List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

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Parent article: List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks


These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America.

  1. The listing is U.S.-centric, with more and more consistent information available for U.S. tornadoes. Some North American outbreaks affecting the U.S. may only have U.S. tornado information.
  2. Exact death and injury counts are not possible, especially for large events and events before 1955.
  3. Prior to 1950 in the United States, only significant tornadoes are listed for the number of tornadoes in outbreaks.
  4. Due to increasing detection, particularly in the U.S., numbers of counted tornadoes have increased markedly in recent decades although number of actual tornadoes and counted significant tornadoes has not. In older events, the number of tornadoes officially counted is likely underestimated.

Contents

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
Rehobeth, Massachusetts tornado August 1671 Massachusetts - 0 fatalities Earliest known U.S. tornado
Cambridge, Massachusetts tornado July 8, 1680 Massachusetts - 1 fatality Earliest known U.S. killer tornado
War of 1812 Washington D.C. tornado August 25, 1814 Washington, D.C. - - Killed several British soldiers occupying city
Great Natchez Tornado May 7, 1840 Southeastern U.S. >1 >317 fatalities, >109 injuries 2nd deadliest tornado in U.S. history
Mid-Mississippi Valley tornado outbreak of June 1860 June 3, 1860 Middle Mississippi Valley - ≥148 fatalities, ≥409 injuries Exceptionally violent outbreak
1871 St. Louis tornado March 8, 1871 Middle Mississippi Valley ≥1 9 fatalities, 60 injuries Struck St. Louis-East St. Louis
Southeast tornado outbreak of March 1875 March 20, 1875 Southeastern U.S. - ≥93 fatalities, ≥367 injuries (7 violent, ≥11 killer)
Southeast tornado outbreak of May 1875 May 1, 1875 Southeastern U.S. - 58 fatalities, 195 injuries (1 violent, 7 killer)
Central Plains tornado outbreaks of May 1879 May 29 - May 30, 1879 Central Great Plains - ≥36 fatalities, ≥186 injuries (≥15 significant, 6 violent, ≥9 killer)
April 1880 tornado outbreak April 18, 1880 Mississippi Valley - Great Plains - ≥165 fatalities, ≥511 injuries (>22 significant, 5 violent, 14 killer)
1881 Minnesota tornado outbreak March 22 - 23, 1881 Minnesota - ≥77 fatalities, ≥101 injuries (>7 significant, 1 violent, 3 killer)
Southeast tornado outbreak of April 1883 April 22 - 23, 1883 Southeastern U.S. - ≥109 fatalities, ≥755 injuries (17 signicant, 3 violent, 13 killer)
May 1883 tornado outbreak May 18, 1883 Middle-Lower Mississippi Valley - ≥64 fatalities, ≥386 injuries (≥21 significant, 6 violent, 16 killers)
Enigma tornado outbreak February 19 - 20, 1884 Central - Eastern U.S. >41 >178 fatalities, ≥1056 injuries Among largest known outbreaks (>37 significant, ≥4 violent, ≥28 killer)
Mississippi Valley tornado outbreak of April 1886 April 14, 1886 Middle-Upper Mississippi Valley - 87 fatalities, 319 injuries (4 violent, 6 killer)
1890 St. Louis tornado outbreak January 12, 1890 Middle Mississippi Valley - 16 fatalities, 91 injuries (≥1 violent, 3 killer)
Mid-Mississippi Valley Tornado Outbreak of March 1890 March 27, 1890 Middle Mississippi Valley - ≥146 fatalities, ≥847 injuries 76 killed in downtown Louisville, KY (≥24 significant, 6 violent, 16 killer)
Upper Mississippi Valley tornado outbreak of September 1894 September 21 - 22, 1894 Upper Mississippi Valley - >63 fatalities, >253 injuries (>9 significant, 4 violent, 5 killer)
Sedgwick, Kansas-Hull, Iowa tornado outbreaks of 1895 May 1 - 3, 1895 Central-Northern Great Plains - >18-35 fatalities, >67 injuries 7 killed in schools in Ireton-Hull, IA (2 F5s, 3 killer)
Sherman, Texas tornado outbreak May 15, 1896 Southern Great Plains - 85 fatalities, ≥291 injuries
Central Plains tornado outbreak of 1896 May 17, 1896 Central Great Plains - 25 fatalities, ≥260 injuries
Late-May 1896 tornado outbreak May 24 - 25, 1896 Upper Mississippi Valley - Great Lakes (Ontario) - ≥79 fatalities, >215 injuries
St. Louis-East St. Louis Tornado May 27 - 28, 1896 Missouri - Illinois / Mid-Atlantic - ≥305 fatalities, >1236 injuries By far costliest tornado in history, 3rd deadliest in U.S. history (10 significant, 4 violent, 7 killer (27th))
Arkansas tornado outbreak of January 1898 January 11, 1898 Lower Mississippi Valley - ≥56 fatalities, ≥119 injuries (1 violent, 2 killer)
Mississippi Valley tornado outbreaks of May 1898 May 17 - 18, 1898 Middle-Upper Mississippi Valley - 55 fatalities, ≥380 injuries (5 violent, 10 killer)
New Richmond Tornado June 11 - 12, 1899 Upper Midwest - ≥124 fatalities, ≥203 injuries (2 violent, 3 killer)

