1967 St. Louis tornado outbreak

Weather event in the United States May 2025 February 2025 1967 St. Louis tornado track.gif Path of the F4 tornado in St. Louis January 24, 1967 F4 1967 7 268 Primarily the Upper Midwest tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1967 A wintertime tornado outbreak affected the Midwestern United States on January 24, 1967. Of the 30 confirmed tornadoes, 13 occurred in Iowa, nine in Missouri, seven in Illinois, and one in Wisconsin. The outbreak produced, at the time, the northernmost tornado to hit the United States in winter, in Wisconsin, until January 7, 2008. The tornadoes formed ahead of a deep storm system in which several temperature records were broken October 2022. The deadliest and most damaging tornado of the outbreak struck Greater St. Louis at F4 intensity, killing three people and injuring 216.nb Outbreak An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/schneider/otbrkseq.pdf Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875–2003) Schneider Russell S. Brooks Harold E. Schaefer Joseph T. Harold E. Brooks 2004 American Meteorological Society Hyannis, Massachusetts 22nd Conf. Severe Local Storms https://ams.confex.com/ams/11aram22sls/techprogram/programexpanded_230.htm September 17, 2019 Background thumb|230px|left|Upper-air analysis at 00:00 UTC on January 25, 1967 On Tuesday, January 24, 1967, a negatively tilted trough bisected the Midwestern United States. As a cold front traversed the Upper Midwest, a line of intermittent, tornado-producing supercells developed.Janurary [sic] 24, 1967 Tornado Outbreak https://www.weather.gov/dvn/01241967_tornadooutbreak Quad Cities, IA/IL Weather Forecast Office National Weather Service 4 October 2022 Davenport, Iowa Impact October 2022 Confirmed tornadoes 30* 3 4 15 6 2 0 Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991.Agee and Childs 2014 1496nb Count Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information.Grazulis 2001a 251–4 Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.Edwards Roger The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC) http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#Climatology Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes Storm Prediction Center February 25, 2016 March 5, 2015 Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced NEXRAD was first installed and the National Weather Service began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.Cook Schaefer 2008 3135 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments.Agee and Childs 2014 1497, 1503nb Fujita The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.Grazulis 1993 141Grazulis 2001a 131 Tornado ratings were retroactively applied to events prior to the formal adoption of the F-scale by the National Weather Service.Edwards et al. 2013 641–642 While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,Edwards Roger Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC) Storm Prediction Center February 25, 2016 March 5, 2015 Canada used the old scale until April 1, 2013;Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) https://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 Environment and Climate Change Canada Environment and Climate Change Canada February 25, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220706/http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 March 3, 2016 June 6, 2013 dead nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.The International Tornado Intensity Scale http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php Tornado and Storm Research Organisation Tornado and Storm Research Organisation February 25, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305120332/http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php March 5, 2016 2016 dead Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis. + Color/symbol key Color / symbol Description † Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b ¶ Data from a local National Weather Service office ※ Data from the 1967 Storm Data publication ‡ Data from the NCEI database ♯ Maximum width of tornado ± Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable. Along with the 30 confirmed tornadoes listed, tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis listed two additional F2 tornadoes that may have touched