Tornadoes of 1967
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1967, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
Events
The 1967 tornado season was very active with numerous large, destructive, and deadly outbreaks taking place. In fact, the only months not to have tornado-related fatalities were February and November, although both saw numerous injuries. The deadliest outbreak occurred in April while the biggest one occurred in September. The month of December was incredibly active as well, producing an unusually high 61 tornadoes with 60 of them stemming from three large outbreaks that occurred during the month. This remains one of the most-active December's on record.January
There were 39 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in January.January 24
A low pressure system produced one of the northernmost winter tornado outbreak on record, with strong tornadoes forming as far north as Wisconsin. An F4 tornado tore through the suburbs of St. Louis, killing three people, injuring 216, and destroying 168 homes. More than 1740 homes were damaged and more than 600 businesses were damaged or destroyed. Another F4 tornado destroyed 5 farms near Queen City, Missouri, completely leveling two of them. This tornado continued into Iowa, where it only produced F1 damage. An F3 tornado hit Buckner and Orrick, Missouri. The tornado collapsed the roof of the high school in Orrick, killing two students. The tornado also destroyed two homes and tore the roof from a third. Another F3 destroyed two houses and killed a child near Fort Madison, Iowa. A fourth killer tornado, also rated F3, destroyed houses and outbuildings. One person was killed after being thrown and three people were injured. Another F3 tornado destroyed three homes in Mount Carroll, Illinois, destroying three homes and producing near-F4 damage. The northernmost tornado of the outbreak was an F3 storm that passed near Brodhead and Milton, Wisconsin, destroying barns and tearing the roof and walls from a country club.February
There were 8 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in February.March
There were 42 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in March.March 5–6
A low pressure system spawned 13 tornadoes as it moved across the Southeastern United States. On March 5, an F3 tornado struck Hot Springs, Arkansas, damaging or destroying 18 homes and injuring six people. An F2 tornado moved through Little Rock, damaging homes and businesses and injuring four people. The next day an F4 tornado passed north of Birmingham, Alabama, destroying homes and farms in and near Rocky Hollow and Empire and killing a person in each community. On one farm the tornado destroyed 16 buildings containing 250,000 hens. An F2 tornado damaged or destroyed 30 buildings near Uniontown, Alabama. Overall, the outbreak killed two and injured 30.March 12
Several strong tornados touched down on the Southeastern United States. An F2 tornado caused widespread damage in Greeneville, Tennessee. A mother was killed and five children were injured in a small house that the tornado destroyed. An F3 tornado with twin funnels destroyed several homes and a church in Pleasant View, Kentucky, injuring five people.April
There were 150 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in April.April 12–13
A low pressure system brought tornadoes to the central and southern United States. An isolated F2 tornado destroyed farm buildings and a water tower in and near Veteran, Wyoming. Another F2 tornado blew down and unroofed homes in Crossett, Arkansas. An F2 tornado unroofed homes and a theater and destroyed warehouses in Paragould, Arkansas, injuring two people. Yet another F2 tornado destroyed farm buildings and two small homes on a ranch near Oakwood, Texas Overall, the outbreak injured nine.April 16
Tornadoes touched down across the Midwest and Great Plains. An F3 tornado killed two and injured 16 as it destroyed a house, a church, and trailers near Keosauqua and Birmingham, Iowa. A large F3 tornado produced near-F4 damage as it destroyed homes and barns between South Wayne and Attica, Wisconsin. An F2 tornado leveled most of one house, leaving only the kitchen standing, unroofed several others, and downed radio towers near Wewoka, Oklahoma, injuring three.April 21 (Midwest)
The most significant tornado outbreak of 1967 struck the Midwestern United States, killing 58 people, all in Illinois, and injuring 1,118. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak was an F4 tornado that devastated the south side of Chicago and surrounding suburbs, killing 33 and injuring 500. The worst damage from this tornado was in Oak Lawn and Hometown, where many buildings were leveled. As the tornado struck during the Friday evening rush hour, many of the deaths were in cars that the tornado picked up and tossed at red traffic lights. Several children were killed when a skating rink was destroyed, while others died in the collapse of a super market and the destruction of trailers. The other major killer of the outbreak was an F4 tornado that devastated the south and southeastern portions of Belvidere, Illinois, killing 24 people and injuring 450. The greatest loss of life was at the Belvidere High School, where 13 people were killed and 300 were injured as the tornado struck the bus loading area as school was letting out. Most of the dead were students who were tossed by the tornado. At least seven more people were killed at a shopping center. In all, this tornado destroyed 130 homes and damaged 370. Outside Belvidere, the tornado leveled farms, but without any loss of life. One school bus was torn in half south of Harvard, but all on board took refuge in a ditch. The other killer storm of the day was an F4 tornado or tornado family that killed one and injured 100 as it struck Elgin, Lake Zurich, and Barrington Hills, Illinois. Homes were leveled at the latter location. A tornado family with a maximum rating of F4 traveled for across Linn, Macon and, Knox Counties in Missouri, but missed every town along its path, destroying homes and barns. Two people suffered minor injuries as their home was destroyed. The final F4 tornado of the day struck Westphalia and Fowler, Michigan, destroying three homes and damaging 18. The tornado injured eight people and killed 34 sheep. An F3 tornado tore through the south side of Grand Rapids, Michigan, destroying 65 buildings, causing major damage to another 60 and minor damage to 275. No deaths occurred but 32 people were injured.April 21 (California)
As the outbreak in the Midwest was occurring, an F1 tornado caused considerable damage in Northwestern Madera, California.April 30 – May 2
A low pressure system produced a tornado outbreak in the Midwest, with the most intense activity concentrated near the Iowa–Minnesota state line. The deadliest storm of the outbreak was an F4 tornado that traveled north along Minnesota State Highway 13 and through Waseca, where it cut a four-block wide damage path, destroying 16 homes, heavily damaging 25, and killing six people. Farm buildings were also destroyed north and south of the town. Another F4 tornado killed five people as it tore through Albert Lea, Clarks Grove, Ellendale and Hope, Minnesota, leveling farms along its path. The tornadoes destroyed 26 homes and badly damaged 64 in Albert Lea. One F4 tornado destroyed 10 farms near Manly, Iowa, with near-F5 damage to three of them. More farms suffered extensive damaged near Myrtle, Minnesota. Another F4 tornado passed through Worth County, Iowa, but is not mentioned by Grazulis. An F3 tornado killed two people and destroyed homes and barns as it moved from near Alden, Minnesota to near Matawan. Damage in the early part of the path was near-F4.Over the next two days, more tornadoes struck the Southern United States, primarily in Texas and Louisiana. An F3 tornado destroyed four homes near Mittie, Louisiana, injuring two people, one of them critically. An F2 tornado injured two people as it hit Onalaska, Texas, where it tore the roof and rear wall from a store/post office. Another F2 tornado injured four people in Kaplan, Louisiana.
May
There were 116 tornadoes confirmed in the US in May.May 6–7
A pair of low pressure systems brought tornadoes to the eastern half of the United States.An F3 tornado destroyed two homes and damaged 60 homes and 30 industrial buildings on the south side of Birmingham, Alabama. One person was killed while watching the tornado. Another F3 tornado struck southeast of Maysville, Kentucky. An F2 tornado destroyed a gas station and damaged more than 70 buildings in Clay, Kentucky. Another F2 tornado damaged homes, destroyed barns, and killed livestock near Hartsville, Tennessee.