Tornadoes of 1962
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1962, 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.
Timespan | 1962 |
---|---|
Maximum rated tornado | F4 tornado
|
Tornadoes in U.S. | 657[1] |
Damage (U.S.) | Unknown |
Fatalities (U.S.) | 30 |
Fatalities (worldwide) | >30 |
Events
United States yearly total
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 191 | 265 | 162 | 33 | 6 | 0 | 657 |
January
There were 12 tornadoes confirmed in the US in January.[2]
January 5–6
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The first two tornadoes of the year struck Crestview, Florida at F2 intensity with the first one killing one, injuring 30, and kicking off an outbreak of 11 tornadoes across the Southeast.[3][4][5] The next day, an F1 tornado injured one in Plum Branch, South Carolina.[6] Overall, the outbreak killed one and injured 31.[5]
February
There were 25 tornadoes confirmed in the US in February.
March
There were 37 tornadoes confirmed in the US in March.
March 20–21
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
An outbreak of eight tornadoes hit the Southeast, injuring 12.
March 30–31
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A destructive outbreak of 11 tornadoes hit the Southeast. A large, catastrophic nighttime F3 tornado carved a 6.9 mile path of devastation through the north side of Milton, Florida with little to no warning. Several neighborhood were wrecked with many homes being heavily damaged or destroyed. 17 people were killed and 100 were injured. Overall, the outbreak killed 17 and injured 105.
April
There were 41 tornadoes confirmed in the US in April.
April 8
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Three weak, but destructive tornadoes hit the Southeast, killing one.
April 26–28
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
An outbreak of 17 tornadoes hit the Midwest and the Southeast, killing one and injuring 19.
April 30
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
An outbreak of 17 tornadoes hit the Midwest and Mississippi Valley, including a long-tracked F3 tornado that injured 49 in South Bend, Indiana. Overall, the outbreak injured 57.
May
There were 200 tornadoes confirmed in the US in May. May 14 started an extremely active period of tornadoes with at least one confirmed everyday until June 25.
May 7–8
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
An outbreak sequence of 10 tornadoes hit the Great Plains, Midwest, and Virginia, killing one and injuring seven.
May 14–June 1
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 63 | 68 | 47 | 15 | 4 | 0 |
A massive, long-lived outbreak sequence of 198 tornadoes impacted almost every state in the Continental United States, killing three and injuring 168.
June
There were 171 tornadoes confirmed in the US in June.
June 8
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A rare F1 tornado touched down in Puerto Rico. This was followed by a small outbreak of nine tornadoes in Texas and Kansas. None of the tornadoes caused casualties.
July
There were 78 tornadoes confirmed in the US in July.
August
There were 51 tornadoes confirmed in the US in August.
August 5–6
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
A small, but destructive outbreak of 10 tornadoes struck the Dakotas and Kansas, injuring three.
September
There were 24 tornadoes confirmed in the US in September.
September 15–16
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A localized, but devastating outbreak of three tornadoes impacted South Dakota and Minnesota with a violent F4 tornado injuring 34 in Southeastern Rochester, Minnesota.
October
There were 11 tornadoes confirmed in the US in October.
November
There were 5 tornadoes confirmed in the US in November.
December
There were 2 tornadoes confirmed in the US in December.
See also
- Tornado
- Tornadoes by year
- Tornado records
- Tornado climatology
- Tornado myths
- List of tornado outbreaks
- List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of 21st-century Canadian tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of European tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks in Asia
- List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of tornadoes striking downtown areas
- Tornado intensity
References
- "Tornado History Project: 1962". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.
- http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1962/1/table
- http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19620105.12.1
- http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19620105.12.2
- http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/custom/30227450
- http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19620106.45.1