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List of tornadoes by width

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This is a list of tornadoes by their official and unofficial width. The average width of a tornado according to the National Weather Service is 50 yards (46 m).[1] The official widest tornado in history is the 2013 El Reno tornado, which a confirmed width of 2.6 miles (4.2 km), with the World Meteorological Organization believing the width could have been up to 1 mile (1.6 km) wider.[2]

List

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Width of at least 2 miles (3.2 km)

[edit]
List of tornadoes with a width of at least 2 miles (3.2 km)
Tornado F#/EF#/IF# Width Rated by
1810 Georgia Tornado FU 6.0 miles (9.7 km) Chatfield, Ludlum
A tornado that devastated homes and forests in Laurens County, Georgia was "considered to be 6 miles (9.7 km) in width".[3]
1999 Mulhall tornado F4 4.3 miles (6.9 km) NWS Norman, CSWR, Wurman, OU, Penn State
Officially, this tornado was just over 1 mile (1.6 km) wide. A Doppler on Wheels (DOW) mobile radar observed this tornado as it crossed Mulhall. The DOW documented the largest-ever-observed core flow circulation with a distance of 1,600 m (5,200 ft) between peak velocities on either side of the tornado, and a roughly 7 km (4.3 mi) width of peak wind gusts exceeding 43 m/s (96 mph), making the Mulhall tornado the largest tornado ever measured quantitatively.[4]
1946 Timber Lake tornado FU 4.0 miles (6.4 km) USWB
The United States Weather Bureau published in 1946 stating the width of the tornado was 4 miles (6.4 km), which would make this the widest tornado ever officially documented in history. However, this is outside the period of reliable documentation accepted by the modern National Weather Service, which is 1950–present.[5]
2013 El Reno tornado EF3 2.6 miles (4.2 km) NWS Norman, OU
This is officially the widest tornado to ever occur, with a width of 2.6 miles (4.2 km) at its peak. This is the width found by the National Weather Service based on preliminary data from University of Oklahoma RaXPol mobile radar that also sampled winds of 296 mph (476 km/h), which was used to upgrade the tornado to EF5.[6] However, it was revealed that these winds did not impact any structures, and as a result the tornado was downgraded to EF3 based on damage.[7]
1984 Maxton–Red Springs tornado F4 2.5 miles (4.0 km) NWS Wilmington, NC
The National Weather Service in Wilmington, North Carolina stated this tornado was 2.5 miles (4.0 km) at a point in time.[8]
2004 Hallam tornado F4 2.5 miles (4.0 km) NWS Omaha/Valley
Prior to the 2013 El Reno tornado, this tornado held the official record as the widest tornado to ever occur.[9][10]
2016 Jiangsu tornado EF4 2.5 miles (4.0 km) CMA, OU, NJU, Weathernews Inc.
This tornado is the widest tornado to ever occur in China and officially is tied as the 2nd widest tornado in history.[11]
1896 Seneca–Oneida tornado F5 2–2.5 miles (3.2–4.0 km) National Weather Service Wichita, Kansas
The tornado averaged 1 mi (1.6 km) mile in width, but expanded significantly to between 2 mi (3.2 km) and 2.5 mi (4.0 km) as it approached Reserve, Kansas, where all but three buildings were damaged or destroyed.[12]
2020 Bassfield–Soso tornado EF4 2.25 miles (3.62 km) NWS Jackson, MS
This tornado was documented by the National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi to have been 2.25 miles (3.62 km) wide, setting the record as the widest tornado to occur in the state of Mississippi.[13]
1935 Melbourne tornado F0 2.239 miles (3.603 km) BoM
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) documented that this weak tornado was 3,603 metres (2.239 mi; 3.603 km) wide.[14]
2007 Trousdale tornado EF3 2.2 miles (3.5 km) NWS Dodge City
The high-end EF3 tornado had a recorded width of 2.2 miles (3.5 km).[15]
2021 South Moravia tornado F4/IF4 2.2 miles (3.5 km) ESSL, CHMI, CUNI, Meteopress, SHMU, CU, Geosphere, Austrocontrol, BUT
This tornado reached a maximum width of 2.2 miles (3.5 km), setting the record as the widest tornado to ever occur in the Czech Republic and in Europe.[16][17]
