John Wheeler: The deadliest tornado year in US history was 100 years ago

FARGO — The deadliest year in United States tornado history remains 1925. Much of this can be attributed to the single most deadly and destructive tornado in U.S.

history; the infamous Tristate tornado of March 18. The tornado first touched down in southern Missouri shortly after noon, tracking east-northeast for more than 5 hours and 15 minutes across southern Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.The storm was likely a parent mesocyclone with four or five separate tornadoes in a single path, the longest of which were 174 and 151 miles in length.



The city of Murphysboro, Ill., was all but obliterated. Of the town's 10,000 residents, 234 were killed.

In all, approximately 695 people were killed by the storm with well over 2,000 injured. Fifteen thousand homes were destroyed. Total damage was estimated at $16.

5 million in 1925 dollars, which would be well over $1.5 billion in today's money.]]>.