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The Great Natchez Tornado
The tornado formed about 20 miles away from Natchez and moved northeast along the Mississippi River. It then struck Natchez Landing, tossing 116 flatboats into the river, drowning the crews and people aboard. At least 317 people were killed and 109 were injured. It's possible that more people died in Mississippi and Louisiana because slave deaths were not included back than. Though the Fujita scale did not exist back then, officials today estimate that it ranked as at least an F4 tornado. -
The Great Cyclone of 1896
The tornado that touched down in St. Louis, Missouri was one of at least eighteen tornadoes that occurred that day. After causing the deaths of at least 137 people, the tornado crossed the Mississippi River and continued into East St. Louis, Illinois. There, at least 118 more people lost their lives, and over 1,000 were injured. It's possible that more lives were lost in the river. Later ranked as an F4 tornado, it remains the third deadliest one in the history of the United States. -
New Richmond Tornado
The tornado was reported to have first touched down on the eastern bank of Lake St. Croix, then went northeast to New Richmond, Wisconsin. Within seven to ten minutes, almost half of New Richmond was destroyed. In total, an estimated 117 people were killed and twice as many were injured. After destroying New Richmond, the tornado continued along the Omaha Railroad. It is ranked as an F5, one of the first in history to cause a death toll over 100. -
The Dixie Tornado Outrbreak
The Dixie Tornado Outbreak produced at least 34 tornadoes in 13 states across portions of the midwestern and southern United States. One of these tornadoes was the Amite/Purvis tornado, one of the deadliest tornadoes in US history. This singular tornado caused the deaths of 143 people, and was ranked an F4 on the Fujita scales. Another F4 tornado, the Lamourie/Tillman tornado, caused the loss of 91 lives. -
Tri-State Tornado
The Tri-State tornado was the deadliest out of the twelve tornadoes that spanned a large portion of the midwestern and southern United States. Lasting 3 hours and 45 minuets, it crossed from southeastern Missouri, through southern Illinois, and then into southwestern Indiana leaving a 219 mile long track. At least 695 people died directly, making it the deadliest tornado in United States history. The Tri-State Tornado is ranked as an EF5 on the enhanced Fujita scale. -
Tupelo Tornado
The Tupelo tornado came from a complex of storm cells, and touched down about 8 miles outside of the city. In the Gum Pond area of Tupelo, entire houses were swept into the water, where many of the bodies were found. According to records, the tornado leveled 48 city blocks and between 200 and 900 homes. At least 216 people were killed and 700 were injured. Elvis Presley and his parents survived, though. The Tupelo tornado is ranked as an F5 tornado. -
Gainesville Tornado
After producing the Tupelo tornado, the same storm system moved through Alabama and reached Gainesville, Georgia, where two tornadoes merged together and destroyed virtually everything in the downtown area. The Cooper Pants Factory collapsed and caught fire, taking the lives of about 70 people. In total, an estimated 203 people died, but it's not certain because many of the buildings collapsed and went up in flames. The Gainesville tornados were ranked as an F4 tornado. -
Woodward Tornado
The storm started in Panhandle, Texas, and produced at least six tornadoes along a 220 mile path. The tornado that struck Woodward started near Canadian, TX, and traveled through the town at about 50 miles an hour, taking 69 lives before crossing into Oklahoma. In Woodward, the tornado destroyed over 100 city blocks, killed at least 116 people, and injured 1000 more. The bodies of 3 children were never recovered. It ranks as an F5 tornado. -
Beecher Tornado
The neighborhood of Beecher, located in Flint, Michigan, took a direct hit from the tornado. People had almost no warning before it hit, and many houses were completely destroyed. The Beecher high school was severely damaged, as it was directly hit. In total, the F5 tornado caused the loss of 116 people, including 54 people under the age of 18. -
Joplin Tornado
The Joplin Tornado was a multi-vortex tornado that started west of Joplin and reached a width of almost one mile while going through the southern part of the city. There, it destroyed almost 4,000 buildings, and damaged a total of almost 8,000. The tornado killed 158 people, and left 1,150 injured. The Joplin Tornado is the costliest tornado in United States history, and ranks as an EF5 on the enhanced Fujita scale.