1456 Italy Tornado FU 2.0 miles (3.2 km) Chatfield, Machiavelli
A tornado that grew up to 2 miles (3.2 km) wide started as a waterspout off the coast of Italy, came ashore near Ancona, and traveled across the entire country moving from east to west before retreating back into the ocean on the opposite side of the country near Pisa.[18] Niccolò Machiavelli writes a very detailed description of this storm in his book Florentine Histories.[19]
2008 Pardeeville tornado EF2 2.0 miles (3.2 km) NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan
This tornado was extremely wide since the thunderstorm cloud base was very low and the mesocyclone that is usually aloft was well-formed all the way to the ground. Within a broad 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 km) wide area of EF0 to EF1 damage, there were several small swaths of EF2 damage due to multiple vortices.[20]
1967 Belvidere tornado F4 2.0 miles (3.2 km) NWS Chicago
The widest significant tornado recorded in the Chicago collar counties. 24 deaths and 500 injuries.[21]

Width of 1–2 miles (1.6–3.2 km)

[edit]
List of tornadoes with a width of at least 1 mile (1.6 km)
Tornado F#/EF#/IF# Width Rated by
1902 Javaugues tornado F3/EF3 1.864 miles (3.000 km) ESSL, Keraunos, TORRO
This tornado reached a maximum width of 3,280 yards (1.86 mi; 3.00 km), setting the record as the widest tornado ever occurred in France while moving along an unusual northwestward path.[22][23]
2024 Decatur, Arkansas tornado EF3 1.82 miles (2.93 km) NWS Tulsa
This tornado reached a maximum width of 3,200 yards (1.8 mi; 2.9 km). [24]
1947 Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornado F5 1.8 miles (2.9 km) NWS Norman
Widest tornado in Texas and deadliest tornado in Oklahoma.[25]
2007 Greensburg tornado EF5 1.7 miles (2.7 km) NWS Dodge City
This tornado reached a maximum width of 3,000 yards (1.7 mi; 2.7 km).[26]
2024 Rogers, Arkansas tornado EF2 1.7 miles (2.7 km) NWS Tulsa
This tornado reached a maximum width of 3,000 yards (1.7 mi; 2.7 km). [27]
2011 Vilonia tornado EF2 1.65 miles (2.66 km) NWS Little Rock
This tornado reached a maximum width of 2,900 yards (1.6 mi; 2.7 km).[28]
1625 Toropets tornado F4 1.553 miles (2.499 km) ESSL
This long-tracked tornado reached a maximum width of 2,730 yards (1.55 mi; 2.50 km), setting the record as the widest tornado ever occurred in Russia.[29]
1967 Pommereuil tornado F4/EF4 1.553 miles (2.499 km) ESSL, Keraunos
This tornado reached a maximum width of 2,730 yards (1.55 mi; 2.50 km).[30]
2011 Central Alabama tornado EF4 1.5 miles (2.4 km) NWS Birmingham
A large tornado moved across Alabama, reaching a maximum width of 1.5 miles (2.4 km).[31]
2011 Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado EF4 1.48 miles (2.38 km) NWS Birmingham
This tornado reached a maximum width of 2,600 yards (1.5 mi; 2.4 km) and was the costliest tornado ever before the Joplin tornado.[32]
2021 Western Kentucky tornado EF4 1.48 miles (2.38 km) NWS Paducah, Marshall, NWS Omaha
This long-tracked tornado reached a maximum width of 2,600 yards (1.5 mi; 2.4 km).[33]
2013 Wayne tornado EF4 1.38 miles (2.22 km) NWS
A large and violent tornado hit Nebraska, reaching a maximum width of 2,429 yards (2.221 km).[34]
2010 Bolotovo tornado F3 1.3 miles (2.1 km) ESSL
This tornado reached a maximum width of 2,300 yards (1.3 mi; 2.1 km).[35]
2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado EF5 1.25 miles (2.01 km) NWS Huntsville
This tornado reached a maximum width of 2,200 yards (1.3 mi; 2.0 km) while at peak EF5 intensity.[36]
1795 Vidzeme region tornado FU 1.24 miles (2.00 km) ESSL
The widest Latvian tornado with a maximum width of 2,187 yards (1.243 mi; 2.000 km).[37]
1836 Polack tornado F3 1.24 miles (2.00 km) ESSL
The widest Belarussian tornado with a maximum width of 2,187 yards (1.243 mi; 2.000 km).[38]
1862 Żerków tornado F4 1.24 miles (2.00 km) ESSL
This tornado reached a maximum width of 2,187 yards (1.243 mi; 2.000 km).[39]
1924 Pilisvörösvár tornado F4 1.24 miles (2.00 km) ESSL
