View source for Great Storm of 1975

{{Short description|Storm system in Central and Southeastern United States in 1975}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Great_Storm_1975-01-11_weather_map.jpg
| caption = Surface analysis of the storm on January 11, 1975
| formed = January 9, 1975
| exited = January 12, 1975
}}{{Infobox weather event/Winter storm
| RSI = 6.117
| winds = 
| lowest-temperature = 
| pressure-prefix =
| pressure = 961
| maximum-rain = 
| maximum-snow = {{convert|27|in|cm|abbr=on}} in [[Riverton, Minnesota|Riverton]], Minnesota
}}{{Infobox weather event/Tornado outbreak
| name = Tornado outbreak of January 9–12, 1975
| duration = January 9–12, 1975
| tornadoes = 45
| fujitascale = F4
| winds = {{cvt|81|mph}} (highest [[convective winds|convective wind]])
| largest hail = {{convert|1+3/4|in|cm|abbr=on}}
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year =  <!-- Used for damages. -->
| casualties = 
| fatalities = 58 (+12 tornadic)
| injuries = Unknown (+377 tornadic)
| damage = $20,000,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|20,000,000|1975|r=-4}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} USD)<br>(+$43,000,000 tornadic (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|43,000,000|1975|r=-4}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} USD))
| areas = [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] and [[Southeastern United States]]
| outages = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = 1974–75 North American winter {{nobold|and}} [[Tornadoes of 1975|tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1975]]
}}
The '''Great Storm of 1975''' (also known as the '''[[Super Bowl IX|Super Bowl]] Blizzard''', '''Minnesota's Storm of the Century''', or the '''Tornado Outbreak of January, 1975''') was an intense [[winter storm]] system that impacted a large portion of the [[Central United States|Central]] and [[Southeast United States]] from January&nbsp;9–12, 1975. A classic [[Panhandle hook]], the [[extratropical cyclone|mid-latitude cyclone]] produced [[tornado outbreak|an outbreak]] of 45&nbsp;[[tornado]]es in the Southeast U.S. resulting in 12&nbsp;fatalities, while later dropping over {{convert|2|ft|cm}} of snow and killing 58&nbsp;people in the Midwest. This storm, which caused [[blizzard]] conditions, remains one of the worst blizzards to ever strike parts of the Midwest, as well as one of the largest January tornado outbreaks on record in the United States.

==Meteorological synopsis==
The storm originated over the Pacific Ocean and crashed into the Northwest [[Pacific Coast|Pacific coast]] with damaging gale-force winds on January 8, 1975.<ref name="amsjournal">{{cite journal | last = Wagner | first = A. James  | title = Weather and Circulation of January 1975 | journal = Monthly Weather Review | volume = 103 | pages = 360–367 | publisher = Allen Press | url = http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0493/103/4/pdf/i1520-0493-103-4-360.pdf  | access-date = 2006-12-14 | doi = 10.1175/1520-0493(1975)103<0360:WACOJ>2.0.CO;2  | year = 1975  | issn = 1520-0493 | issue = 4|bibcode = 1975MWRv..103..360W }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> By January 9 it had cleared the [[Rocky Mountains]] and began to redevelop and [[Cyclogenesis|strengthen]]. At the same time, [[Arctic]] air was being drawn southward from Canada into the [[Great Plains]], and large amounts of warm [[Air mass|tropical air]] from the [[Gulf of Mexico]] were being pulled northward into much of the [[Eastern United States|eastern U.S]]. The storm was a classic Panhandle Hook which moved from [[Colorado]] into [[Oklahoma]] before turning northward towards the [[Upper Midwest]]. It produced record low [[atmospheric pressure|barometric pressure]] readings in the Midwest, with the pressure falling to an estimated {{convert|28.38|inHg|mb|abbr=on}} just north of the [[Minnesota]] border in Canada.<ref name="watson">{{cite web | last = Watson  | first = Bruce  | title = 1975 Blizzard | publisher = [[PBS]] | date = January 7, 2000 | url = http://www.tpt.org/almanac/archive/1616clip6.ram | format = .ram  | access-date = 2007-05-21 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060627061752/http://tpt.org/almanac/archive/1616clip6.ram |archive-date = June 27, 2006}}</ref>

