The United States has been experiencing a somewhat unusual lack of tornadoes ranked at "F5" on the Fujita scale. As of February 2005, no F5s have occurred since the Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak of May 1999. However, it is not unheard-of to go five years or more between F5 tornadoes. There were no F5s during stretches within 1947-1953, 1977-1982, and 1985-1990.
So far this century, there have been several F4s in the US:
- Hoisington, Kansas - April 21, 2001 - 1 death.
- College Park, Maryland - September 24, 2001 - 2 deaths.
- La Plata, Maryland - April 28, 2002 - 1 death. (almost classified F5)
- Van Wert, Ohio - November 10, 2002 - 5 deaths.
- Leavenworth, Kansas - May 4, 2003 - 4 deaths.
- Kansas City, Kansas - May 4, 2003 - 1 death.
- Jackson, Tennesee - May 4, 2003 - 11 deaths.
- Grand Chain, Illinois - May 6, 2003 - 2 deaths.
- Moore, Oklahoma - May 8, 2003
- Coleridge, Nebraska - June 23, 2003 - 1 death.
- Manchester, South Dakota - June 24, 2003
- Hallam, Nebraska - May 22, 2004 - 1 death.
- Weatherby, Missouri - May 29, 2004 - 3 deaths.
- Roanoke, Illinois - July 13, 2004
Deaths in a Home
Until 2004, there had always been a death in a home before May 10. The May 22, 2004 Hallam, Nebraska death is the latest date for a tornado death in a home. The previous record is May 7, 1900.
See also