The widest tornado in Hungary with a maximum width of 2,187 yards (1.243 mi; 2.000 km). Suspected to be an F5.[40]
2003 Jemielnica tornado F3 1.24 miles (2.00 km) ESSL
This tornado reached a maximum width of 2,187 yards (1.243 mi; 2.000 km) and tied with Żerków tornado as the widest tornado ever occurred in Poland.[41]
2008 Lakhoma tornado F2 1.24 miles (2.00 km) ESSL
This northwestward-moving tornado reached a maximum width of 2,187 yards (1.243 mi; 2.000 km).[42]
2007 Hopewell tornado EF3 1.199 miles (1.930 km) NWS Dodge City
The high-end EF3 tornado had a recorded width of 2,110 yards (1.20 mi; 1.93 km).[43]
2013 Moore tornado EF5 1.1 miles (1.8 km) NWS Norman, OU, Marshall
This tornado reached a maximum width of 1,900 yards (1.1 mi; 1.7 km).[44]
2023 Jonesboro tornado EF2 1.095 miles (1.762 km) NWS Shreveport
This tornado reached a maximum width of 1,928 yards (1.095 mi; 1.763 km).[45]
1984 Bolshoe Sartovo tornado F3 1.080 miles (1.738 km) ESSL, Chernokulsky, Shikhov[46]
This tornado reached a maximum width of 1,903 yards (1.081 mi; 1.740 km).[47]
1888 Bermuda Waterspout FU 1.0 mile (1.6 km) Chatfield
The steamship Avon reported a waterspout off the coast of Bermuda that was at least 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.[48]
2007 Svetlogorsk tornado F2 1.0 mile (1.6 km) ESSL
This tornado reached a maximum width of 1,760 yards (1.00 mi; 1.61 km).[49]
2011 Joplin tornado EF5 1.0 mile (1.6 km) NWS Springfield
This tornado reached a maximum width of 1,760 yards (1.00 mi; 1.61 km) and holds the record as the costliest tornado ever.[50]
2011 El Reno–Piedmont tornado EF5 1.0 mile (1.6 km) NWS Norman
This tornado reached a maximum width of 1,760 yards (1.00 mi; 1.61 km).[51]
2012 Bol'nitsa tornado F3 1.0 mile (1.6 km) ESSL
This tornado reached a maximum width of 1,760 yards (1.00 mi; 1.61 km).[52]
2013 Krutoy Log tornado F3 1.0 mile (1.6 km) ESSL
This tornado reached a maximum width of 1,760 yards (1.00 mi; 1.61 km).[53]
2024 Custer City tornado EF2 1.0 mile (1.6 km) NWS Norman
This multi-vortex EF2 tornado, which prompted a tornado emergency for Custer County, Oklahoma,[54] was accompanied by significant rear flank downdraft winds exceeding 100 mph (160 km/h), with the total path width being 2.7 miles (4.3 km) wide. A Ka-POL doppler radar, operated by Texas Tech University, recorded a wind speed of 87.9 m/s (197 mph; 316 km/h) while verifying the tornado's actual width.[55]
2024 Spaulding–Holdenville tornado EF3 1.0 mile (1.6 km) NWS Norman
This tornado reached a maximum width of 1,760 yards (1.00 mi; 1.61 km).[56]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ National Weather Service. "tornadoes FAQ". Louisville, Kentucky: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  2. ^ World Meteorological Organization (2016). "Tornado: Widest Tornado (maximum diameter)". Arizona State University. United Nations. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  3. ^ Ludlum, D.M. (1970). Early American Tornadoes 1586-1870. American Meteorological Society.
  4. ^ Wurman, Joshua; C. Alexander; P. Robinson; Y. Richardson (January 2007). "Low-Level Winds in Tornadoes and Potential Catastrophic Tornado Impacts in Urban Areas". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 88 (1). American Meteorological Society: 31–46. Bibcode:2007BAMS...88...31W. doi:10.1175/BAMS-88-1-31.
  5. ^ "Severe Local Storms for April 1946". Monthly Weather Review. 74 (4): 73. 1 April 1946. Bibcode:1946MWRv...74...73.. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1946)074<0073:SLSFA>2.0.CO;2.
  6. ^ "The May 31 – June 1, 2013 Tornado and Flash Flooding Event". National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Event Details". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  8. ^ National Weather Service. "Carolinas Tornado Outbreak: March 28, 1984". Wilmington, North Carolina: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Hallam Nebraska Tornado May 2004". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  10. ^ "U.S. News: Breaking News Photos, & Videos on the United States".