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
Kansas "Forgotten" tornado outbreak May 6, 1900 Central U.S. - ≥3 fatalities, ≥16 injuries Large outbreak with little known information (≥17 significant, 2 killer)
Goliad, Texas Tornado Outbreak May 18, 1902 South Central U.S. - 114 fatalities, ≥279 injuries (1 violent, 3 killer; tied with Waco Tornado as deadliest in Texas history)
St. Louis tornado of 1904 August 19, 1904 Missouri - Illinois ≥1 3 fatalities, ≥10 injuries Heavy damage in downtown St. Louis
Snyder, Oklahoma tornado May 10, 1905 Oklahoma ≥1 97 fatalities, ≥150 injuries F5 largely destroyed Snyder
Southeast tornado outbreak of April 1908 April 23 - 25, 1908 Southeastern U.S. - 324 fatalities, ≥1,720 injuries (≥41 significant, 6 violent, 19 killer)
Late-April 1909 tornado outbreak April 29 - May 1, 1909 Mississippi - Tennessee Valley - ≥165 fatalities, ≥696 injuries (35 significant, 4 violent, 24 killer)
Owosso, Michigan tornado November 11, 1911 Owosso, Michigan and Shiawassee County, Michigan - 2 dead, 9 injured Occurred at 11:11 PM, on 11-11-11 (November 11, 1911), named "Tornado Of The Elevens".
April 1912 tornado outbreak sequence April 20 - 29, 1912 Southern-Central Great Plains - Middle Mississippi Valley - Southeastern U.S. - ≥104 fatalities, ≥630 injuries (≥59 significant, 17 violent, ≥34 killer)
Mid-March 1913 tornado outbreak March 13 - 14, 1913 Southeastern U.S. - Middle Mississippi Valley - 78 fatalities, ≥492 injuries (20 significant, 3 violent, 16 killer)
Easter Weekend 1913 tornado outbreak sequence March 20 - 24, 1913 Southeastern U.S. - Central Great Plains - Middle Mississippi Valley - 48 fatalities, ≥1,535 injuries Omaha Easter Sunday Tornado (1913) on 23rd (≥26 significant, 7 violent, 18 killer)
June 1916 tornado outbreak June 5 - 6, 1916 Mississippi Valley - Southern U.S. - 112 fatalities, 741 injuries (34 significant, 1 violent, 23 killer)
Southeast tornado outbreak of February 1917 February 23, 1917 Southeastern U.S. - 17 fatalities, 81 injuries
New Albany, Indiana tornado outbreak of March 1917 March 23, 1917 Middle Mississippi Valley - 47 fatalities, 311 injuries
May - June 1917 tornado outbreak sequence May 25 - 7, 1917 Central - Southeastern U.S. - >224 fatalities (>34 significant, >7 violent, >25 killer)
May 1918 tornado outbreak sequence May 18 - 21, 1918 Central-Northern Great Plains - Upper Midwest - 44 fatalities, 340 injuries (≥34 significant, 5 violent, 13 killer)
March 1919 tornado outbreak March 14 - 16, 1919 Central U.S. - 53 fatalities, 219 injuries (4 violent, 18 killer)
April 1919 tornado outbreak April 8 - 9, 1919 Southern Great Plains - 92 fatalities, 412 injuries (4 violent, 10 killer)

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1920 March 28, 1920 Midwest - Southeast - ≥380 fatalities, ≥1215 injuries (31 significant, 8 violent, 19 killer)
Mississippi-Alabama tornado outbreaks of April 1920 April 19 - 21, 1920 Southeastern U.S. - 243 fatalities, 1374 injuries (6 violent, 9 killer)
April 1921 tornado outbreak April 15 - 16, 1921 Southern U.S. - 90 fatalities, 676 injuries (34 significant, 1 violent, 17 killer)
Great Plains tornado outbreak of November 1922 November 4, 1922 Great Plains - 17 fatalities, 68 injuries (1 violent, 4 killer)
April 1924 tornado outbreak April 30, 1924 Southeastern U.S. - 110 fatalities, 1133 injuries 7 killed at school in Horrell Hill, SC (24 significant, 2 violent, 16 killer)
Sandusky-Lorain, Ohio tornado outbreak June 28, 1924 Eastern Great Lakes - 90 fatalities, 349 injuries (≥6 significant, 1 violent, 4 killer)
Tri-State Tornado March 18, 1925 Middle Mississippi - Ohio Valley ≥9 ≥747 fatalities, ≥2298 injuries Deadliest and 3rd costliest U.S., longest path and duration in world (≥9 significant, 3 violent, 8 killer)
La Plata, Maryland tornado of November 1926 November 9, 1926 Mid-Atlantic - 17 fatalities, 65 injuries 17 killed at schools
Late-November 1926 tornado outbreak November 25 - 26, 1926 Southern U.S. - 107 fatalities, 451 injuries (27 significant, 2 violent, 18 killer)
Southern Plains-Midwest tornado outbreaks of April 1927 April 18 - 19, 1927 Southern Great Plains - Midwest - 146 fatalities, ≥235 injuries (16 significant, 3 violent, 5 killer)
May 1927 tornado outbreak May 8 - 9, 1927 Great Plains - Mississippi Valley - 217 fatalities, 1156 injuries (32 significant, 8 violent, 17 killer) + 1 F5 with 10 fatalities and 300 injuries in Kansas on May 7
St. Louis tornado outbreak of 1927 September 29, 1927 Middle-Lower Mississippi Valley - 82 fatalities, 620 injuries Second costliest tornado in history (11 significant, 1 violent, 3 killer)
Upper Plains-Midwest tornado outbreak of September 1928 September 13 - 14, 1928 Upper Great Plains - Midwest - 23 fatalities, 197 injuries (15 significant, 3 violent, 3 killer)
Mid-Mississippi Valley tornado outbreak of January 1929 January 18, 1929 Middle Mississippi Valley - 10 fatalities, 46 injuries (7 significant, 5 killer)
Slocum, Texas-Statesboro, Georgia tornado outbreaks April 24 - 25, 1929 Great Plains - Midwest - Southeast - 63 fatalities, 567 injuries (15 significant, 4 violent, 7 killer)
Rye Cove, Virginia tornado outbreaks May 1 - 2, 1929 Southern - Eastern U.S. - 44 fatalities, 349 injuries 13 killed at school in Rye Cove, VA (17 significant, 10 killer)

