Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942

On March 16–17, 1942, a deadly late-winter tornado outbreak struck a large area of the Central and Southern United States.^{[nb 2][nb 3][nb 4]} The tornado outbreak killed 149 people and injured at least 1,312. At least five states reported violent tornadoes, from Illinois and Indiana south to Mississippi, beginning with an F4 tornado in the morning in Illinois. Intense activity spread south to the Gulf Coast and north to the Michigan–Indiana border as the day went on. Seven violent tornadoes were reported, one of which was a powerful F5 in Illinois. The outbreak also produced eighteen tornadoes that caused at least one death, one of the highest such totals for a single outbreak.^[10]

Tornado outbreak of March 16–17 1942

Type	Tornado outbreak
Duration	March 16–17, 1942
Tornadoes confirmed	≥ 28
Max. rating^1	F5 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak^2	~2 days, 18 hours, 50 minutes
Fatalities	149 fatalities, ≥ 1,312 injuries
Damage	$5.25 million (1942 USD)^[nb 1] $87.1 million (2023 USD)
Areas affected	Central and Southern United States
^1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale ^2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Daily statistics

Daily statistics of tornadoes produced by the tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942

Date	Total	Fujita scale rating							Deaths	Injuries	Damage	Ref.
		FU	F0	F1	F2	F3	F4	F5
March 16	27	1	0	0	7	12	6	1	149	1,304	$5,195,000	^[11]^[12]
March 17	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	7	$25,000	^[11]^[12]
Total	28	1	0	0	7	13	6	1	149	1,312	$5,250,000	^[11]^[12]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating

FU	F0	F1	F2	F3	F4	F5	Total
1	0	0	7	13	6	1	≥ 28
"FU" denotes confirmed but unrated tornadoes.

March 16 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, March 16, 1942^{[nb 5][nb 6]}

