The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes
Storm Prediction Center
NOTE: Having happened before the era of comprehensive damage surveys, some of these events may have been composed of multiple tornadoes along a damage path. Death counts for events in the 1800s and early 1900s should be treated as estimates since recordkeeping of tornado deaths was erratic back then.
DATE
LOCATION(S)
DEATHS
1
18 Mar 1925
Tri-State (MO/IL/IN)
695
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 1924
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