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
May 1930 tornado outbreak sequence May 1 - 2 & 5 - 6, 1930 Great Plains - Mississippi Valley - 94 fatalities, 520 injuries (51 significant, 11 violent, 15 killer)
Southern Plains tornado outbreak of November 1930 November 19, 1930 Southern Great Plains - 24 fatalities, 162 injuries (8 significant, 1 violent, 2 killer)
Deep South tornado outbreak of 1932 March 21 - 22, 1932 Southeastern U.S. - ≥330 fatalities, 2145 injuries (36 significant, 10 violent, 27 killer)
Nashville tornado outbreak of March 1933 March 14, 1933 Tennessee Valley - 44 fatalities, 461 injuries Destructive killer tornado through downtown Nashville (5 significant, 1 violent, 4 killer)
Late-March 1933 tornado outbreak March 30 - 31, 1933 Southeast - 87 fatalities, 620 injuries (30 significant, 1 violent, 16 killer)
Greensboro, North Carolina tornado outbreak April 1 - 2, 1936 Southeast - 45 fatalities, 568 injuries (8 significant, 2 violent, 8 killer)
Tupelo-Gainesville Outbreak April 5 - 6, 1936 Southeastern U.S. - 454 fatalities, 2498 injuries (12 significant, 3 violent, 11 killer)
Bakerville, Missouri tornado outbreak March 15, 1938 Mississippi Valley - 24 fatalities, 200 injuries (14 significant, 2 violent, 6 killer)
Late-March 1938 tornado outbreak March 30 - 31, 1938 Southern Plains - Mississippi Valley - 40 fatalities, 548 injuries (26 significant, 3 violent, 9 killer)
Oshkosh, Nebraska tornado outbreak April 26, 1938 Great Plains - 6 fatalities, 39 injuries Oshkosh completely destroyed killing students at leveled school (8 significant, 2 violent, 2 killer)
Charleston, South Carolina tornadoes September 29, 1938 South Carolina - 32 fatalities, 100 injuries (2 killers)
April 1939 tornado outbreak sequence April 14 - 17, 1939 Great Plains - Mississippi Valley - 57 fatalities, 316 injuries (25 significant, 3 violent, 11 killer)

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
February 1942 tornado outbreak February 5 - 6, 1942 Southeast - 22 fatalities, 330 injuries (22 significant, 9 killer)
March 1942 tornado outbreak March 16, 1942 Central - Southern U.S. - 148 fatalities, ≥1284 injuries (26 significant, 5 violent, 18 killer)
April-May 1942 tornado outbreak sequence April 27 - 30 & May 2, 1942 Great Plains - 123 fatalities, ≥839 injuries (20 significant, 11 violent, 17 killer)
May 1943 tornado outbreak May 15, 1943 Great Plains - ≥6 fatalities, ≥222 injuries (21 significant, 4 violent, 2 killer)
Oklahoma tornado outbreak of January 1944 January 26. 1944 Southern Great Plains - 2 fatalities, 40 injuries (8 significant, 2 killer)
Appalachians Outbreak June 22 - 23, 1944 Great Lakes - Mid-Atlantic - 163 fatalities, ≥1044 injuries (≥9 significant, 4 violent, 7 killer)
April 1945 tornado outbreak April 12, 1945 - - 128 fatalities, 1001 injuries (17 significant, 5 violent, 10 killer)
January 1947 tornado outbreak January 29 - 30, 1947 Mississippi Valley - Southeast - 8 fatalities, 155 injuries (15 significant, 1 violent, 5 killer)
Glazier-Higgins-Woodward Tornadoes April 9 - 10, 1947 Southern Great Plains - 181 fatalities, 980 injuries (8 significant, 2 violent, 1 killer)
New Year's Eve tornado outbreak of 1947 December 31, 1947 Southern U.S. - 20 fatalities, 256 injuries (7 significant, 1 violent, 3 killer)
Alton-Bunker Hill-Gillespie tornado outbreak March 18 - 19, 1948 Great Plains - Middle Mississippi Valley - 43 fatalities, ≥566 injuries (25 significant, 3 violent, 5 killer)
Late-March 1948 tornado outbreak March 25 - March 27, 1948 Central U.S. - 37 fatalities, 321 injuries (19 significant, 3 violent, 5 killer)
Warren, Arkansas tornado outbreak January 3, 1949 South Central U.S. - 60 fatalities, 504 injuries (12 significant, 1 violent, 5 killer)
May 1949 tornado outbreak May 20 - 21, 1949 Central - Southeastern U.S. - ≥56 fatalities, ≥552 injuries Perhaps 2nd most intense known outbreak (≥29 significant, ≥5 violent, ≥2 killer)
October 1949 tornado outbreak October 9 - 10, 1949 Great Plains - 2 fatalities, 6 injuries (11 significant, 2 killer)

