The February 10, 1959 tornado

F4St. Louis, St. Louis city and Madison counties, Illinois and Missouri

An F4 tornado on a 23.9-mile path that killed 21 and injured 345. It was one of 12 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 4 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Watch how it happened

F4 tornado · February 10, 1959

How it happened

Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.

About this replay

Local time (CST)—Historical replay — logged times

Distance—of 23.9 miles

Now in—

RatingF4

Path milestones

Damage pathWidened for visibility; recorded maximum width 200 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: F4; Fujita scale
Path length: 23.9 mi; Width up to 200 yards
Killed: 21; Along the whole path
Injured: 345; Along the whole path
Date and time: Tuesday, February 10, 1959; 1:40 AM CST
That day: 12; tornadoes in the U.S.; more on this date

Counties on its path

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