Tornadoes are among the most violent known meteorological phenomena. Each year, more than 2,000 tornadoes are recorded worldwide, with the vast majority occurring in North America and Europe.[1] [2] To assess the intensity of these events, meteorologist Ted Fujita devised a method to estimate maximum wind speeds within tornadic storms based on the damage caused; this became known as the Fujita scale. The scale ranks tornadoes from F0 to F5, with F0 being the least intense and F5 being the most intense. F4 tornadoes were estimated to have had maximum winds between 207mph and 260mph.[3]
Following two particularly devastating tornadoes in 1997 and 1999, engineers questioned the reliability of the Fujita scale. Ultimately, a new scale was devised that took into account 28 different damage indicators; this became known as the Enhanced Fujita scale.[4] With building design and structural integrity taken more into account, winds in an EF4 tornado were estimated to between 166mph and 200mph.[5] The Enhanced Fujita scale is used predominantly in North America. Most of Europe, on the other hand, uses the TORRO tornado intensity scale (or T-Scale), which ranks tornado intensity between T0 and T11; F4/EF4 tornadoes are approximately equivalent to T8 to T9 on the T-Scale. Tornadoes rated IF4 on the International Fujita scale are also included on this list.
| Day | Year | Country | Subdivision | Location | Fatalities | Notes | Rated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 12 | 1950 | United States | Louisiana | Logansport, Shreveport, Barksdale Air Force Base, Cotton Valley | 18 (77 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of February 11–13, 1950 – This long-tracked tornado damaged, destroyed, or leveled numerous homes along a path of 82.6 miles (132.9 km) reaching a maximum width of 100 yards. This tornado was probably a tornado family.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] | NWS |
| April 28 | 1950 | United States | Texas | Clyde | 5 (5 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of April 28–29, 1950 – This tornado moved on the north side of Clyde, obliterating everything in its path despite being short-lived. A total of 21 homes was destroyed or damaged, including 2 homes where nothing remained with debris scattered for more of a mile. A refrigerator was thrown 1/2 mi before lodging itself atop a telephone pole.[12] [13] [14] | NWS |
| April 28 | 1950 | United States | Oklahoma | Holdenville | 5 (32 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of April 28–29, 1950 – This tornado began 2 mi (3.2 km) southwest of Holdenville at 7:05 pm CST and moved northeastward directly through the city. It cut a swath of destruction six blocks wide and 18 blocks long in the northwest section of Holdenville. A total of 38 homes were destroyed while 188 other homes were damaged. After exiting Holdenville, the tornado turned to the north and dissipated 1 mi (1.6 km) north of town. There were 32 injuries and $250,000 in damage. The NWS Norman puts the property losses in Holdenville at $500,000. Two of the dead were found 150 yd (140 m) from their homesite.[15] | NWS |
| May 4 | 1950 | United States | Kansas | Zook, Dundee | 0 (1 Injuries) | A long-tracked tornado struck Zook, Kansas before tracking over open country and hitting Dundee and the Great Bend Municipal Airport outside of Great Bend, Kansas. This tornado destroyed 11 homes in Zook with near-F5 damage recorded at two homes while also striking another housing development northwest of Great Bend. One person was injured by this tornado.[16] [17] | NWS |
| June 8 | 1950 | United States | Kansas | McPherson | 1 (5 Injuries) | This large tornado formed within a squall line and hit the south side of McPherson, Kansas, destroying buildings, trees, and power lines.[18] | NWS |
| June 25 | 1950 | United States | Wisconsin | Colby, Crescent Lake, Rhinelander | 3 (12 Injuries) | This half-mile wide tornado leveled vacation homes in Crescent Lake before moving in to Rhinelander damaging 12 more homes. Two people drowned when the tornado overturned their boat 12 others was injured.[19] | NWS |
| July 15 | 1950 | United States | Nebraska | Uehling | 0 (33 Injuries) | The tornado struck areas north of Uehling, Nebraska, destroying farm buildings, farm houses, and a schoolhouse.[20] | NWS |
| May 18 | 1951 | United States | Texas | Olney | 2 (100 Injuries) | The tornado struck areas north of Olney. Many homes in town were destroyed, some of which were swept away with very little debris left. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis noted that the tornado may have reached F5 intensity as well.[21] [22] | NWS |
