What was the biggest recorded tornado outbreak ever?
During the century, the largest single tornado outbreak occurred on 3-4 April 1974. Over a span of 16 hours some 148 tornadoes slammed into 13 states east of the Mississippi plus the province of Ontario. Some 315 people were killed, 5,484 persons were injured and property damage was a half billion (1973) dollars. The total number of miles of tornado path lengths was 2,598, with a mean path length for each twister of 19 miles. Six of the 148 funnels reached F5 intensity status. Six towns were struck not once, but twice, in one day. The City of Xenia, OH saw both fortune and misfortune. While many people were killed and the high school was largely destroyed, most of the students had departed for the day. A group practicing a play in the gymnasium saw the funnel approaching and were able to reach a safer hallway just in time. A school bus was hurled through the roof onto the stage where they had been practicing. GO TO TOP What are some other famous tornado outbreaks? Palm Sunday (11 April
