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25 Deadliest Tornadoes in Recorded History

Sweeping through different eras Mother Nature has a way of reminding humanity that we are at her mercy. These deadliest tornadoes in recorded history paint the picture of the devastation that comes along with natural calamities.

Furthermore, with this list of the deadliest tornadoes, you will journey through different time frames to expand your historical knowledge base. We take you from as early as the 1800s until the modern day, to show you how tornadoes have caused havoc on planet Earth. Be part of the ride below.

Here are the 25 Deadliest Tornadoes in Recorded History.

1. Tri-State Tornado – United States,1925

Jackson County Historical Society, Murphysboro-

This remains the deadliest tornado recorded in the history of the US. It took place on March 18, 1925, and affected three states earning its name. It covered a path of 219 miles or 352 kilometers long through southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, and southwestern Indiana.

Additionally, about 695 people were killed by the calamity and more than 2000 were injured. The tornado lasted almost three and a half hours and Murphysboro in Illinois was worst hit along the tornado’s path causing over 200 deaths.

Besides fatalities, it led to the demolition of towns like Griffin, Owensville, and Princeton in Indiana. About 85 farms around these towns were left devastated.

2. Daulatpur–Saturia tornado – Bangladesh,1989

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As per the World Meteorological Organization data, this tornado occurred on April 26, 1989, and killed about 1,300 people. However, these statistics were disputed in 2022 with claims that the fatalities were slightly over 900.

Subsequently, the Daulatpur–Saturia tornado recorded as the deadliest tornado in history became disputable. The tornado struck around 6:30 pm local time and lasted one hour to one and a half hours.

The tornado began in the Daulatpur area and spread east into Saturia and Manikganj Sadar regions. This zone had been experiencing a season of drought six months before the tornado hit.

3. Great Natchez Tornado- US,1840

It is the second deadliest tornado in US recorded history. It occurred on May 7, 1840, in Natchez, Mississippi leading to 317 deaths and 109 injuries. The majority of those killed by this catastrophe were killed on the river due to the sinking of flatboats. Thus causing at least 269 deaths while those that died on land were 48 people (47 from Natchez and 1 from Vidalia).

According to meteorologists, the tornado was sparked by a terrible thunderstorm that fell upon Natchez and Vidalia during the afternoon.

Furthermore, the storm was loud and windy with a driving rain thus out of the storm system, the killer tornado began forming in the Deer Park and Slocum area. Using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale introduced in 2007, the strength of this tornado measured EF 4 or 5.

If you wish to delve more into deeper insights about tornadoes check here.

4. Louis–East St. Louis tornado – US,1896

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It ranks as the third deadliest tornado in the US recorded history. It affected St. Louis in Missouri and East St. Louis in Illinois. Taking place around 5:00 p.m. on May 27, 1896,  it was triggered by a storm system. This storm covered Illinois and Missouri from midafternoon hours with thick clouds blanketing the St. Louis area.

Subsequently, following the rains falling with thunder, and lightning, the tornado formed. It caused 255 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. Spanning about 20 minutes, this tornado left more than 5,000 people displaced from their homes and their possessions lost.

The hardest hit areas during the St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado included the A-list neighborhoods of Lafayette Square and Compton Heights. To add to the list was the less privileged neighborhood, The Mill Creek Valley.

5. Tupelo-Gainesville Tornado – US,1936

It is one of the deadliest tornadoes recorded in US history. According to statistics from the National Weather Service, the tornado took place on April 5 and extended to 6, 1936, causing an outbreak of more than 12 tornadoes. Tupelo in Mississippi was hit heavily with the tornado strength estimated to be F5 on the Fujita scale.

Moreover, Gainesville, Georgia was hit by a tornado at the strength of F4 on April 6, 1936. It followed a 15-mile-long path destroying other cities such as Columbia in Tennessee, Acworth in Georgia, and Anderson in South Carolina.

The fatalities in Georgia alone reached over 203 fatalities and over 900 injuries. Thus the total approximated fatalities were more than 454 people and over 2000 injuries. The cost of damage during the event was put at $3 million at the time.

6. Joplin Tornado – US,2011

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It ranks top among the deadliest tornadoes in the US recorded history, causing at least 158 deaths and more than 1100 people were injured. The tornado struck Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011.

To add on, it was measured as an EF 5 on the Enhanced Fujita tornado intensity scale. It started from west of Joplin and traveled a path of about 6 miles throughout the city. It also made its way into the rural parts of Jasper County as well as Newton County.

The cost of the damages at the time amounted to $2.8 billion. This cost included more than 8,000 buildings, basic infrastructure, and facilities like hospitals.

7. The Dixie Tornado Outbreak – US,1908

As recorded by the National Weather Service, this destructive tornado outbreak started on April 23, 1908, and stretched to April 26. About 34 tornadoes struck during this outbreak, spreading to more than 13 states. Some of the affected states were Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

What’s more, these tornadoes started in Louisiana and moved east into Mississippi. Thus Amite in Louisiana was one of the hardest hit during the early stages of the tornado outbreak causing at least 29 deaths. The situation grew worse in Purvis, Mississippi where more than 55 people lost their lives.

