer, LA | | | 1 | 12 | |
May 6 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 6 | 5:15 PM CST | F4 | Sundown, TX | 5.1 | 200 | 2 | 5 | |
| May 6 | 5:00 PM MST | F3 | Roosevelt County, NM to Bledsoe, TX | 5.0 | 1,000 | | | |
May 8 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 8 | 6:30 PM CST | F2 | N Henryetta/Schulter, OK | 7.0 | 100 | | | |
May 13 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 13 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | NW Amarillo, TX | | | | | |
| May 13 | 4:55 PM CST | F3 | NE Amarillo, TX | 6.0 | 200 | | 1 | |
| May 13 | 5:15 PM CST | F3 | W Panhandle, TX | 10.5 | 200 | | | |
May 15 5 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 15 | | F2 | Amarillo, TX | 18.1 | 50 | | | |
| May 15 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | S Gruver, TX | | | | | |
| May 15 | 7:22 PM CST | F4 | Amarillo, TX | 20.6 | 200 | 7 | 82 | |
| May 15 | 9:00 PM CST | F2 | Pringle, TX | 19.3 | 600 | | | |
| May 15 | 11:30 PM CST | F4 | NE Dalhart, TX to Guymon, OK | 59.9 | 400 | 1 | 3 | |
May 16 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 16 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | Stuart, IA | | 50 | | | |
May 17 7 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 17 | 2:30 PM CST | F2 | NW Amery/Lake Wapogasset, WI | 12.8 | 50 | | 2 | |
| May 17 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | SE Hastings to N Inland, NE | 8.9 | 400 | | 5 | |
| May 17 | 4:30 PM CST | F3 | S Floydada to Dougherty, TX | 13.2 | | | | |
| May 17 | 4:45 PM CST | F4 | W Spur, TX | 9.4 | 200 | 1 | 9 | |
| May 17 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | E Butte, NE | 6.2 | 170 | | | |
| May 17 | 6:20 PM CST | F3 | E Binger, OK | 9.0 | 300 | | | |
| May 17 | 7:59 PM CST | F2 | Meeker, OK | 7.9 | 300 | | 13 | |
May 18 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 18 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | S Kellerville, TX | 11.4 | 150 | | | |
| May 18 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | SW Gould, OK | 5.4 | 70 | | | |
| May 18 | 7:30 PM CST | F2 | Victory, OK | 6.2 | | | | |
May 19 6 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 19 | 12:20 AM CST | F2 | Hollow, OK | 1.3 | 400 | | 1 | |
| May 19 | 1:00 AM CST | F2 | Broken Arrow, OK | | 100 | | | |
| May 19 | 4:00 PM EST | F2 | SW Fort Recovery, OH | 3.0 | 200 | | | |
| May 19 | 3:45 PM CST | F2 | SE Fisk/Bernie/Parma/S New Madrid, MO | 37.2 | | 1 | 60 | |
| May 19 | 5:15 PM CST | F2 | NE Dewey, OK | 0.6 | 75 | | 1 | |
| May 19 | 5:30 PM MST | F2 | SW Chase County, NE | 2.3 | | | | |
May 20 29 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 20 | 1:15 PM MST | F3 | S Wray, CO to Cheyenne County, KS to Haigler, NE | 30.2 | 400 | | 1 | |
| May 20 | 3:30 PM CST | F3 | E Bird City, KS | | | | 2 | |
| May 20 | 3:30 PM CST | F2 | N McDonald, KS | 6.1 | | | | |
| May 20 | 4:15 PM CST | F3 | S Scott City to Healy, KS | 24.8 | 200 | | | |
| May 20 | 4:15 PM CST | F2 | W Oberlin, KS | 5.8 | 50 | | | |
