On March 28, 1920, a large outbreak of at least 37 tornadoes, 31 of which were significant, took place across the Midwestern and Southern United States. The tornadoes left at least 153 dead and at least 1,215 injured. Many communities and farmers alike were caught off-guard as the storms moved to the northeast at speeds that reached over . Most of the fatalities occurred in Georgia (37), Ohio (28), and Indiana (21), while the other states had lesser totals. Little is known about many of the specific tornadoes that occurred, and the list below is only partial.

Severe thunderstorms began developing in Missouri during the early morning hours. The storms moved quickly to the northeast towards Chicago, Illinois. The first tornado injured five people southeast of Springfield, Missouri, in Douglas County.

Background

For the residents of the Great Lakes region and Ohio Valley areas, the only source of weather information was the rather vague forecasts that were issued in the local newspaper the day before or by word of mouth. The use of the word "tornado" was strictly prohibited in public weather forecasting until the 1950s because of the fear and panic it might cause. This policy would come under-fire in the years to come especially after the Tri-State Tornado in 1925 that stands today as the deadliest tornado in American history.

On the morning of March 28, a deep low-pressure center positioned itself near Sioux City, Iowa, with a reported pressure of . Ahead of the low, temperatures over a broad expanse ranged from above average, indicating a robust warm sector. Around noon CST (18:00 UTC), temperatures ranged from in Chicago, Illinois, to in Montgomery, Alabama, with brisk low-level winds ranging from the southeast to south-southeast. These winds allowed a warm, moist air mass to advect northward from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. A strong elevated mixed layer (EML) was present over portions of the warm sector. Meanwhile, a pronounced, eastward-shifting convergence zone, characterised by shifting low-level winds, helped promote the development of vigorous thunderstorms. Observations from Springfield, Illinois, and other weather stations, taken in the wake of the convergence zone, indicated anomalously low relative humidity, suggestive of a strong dry line.

Confirmed tornadoes

+ Confirmed tornadoes – March 28, 1920F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary F2VanzantDouglasMO08:30–?Tornado struck six rural farmsteads. Frail farmhouses were destroyed. Five people were injured and losses totaled $3,000. F2SE of Baroda to E of SodusBerrienMI17:30–?Barns were destroyed on five farms. A small home was destroyed as well. F2S of Cortland to NE of SycamoreDeKalbIL18:00–?Many silos and barns were destroyed. Losses totaled $25,000. F3SE of La Fox to ElginKaneIL18:05–18:238 deaths – See section on this tornado F4N of Channahon to WilmetteWill, CookIL18:15–19:1520 deaths – See section on this tornado F2E of Elkhorn to W of East TroyWalworthWI18:15–?1 death – A tornado destroyed three barns, killing one woman. Losses totaled $25,000. F2N of MilnerPikeGA19:00–?1 death – A tornado killed a woman as it destroyed a home and a church. Three people were injured and losses totaled $10,000. F2Bridgeview to WSW of the Chicago LoopCookIL19:10–?A tornado struck between Cicero and Chicago Midway Airport. It destroyed eight buildings, including a school, and unroofed many others. Six people were injured and losses totaled $150,000. F2W of Hart to WeareOceanaMI20:00–?1 death – A tornado began as a waterspout over Lake Michigan. As it moved onshore, it killed a man and destroyed a barn and a small home. Three people were injured. The tornado may have continued many more miles into Lake and Osceola counties. F3W of JacksonvilleCalhounAL20:00–?1 death – A tornado tore apart a small home, killing a boy near Cedar Springs. It also leveled barns and trees southwest of that community. Ten people were injured. F3S of Mishawaka, IN to NW of Union, MISt. Joseph (IN), Elkhart (IN), Cass (MI)IN, MI20:15–?A tornado caused damage to twelve farms and destroyed a home northwest of Elkhart, Indiana. It then destroyed four more farm buildings in Michigan. Eight people were injured. F2N of DeatsvilleElmoreAL20:30–?A tornado destroyed barns and small homes. Five people were injured. This tornado was related to the following event. F4NE of Eclectic, AL to West Point, GAElmore (AL), Tallapoosa (AL), Chambers (AL), Troup (GA)AL, GA20:45–21:3726 deaths – See section on this tornado F2Corey Lake to S of ClimaxSt. Joseph, KalamazooMI21:00–?Likely a tornado family, this event destroyed barns, killed cattle, and unroofed a few homes as it skipped along. F2SW of KalamazooKalamazooMI21:00–?A tornado destroyed barns near Kalamazoo before dissipating and reforming in Barry County as an F4 tornado. F3W of Leroy to BeatriceLake, PorterIN21:00–?1 death – This tornado destroyed two homes and damaged five, killing a man in his home. One person was injured. F4NE of Orland, IN to SW of Coldwater, MISteuben (IN), Branch (MI)IN, MI21:30–?2 deaths – One farmhouse was swept off its partially dislodged foundation. Other homes and businesses were unroofed as well. Five people were injured and losses totaled $150,000. Another deadly F4 tornado affected the same area in 1965. F3S of Mulliken to St. JohnsEaton, Clinton, Gratiot, SaginawMI21:30–?1 death – Likely tornado family destroyed farm buildings north of Wacousta and later continued to do so as it passed east of Mulliken and northeast of Eureka. Caused possible F4 damage to farms southwest of St. Johns and produced F2-level damage in the business district of that town. In downtown St. Johns, the tornado smashed glass windows, tore off roofs, and destroyed walls, causing $250,000 in damage. The tornado was wide as it passed through St. Johns. Only one person was injured. F4S of Hickory Corners to VermontvilleBarry, EatonMI21:30–?4 deaths – A violent tornado destroyed 35 farms in its path and killed people in farmhouses in the vicinity of Maple Grove. It also carried part of a furnace distant. 25 people were injured. F3S of Orangeville to ENE of HastingsBarryMI21:30–?1 death – A tornado immediately destroyed a home as it touched down. Later, it went on to destroy nearly 15 farms. It was a very intense event, possibly an F4 tornado, and may have begun at Alamo in Kalamazoo County. Five people were injured. F4Uniondale, IN to SW of Sylvania, OHWells (IN), Allen (IN), Paulding (OH), Defiance (OH), Henry (OH), Fulton (OH), Lucas (OH)IN, OH22:15–?23 deaths – See section on this tornado F3SE of LaGrangeTroupGA22:45–?27 deaths – Powerful tornado struck southeastern section of LaGrange. Destroyed 75 poorly built homes near a mill and a factory. Tornado also damaged railcars and spilled and ruined much fertilizer in the area, then went on to destroy both the mill and the factory. Caused 27 deaths, 100 injuries, and $1 million in losses in LaGrange alone, becoming the deadliest tornado of the entire outbreak. Some accounts suggested up to 200 "dead and injured" across Troup County. Tornado may have reached F4 intensity. F4SW of West Liberty, IN to S of Van Wert, OHJay (IN), Adams (IN), Mercer (OH), Van Wert (OH)IN, OH23:00–?17 deaths – See section on this tornado FUW of Cornland to N of LincolnLoganIL23:00–23:30A tornado passed through the Broadwell area. It damaged farmhouses and buildings and caused significant damage to trees and power lines. F4NNE of FentonGenesee, OaklandMI23:30–?4 deaths – See section on this tornado F2S of Perry to NE of MorriceShiawasseeMI23:40–23:45A tornado destroyed barns and killed farm animals along its short-lived path. F2W of SaginawSaginawMI00:07–?A tornado struck four farms in western Saginaw and destroyed barns. FUGrand Lake St. Marys to SW of LimaMercer, Auglaize, AllenOH00:30–?Tornado first appeared as a waterspout over Grand Lake St. Marys. Storm quickly intensified as it moved towards the northeast at . Heaviest damage occurred near Moulton, as several farms and homes were destroyed, with only minor injuries reported. Tornado lifted shortly before the city of Lima. F2E of Bowling Green to NE of MartinWood, Sandusky, OttawaOH00:30–?>2 deaths – One or more tornadoes moved rapidly northeast into Sandusky County. Striking the village of Genoa, the tornado leveled 20–36 homes and several businesses. In the Clay Township area, two people were killed and 20 people were injured, extending to the small town of Trowbridge. Tornado subsequently passed out into Lake Erie. F3S of Union City, IN to SE of Lightsville, OHRandolph (IN), Darke (OH)IN, OH00:30–?5 deaths – A tornado destroyed six farms in Ohio. 10 people were injured. F4W of Fountain City, IN to N of Greenville, OHWayne (IN), Randolph (IN), Darke (OH)IN, OH01:00–?8 deaths – The final violent tornado of the outbreak destroyed eight homes near Fountain City before causing F4 damage to farms in Ohio. Its worst effects were observed northwest of Greenville. 40 people were injured and losses totaled $1 million. FUNE of ElginKaneILTornado extensively damaged outbuildings on farms. Was part of the Elgin tornado family. FUW of BarringtonLakeILTornado extensively damaged outbuildings on farms. Was part of the Elgin tornado family. FUWaucondaLakeILTornado destroyed buildings and killed cattle. Was part of the Elgin tornado family. F2SE of LansingInghamMIA home was reported destroyed near Mason. One person was injured. F2S of Free SoilMasonMIThis tornado destroyed a barn and unroofed one home as it briefly touched down.