| June 19 | 1951 | United States | Minnesota | Hamel | 1 (20 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of June 19, 1951 – A large tornado, which was likely a tornado family, moved through the western and northern suburbs of Minneapolis. The worst damage occurred near Hamel, where homes, a garage, and several other structures were heavily damaged or destroyed. One home along MN 55 was thrown and leveled, with all three occupants being injured. One of them, an elderly woman who was seriously injured, later died at the hospital.[23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] | NWS |
| June 27 | 1951 | United States | Kansas | WaKeeney | 5 (100 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak sequence of June 25–27, 1951 – The roar of this tornado was heard just prior to it moving directly through WaKeeney shortly after midnight, causing catastrophic damage despite only being on the ground for about a mile. A total of 45 homes were destroyed while 60 others were damaged. 100 people were injured and damage was estimated at $2.5 million.[29] | NWS |
| September 26 | 1951 | United States | Wisconsin | Cobb Town, Manawa | 6 (3 Injures) | Great Lakes tornadoes of September 26, 1951 – Several farm buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed with the greatest damage occurring just past Cobb Town, about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Waupaca. There, three farms were obliterated and swept away at near-F5 intensity. Five of the six people killed came from one family. who were killed as they were cleaning chickens on the porch the opposite side of the house from the approaching tornado. The other fatality occurred in the Lebanon Township near Sugar Bush where a 40-year-old woman was killed in a flattened home. Three people were injured and losses totaled $500,000 in damage.[30] | NWS |
| September 26 | 1951 | United States | Wisconsin | Cambria | 1 (9 Injuries) | Great Lakes tornadoes of September 26, 1951 – This tornado struck a farm. There, a large house and every farm building was obliterated, including the house of the hired hand who was killed with debris from the home being left in a pile 300 feet (91 m) from the foundation. Hundreds of trees were stripped and/or uprooted, including some that were 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter, and chickens were defeathered. Nine people were injured and losses total $250,000. This tornado was rated F3 by Grazulis.[31] | NWS |
| February 13 | 1952 | United States | Tennessee | Marble Hill, Beech Hill, Marble Plains, Decherd | 3 (44 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of February 13, 1952 – This tornado moved through southern Moore County and northwestern Franklin County, producing heavy to catastrophic damage along almost the entire path. There was damage reported on 109 farms, and hundreds of buildings, including homes, schools, churches, stores, and other structures, were heavily damaged or destroyed. Heavy destructions was observed at Marble Hill, four buildings were completely destroyed in Beech Hill, two fatalities occurred in Marble Plains when a home was swept away, and a third fatality and heavy damage was confirmed in Decherd. Five freight cars on the N. C. & St. L. Railroad were also derailed in Decherd and scattered along the right of way in the town.[32] [33] | NWS |
| February 29 | 1952 | United States | Tennessee | Fayetteville | 2 (150 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of Leap Day 1952 – Of the 1,828 buildings in Fayetteville, 932 were damaged or destroyed. In all, 139 homes were destroyed, 152 had major damage, and another 164 sustained minor damage. An additional 23 farm buildings were destroyed, 15 others had major damage, and 11 more had minor damage. 105 businesses were destroyed, while 58 others had major damage; 37 more sustained minor damage, and nine additional ones had superficial damage. Damage to six churches alone in downtown Fayetteville were estimated at $300,000. Several business houses were destroyed, power and communications lines were damaged over a large area; and hundreds of huge shade trees were uprooted. Grazulis gave the tornado an F3 rating.[34] [35] | NWS |
| March 21 | 1952 | United States | Arkansas | Dierks | 7 (9 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – The tornado destroyed 22 homes on the outskirts of Dierks, most of which were frail.[36] | NWS |
| March 21 | 1952 | United States | Arkansas | Kensett, Judsonia, Bald Knob | 50 (325 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – The tornado reached a peak width of NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on wide and caused major damage along its path. The worst damage was in Judsonia; the tornado moved right through the center of the town, which was essentially leveled. The business district of the town was obliterated, 385 homes were destroyed, and 560 others were damaged. There were 30 deaths in the town alone. Considerable damage and 20 other fatalities occurred elsewhere as well.[37] [38] | NWS |
