Worst Tornadoes to Hit the US in the Last 100 Years

Tornadoes originate from thunderstorms and can cause massive destruction, tossing cars like toys and ripping apart homes. Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year, provided the conditions are conducive for their formation. However, the tornado season varies in different parts of the country. For instance, some regions experience more intense spring storms than others.

On average, 60 people die because of tornadoes annually. Here are some of the worst tornadoes that hit the US in the last 100 years:

The Tri-State Tornado across the Midwest (1925)

The Tri-State Tornado, considered the deadliest tornado ever to hit the US, took place on March 18, 1925. It caused destruction across the Midwest, starting at 1 p.m. northwest of Ellington, Missouri. By the time it reached the Mississippi River, it had killed 11 people. Entering southern Illinois, the twister demolished the town of Gorham around 2:30 p.m.

Most of the total deaths (695) occurred while the mile-wide tornado passed through Murphysboro, De Soto, Hurst-Bush, and West Frankfort. It later crossed the Wabash River into Indiana, tearing up lots more towns.

The Tupelo Tornado in Mississippi (1936)

This F5 tornado struck the United States on April 5, 1936, leaving 216 people dead and 700 injured in Tupelo, Mississippi.

The Gainesville Tornado in Georgia (1936)

A day after the tornado in Tupelo, a devastating tornado hit Gainesville, Georgia, on April 6, 1936. This tornado, which killed 203 people, took place after a pair of storms struck the city. The tornadoes hit the southwest part of the town and moved into the commercial district.

The Beecher Tornado in Michigan (1954)

The Beecher Tornado hit Flint, Michigan, on June 8, 1953, leaving 116 people dead and 844 injured. The F5 tornado, which had winds between 261 mph and 318 mph, traveled 27 miles. It was one of the eight tornadoes that struck Michigan that night.

Apart from these, the Joplin Tornado in Missouri (2011) and the Woodward Tornado in Texas and Oklahoma (1947) were some of the other worst tornadoes to have hit the US.