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
Arkansas-Tennessee tornado outbreak of 1952 March 21 - 22, 1952 Lower-Middle Mississippi Valley - 208 fatalities (19 significant, 8 violent, 13 killer)
April - May 1953 tornado outbreak sequence April 28 - May 2, 1953 Southeastern U.S. - 37 fatalities, 366 injuries (17 significant, 5 violent, 9 killer)
Mid-May 1953 tornado outbreak sequence May 9 - 11, 1953 Southern-Central Great Plains / Upper Mississippi Valley 33 144 fatalities, 903 injuries Waco Tornado occurred during Texan outbreak of May 11 (19 significant, 6 violent, 7 killer), tied for deadliest in Texas history
Flint-Worcester Tornadoes June 7 - 9, 1953 Central Great Plains - Great Lakes - New England 48 246 fatalities (11 significant, 1 violent killer on 7th; 10 significant, 4 violent, 8 killer on 8th; 3 significant, 1 violent killer on 9th; 24 significant, 6 violent, 10 killer for sequence)
Vicksburg, Mississippi tornado outbreak December 5, 1953 Louisiana - Mississippi - 38 fatalities (4 significant, 1 violent killer)
Commerce Landing, Mississippi tornado outbreak February 1, 1955 Mississippi - Alabama - 23 fatalities 23 killed at school in Commerce Landing, MS (>2 significant)
Plains Outbreak of May 1955 May 25 - 26, 1955 Great Plains - Midwest - Mississippi Valley 47 102 fatalities Last 75 fatality single tornado in the U.S. (8 significant, 3 violent, 3 killer)
February 1956 tornado outbreak February 24 - 25, 1956 Central U.S. - 6 fatalities (14 significant, 2 violent killers)
April 1956 tornado outbreak April 2 - 3, 1956 Central U.S. - 40 fatalities (33 significant, 7 violent, 8 killer)
Dallas tornado outbreak of April 1957 April 2, 1957 Texas - Oklahoma 28 17 fatalities (16 significant, 2 violent, 5 killer)
Southeastern tornado outbreak of April 1957 April 8, 1957 Alabama - Georgia - North Carolina - South Carolina - Tennessee - Virginia 15 4 fatalities (6 significant, 1 violent, 1 killer)
Lubbock Area tornado outbreak of April 1957 April 21, 1957 Texas - 0 fatalities (4 significant, 2 violent)
Silverton, Texas tornado outbreak May 15, 1957 Texas - 21 fatalities (6 significant, 1 violent, 2 killer)
Kansas City tornado outbreak of May 1957 May 20 - 21, 1957 Central Great Plains - Middle-Upper Mississippi Valley - 59 fatalities (32 significant, 4 violent, 3 killer)
Fargo Tornado of 1957 June 20, 1957 Northern Great Plains - 11 fatalities (4 significant, 2 violent, 2 killer)
November 1957 tornado outbreak November 7 - 8, 1957 Southeastern U.S. 20 12 fatalities (12 significant, 1 violent, 5 killer)
Murphysburo, Illinois tornado outbreak December 18, 1957 Missouri - Illinois 23 17 fatalities (18 significant, 3 violent, 5 killer)
Colfax, Wisconsin tornado outbreak June 4, 1958 Minnesota - Wisconsin - 28 fatalities (6 significant, 3 violent killers)
November 1958 tornado outbreak November 17, 1958 Southern U.S. - Great Plains 34 0 fatalities (16 significant)
St. Louis tornado outbreak of 1959 February 10, 1959 Middle Mississippi Valley - 21 fatalities Destructive tornado in downtown St. Louis (7 significant, 1 violent killer)
May 1959 tornado outbreak May 4 - 5, 1959 Central U.S. 49 0 fatalities (8 significant)