F#	Location	County / Parish	State	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max. width	Summary
F3	SW of Okarche to E of Kingfisher	Canadian, Kingfisher	OK	05:10–?	12 miles (19 km)	500 yards (460 m)	The first tornado of the outbreak attained a peak width of up to 1 mi (1.6 km). The tornado first struck Okarche and caused minor damage in town, but did most of its damage to several rural farmsteads. In the countryside, the tornado destroyed many barns and a home, and killed hundreds of farm animals. The tornado severely injured one person, but did not cause any deaths. Total losses reached $30,000.^[14]^[15]
F4	W of Ivesdale to NE of Alvin	Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion	IL	16:30–17:45	60 miles (97 km)	400 yards (370 m)	12 deaths — This violent tornado either originated as or was related to a separate tornado that developed near Bement. It moved northeast at about 50 mph (80 km/h), and generated F4-level damage at two separate locations along its path. As it passed near Savoy, Mayview, and St. Joseph, the tornado obliterated several farms. Subsequently, the tornado killed six people, including one each in five different homes, as it impacted the western portion of Alvin. There, it destroyed or damaged approximately twenty-five homes, along with a church and several stores. Other fatalities occurred near Savoy, Mayview, St. Joseph, and Hope. In all, the tornado injured sixty people and caused $300,000 in damages.^[16]^[17]^[18]^[15]
F4	S of Berclair to New Harmony	Leflore, Carroll, Grenada, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha, Lafayette, Pontotoc, Union	MS	21:00–?	110 miles (180 km)	600 yards (550 m)	63 deaths — This long-tracked tornado family caused at least nineteen deaths in Leflore County as it leveled many small homes. Three of the fatalities occurred near Itta Bena and Greenwood. In Carroll County, the tornado caused five additional deaths near Avalon. The tornado also impacted and hurled a school bus for 50 yd (46 m); eleven children and the driver sustained injuries. As it traversed Grenada County, the tornado struck another school bus and killed a child. Nearby, the tornado obliterated a house and claimed three more lives. Three other people died in another home near Cascilla in Tallahatchie County. The tornado generated its worst damage in Otoucalofa, known then as O'Tuckalofa, near Water Valley. In this area, the tornado destroyed 10 sq mi (26 km^2) of timber and killed nineteen people, including the school superintendent, whose home and school were leveled and whose car was moved 300 yd (900 ft). Northwest of Tula, five more deaths occurred, four of which took place in a single home. In all, the tornado injured five hundred people and caused $600,000 in losses.^[19]
F2	WNW of Smithfield to W of Farmington	Fulton	IL	22:00–?	10 miles (16 km)	Un­known	This tornado began near Smithfield, passed through Fairview, and dissipated near Farmington. The tornado destroyed homes and barns as it struck thirteen farmsteads. It also unroofed several of the homes. In all, the tornado injured eleven people, including a teacher, and caused $100,000 in damages. The teacher had canceled school early.^[16]^[19]
F2	WNW of Fairview to NNE of Elmwood	Knox, Peoria	IL	22:15–?	8 miles (13 km)	200 yards (180 m)	This tornado passed near Middlegrove and Yates City as it affected ten or more farmsteads, four of which incurred the complete destruction of all outbuildings and barns; however, the tornado only managed to unroof and destroy a few homes. The tornado began near Fairview and ended near Elmwood.^[16]^[19]
F2	S of Grenada	Grenada	MS	22:15–?	5 miles (8.0 km)	100 yards (91 m)	1 death — This tornado moved northeastward through an industrial section on the outskirts of Grenada. It passed within 20 yd (18 m) of a hospital whose staff were tending to victims of the Otoucalofa tornado. Near Grenada, the tornado produced $300,000 in losses, a large proportion of which were confined to a factory, though the tornado also hit twenty-three homes. Four injuries occurred as well.^[19]
F3	W of Holly Springs to NE of Spring Hill	Marshall, Benton	MS	22:20–?	15 miles (24 km)	400 yards (370 m)	5 deaths — This tornado destroyed about fifty homes and damaged the North Mississippi Branch Experiment Station (Mississippi Experimental Farm Station) of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES). The tornado continued northeastward to the Mississippi–Tennessee state line before dissipating. In all, forty people were injured, and losses totalled $100,000.^[19]^[20]
F5	SSE of Dunlap to SE of Henry	Peoria, Marshall	IL	22:30–?	30 miles (48 km)	400 yards (370 m)	7 deaths — This violent tornado remains the most recent F5 or EF5 tornado on record in Central Illinois. It touched down east of Kickapoo and impacted areas near Alta and on the northwestern outskirts of Chillicothe. The tornado subsequently struck the settlement of Barrville, beside the Illinois River, before crossing the river to the south of Sparland. Near the river, the tornado caused one fatality. The tornado intensified to its peak intensity as it entered Lacon; although it bypassed the business district, the tornado destroyed a quarter of the town, which inclusively totalled about sixty homes, several of which were entirely swept away. Three deaths occurred in Lacon. About 3 mi (4.8 km) farther on to the northeast, the tornado produced F5-level damage to a farmhouse and killed three people there. The tornado also lofted debris from Lacon for a total distance of up to 25 mi (40 km). Two schools in Lacon received extensive damage as well, and a home in town was uplifted and deposited in a neighboring yard. Along the entire path, about seventy injuries occurred, along with $600,000 in losses.^[16]^[19]