down. The first occurred west of Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa, at 22:30 UTC, unroofing and tearing apart a house. It was officially listed as a severe thunderstorm wind in Storm Data.Multiple sources: Grazulis 1993 1086 Storm Data 1967 2 The other occurred on the southern outskirts of Illinois City, Rock Island County, Illinois, at an unknown time, damaging homes before ripping the roof off a farmhouse. It was officially listed as part of a complex of severe thunderstorm winds in Storm Data.Multiple sources: Grazulis 1993 1086 Storm Data 1967 7 + List of confirmed tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of January 24, 1967F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord. Coordinatesnb Coord All starting coordinates are based on the NCEI database and may not reflect contemporary analysesTime (UTC)nb Date/Time All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.Path lengthWidthnb Width The listed width values are primarily the average/mean width of the tornadoes, with those having known maximum widths denoted by ♯. From 1952 to 1994, reports largely list mean width whereas contemporary years list maximum width.Agee and Childs 2014 1494 Values provided by Grazulis are the average width, with estimates being rounded down (i.e. 0.5 mi km on is rounded down from 880 yards to 800 yards.Brooks 2004 310Grazulis 1990 ixDamage F2N of De Kalb to SSE of Lake StationBuchananMO39.60 -94.93 De Kalb (January 24, F2)17:50–?6.1 mi km on on100 yd m on onThis strong tornado affected 12 or more farmsteads. It destroyed a concrete barn, along with assorted outbuildings and other barns. Homes lost their roofs, along with some walls. Losses totaled $250,000.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10056784Storm Data 1967 4 F2E of Haynesville to S of BarnesvilleClintonMO39.45 -94.23 Haynesville (January 24, F2)18:35–?2.5 mi km on on50 yd m on onThis strong but relatively brief tornado developed 1 mi km on west of the junction of Missouri Supplemental Route PP and U.S. Route 69. As it headed northeast, it struck five farmsteads, extensively damaging outbuildings on a few of them. Losses totaled $25,000. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.Grazulis 1993 1086–7Storm Data Publication 1967 #10056790Storm Data 1967 4 F3SSE of Lake City to Northwestern Buckner to NE of AlbanyJackson, RayMO39.10 -94.25 Lake City (January 24, F3)18:40–19:0014.5 mi km on on200 yd m on on2 deaths – This intense tornado first developed over the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, 3 mi km on from Buckner. Tracking northeastward, it first produced a narrow, spasmodic swath of structural damage, skirting Buckner and passing east of Sibley. As it neared Orrick, the tornado widened and intensified, striking Orrick High School while at maximum intensity. Part of a roof at the school collapsed, killing two students underneath. Two homes were destroyed and another lost its second story. Barns and outbuildings were leveled along the path. 18 people were injured and losses totaled $5 million.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10056791Storm Data Publication 1967 #10056793Storm Data 1967 4 F0SE of PoloCaldwellMO39.55 -94.05 Polo (January 24, F0)18:50–?2 mi km on on100 yd m on onLosses totaled $25,000.Storm Data Publication 1967 #10056792Storm Data 1967 4 F0E of SturgesLivingstonMO39.88 -93.48 Sturges (January 24, F0)20:00–?0.1 mi km on on10 yd m on onLosses totaled $30.Storm Data Publication 1967 #10056795Storm Data 1967 4 F1W of Green City to N of PennvilleSullivanMO40.27 -93.02 Green City (January 24, F1)20:20–?7.3 mi km on on50 yd m on onThis tornado wrecked a number of outbuildings and a barn. Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F2.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10056796Storm Data 1967 4 F1Glendale to NW of LivoniaPutnamMO40.48 -92.77 Glendale (January 24, F1)20:45–?2.5 mi km on on50 yd m on onMoving generally northeastward, this tornado developed near the junction of Missouri Route 149 and U.S. Route 136. Losses totaled $2,500.Storm Data Publication 1967 #10056797Storm Data 1967 4 F4ESE of Queen City, MO to ESE of Pulaski, IASchuyler (MO), Scotland (MO), Davis (IA)MO, IA40.40 -92.53 Queen City (January 24, F4)20:45–?25.7 mi km on on440 yd m on onThis violent tornado damaged or destroyed numerous outbuildings and barns on 24 farmsteads. Five of the farmsteads were destroyed, two of which had every structure leveled, including the farmhouse. A total of approximately 20 other farms were damaged as well. Two people were injured and losses totaled $2,525,000. Most of the path and the F4-level damage were in Missouri. Only a 2 mi km mid -long segment continued into Iowa, with F1-level damage.