  11. ^ Meng, Zhiyong; Bai, Lanqiang; Zhang, Murong; Wu, Zhifang; Li, Zhaohui; Pu, Meijuan; Zheng, Yongguang; Wang, Xiaohua; Yao, Dan; Xue, Ming; Zhao, Kun; Li, Zhaoming; Peng, Siqi; Li, Liye (1 June 2018). "The Deadliest Tornado (EF4) in the Past 40 Years in China". Weather and Forecasting. 33 (3). American Meteorological Society: 693–713. Bibcode:2018WtFor..33..693M. doi:10.1175/WAF-D-17-0085.1. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Top Ten KS Tornadoes". National Weather Service Wichita, Kansas.
  13. ^ National Weather Service (13 May 2020). "2020 Easter Sunday Outbreak". Jackson, Mississippi: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Tornado ID: 422". Bureau of Meteorology. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  15. ^ National Centers for Environmental Information; National Weather Service (2007). "Kansas Event Report: EF3 Tornado". Storm Events Database. Dodge City, Kansas: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  16. ^ Púčik, Tomáš; Rýva, David; Staněk, Miloslav; Šinger, Miroslav; Groenemeijer, Pieter; Pistotnik, Georg; Kaltenberger, Rainer; Zich, Miloš; Koláček, Jan; Holzer, Alois (July 2024). "The Violent Tornado on 24 June 2021 in Czechia: Damage Survey, Societal Impacts, and Lessons Learned". Weather, Climate, and Society. 16 (3). American Meteorological Society: 411–429. Bibcode:2024WCS....16..411P. doi:10.1175/WCAS-D-23-0080.1. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  17. ^ "European Severe Weather Database". eswd.eu. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  18. ^ "Waterspouts". The Gallery of Natural Phenomena. Chris Chatfield. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  19. ^ "A description of a tornado from Machiavelli's 'History of Florence'". Bogdan Antonescu. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Wisconsin Event Report: EF2 Tornado". Storm Events Database. National Center for Environmental Information. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  21. ^ Significant Tornadoes in the Chicago Metropolitan Area (PDF) (Report). National Weather Service Chicago, Illinois. October 2022.
  22. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  23. ^ "TORRO | Research ~ Tornadoes ~ Extremes". www.torro.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  24. ^ {{cite web |author1=Noaa Damage Assessment Toolkit|
  25. ^ "The Woodward Tornado of 9 April 1947". National Weather Service Norman, Oklahoma.
  26. ^ National Weather Service (2007). "Kansas Event Report: EF5 Tornado". Storm Events Database. Dodge City, Kansas: National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  27. ^ {{cite web |author1=Noaa Damage Assessment Toolkit|
  28. ^ National Weather Service (2011). "Arkansas Event Report: EF2 Tornado". Storm Events Database. Little Rock, Arkansas: National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  29. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  30. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Cordova (Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Walker and Blount Counties) EF-4 Tornado April 27, 2011". National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. August 23, 2011. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  32. ^ {{cite web |author1=National Weather Service
  33. ^ National Weather Service (March 2022). "Kentucky Event Report: EF3 Tornado". Storm Events Database. Paducah, Kentucky: National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  34. ^ "Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  35. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  36. ^ National Weather Service (2017). "EF5 Tornado Track: Franklin(AL) to Franklin(TN)". Huntsville, Alabama: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  37. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  38. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  39. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  40. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  41. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  42. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  43. ^ "Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  44. ^ Tim Marshall; Kiel Ortega (February 5, 2014). "Damage Survey and Analysis of the 20 May 2013 Newcastle-Moore, OK, EF-5 Tornado". American Meteorological Society. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  45. ^ National Weather Service in Shreveport, Louisiana (2023). Louisiana Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  46. ^ Chernokulsky, Alexander; Shikhov, Andrey (2018-07-15). "1984 Ivanovo tornado outbreak: Determination of actual tornado tracks with satellite data". Atmospheric Research. 207: 111–121. Bibcode:2018AtmRe.207..111C. doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2018.02.011. ISSN 0169-8095. S2CID 125778632.
  47. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  48. ^ "Waterspouts". The Gallery of Natural Phenomena. Chris Chatfield. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  49. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  50. ^ National Weather Service in Springfield, Missouri (17 April 2021). "Commemoration of Joplin, Missouri EF-5 Tornado" (StoryMap). ArcGIS StoryMaps. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  51. ^ "The May 24, 2011 Tornado Outbreak in Oklahoma". National Weather Service. NOAA. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  52. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  53. ^ European Severe Storms Laboratory. "European Severe Weather Database". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  54. ^ "IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App". mesonet.agron.iastate.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  55. ^ "Storm Events Database". National Centers for Environmental Information.
  56. ^ National Weather Service (2024). "The April 27–28, 2024 Tornado Outbreak and Flash Flooding Event". Norman, Oklahoma: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
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