Weather event in the United States
Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 |
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| Duration | May 15–28, 1896 |
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Tornadoes
confirmed | ≥38 |
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| Max. rating1 | F5 tornado |
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| Fatalities | ≥501 fatalities, ≥1914 injuries |
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| Areas affected | Central and Southern United States |
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| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale |
The tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 was a series of violent and deadly tornado outbreaks that struck much of the Central and Southern United States from May 15 to 28, 1896. It is considered one of the worst tornado outbreak sequences on record with tornado expert Tom Grazulis stating that the week of May 24–28 was "perhaps the most violent single week of tornado activity in United States history".[1] There were four particularly notable tornado outbreaks during the two-week period. It produced three F5 tornadoes as well as the third deadliest tornado ever in United States history. A total of at least 484 people were killed during the entire outbreak sequence by at least 38 different tornadoes which struck Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.[nb 1][nb 2]
Confirmed tornadoes
The ratings for these tornadoes were done by tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis and are not official ratings.
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
| FU
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F0
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F1
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F2
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F3
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F4
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F5
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Total
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| ?
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?
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?
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17
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12
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6
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3
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38+
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May 15 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes – May 15, 1896
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| F# |
Location |
County |
Time (UTC) |
Path length |
Damage
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| Texas
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| F3
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SW of Justin to E of Ponder
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Denton
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2015
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13 miles (21 km)
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2 deaths — A total of 22 homes were damaged in Justin, with five destroyed, and two swept away. Every business in town received some degree of damage. There were 25 injuries, including 17 that were serious.[4]
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| F2
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W of Denton
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Denton, Cooke
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2045
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17 miles (27 km)
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3 deaths — Struck the town of Gribble Springs, where seven houses were destroyed and three people were killed. Two homes and numerous barns were also destroyed in Cooke County.[4]
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| F5
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E of Pilot Point to Sherman
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Denton, Grayson
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2230
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28 miles (45 km)
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73 deaths — See section on this tornado — One of the most intense tornadoes ever recorded.[4]
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| F2
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SE of Sherman to SE of Hendrix, OK
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Grayson, Bryan(OK)
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2245
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18 miles (29 km)
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Tornado formed after the Sherman tornado lifted. A total of 20 homes were damaged along the Choctaw Creek (then called Choctaw Bayou) and a trading post was destroyed. There were 35 injuries, of which, at least 20 were serious.[4]
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| Oklahoma
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| F2
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Blue area
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Bryan
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2330
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unknown
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4 deaths — A family of four was killed in their home.[4]
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| Kansas
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| F2
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NE of Moundridge
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McPherson
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1000
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unknown
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1 death — Brief, early-morning touchdown leveled a house. An elderly man was killed and his wife was injured.[4]
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| Sources: Grazulis (1993)[4]
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May 17 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes – May 17, 1896
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| F# |
Location |
County |
Time (UTC) |
Path length |
Damage
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| Kentucky
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| F2
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N of Symsonia
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Graves, Marshall
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0645
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8 miles (13 km)
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5 deaths — South of Elva, a small two-room home was obliterated, killing a family of five.[4]
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| Kansas
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| F3
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NW of Clay Center to S of Frankfort
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Clay, Marshall, Riley
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2230
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45 miles (72 km)
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Probably a long-lived tornado family. Seven farms were destroyed and 60 injuries were reported, 58 of which occurred when a church in Riley County was destroyed during services.[4]
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| F5
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SW of Palmer to S of Falls City, NE
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Washington, Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Richardson(NE)
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2300
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100 miles (160 km)
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25 deaths — See section on this tornado — Was more than 2 miles (3.2 km) wide.[4]
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| Sources: Grazulis (1993)[4]
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May 18 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes – May 18, 1896
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| F# |
Location |
County |
Time (UTC) |
Path length |
Damage
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| Iowa
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| F2
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SW of Lamoni
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Decatur
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0200
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unknown
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A cottage on the southwest side of Lamoni was leveled and scattered. Four people were injured.[5]
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| Sources: Grazulis (1993)[5]
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May 19 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes – May 19, 1896
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| F# |
Location |
County |
Time (UTC) |
Path length |
Damage
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| Kansas
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| F3
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SW of Rock
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Cowley, Butler
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2200
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10 miles (16 km)
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Buildings were destroyed on 15 farms, including seven homes. A total of 50 head of livestock were killed on one farm, and two people were injured.[5]
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| Sources: Grazulis (1993)[5]
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May 20 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes – May 20, 1896
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| F# |
Location |
County |
Time (UTC) |
Path length |
Damage
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| Oklahoma
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| F3
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E of Newkirk to E of Maitland, KS
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Kay, Cowley(KS)
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1700
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15 miles (24 km)
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An entire farm was swept away near the beginning of the path.[5]
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| F2
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N of Kildare
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Kay
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1730
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unknown
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A barn was destroyed. One of six small tornadoes reported in the area.[5]
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| Kansas
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| F2
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N of Hoyt
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Jackson
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2230
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6 miles (9.7 km)
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One person was injured as a house was destroyed.[5]
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| F2
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S of Emporia
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Lyon
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0200
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3 miles (4.8 km)
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A house was shifted from its foundation and unroofed. A barn was destroyed, and two men hiding inside were injured.[5]
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| Sources: Grazulis (1993)[5]
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May 24 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes – May 24, 1896
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| F# |
Location |
County |
Time (UTC) |
Path length |
Damage
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| Iowa
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| F2
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S of Manchester
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Delaware
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0300
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3 miles (4.8 km)
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One house and several barns were destroyed. A fatality may have occurred.[6]
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| F4
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SW of Polk City to Mingo
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Polk, Jasper
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0430
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28 miles (45 km)
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21 deaths — A violent tornado began near Polk City, and moved east-southeast north of Des Moines. Several homes were leveled on the north sides of Bondurant and Valeria, resulting in fatalities. Other homes were destroyed and fatalities occurred in the communities of Santiago and Mingo. A steel railroad rail was driven 15 feet (4.6 m) into the ground at one location. At least 60 people were injured.[6]
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| Sources: Grazulis (1993)[6]
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May 25 event