F3	WSW of Huntingdon to S of Dover	Carroll, Henry, Stewart	TN	22:30–?	55 miles (89 km)	800 yards (730 m)	5 deaths — This long-tracked tornado first destroyed eight homes and severely injured fifteen people in the Huntingdon area. Near Mansfield, four people died, forty-five sustained injuries, and a student was injured in a school. Afterward, the tornado narrowly missed Manleyville and Springville. Near Stribling, south of Short Creek, the tornado removed soil and swept away one home. One person died and seven others were injured in the home. Eight rural farms were destroyed across Stewart County, near Lick Creek. In all, sixty-eight people were injured and total losses reached $100,000.^[19]^[21]
F4	Bethel Springs to Beacon	McNairy, Henderson, Chester, Decatur	TN	22:30–?	Un­known	800 yards (730 m)	15 deaths — This violent, long-lived tornado mostly affected sparsely populated areas, but obliterated homes, farmsteads, and tracts of forested land. It killed eight people almost immediately as it touched down and caused four more deaths near Reagan. Other deaths were reported east of Finger, near Enville, and near Beacon. Two hundred injuries occurred, along with $400,000 in losses.^[19]
F2	WNW of Bolivar	Hardeman	TN	22:30–?	Un­known	Un­known	This tornado struck the Western Mental Health Institute, known then as Western State Hospital, and unroofed a number of buildings there. Twelve patients sustained injuries from broken glass.^[19]^[22]
F3	SE of Hornsby	Hardeman, McNairy	TN	22:45–?	8 miles (13 km)	Un­known	This tornado injured five people and destroyed a total of eight homes. Losses totalled $40,000.^[19]
F3	W of Lincoln to SSE of Evans	Lincoln	IL	23:00–?	5 miles (8.0 km)	400 yards (370 m)	2 deaths – This tornado destroyed six barns and three homes, one of which sustained borderline-F4-level damage. A couple sustained severe injuries and later died. In all, three people were injured, and losses totalled $25,000.^[23]^[16]
F2	S of Ofahoma to Carthage	Leake	MS	23:00–?	16 miles (26 km)	Un­known	1 death – This tornado produced intermittent damage along its path. In Carthage, the tornado destroyed several small homes, a sizeable church, and barns. Ten injuries were reported.^[19]
F2	Shelbyville to NE of Lewisville	Shelby, Rush, Henry	IN	23:00–?	30 miles (48 km)	400 yards (370 m)	As this tornado touched down on the southern side of Shelbyville, it injured seven people and damaged homes, factories, and a hatchery, with losses totalling $300,000. Intermittent damage occurred elsewhere, primarily on the eastern outskirts of Mays and near Lewisville. Near the latter, a number of cattle died and a barn was destroyed.^[24]
F4	Northern Baldwyn (1st tornado)	Lee, Prentiss	MS	23:05–?	5 miles (8.0 km)	300 yards (270 m)	5 deaths – This was one of two powerful tornadoes to strike Baldwin in close succession. It damaged or destroyed more than fifty homes, several of which were levelled. Fifty injuries occurred, along with losses of $250,000. A separate but related tornado may have caused an additional fatality near Verona, but this could not be confirmed.^[24]
F3	Downtown Baldwyn (2nd tornado)	Lee, Prentiss	MS	23:40–?	5 miles (8.0 km)	200 yards (180 m)	This tornado closely followed the first event in Baldwin, but produced greater losses than the latter, owing to its having struck the center of town. The tornado damaged or destroyed homes, schools, and businesses before ending as a downburst. Fifteen injuries occurred, and losses totalled $750,000.^[24]
F3	SE of Greenville to E of Drakesboro	Muhlenberg	KY	23:40–?	10 miles (16 km)	300 yards (270 m)	11 deaths – This intense tornado obliterated twelve small homes in Browder and killed ten people in town, five of whom perished in one family. A final death occurred on a farm near Drakesboro. Losses totalled $300,000, and fifty injuries occurred.^[24]
F3	Waterloo	Lauderdale	AL	00:00–?	1.5 miles (2.4 km)	400 yards (370 m)	2 deaths – This short-lived tornado damaged or destroyed twenty-four homes. The bodies of the dead were found 200 yd (180 m) from their home. Thirty injuries occurred, and losses totalled $35,000.^[24]
F4	N of Caneyville to N of Summit	Grayson, Hardin	KY	00:15–?	30 miles (48 km)	200 yards (180 m)	9 deaths – This powerful tornado injured forty people and caused $150,000 in losses as it tracked near Millwood, Leitchfield, Clarkson, and Summit. Approximately twenty homes were destroyed, several of which were obliterated.^[24]
F3	SSW of McEwen	Humphreys	TN	00:30–?	Un­known	150 yards (140 m)	2 deaths – This tornado injured ten people and destroyed six homes as it passed near Hurricane Creek, a tributary of the Duck River, and Bold Spring.^[24]
F3	Coopertown	Cheatham, Robertson	TN	01:00–?	9 miles (14 km)	800 yards (730 m)	1 death – This tornado destroyed a total of at least twenty-four barns and homes. Many chickens were killed, twenty people were injured, and losses totalled $100,000.^[24]
F3	N of Bardstown	Nelson	KY	01:30–?	15 miles (24 km)	200 yards (180 m)	4 deaths – This tornado flattened rural homes as it tracked from near Deatsville to Coxs Creek. Forty injuries occurred, and losses totalled $70,000.^[24]
F3	Goodspring to Diana	Giles	TN	02:00–?	20 miles (32 km)	150 yards (140 m)	2 deaths – This tornado damaged or destroyed twenty-four homes as it struck Diana. Four injuries occurred, and losses totalled $150,000.^[24]
F2	SW of Plymouth	Marshall	IN	02:15–?	Un­known	Un­known	This short-lived tornado destroyed a barn and injured two people beside the Yellow River.^[24]
F4	SE of Goshen	Elkhart	IN	02:32–?	10 miles (16 km)	200 yards (180 m)	2 deaths – This violent tornado destroyed or damaged eighty-seven homes on the outskirts of Goshen. As the tornado neared the end of its life, it narrowed and intensified to F4-level intensity. As it did so, it obliterated a home and caused two deaths. In all, fifty-three injuries occurred, along with losses of $500,000.^[24]
FU	W of Findlay	Shelby	IL	Un­known	Un­known	Un­known	Tornado reported.^[16]

