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The deadliest US tornadoes since 1950

The deadliest tornado since 1950 crossed Newton County and Jasper County, MO, on May 22, 2011, with 158 deaths. This record starts in 1950, so it excludes the 1925 Tri-State Tornado and other earlier events.

Deaths by decade

US tornado deaths by decade

US tornado deaths by decade 1950s: 1,420 1,420 1960s: 942 942 1970s: 998 998 1980s: 522 522 1990s: 581 581 2000s: 560 560 2010s: 910 910 2020s: 408 408 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s

The 50 deadliest

Deadliest tornadoes since 1950
May 22, 2011Newton County and Jasper CountyMOEF51581,150
Jun 8, 1953Genesee County and Lapeer CountyMIF5116844
May 11, 1953McLennan CountyTXF5114597
Jun 9, 1953Worcester CountyMAF4941,228
May 25, 1955Kay County, Sumner County and Cowley CountyOKF580273
Apr 27, 2011Marion County, Franklin County and Lawrence CountyALEF572145
Apr 27, 2011Greene County, Tuscaloosa County and Jefferson CountyALEF4641,500
Mar 3, 1966Neshoba County, Kemper County and Hinds CountyMSF558518
Feb 21, 1971Grenada County, Marshall County and Issaquena CountyMSF458795
Dec 10, 2021Obion County, Fulton County and Hickman CountyTNEF457515
Mar 21, 1952White CountyARF450325
Feb 21, 1971Madison Parish, East Carroll Parish and Sunflower CountyLAF547510
May 20, 1957Franklin County, Miami County and Johnson CountyKSF544207
Apr 10, 1979Archer County, Wichita County and Clay CountyTXF4421,740
Mar 21, 1952Hardeman County, Chester County and Henderson CountyTNF438157
Dec 5, 1953Warren CountyMSF538270
May 3, 1999Grady County, McClain County and Cleveland CountyOKF536583
Apr 11, 1965St. Joseph County, Elkhart County and LaGrange CountyINF436321
Apr 3, 1974Greene County and Clark CountyOHF5361,150
May 15, 1968Jackson County, Craighead County and Mississippi CountyARF435364
Apr 21, 1967Cook CountyILF433500
Jan 23, 1969Smith County, Scott County and Jefferson CountyMSF432241
Apr 8, 1998Tuscaloosa County and Jefferson CountyALF532259
Apr 3, 1974Breckinridge County, Meade County and Harrison CountyKYF531270
Apr 11, 1965Elkhart CountyINF431252
May 22, 1987Reeves CountyTXF430121
Mar 21, 1952Woodruff CountyARF429180
Aug 28, 1990Kendall County and Will CountyILF529350
Apr 11, 1965Montgomery County, Boone County and Hamilton CountyINF428123
Apr 3, 1974Morgan County, Lamar County and Marion CountyALF528272
Apr 3, 1974Lawrence County, Morgan County and Limestone CountyALF528267
May 27, 1997Williamson CountyTXF52712
May 11, 1970Lubbock CountyTXF526500
Apr 15, 1956Jefferson CountyALF425200
Apr 11, 1965Clinton County, Howard County and Grant CountyINF425835
Feb 22, 1998Osceola County and Orange CountyFLF325150
Apr 27, 2011DeKalb CountyALEF5250
Apr 21, 1967Boone County and McHenry CountyILF424450
Nov 6, 2005Henderson County, Vanderburgh County and Warrick CountyKYF324238
May 20, 2013McClain County and Cleveland CountyOKEF524212
Mar 3, 2019Macon County, Lee County and Muscogee CountyALEF42390
Apr 27, 2011Monroe County, Itawamba County and Marion CountyMSEF523137
Apr 11, 1965Steuben County, Branch County and Hillsdale CountyINF423294
Apr 4, 1977Jefferson CountyALF522130
Mar 27, 1994St. Clair County, Calhoun County and Cherokee CountyALF422150
Apr 27, 2011Jefferson County, St. Clair County and Calhoun CountyALEF42285
Feb 5, 2008Sumner County, Trousdale County and Macon CountyTNEF32263
Oct 3, 1964Lafourche ParishLAF422165
Jun 4, 1958St. Croix County and Dunn CountyWIF52174
May 10, 2008Craig County, Ottawa County and Newton CountyOKEF421350