==Tornado outbreak==
===Tornado summary event===
[[Image:1975 tornado damage in St Clair County, Alabama.png|left|thumb|250px|Damage from an F3 tornado in [[St. Clair County, Alabama]]]]
An unusual feature of this outbreak was that [[Convective available potential energy|daytime heating]], typically a key ingredient in the [[Tornadogenesis|formation of tornadoes]], had very little impact on their development.<ref>{{cite web|author=[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] |title=Forces of Nature |website=[[National Geographic Society]] |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forcesofnature/interactive/index.html?section=t |access-date=2006-12-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005231730/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forcesofnature/interactive/index.html?section=t |archive-date=2006-10-05 }}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|name=Outbreak|An [[tornado outbreak|outbreak]] is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An [[tornado outbreak sequence|outbreak sequence]], prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one [[Fujita scale#Rating classifications|significant]] (F2 or stronger) tornado.<ref name=OutbreakClimo>{{cite conference |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/schneider/otbrkseq.pdf |title=Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875–2003) |last1=Schneider |first1=Russell S. |last2=Brooks |first2=Harold E. |last3=Schaefer |first3=Joseph T. |author-link2=Harold E. Brooks |year=2004 |publisher=[[American Meteorological Society]] |location=Hyannis, Massachusetts |conference=22nd Conf. Severe Local Storms |conference-url=https://ams.confex.com/ams/11aram22sls/techprogram/programexpanded_230.htm |access-date=September 17, 2019}}</ref>}} Rather, as the storm system pulled out into the [[Great Plains|central plains]], strong thunderstorms and tornadoes quickly began to form despite the late hours. The first two tornadoes touched down after 10:00&nbsp;p.m. [[Central Time Zone|CST]] on January 9 in Oklahoma and [[Louisiana]]. From there the progression of the twisters shifted eastward through the overnight and early morning hours, setting the stage for what would turn out to be a record-setting day on January 10. [[Texas]] saw five tornadoes between 1:30&nbsp;a.m.&ndash;3:30&nbsp;a.m., one tornado touched down in [[Arkansas]] at 6:00&nbsp;a.m., Louisiana saw seven tornadoes between 5:30&nbsp;a.m.&ndash;8:00&nbsp;a.m. (killing one person), [[Mississippi]] had five tornadoes between 8:15&nbsp;a.m.&ndash;10:00&nbsp;a.m. (killing nine), and [[Illinois]] and [[Indiana]] each experienced three lunch-hour tornadoes. The tornadic line of storms then shifted into [[Alabama]] (killing one) and [[Florida]] during the afternoon and evening hours.<ref name="NCDC">{{cite web|author=NCDC |title=Storm Event Database |url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms |access-date=2006-12-14 |author-link=National Climatic Data Center |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509142712/http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwEvent~Storms |archive-date=2009-05-09 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;float:right;"
|+'''Outbreak death toll'''
|- 
!'''State'''
!'''Total'''
!'''County''' 
!'''County<br />total'''
|-
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|Alabama
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''1'''
|St. Clair
|1
|-
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|Florida
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''1'''
|[[Bay County, Florida|Bay]]
|1
|-
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|Louisiana
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''1'''
|[[Acadia County, Louisiana|Acadia]]
|1
|-
|rowspan=2 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|Mississippi
|rowspan=2 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''9'''
|[[Lincoln County, Mississippi|Lincoln]]
|5
|-
|[[Pike County, Mississippi|Pike]]
|4
|-
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|Totals
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''12'''
|colspan=2|
|-
|colspan=4 align=center| <small>All deaths were tornado-related</small>
|-
|}
Mississippi and Alabama were the two states hardest hit by this outbreak. Alabama had the most twisters of any state with 13, but Mississippi saw the largest and deadliest tornado. An [[Fujita Scale|F4]] tornado that tore through Pike, [[Lincoln County, Mississippi|Lincoln]], [[Lawrence County, Mississippi|Lawrence]], and [[Simpson County, Mississippi|Simpson Counties]] at 8:14&nbsp;a.m. killed nine people and injured over 200, and severely damaged 38 blocks in the town of McComb. The 39 tornadoes on January 10 marked the most active tornadic day in January in U.S. history at that time.<ref name="srhrecord">{{cite web  | author = [[NOAA]]  | title = Tornado Outbreak, January 21, 1999  | date = November 19, 2003  | url = http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lzk/html/tor012199.htm  | access-date = 2006-12-14  | url-status = dead  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070112171839/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lzk/html/tor012199.htm  | archive-date = January 12, 2007  }}</ref> The 52 tornadoes during January 1975 also set a U.S. record for the most tornadoes during that month. Both of these records were broken in [[January 1999 tornado outbreak sequence|January 1999]].<ref>{{cite web|author=NOAA |title=JANUARY TORNADO NUMBER BREAKS NATIONAL RECORDS |date=February 9, 1999 |url=http://www.norman.noaa.gov/publicaffairs/releases/noaa99r211.html |access-date=2006-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929193011/http://www.norman.noaa.gov/publicaffairs/releases/noaa99r211.html |archive-date=2006-09-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After a calm day on January 11, four more tornadoes touched down in Florida and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] on January 12, killing one person in Florida. By the time the outbreak ended it had produced 45 tornadoes, killed 12&nbsp;people, injured 377 and caused $42&nbsp;million in damages.<ref name="NCDC" />

