Weather History

This Day In Weather History

In 1936, the first of a two day outbreak of 17 tornadoes invaded the Southeast United States. Of the eight strong to violent tornadoes that tore through Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama on the 5th, the worst was a massive F5 that struck the northern half of Tupelo, Mississippi. The large vortex reached three fourths of a mile wide along a track 15 miles long. It killed 216 and injured 700; statistics many consider conservative. It is the 4th deadliest tornado in United States history. In several cases, all members of families died in the disaster. One such family had 13 members. Reportedly 48 blocks were leveled. Around 150 box cars were brought in as temporary housing and the movie theater was turned into a hospital. A second violent tornado, an F4, struck extreme Southwestern Tennessee. Six were killed and 35 were injured along a 35 mile long, 300 yard wide track. The storm system responsible for this outbreak would hit Georgia the next day.

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In 1972, the deadliest tornado of that year occurred, and in an unlikely location: Vancouver, Washington. The tornado, an F2, had a track 9 miles long and almost one third of a mile wide. It touched down at a marina on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. After crossing the river, it tore through the east side of Vancouver. The tornado killed 6, injured 304, and caused around $6 million damage. It was the worst tornado in Washington State history.
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