Tornadoes of 1917

March 23, 1917
Counties: Floyd, Clark IN, Jefferson KY
F-scale:  F4
Deaths: 46
Injuries: 250
Path width: 400 yards
Path length: 15 miles
Time: 3:08pm
Narrative: One of the worst tornadoes in Kentuckiana's history. The twister moved east-northeast from three miles west of New Albany and cut a swath of death and destruction through the north side of town. Damage totalled $1,500,000 as 300 homes were destroyed, along with two schools and many other buildings. While many homes were swept away, the deaths were concentrated in groups, including at least five (possibly 12) deaths at the Olden Street School, eight deaths at a wood specialties plant, and five deaths in one home. Some children were killed on their way home from school. The tornado dissipated after striking Harrod's Creek, Kentucky.

March 23, 1917
Counties: Harrison IN
F-scale:  F3
Deaths: 0
Injuries:   20
Path width: 600 yards
Path length: 7 miles
Time: 3:30pm
Narrative: This large tornado passed one mile north of Corydon as it moved east across central Harrison County. Many farm buildings were damaged, and one farm was almost completely blown away. Its occupant was found in a ditch 200 feet from the foundation, unconscious, critically injured, and holding her unharmed baby. Note: it's interesting that Significant Tornadoes lists this tornado as having happened after the New Albany tornado, since the storms on this day were moving from west to east but Harrison County is west of New Albany. One researcher, Gary Purlee, has suggested that the Harrison County and New Albany tornadoes were one and the same, with the initial touchdown at 2:50pm.

June 1, 1917
Counties: Fayette
F-scale:  F2
Deaths: 0
Injuries:   3
Path width:
Path length:
Time: 10:30am
Narrative: Buildings were unroofed in downtown Lexington and at Sayre College.

June 6, 1917
Counties: Butler (from Muhlenberg)
F-scale:  F2
Deaths: 7
Injuries:   30
Path width: 75 yards
Path length: 17 miles
Time: 5:00pm
Narrative: Moved east from two miles north of Greenville to near Powderly and to southeast of Rochester. The tornado moved through a rural area of poorly constructed homes, many owned by miners. A number of these homes were swept away. One man was killed in Butler County, running from a house to a barn. Both were destroyed.