==Confirmed tornadoes==
{{Tornado Chart | Total=45 | FU=0 | F0=1 | F1=28 | F2=14 | F3=1 | F4=1 | F5=0 | Enhanced=no}}
Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of [[NEXRAD]] [[Weather radar|Doppler weather radar]] in 1990–1991.{{sfn|Agee and Childs|2014|p=1496}}{{refn|group=nb|name=Count|Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information.{{sfn|Grazulis|2001a|pp=[https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz/page/251 251]–[https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz/page/254 4]}} Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.<ref name="TornadoClimaFAQ">{{cite web|last1=Edwards|first1=Roger|title=The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#Climatology|website=Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes|publisher=[[Storm Prediction Center]]|access-date=February 25, 2016|date=March 5, 2015}}</ref> Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced [[NEXRAD]] was first installed and the [[National Weather Service]] began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.{{sfn|Cook|Schaefer|2008|p=3135}}}} 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of [[Fujita scale]] assessments.{{sfn|Agee and Childs|2014|pp=1497, 1503}}{{refn|group=nb|name=Fujita|The [[Fujita scale]] was devised under the aegis of scientist [[Ted Fujita|T. Theodore Fujita]] in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=141}}{{sfn|Grazulis|2001a|p=[https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz/page/131 131]}} Tornado ratings were retroactively applied to events prior to the formal adoption of the F-scale by the [[National Weather Service]].{{sfn|Edwards et al.|2013|p=641–642}} While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the [[Enhanced Fujita scale]] in the U.S. since February&nbsp;1, 2007,<ref name="EFscale">{{cite web|last1=Edwards|first1=Roger|title=Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html|website=The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)|publisher=Storm Prediction Center|access-date=February 25, 2016|date=March 5, 2015}}</ref> Canada used the old scale until April&nbsp;1, 2013;<ref name="FscaleCanada">{{cite web |title=Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) |url=https://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 |website=Environment and Climate Change Canada |publisher=[[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] |access-date=February 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220706/http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |date=June 6, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the [[TORRO scale]].<ref name="TORROscale">{{cite web|title=The International Tornado Intensity Scale |url=http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php |website=Tornado and Storm Research Organisation |publisher=[[Tornado and Storm Research Organisation]] |access-date=February 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305120332/http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |year=2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian [[Thomas P. Grazulis]].

===January 9 event===
{| class="wikitable toccolours collapsible" width="65%"
!colspan="6"|List of confirmed tornadoes
|-
! [[Fujita scale|F#]] || Location || County || Time (UTC) || Path length || Damage
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Oklahoma]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''E of [[Ashland, Oklahoma|Ashland]] to SE of [[Arpelar, Oklahoma|Arpelar]]'''
|[[Pittsburg County, Oklahoma|Pittsburg]]
|0430
|12.4&nbsp;miles <br>(19.8&nbsp;km)
|This tornado formed near the [[McAlester Army Ammunition Plant]], then a naval ammunition depot, destroying five mobile homes. Assorted farmhouses and barns were damaged as well.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=7}}
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Louisiana]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''N of [[Quebec, Louisiana|Quebec]] to E of [[Transylvania, Louisiana|Transylvania]]'''
|[[Madison Parish, Louisiana|Madison]], [[East Carroll Parish, Louisiana|East Carroll]]
|0440
|18&nbsp;miles <br>(28.8&nbsp;km)
|This strong tornado developed near Bear Lake, unroofing a home and partly unroofing another. A few other homes and four outbuildings were destroyed nearby. Farther along, in the [[Alsatia, Louisiana|Alsatia]]–Transylvania area, the tornado badly damaged seven homes and destroyed a pair of trailers. Many outbuildings and barns were wrecked. A parsonage, church, and vegetation were extensively damaged. A final home was severely damaged near the end of the path. Six people were officially injured, but the actual total may have been three.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=5}}
|}

