The Deadliest Tornadoes in Modern History

Tornadoes can form quickly inside powerful storms, tearing through towns, cities, and rural communities in minutes. Forecasting and warning systems have improved over time, but the strongest tornadoes remain among the most dangerous forces in nature because of their violent winds, fast movement, and unpredictable paths.

This list looks at some of the deadliest tornadoes of the last century, including storms in the United States and around the world. Some caused catastrophic loss of life, while others became infamous for the scale of their damage, the strength of their winds, or the historic outbreaks they were part of.

From Bangladesh to the American Midwest, these tornadoes show how destructive severe weather can become when the right conditions come together. These are the storms that left the deepest mark through their death tolls, damage, intensity, and lasting place in disaster history.

On April 11, 1974, a deadly tornado hit 11 miles west of Bogra, Bangladesh. Although the total amount of injuries is unknown, 100 people died in the violent storm. Bogra is pictured here under much more pleasant weather conditions.

On April 1, 1977, in Bangladesh, a deadly tornado struck the Madaripur- Shibchar area, causing 500 fatalities and injuring many more. At least 200 died when a motor launch sank in the Meghna River.

The day after the devastating tornadoes struck Bangladesh in 1977, they struck again. On April 2, 1977, a tornado in the towns of Mokshedpur, Bhanga, and Tungipara killed 111 people.

On April 16, 1978, in the Jaipur and Keonjhar Districts in India, 173 people lost their lives, and hundreds more were injured when a violent tornado struck the area. Reports say the sky turned a bright shade of red before the tornado appeared.

A terrible storm struck Karimpur, India on April 18, 1978, when 111 people lost their lives.

During a two-day outbreak of tornadoes, Omaha, NE, was hit with a violent storm on May 6, 1978. It turned out to be one of the top ten costliest tornadoes in terms of damage in the U.S.

A violent F4 tornado destroyed much of the southern region of Wichita Falls, Texas on April 10, 1979. The supercell tornado was one of three that spawned in the area that day. Damage from the aftermath is seen here.

On April 12, 1981, a violent tornado ripped through southern Bangladesh, killing 200 people. The tornado struck the towns of Parshuram, Fulgazi, Somarpur, and Sonagazi.

This devastating tornado in Bangladesh in April 1981 took the lives of 120 people.

The former Soviet Union, now Russia, experienced its deadliest tornado outbreak on June 9, 1984. Estimated deaths are unknown, but range from anywhere in the 60s to over 400. Ivanovo, Russia is seen here on a sunny day.

The world’s deadliest tornado ever recorded happened in Bangladesh on April 26, 1989. Although the exact number of deaths is unknown, it’s estimated to be around 1,300. This violent tornado devastated the towns of Saturia and Manikganj Sadar.

A wildly powerful EF5 tornado ripped through the community of Andover, KS, near Wichita, KS on April 26, 1991. The deadly storm was part of a two-day outbreak of supercells ravaging Oklahoma and Kansas.

A terrible tornado hit the area of Kandi in West Bengal, India, on April 9, 1993, killing 145 people. The aftermath of a similar storm is shown here.

In May of 1996, north-central Bangladesh was devastated by a violent tornado that ripped through 80 to 90 villages. Sadly, it’s estimated that around 600 people lost their lives that day, and over 37,000 people were injured.

A tornado with 115 mph winds ripped through eastern India on March 24, 1998. The death toll reached 250, and 40 of the victims were school children, crushed when their school collapsed.

A powerful F5 tornado ripped through Oklahoma on May 3, 1999, causing the highest wind speeds ever measured in the world. The winds reached a breathtaking 301 miles per hour.

A deadly outbreak of tornadoes rocked the state of Alabama on April 27, 2011, when 62 tornadoes were reported as spawning across the state.

On the evening of May 22, 2011, a large and deadly tornado hit the town of Joplin, MO. This massive tornado reached over one mile wide with wind gusts of 200 miles per hour. Seen here is the devastating aftermath.

A violent EF5 tornado struck Moore, OK, on the afternoon of May 20, 2013. The tornado was part of a larger system that wreaked havoc across the Great Plains. Tragically, the tornado in Moore hit a populated area, causing 24 deaths and many more injuries. Seen here is a neighborhood that was flattened by the powerful winds.

An unusually late-season, but powerful storm hit the community of Washington, located in central Illinois, just a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving.

A strong EF3 tornado touched down in Dallas on October 20, 2019. The twister stayed on the ground for over half an hour, making this the costliest tornado event in Texas history.

A deadly EF3 tornado touched down in Nashville, TN, on the morning of March 3, 2020. The Nashville tornado was one of several that swept through the state.

Although tornadoes typically hit during spring months, they can come anytime. A tornado hit Dawson Springs, KY, in December 2021, killing 14 people and flattening houses and buildings.

The southeast was hit with deadly storms on March 25, 2023. There were reports of 20 tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama the previous evening. The following day, an EF3 tornado ripped through Mississippi, demolishing mobile homes and tearing down power lines.