| May 20 | 3:30 PM MST | F3 | S Wray, CO to Cheyenne County, KS to Benkelman, NE | 39.7 | 400 | | 1 | |
| May 20 | 4:54 PM CST | F2 | Lipscomb, TX | 3.9 | 100 | | | |
| May 20 | 5:00 PM CST | F3 | S Healy to NW Shields, KS | 11.1 | 200 | | | |
| May 20 | 6:00 PM EST | F2 | Barron Creek/Goin, TN | 4.1 | | | 3 | |
| May 20 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | N Copeland/Rozel/NW Dodge City/S Gray, KS | 72.8 | 100 | | 4 | |
| May 20 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | Balko/Beaver, OK | 17.3 | | 1 | | |
| May 20 | 6:15 PM CST | F2 | Lipscomb, TX/Gage/Shattuck/Tangier/S Fargo/N Woodward, OK | 54.3 | 100 | | 3 | |
| May 20 | 7:30 PM CST | F3 | Catesby, OK | | 100 | 1 | 1 | |
| May 20 | 7:30 PM CST | F2 | SW Coldwater/Wilmore, KS | 20.7 | 100 | | | |
| May 20 | 7:45 PM CST | F2 | SE Lincoln, KS | 4.4 | 50 | | | |
| May 20 | 7:45 PM CST | F2 | Yewed/Nash, OK | 25.7 | 400 | 1 | 27 | |
| May 20 | 8:00 PM CST | F4 | SE Gypsum to NE Solomon, KS | 25.2 | 400 | 1 | 5 | |
| May 20 | 8:00 PM CST | F2 | E Woodward, OK | 2.2 | 75 | | | |
| May 20 | 8:15 PM CST | F3 | Hope to N Junction City, KS | 29.6 | 400 | | | |
| May 20 | 8:30 PM CST | F2 | Mooreland, OK | 11.7 | 70 | | | |
| May 20 | 8:30 PM CST | F2 | SE Hammon/NE Butler/N Thomas, OK | 36.5 | 100 | | 3 | |
| May 20 | 8:30 PM CST | F2 | W Vici, OK | 21.5 | | | | |
| May 20 | 8:40 PM CST | F2 | Chase, KS | 0.9 | | | 4 | |
| May 20 | 8:45 PM CST | F2 | Waynoka, OK | 21.9 | | | | |
| May 20 | 9:00 PM CST | F3 | W Waynoka to Hopeton, OK | 30.4 | 100 | | | |
| May 20 | 9:00 PM CST | F2 | SE Watonga/S Loyal/Dover, OK | 24.3 | | | | |
| May 20 | 9:45 PM CST | F3 | NW Emporia to E Eskridge, KS | 30.7 | 300 | | 3 | |
| May 20 | 11:30 PM CST | F4 | Etna, OK | 15.3 | 400 | 1 | 7 | |
| May 20 | 11:30 PM CST | F2 | NW Watonga/NW Hitchcock, OK | 12.4 | | | | |
May 21 18 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 21 | 12:15 AM CST | F3 | Cleveland, OK | 4.8 | | | 1 | |
| May 21 | 12:30 AM CST | F2 | Oologah, OK | | 200 | | 1 | |
| May 21 | 12:45 AM CST | F2 | N Claremore/Chelsea/Estella, OK | 17.8 | 150 | | 1 | |
| May 21 | 1:07 AM CST | F2 | Big Cabin, OK | | | | | |
| May 21 | 1:10 AM CST | F2 | Vinita, OK | | 100 | | | |
| May 21 | 12:30 PM EST | F2 | Witt Springs, KY | 7.8 | 150 | | 4 | |
| May 21 | 3:30 PM CST | F3 | New Hartford to SE Clarksville, MO | 22.5 | 200 | 1 | 20 | |
| May 21 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Pittsburg, IA | 0.9 | 400 | | | |
| May 21 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Washington, MO | 6.8 | | | | |
| May 21 | 5:05 PM EST | F3 | Terre Haute to SW Burnett, IN | 7.9 | 200 | 3 | 10 | |
| May 21 | 5:15 PM EST | F4 | Shelburn, IN | 40.3 | 150 | 14 | 251 | |
| May 21 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | Creve Coeur/Lambert Field, MO | | | | 2 | |
| May 21 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | SSW Mt. Sterling, IL | 12.0 | 200 | | | |
| May 21 | 4:50 PM CST | F4 | E Florrisant, MO to Wood River, IL | 30.5 | 600 | 5 | 55 | |
| May 21 | 5:00 PM CST | F4 | Palestine, IL to Sullivan, IN | 10.2 | 50 | 4 | 7 | |
