This page documents all the known tornadoes that touched down in the United States during 1945. Tornadoes which occurred in the United States prior to 1950 are not officially rated. Tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis rated significant tornadoes, those rated F2 or higher on the Fujita scale, and the ratings are accepted and acknowledged by the National Weather Service. However, since the National Weather Service did not rate the tornadoes, the ratings are considered unofficial.[1]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
According to the United States Weather Bureau, no tornadoes occurred in the United States during January 1945.[2]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
≥ 0 | ≥ 0 | ≥ 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | ≥10 |
Main article: Tornado outbreak of February 12, 1945 |
F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F3 | Jones to Vimville | Lauderdale | MS | 15:35 | 9 mi (14 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
7 deaths – The tornado started in the community of Jones, 7 miles (11 km) south of Meridian, and moved northeastward. Multiple homes in rural communities were completely swept away, with four deaths occurring in three of these homes. A fifth person was killed in an open field as they were running for shelter. In total, five people were killed and 40 others were injured.[3][4] This was one of three tornadoes marked by Grazulis that the United States Weather Bureau originally marked as a single tornado. The U.S. Weather Bureau documented that this long-track tornado killed 40 people and injured 200 others.[5] Modern research by Thomas P. Grazulis as well as later publications from the U.S. Weather Bureau indicate that there were actually three separate tornadoes.[3][6] Two more deaths and a total of 50 injuries were reported by the Associated Press, which is cited by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham, Alabama.[7] This brings the total number of deaths to seven and the total number of injuries to 50 for this tornado.[4] | |||||||
F4 | Near York to near Livingston | Sumter | AL | 16:30 | 18 mi (29 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
11 deaths – A home was leveled on the southeastern edge of York, where a couple was killed. In Livingston, five people were killed in a single home. Two other homes were damaged or destroyed, and a person was killed in each. The tornado struck a train crossing the Sucarnoochee River, where it derailed 39 cars. The conductor of the train was killed, along with a fireman, and many others were injured. In total, the tornado killed 11 people, injured 63 others, and caused $220,000 (1945 USD) in damage.[3][4] This is one of three tornadoes marked by Grazulis that the United States Weather Bureau originally marked as a single tornado. The U.S. Weather Bureau documented that this long-track tornado killed 40 people and injured 200 others.[5] Modern research by Thomas P. Grazulis as well as later publications from the U.S. Weather Bureau indicate that there were actually three separate tornadoes.[3][6] | |||||||
F3 | SW of Montgomery to Chisholm | Montgomery | AL | 17:22 | 13 mi (21 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | |
26 deaths – See section on this tornado – 293 people were injured.[3][8] | |||||||
F2 | W of Union Springs to Thompson | Bullock | AL | 18:00 | 8 mi (13 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
Four homes were destroyed in Thompson and four others were damaged. Nine people were injured.[3][4] | |||||||
F3 | E of Tuskegee | Macon | AL | 18:30 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 120 yd (110 m) | |
This brief intense tornado struck a cluster of five small homes, destroying all of them and leaving two people injured.[3][4] | |||||||
F2 | S of Opelika | Lee | AL | 19:30 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 125 yd (114 m) | |
The tornado destroyed two barns and four other buildings, and injured one person.[3][4] | |||||||
F3 | SE of Stanton | Chilton | AL | 19:45 | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
1 death – A large house and a barn were destroyed southeast of Stanton. One person was killed and eight others were injured.[3][4] | |||||||
F2 | Shades Mountain | Jefferson | AL | 22:05 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 120 yd (110 m) | |
