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Natchez, Mississippi
The 2nd most deadly tornado in U.S History killed 317 people, and injured more than 1000 people. The tornado was on the ground even 20 miles past Natchez. It is noted that the death toll could be even higher as African-American deaths were not counted until the 1950's https://www.ustornadoes.com/2017/05/07/natchez-ms-tornado-1840/ -
St Louis, Missouri
In the mid afternoon of 1896, a giant storm struck St Louis, that formed into a tornado destroyed a 3 mile wide path of destruction in less than half an hour. "The Great Cyclone" killed 255 people making the 3rd deadliest tornado in US history, however the tornado sunk many ships that the total death toll does not equate for, along with people drowning. The tornado caused nearly 700,000 million dollars in damages in todays money. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/great-st-louis-tornado-1896 -
New Richmond, Wisconsin
On a hot afternoon in June, Wisconsin was struck by a tornado that killed 117 people, making it the 9th deadliest tornado in U.S history. There was rise of people in the area as the circus was town and many victims were unsuspecting visitors who were leaving the circus to go back home. The tornado itself was not that large in the grand scheme of things, but the tragic timing inflated the death toll numbers much more than it would've been. https://www.weather.gov/mkx/0612-1899-newrichmond-tornado -
Amite/Pine/Purvis, Mississippi
A series of tornados touched down in tornado alley between April 23rd, and April 26th spawning 34 different tornados. Mississippi was hit the hardest killing 143 people. This was the 8th deadliest tornado in US History. The death toll is probably not accurate was African-Americans were not counted in the death toll. https://www.weather.gov/bmx/event_04241908 -
Missouri, Illinois, Indiana
Witnesses described this tornado as clouds dragging along the ground. It is the most deadly tornado in not just US History, but North American history killing 695 people. This singular tornado crossed three states and exceeded winds of 300 miles per hour. There was no warning at all which probably was the reason for so many deaths as the tornado was invisible in its path. https://www.weather.gov/pah/1925Tornado_ss -
Tupelo, Mississippi
One day before the Gainesville tornado the weather system formed a tornado that killed 216 people, making it the 4th deadliest tornado in history. The tornado destroyed the towns water plant which made recovery and fighting fires difficult. A 15 month old Elvis Presley was in the midst of this tornado, with many houses on his block being destroyed. The damages totaled 3 million dollars which is equal to 68 million dollars today. https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/tupelo-tornado-of-1936/ -
Gainesville, Georgia
203 people were killed in the morning of April 6th. This was the 5th deadliest tornado in US History. The tornado was formed by the same weather system that formed the Tupelo tornado the day earlier. President FDR visited the city three days later to take a view of the damage. Not only did the tornado itself do damage but it fueled tons of fires across the town that caused further damage and killed more people. https://www.todayingeorgiahistory.org/tih-georgia-day/gainesville-tornado-of-1936/ -
Woodward, Texas
On the afternoon of April, 9th a tornadic storm formed that created 6 tornadoes along a 220 mile path that stretched from Texas, to Kansas. The tornado at its peak was almost 1.8 miles wide. The 6th deadliest tornado in US History killed 181 people, and injured nearly 1000 people. The death toll could've been higher but a hero at the electric utility cut the power before dying seconds later, preventing fires from starting. https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19470409 -
Flint, Michigan
In 1953, Flint, Michigan was hit with a tornado that killed 115 people, and injured 844 people. A tornado formed by the same weather system killed 94 people in Massachusetts the following day. This was the 10th deadliest tornado in American history. In late August, 8,000 volunteers participated in a weekend project known as "Operation Tornado" put in 80,000 hours of work and built 193 houses as apart of the recovery process
(https://sloanlongway.org/beecher-tornado-of-1953/) -
Joplin, Missouri
On the evening of May, 22nd a EF5 Tornado touched down 4 hours away from St Louis. The tornado reached a maximum width of 1 mile, and reached wind speeds peaking at around 200 mph. It took 161 lives, making it the 7th most deadly tornado in US History. The tornado destroyed 8000 homes, and buildings in its path. The tornado called for "big box" stores to install emergency shelters in their buildings. https://stormaware.mo.gov/joplin-tornado/