1967 St. Louis tornado outbreak facts for kids
The track of 1967 St. Louis tornado.
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| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | January 24, 1967 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 30 |
| Max rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 1 day |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
Imagine a day when many powerful storms hit at once! That's what a tornado outbreak is. On January 24, 1967, a very unusual winter tornado outbreak happened across the Midwest. Thirty tornadoes touched down in just one day. This was rare because tornadoes usually happen in warmer months.
Thirteen tornadoes hit Iowa, nine hit Missouri, seven hit Illinois, and one hit Wisconsin. The tornado in Wisconsin was an F3. It was the farthest north a tornado had ever been seen in January in the United States at that time.
One of the strongest tornadoes was an F4. It struck St. Louis County, Missouri. This powerful storm caused a lot of damage. It sadly led to three deaths and injured 216 people.
Contents
Understanding Tornado Strength: The Fujita Scale
Tornadoes are measured using the Fujita Scale, or F-scale. This scale tells us how strong a tornado is. It goes from F0 (weakest) to F5 (strongest).
- F0: Light damage.
- F1: Moderate damage.
- F2: Considerable damage.
- F3: Severe damage.
- F4: Devastating damage.
- F5: Incredible damage.
The 1967 outbreak had two F4 tornadoes. It also had six F3 tornadoes. Most of the tornadoes were F2, which still caused a lot of damage.
Key Tornadoes from the Outbreak
Thirty tornadoes hit during this outbreak. Here are some of the most impactful ones:
Missouri Tornadoes
- F3 Tornado near Buckner: This tornado traveled 14.5 miles. It hit a high school in Orrick. The roof collapsed, and two students sadly died. Homes and barns were also destroyed.
- F4 Tornado from Queen City to Pulaski: This very strong tornado moved across parts of Missouri and Iowa. It destroyed five farms completely. Twenty other farms were also damaged.
- F4 Tornado in St. Louis County: This was one of the most damaging tornadoes. It traveled 25 miles through St. Louis suburbs. It destroyed 168 homes. Another 1,740 homes were damaged. A nursing home was also badly hit. Sadly, three people died in this tornado.
Iowa Tornadoes
- F3 Tornado near Selma: This tornado traveled 25 miles. It badly damaged several homes. Some homes lost their roofs and walls. Barns were also destroyed.
- F3 Tornado near Wever: This tornado caused one death. Two homes were destroyed. One home had only one wall left standing.
- F2 Tornado near Wever: This tornado hit soon after the F3. Homes lost their roofs. Barns and trailers were destroyed. Four people were injured.
Illinois Tornadoes
- F3 Tornado in Mount Carroll: This tornado hit the northwest side of town. Three homes were destroyed. Barns were also destroyed. Many roofs were damaged.
- F3 Tornado near Snicarte: This tornado caused one death. Homes and other buildings were destroyed. Three people were injured. One person was thrown over 200 feet by the wind.
Wisconsin Tornado
- F3 Tornado near Brodhead: This tornado traveled almost 25 miles. It destroyed barns. A country club lost its roof and two walls. This was the northernmost January tornado recorded at the time.