In total, there were over 320 citizens who were killed by the tornado outbreak. The tornado strength was estimated as F4 on the Fujita scale.

8. Soviet Union tornado outbreak- Russia, 1984

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This tornado outbreak happened on June 9, 1984, striking the regions north of Moscow. That is Ivanovo and Yaroslavl with Ivanovo experiencing the hardest hit.

Thus an F4 tornado on the Fujita scale with a width of 1,130 metres struck Ivanovo, causing severe damage to property and adding to the death toll. There is no official record for the fatalities but estimates stand at 400 deaths. 

There are more deadly natural disasters of all time that are worth noting.

9. Goliad Tornado – United States,1902

This tornado hit Goliad in Texas on May 18, 1902. The intensity of the tornado was recorded at F4 on the Fujita scale. More than 114 citizens died, over 250 were injured and the approximate cost of damages at the time amounted to $125,000.

On top of that, the city of Goliad experienced a loss of more than 150 homes for its residents, and at least 100 businesses across the city. The other significant facilities that were swept away were the city’s courthouse, a Baptist church, a black Methodist church, and a white Methodist church.

10. Worcester tornado- US,1953

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This tornado is one of the deadliest in recorded history. It was part of the Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence which took place on June 8-9, 1953. The F5 tornado caused havoc in Flint, Michigan on June 8. The next day it struck Worcester, Massachusetts with lesser strength of F4 on the Fujita scale.

Thus the ripple effect was 94 deaths and over 1,200 people injured. About 4,000 buildings were destroyed and more than 10,000 citizens were rendered homeless. The damage cost estimate at the time reached $52.193 million. The tornado stretched through a path of 48 miles or 77 kilometers, lasting about 78 minutes on the ground.

11. Yazoo City Tornado -United States,2010

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One of the deadliest tornadoes in recorded history that happened from April 22 to 25, 2010. This tornado outbreak started in the High Plains region on April 22. But the most severe action followed on April 24 with devastating effects in Mississippi’s Yazoo and Holmes counties.

Furthermore, the tornado’s wind speed reached a high of 170 miles per hour or 270 km/h making it of EF4 strength on the Enhanced Fujita scale. It led to 10 fatalities and over 146 injuries. The Tennessee Valley was another region affected by this tornado outbreak.

12. Sicily tornadoes- Italy,1851

It is on historical record as one of the deadliest tornadoes that occurred in Western Sicily territory which is now Italy. The event dates back to December 8, 1851. Though there is no exact figure for the fatalities the number is assumed to be more than 500.

More to it, this tornado was caused by two large waterspouts that came from Marsala and moved to Castellamare del Golfo. Thus as the waterspouts crossed the Sicilian plains they were joined by heavy rain and hailstorms. This led to damaging of farmlands to a great extent.

Further, Castellamare del Golfo town was one of the most affected areas with half the town destroyed and over 200 citizens losing their lives. The nearby harbor was severely damaged with vessels destroyed and others capsized causing more loss of life.

13. Jarrell Tornado – US,1997

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This deadly tornado was part of the Central Texas tornado outbreak which broke out on May 27, 1997. Hence the outbreak led to about 20 tornadoes which caused the death of 30 people. Over 33 people were hospitalized for injuries stemming from the tornado or due to severe weather-related issues.

To boot, Jarrell was the worst hit contributing to 27 of the total deaths. The F5 tornado left Jarrell’s houses, trees, farms, and infrastructure in a devastated state. Spreading through East Texas, McLennan, and Frio counties were also part of the affected areas. The tornado also crossed borders into the western region of the state of Louisiana.

Jarrell Tornado is one of many worst natural disasters to ever strike in the US.

14. Topeka Tornado – US,1966

On June 8th, 1966, one of the deadliest tornadoes in recorded history took place in Topeka, Kansas. At least 17 citizens lost their lives, over 500 were injured and damages reached $200 million at the time.

Moreover, the tornado started in Shawnee County and followed a 22-mile-long path, lasting about half an hour on the ground. Further, it blew at half a mile wide with speed winds of over 250 mph, leading to the classification of the tornado as an F5 in strength.

After leaving Shawnee County, the tornado entered Topeka city and hit the downtown area hardest. Then proceeded to other parts of the city with a lesser force.

Across the city, more than 800 homes were brought down and about 3000 buildings were damaged including the state’s Capitol dome. The dome endured damages caused by flying debris.

15. Woodward Tornado – US,1947

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It is among the deadliest tornadoes in recorded history spawning at least 169 deaths and more than 1000 injuries. It struck on April 9, 1947, and stretching through a path of 220 miles it affected Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas states.

