The tornado outbreak of May 4, 1959

46 tornadoesKansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and 5 more states

46 tornadoes touched down across 8 states between 9:12 AM and 10:30 PM CST, none rated F3 or stronger.

Watch the day unfold

Tornado outbreak · May 4, 1959

How the day unfolded

Every tornado recorded that day, at its logged touchdown time and along its path, with the counties it crossed.

About this replay

Central time—Historical replay — logged touchdown times

Tornadoes—of 46 that day

Strongest so far—

Killed—in tornadoes so far

The day’s milestones

Tornado pathsWider and brighter with the rating; F3 and stronger glow

On the groundEach grows from its logged touchdown time

Counties crossedLit as a tornado reaches them, brighter for F3 or stronger

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database (touchdown times, ratings, start and end points) and Storm Events Database (segment paths and times for the notable tornadoes that have record pages). SPC logs the touchdown time only; other paths are drawn at a typical forward speed of 35 mph. Times are Central Standard Time.

The day in numbers

Tornadoes: 46; 94th of 12,998 tornado days since 1950
F3 or stronger: 0; None rated F4 or F5
Killed: 0; Along all the paths
Injured: 2; Along all the paths
Path miles: 289; All the paths end to end
First and last: 9:12 AM to 10:30 PM; Touchdowns, Central Standard Time

Hour by hour

Tornadoes touching down in each hour, Central Standard Time.

Every tornado

In order of touchdown.

Tornadoes of May 4, 1959

9:12 AM	F0	Chippewa County WI	0.3	10	0
10:30 AM	F1	Marathon County WI	1.0	200	0
11:15 AM	F2	Jackson County WI	1.0	33	0
11:45 AM	F0	Langlade County WI	1.0	100	0
1:25 PM	F0	Osborne County KS	0.5	10	0
2:30 PM	F1	Jewell County, Nuckolls County KS, NE	45.6	10	0
3:00 PM	F1	Hall County NE	18.2	10	0
3:17 PM	F1	Stafford County, Barton County and 1 more KS	19.2	10	0
3:17 PM	F1	Stafford County, Barton County and 1 more KS	19.2	10	0
3:20 PM	F0	Pratt County KS	1.0	10	0
3:30 PM	F1	Merrick County NE	0.1	10	0
4:00 PM	F0	Hutchinson County SD	0.1	10	0
4:00 PM	F2	Custer County OK	0.1	10	0
4:15 PM	F1	Nance County NE	9.8	10	0
4:30 PM	F1	Saunders County NE	0.1	10	1
4:30 PM	F2	Reno County KS	10.6	10	0
4:30 PM	F1	Dewey County OK	7.2	300	0
5:00 PM	F1	Dewey County OK	0.3	100	0
5:30 PM	F2	Alfalfa County OK	0.1	10	0
5:35 PM	F1	Barber County KS	1.0	10	0
5:35 PM	F1	Barber County KS	0.1	10	0
5:45 PM	F2	Harper County KS	11.2	50	0
5:49 PM	F2	Ottawa County, Clay County KS	3.8	100	0
6:00 PM	F0	Redwood County MN	0.1	10	0
6:00 PM	F1	Reno County KS	8.4	50	0
6:30 PM	F1	Clay County, Washington County KS	3.8	100	0
6:33 PM	F0	Sedgwick County KS	0.1	10	0
6:55 PM	F1	Kandiyohi County MN	1.0	20	0
7:00 PM	F0	Nance County NE	0.1	10	0
7:00 PM	F1	Polk County NE	0.1	10	0
7:05 PM	F0	Sedgwick County KS	0.1	10	0
7:05 PM	F0	Sedgwick County KS	0.1	10	0
7:30 PM	F1	Gage County NE	9.5	10	0
7:30 PM	F0	Morris County KS	2.0	10	0
7:30 PM	F0	Dickinson County KS	0.1	10	0
7:30 PM	F2	Beckham County OK	9.6	200	1
8:00 PM	F1	Wabaunsee County KS	11.3	880	0
8:30 PM	F2	Jackson County KS	24.9	1,760	0
9:15 PM	F2	Kay County OK	5.7	300	0
9:20 PM	F1	Montgomery County IA	7.9	100	0
9:30 PM	F1	Nodaway County MO	24.4	200	0
10:00 PM	F1	Washita County OK	0.1	10	0
10:20 PM	F2	Audubon County IA	4.1	100	0
10:23 PM	F2	Adair County IA	4.5	100	0
10:23 PM	F2	Adair County IA	5.1	100	0
10:30 PM	F2	Greene County IA	14.2	150	0

By state

Tornadoes by state, May 4, 1959

Kansas	19	0	0
Nebraska	7	0	0
Oklahoma	7	0	0
Iowa	5	0	0
Wisconsin	4	0	0
Minnesota	2	0	0
Missouri	1	0	0
South Dakota	1	0	0

Tornadoes in 1959 · On this date in other years · The biggest outbreak days

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. A day is SPC’s calendar date in Central Standard Time; an outbreak day here has 40 or more tornadoes, or 6 or more rated F3/EF3 or stronger.