| March 21 | 1952 | United States | Arkansas | Lonoke County | 2 (6 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – Major destruction occurred near the rural community of Wattensaw.[39] | NWS |
| March 21 | 1952 | United States | Arkansas | Cotton Plant | 29 (180 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – The tornado obliterated the northwest side of Cotton Plant, where all the fatalities occurred.[40] | NWS |
| March 21 | 1952 | United States | Tennessee | RoEllen | 2 (10 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – This tornado damaged or destroyed a total of 17 homes near RoEllen. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F3.[41] | NWS |
| March 21 | 1952 | United States | Arkansas | Hickory Ridge | 4 (5 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – According to Grazulis, this may have actually been a continuation of the F4 tornado that passed near Wattensaw.[42] | NWS |
| March 21 | 1952 | United States | Missouri | Cooter | 17 (100 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – This tornado was up to 1.4miles wide at times. It damaged or destroyed up to 200 homes, many of which were small tenant homes. Grazulis assessed the tornado as having traversed the Mississippi River into Tennessee.[43] | NWS |
| March 21 | 1952 | United States | Tennessee | Newbern | 4 (5 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – This was one of several tornadoes to strike the Dyersburg area. Grazulis assessed the tornado as an F3.[44] | NWS |
| March 21 | 1952 | United States | Mississippi, Tennessee | Byhalia (MS), Moscow (TN) | 16 (74 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – This tornado may have merged with a second, undocumented tornado upon touching down. Along the path, 38 homes were destroyed. This tornado was previously rated F5 based on the destruction of a concrete block structure, but was downgraded to F4 after a study showed that the structure was probably not steel-reinforced.[45] [46] | NWS |
| March 21 | 1952 | United States | Tennessee | Bolivar, Henderson | 38 (157 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – The tornado may have been a continuation of the above tornado. Four people were killed on the north side of Bolivar, where 14 homes were destroyed, while 23 more people were killed on the north side of Henderson, which was leveled. In all, the tornado damaged or destroyed 600 homes.[47] | NWS |
| March 22 | 1952 | United States | Alabama | Massey, Hartselle | 4 (50 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952 – The tornado damaged or destroyed 84 structures, including 35 homes. Some homes in Massey and Plainville were leveled.[48] [49] | NWS |
| April 21 | 1952 | United States | Texas | McLennan County | 0 | A small home on a farm was swept completely from its foundation, with all six occupants of the home running out of the house and laying flat in a field, escaping the tornado without any injuries. Elsewhere along the path, the tornado heavily damaged two automobiles, one of which was a pickup truck that was thrown, and destroyed several farm buildings, including small homes on three more farms.[50] | NWS |
| May 22 | 1952 | United States | Kansas | Lawrence, Linwood, Edwardsville | 0 (3 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of May 21–24, 1952 – The towns of Linwood and Edwardsville were particularly hard hit, as dozens of homes were destroyed, including the home of a bank president that was leveled. Grazulis indicated that the tornado may have reached F5 intensity as well.[51] | NWS |
| June 24 | 1952 | United States | Iowa | Cleghorn, Larrabee | 0 (4 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of June 23–24, 1952 – This tornado struck 53 farmsteads, 13 of which were completely demolished and 34 that suffered major damage.[52] | NWS |
| July 1 | 1952 | United States | North Dakota | Tuttle | 1 (26 Injuries) | The worst damage from this long-tracked tornado occurred in Tuttle. Entire farms were demolished and Tuttle sustained considerable damage. Eight homes and more than 175 other buildings were destroyed while 200 other homes and over 600 other buildings were damaged. A man was killed before he could take refuge in the basement of his home which was carried away.[53] | NWS |
| August 13 | 1952 | United States | Nebraska | Wahoo, Memphis, Ashland | 0 (20 Injuries) | Buildings were destroyed on 15 farms, including two where all the buildings, along with the homes, were leveled.[54] | NWS |
| March 13 | 1953 | United States | Texas | Jud, O'Brien, Knox City | 17 (25 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak of March 12–15, 1953 – The tornado destroyed 33 homes, damaged 139 others, and destroyed 43 other buildings. Many rural homes were swept away and an eight-block area in Knox City was leveled.[55] [56] | NWS |
| April 28 | 1953 | United States | Texas | Wetmore | 2 (15 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak sequence of April 28 – May 2, 1953 – One home was completely obliterated and a vehicle was carried 200yd. A woman was killed and five other members of her family were injured when their home "exploded". The actual tornado casualty count may have been one death and five injuries, which was listed under an F3 tornado that struck Helotes, Texas prior to this.[57] | NWS |
| April 30 | 1953 | United States | Georgia | Warner Robins, Robins Air Force Base | 18 (300 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak sequence of April 28 – May 2, 1953 – This tornado struck a large housing project on the south side of Warner Robins. It destroyed 275 apartment units, 65 homes, and 25 trailers while heavily damaging 84 other apartment units, and 135 other homes. Debris was hurled high into the air and scattered a NaNmiles or more away from the path of the tornado. The high death and injury toll was mainly caused by this as people were hit by flying bricks and other debris. Grazulis list this as a long-tracked tornado that started south of Fort Valley and struck Dry Branch and Jeffersonville, but official records list this as four separate tornado events.[58] | NWS |
| May 1 | 1953 | United States | Alabama | Millerville, Ashland | 7 (12 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak sequence of April 28 – May 2, 1953 – This tornado obliterated a frame home near its touchdown point, killing the two women inside, with one of the bodies being thrown over . Another home was obliterated at Haskins Crossroads, while several more homes were destroyed south of Ashland. Two people were critically injured in one the homes before dying at the hospital two hours later while another house containing seven people was leveled, killing three people and critically injuring the four others. Much of its path was along or parallel to SR 9.[59] [60] [61] | NWS |
| May 1 | 1953 | United States | Alabama | Yantley | 2 (3 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak sequence of April 28 – May 2, 1953 – This tornado destroyed three homes, including one home that obliterated with its cookstove found NaNlk=onNaNlk=on away. Other debris was scattered up to NaNlk=onNaNlk=on away as well and 35feet of curbing was removed.[62] | NWS |
| May 2 | 1953 | United States | Tennessee | Idlewild, Niota | 4 (8 Injuries) | Tornado outbreak sequence of April 28 – May 2, 1953 – This tornado developed within a squall line just east of Decatur. It hit 205 structures; three homes and 55 farm buildings were destroyed, including a well built two-story home that was obliterated with debris scattered up to NaNlk=onNaNlk=on away, and 58 other homes and 89 farm buildings were damaged as well. According to Grazulis, the fourth death may have been unrelated to the tornado when a plane crashed because of the storm.[63] [64] | NWS |
| May 10 | 1953 | United States | Iowa | Wayne County, Lucas County | 0 | 1953 Waco tornado outbreak – This tornado leveled a farm house at low-end F4 intensity between Millerton and Russell. Debris from the home was scattered a short distance away from the foundation.[65] | NWS |
| May 10 | 1953 | United States | Iowa | Hancock County, Cerro Gordo County, Worth County | 0 (3 Injuries) | 1953 Waco tornado outbreak – A long-tracked tornado damaged or destroyed about 30 homes and 200 other farm structures on farms. One farm lost all its buildings, with only the main house left standing. Of the three injuries, two were critical, both to an elderly couple near Ventura.[66] | NWS |
| May 10 | 1953 | United States | Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin | Catawba (WS) | 2 (24 Injuries) | 1953 Waco tornado outbreak – This event is officially as one long-tracked tornado, but was more likely a tornado family that contained at least five distinct tornadoes according to Grazulis. Part of the track may have also been from a separate supercell. Grazulis stated that the F4 damage occurred in Wisconsin towards the end of its path southeast of Catawaba; he rated the maximum damage in the other two states F3. A farmhouse was swept from its foundation, and fragments of the home were lofted for . Near-F4 damage was also inflicted to two homes near Strum according to Grazulis.[67] | NWS |