The tornado moved at a width of 1.8 miles and a strength of F5 on the Fujita Scale according to the National Weather Service data. The worst hit areas were Glazier and Higgins in Texas and Woodward in Oklahoma. Woodward alone experienced over 100 fatalities and injuries of about 1000 people.

16. Grand Harbour of Malta tornado – Malta, 1551

Though the date of this event is uncertain, one fact is constant, it is one of the deadliest tornadoes in recorded history. Some sources record it on September 23, 1551, while other reports have it as September 23, 1556.

The tornado’s strength is estimated as F3 on the Fujita scale and it caused the death of atleast 600 people. It occurred on the Grand Harbour of the Southern Europe island country, Malta. Hence some of the vessels around the harbor including some navy vessels capsized during this event.

17. Marshfield Tornado – US,1880

Happening on April 18–20, 1880 this tornado outbreak became one of the deadliest tornadoes in recorded history. This series of about five tornadoes left at least 166 people dead and more than 516 were injured. Many of the tornadoes were of F4 strength as per the Fujita rating scale.

Over and above that, the tornado outbreak cut across the American Midwest affecting Marshfield and Springfield both in the state of Missouri. Thus in this region alone, there were 144 or so deaths that occurred. The tornado outbreak also spread to the Great Lakes region and El Paso in Arkansas.

18. Udall Tornado – US,1955

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According to the Kansas Historical Society, this tornado is one of the deadliest tornadoes in recorded history. It began around 10:30 p.m. on May 25, 1955, becoming the first of a series of three-day storms that struck the state.

Besides Kansas, the tornado outbreak spread to Oklahoma and Missouri. Udall in Kansas was hardest hit and the death toll rose to a high of 87 people and injuries were over 200 citizens. The total number of deaths caused by the tornado outbreak was more than 102 people.

19. Carolinas tornado outbreak- US,1984

This tornado struck Georgia, and North and South Carolina states. It led to at least 57 deaths and more than 1,248 injuries. The event happened on March 28, 1984, and affected 2 counties in Georgia, 8 in South Carolina and 17 in North Carolina. Yet Bennettsville in South Carolina was one of the worst hit by the tornado outbreak.

Take a look at other major tornadoes that have hit North Carolina in history.

20. Saturia–Manikganj Sadar tornado – Bangladesh,1973

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This tornado is one of the deadliest tornadoes in Bangladesh’s recorded history. It happened on April 17, 1973, in the Manikganj subdivision which is in the Dhaka District in Bangladesh. About 8 villages were affected and the fatalities reached 681 with a lot more sustaining injuries. The damages were terrific, with buildings in the affected surroundings devastated and trees uprooted.

21. Waco Tornado – United States,1953

This tornado is among the deadliest tornadoes in recorded history, occurring on May 9–11, 1953. It was part of an outbreak of at least 33 tornadoes that affected 10 states. The calamity began in Minnesota and found its way into Waco, Texas which was the climax of destruction on May 11.

Subsequently, 144 deaths occurred with Waco accounting for 114 of the total fatalities. At least 597 injuries occurred and more than 600 houses and 1,000 other structures were destroyed in the tornado outbreak. Over 2,000 vehicles were wrecked while some survivors had to wait over 14 hours to be rescued.

22. San Justo Tornado – Argentina,1973

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One of Argentina’s deadliest tornadoes in recorded history. It struck on January 10, 1973, in San Justo city in Argentina’s province of Santa Fe. About 63 fatalities were recorded and another 350 were injured. This F5 tornado as rated on the Fujita Scale caused a damage cost estimate of $60,000 at the time.

23. Saragosa Tornado – US,1987

The Saragosa Tornado is a historical event that is listed among the deadliest tornadoes in recorded history. It happened on the evening of May 22, 1987. At the heart of rural Reeves County in Texas, this F4 tornado attacked the community of Saragosa.

Better still, the tornado lasted about 15 minutes yet it carved a destructive path across the Saragosa town. Much of the town was destroyed and about 30 people died with a hundred others left nursing injuries.

24. Enigma tornado outbreak- US,1884

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Dating back to February 19–20, 1884, is one of the deadliest tornadoes in recorded history. It is the Enigma tornado outbreak which was a series of tornadoes ranging between 52 to 60 in number.

Furthermore, the tornado cut its path across 10 or so states including the hardest hit Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. The other affected states consisted of Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The total number of fatalities and those injured during the event is unknown.

Georgia has had a good share of natural disasters that you can learn about here.

25. Madaripur and Shibchar- Bangladesh, 1977

This tornado hit the Bangladesh zones of Madaripur and Shibchar on April Fool’s Day (April 1, 1977). It left homes, trees, and businesses destroyed and led to more than 500 casualties and many more injured.

These 25 deadliest tornadoes in recorded history remind us of the forces that nature has on our world. Better still, we have little to no control over these calamities. Yet one thing stands out throughout history, the human resilience to overcome and move beyond these natural disasters.