Tornadoes Of 1968

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1968, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. Two F5 tornadoes struck Iowa in the Charles City and Maynard areas, combined they claimed 18 lives and this was one of very few cases in history where two F5 or EF5 tornadoes hit the same state, on the same day.

Events

United States yearly total

January

There were 5 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in January, all rated F1 or F0.

February

There were 7 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in February.

February 19

An F2 tornado moved through the North Miami Beach, Florida, destroying two homes, damaging 144 homes and businesses, and injuring 21 people. An F1 tornado also struck west of Miami.

March

There were 28 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in March.

March 11–12

An outbreak of 14 recorded tornadoes struck the Southeastern United States, producing an F3 tornado in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.

April

There were 102 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in April.

April 2–4

A multi-day tornado outbreak produced strong tornadoes from Texas and Iowa to Alabama. The outbreak started with several tornadoes touching down in the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma on the evening of April 2 to shortly after midnight on April 3. An F2 tornado near Newlin, Texas destroyed barns and killed cattle. The most intense part of the outbreak took place on the afternoon and evening of April 3. An F4 tornado passed southeast of Star City, Arkansas to near Gould, destroying farm homes and killing 5 people. The tornado crossed Arkansas Highway 81 (now U.S. Route 425), tossing cars and peeling up a section of asphalt. A second F4 tornado traveled for across western Kentucky, damaging or destroying more than 50 homes and killing a couple in Calloway County. An F3 tornado damaged killed 4 people in Brighton and Atoka, Tennessee and damaged or destroyed about 100 trailers in Millington as well as many rural homes along its path. Another F3 tornado near Paragould, Arkansas swept away a small house, killing a person inside, and severely damaged a large factory.

April 19

A short-lived but powerful F4 tornado destroyed most of Greenwood, Arkansas, killing 14 people and injuring 270. The town was left as a "sea of rubble."

April 21–24

A tornado outbreak struck portions of the Midwestern and Southern United States. The worst day of the outbreak was April 23, which spawned the strongest and deadliest tornadoes of the event. A violent tornado, which may have started in Kentucky, damaged or destroyed 550 homes in Wheelersburg, Ohio, killing 7 people and destroyed more homes in Gallipolis. This tornado was officially rated F5, but its rating is disputed as tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis assigned a rating of F4. A long-tracked F4 tornado traveled more than 70 miles across parts of portions Kentucky and Ohio. The tornado first devastated Falmouth, Kentucky, where it killed 4 people, injured 350, destroyed 180 houses, and damaged another 200. The tornado heavily damaged most of the buildings in Dover. It crossed into Ohio near Ripley, where another person was killed and 30 homes were damaged. In all this tornado killed 6 people. Grazulis notes that it may have reached F5 strength. Another F4 tornado destroyed 35 homes near Newtonsville, Ohio, killing 1 person and injuring 29.

May

There were 142 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in May.

May 6

A small tornado outbreak impacted the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. Three tornadoes touched down near Pampa, Texas. One of these tornadoes struck Miami, Texas at F3 strength, destroying a high school and several homes and businesses and injuring 6 people. Sirens in Miami sounded early enough that most residents were able to take shelter before the tornado struck. An F2 tornado destroyed barns and tore the roof from a farm home near Vinson, Oklahoma.

May 13

A tornado outbreak hit the Great Plains. A long-tracked F3 tornado or tornado family traveled for 140 miles across western and central Kansas, injuring 5 people. Another F3 tornado destroyed 7 homes and a church near Konawa, Oklahoma. One house was carried .

May 15–16

A low pressure system produced a major tornado outbreak across the Midwestern and Southern United States. It was one of only a few outbreaks to have produced more than one F5 tornado. The first F5 tornado struck Charles City and Elma, Iowa, killing 13 people and damaging or destroying nearly 924 homes with a damage cost of $30 million. The second F5 tornado, also in Iowa, stuck Oelwein and Maynard, killing 5 people. Homes were leveled and swept away in both towns. Two F4 tornadoes struck Arkansas. The first destroyed much of Oil Trough, killing 7 people and leaving most buildings in town with some form of damage. The second F4 tornado struck Tuckerman, Jonesboro, and Nettleton, killing 35 people. There were 164 homes destroyed in Jonesboro. Some of the deaths were in cars that were swept of a highway and wrapped around trees. An F3 tornado completely destroyed a trailer park in Freeburg, Illinois, killing 4 people. A tornado killed 4 people in Wapella, Illinois, causing near-F4 damaged and tore apart the library in Waynesville. While officially rated F1, Grazulis rated this tornado F3 and noted near-F4 damage. Another F3 tornado destroyed trailers, cottages, and small homes in and near Henderson, Arkansas, killing 3 people. Tornadic activity continued past midnight into May 16. An F3 tornado traveled on a long, skipping path from near Wabash, Indiana to New Haven, killing 1 person.

June

There were 136 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in June.

June 10–11

Scattered tornadoes occurred across the United States on June 10 and June 11. An F1 tornado destroyed a trailer near Mora, Minnesota on June 10, killing a person inside. An F2 tornado killed another person near Pompeii, Michigan.

June 13

A small tornado outbreak struck the Midwestern United States. The most notable storm was an F5 tornado that hit Tracy, Minnesota, destroying 111 homes and killing 9 people. Some farms and businesses were completely swept away. An F2 tornado destroyed cottages near Arnolds Park, Iowa, injuring 17 people.

June 24–25

A 2-day outbreak produced tornadoes across a broad region stretching from Colorado to Florida and Pennsylvania. An F2 tornado near Granada, Colorado severely damaged a feed lot, killing cattle, and caused destruction to three farms, a cemetery, and paving company, injuring 1 person. A second F2 tornado near Concord, Ohio destroyed several barns and tore the roof from a house, injuring 5 people. A person was injured by a third F2 tornado near Holbrook, Pennsylvania.

July

There were 56 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in July.

July 10 (Europe)

A cold front brought storms to France and Germany. An F4 tornado struck tore through the Black Forest and Pforzheim, killing 2 people and injuring 300. An F3 tornado struck Uberach

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