===January 10 event===
{| class="wikitable toccolours collapsible" width="65%"
!colspan="6"|List of confirmed tornadoes
|-
! [[Fujita scale|F#]] || Location || County || Time (UTC) || Path length || Damage
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Arkansas]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Springdale, Arkansas|Springdale]] area'''
|[[Washington County, Arkansas|Washington]]
|0655
|0.5&nbsp;miles <br>(0.8&nbsp;km)
|A trio of mobile homes were wrecked, and the roof of a frame home was badly damaged. Five injuries occurred.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=2}}
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Texas]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''[[Daingerfield, Texas|Daingerfield]] area'''
|[[Morris County, Texas|Morris]]
|0730
|0.3&nbsp;miles <br>(0.5&nbsp;km)
|Doors were torn loose. Carports, roofing, and small trailers received damage.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=9}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''[[Hooks, Texas|Hooks]] area'''
|[[Bowie County, Texas|Bowie]]
|0800
|4&nbsp;miles <br>(6.4&nbsp;km)
|A number of outbuildings were destroyed or damaged. A garage was moved {{convert|150|ft|yd|abbr=on}}, and a {{convert|2|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} stretch of trees was felled. A pair of unanchored trailers were flipped and wrecked, and three homes were badly damaged.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=9}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[La Marque, Texas|La Marque]] area'''
|[[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston]]
|0955
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Jasper, Texas|Jasper]] area'''
|[[Jasper County, Texas|Jasper]]
|1030
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Kountze, Texas|Kountze]] area'''
|[[Jefferson County, Texas|Jefferson]]
|1030
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Louisiana]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Vinton, Louisiana|Vinton]]'''
|[[Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana|Calcasieu]]
|1125
|0.5&nbsp;miles <br>(0.8&nbsp;km)
|An arena, mobile home, and house were damaged.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=5}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''SE of [[Fishville, Louisiana|Fishville]]'''
|[[Grant Parish, Louisiana|Grant]]
|1230
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|Approximately 70 trees were downed, along with a barn.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=5}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Jennings, Louisiana|Jennings]] to [[Evangeline, Louisiana|Evangeline]]'''
|[[Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Davis]], [[Acadia Parish, Louisiana|Acadia]]
|1315
|7.6&nbsp;miles <br>(12.2&nbsp;km)
|Three mobile homes were destroyed, and roofing was damaged. Three people were injured.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=5}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''NE of [[Oak Grove, West Carroll Parish, Louisiana|Oak Grove]]'''
|[[West Carroll Parish, Louisiana|West Carroll]]
|1315
|0.5&nbsp;miles <br>(0.8&nbsp;km)
|Many homes and trailers were damaged. An injury was reported.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=5}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''S of [[Mermentau, Louisiana|Mermentau]] to [[Crowley, Louisiana|Crowley]]'''
|[[Acadia Parish, Louisiana|Acadia]]
|1335
|13.5&nbsp;miles <br>(21.6&nbsp;km)
|'''1 death''' – A trailer was destroyed near the touchdown point, resulting in the fatality. In Crowley, six trailers and seven homes were damaged. Eight people were injured.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=5}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Lawtell, Louisiana|Lawtell]] area'''
|[[St. Landry Parish, Louisiana|St. Landry]]
|1400
|1&nbsp;miles <br>(1.6&nbsp;km)
|A [[gym]] at a school was unroofed. Five students were injured.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=5}}
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Arkansas]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''S of [[Stuttgart, Arkansas|Stuttgart]]'''
|[[Arkansas County, Arkansas|Arkansas]]
|1210
|0.5&nbsp;miles <br>(0.8&nbsp;km)
|Nine [[Entergy#Operations|Arkansas Power and Light]] transmission [[transmission tower|towers]] were downed.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=2}}
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Mississippi]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|'''SW of [[McComb, Mississippi|McComb]] to SW of [[Pinola, Mississippi|Pinola]]'''
|[[Pike County, Mississippi|Pike]], [[Lincoln County, Mississippi|Lincoln]], [[Lawrence County, Mississippi|Lawrence]], [[Simpson County, Mississippi|Simpson]]
|1414
|56.5&nbsp;miles <br>(90.4&nbsp;km)
|'''9 deaths''' – This long-tracked tornado, possibly a [[tornado family|family]], first destroyed a marina and seven structures, while uprooting or snapping at least 10,000 trees. Major damage affected 38 blocks in [[McComb, Mississippi|McComb]] and extended into [[Summit, Mississippi|Summit]]. In the McComb–Summit area, 88 homes, 80 apartment units, 60 businesses, two schools, two [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] armories, and 200 automobiles were badly damaged or destroyed. The tornado injured five students, out of 325 who had taken shelter in a school. Just past McComb, 36 more homes were wrecked. Many homes, trailers, outbuildings, and barns were destroyed in rural areas as well. In the community of [[Camper, Mississippi|Camper]], a trailer was destroyed, with its remains wrapped around a utility pole. 210 people were injured.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=10}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''SE of [[Linwood, Mississippi|Linwood]] to NW of [[Selma, Mississippi|Selma]]'''
|[[Adams County, Mississippi|Adams]]
|1448
|11.9&nbsp;miles <br>(19&nbsp;km)
|20 large trees were uprooted. Piping and barns were destroyed, and six homes mildly damaged. One home sustained moderate damage, and a fallen tree damaged an automobile.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=11}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''[[Clinton, Mississippi|Clinton]] to SE of [[Flora, Mississippi|Flora]]'''
|[[Hinds County, Mississippi|Hinds]], [[Madison County, Mississippi|Madison]]
|1555
|15&nbsp;miles <br>(24&nbsp;km)
