The May 20, 1957 tornado

F5Franklin, Miami, Johnson and Jackson counties, Kansas and Missouri

An F5 tornado on a 69.4-mile path that killed 44 and injured 207. It was one of 35 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 5 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Watch how it happened

F5 tornado · May 20, 1957

How it happened

Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.

About this replay

Local time (CST)—Historical replay — logged times

Distance—of 69.4 miles

Now in—

RatingF5

Path milestones

Damage pathWidened for visibility; recorded maximum width 440 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 path, drawn through NOAA Storm Events county segments. Times as logged by the National Weather Service. Towns are today’s Census places.

The tornado

Rating: F5; Fujita scale
Path length: 69.4 mi; Width up to 440 yards
Killed: 44; Along the whole path
Injured: 207; Along the whole path
Date and time: Monday, May 20, 1957; 6:15 PM CST
That day: 35; tornadoes in the U.S.; more on this date

Counties on its path

Other notable tornadoes that day

F4, Cloud County44.6 mi

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