1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak

The F4 tornado that struck Midway, Indiana, between Goshen and Dunlap
Meteorological history
Duration	April 10–12, 1965
Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes	55 confirmed
Maximum rating	F4 tornado
Duration	1 day and 16 hours
Highest gust	Non-tornadic – 80 mph (130 km/h) at three locations on April 11
Overall effects
Fatalities	266 fatalities
Injuries	3,662 injuries
Damage	$1.217 billion (1965 USD) $11.3 billion (2022 USD)
Areas affected	Southern and Midwestern United States (Upland South, Driftless Area, and Great Lakes region, primarily Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan)
Part of the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1965

The 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak was a huge weather event that hit the central and southeastern United States. It happened from April 10 to 12, 1965. This event created 55 confirmed tornadoes in just over a day. The worst part of the storm took place on the afternoon of April 11 and continued into the night.

This series of deadly tornadoes caused a lot of damage. It stretched from Iowa to Ohio, and was about 450 miles long (724 km) from Michigan to Indiana. The main part of the outbreak lasted for about 16 and a half hours. It was one of the strongest tornado outbreaks ever recorded. It even included at least four "double/twin funnel" tornadoes. In total, 266 people lost their lives, 3,662 were injured, and the damage cost about $1.217 billion in 1965 money.

In 2023, a tornado expert named Thomas P. Grazulis created a way to rank tornado outbreaks. It is called the outbreak intensity score (OIS). The 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak received an OIS of 238. This makes it the fourth-worst tornado outbreak in recorded history.

How the Storms Formed

A very strong storm system formed over the Dakotas on April 11, 1965. This system was the main reason for the severe weather. The day before, a powerful jet stream high in the sky moved across the southern Great Plains. This caused tornadoes from the Kansas–Missouri border to Central Arkansas. One very strong F4 tornado hit Conway, killing six people and injuring 200.

On the morning of April 11, weather balloons showed very fast winds high above the deserts. At the same time, a warm front met a smaller weather system. This created isolated thunderstorms from northern Missouri to Michigan.

Weather map showing conditions high in the atmosphere on April 11, 1965

The storm system over the Great Plains grew stronger as it moved into Iowa. A warm front moved across Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. A cold front with very dry air followed behind it. Strong winds carried this dry air eastward. This made the air unstable where the sun was shining. Temperatures reached 83 to 85 °F (28 to 29 °C) from Chicago to St. Louis.

At the same time, a strong low-level jet stream brought moist air northward. This moist air reached southern Illinois and Indiana by 10:00 a.m. CDT. Weather stations showed very strong winds changing direction with height. This created perfect conditions for powerful supercell thunderstorms to form.

Weather map showing conditions on the ground late on April 11, 1965

Weather balloons recorded winds of 185 mph (298 km/h) high in the sky over Dodge City, Kansas. Another balloon in Peoria, Illinois, measured 135 kn (155 mph; 250 km/h). By mid-afternoon, moist air reached as far north as southern Michigan.

The unstable air led to thunderstorms over eastern Iowa by 1:40 p.m. CDT. The first supercell produced the day's first tornado. By 6:00 p.m. CDT, the air was extremely unstable over Indiana and southern Michigan. Record-breaking wind shear (winds changing speed and direction with height) helped create long-lasting mesocyclones. These are rotating updrafts within thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes.

The very strong wind shear and fast-moving storms (up to 70 mph (110 km/h)) helped create many supercells. This also led to reports of multiple tornadoes at once, like the famous "twin tornadoes" near Elkhart. Similar conditions caused the Tri-State Tornado in 1925, which was the longest and deadliest tornado in U.S. history.

Weather map showing the low-pressure system over the Midwestern United States on April 11

At 11:45 a.m. CDT on April 11, the Severe Local Storms Unit (SELS) in Kansas City, Missouri, issued a forecast. It warned about possible tornadoes from northeastern Missouri to northern Indiana. At 2:00 p.m. CDT, just fifteen minutes after the first tornado was seen, the first tornado watch was issued. It covered parts of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. A total of four watches were issued that day.

For the first time ever, an entire U.S. Weather Bureau office area, in Northern Indiana, was under a tornado warning. This was called a "blanket tornado warning." It was later used again by other National Weather Service (NWS) offices during the 1974 Super Outbreak.

Confirmed Tornadoes and Their Paths

The Wakarusa–Goshen–Midway–Middlebury Tornado (Indiana)

Wakarusa–Northern Goshen–Midway–Middlebury, Indiana

The tornado showing its famous double funnels as it hit the Midway Trailer Court. Debris can be seen flying.
Meteorological history
Duration	42 minutes
Formed	April 11, 5:15 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
F4 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds	207–260 mph (333–418 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities	31
Injuries	252
Areas affected	Wakarusa, Goshen, Midway, Middlebury

This was one of the most famous tornadoes of the Palm Sunday outbreak. It is remembered for being the first of two F4 tornadoes to hit the Dunlap (Elkhart)–Goshen area. It started near the St. Joseph–Elkhart County border. It moved northeast, hitting Wakarusa and causing serious damage.

The tornado grew much stronger as it moved towards northern Goshen and the Midway Trailer Court. A reporter, Paul Huffman, took six photographs as the tornado approached. His pictures showed the storm turning into twin funnels as it hit the trailer park. Each funnel spun around a central point, but they created only one path of damage.

The tornado struck the trailer park at 6:32 p.m. CDT. It destroyed about 80% of the trailer park, and 10 people died there. It also caused F4 damage to many homes near Middlebury, some of which were completely swept away. Three more people died in the Middlebury area before the tornado ended. An airplane wing from Goshen Airport was found 35 miles (56 km) away in Centreville, Michigan.

The Orland–Coldwater Lake–Manitou Beach Tornadoes (Indiana/Michigan)

Orland, Indiana/Coldwater Lake–Southern Hillsdale–Manitou Beach–Devils Lake–Southern Tecumseh, Michigan (two tornadoes)

Destruction in the Coldwater area after the F4 tornadoes of April 11, 1965
Overall effects
Fatalities	44
Injuries	587
Damage	$32 million (1965 USD) $297 million (2022 USD)
Tornado family
Tornadoes	2
Maximum rating	F4 tornado
Duration	2 hours, 48 minutes

Because telephone lines were down, emergency services in Elkhart County, Indiana, could not warn Michigan residents. The radar operator in Detroit saw the storms moving fast towards Michigan. Most of the southern counties of Michigan were hit.

The first of two massive F4 tornadoes started just south of the Indiana-Michigan border, near Orland. It ripped bark off trees and flattened homes on the shore of Lake Pleasant. As it crossed into Michigan, it damaged more homes. The tornado was up to 1 mile (1.6 km) wide as it destroyed homes on Coldwater Lake. 18 people died there.

The tornado then widened to 2 miles (3.2 km) across. It destroyed an old farmhouse and killed a family of six near Reading. It then narrowed to 1 mile (1.6 km) as it hit Baw Beese Lake, near Hillsdale. The tornado even threw a freight train into the lake. Across Hillsdale County, 11 or more people died, and 177 homes were destroyed.

Entering Lenawee County, the tornado approached Manitou Beach–Devils Lake. It destroyed the Manitou Beach Baptist Church. Eight people died in the church, as many were attending Palm Sunday services. About 30 minutes later, a second F4 tornado hit the same area. This caused more deaths, including a family of six who had survived the first tornado. Many homes were hit twice.

One or both F4 tornadoes also struck the village of Milan, Michigan. The Wolverine Plastics building, a major employer, was destroyed. The Milan Junior High School was also seriously damaged. Total damage from these two tornadoes was $32 million. More than 550 homes, a church, and 100 cottages were destroyed.

The Southern Elkhart–Dunlap Tornado (Indiana)

Southern Elkhart–Dunlap, Indiana

Aerial view of the Sunnyside subdivision in Dunlap, Indiana, after the F4 tornado of April 11, 1965.
F4 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Overall effects
Fatalities	36
Injuries	321

Map showing tornado paths over Northern Indiana, Southern Michigan, and Northwest Ohio. The colors show their strength on the Fujita scale.

This was the second and deadliest of two powerful tornadoes to hit the Elkhart–Goshen area. It caused the most deaths from a single tornado in the outbreak. It struck Dunlap about an hour after another F4 tornado hit the Midway trailer park. Few people received warnings because the earlier storm had cut off communications and power. This also made rescue efforts harder.

The Dunlap tornado first caused tree damage west of State Road 331. It claimed its first two lives before crossing into Elkhart County. As it neared Dunlap, it became extremely violent. It completely destroyed the Sunnyside Housing addition and the Sunnyside Mennonite Church. Many homes in the Sunnyside subdivision were swept away. The Kingston Heights subdivision was also devastated.

28 people died in these two subdivisions. Another six were killed. The Palm Sunday Tornado Memorial Park now stands near this location. After hitting Dunlap, the tornado seemed to weaken, but still caused widespread damage eastward. Before it ended, it threw cars off the Indiana Turnpike. Like the Midway tornado, the Dunlap event was also seen as twin funnels. Some experts believe this tornado might have been an F5, even though it is officially rated F4.

The Russiaville–Kokomo–Greentown–Marion Tornado (Indiana)

Russiaville–Alto–Southern Kokomo–Greentown–Southern Marion, Indiana

Aerial view of Alto, Indiana, following the F4 tornado of April 11, 1965.
F4 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Overall effects
Fatalities	25
Injuries	835
Damage	$500.025 million (1965 USD)

As one tornado ended, a new, rapidly strengthening tornado developed nearby. This new tornado hit Russiaville at about 7:28 p.m. CDT. It caused severe damage to almost the entire community. The tornado was about 3⁄4-mile-wide (1.2 km) and destroyed or damaged 90% of Russiaville.

The tornado then widened to 1 mile (1.6 km) across as it moved into Alto. It caused F4-level damage to homes there. Then it struck the southern edge of Kokomo. In Alto and Kokomo, the tornado destroyed 100 homes. The Maple Crest apartment complex lost its roof and its top walls collapsed.

As the tornado continued east, it grew stronger. It killed ten people in Greentown, many of whom were in cars. The tornado destroyed 80 homes in Greentown, sweeping many away. In total, 18 people died and 600 were injured in Howard County alone. South of Swayzee, the tornado flattened more homes and caused three more deaths.

When it hit the southern edge of Marion, the tornado leveled two homes. It partly unroofed a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. It also wrecked the Panorama shopping center. 20 people were injured at the VA hospital. Several homes were destroyed and hundreds damaged in Marion. The tornado killed five people as it moved through Grant County. The total cost of damage was $500.025 million.

Other Storm Effects

Before the tornadoes, a strong line of thunderstorms caused severe winds from eastern Iowa to Illinois. Winds reached 70 kn (81 mph; 130 km/h) in Dixon, Illinois. An anemometer (wind speed measuring device) at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago recorded 60 kn (69 mph; 110 km/h).

These strong winds, along with hail, damaged many buildings. They also knocked down trees and power lines. Many funnel clouds were seen across Northern Illinois. Thunderstorms also produced hail up to 2 in (5.1 cm) in diameter. This large hail fell in many states, from South Dakota to Georgia, during the outbreak.

Aftermath and Recovery Efforts

Damage in Toledo, Ohio, after the F4 tornado on April 11, 1965

In the Midwest, at least 266 people died and 3,662 were injured. This day is the fourth-deadliest for tornadoes on record. It happened on Palm Sunday, an important day for Christians. Many people were in church services, which might be why some warnings were not heard.

The winter of 1965 had been cold and snowy. April 11 was the first day with warm temperatures. This encouraged people to be outdoors or attend church. Many did not get weather updates from radio and television.

The high number of deaths, even with accurate warnings, led to big changes. The Severe Local Storm Warning Center in Kansas City, Missouri, which is now the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, improved how it shared severe weather alerts. The U.S. Weather Bureau looked into why so many people died. Even though there were few weather radar stations in 1965, the severe storms were identified early enough. But the public did not receive the warnings.

Also, people did not understand the difference between a "Forecast" and an "Alert." So, the terms tornado watch and tornado warning were created in 1966. These new terms helped people understand the danger better. Communities also started using civil defense sirens during tornado warnings. Storm spotting by amateur radio networks and other groups also became more important. This led to the creation of SKYWARN, a program where trained volunteers report severe weather.

Five books have been written about the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak. These books share stories from survivors and eyewitnesses.

Interesting Facts and Records

Scientists learned a lot from studying the paths of these tornadoes from the air. This outbreak was the first to be studied in detail by tornado scientist Tetsuya Theodore Fujita. He came up with new ideas about how tornadoes are structured.

Dr. Fujita discovered suction vortices during the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak. Before this, people thought tornadoes would "jump" from one house to another. This was to explain why one house might be destroyed while a neighbor's house was untouched. However, Fujita found that most destruction is caused by these suction vortices. They are small, very strong mini-tornadoes inside the main tornado.

The tornado outbreak produced 38 significant tornadoes. 18 of them were violent, meaning F4 or F5 on the Fujita scale. 22 of them caused deaths. The outbreak covered six states and about 335 sq mi (870 km²). It killed 266 people, making it the deadliest in the United States since 1936. The 17 violent tornadoes on April 11, 1965, set a 24-hour record. This record stood until the 1974 Super Outbreak, which had 30 violent tornadoes.

In Indiana alone, 137 people were killed and 1,200 were injured. This set a 24-hour record for tornado deaths in that state. It also had nine tornadoes of F4 or greater intensity. This was a single-state record for an outbreak until April 3, 1974.

Unusually strong weather conditions were present over the Great Lakes region during the outbreak. A strong jet stream, along with the tornadoes, lifted topsoil from Illinois and Missouri. This caused hazy skies before the storms arrived.

Some people who saw these tornadoes reported seeing white, blue, yellow, orange, and red lights. Scientists think this might have happened because the tornadoes collected electrically charged dust particles. Or, it could be from electromagnetic forces created by the storms.

See also

• Lists of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
  • List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• Tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1956 – Produced a powerful F5 tornado family in Michigan
• 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak – Generated deadly F4 tornadoes in the Great Lakes region
• 1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak – Yielded long-tracked, intense tornadoes from Alabama to the Carolinas
• 1974 Super Outbreak – Associated with numerous violent tornadoes across much of Indiana and Greater Cincinnati
• Disagreements on the intensity of tornadoes