|This tornado overturned a truck on [[Interstate 20 in Mississippi|I-20]]. It also destroyed a home and badly damaged another. One person was injured.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=11}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''SE of [[Greenfield, Mississippi|Greenfield]]'''
|[[Rankin County, Mississippi|Rankin]]
|1610
|4.5&nbsp;miles <br>(7.2&nbsp;km)
|A few empty chicken coops were wrecked and a number of barns partly so. Four homes incurred modest damage, and trees were felled as well. A mobile home was wrecked and a pair of others flipped.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=11}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''S of [[Biloxi, Mississippi|Biloxi]]'''
|[[Harrison County, Mississippi|Harrison]]
|2000
|0.5&nbsp;miles <br>(0.8&nbsp;km)
|A waterspout hit [[Fort Massachusetts (Mississippi)|Old Fort Massachusetts]] on [[Ship Island (Mississippi)|Ship Island]].{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=12}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''W of [[Pascagoula, Mississippi|Pascagoula]]'''
|[[Jackson County, Mississippi|Jackson]]
|2025
|2.5&nbsp;miles <br>(4&nbsp;km)
|Only minor damage was reported.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=12}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''N of [[Helena, Mississippi|Helena]]'''
|[[Jackson County, Mississippi|Jackson]]
|2030
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|A brief touchdown destroyed a few homes and a pair of trailers.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Illinois]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''SE of [[Raleigh, Illinois|Raleigh]]'''
|[[Saline County, Illinois|Saline]]
|1715
|2&nbsp;miles <br>(3.2&nbsp;km)
|Half a dozen hangars lost roofing and siding, and a few airplanes inside were damaged. Outbuildings and a porch were damaged on a farmstead, and debris from one of the hangars was found in a tree on the property. A garage was leveled, crushing an automobile underneath, and a trailer was destroyed. Three homes sustained damage to parts of their roofs as well, one of which lost a whole section of roofing.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=4}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Old Shawneetown, Illinois|Old Shawneetown]] area'''
|[[Gallatin County, Illinois|Gallatin]]
|1732
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|A high school lost portions of its roofing.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=4}}
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Indiana]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Harwood, Indiana|Harwood]] area'''
|[[Vanderburgh County, Indiana|Vanderburgh]]
|1825
|0.5&nbsp;miles <br>(0.8&nbsp;km)
|A few garages were wrecked, and many power lines and trees were felled. Roofing and siding on a number of homes was inconsequentially damaged.{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=4}}
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Alabama]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''NE of [[East Brookwood, Alabama|East Brookwood]]'''
|[[Tuscaloosa County, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]
|2030
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|{{sfn|Storm Data|1975|p=4}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Citronelle, Alabama|Citronelle]] area'''
|[[Mobile County, Alabama|Mobile]]
|2045
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''N of [[Faunsdale, Alabama|Faunsdale]]'''
|[[Marengo County, Alabama|Marengo]]
|2045
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''N of [[Porter, Alabama|Porter]]'''
|[[Jefferson County, Alabama|Jefferson]]
|2045
|2&nbsp;miles <br>(3.2&nbsp;km)
|A short-lived tornado destroyed four houses and two trailers, and four people had minor injuries.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Vestavia Hills, Alabama|Vestavia Hills]] area'''
|[[Jefferson County, Alabama|Jefferson]]
|2145
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Keystone, Alabama|Keystone]] area'''
|[[Shelby County, Alabama|Shelby]]
|2200
|0.2&nbsp;miles <br>(0.32&nbsp;km)
|14 injuries
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|'''W of [[Pell City, Alabama|Pell City]] to NE of [[Ragland, Alabama|Ragland]]'''
|[[St. Clair County, Alabama|St. Clair]]
|2215
|18.8&nbsp;miles <br>(30&nbsp;km)
|'''1 death''' – In Pell City, the tornado destroyed 49 homes and damaged 259 others, and 15 trailers and 27 businesses were damaged or destroyed. The tornado also destroyed five homes in Ragland, where 48 others were damaged.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}
|- 
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''NW of [[Loxley, Alabama|Loxley]]'''
|[[Baldwin County, Alabama|Baldwin]]
|2215
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Prattville, Alabama|Prattville]] area'''
|[[Autauga County, Alabama|Autauga]]
|2245
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''SW of [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]]'''
|[[Montgomery County, Alabama|Montgomery]]
|2250
|2&nbsp;miles <br>(3.2&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''SW of [[Davisville, Alabama|Davisville]]'''
|[[Macon County, Alabama|Macon]]
|0000
|1&nbsp;miles <br>(1.6&nbsp;km)
|A brief tornado produced major damage in the [[Cotton Valley, Alabama|Cotton Valley]] area, destroying 17 homes and damaging 28 others.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''NE of [[Salem, Alabama|Salem]]'''
|[[Lee County, Alabama|Lee]]
|2030
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|A brief touchdown destroyed three homes and five trailers. It also damaged 22 homes and injured six people.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''E of [[Ranburne, Alabama|Ranburne]]'''
|[[Cleburne County, Alabama|Cleburne]]
|2030
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Florida]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''W of [[Mary Esther, Florida|Mary Esther]]'''
|[[Okaloosa County, Florida|Okaloosa]]
|2355
|1&nbsp;miles <br>(1.6&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''N of [[Ponce de Leon, Florida|Ponce de Leon]]'''
|[[Holmes County, Florida|Holmes]]
|0130
|0.1&nbsp;miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[North Carolina]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''W of [[Selica, North Carolina|Selica]]'''
|[[Transylvania County, North Carolina|Transylvania]]
|0230
|4.3&nbsp;miles <br>(6.9&nbsp;km)
|
|}

