The tornado outbreaks of mid-to-late May 1896 were a series of violent and deadly tornado outbreaks that struck much of the Central and Southern United States from May 15 to 28, 1896. It is considered one of the worst stretches of near-continuous tornadic activity on record, with tornado expert Tom Grazulis stating that the week of May 24–28 was "perhaps the most violent single week of tornado activity in United States history." There were four particularly notable tornado outbreaks during the two-week period. The outbreaks produced three F5 tornadoes as well as the third deadliest tornado ever in United States history, which is also the costliest in the United States’ history when damage is normalized. Additionally, at least one tornado crossed into Canada, inflicting more damage there. A total of at least 484 people were killed during the entire two week span by at least 38 different tornadoes which struck Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.
Confirmed tornadoes Possible tornadoes also may have hit Kalkaska, Midland, and Wayne counties, Michigan.
Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.
Outbreak death tollState/ProvinceTotalCountyCountytotalTexas78 Denton 5 Grayson 73Oklahoma4 Bryan 4Kansas21 McPherson 1 Nemaha 15 Brown 5Kentucky5 Marshall 5Nebraska4 Richardson 4Iowa21 Polk 7 Jasper 14Illinois166 Ogle 7 Madison 118 Washington 14 Jefferson ~3 St. Clair 10 Clinton 14Michigan50 Tuscola 1 Macomb ~1 St. Clair ~1 Oakland 39 Genesee 3 Unknown 5Missouri146 Montgomery 1 Audrain 6 Osage 2 St. Louis 137Pennsylvania5 Lancaster 1 Montgomery 2 Bucks 2Totals~500
May 15 event List of confirmed tornadoes – May 15, 1896F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length DamageTexas F3SW of Justin to E of PonderDenton20152 deaths — A total of 22 homes were damaged in Justin, with five destroyed, and two swept away. Every business in town received some degree of damage. There were 25 injuries, including 17 that were serious.Grazulis, Significant, p. 674 F2W of DentonDenton, Cooke20453 deaths — Struck the town of Gribble Springs, where seven houses were destroyed and three people were killed. Two homes and numerous barns were also destroyed in Cooke County. F5E of Pilot Point to ShermanDenton, Grayson223073 deaths — See article on this tornado — One of the most intense tornadoes ever recorded. F2SE of Sherman to SE of Hendrix, OKGrayson, Bryan(OK)2245Tornado formed after the Sherman tornado lifted. A total of 20 homes were damaged along the Choctaw Creek (then called Choctaw Bayou) and a trading post was destroyed. There were 35 injuries, of which, at least 20 were serious. Oklahoma F2Blue areaBryan2330unknown4 deaths — A family of four was killed in their home. Kansas F2NE of MoundridgeMcPherson1000unknown1 death — Brief, early-morning touchdown leveled a house. An elderly man was killed and his wife was injured. Sources: Grazulis (1993)
May 17 event List of confirmed tornadoes – May 17, 1896F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length DamageKentucky F2N of SymsoniaGraves, Marshall06455 deaths — South of Elva, a small two-room home was obliterated, killing a family of five. Kansas F3NW of Clay Center to S of FrankfortClay, Marshall, Riley2230Probably a long-lived tornado family. Seven farms were destroyed and 60 injuries were reported, 58 of which occurred when a church in Riley County was destroyed during services. F5SW of Palmer to S of Falls City, NEWashington, Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Richardson(NE)230025 deaths — See section on this tornado — Was more than wide.Sources: Grazulis (1993)
May 18 event List of confirmed tornadoes – May 18, 1896F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length DamageIowa F2SW of LamoniDecatur0200unknownA cottage on the southwest side of Lamoni was leveled and scattered. Four people were injured.Grazulis, Significant, p. 675Sources: Grazulis (1993)
May 19 event List of confirmed tornadoes – May 19, 1896F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length DamageKansas F3SW of RockCowley, Butler2200Buildings were destroyed on 15 farms, including seven homes. A total of 50 head of livestock were killed on one farm, and two people were injured.Sources: Grazulis (1993)
May 20 event List of confirmed tornadoes – May 20, 1896F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length DamageOklahoma F3E of Newkirk to E of Maitland, KSKay, Cowley(KS)1700An entire farm was swept away near the beginning of the path. F2N of KildareKay1730unknownA barn was destroyed. One of six small tornadoes reported in the area.Kansas F2N of HoytJackson2230One person was injured as a house was destroyed. F2S of EmporiaLyon0200A house was shifted from its foundation and unroofed. A barn was destroyed, and two men hiding inside were injured. Sources: Grazulis (1993)
May 24 event List of confirmed tornadoes – May 24, 1896F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length DamageIowa F2S of ManchesterDelaware0300One house and several barns were destroyed. A fatality may have occurred.Grazulis, Significant, p. 676 F4SW of Polk City to MingoPolk, Jasper043021 deaths — A violent tornado began near Polk City, and moved east-southeast north of Des Moines. Several homes were leveled on the north sides of Bondurant and Valeria, resulting in fatalities. Other homes were destroyed and fatalities occurred in the communities of Santiago and Mingo. A steel railroad rail was driven into the ground at one location. At least 60 people were injured.Sources: Grazulis (1993)
