Updated List of Deadliest Tornadoes 2011

Deadliest Tornado Outbreak

* “Even by the standards of this spring’s massive tornado destruction across the South and Midwest, the Joplin tornado was enormous. It was the deadliest tornado in the USA since 1947, when 181 people were killed in Woodward, Okla. With the death toll at 116, it is the ninth-deadliest single tornado in U.S. history.” (source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-05-23-joplin-tornado-missouri-storm_n.htm)

The List below was updated as of April 28, 2011 & does not include the Joplin Tornado

April 28, 2011 in 2011, Disaster, History, News, tornado | Tags: 1974 Super Outbreak,2011 Tornado Outbreak, Alabama, disaster, Georgia, history, Mississippi, news, tornado

In light of Wednesday’s deadly tornado outbreak that claimed at least 290 lives. Here is a list of deadliest tornado outbreaks in America.

Ed’s note: Updated on April 29, 2011 and has jumped to 5th deadliest tornado outbreak in American history.

1.) Tri-State Tornado Outbreak 747 Killed March 18, 1925
2.) Tupelo–Gainesville Tornado Outbreak 436 Killed April 5-6, 1936
3.) 1932 Deep South Tornado Outbreak 330 Killed March 21-22, 1932
4.) 1908 Dixie Tornado Outbreak 324 Killed April 23-25, 1908
5.) 2011 Super Outbreak 318 Killed April 27, 2011
6.) Great Natchez Tornado 317 Killed May 7, 1940
7.) 1974 Super Outbreak 315 Killed April 3-4, 1974
8.) 1896 St. Louis – East St. Louis Tornado 305 Killed May 27, 1896
9.) 2011 Super Outbreak 318 Killed April 27, 2011
10.) Palm Sunday Outbreak 256 Killed April 11, 1965

I notice a lot of the deadliest tornadoes occur in the South, particularly Alabama. The reasons are tornadoes happen at night, so they cannot be seen and the terrain is more mountainous, so it is harder to see them.

Source
Alabama Weather-Ten Deadliest U.S. Tornado Outbreaks