Tornadoes of 1979

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1979, 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.

Tornadoes of 1979
Tracks of all US tornadoes in 1979.
TimespanJanuary 1 - December 23, 1979
Maximum rated tornadoF4 tornado
  • 6 locations
    on 5 different days
Tornadoes in U.S.855[1]
Damage (U.S.)Unknown
Fatalities (U.S.)84
Fatalities (worldwide)>84

Synopsis
Fatal United States tornadoes in 1979
Tornadoes of 1979 is located in the United States
Tornadoes of 1979
Tornadoes of 1979
Tornadoes of 1979
Tornadoes of 1979
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Tornadoes of 1979
Tornadoes of 1979
Tornadoes of 1979
Tornadoes of 1979
Tornadoes of 1979
Tornadoes of 1979
Tornadoes of 1979
Tornadoes of 1979
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Tornadoes of 1979
Approximate touchdown location of killer tornadoes in 1979
Summary of tornadoes[2]
  • March 31 – Kentucky (1 death)
  • April 10 – Texas, Oklahoma (11 deaths)
  • April 10 – Texas, Oklahoma (1 death)
  • April 10 – Oklahoma (3 deaths)
  • April 10 – Texas, Oklahoma (42 deaths)
  • April 11 – Indiana (1 death)
  • May 2 – Oklahoma (1 death)
  • May 8 – Florida (1 death)
  • June 19 – South Dakota (1 death)
  • June 28 – Iowa (2 deaths)
  • June 28 – Iowa (3 deaths)
  • June 30 – Tennessee (2 deaths)
  • July 16 – Wyoming (1 death)
  • August 9 – Wisconsin (1 death)
  • August 10 – Massachusetts (2 deaths)
  • August 28 – Iowa (2 deaths)
  • September 5 – Virginia (1 death)
  • September 5 – Pennsylvania (1 death)
  • October 3 – Connecticut (3 deaths)
  • October 22 – Arkansas (1 death)
  • October 30 – Oklahoma (3 deaths)

Total fatalities: 84

Numbers for 1979 were similar to that of 1980. Deaths were near normal, but injuries were above normal.

Events
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
38 349 318 116 28 6 0 855

January

16 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in January, of which all were confirmed.[3]

February

4 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in February, of which all were confirmed.[4]

March

53 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in March.[5]

March 18
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 4 5 2 1 0 0

On March 18, a minor outbreak swept across Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The strongest tornado was an F3 that struck Copan, Oklahoma. An F2 tornado hit Catoosa, Oklahoma, a suburb of Tulsa.[6]

March 29
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 3 1 2 2 1 0

On March 29, tornadoes touched down across Iowa and Illinois, including an F4 tornado that hit Braddyville, Iowa. An F0 struck a small suburb of Denver.[7]

April

123 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in April.[8]

April 10–12
The large Wichita Falls F4 tornado moving through town.
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 10 19 25 4 2 0
Main article: 1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak

A large tornado outbreak also called "Terrible Tuesday",[9] broke out in Texas and Oklahoma. Several deadly tornadoes occurred, including an F4 that decimated buildings in Wichita Falls, killing 42 people. An F2 tornado was notable for killing one person when it struck a mobile home park in Boonville, Indiana. A tornado killed three people in Lawton, Oklahoma. Overall, there were 58 deaths and over 2,000 injuries.

May

There were 112 tornadoes reported in the U.S. in May.[10]

June

150 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in June.[11]

June 28

A small, but deadly outbreak of tornadoes broke out in Iowa and Minnesota, including an F4 that killed three people in Manson, Iowa.[12][13]

July

132 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in July.[14]

July 16

An F3 tornado struck Cheyenne, Wyoming causing one fatality and 40 injuries. The tornado first to receive national attention by videotape as it ripped apart 500 homes.[15]

August

126 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in August.[16]

August 7 (Canada)
Main article: 1979 Woodstock, Ontario, tornado

At least three tornadoes touched down in Woodstock, Ontario, killing two people and injuring 142 others.

September

69 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in September.[17]

September 5
See also: Hurricane David

An F3 tornado touched down in Tysons, Virginia, killing one person.[18]

October

47 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in October.[19]

October 3
Main article: Windsor Locks, Connecticut, tornado

An F4 tornado touched down in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, being a very rare New England tornado. The tornado was ranked as one of the costliest tornadoes in U.S. history, killing three people.

November

21 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in November.[20]

December

2 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in December.[21]

See also

References
  1. "1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  2. "Severe Weather Database Files (1950-2021)". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. July 11, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  3. "January, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  4. "February, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  5. "March, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  6. "March 18, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  7. "March 29, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  8. "April, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  9. "Weather History: Terrible Tuesday 1979". AccuWeather.com. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  10. "May, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  11. "June, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  12. "June 28, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  13. "Minnesota Tornado History and Statistics".
  14. "July, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  15. "Tornado History Project: 19790716.56.17". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.
  16. "August, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  17. "September, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  18. "Tornado History Project: 19790905.51.7". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.
  19. "October, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  20. "November, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  21. "December, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
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