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10056798Storm Data Publication 1967 #10011998Storm Data 1967 2, 4 F3S of Douds to E of FairfieldVan Buren, JeffersonIA40.87 -92.08 Douds (January 24, F3)21:15–?25 mi km on on400 yd m on onThis intense tornado produced sporadic damage. It badly damaged several homes, some of which lost roofs and walls. Barns and outbuildings were destroyed as well. Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F2. The NCEI only lists a single coordinate, north of Douds.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10011999Storm Data 1967 2 F1Western WashingtonWashingtonIA41.30 -91.70 Washington (January 24, F1)21:45–?1 mi km on on200 yd m on onLosses totaled $2,500.Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012000Storm Data 1967 2 F0N of WinfieldHenryIA41.15 -91.43 Winfield (January 24, F0)21:50–?0.1 mi km on on150 yd m on onLosses totaled $250,000.Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012001Storm Data 1967 2 F2SW of Columbus CityLouisaIA41.30 -91.37 Columbus City (January 24, F2)22:00–?3 mi km on on250 yd m on onLosses totaled $30. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. The NCEI lists the path as occurring north of Fredonia and extending into Muscatine County.Grazulis 1993 1086–7Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012002Storm Data 1967 2 F3N of Fort Madison to S of Wever (1st tornado)LeeIA40.67 -91.32 Fort Madison (January 24, F3)22:15–?4.3 mi km on on300 yd m on on1 death – This intense tornado destroyed a pair of homes, one of which only had a single wall left standing. Six people were injured and losses totaled $250,000.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012003Storm Data 1967 2 F2S of Wever (2nd tornado) to N of Skunk River LeeIA40.70 -91.23 Wever (January 24, F2)22:20–?3 mi km on on200 yd m on onThis strong tornado crossed the Skunk River near Wever. Homes had their roofs torn off and barns were wrecked. Trailers were destroyed as well, injuring four people. Losses totaled $250,000.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012004Storm Data 1967 2 F2ENE of CairoLouisaIA41.20 -91.28 Cairo (January 24, F2)22:20–?2 mi km on on150 yd m on onThis strong tornado tore loose a wall from a house and tossed an automobile against the home. A nearby barn was destroyed as well. One person was injured and losses totaled $25,000.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012005Storm Data 1967 2 F2ESE of Gladstone to W of ReedsHendersonIL40.85 -90.93 Gladstone (January 24, F2)22:40–22:505.7 mi km on on77 yd m on onThis tornado, while mostly affecting treetops, unroofed or otherwise damaged many outbuildings and barns. At least one barn was flattened, six utility poles splintered, and a farm shorn of all its outbuildings. Losses totaled $25,000. The tornado passed north of Biggsville.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10009966Storm Data 1967 7 F2S of WheatlandClintonIA41.80 -90.83 Wheatland (January 24, F2)22:45–?2 mi km on on150 yd m on onLosses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.Grazulis 1993 1086–7Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012006Storm Data 1967 2 F2NNE of DixonClintonIA41.78 -90.77 Dixon (January 24, F2)22:50–?2 mi km on on143 yd m on onLosses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. Storm Data indicates that the tornado occurred near Calamus.Grazulis 1993 1086–7Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012007Storm Data 1967 2 F2Southern EldridgeScottIA41.62 -90.58 Eldridge (January 24, F2)23:11–?2 mi km on on250 yd m on onThis strong tornado touched down just west of Mount Joy. It hurled an automobile and a truck from a roadway. Homes sustained breakage of their windows and barns were wrecked. Losses totaled $250,000.