Seven buildings were destroyed, six were damaged, and one person was injured. A roof from one of the buildings was carried over 1 mile (1.6 km).[3][4] |
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
F2 | Kellyton | Coosa | AL | 00:30 | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | |
Multiple barns were leveled and 17 homes were damaged.[1] | |||||||
F2 | Fiarburn, Union City | Fulton | Georgia | 02:30 | 10 mi (16 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | |
1 death — This skipping tornado destroyed four homes and damaged a dozen others. A women died after the tornado ripped the roof off her home and a wall collapsed on her. In total, one persons as killed, two others were injured, and at least $10,000 (1945 USD) in damage occurred.[1][9][10] |
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
FU | Kosse | Limestone | TX | 07:00 | Unknown | 67 yd (61 m) | |
The tornado caused $2,000 (1945 USD) in damage to a few farm buildings and injured three people. One of the injuries was noted by the United States Weather Bureau to have been a serious injury.[11] |
F# [note 2] |
Location | County / Parish | State | Time (Local) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FU | Mexia | Limestone | TX | 02:00 | Unknown | 67 yd (61 m) | The United States Weather Bureau documented that buildings were unroofed, utilities were disrupted, and many old trees were uprooted by this tornado, which caused $15,000 (1945 USD) in damages.[11] |
F2 | Near Jessieville | Garland | AR | 05:00 | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | Two homes and a warehouse were destroyed, causing $15,000 (1945 USD) in damage. Grazulis documented this tornado as a “minimal F2” on the Fujita scale.[1][11] |
3 USWB tornadoes
F# [note 2] |
Location | County / Parish | State | Time (Local) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FU | Haskell | Haskell | TX | ??:?? | 0 mi (0 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | A large warehouse was destroyed, and damages amounted to $6,000.[11] |
3 Grazulis & 1 USWB tornado (total of 4)
F# [note 2] |
Location | County / Parish | State | Time (Local) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F2 | NE of Rayburn or Dolen | Liberty | TX | 02:30 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 70 yd (64 m) | 2 deaths — A farmhouse was destroyed, killing two people and injuring a third occupant.[1] Grazulis documents this tornado striking 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Rayburn[1] while the United States Weather Bureau documents this tornado striking Dolen.[11] Grazulis also documents two deaths from this tornado[1] while the United States Weather Bureau does not document any deaths from the tornado.[11] |
5 Grazulis tornadoes (4 USWB match Grazulis)
2 USWB tornadoes
F# [note 2] |
Location | County / Parish | State | Time (Local) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FU | Mount Vernon, Evansville, Boonville | Posey Vanderburgh, Warrick | IN | ??:?? | 0 mi (0 km) | 0 yd (0 m) | 25 homes were destroyed, 50 homes were severely damaged, and 100 houses were damaged. 15 to 20 planes were damaged outside of an aviation plant, and 5 small planes at an auxiliary airport were damaged. 20 people were injured, and damages totaled $1,000,000.[11] |
FU | ??? | Posey Vanderburgh, Warrick | IN | ??:?? | 60 mi (97 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | Numerous buildings were damaged, poles and wires were down, 20 people were injured, and caused $1,000,000 in damage.[11] |
1 Grazulis tornado (USWB match)
F# [note 2] |
Location | County / Parish | State | Time (Local) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FU | Laverne | Harper | OK | 22:45 | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 0 yd (0 m) | Several barns were destroyed, damage amounted to $10,000.[11] |
F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FU | Lovell | Unknown | FL | ??:?? | 20–30 mi (32–48 km) | 0 yd (0 m) | |
The United States Weather Bureau documented that a tornado killed several chicken and destroyed buildings and houses in Lovell, Florida, causing up to $15,000 (1945 USD) in damage.[11] |
2 Grazulis tornadoes & 3 USWB tornadoes (2 match)
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
FU | De Soto | Johnson, Leavenworth | KS | 11:30 | 33 yd (30 m) | 17 yd (16 m) | |