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
May 1960 tornado outbreak May 5 - 6, 1960 Southern Great Plains - 33 fatalities (25 significant, 4 violent, 8 killer)
Hurricane Carla September 1961 Southern U.S. ≥8 - 1 F0, 6 F1's, 8 F2's , 7 F3's 2 Killer, 1 F4 Killer Tornado
Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1965 April 11 - 12, 1965 Central U.S. 48 256 fatalities Among most intense recorded outbreaks (38 significant, 19 violent, 21 killer)
May 1965 Tornado Outbreak Sequence May 5, 6, 8, 9, 15, 1965 Upper Midwest - 18 fatalities (39 significant, 10 violent, 5 killer)
Late-May 1965 tornado outbreak May 25 - 26, 1965 Great Plains 51 0 fatalities (9 significant)
Topeka Tornado of 1966 June 8 - 9, 1966 Kansas - Illinois - 18 fatalities (5 significant, 2 violent, 3 killer)
1967 St. Louis Tornado Outbreak January 24, 1967 Midwest - 7 fatalities (18 significant, 2 violent, 4 killer)
Belvidere-Oak Lawn Tornado Outbreak April 21, 1967 Midwest 45 58 fatalities Large school and traffic death tolls (20 significant, 4 violent, 3 killer)
Southern Minnesota Tornado Outbreak of 1967 April 30, 1967 Minnesota 9 13 fatalities Only one tornado below F2 strength
Hurricane Beulah September 19 - 23, 1967 Texas - Mexico >115 5 fatalities
Wheelersburg, Ohio tornado outbreak April 23, 1968 Ohio Valley - 14 fatalities (7 significant, 3 violent killers)
May 1968 tornado outbreak May 15 - 16, 1968 Mississippi Valley 46 74 fatalities (20 significant, 4 violent (including two F5's), 8 killer)
Georgia tornado of 1969 April 4, 1969 Georgia - About 50 Injures
Minnesota Tornado Outbreak of 1969 August 6, 1969 Minnesota 13 15 fatalities, 106 injuries (1 violent, 8 significant, 3 killers )
Cincinnati tornado outbreak of August 1969 August 9, 1969 Indiana - Ohio - 4 fatalities (2 significant)
Hazelhurst, Mississippi tornado outbreak January 23, 1969 Southeastern U.S. - 32 fatalities (2 significant, 1 violent killer)

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
April 1970 tornado outbreak April 17 - 18, 1970 Southern Great Plains 15 23 fatalities (7 significant, 4 violent, 3 killer)
Lubbock Tornado May 11, 1970 West Texas - 28 fatalities (1 violent killer)
Mississippi Valley tornado outbreak of February 1971 February 21, 1971 Southern Mississippi Valley 14 119 fatalities (4 violent, 5 significant, 4 killer)
Springfield, Missouri tornado outbreak of 1971 December 14 - 15, 1971 Central U.S. 40 2 fatalities (10 significant, 2 killer)
1972 Portland-Vancouver Tornado April 5, 1972 Pacific Northwest 4 6 fatalities 4 strong tornadoes, deadliest in West Coast history
Georgia-South Carolina outbreak of March 1973 March 31, 1973 Georgia - South Carolina 3 10 fatalities Extremely destructive tornadoes, costliest natural disaster in Georgia history (3 violent killers)
May 1973 tornado outbreak May 26 - 29, 1973 Southern U.S. 99 22 fatalities (26 significant, 3 violent, 8 killer)
April 1-2 1974 tornado outbreak April 1 - 2, 1974 Southern U.S. - Mississippi Valley 23 4 fatalities Outbreak ended only 17 hours before Super Outbreak began in same areas (10 significant, 3 violent, 4 killer)
Super Outbreak April 3 - 4, 1974 Eastern U.S. - Ontario 148 315 fatalities Largest and most intense recorded outbreak (95 significant, 30 violent (6 F5), 49 killer)
June 1974 Great Plains tornado outbreak June 8, 1974 Southern U.S. Plains 39 22 Fatalities (22 Significant, 4 Violent, 4 Killer)
Great Storm of 1975 January 9 - 12, 1975 Southeastern U.S. 45 12 fatalities (10 significant, 1 violent, 4 killer)
Omaha Tornado of 1975 May 6, 1975 Nortern Great Plains 12 3 fatalities (6 significant, 2 violent, 1 killer)
Canton, Illinois Tornado of 1975 July 23, 1975 Illinois - 2 fatalities
March 1976 tornado outbreak March 20 - 21, 1976 Mississippi Valley 66 3 fatalities (18 significant, 3 violent, 3 killer)
Birmingham Tornado of April 1977 April 4, 1977 Southeastern U.S. 15 22 fatalities (1 violent, 4 significant, 1 killer) F5 tornado strikes northern Birmingham. Outbreak extends from MS to NC.
Sarasota, Florida tornadoes May 4, 1978 Florida - 3 fatalities (2 significant, 1 killer)
Bossier City, LA Tornado December 2 - Decmber 3, 1978 Southern Great Plains - Southern U.S. - 2 fatalities Occurred at 1:52 AM leaving little warning as most were asleep
Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak April 10 - 11, 1979 Southern Great Plains - Southeastern U.S. - 56 fatalities Wichita Falls Tornado on 10th (28 significant, 2 violent, 5 killer)
Windsor Locks, Connecticut Tornado October 3, 1979 New England - 3 fatalities (2 significant, 1 violent killer)

