1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak facts for kids

The 1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak was a very dangerous series of tornadoes that hit parts of the United States on June 22–23, 1944. These powerful storms struck the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Many people at the time thought these areas, especially Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland, were safe from tornadoes. However, this outbreak proved them wrong.

One town hit especially hard was Shinnston in Harrison County, West Virginia. A super strong F4 tornado destroyed much of the town on June 23. This single tornado caused 30 deaths in Shinnston. Across West Virginia, this tornado and two other powerful ones killed at least 104 people. The 1944 Appalachians tornado outbreak is still the deadliest tornado event ever recorded in West Virginia. The Shinnston tornado was also the only tornado in West Virginia's history to cause such extreme F4 damage.

What is a Tornado Outbreak?

A tornado outbreak happens when several tornadoes form from the same large storm system. These outbreaks can affect many states and cause a lot of damage. The 1944 Appalachians outbreak was a major example of this.

Tornadoes Confirmed in the Outbreak

At least seven tornadoes were confirmed during this outbreak. Many of them were very strong. The Fujita scale (F-scale) is used to rate tornado strength. F0 is the weakest, and F5 is the strongest. This outbreak included three F3 tornadoes and three F4 tornadoes.

The Dangerous Day: June 23, 1944

Most of the powerful tornadoes hit on June 23. Here's a look at some of the most impactful ones:

Pennsylvania's Long-Tracked Tornado

• Location: From Rural Valley to Twin Rocks, Pennsylvania.
• Strength: F3
• Path Length: About 30 miles (48 km).
• Impact: This tornado damaged around 50 homes and farms. It destroyed 15 homes in Indiana County and killed two people. The total damage cost about $2 million in 1944 money.

Ohio's Farm Tornado

• Location: South of Edinburg to south of Palmyra, Ohio.
• Strength: F2
• Path Length: About 8 miles (13 km).
• Impact: Two farmhouses were almost destroyed, and eight others were damaged. The tornado also killed farm animals and damaged barns.

The Wellsburg to Oakland Tornado Family

• Location: From Wellsburg, West Virginia, through parts of Pennsylvania, to north of Oakland, Maryland.
• Strength: F4
• Path Length: About 85 miles (137 km). This was likely a series of tornadoes from the same storm.
• Impact: This was one of the outbreak's most deadly tornadoes. It started in Wellsburg, damaging 20 homes. It then moved into Pennsylvania, killing 22 people in Greene County. In the mining town of Chartiers, 53 homes were flattened, and 10 people died. Another 8 people died in Dry Tavern. In total, 86 homes were destroyed in Pennsylvania. The storm then crossed into Maryland, killing three people and injuring 25. This tornado was the deadliest in Pennsylvania's history, causing 26 deaths there.

Pittsburgh Area Tornado

• Location: South of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to northwest of Somerset, Pennsylvania.
• Strength: F4
• Path Length: About 50 miles (80 km).
• Impact: This major tornado hit areas near Pittsburgh. It killed 17 people in Allegheny County, mainly in towns like Dravosburg and McKeesport. It destroyed nearly 88 homes and damaged 306 others. Many buildings were flattened. More than 400 other structures were damaged or destroyed. The tornado also destroyed homes near Donegal and Somerset. About 200 people were injured.

The Shinnston Tornado: West Virginia's Deadliest

• Location: From northwest of Wyatt to Shinnston to Cheat Mountain, West Virginia.
• Strength: F4
• Path Length: About 60 miles (97 km).
• Impact: This was the deadliest tornado of the entire outbreak. It touched down around 8:30 p.m. EDT. It quickly grew wider, reaching about 1 mile (1.6 km) across. It killed three people in Joetown. Then it hit Shinnston, devastating the "Pleasant Hill" area. About 30 people died in Shinnston. The tornado was so strong it peeled bark off trees, broke a steel radio tower, and moved vehicles almost 100 feet (30 meters). A large gas plant was also destroyed. In Taylor County, nine more people died, including seven from one family. The tornado caused more deaths near Meadowville and Philippi. The total death toll for this single tornado was at least 100 people, with some sources saying 103. About 381 people were injured.

Thomas, West Virginia Tornado

• Location: Thomas, West Virginia.
• Strength: F3
• Path Length: About 1 mile (1.6 km).
• Impact: This tornado damaged or destroyed around 50 homes and killed three people.

Maryland and Delaware Tornado

• Location: From Cambridge, Maryland, to Delmar, Delaware.
• Strength: F3
• Path Length: About 28 miles (45 km). This might have been a tornado family.
• Impact: This storm destroyed a gas station, two barns, three warehouses, and 13 homes in Cambridge, Maryland. Two people died there. Damages in Cambridge reached $1 million (1944 USD). As it moved into Delaware, it caused less damage, mainly breaking windows and chimneys.

See also

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks