The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes

Storm Prediction Center

NOTE: Having happened before the era of comprehensive damage surveys, some of these events may have been composed of multiple tornadoes along a damage path. Death counts for events in the 1800s and early 1900s should be treated as estimates, since recordkeeping of tornado deaths was erratic back then.

DATE

LOCATION(S)

DEATHS

1

18 Mar 1925

Tri-State (MO/IL/IN)

695

2

06 May 1840

Natchez MS

317

3

27 May 1896

St. Louis MO

255

4

05 Apr 1936

Tupelo MS

216

5

06 Apr 1936

Gainesville GA

203

6

09 Apr 1947

Woodward OK

181

7

22 May 2011

Joplin MO

158

8

24 Apr 1908

Amite LA, Purvis MS

143

9

12 Jun 1899

New Richmond WI

117

10

8 Jun 1953

Flint MI

116

11t

11 May 1953

Waco TX

114

11t

18 May 1902

Goliad TX

114

13

23 Mar 1913

Omaha NE

103

14

26 May 1917

Mattoon IL

101

15

23 Jun 1944

Shinnston WV

100

16

18 Apr 1880

Marshfield MO

99

17t

01 Jun 1903

Gainesville GA

98

17t

09 May 1927

Poplar Bluff MO

98

19

10 May 1905

Snyder OK

97

20

3 Jun 1860

Comanche IA, Albany IL

92

21

24 Apr 1908

Natchez MS

91

22

09 Jun 1953

Worcester MA

90

23

20 Apr 1920

Starkville MS to Waco AL

88

24

28 Jun 1924

Lorain/Sandusky OH

85

25

25 May 1955

Udall KS

80


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