The 100th anniversary of what is known as America’s most devastating single tornado is being commemorated. This tornado struck on March 18, 1925, during a severe thunderstorm outbreak and became the deadliest tornado in U.S. history. Referred to as the Tri-State tornado, it tragically claimed 695 lives as it tore through southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and southwest Indiana. This death toll was twice that of the next deadliest U.S. tornado, which occurred in Natchez, Mississippi, on May 7, 1840, resulting in 317 fatalities.
Among the victims, 234 lost their lives in Murphysboro, Illinois, marking the highest tornado death toll in any U.S. city. Additionally, 33 individuals perished at a school in De Soto, Illinois. The destructive path of the tornado impacted at least 19 different communities, with Gorham, Illinois, and Griffin, Indiana, being completely obliterated. Annapolis, Missouri, and Parrish, Illinois, suffered 90% destruction, with Parrish never being rebuilt and essentially becoming a ghost town as a result. Approximately 15,000 homes were demolished in the wake of the disaster.
For decades, it was debated whether the Tri-State tornado was a single tornado or part of a tornado family with breaks in between. A thorough study conducted in 2013, which utilized interviews, photos, and news reports, determined that the tornado stretched at least 151 miles from Bollinger County, Missouri, to Pike County, Indiana. The prevailing theory suggests that the tornado was likely a single, powerful supercell that persisted for 3.5 hours due to favorable atmospheric conditions, with an average width of three-quarters of a mile and an average forward speed of 62 mph.
During a time when there were no television broadcasts or official warnings, information about the tornado spread through word of mouth and local newspapers. This made the swift movement of the historic Tri-State tornado even more terrifying for those in its path. Jonathan Erdman, a senior meteorologist at weather.com with a passion for extreme and unusual weather events, has been reporting on national and international weather since 1996. He can be reached on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.