| May 11 | 1953 | United States | Texas | San Angelo | 13 (159 Injuries) | 1953 Waco tornado outbreak – This tornado, which was likely spawned by an outflow boundary, moved east-southeast through the north side of San Angelo, producing near-F5 damage at times according to Grazulis. 519 homes, 19 businesses and 150 cars were damaged or destroyed along the northern third of the city. A two-story school lost its roof and many walls; students in the school sheltered safely in interior hallways, and only 12 were injured, none critically.[68] [69] [70] | NWS |
| May 21 | 1953 | United States, Canada | Michigan, Ontario | Port Huron (MI), Sarnia (ON), Nairn (ON) | 2 (68 Injuries) | 1953 Sarnia tornado – This large tornado began near Smiths Creek, Michigan and struck Porth Huron, devastating a large section of the town as it produced widespread F3 to F4 damage. 300 homes were damaged and 90 more were destroyed. The tornado strengthened some more as it crossed the St. Clair River and moved into Canada just south of Sarnia Harbour, striking Sarnia directly damaging almost 100 commercial buildings. At least 150 homes on the more suburban outskirts of the city were damaged, including some that were destroyed and leveled. The tornado weakened after that, but one more area of F4 damage was inflicted upon farmsteads and homes near Nairn before it dissipated south of Stratford. The tornado's total path length based on official information is suggested to be exceeding 120km (80miles), though it is highly probable that this damage path was made up of more than one tornado, possibly as many as four, after the tornado left Sarnia.[71] [72] [73] [74] ||NWS, EC|-|June 7|1953|United States|Nebraska|Arcadia|11|Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence – Homes were leveled, two cars were destroyed, and farm machinery was tossed. F4 damage occurred to one home in the Hays Creek area and three more near Arcadia. A farm near Arcadia was obliterated and swept completely away, killing 10 people at a family reunion. Bodies were thrown up to 0.5miles away from the residence. The other death occurred elsewhere along the path.[75] ||NWS|-|June 8|1953|United States|Michigan|Bedford Township, Erie Township|4 (18 Injuries)|Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence – This stovepipe tornado threw trucks and cars off of U.S. 24, destroyed 15 homes, and damaged 14 others. A six-ton truck was thrown 80feet and three cars were observed in the air at one point as well. The tornado then transitioned into a waterspout that tracked for an additional 30miles in 44 minutes over Lake Erie, one of the longest such tracks ever recorded. A motorist who sought shelter in a ditch was killed while the other three fatalities occurred in a home that was destroyed.[76] ||NWS|-|June 8|1953|United States|Ohio|Cygnet|17 (379 Injured)|Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence – This long-tracked tornado was more than likely a tornado family of at least three tornadoes according to Grazulis. The tornado moved out onto Lake Erie on the west side of Cleveland at the end of its life. Many buildings and crops were heavily damaged or destroyed and cattle was killed or injured. The peak damage occurred near Cygnet, where a woman and four children died in their home. The tornado is noted by Grazulis to have possibly reached F5 intensity in the town as well.[77] ||NWS|-|June 8|1953|United States|Michigan|Yale|0 (23 Injuries)|Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence – This tornado came from the same storm that produced the Flint F5 tornado. Two homes and many barns were obliterated. Grazulis listed the casualty count as one death and 34 injuries.[78] ||NWS|-|June 9|1953|United States|Massachusetts|Rutland, Holden, Worcester, Shrewsbury, Westborough, Soutborough|94 (1,228 Injuries)|1953 Worcester tornado – This large, long-tracked, deadly, and destructive tornado, which was 1miles at times, damaged or destroyed 4,000 buildings. The most intense damage occurred in Rutland, Holden, Worcester, Shrewsbury and Westborough. Entire neighborhoods was obliterated and swept away with the debris granulated and scattered well away from the foundations of the homes. The main building of Assumption College (building is now home to Quinsigamond Community College), which had 3feet-thick brick walls, was reduced by three floors. The landmark tower at the school also lost three stories. A nearby storage tank, weighing several tons, was lofted and tossed across a road. Hundreds of vehicles were thrown, including a 12sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3 bus that was picked up, rolled over several times, and thrown against a newly constructed apartment building, killing two passengers. Debris from the tornado was strewn eastward, reaching