Tornadoes are among nature’s most destructive forces, and the United States experiences more of them than any other country.
With vast open plains and shifting weather patterns, the U.S. is especially vulnerable to these violent storms.
While most tornadoes are brief and relatively weak, some have left unforgettable marks on American history.
The following 21 tornadoes categorized EF-4 or higher stand out for their intensity, destruction, and tragic human toll.
1. Tri-State Tornado (1925)
The deadliest tornado in U.S. history, the Tri-State Tornado claimed 695 lives as it ripped through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.
Lasting over three hours and traveling 219 miles, this EF-5 twister destroyed more than 15,000 homes and caused damage estimated at over $1.4 billion in today’s money.
2. Great Natchez Tornado (1840)
Striking Natchez, Mississippi, this storm is infamous for killing more people than it injured 314 dead, 109 injured.
With no early warning systems in place, residents had no chance to prepare, making it one of the most brutal tornadoes in American memory.
3. East St. Louis Tornado (1896)
The East St. Louis Tornado dismantled the supposedly “tornado-proof” Eads Bridge and killed 255 people.
Estimated as an EF-4, this monster storm devastated a three-mile path through the city and injured more than 1,000.
4. Tupelo Tornado (1936)
Starting in Arkansas and splitting into two funnels before entering Mississippi, this EF-5 tornado killed over 250 people in Tupelo.
Its destruction of public buildings and schools prompted major changes to local building codes.
5. Gainesville Tornado (1936)
On the same day as the Tupelo storm, Gainesville, Georgia, was struck by an EF-4 tornado that killed over 200 people and left 1,200 homeless. It tore through the business district, courthouse, and residential areas.
6. Woodward Tornado (1947)
Oklahoma’s deadliest tornado hit Woodward on April 9, 1947. The EF-5 twister was 1.8 miles wide, traveled at 50+ mph, and killed 181 people. Over 1,000 homes and businesses were destroyed in just a few minutes.
7. Joplin Tornado (2011)
Despite advanced storm-tracking tools, the EF-5 tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri, killed 158 people and injured over 1,000.
Nearly 8,000 structures were leveled along its six-mile path, making it one of the costliest tornadoes in U.S. history.
8. Dixie Tornado Outbreak (1908)
Between April 23 and 24, 34 tornadoes hit states east of the Mississippi River, killing more than 300 people.
Purvis, Mississippi, suffered the worst, losing 55 residents and nearly every structure in town.
9. New Richmond Tornado (1899)
Wisconsin’s deadliest tornado struck New Richmond during a circus, significantly increasing the town’s population.
The funnel killed 117 people as it tore through the city’s center, causing immense destruction.
10. Flint-Beecher Tornado (1953)
This EF-5 tornado killed 116 people and injured 850 in Michigan. Even without radar or satellite support, meteorologists predicted the event. Nevertheless, the Beecher suburb of Flint was nearly wiped off the map.
11. Waco Tornado (1953)
A mid-afternoon EF-5 tornado struck Waco, Texas, killing 114 people and injuring nearly 600. Rain and poor visibility left residents unable to see the storm coming. Some survivors were trapped for 14 hours under the rubble.
12. Goliad Tornado (1902)
Hitting on a quiet Sunday, the EF-4 tornado destroyed Goliad, Texas. With no hospitals in town, dozens died from injuries, including congregants inside a Methodist church that collapsed mid-service.
13. Omaha’s Easter Tornado (1913)
Omaha, Nebraska, had little warning when a half-mile-wide twister struck on Easter Sunday. 103 people died as the tornado cut through homes and neighborhoods, destroying over 2,000 homes.
14. Mattoon-Charleston Tornado (1917)
Initially thought to be one tornado with a 293-mile path, later studies revealed 4 to 8 separate twisters. The EF-4 tornado that hit Illinois killed over 100 people and injured 600+ in a matter of minutes.
15. Shinston Tornado (1944)
West Virginia’s deadliest tornado, the Shinston EF-4 tornado killed at least 100 people, affecting over 1,600 families. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, leaving survivors with nothing.
16. Marshfield Tornado (1880)
On April 18, 1880, multiple tornadoes tore across Montana, with the most destructive one leveling Marshfield. 99 people were killed, and most buildings were damaged or completely destroyed.
17. 1903 Gainesville Tornado
The first of Gainesville’s major tornado disasters, this EF-4 tornado lasted only two minutes but killed 98 people and injured 180+, many of whom were child laborers in cotton mills.
18. Poplar Bluff Tornado (1927)
In just three minutes, an EF-4 tornado destroyed 31 blocks of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, killing 98 people and injuring 350. A hotel collapse contributed to many of the fatalities.
19. Oklahoma Territory Tornado (1905)
Striking Snyder, Oklahoma, this tornado killed 97 people. Watches found in the rubble were stopped at 8:45 p.m., indicating the exact moment the storm struck. Most buildings in Snyder were destroyed.
20. The Terrible Tornado (1860)
Nicknamed by The New York Times, this deadly storm hit Comanche, Iowa, and Albany, Illinois. After dropping golf-ball-sized hail, it claimed 92 lives, obliterating both towns.
21. Worcester Tornado (1953)
Massachusetts sees only a few tornadoes a year, but the EF-4 Worcester Tornado stands out. On June 9, 1953, it killed 90 people, injured 1,200, and damaged 4,000+ buildings, making it the state’s worst tornado disaster.
Alicia Richards