Memorial Day, anniversaries of 3 historic tornadoes

May 25, 1:05 PMJackson Weather ExaminerJohnny Kelly

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Udall, Oklahoma (F5 tornado damage) May 25, 1955

Memorial Day, May 25th, is a day to remember, recognize, and celebrate the lives of those who fought and continue to fight for the freedoms of this country and others around the world.

But also, this date marks the anniversaries of 3 historic tornadoes in United States History.

There have been 52 tornadoes, rated F5/EF5 (the strongest and most violent in destruction) since 1950, and three occurred on May 25th.

Two of these tornadoes would touch down on the same day and year (May 25, 1955) and affect 2 states.

These tornadoes formed during what is called the Great Plains Tornado Outbreak of 1955. 

The first F5 tornado hit  Blackwell, Oklahoma at approximately 9:30pm, and cut a 28 mile long, 500 yard wide, swath of destruction through the northeastern portion of the city, roughly centered in the neighborhoods surrounding Riverside Park. This tornado would kill 20 and injure 250 people. Blackwell and Udall F5 tornado tracks (Blackwell F5 Report), (Blackwell F5, 50 year anniversary dedication-2005)

 
 The second F5 tornado touched down and destroyed the city of Udall, Kansas,  just a little over a hour later at 10:35pm. This tornado tracked for more than 50 miles, creating mass devastation.  

*80 Killed            *250 injured

 (Udall Tornado Full Report)

Note:  This tornado lives on, as the deadliest tornado to ever hit the state of Kansas. 

 (Parkersburg, Iowa, (F5 tornado) May 25, 2008) 

The third F5 tornado on this date occurred just one year ago on May 25, 2008, and is known as the Parkersburg Tornado.

This powerful tornado cut a path 43 miles long and between 3/4 miles and 1.2 miles wide across Iowa, killing seven people, completely destroying 350 buildings in Parkersburg, and injuring 70 people. (A few people were killed in their basements)

Note: This tornado was the first F5 or EF5 tornado in Iowa since the Jordan, Iowa tornado of June 13, 1976, and was the second deadliest in Iowa since official record-keeping began in 1950.

 Which date holds the record for the highest number of F5 tornadoes?

On this date, (April 3rd)  9 (F5) tornadoes have occurred since 1950.

*F5 tornado (April 3, 1956) Grand Rapids, MI

*F5 tornado (April 3, 1964) Wichita Falls, TX

* The Super Outbreak of 1974, produced 7,  F5 tornadoes. (April 3, 1974 outbreak)

(4 states were affected by these destructive tornadoes (Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky)-- (April 3, 1974)

***With 7, F5 tornadoes in 1974, it holds the record for the highest number of F5 tornadoes in a year***

For more info: List of F5/EF5 since 1950