La Fox–Elgin, Illinois

Just before the noon hour, severe thunderstorms began forming west of downtown Chicago. The first storm started to spawn killer tornadoes in DeKalb and then Kane counties, starting at 1:05 p.m. CDT. Upon touching down, the tornadoes then moved northeast at about . The tornado in Kane County apparently first formed about southeast of La Fox and moved northeast, later passing directly through downtown Elgin. Initially, the tornado destroyed a farmhouse and numerous barns, killing a father and tossing about a baby as it touched down.

Observers occasionally reported a well-defined funnel along the path as the tornado continued into the business district of Elgin, destroying or damaging many structures. It destroyed six businesses, damaged many others, and also "partially wrecked" three churches. Three people died as the rear of a theater collapsed, three more as a brick church tower fell, and one additional as a building façade caved in. Church services had been dismissed just minutes before, saving the lives of parishioners and preventing more deaths in Elgin.

As the tornado left downtown Elgin, it destroyed numerous trees along with 25 homes and damaged 200 other residences. Thereafter, the tornado destroyed two more barns and killed 38 cattle. It then probably dissipated, only to develop into a new tornado. Both isolated tornado and widespread downburst damage was reported as far as Wauconda, killing cattle, damaging farms, and destroying many buildings. The tornado in Elgin was rated F3 in a study and was the first tornado of the outbreak to cause deaths and to kill more than five people.

Channahon–Troy Township–Lockport–Bellwood–Maywood–Melrose Park–Dunning, Illinois

Roughly 15 minutes after the Elgin tornado formed, a violent F4 tornado tore through Will and Cook Counties, producing a path long in the Bellwood and Maywood areas. The tornado first destroyed five homes, two frame schools, and at least 12 barns as it passed from Channahon to Troy and thence to Lockport. It skipped thereafter, possibly dissipating and redeveloping into a second tornado, as it caused minor damage in the Romeoville area. Afterward, the tornado funnel was not seen for some time.