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
Central tornado outbreak of April 1980 April 7 - 8, 1980 Central U.S. - 3 fatalities (30 significant)
Grand Island, Nebraska Tornado Outbreak June 2 - 3, 1980 Central - Eastern U.S. - 6 fatalities (15 significant, 1 violent, 3 killer; best known for forming three rare anticyclonic tornados in one system)
Hurricane Allen August 1980 Mexico - Texas ≥29 - Costliest tropical cyclone related tornado in history struck Austin vicinity
April 1982 tornado outbreak April 2 - 3, 1982 Southern Plains - Mississippi Valley 61 29 fatalities (24 significant, 4 violent, 10 killer)
May 1982 tornado outbreak May 11 - 12, 1982 Texas - Oklahoma 70 2 fatalities (14 significant)
Marion, Illinois tornado May 29, 1982 Illinois - 10 fatalities (2 significant, 1 violent killer)
Early-December 1982 tornado outbreak December 2 - 3, 1982 Lower-Middle Mississippi Valley - 4 fatalities (16 significant)
Christmas 1982 tornado outbreak December 23 - 25, 1982 Central - Southeastern U.S. - 3 fatalities (18 significant)
Early-May 1983 tornado outbreak May 1 - 2, 1983 Mississippi Valley - Great Lakes - 6 fatalities (22 significant, 5 killer)
Mid-May 1983 tornado outbreak May 18 - 20, 1983 Southeastern U.S. 48 6 fatalities (10 significant, 6 killer)
Carolinas Tornado Outbreak March 28, 1984 Carolinas 24 57 fatalities, 1200+ injuries 11 of 13 very large tornadoes produced by one supercell generated F3/F4 damage; 2 F4's left damage paths +2 miles wide. (19 significant, 7 violent, 10 killer)
Philipp-Water Valley, Mississippi tornado outbreak April 21, 1984 Southeastern U.S. - 15 fatalities (3 significant)
Morris, Oklahoma tornado outbreak April 26 - 27, 1984 Great Plains - Mississippi Valley - 16 fatalities (20 significant, 8 killer)
Mannford-New Prue, Oklahoma tornado outbreak April 29, 1984 Central U.S. 42 1 fatality (4 significant, 1 violent killer)
May 1984 tornado outbreak May 2 - 3, 1984 Southeastern U.S. 60 5 fatalities (15 significant)
Barneveld, Wisconsin tornado outbreak June 7 - 8, 1984 Central U.S. 45 13 fatalities (26 significant, 2 violent, 4 killer)
United States-Canadian Outbreak May 31, 1985 U.S. - Canadian Eastern Great Lakes - ≥88 fatalities Among most intense outbreaks recorded, largest recorded outbreak in the region (≥20 significant, 9 violent, ≥10 killer)
Hurricane Danny August 1985 Southeastern U.S. 39
Saragosa, Texas tornado May 22, 1987 West Texas - 30 fatalities (1 violent killer)
Arklatex Outbreak November 15-16, 1987 Southeastern U.S. 50 11 Fatalities
May 1988 tornado outbreak May 8, 1988 Midwest 57 0 fatalities (8 significant)
Hurricane Gilbert September 1988 Central - North America ≥29 -
November 1988 tornado outbreaks November 4 - 5, 15, 19 - 20, 28, 1988 Central - Eastern U.S. - 14 fatalities 44 tornadoes on Nov. 15, Raleigh Tornado on Nov. 28 {29 significant, 6 killer, 1 violent}
SC-NC-VA Tornado Outbreak May 5, 1989 Mid-Atlantic - Southeast U.S. - 7 fatalities (9 significant, 3 violent, 3 killer)
Northeastern United States tornado outbreak July 10, 1989 Northeastern United States 16 0 fatalities, 142 injured (6 significant, 2 violent (F4), 0 killer)
November 1989 Tornado Outbreak November 15-16, 1989 Southeastern U.S. and Mid-Atlantic States 40 30 fatalities (9 significant, 1 violent killer)