A small residence was damaged, along with telephone and power lines. $2,000 in damages occurred with this tornado.[11] | |||||||
FU | NW of Berryville | Carroll | AR | ??:?? | 9 mi (14,000 m) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
Property was damaged from this tornado.[11] |
1 Grazulis tornado
3 Grazulis tornadoes & 4 USWB tornadoes (2 match…total of 5)
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
FU | Clarksville | Red River | TX | 01:00 | Unknown | 2 yd (1.8 m) | |
30 buildings were severely damaged, and scores damaged occurred from this tornado. Several people were injured, including one critically.[11] | |||||||
FU | Wills Point | Van Zandt | TX | 11:30 | Unknown | 880 yd (800 m) | |
Numerous buildings and utility lines were damaged with this tornado which left more than 10 people were injured and $20,000 in damage.[11] | |||||||
FU | Terrell | Kaufman | TX | 20:00 | Unknown | 440 yd (400 m) | |
2 people were injured, and considerable property damage occurred.[11] | |||||||
FU | Polland, Redland, Shultz | Sequoyah | OK | Near midnight | Unknown | 880–2,640 yd (800–2,410 m) | |
Numerous houses, barns, and other buildings were damaged with a few destroyed; trees were uprooted or broken, a barn was burned with its contents, and considerable loss occurred with this tornado.[11] |
2 Grazulis tornadoes & 3 USWB tornadoes (2 match…total of 3)
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
F? | Lafontaine, Altoona | Wilson | KS | 12:30–1:00 | 13 mi (21,000 m) | 1–2.5 yd (0.91–2.29 m) | |
Barns and small farm buildings were damaged, and damage totaled $25,000.[11] | |||||||
F? | Kingston | Marshall | OK | 19:00 | Unknown | 2 yd (1.8 m) | |
Three residences and a barn were destroyed, along with several other structures damaged. 5 people were injured and damage amounted to $5,000.[11] | |||||||
F? | Sulphur Springs | Hopkins | TX | 21:00 | Unknown | Unknown | |
Significant property damage occurred and left two people injured.[11] |
2 Grazulis tornadoes & 2 USWB tornadoes (total of 4)
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
F? | Kosse | Limestone | TX | 6:00 | Unknown | 150 yd (140 m) | |
Small buildings and a farmhouse were damaged, amounting to $600 in damages.[11] | |||||||
F? | Wooster | Harris | TX | 9:00 | Unknown | 440 yd (400 m) | |
Small buildings were damaged, and damages totaled $10,000.[11] |
2 Grazulis tornadoes
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
F? | Mobile | Mobile | AL | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
Damage occurred to several businesses and companies, including the Alabama Power Company, and between 25 to 30 boats were moved ashore from the Mississippi Sound, in total amounting to $75,000 in damages.[12] |
1 Grazulis tornado
Main article: Tornado outbreak of April 12, 1945 |
2 Grazulis tornadoes
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
F? | Quinton | Pittsburg | OK | 20:45 | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
Property damage occurred, this tornado caused $3,100 in damages.[12] | |||||||
F? | Farris | Atoka | OK | 21:30 | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | |
This tornado hit portions of Farris, destroying two homes and damaging six other buildings. Ten people were injured, and damages amounted to $11,000.[12] |
1 Grazulis tornado
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
F? | Near Ardmore | Carter | OK | 17:30 | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
Three homes were destroyed, and damages amounted to $15,000. One person was killed and one person was injured.[12] |
1 Grazulis tornado
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
F? | Okemah | Okfuskee | OK | 18:35 | 8 mi (13 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
This tornado caused $10,000 in damages and injured 10 people.[12] |
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (local) | Path length | Max width | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||
F? | Mishawaka | St. Joseph | IN | 13:00 | Unknown | 167 yd (153 m) | |
Property was damaged, damages from this tornado totaled $15,000. Two people were injured.[12] | |||||||
F? | Unknown | Whitley | IN | 14:30 | Unknown | 100 yd (91 m) | |
Property damages totaled $20,000, and an additional $500 in damages from crop losses.[12] |
1 Grazulis tornado
1 Grazulis tornado
3 Grazulis tornadoes
2 Grazulis tornadoes
2 Grazulis tornadoes
1 Grazulis tornado