the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory 35 mi (56 km) away, and even out over Massachusetts Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. One item was documented to have been blown from Holden to Eastham on Cape Cod, a distance of 110miles, one of the greatest such instances in a U.S. tornado. The tornado caused the 4th (then-3rd) most amount of injuries of any tornado in U.S. history and left 10,000 people homeless. Many experts, including Grazulis, suspect that this tornado probably reached F5 intensity at some point in it life. Although, it was on the ground for 85 minutes, the tornado never received a formal tornado warning until it was in the process of dissipating at the end of its life, although a separate F3 tornado did form after the tornado dissipated. 1953 was the first year that tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings were used, but the National Weather Service office in Boston feared that mentioning the possibility for tornado activity for the area that day would cause panic among local citizens and only issued a severe thunderstorm watch, the first one ever issued in Massachusetts. As a result, most residents received little to no warning about the tornado approaching their area. The tornado was also the principal catalyst for the Storm Prediction Center's reorganization on June 17, 1953, and subsequent implementation of a nationwide radar/storm spotter system.[79] [80] [81] [82] [83] [84] [85] [86] [87] [88] ||NWS|-|December 3|1953|United States|Louisiana|Leander|9 (50 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak sequence of December 1–6, 1953 – A long-tracked tornado, which may have been a tornado family, damage or destroyed many homes and other structures. The most severe damage according to Grazulis occurred in Leander, where four homes were destroyed. Heavy damage also occurred in Alexandria, Ball, Dry Prong, Georgetown, and Tullos. Grazulis listed the event as three separate tornado events from different storms rather than the same storm with the F4 tornado being the last of three; he rated the other two tornadoes F2.[89] [90] ||NWS|-|March 25|1954|United States|Missouri|Texas County|2|This tornado damaged or destroyed buildings on 20 farms northwest of Houston. A frame house was obliterated with debris scattered up to 2miles away. The two occupants, an elderly woman and her son, were thrown 150yd and killed. A truck was also destroyed and trees were downed as well.[91] [92] ||NWS|-|April 5|1954|United States|Missouri, Iowa|Westboro (MO), Northboro (IA)|0 (2 Injuries)|This tornado was noted as being a "twin-funneled" event. It damaged or destroyed 11 homes and 65 outbuildings, threw a pickup truck 300yd, removed 2inches of topsoil, and uprooted trees and crops. Two people were injured in Missouri. Grazulis rated the tornado F3, but said near-F4 damage occurred along the path.[93] ||NWS|-|April 30|1954|United States|Iowa|La Fayette, Alburnett|0|The tornado was listed by Grazulis as a family of at least five tornadoes.||NWS|-|May 1|1954|United States|Texas, Oklahoma|Vernon (TX)|0 (2 Injuries)|The peak damage from this tornado occurred in Texas; Grazulis rated the damage in Oklahoma F2-F3. Grazulis also noted that the tornado may have reached F5 intensity as well.||NWS|-|May 1|1954|United States|Oklahoma|Meeker, Sparks, Davenport|0 (65 Injuries)|The beginning of the tornado's path was not listed by Grazulis, the CDNS report, and the NWS Norman, indicating that the starting point of this tornado was in Pottawatomie County instead of Oklahoma County.||NWS|-|May 30|1954|United States|Nebraska|Norfolk|6 (23 Injuries)|There was damage to 30 farms, including three that were completely leveled, which is where all the deaths occurred. Some of the bodies were thrown into trees.||NWS|-|June 9|1954|United States|Iowa|Calhoun County|1|This tornado struck six farms, including one where the house was blown away, killing the sleeping farmer who was the house at the time.||NWS|-|April 24|1955|United States|Alabama|Falkville|5 (20 Injuries)|This tornado moved through rural areas of Morgan County before moving directly through Falkville.||NWS|-|May 25|1955|United States|Texas, Oklahoma|Sweetwater (OK)|2 (18 Injuries)|1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak – F4 damage occurred in both Texas and Oklahoma. 13 farm homes were destroyed, some of which were swept away. 100 cattle were killed and a car was carried 700 feet (0.13 mi).||NWS|-|June 4|1955|United States|Kansas, Nebraska|Formoso (KS)|0|A large, long-tracked tornado carved a 61.9-mile path of damage through rural Kansas and Nebraska.||NWS|-|June 4|1955|United States|Kansas|Kinsley|0|A Long-tracked tornado went directly through the town of Kinsley on its 72.2-mile path.