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
Central US Tornado Outbreak of 1990 March 13, 1990 Central U.S. 59 2 fatalities (26 significant, 4 violent, 2 killer)
Lower Ohio Valley Tornado Outbreak June 2 - 3, 1990 Central U.S. 66 9 fatalities (27 significant, 7 violent, 4 killer)
Plainfield Tornado August 28, 1990 Northeastern Illinois 3 29 fatalities Strongest August tornado (1 violent killer)
Andover, Kansas Tornado Outbreak April 26 - 27, 1991 Central-Southern Great Plains 58 21 fatalities (32 significant, 5 violent, 5 killer)
Central Plains tornado outbreak of May 1991 May 16, 1991 Central Great Plains 46 0 fatalities (4 significant)
Mid-June 1992 Tornado Outbreak June 15 - 16, 1992 Central U.S. 123 1 fatality (27 significant, 4 violent, 1 killer)
November 1992 Tornado Outbreak November 21 - 23, 1992 Southern - Eastern U.S. 95 26 fatalities (43 significant, 5 violent, 9 killer)
Catoosa, Oklahoma tornado outbreak April 24, 1993 Oklahoma - 7 fatalities (1 violent killer)
Virginia Tornado Outbreak August 6, 1993 Virginia 18 4 fatalities Largest tornado outbreak in Virgnia history (2 violent)
Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1994 March 27, 1994 Southeastern U.S. 27 40 fatalities (2 violent, 13 significant, 5 killer)
Texas-Oklahoma tornado outbreaks of April 1994 April 25 - 27, 1994 Southern Great Plains - Midwest >67 3 fatalities (2 violent, 13 significant)
June 1994 tornado outbreak June 26 - 27, 1994 - 62 2 fatalities (11 significant)
May 1995 tornado outbreak sequence May 1995 Central U.S. >80 >4 fatalities May 6–7, 8, 9, 13–14, 18–19, 27, 29
Illinois-Ontario Tornado Outbreak Sequence April 19 - 22, 1996 Texas - Arkansas - Illinois - Indiana - Ontario >70 -
Late-October 1996 tornado outbreak October 26, 1996 West North Central States 26 11 injuries Unusual late-season outbreak in Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska
Benton, Arkansas Tornado Outbreak March 1, 1997 Mississippi Valley - Ohio Valley 56 26 fatalities (18 violent, 16 significant, 5 killers)
Miami Tornado May 12, 1997 Miami, Florida - -
Jarrell Tornado May 27, 1997 Texas 19 27 fatalities (5 violent, 2 killers)
Southeast Michigan Tornado Outbreak July 2, 1997 Southeast Michigan - Southwestern Ontario 13 7 fatalities One tornado passed through some Detroit neighborhoods, the suburbs of Hamtramck, and Highland Park. One also touched down near Windsor, Ontario
Kissimmee Tornado Outbreak February 22 - 23, 1998 Florida 11 42 fatalities (3 violent, 4 killers)
Gainesville-Stoneville tornado outbreak March 20 - 20, 1998 Georgia to Virginia 12 14 fatalities (5 significant, 2 violent, 2 killers)
Comfrey - St. Peter Tornado Outbreak March 29, 1998 Southern Minnesota 14 2 fatalities, 36 injuries Earliest tornado outbreak in Minnesota history
Birmingham Tornado April 8, 1998 Metropolitan area of Birmingham, Alabama, also Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee 11 39 fatalities (2 violent, 5 significant, 3 killers)
Tennessee Valley Tornado Outbreak April 16, 1998 Southeastern U.S. 10 ≥4 fatalities Passed through downtown Nashville
Spencer tornado May 30, 1998 South Dakota - 6 fatalities
New York Tornado Outbreak May 31, 1998 NY, PA, VT 35 1 fatality, 109 injuries $83M in damage
Eastern tornado outbreak of 1998 June 2, 1998 NY to SC 49 2 fatalities, 80 injuries $42M in damage
Lynbrook tornado September 7, 1998 Long Island, NY - 1 fatality During the Labor Day Derecho Event
January 1999 Tornado Outbreak Sequence January 17 - 22, 1999 Arkansas Tennessee Mississippi >100 16 Two tornado outbreaks. January 17 and another one on January 21-22. Arkansas and western Tennessee raked by strong and killer tornadoes.
Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak May 3, 1999 Southern Great Plains 66 46 fatalities, 665 injuries First tornado to incur $1 billion in (non-normalized) damages
Salt Lake City Tornado August 11, 1999 Utah - 1 fatality

