Tornado Outbreaks are RARE to say the least ! But, in the past eight years they are occurring with remarkable frequency !

The “Super Outbreak” of 1974 produced the most tornadoes in a 24-hour period in history (148). The most famous tornado from this outbreak was an F5 tornado that moved through Xenia, Ohio. Damages in Xenia alone totaled over $100 million. Total damages from the outbreak exceeded $600 million. 1979 April 10: Wichita Falls, TX



2003 May 4 – May 11: Plains Into The Southeast
A deadly outbreak of severe weather occurred between May 4th and May 11th, producing hundreds of tornadoes and widespread reports of large hail and damaging winds across eight states. Tornadoes affected the metropolitan areas of Kansas City and Oklahoma City, producing F3 and F4 damage. Other cities including Pierce City, Missouri and Jackson, Tennessee sustained heavy damage and loss of life. At least 38 people were killed from the outbreak in Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee. In Oklahoma City, damaging tornadoes occurred on both the 8th and 9th. May 1st through the 11th had more reported tornadoes (412) than any other ten-day period since records began in 1950. The estimated total damages from this historical outbreak totaled more than $3.2 billion.


Destruction at Toledo Scale Company, Telegraph Road.
Photo courtesy of Toledo Lucas County Public Library

April 11, 1965: Palm Sunday Tornadoes (click here)

Twin funnels in Elkhart, Indiana on April 11, 1965. A double tornado was also sighted near Toledo during this tornado outbreak.
Photo courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/ Department of Commerce
Call Number: wea00217 Historic NWS Collection