1912 |
112 yrs ago |
Kiowa–Canadian County, Oklahoma |
2009 fatalities |
This tornado is only listed as an F5 by the NCDC memorandum, and is not listed at all by Grazulis or any other sources, and is therefore a possible typographical error in the memorandum. |
Listed as an F5/EF5 on the 2000 NCDC tornado climatology memo |
1971 |
53 yrs ago |
Gosser Ridge, Kentucky |
2022 fatalities |
Most buildings on a farm were swept away. Listed as a "questionable" F5 in the NCDC Tech Memo. Was F4 according to Grazulis and official records. |
Listed as an F5/EF5 on the 2000 NCDC tornado climatology memo |
2011 |
13 yrs ago |
Smithville, Mississippi |
2001 fatalities |
April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak – Numerous well-built, anchor-bolted brick homes were swept away, including one that had part of its concrete slab foundation pulled up and dislodged slightly. An SUV was thrown half a mile into the top of the town's water tower. In the most intense damage area, all plumbing and appliances at home-sites were "shredded or missing." Chip and tar pavement was torn from road, and a pickup truck that was thrown from one home was never recovered. A large brick funeral home was reduced to a bare slab, and extensive wind-rowing of debris occurred next to the foundation. Outside town, the ground was deeply scoured in an open field. Additionally, numerous trees and low shrubbery were debarked and shredded. |
Official F5/EF5; undisputed |
2011 |
13 yrs ago |
Hackleburg–Phil Campbell, Alabama |
1952 fatalities |
2011 Hackleburg – Phil Campbell, Alabama tornado – This was the deadliest tornado in Alabama state history. Numerous homes, some of which were large, well-built, and anchor-bolted were swept away. Debris from some obliterated homes was scattered and wind-rowed well away from the foundations. One home that was swept away had its concrete stemwalls sheared off at ground level. Vehicles were thrown at least 200 yd (183 m), and at least one large vehicle that was missing after the tornado was never located. Hundreds of trees were completely debarked and twisted, and in some cases were reduced only to stubs. Pavement was scoured from roads as well, a large industrial plant was leveled to the ground, and a restaurant that was swept away had a small portion of its foundation slab torn apart. |
Official F5/EF5; undisputed |
2011 |
13 yrs ago |
Philadelphia–Preston, Mississippi |
2021 fatalities |
April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak – Was rated EF5 based upon extreme ground scouring. The tornado dug a trench 2 ft (0.61 m) deep into a pasture, leaving nothing but large clumps of dirt and bare topsoil behind. A tied-down mobile home was lofted through the air and carried 300 yd (274 m), with no indication of contact with the ground. Several vehicles were tossed hundreds of yards and wrapped around trees.Pavement was scoured from roads as well, and extreme debarking and denuding of trees occurred, some of which were ripped out of the ground and thrown up to 20 yards away. |
Official F5/EF5; undisputed |
2011 |
13 yrs ago |
Tuscaloosa–Birmingham, Alabama |
1960 fatalities |
2011 Tuscaloosa – Birmingham tornado – Disagreement as to final ranking, officially rated high-end EF4, but one survey team awarded EF5 damage. Large section of an apartment building was swept completely away, along with a clubhouse on the property. A manhole cover was removed from a drain and thrown into a ravine. A 34-tonne (74,957 lb) railroad trestle support structure was thrown 100 ft (30 m) up a hill, and a 35.8-tonne (78,925 lb) coal car was thrown 391 ft (119 m) through the air. |
Officially ranked below F5/EF5, but rating is disputed; event may have been F5/EF5 |
2011 |
13 yrs ago |
Rainsville–Sylvania, Alabama |
1999 fatalities |
April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak – Many homes were swept away, some of which had their concrete porches torn away and shattered, with debris strewn up to a mile away from the foundations in some cases. A few of the homes were bolted to their foundations. An 800-pound (363 kg) safe was ripped from its anchors and thrown 600 ft (183 m), and its door was ripped from its frame. Ground scouring occurred, and sidewalk pavement was pulled up. A pickup truck was tossed 250 yd (750 ft) and torn apart. An underground storm shelter had much of its dirt covering scoured away and was heaved slightly out of the ground, and pavement was scoured from roads. One well-built stone house was completely obliterated, and a stone pillar was ripped completely out of the ground at that residence, pulling up a section of house foundation in the process. |
Official F5/EF5; undisputed |
2014 |
10 yrs ago |
Vilonia, Arkansas |
2008 fatalities |
April 27–30, 2014 tornado outbreak – Officially rated high-end EF4, though the rating was a major source of controversy, and meteorlogist/civil engineer Timothy P. Marshall noted that the rating assigned was "lower-bound", and also noted "the possibility that EF5 winds could have occurred" despite the structural flaws responsible for the EF4 rating. Numerous homes were swept completely away with only bare slabs left, including one that was well-bolted to its foundation, and extensive wind-rowing of debris occurred. Trees were completely debarked and denuded, shrubs were stripped and debarked, and vehicles were thrown hundreds of yards and mangled. A large 29,998-pound metal fertilizer tank was found approximately 3/4 of a mile away from where it originated. Extensive ground scouring occurred as well. |
Officially ranked below F5/EF5, but rating is disputed; event may have been F5/EF5 |