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The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes

Statistics are based on the SPC tornado database. Having happened before the era of comprehensive damage surveys, some of these events may have been composed of multiple tornadoes along a damage path.
 

DATE

LOCATION(S)

DEATHS

1

18 Mar 1925

Tri-State (MO/IL/IN)

689

2

06 May 1840

Natchez MS

317

3

27 May 1896

St. Louis MO

255

4

05 Apr 1936

Tupelo MS

216

5

06 Apr 1936

Gainesville GA

203

6

09 Apr 1947

Woodward OK

181

7

24 Apr 1908

Amite LA, Purvis MS

143

8

12 Jun 1899

New Richmond WI

117

9

8 Jun 1953

Flint MI

115

10

11 May 1953

Waco TX

114

10

18 May 1902

Goliad TX

114

12

23 Mar 1913

Omaha NE

103

13

26 May 1917

Mattoon IL

101

14

23 Jun 1944

Shinnston WV

100

15

18 Apr 1880

Marshfield MO

99

16

01 Jun 1903

Gainesville, Holland GA

98

16

09 May 1927

Poplar Bluff MO

98

18

10 May 1905

Snyder OK

97

19

24 Apr 1908

Natchez MS

91

20

09 Jun 1953

Worcester MA

90

21

20 Apr 1920

Starkville MS, Waco AL

88

22

28 Jun 1923

Lorain, Sandusky OH

85

23

25 May 1955

Udall KS

80

24

29 Sep 1927

St. Louis MO

79

25

27 Mar 1890

Louisville KY

76