Unforgettable tornadoes that changed history

One of the oldest known tornadoes in European history, this one hit the Mediterranean island of Malta. It struck the Grand Harbour in either September 1551 or 1556, starting as a waterspout at sea and twisting towards the land. An estimated 600 people died. Today it's known as the Valletta tornado, though the fortified city didn't officially exist until 1566.

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Utrecht, Netherlands (1674) -

Known as the Terrible Tempest (het Schrickelik Tempeest), it took a toll on several Dutch provinces.

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Utrecht, Netherlands (1674) -

Records didn't capture the loss of life, but the tornado decimated Utrecht, tearing the roofs off homes and toppling towers on churches.

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Kolkata, India (1838) -

On April 8, 1838, the first tornado on record in India swept through portions of eastern Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta.

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Kolkata, India (1838) -

It took approximately 2.5 hours to wreak its havoc, destroying entire villages. An estimated 215 people died.

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Natchez, Mississippi, US (1840) -

Although official records are scarce, estimates suggest that the Natchez tornado claimed the lives of at least 317 people, with hundreds more injured. It completely ravaged the town, leaving the community in mourning.

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St. Louis, Missouri, US (1896) -

Hitting St. Louis on May 27, 1896, this tornado is considered the third deadliest in American history. In just 30 minutes, it ripped through block after block of residential housing, uprooting trees, and blowing steamboats out of the Mississippi River.

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St. Louis, Missouri, US (1896) -

In total, 255 people were killed and 1,000 injured in Missouri and neighboring Illinois. Wind speeds reached up to 260 miles per hour (418km/h).

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New Richmond, Wisconsin, US (1899) -

One of the deadliest tornadoes in Wisconsin history, this one killed 117 people and destroyed over 300 buildings, virtually wiping the city off the map.

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Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, US (1925) -

On March 18, 1925, the Tri-State tornado slammed into the region, starting in Missouri and then moving through Illinois and Indiana.

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Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, US (1925) -

The deadliest in US history, it took the lives of 695 people, mostly in Illinois, and injured 2,027. Damages were estimated at US$16.5 million (over $296 million today).

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Tupelo, Mississippi, US (1936) -

This tornado ravaged the town of Tupelo, Mississippi, claiming 216 lives and leaving thousands homeless.

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Tupelo, Mississippi, US (1936) -

One of two devastating tornadoes that struck Mississippi within a 24-hour period, it demolished homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure.

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Gainesville, Georgia, US (1936) -

Just hours after the Tupelo tornado, another devastating tornado struck Gainesville, Georgia. The Gainesville tornado claimed 203 lives and injured over 1,600 people.

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Gainesville, Georgia, US (1936) -

This deadly tornado also left a trail of devastation, which included demolished buildings and uprooted trees.

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Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, US (1947) -

Named the Glazier-Higgins-Woodward tornado, it carved a path of destruction through Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, leaving 181 people dead and widespread devastation.

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Flint, Michigan, US (1953) -

Killing 116 people and injuring over 300, the catastrophic Flint Tornado left a trail of demolished homes, businesses, and schools on June 9, 1953.

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Worcester, Massachusetts, US (1953) -

On the same day as the Flint tornado, another deadly tornado devastated Worcester, Massachusetts.

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Worcester, Massachusetts, US (1953) -

The Worcester tornado claimed 94 lives, injured over 1,200 people, and caused widespread damage across the city.

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Central and Eastern US and Canada (1974) -

Known as the Super Outbreak, it saw 148 tornadoes turn up on April 3, 1974, and through the following day.

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Central and Eastern US and Canada (1974) -

In a 24-hour period, an estimated 335 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured in 13 states.

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Iowa, US (1976) -

Iowa has an average of 53 tornadoes annually, but its worst one battered the state on June 13, 1976. No people were killed, but the storm took a toll on the town of Jordan, destroying homes, crops, and livestock. Damage was estimated at around US$20 million ($110 million today).

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Bangladesh (1989) -

The Saturia-Manikganj Sadar tornado swept over Bangladesh on April 26, 1989. Considered the deadliest in recorded history, it killed about 1,300 people and injured another 12,000.

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Bangladesh (1989) -

Outside the US, Bangladesh experiences some of the strongest and most lethal tornadoes, though it averages only six per year. The much higher loss of life is due to a higher population density and poor infrastructure.

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Bangladesh (1996) -

Another devastating tornado in Bangladesh occurred on May 13, 1996. It went from the city of Madarganj in the north to the city of Mirzapur in the center, claiming the lives of 700 people.

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Eastern US (2004) -

Between September 15 and 17, 2004, Hurricane Ivan delivered 120 tornadoes around the American east coast, from Pennsylvania to Florida.

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Eastern US (2004) -

Damage and injuries occurred in some areas as a direct result of the tornadoes, but there were no fatalities.

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Eastern, Central, and Southern US (2011) -

Known as the spring tornado outbreaks, it all started on April 16 and continued until late May. The worst activity took place between April 25 and 28.

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Eastern, Central, and Southern US (2011) -

April 27 marked the deadliest day, when 122 tornadoes killed 319 people and injured more than 3,000.