===January 12 event===
{| class="wikitable toccolours collapsible" width="65%"
!colspan="6"|List of confirmed tornadoes
|-
! [[Fujita scale|F#]] || Location || County || Time (UTC) || Path length || Damage
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Florida]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''SW of [[Greenhead, Florida|Greenhead]] to N of [[Horrsville, Florida|Horrsville]]'''
|[[Washington County, Florida|Washington]], [[Jackson County, Florida|Jackson]]
|1615
|53&nbsp;miles <br>(84.8&nbsp;km)
|A tornado, possibly a tornado family, destroyed a barn, and a house lost its roof. 12 people were injured.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''[[Panama City, Florida|Panama City]] to NE of [[Bethel, Georgia|Bethel, GA]]'''
|[[Bay County, Florida|Bay]], [[Calhoun County, Florida|Calhoun]], [[Jackson County, Florida|Jackson]], [[Seminole County, Georgia|Seminole]] (GA), [[Decatur County, Georgia|Decatur]] (GA), [[Mitchell County, Georgia|Mitchell]] (GA), [[Worth County, Georgia|Worth]] (GA), [[Turner County, Georgia|Turner]] (GA)
|1620
|168.5&nbsp;miles <br>(269.6&nbsp;km)
|'''1 death''' – This was probably a family of skipping and shorter-lived tornadoes. In Florida, 25 homes and trailers were torn apart. In Georgia, many trees were snapped and uprooted, and buildings were destroyed at an industrial park. 100 homes and 50 trailers were damaged in Georgia as well. A total of 18 people were injured.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Georgia (US State)|Georgia]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''[[Lyons, Georgia|Lyons]] area'''
|[[Toombs County, Georgia|Toombs]]
|2215
|2&nbsp;miles <br>(3.2&nbsp;km)
|A brief tornado overturned trailers and tore roofs from several homes, and businesses in the area were destroyed.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=1171}}
|}

==Blizzard==
As the [[Extratropical cyclone|storm system]] began to move northeastward out of Oklahoma, the cool air pulled down behind the system interacted with the moisture being pulled northward to produce snow over a large part of the Midwest. The snow began falling on Friday, January 10 and continued for the next two days. Snowfall of a foot (30.5&nbsp;cm) or more was common from [[Nebraska]] to Minnesota, with  {{convert|27|in|cm|0}} in [[Riverton, Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web  | author = [[National Weather Service|NWS]] – Milwaukee | title = A Century of Wisconsin Weather in Review  | url = http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/wiwx.php  | access-date = 2006-12-14 }}</ref> The heaviest snow fell to the west of the low pressure center, which tracked from northeast [[Iowa]] through central Minnesota up to [[Lake Superior]].<ref name="watson" /> Sustained winds of {{convert|30|-|50|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} with gusts from {{convert|70|-|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} produced [[snowdrift]]s up to {{convert|20|ft|m|0}} in some locations.<ref>{{cite web  | author = NWS – Duluth | title = Memorable Northland Storms  | url =  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dlh/science/event_archive/arrowhead/arrowhead_winter.php  | access-date = 2006-12-14 }}</ref>

[[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]] saw [[Visibility|visibilities]] of below {{convert|1/4|mi|km|1}} for 24 straight hours, and just east of Sioux Falls a {{convert|2,000|ft|m|adj=on}} broadcast tower collapsed under the storm's fury.<ref name=fsd>{{cite web  | author = NWS – Sioux Falls | title = Big Weather Events of the 20th Century at Sioux Falls, South Dakota  | url =  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=20thcentury  | access-date = 2006-12-14 }}</ref>  In [[Willmar, Minnesota]], 168 passengers were trapped in a stranded train for hours, unable to walk to shelter because of dangerously low [[wind chill]] values.<ref name=almanac>{{cite book | last = Seely | first = Mark W. | title = Minnesota Weather Almanac | publisher = [[Minnesota Historical Society]] press | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-87351-554-4 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/minnesotaweather0000seel }}</ref> In [[Omaha, Nebraska]] a foot (31&nbsp;cm) of snow fell, Sioux Falls saw {{convert|7|in|cm|0}}, [[Duluth, Minnesota]] saw {{convert|8|in|cm|0}}, and [[International Falls, Minnesota]] saw {{convert|24|in|cm|0}}.

Record low [[Atmospheric pressure|pressures]] were recorded in communities in Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, and [[Wisconsin]], with a low of {{convert|28.55|in|m|abbr=on}}b) in Duluth, Minnesota. Approximately 58&nbsp;people died from effects of the blizzard and over 100,000 farm animals were lost.<ref>{{cite web  | author = NWS – Sioux Falls | title = Siouxland Weather History and Trivia January  | url =  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=suxtrivia01  | access-date = 2006-12-14 }}</ref> The combination of snowfall totals, wind velocities, and cold [[temperature]]s made this one of the most severe blizzards the Upper Midwest has experienced.<ref name=fsd />

==Record events==
This storm system had, in part, a large effect on the weather in the entire eastern half of the country. A number of different weather records (at the time) were set during the four days of this storm, especially in daily high temperatures, wind gusts, low barometric pressure readings, and number of tornadoes.<ref name="amsjournal" />

===Daily high temperatures===
====January 10====
* [[Chicago]]: {{convert|60|°F|°C|abbr=on}}
* [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]: {{convert|62|°F|°C|abbr=on}}
* [[Louisville, Kentucky]]: {{convert|66|°F|°C|abbr=on}}
* [[South Bend, Indiana]]: {{convert|61|°F|°C|abbr=on}}

====January 11====
* New York City: {{convert|65|°F|°C|abbr=on}}
* [[Providence, Rhode Island]]: {{convert|61|°F|°C|abbr=on}}
* [[Washington, D.C.]]: {{convert|75|°F|°C|abbr=on}}

===Low pressure measurements===
* Duluth, Minnesota: {{convert|28.55|in|m|abbr=on}}b)
* [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]: {{convert|28.62|in|m|abbr=on}}b)
* [[Rochester, Minnesota]]: {{convert|28.67|in|m|abbr=on}}b)
* [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]: {{convert|28.86|in|m|abbr=on}}b)
* [[Rockford, Illinois]]: {{convert|28.87|in|m|abbr=on}}b)
* [[St. Louis, Missouri]]: {{convert|28.93|in|m|abbr=on}}b)

