Today, March 18, marks the 100th anniversary of the Tri-State Tornado. The single deadliest tornado of record in the United States, and the second deadliest in the world. The tornado traveled a record-breaking 219 miles across southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, and southwestern Indiana, killing 695 people and injuring over 2,000 others. Towns along the tornado’s path, such as Murphysboro, De Soto, and West Frankfort in Illinois, experienced near-total destruction. The tornado caused $16.5 million in damages or $2.9 billion in today’s dollars making it the third costliest tornado in U.S. history. Photos courtesy of the Jackson County Historical Society.
Quick Facts about the Tri-State Tornado
States affected: Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana
EF Scale: F-5 tornado
Path length: 219 mile path length
Average width: 3/4 mile average width
Duration: 3.5 hours
average speed: 62 mph
Highest winds: 300 mph or 400 km/h
Deaths: 695
Injuries: 2,097
Homes and buildings destroyed: 15,000
Damages: $16.5 million or $2.9 billion in today’s dollars
