This page documents all U.S. tornadoes confirmed in 1951. Due to lack of modern radar and storm spotters, tornado counts from this period are much lower than what we see today.
11 injuries - Tornado developed within a squall line with damaging winds extending several miles from the circulation. Two houses and four stores were destroyed while another 42 homes and 11 building damaged. Damages are estimated at $500 thousand.
This tornado developed near Los Altos causing damage in a residential area before lifting. About three miles further northeast the tornado touchdown in an orchard, near Sunnyvale, with several trees uprooted. The tornado widened as it moved through the business district downing power poles, shifting buildings off foundations, and removing roofs off others. The tornado lifted north of Highway 101. Damages are estimated at $2.5 million.
5 injuries - Several tornadoes were possibly counted along the 45 mile path. Where the tornado first touched down in Caddo County five people were injured when two houses and one store had roofs torn off. As the tornado entered southern Canadian County several farms were damaged. In El Reno two buildings were damage, with the cooperative weather station being demolished. The tornado continued into Kingfisher County were it dissipated. Damages are estimated at $50 thousand.
3 injuries - The second longest tracked tornado in the state of Arkansas started near the town of Keo. The twister continued northeast damaging and destroying several houses and farm buildings. The tornado lifted to the northeast of Marked Tree. Damages are estimated at $50 thousand.
A waterspout moved ashore from the Gulf of Mexico causing damage to 20 buildings. Several of those buildings had roofs blown off and one was moved off its foundation. Power lines were also downed. Damages are estimated at $25 thousand.
2 injuries - Many farm buildings were destroyed, trees downed, and a few heads of livestock killed. One farmer was injured when they were blown into a field. Damages are estimated at $250 thousand.
6 deaths – Several farm buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed with the greatest damage occurring just past Cobb Town about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Waupaca. There, three farms were obliterated and swept away at near-F5 intensity. Five of the six people killed came from one family who were killed as the they cleaning chickens on the opposit side of the house from the approaching tornado. The other fatality occurred in the Lebanon Township near Sugar Bush. Three people were injured and losses totaled $500,000 in damage.
1 death – A violent tornado struck a farm. There, a large house and every farm building was obliterated, including the house of the hired hand who was killed with debris from the home being left in a pile 300 feet (91 m) from the foundation. Hundreds of trees were stripped and/or uprooted, including some that were 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter, and chickens were defeathered. Nine people were injured and losses total $250,000. The CDNS report list 10 injuries.
1 death – A strong tornado blew down the west and south concrete walls of a tavern before ripping off its roof. An I-beam was thrown 100 yards (91 m) while steel beams were thrown 70 yards (64 m). Three people were injured, although losses are unknown.
^All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.
^Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[34]