May 25 event List of confirmed tornadoes – May 25, 1896F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length DamageIllinois F4NW of Forreston to S of EganOgle07004 deaths — Homes had their roofs torn off on the northern edge of Adeline. In rural areas, a church and five farm homes were leveled. Four fatalities occurred south of Egan, where a large home was cleanly swept away. F2S of ByronOgle0730unknownAll barns and trees were destroyed on a farm. F3S of Davis Junction to E of IreneOgle, Boone, DeKalb07303 deaths — Buildings were destroyed on 11 farms. Six people were injured and three others were killed in a collapsed home. Debris from that home was found five miles away. A barn was destroyed in DeKalb County as well. F3Edison ParkCook0750Tornado struck the communities of Park Ridge, Edison Park, and Norwood Park. Six homes were destroyed and 30 others were damaged beyond repair. Caused $100,000 in damage and hit within of Downtown Chicago. Michigan F2N of Clio to E of Otter LakeGenesee, Lapeer2300Businesses and cottages were destroyed at Otter Lake. Three farm homes were destroyed, and the roof of a school was carried for half a mile. Four people were injured. F3W of Munger to Fairgrove areaBay, Tuscola23001 death — A school and five homes were destroyed along the path. A total of 30 people were attending a funeral at one of the homes, and the attendants survived by taking shelter in a nearby ditch as the house was lifted and destroyed. One man was killed by flying debris as he watched from his window. F3W of Sterling Heights to Harrison TownshipMacomb, St. Clair01102 deaths — Homes and barns were leveled between Warren and Utica before the tornado tore through Mt. Clemens, where 30 homes were destroyed along a two-block-wide path. Homes were destroyed in other areas before the tornado crossed into Ontario, where $60,000 in damage occurred. F5N of Holly to W of DrydenOakland, Lapeer020047 deaths — See section on this tornado — Extremely intense tornado, second deadliest in Michigan. F2AmadoreSanilac0200Every building in the village of Amadore was damaged to some degree, and two homes were destroyed at that location. The tornado then moved out over Lake Huron as a waterspout and dissipated. Three people were injured. Sources: Grazulis (1993)
May 27 event List of confirmed tornadoes – May 27, 1896F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length DamageMissouri F2E of BellflowerMontgomery, Lincolnunknown1 death — A church and a barn were destroyed. A woman was killed and her infant son was injured. F2N of Sturgeon to N of CentraliaAudrain1935Barns were leveled and destroyed and four farm homes were "nearly destroyed". F3S of Higbee to S of RenickRandolph2030Three homes were destroyed and five others were damaged. Many barns were destroyed as well. Six people were injured. F3N of Mexico to W of VandaliaAudrain21156–7 deaths — Three students were killed at the Dye school, and one student (possibly two) was killed at the Bean Creek School. Two others died in farmhouses. A total of 50 people were injured. F4SE of ChamoisOsage00152 deaths — Two farms were destroyed, at one of which every building was completely swept away. Three people were injured. F4St. Louis/East St. Louis, ILSt.Louis, Madison (IL)0030255 deaths — See article on this tornado — Third-deadliest tornado in US history. It caused near-F5 damage in East St. Louis.Illinois F4E of New Minden to IrvingtonWashington, Jefferson002014 deaths — Entire farms were leveled near New Minden, south of Hoyleton, near Richview, and in Boyd and Irvington. A total 50 other people were injured. F4E of Imbs to NE of GermantownSt. Clair, Clinton004524 deaths — The path of this tornado family may have begun in Dupo. Many homes were leveled along the path, especially in and around New Baden, where 13 people died. Near the beginning of the path, 10 people died near train stations, and another death occurred at a farmhouse near Germantown before the tornado dissipated. 125 people were injured.Grazulis, Significant, p. 677 F3NW of Nashville to NE of Mt. VernonWashington, Jefferson02303 deaths — Many farms were devastated along the path. Damage northeast of Mt. Vernon may have been downburst-related.Oklahoma F3E of Hennessey to NE of MarshallKingfisher, Logan, Garfield0000A house was blown apart and scattered. One person was injured.Sources: Grazulis (1993)
May 28 event List of confirmed tornadoes – May 28, 1896F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length DamagePennsylvania F2E of Gettysburg to NE of HanoverAdams, York1800Barns were destroyed near Bonneauville and Abbottstown. A house was leveled as well, with the furniture carried over half a mile away. Four people were injured. F2Columbia/Wrightsville areasYork, Lancaster18301 death — A school and four homes had their roofs torn off in Wrightsville. One person was killed when the tornado struck a rolling mill in Columbia, where three homes were destroyed. 20 people were injured. F3S of Ambler to S of Trenton, NJMontgomery, Bucks, Mercer(NJ), Monmouth(NJ)19554 deaths — A total of 16 barns as well as several stables were destroyed in Pennsylvania, where four people were killed. The tornado crossed into New Jersey and damaged businesses in Allentown and White Horse. 15 people were injured. Maryland F2SW of Harney to Littlestown, PA, areaCarroll, Adams(PA)2000In Maryland, a house was torn apart and three others had their roofs torn off. Furniture was carried up to half a mile away. Crossed into Pennsylvania and dissipated near Littlestown, where barns were destroyed.Grazulis, Significant, p. 678Sources: Grazulis (1993)
Sherman, Texas