Top 12 Most Powerful Tornadoes in the World: A Force of Nature's Fury

10. The Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak of 1965: A Multi-State Catastrophe

Among the most severe and broad tornado outbreaks in American history was the Palm Sunday Tornado outbreak of April 11–12, 1965. Six Midwestern states were hit by 47 tornadoes over a little 11-hour span, many of which had F4 or F5 severity. With Indiana and Ohio bearing the most of the damage, the outbreak claimed 271 lives and injured more than 1,500 people. Striking Toledo, Ohio, the double-funnel F4 tornado of the outbreak killed eighteen people and caused significant damage among other strong tornadoes. Apart from its ferocity, the Palm Sunday outbreak was significant for its timing: it fell on a holiday when many people were away from their homes and so maybe more exposed. With the U.S. Weather Bureau (now the National Weather Service) establishing a national tornado watch/warning system, this event resulted in notable advancements in tornado predicting and warning systems. The epidemic also stimulated studies on tornado production and behaviour, therefore helping to explain our present knowledge of these strong storms.