Sources: (Mental Floss) (CNN) (Interesting Facts)

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Valletta, Malta (1550s) -

Getty Images

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Utrecht, Netherlands (1674) -

Known as the Terrible Tempest (het Schrickelik Tempeest), it took a toll on several Dutch provinces.

Getty Images

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Utrecht, Netherlands (1674) -

Records didn't capture the loss of life, but the tornado decimated Utrecht, tearing the roofs off homes and toppling towers on churches.

Getty Images

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Kolkata, India (1838) -

On April 8, 1838, the first tornado on record in India swept through portions of eastern Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta.

Shutterstock

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Kolkata, India (1838) -

It took approximately 2.5 hours to wreak its havoc, destroying entire villages. An estimated 215 people died.

Shutterstock

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Natchez, Mississippi, US (1840) -

Shutterstock

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St. Louis, Missouri, US (1896) -

Getty Images

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St. Louis, Missouri, US (1896) -

In total, 255 people were killed and 1,000 injured in Missouri and neighboring Illinois. Wind speeds reached up to 260 miles per hour (418km/h).

Getty Images

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New Richmond, Wisconsin, US (1899) -

One of the deadliest tornadoes in Wisconsin history, this one killed 117 people and destroyed over 300 buildings, virtually wiping the city off the map.

Getty Images

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Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, US (1925) -

On March 18, 1925, the Tri-State tornado slammed into the region, starting in Missouri and then moving through Illinois and Indiana.

Getty Images

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Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, US (1925) -

The deadliest in US history, it took the lives of 695 people, mostly in Illinois, and injured 2,027. Damages were estimated at US$16.5 million (over $296 million today).

Getty Images

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Tupelo, Mississippi, US (1936) -

This tornado ravaged the town of Tupelo, Mississippi, claiming 216 lives and leaving thousands homeless.

Getty Images

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Tupelo, Mississippi, US (1936) -

One of two devastating tornadoes that struck Mississippi within a 24-hour period, it demolished homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure.

Getty Images

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Gainesville, Georgia, US (1936) -

Just hours after the Tupelo tornado, another devastating tornado struck Gainesville, Georgia. The Gainesville tornado claimed 203 lives and injured over 1,600 people.

Getty Images

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Gainesville, Georgia, US (1936) -

This deadly tornado also left a trail of devastation, which included demolished buildings and uprooted trees.

Getty Images

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Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, US (1947) -

Named the Glazier-Higgins-Woodward tornado, it carved a path of destruction through Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, leaving 181 people dead and widespread devastation.

Getty Images

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Flint, Michigan, US (1953) -

Killing 116 people and injuring over 300, the catastrophic Flint Tornado left a trail of demolished homes, businesses, and schools on June 9, 1953.

Public Domain

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Worcester, Massachusetts, US (1953) -

On the same day as the Flint tornado, another deadly tornado devastated Worcester, Massachusetts.

Getty Images

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Worcester, Massachusetts, US (1953) -

The Worcester tornado claimed 94 lives, injured over 1,200 people, and caused widespread damage across the city.

Getty Images

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Central and Eastern US and Canada (1974) -

Known as the Super Outbreak, it saw 148 tornadoes turn up on April 3, 1974, and through the following day.

Getty Images

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Central and Eastern US and Canada (1974) -

In a 24-hour period, an estimated 335 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured in 13 states.

Getty Images

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Iowa, US (1976) -

Shutterstock

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Bangladesh (1989) -

The Saturia-Manikganj Sadar tornado swept over Bangladesh on April 26, 1989. Considered the deadliest in recorded history, it killed about 1,300 people and injured another 12,000.

Getty Images

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Bangladesh (1989) -

Getty Images

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Bangladesh (1996) -

Another devastating tornado in Bangladesh occurred on May 13, 1996. It went from the city of Madarganj in the north to the city of Mirzapur in the center, claiming the lives of 700 people.

Getty Images

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Eastern US (2004) -

Between September 15 and 17, 2004, Hurricane Ivan delivered 120 tornadoes around the American east coast, from Pennsylvania to Florida.

Getty Images

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Eastern US (2004) -

Damage and injuries occurred in some areas as a direct result of the tornadoes, but there were no fatalities.

Getty Images

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Eastern, Central, and Southern US (2011) -

Known as the spring tornado outbreaks, it all started on April 16 and continued until late May. The worst activity took place between April 25 and 28.

Getty Images

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Eastern, Central, and Southern US (2011) -

April 27 marked the deadliest day, when 122 tornadoes killed 319 people and injured more than 3,000.

Sources: (Mental Floss) (CNN) (Interesting Facts)

Getty Images

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Unforgettable tornadoes that changed history

The US has seen a large number of history's biggest tornadoes

02/05/25 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Natural disasters

A tornado is an atmospheric vortex that occurs in rain or thunderclouds. It looks like a cloudy funnel, which often descends to the ground level and spreads at high speed, causing significant damage. Although tornadoes can, and do, happen everywhere, the US gets hit the hardest, with an average of around 1,150 tornadoes annually.

So, from the American Midwest to the plains of Bangladesh, click on for some of the most terrifying tornadoes in history.