March 17 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, March 17, 1942^{[nb 5][nb 6]}

F#	Location	County / Parish	State	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max. width	Summary
F3	Between Norway and Springfield	Orangeburg	SC	23:30–?	10 miles (16 km)	400 yards (370 m)	This tornado injured seven people as it destroyed or damaged fifteen homes, with losses of $25,000.^[24]

See also

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• List of tornado-related deaths at schools

Notes

1. All losses are in 1942 USD unless otherwise noted.
2. An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.^[1]
3. The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.^[2][3] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,^[4] Canada utilized the old scale until April 1, 2013;^[5] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.^[6]
4. Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information.^[7] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.^[8] Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced NEXRAD was first installed and the National Weather Service began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.^[9]
5. All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.
6. Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.^[13]

References

1. Schneider, Russell S.; Brooks, Harold E.; Schaefer, Joseph T. (2004). Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875-2003) (PDF). 22nd Conf. Severe Local Storms. Hyannis, Massachusetts: American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
2. Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. p. 141. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
3. Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001). The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-8061-3538-0.
4. Edwards, Roger (5 March 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
5. . Environment and Climate Change Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
6. . Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
7. Grazulis 2001, pp. 251–4
8. Edwards, Roger (5 March 2015). "The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)". Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
9. Cook, A. R.; Schaefer, J. T. (August 2008). Written at Norman, Oklahoma. "The Relation of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to Winter Tornado Outbreaks". Monthly Weather Review. Boston: American Meteorological Society. 136 (8): 3135. Bibcode:2008MWRv..136.3121C. doi:10.1175/2007MWR2171.1. Retrieved 4 April 2021. 
10. Grazulis 1993, p. 37
11. U.S. Weather Bureau (March 1942). "Severe Local Storms, March 1942" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. Washington, D.C.: American Meteorological Society. 70 (3): 61. Bibcode:1942MWRv...70Q..61.. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1942)070<0061:SLSM>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 30 September 2019.  
12. Grazulis 1993, pp. 898–900
13. Brooks, Harold E. (April 2004). "On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity". Weather and Forecasting. Boston: American Meteorological Society. 19 (2): 310. Bibcode:2004WtFor..19..310B. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
14. Wahlgren, H. F. (March 1942). Written at Oklahoma City. "Tornadoes". Climatological Data. Oklahoma. Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center. 51 (3): 13.
15. Grazulis 1993, p. 897
16. . National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Central Illinois. Lincoln, Illinois: National Weather Service. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
17. Stapp, Catherine; Bowman, W. I. (1968). History Under Our Feet: the Story of Vermilion County, Illinois. Danville, Illinois: Interstate Printers and Publishers, Inc. p. 48. ASIN B002T9WTMC.
18. Holcomb, E. W. (March 1942). Written at Springfield, Illinois. "Tornadoes of March 16, 1942". Climatological Data. Illinois. Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center. 47 (3): 13.
19. Grazulis 1993, p. 898
20. . Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Mississippi State, Mississippi: Mississippi State University. 1 July 2018 [2015]. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
21. Houston County Historical Society (1995). History of Houston County, Tennessee 1871–1996. Turner Publishing Company. p. 90. ISBN 1-56311-194-2.
22. . Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services. Nashville, Tennessee. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
23. Grazulis 1993, pp. 898–9
24. Grazulis 1993, p. 899