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
Southwest Georgia tornado outbreak February 13 - 14, 2000 Georgia - 19 fatalities
Fort Worth Tornado March 28, 2000 U.S. South - 2 fatalities
Tuscaloosa Tornado of December 2000 December 16, 2000 Southern United States 24 12 fatalities Tuscaloosa Tornado caught live via Tower Cam(1 violent, 10 significant, 2 killers)
Virginia-DC-Maryland Tornado Outbreak September 24, 2001 - 9 2 fatalities, 57 injuries Multi-vortex F3 tornado passed through the University of Maryland campus (2 violent, 1 killer)
North Central Indiana-Michigan Tornado Outbreak October 24, 2001 Central U.S. 10 2 fatalities
Arkansas-Mississippi-Alabama tornado outbreak November 23 - 24, 2001 Southeast U.S. 67 13 fatalities
Midwest to Mid-Atlantic United States tornado outbreak of 2002 April 27 - 28, 2002 - 49 6 fatalities (7 violent, 10 significant, 2 killers)
Veterans Day Weekend tornado outbreak of 2002 November 9 - 11, 2002 Southeastern U.S. - Ohio Valley ≥75 36 fatalities
May 2003 Tornado Outbreak Sequence May 3 - 11, 2003 - 401+ 48 fatalities
Utica, Illinois Tornado Outbreak April 20, 2004 Illinois - Indiana - 8 fatalities
Hallam, Nebraska Tornado Outbreak May 22, 2004 Central Great Plains - 1 fatality Widest recorded tornado (2.5 mi / 4 km)
Memorial Day Weekend outbreak May 29 - 30, 2004 Great Plains - Midwest 149 5 fatalities
Roanoke, Illinois tornado July 13, 2004 Central Illinois - 0 fatalities 1 violent
Hurricane Frances September 2004 Eastern U.S. 123 - 92 F0's, 30 F1's, 5 F2's
Hurricane Ivan September 2004 Eastern U.S. 117 - 57 F0's, 59 F1's, 18 F2's 1 F3
Wisconsin Tornado Outbreak of August 2005 August 18, 2005 Wisconsin - Minnesota - 1 fatality
Hurricane Katrina August 26 - 31, 2005 Southeastern - Eastern U.S. 44 1 fatality
Hurricane Rita September 2005 U.S. South 22 -
Evansville Tornado of November 2005 November 5 - 6, 2005 Middle Mississippi - Ohio Valley 7 25 fatalities All fatalities caused by a single F3
Iowa Tornado Outbreak of November 2005 November 12, 2005 Iowa - Missouri 1 fatality
Mid-November 2005 Tornado Outbreak November 15, 2005 Central - Southeastern U.S. 50 -
Late-November 2005 Tornado Outbreak November 27 - 28, 2005 Central - Southeastern U.S. 46 -
March 2006 Tornado Outbreak Sequence March 9 - 13, 2006 Central U.S. 105 11 fatalities One tornado lasted over 2 hours. One supercell lasted over 17 hours and crossed 5 states.
April 2, 2006 Tornado Outbreak April 2, 2006 Central U.S. - 26 fatalities 2 others killed by non tornadic storms
April 6-8, 2006 Tornado Outbreak April 6 - 8, 2006 Central - Southeastern U.S. - 11 fatalities At least 1 indirect fatality
Easter Week 2006 Tornado Outbreak Sequence April 13 - 19, 2006 Midwest U.S. - 1 fatality
North Texas tornado of May 2006 May 9, 2006 North Texas - Oklahoma - 3 fatalities At least seven tornadoes
Dakota-Minnesota Tornado Outbreak of August 2006 August 24, 2006 North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota 11 1 fatality, 24 injuries 11 confirmed tornadoes; 24 total reported
September Upper Midwest Tornado Outbreak September 16, 2006 South Dakota, Minnesota - 1 fatality -
Late-September 2006 Tornado Outbreak September 21-23, 2006 Central U.S. 41 None
Mid-November 2006 Tornado Outbreak November, 2006 North Carolina, Louisiana - 9 fatalities
Central Florida Tornado of February 2007 February 2, 2007 Florida 3 20 fatalities 3 confirmed tornadoes
New Orleans Tornado of 2007 February 12 - 13, 2007 Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama 10 1 fatality
February-March 2007 Tornado Outbreak February 28 - March 1, 2007 Kansas, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia 49 20 fatalities
Late-March 2007 Tornado Outbreak March 28 - March 31, 2007 Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado 65 reported, 33 confirmed 3 Fatalities

Main Article: List of Canadian tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
Bouctouche, New Brunswick tornado August 6, 1879 Bouctouche, New Brunswick - 7 fatalities Easternmost violent tornado in North America
Late-May 1896 tornado outbreak May 24 - 25, 1896 Upper Mississippi Valley - Great Lakes (Ontario) - ≥79 fatalities, >215 injuries
Regina Cyclone June 30, 1912 Saskatchewan - 28 fatalities Deadliest Canadian tornado
Windsor - Tecumseh, Ontario Tornado of 1946 June 17, 1946 Michigan - Ontario 1 ≈18 fatalities
Fort Frances, Ontario tornado June 25, 1946 Minnesota - Northwestern Ontario 1 Crossed the Rainy River, caused severe damage to Fort Frances, Ontario's waterfront
Sudbury, Ontario Tornado August 20, 1970 Ontario, Canada - 6 fatalities 1 killer
Super Outbreak April 3 - 4, 1974 Eastern U.S. - Ontario 148 total, 1 in Canada 315 fatalities total, 9 in Canada Largest and most intense recorded outbreak; mostly impacted the United States, but one tornado occurred in Ontario.
Woodstock, Ontario tornado of August 1979 August 7, 1979 Ontario - 2 fatalities Two F4s strike the City of Woodstock and surrounding farmland, at the same time.
Edmonton Tornado July 31, 1987 Alberta - ≥27 fatalities, ≥300 injuries Most destructive Canadian tornado (≥1 violent killer)
Illinois-Ontario Tornado Outbreak Sequence April 19 - 22, 1996 Texas - Arkansas - Illinois - Indiana - Ontario >70 -
Southeast Michigan Tornado Outbreak July 2, 1997 Southeast Michigan - Southwestern Ontario 13 7 fatalities One tornado passed through some Detroit neighborhoods, the suburbs of Hamtramck, and Highland Park. One also touched down near Windsor, Ontario
Pine Lake, Alberta Tornado July 14, 2000 Alberta - 12 fatalities

Event Date Area Tornadoes Casualties Notes
Hondo Coal Mine tornado May 10, 1899 Northern Mexico - ≥22 fatalities Deadliest Mexican tornado
Bejucal tornado of 1940 December 26, 1940 Cuba - 12 fatalities Reportedly spawned during hurricane
1953 Bermuda tornadoes April 5, 1953 Bermuda - 1 fatality, 9 injuries Possibly four separate tornadoes
Panama City tornado of 1992 July 6, 1992 Panama City, Panama - 12 fatalities, >50 injuries Perhaps deadliest Panamanian tornado

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