| May 21 | 5:30 PM CST | F2 | N West Point, IA | 7.2 | | | | |
| May 21 | 5:45 PM CST | F3 | N Marble Hill to E Oak Ridge, MO | 15.2 | 250 | 1 | 6 | |
| May 21 | 6:55 PM CST | F4 | Cape Girardeau, MO to IL | 9.6 | 200 | 23 | 130 | |
May 22 4 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 22 | 6:15 PM CST | F2 | Abilene, TX | 0.9 | 100 | | 5 | |
| May 22 | 7:30 PM EST | F2 | SW Clayton/Palm/N Hosensack, PA | 9.6 | 200 | | 2 | |
| May 22 | 8:00 PM EST | F2 | Cauthornville, VA | 1.3 | 400 | | | |
| May 22 | 8:30 PM EST | F2 | Harrisburg/Hummelstown, PA | 9.0 | | | | |
May 23 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 23 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | WNW Hennessey, OK | 6.3 | 250 | | | |
May 26 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 26 | 12:00 PM EST | F2 | E Dunn/Newton Grove, NC | 14.2 | 250 | | 6 | |
May 31 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 31 | 6:20 PM CST | F2 | Manhattan, KS | 12.7 | 130 | | | |
| May 31 | 10:00 PM CST | F2 | West Fargo, ND | 0.8 | 100 | | | |
June 1 7 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 1 | 12:02 AM CST | F2 | Pleasant Hill, MO | 21.3 | 450 | | | |
| June 1 | 5:40 PM CST | F3 | SW Paul, NE to Fremont County, IA | 12.3 | 100 | | | |
| June 1 | 6:15 PM CST | F4 | Bingham, IA | 9.8 | 150 | | 4 | |
| June 1 | 6:15 PM CST | F4 | S Fairfax to E Tarkio, MO | 12.8 | 400 | 1 | 16 | |
| June 1 | 6:15 PM CST | F2 | E Essex, IA | 3.8 | 100 | | | |
| June 1 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | NE Sabetha, KS/Straussville, NE | 13.9 | | | | |
| June 1 | 7:15 PM CST | F3 | SW Seneca to E Bern, KS | 14.1 | 150 | | | |
June 8 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 8 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | W Shelton/S Wood River, NE | 17.2 | | | | |
| June 8 | 6:42 PM CST | F2 | NW Hebron/Belvidere, NE | 9.8 | 100 | 3 | 10 | |
June 12 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 12 | 12:15 PM CST | F2 | NNW Ainsworth, NE | 1.2 | 100 | | | |
June 17 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 17 | 12:00 PM MST | F3 | SE Akron, CO | 1.7 | | | | |
| June 17 | 5:30 PM MST | F2 | SW Yuma, CO | 31.5 | 880 | | | |
July 2 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 2 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | Birchdale, MN | 6.9 | | | | |
July 18 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 18 | | F2 | S Brantwood/N Tomahawk, WI | 22.7 | 300 | | | |
July 20 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 20 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | Jefferson Davis Parish, LA | | | | | |
July 27 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 27 | 1:30 PM CST | F2 | E Clearwater Lake, WI | | 70 | | | |
July 31 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 31 | | F2 | NNE Beresford, SD | | | | | |
| July 31 | 5:30 PM CST | F3 | N Elk Point, SD | | | | | |
August 28 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 28 | 4:00 PM EST | F2 | Apex, NC | | | | | |