===Tornadoes===
* Most tornadoes on one day in January: 39
* Most tornadoes in the United States during January: 52

==See also==
* [[List of Minnesota weather records]]
* [[List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Sources==
*{{cite journal |first1=Ernest M.|last1=Agee|first2=Samuel|last2=Childs|title=Adjustments in Tornado Counts, F-Scale Intensity, and Path Width for Assessing Significant Tornado Destruction|journal=Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology|date=June 1, 2014|volume=53|issue=6|pages=1494–1505|doi=10.1175/JAMC-D-13-0235.1|publisher=American Meteorological Society|doi-access=free|ref={{sfnRef|Agee and Childs|2014}}}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Brooks |first1=Harold E. |author-link1=Harold E. Brooks |title=On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity |journal=[[Weather and Forecasting]] |date=April 2004 |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=310–19 |doi=10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2004WtFor..19..310B }}
*{{cite journal|last1=Cook|first1=A. R.|last2=Schaefer|first2=J. T. |title=The Relation of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to Winter Tornado Outbreaks|journal=[[Monthly Weather Review]] |date=August 2008|volume=136|issue=8|pages=3121–3137|doi=10.1175/2007MWR2171.1 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2008MWRv..136.3121C}}
*{{cite journal |first1=Roger|last1=Edwards|first2=James G.|last2=LaDue|first3=John T.|last3=Ferree|first4=Kevin|last4=Scharfenberg|first5=Chris|last5=Maier|first6=William L.|last6=Coulbourne|title=Tornado Intensity Estimation: Past, Present, and Future|journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society|date=May 1, 2013|volume=94|issue=5|pages=641–653|doi=10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00006.1|doi-access=free|publisher=American Meteorological Society|ref={{sfnRef|Edwards et al.|2013}}}}
*{{cite tech report|last=Grazulis|first=Thomas P.|author-link=Thomas P. Grazulis|date=May 1984|title=Violent Tornado Climatography, 1880–1982|series=NUREG|number=CR-3670|website=[[Office of Scientific and Technical Information|OSTI]]|institution=[[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|osti=7099491 |osti-access=free}}
**{{cite book | last = Grazulis | first = Thomas P. |title = Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989 |date=November 1990 | publisher = The Tornado Project of Environmental Films | location = [[St. Johnsbury, Vermont]] | isbn = 1-879362-02-3 |volume=2 |author-mask=1}}
**{{cite book |last1=Grazulis |first1=Thomas P. |title=Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events |date=July 1993 |publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films |location=[[St. Johnsbury, Vermont]] |isbn=1-879362-03-1 |author-mask=1}}
**{{cite book|last1=Grazulis|first1=Thomas P.|title=The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm|url=https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz|url-access=registration|date=2001a|publisher=[[University of Oklahoma Press]]|location=[[Norman, Oklahoma|Norman]]|isbn=978-0-8061-3538-0|author-mask=1}}
**{{Cite book|last=Grazulis|first=Thomas P. |title=F5-F6 Tornadoes|publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films|year=2001b |location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont|author-mask=1}}
*{{cite report|ref={{harvid|Storm Data Publication|1975}}|author=National Weather Service|date=January 1975 |title=Storm Data Publication|publisher=[[National Centers for Environmental Information]]|via=Storm Events Database|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/}}
*{{cite journal |ref={{harvid|Storm Data|1975}} |author1=[[National Weather Service]] |date=January 1975 |title=Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena |journal=[[Storm Data]] |volume=17 |issue=1 |publisher=National Climatic Data Center |location=[[Asheville, North Carolina]]|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928100731/http://www.brainerddispatch.com/history/pages/1024/1024_Blizzard_01111975.jpg Brainerd Daily Dispatch front page, January 11, 1975]

{{United States winter storms}}
{{Alabama tornado events}}
{{1975 tornado outbreaks}}

{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1975-01-09 Great Storm of 1975}}
[[Category:Blizzards in the United States]]
[[Category:F4 tornadoes by date]]
[[Category:F4 tornadoes by location| ,1975-01-09]]
[[Category:1975 meteorology]]
[[Category:1975 natural disasters in the United States]]
[[Category:Tornadoes of 1975]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Alabama]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Florida]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in Iowa]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in Omaha, Nebraska]]
[[Category:1975 in Alabama]]
[[Category:1975 in Florida]]
[[Category:1975 in Mississippi]]
[[Category:January 1975 events in North America]]