Deadliest tornados in the United States

The Natchez Tornado

May 6, 1840

This tornado killed 317 people and injured 109. Its path was along the Mississippi River. The final death toll may not have included slaves.

St. Louis Tornado

May 27, 1896

This tornado killed 255 people and injured 1000. It had winds of between 207 mph and 260 mph.

The New Richmond Tornado

Jun 12, 1899

This tornado killed 117 people and leaving 200 injured. It tore a 45 mile long path of destruction.

The Amite/Pine/Purvis Tornado

Apr 24, 1908

This tornado killed 143 people and injured 770. This storm only left seven houses standing in Purvis, Mississippi and also caused major damage in Amite, Louisiana.

The Tri-State Tornado

Mar 18, 1925

This tornado killed 695 people and injured over 2,000. It traveled more than 300 miles through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. It was rated an F5 at the top of the old Fujita scale

Tupelo Tornado

Apr 5, 1936

This tornado killed 216 people and injured 700. The first twister touched down in Coffeeville, Mississippi, before moving northeast and devastating Tupelo, Mississippi.

Gainesville Tornado

Apr 6, 1936

was a pair of storms that converged in Gainesville, Georgia, killing 203 people and injuring 1,600. The tornado destroyed four blocks and 750 houses in the northern Georgia town.

Woodward Tornado

Apr 9, 1947

This tornado killed 181 people and injured 970. Wreaked across parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas on April 9, 1947 The funnel cloud reportedly was more than a mile wide in places.

The Flint Tornado

Jun 8, 1953

This twister killed 115 people leaving 844 injured. It tore through Flint, Michigan having it be the top single deadliest tornado in the United States.

Joplin Missouri Tornado

May 22, 2011

This tornado killed 158 people and over 1000 were injured. The winds were recorded to be over 200mph and the tornado was touching ground for over 22 miles.