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012008Storm Data 1967 2 F2NW of ElviraClintonIA41.87 -90.37 Elvira (January 24, F2)23:15–?1 mi km on on200 yd m on onLosses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.Grazulis 1993 1086–7Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012009Storm Data 1967 2 F2NE of TenmileClintonIA41.95 -90.33 Tenmile (January 24, F2)23:15–?0.1 mi km on on100 yd m on onSeveral barns, a warehouse, and a Granger Hall were destroyed. Homes nearby had their roofs torn off. Losses totaled $250,000. The tornado may have developed near Bryant. Storm Data listed a 5 mi km mid -long path.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10012010Storm Data 1967 2 F3E of Burke to NE of Mount CarrollCarrollIL42.05 -90.03 Burke (January 24, F3)23:30–?7.4 mi km on on77 yd m on onThis intense tornado destroyed three homes on the northwestern side of Mount Carroll, one of which it impacted at borderline-F4 intensity. Roofing, outbuildings, and barns incurred extensive damage as well. 12 people were injured and losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis listed the time of occurrence as 22:40 UTC.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10009969Storm Data 1967 7 F1WSW of Saidora to NNE of White CityMasonIL40.10 -90.17 Saidora (January 24, F1)23:30–?4.5 mi km on on30 yd m on onThis tornado paralleled the following event, just 3 mi km on away. Outbuildings, a hangar, and trees were destroyed or extensively damaged. An airplane was damaged as well. One person was injured. Losses were unknown. Storm Data attributed the sole injury to the next event.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10009968Storm Data 1967 7 F3S of Snicarte to SE of Bluff CityMasonIL40.12 -90.22 Snicarte (January 24, F3)23:30–?5.1 mi km on on80 yd m on on1 death – This intense tornado destroyed rural homes and outbuildings. Three people were injured and losses totaled $25,000. The body of the dead was tossed 200 yd ft on. Storm Data stated that the path was only 1 mi km on long.Grazulis 1993 1086Storm Data Publication 1967 #10009970Storm Data 1967 7 F3S of Brodhead to SE of MiltonGreen, RockWI42.60 -89.37 Brodhead (January 24, F3)00:10–00:4024.9 mi km on on200 yd m on onThis intense but intermittent tornado wrecked a number of barns. A country club was stripped of its roof and a pair of walls as well. Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F2. At the time the tornado was the northernmost wintertime tornado on record in the contiguous United States.Grazulis 1993 1086–7Storm Data Publication 1967 #10148040Storm Data 1967 7 F2ENE of Cooper to WSW of CrugerTazewell, WoodfordIL40.67 -89.38 Cooper (January 24, F2)00:30–?3.3 mi km on on77 yd m on onThis strong tornado snapped and felled trees. Roofing and outbuildings were damaged as well. Losses totaled $2,500. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.Grazulis 1993 1086–7Storm Data Publication 1967 #10009973Storm Data 1967 7 F2S of VirdenMacoupinIL39.48 -89.77 Virden (January 24, F2)00:50–?2.5 mi km on on100 yd m on onThis tornado flipped a home upside down and shifted another. In all about 100 homes were damaged to varying degrees. Most of the damage was to roofing or from fallen trees. Several trailers were damaged as well, and a few grain bins were moved 200 – 440 yd ft on. Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.Grazulis 1993 1086–7Storm Data Publication 1967 #10009974Storm Data 1967 7 F2NW of MetamoraWoodfordIL00:50–2.5 mi km on on F4NE of Chesterfield to NE of Spanish LakeSt. LouisMO00:55–25 mi km on on3 deaths – See section on this tornado F2Champaign–UrbanaChampaignIL02:40–10.4 mi km on onA trailer was destroyed and scattered, two others were overturned, and two more were damaged. One house had its roof torn off. Northern Chesterfield–Maryland Heights–St. Ann–Lambert Field–Spanish Lake, Missouri Northern Chesterfield–Maryland Heights–St. Ann–Lambert Field–Spanish Lake, Missouri January 24, 1967 January 24, 1967, 6:55 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) January 24, 1967, 7:30 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) 35 minutes Tornado damage in Chesterfield, Missouri, January 24, 1967.gif Aerial view of damage in Chesterfield, Missouri, after the F4 tornado of January 24, 1967 atl F4 3 216 $25,000,000 (1967 USD) $US 25,000,000 1967 -4 (US USD)This tornado initially touched down around 6:55 p.m. in western St. Louis County at Olive Street Road near the