The May 10, 1953 tornado

F4Howard, Fillmore, Olmsted, Winona, Taylor, Price, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Eau Claire and Chippewa counties, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin

An F4 tornado on a 162.0-mile path that killed 2 and injured 24. It was one of 22 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 5 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Watch how it happened

F4 tornado · May 10, 1953

How it happened

Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.

About this replay

Local time (CST)—Historical replay — logged times

Distance—of 162.0 miles

Now in—

RatingF4

Path milestones

Damage pathWidened for visibility; recorded maximum width 100 yards

TownsSized by population today; those within 3 miles flash as it passes

Counties on the pathLit as the tornado enters them

Source: Storm Prediction Center start and end points. Times as logged by the National Weather Service. Towns are today’s Census places.

The tornado

Rating: F4; Fujita scale
Path length: 162.0 mi; Width up to 100 yards
Killed: 2; Along the whole path
Injured: 24; Along the whole path
Date and time: Sunday, May 10, 1953; 5:30 PM CST
That day: 22; tornadoes in the U.S.; more on this date

Counties on its path

Other notable tornadoes that day

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.