Historic Tornadoes

Aug. 28, 1884: Eastern South Dakota, 22 miles southwest of the city of Howard.

This is the oldest known tornado photograph.
Photograph courtesy NOAA’s National Weather Service Collection.
June 11, 1915: Mullinville, Kan.

According to one source, three mules were carried two miles by this tornado.
Photograph courtesy NOAA’s National Weather Service Collection.
June 24, 1909: Norton, Kan.
Photograph courtesy NOAA’s National Weather Service Collection.
March 16, 1942: Near Paris, Tenn.

This tornado ripped through Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky, leaving 152 dead and 1,284 injured.
Photograph courtesy Tennessee Valley Authority.
April, 2 1957: Dallas

This twister tore through downtown Dallas, obliterating homes and spawning a second tornado. The first tornado killed 10 and injured 200 and lasted for 45 minutes.
Photograph courtesy NOAA’s National Weather Service Collection.
Date and location unknown
Photograph courtesy NOAA’s National Weather Service Collection,
Date and location unknown
Photograph courtesy NOAA’s National Weather Service Collection,
Date and location unknown
Photograph courtesy NOAA’s National Weather Service Collection.
May 27, 1896: St. Louis

This tornado killed 400, injured another 1,200, and devastated St. Louis.
Photograph courtesy NOAA’s National Weather Service Collection.
Date and location unknown

This twister’s powerful winds hurl a 33rpm plastic record through a telephone pole.
Photograph courtesy NOAA’s National Weather Service Collection.