||NWS|-|June 27|1955|United States|Nebraska|Mitchell, Scottsbluff, Minatare, Bayard|2 (29 Injuries)|This tornado struck Scottsbluff and surrounding areas.||NWS|-|July 2|1955|United States|North Dakota|Richland County|2 (19 Injuries)|This tornado struck rural Richland County completely leveling or sweeping away 11 farms, including one farm that appeared to show potential F5 damage after a home was completely swept away.||NWS|-|July 5|1955|United States|North Dakota|Mountrail County, Ward County, Renville County|0|This tornado tracked 28 miles through rural North Dakota.||NWS|-|July 7|1955|United States|Minnesota|Lyon County|1 (13 Injuries)|This long-track tornado moved through Lyon County.||NWS|-|February 24–25|1956|United States|Missouri, Illinois|St. Louis (MO), Dupo (IL), Crest Hill (IL), Belleville (IL), Swansea (IL), Shiloh (IL), O'Fallon (IL), Lebanon (IL), Breese (IL)|6 (36 Injuries)|A large, long-tracked tornado struck the southwestern, southern, and eastern suburbs of St. Louis (MO) along its 77.6-mile path that started on February 24 and ended on February 25.||NWS|-|March 6|1956|United States|Indiana|Grant County|1 (31 Injuries)|This tornado formed and moved northwest east of Marion.||NWS|-|April 2|1956|United States|Oklahoma, Kansas|Howard (KS), Toronto (KS), Gridley (KS)|2 (29 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1956 – This tornado quickly intensified to near-F5 intensity just south of the Oklahoma–Kansas state line. In the area, one home was completely swept away and many trees were debarked. A savings bond from that home was found near Williamsburg, Kansas—more than 100 mi (160 km) from its origin. Near Maple City, Kansas, a plastic belt was found embedded in a broken tree. The tornado continued southwest of Toronto, leveling one home and killing one man. The tornado then continued to total another home injuring 3. A trailer was destroyed as well, killing a baby inside. Its body was allegedly found 1 mi (1.6 km) away.||NWS|-|April 3|1956|United States|Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri|Miami (OK), Quapaw (OK), Baxter Springs (KS), Joplin (MO), Webb City (MO)|0 (59 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1956 – A large, long-tracked tornado touched down just after midnight local time and struck the towns of Miami and Quapaw with F4 damage. 46 injuries and 56 homes were damaged or destroyed in Miami alone. The tornado destroyed five more homes in Quapaw, with total Oklahoma losses estimated at $500,000. The tornado then crossed the Oklahoma–Kansas state line into Baxter Springs, destroying 14 homes, damaging 13, and causing $125,000 damage, with six injuries reported. A baseball grandstand was destroyed, and trees were uprooted as well. The tornado crossed into Missouri west of Joplin and passed through Webb City, damaging 30 homes and several businesses.||NWS|-|April 3|1956|United States|Wisconsin|Berlin|7 (50 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1956 – A factory and at least 20 homes were destroyed, some of which were leveled. Light items from Berlin were found up to 75 miles (121 km) away.||NWS|-|April 3|1956|United States|Tennessee|Lexington|3 (60 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1956 – This tornado destroyed 46 homes and two businesses in Lexington. In the town, 20 businesses and 250 homes were damaged. Bodies were thrown 100 yards (91 m) from a home that 'exploded'.||NWS|-|April 3|1956|United States|Michigan|Lake Ann|1 (25 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1956 – This possible tornado family destroyed 13 homes and at least 26 barns before ending over Grand Traverse Bay. Two homes in Benzie County were leveled to the ground, one of which was a multi-story building in which one person died. Other homes were reported destroyed in Lake Ann, southeast of Solon and in Cedar Run. One barn was also destroyed at Bear Lake. The tornado affected very rural areas for most of its life.||NWS|-|April 15|1956|United States|Alabama|Pleasant Grove, McDonald Chapel, Edgewater, Birmingham, Fultondale, Tarrant|25 (200 Injuries)|1956 McDonald Chapel tornado –||NWS|-|May 12|1956|United States|Michigan|Flint, Burton|3 (116 Injuries)|||NWS|-|May 12|1956|United States, Canada|Michigan, Ontario|Allen Park (MI), Lincoln Park (MI), Ecorse (MI), LaSalle (ON)|0 (22 Injuries)|||NWS, EC|-|June 6|1956|United States|Nebraska|Pleasanton|0|||NWS|-|October 29|1956|United States|Nebraska|North Platte|0 (2 Injuries)|||NWS|-|January 22|1957|United States|Oklahoma|Gans|10 (20 Injuries)|||NWS|-|April 2|1957|United States|Oklahoma|Lake Texoma|2 (6 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak sequence of April 2–5, 1957 –||NWS|-|April 2|1957|United States|Oklahoma|Calera, Durant|3 (3 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak sequence of April 2–5, 1957 –||NWS|-|April 8|1957|United States|South Carolina, North Carolina|Jefferson (SC), Roseboro (NC), |4 (80 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of April 8, 1957 –||NWS|-|April 19|1957|United States|Wisconsin|New Lisbon|1|||NWS|-|April 21|1957|United States|Texas|Littlefield|0 (7 Injuries)|||NWS|-|April 21|1957|United States|Texas|Slaton, Lubbock|0 (6 Injuries)|||NWS|-|April 25|1957|United States|Nebraska|Milford, Lincoln, Ashland, Papillion, La Vista|1 (8 Injuries)|||NWS|-|May 15|1957|United States|Texas|Silverton|21 (80 Injuries)|||NWS|-|May 20|1957|United States|Kansas|Cloud County, Republic County, Washington County|0|May 1957 Central Plains tornado outbreak sequence – Wedge tornado produced "near-F5" damage on several farms and was observed with multiple satellite tornadoes. Several different tornadoes may have produced the damage, perhaps a tornado family.||NWS|-|May 21|1957|United States|Wisconsin, Minnesota|Polk County (WI), Burnett County (WI), Chisago County (MN)|0 (2 Injuries)|May 1957 Central Plains tornado outbreak sequence –||NWS|-|May 21|1957|United States|Missouri|Fremont, Van Buren|7 (75 Injuries)|May 1957 Central Plains tornado outbreak sequence –||NWS|-|May 24|1957|United States|Oklahoma|Lawton|4 (5 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of May 24–25, 1957 –||NWS|-|June 14|1957|United States|Illinois|Southern View, Springfield|2 (50 Injuries)|||NWS|-|June 16|1957|Italy|Pavia|Robecco Pavese|7 (80 Injuries)|||ESSL|-|July 4|1957|United States|Michigan|Wixom, Farmington Hills, Franklin, Bingham Farms, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Clawson|0 (6 Injuries)|||NWS|-|September 14|1957|United States|Oklahoma|Wanette, Asher, Wewoka, Wetumka|2 (6 Injuries)|||NWS|-|November 7|1957|United States|Texas|Bridge City, West Orange, Orange|1 (81 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of November 7–8, 1957 –||NWS|-|November 17|1957|United States|Alabama|Cullman County|4 (15 Injuries)|||NWS|-|November 18|1957|United States|Alabama|Susan Moore, Snead, Douglas, Horton, Albertville|3 (12 Injuries)|||NWS|-|December 18|1957|United States|Illinois|Mount Vernon|1 (45 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak sequence of December 18–20, 1957 –||NWS|-|December 18|1957|United States|Illinois|Gorham, Murphysboro, De Soto, Hurst, Bush|11 (200 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak sequence of December 18–20, 1957 –||NWS|-|December 19|1957|United States|Arkansas|Columbia County, Ouachita County|2 (9 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak sequence of December 18–20, 1957 –||NWS|-|April 15|1958|United States|Florida|Polk County|0 (7 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of April 15, 1958 –||NWS|-|June 4|1958|United States|Wisconsin|Chippewa Falls|3 (50 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of June 3–4, 1958 –||NWS|-|June 4|1958|United States|Wisconsin|Fall Creek|4 (3 Injuries)|Tornado outbreak of June 3–4, 1958 –||NWS|-|June 10|1958|United States|Kansas|El Dorado|15 (5 Injuries)|||NWS|-|February 10|1959|United States|Missouri, Illinois|Twin Oaks (MO), Warson Woods (MO), Rock Hill (MO), Brentwood (MO), Maplewood (MO), St. Louis (MO), Brooklyn (IL), Venice (IL)|21 (345 Injuries)|St. Louis tornado outbreak of February 1959 – This large tornado moved through northwestern portion of Downtown St. Louis, producing widespread F3 damage along isolated pockets of F4 damage. The worst damage occurred as the tornado tore the Forest Park and into the Central West End, Vandeventer, Covenant Blu-Grand Center, and Jeff Vanderlou neighborhoods. Many homes were heavily damaged were heavily damaged or destroyed, including some that were leveled. Apartments, stores, and numerous other buildings as well as automobiles were heavily damaged or destroyed and trees and power lines were downed. Debris littered the streets and hundreds of people trapped in the rubble of the collapsed buildings after the tornado. A severe thunderstorm warning had been in effect for this storm, but forecasters did not see enough evidence in their World War II-vintage radar to issue a tornado warning, especially since this was during the Winter months.[94] [95] ||NWS|-|March 31|1959|United States|Texas|Aquilla, Hillsboro|6 (31 Injuries)|||NWS|-|May 9|1959|United States|Oklahoma|Stonewall|7 (12 Injuries)|||NWS|-|May 10|1959|United States|Iowa|Adair, Panora, Dawson, Angus|0 (1 Injury)|||NWS|-|May 20|1959|United States|Iowa|Plano|0 (5 Injuries)|||NWS|-|September 26|1959|United States|Missouri|Wright County|0|||NWS|-|September 27|1959|United States|Oklahoma, Kansas|Chetopa (KS)|1 (1 Injury)|||NWS|}See also
References |