Howard Bend Pumping Station where damage was reported to the Chesterfield Manor Nursing Home. The tornado moved northeast at 40 mph striking the small community of Lake, the luxury homes at River Bend Estates and Old Farm Estates valued between $25,000 and $33,000 (1967 dollars), Creve Coeur Meadows and Glenwood Subdivisions, and the heavily populated communities of Maryland Heights, Bridgeton, St. Ann, Edmundson, Woodson Terrace, Berkeley, Ferguson, Dellwood, the Hathaway Manor Subdivision, and Spanish Lake. The tornado apparently dissipated or weakened as it crossed the Mississippi River, as there is no record of significant damage in Illinois. The damage path ranged from 50 to 200 yards wide and the tornado was on the ground for approximately 35 minutes. Remarkably only 3 fatalities were reported while 216 people suffered injuries. Damage included 168 homes destroyed, 258 with major damage, and 1485 with minor damage. At least 600 businesses were damaged or destroyed. The total damage was estimated to be around 15 million dollars (approximately 125 million dollars in 2022). The tornado was given a F4 rating on the Fujita Tornado Ranking Scale. The F4 occurrence was likely small in aerial coverage with the majority of the severe damage being classified as either F2 or F3. See also List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks List of schools struck by tornadoes Tornado outbreak of January 2008 – Similar rare tornado outbreak in January in the Midwest Notes nb References 2 Sources Ernest M. Agee Samuel Childs Adjustments in Tornado Counts, F-Scale Intensity, and Path Width for Assessing Significant Tornado Destruction Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology June 1, 2014 53 6 1494–1505 10.1175/JAMC-D-13-0235.1 American Meteorological Society free 2014JApMC..53.1494A Agee and Childs 2014 Brooks Harold E. Harold E. Brooks On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity Weather and Forecasting April 2004 19 2 310–19 10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2 free 2004WtFor..19..310B Cook A. R. Schaefer J. T. The Relation of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to Winter Tornado Outbreaks Monthly Weather Review August 2008 136 8 3121–3137 10.1175/2007MWR2171.1 free 2008MWRv..136.3121C Roger Edwards James G. LaDue John T. Ferree Kevin Scharfenberg Chris Maier William L. Coulbourne Tornado Intensity Estimation: Past, Present, and Future Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society May 1, 2013 94 5 641–653 10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00006.1 free American Meteorological Society 2013BAMS...94..641E Edwards et al. 2013 Grazulis Thomas P. Thomas P. Grazulis May 1984 Violent Tornado Climatography, 1880–1982 NUREG CR-3670 OSTI Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 7099491 free Grazulis Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989 November 1990 The Tornado Project of Environmental Films St. Johnsbury, Vermont 1-879362-02-3 2 1 Grazulis Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events July 1993 The Tornado Project of Environmental Films St. Johnsbury, Vermont 1-879362-03-1 1 Grazulis Thomas P. The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz registration 2001a University of Oklahoma Press Norman 978-0-8061-3538-0 1 Grazulis Thomas P. F5-F6 Tornadoes The Tornado Project of Environmental Films 2001b St. Johnsbury, Vermont 1 Storm Data Publication 1967 National Weather Service January 1967 Storm Data Publication National Centers for Environmental Information Storm Events Database https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/ Storm Data 1967 U.S. Weather Bureau January 1967 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Storm Data 9 1 National Climatic Data Center Asheville, North Carolina https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html https://web.archive.org/web/20110503214406/http://www7.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html dead May 3, 2011 External links YouTube vido showing damage St. Louis Tornado Outbreak Category:F4, EF4 and IF4 tornadoes Category:History of St. Louis County, Missouri Category:Tornadoes in Illinois Category:Tornadoes in Iowa Category:Tornadoes in Missouri Category:Tornadoes in Oklahoma Category:Tornadoes in Wisconsin 01-24 St. Louis Tornado Outbreak 1967-01-24