| August 28 | 5:00 PM EST | F3 | Franklin County, NC | | | | 3 | |
| August 28 | 5:30 PM EST | F2 | Ridgeway, NC | | | | | |
August 30 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 30 | 4:20 PM CST | F2 | Montgomery, AL | | 50 | | | |
September 4 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 4 | 6:00 PM EST | F2 | W Newark, WV | 0.9 | 400 | | 1 | |
September 12 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 12 | 4:45 PM CST | F2 | E La Cygne, KS/S Amsterdam, MO | 11.6 | 300 | 1 | 8 | |
October 7 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 7 | 8:05 AM CST | F2 | Houston, TX | 1.4 | | | | |
October 9 9 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 9 | 3:30 PM CST | F2 | N Rozel/S Rush Center, KS | 11.7 | | | | |
| October 9 | 5:00 PM CST | F2 | W Windom, KS | 1.3 | | | | |
| October 9 | 7:30 PM CST | F3 | Slapout to N Rosston, OK | 34.7 | 200 | | 3 | |
| October 9 | 9:45 PM CST | F2 | Lincoln, NE | 1.4 | 150 | 1 | 3 | |
| October 9 | 10:00 PM CST | F2 | S Rush Center/NE La Crosse, KS | 20.4 | | | | |
| October 9 | 10:45 PM CST | F2 | W Elk City/N Canute/N Foss, OK | 22.7 | 400 | | | |
| October 9 | 11:00 PM CST | F2 | NE Bison, KS | | | | | |
| October 9 | 11:10 PM CST | F2 | Langdon/Arlington, KS | 15.5 | 400 | | | |
| October 9 | 11:45 PM CST | F1 | Russell, KS | 2.1 | 30 | 1 | | |
October 10 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 10 | 12:30 AM CST | F2 | NNE Hardy/Davenport, NE | 19.9 | | | | |
| October 10 | 2:00 AM CST | F3 | W Hartington to N Pleasant Valley, NE | 8.4 | 200 | | | |
October 20 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 20 | 3:00 PM CST | F3 | Hoyt, KS | 6.1 | | | | |
October 21 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 21 | 12:20 AM CST | F1 | N Abilene, TX | 9.5 | 30 | 1 | 3 | |
| October 21 | 6:30 AM CST | F2 | Avery, TX | 0.9 | | | 1 | |
October 31 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 31 | 6:15 AM EST | F2 | New Market, DE | | | | 2 | |
November 24 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| November 24 | 5:15 PM CST | F4 | Oneonta, AL | 15.2 | 100 | 4 | 44 | |
| November 24 | 5:15 PM CST | F2 | Hackneyville/NE Alexander City, AL | 6.7 | 100 | 10 | 10 | |
| November 24 | 6:00 PM CST | F2 | S Henagar/N Mentone, AL | 8.6 | 100 | 1 | 20 | |
December 10 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 10 | 6:15 PM CST | F2 | Calvin, LA | | 10 | | 1 | |
December 11 5 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 11 | 12:25 PM CST | F2 | SW Hannibal, MO/Levee, IL | 8.9 | 70 | | 12 | |
| December 11 | 12:30 PM CST | F2 | Clinton/W Shirley, AR | 9.2 | 200 | | | |
| December 11 | 2:45 PM CST | F3 | Providence to N Bradford, AR | 15.2 | 500 | 4 | 11 | |
| December 11 | 3:45 PM CST | F4 | W Poplar Bluff, MO | 10.0 | 400 | 6 | 30 | |
| December 11 | 4:00 PM CST | F2 | Pana/Dollville, IL | 8.6 | 100 | | 1 | |
December 23 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 23 | 9:00 AM PST | F2 | Long Beach, WA | | 20 | | | |
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.