A large, weeklong tornado outbreak sequence of 73 tornadoes occurred on May 3–9, 1961, impacting areas from Utah to the East Coast of the United States. Overall, the outbreak sequence caused 23 fatalities, 126 injuries, and $42.205 million in damages (1961 USD).

Meteorological synopsis Multiple weather systems impacted mostly the Great Plains and Midwest, bringing multiple rounds of severe weather and tornadoes throughout the region starting on May 3 and ending on May 9. Other weather systems also produced tornadoes in Florida and Utah.

Confirmed tornadoes

May 3 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, May 3, 1961F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStartTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary F1E of ComancheStephensOK08:00–?A brief, weak tornado destroyed a shed, causing $2,500 in damage. There was no condensation funnel, but a loud roaring noise was heard. F1SE of Glenn to Afton to S of GuthrieDickens, KingTX21:00–?This long-tracked tornado moved over open ranch country, causing little to no damage. F2Dougherty (1st tornado)FloydTX00:00–00:10Twin tornadoes formed north of Dougherty after one tornado split into two. This one, which was smaller than the other, hit the town, destroying three trailers and a barn, ripping a porch off a house, and overturning several cotton trailers. Damage was estimated at $25,000. F0Dougherty (2nd tornado)FloydTX00:00–00:10This tornado split off the F2 tornado above. It was larger than the other one, but remained over open country east of town, causing no damage. F0NE of SilvertonBriscoeTX00:30–?A brief tornado in the Palo Duro Canyon caused no damage.

May 4 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, May 4, 1961F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStartTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary F0E of CanadianHemphillTX20:00–20:15This tornado remained over open ranch country, causing no damage. F2Green RiverEmery, GrandUT21:00–?A rare, strong tornado struck Green River, although only mostly minor damage occurred with losses totaling $2,500. This was the second of only 13 F2/EF2+ tornadoes ever recorded in Utah since 1950. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis did not classify the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F2W of Cheyenne to NE of Strong CityRoger MillsOK21:00–21:40A long-lived, large, multi-vortex tornado tracked mainly over open terrain. A few outbuildings, an abandoned house and schoolhouse, utility lines and fences were destroyed and very large hail up to the size of baseballs damaged crops. The tornado hurled cars off a nearby highway as well. Losses from the tornado totaled $25,000. F2W of BogataRed RiverTX21:00–?This large tornado blew the roofs off of several farmhouses and swept away outbuildings. As it crossed US 271, a boat and trailer were blown off of a moving vehicle and thrown into the field a considerable distance away. Windows were blown out of homes as well. Despite the damage, no monetary damage value was given. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F1LeedeyDeweyOK22:00–?A tornado struck the town of Leedey, destroying outbuildings and unroofing two businesses. hail also fell east of town. No damage value was given. F2NE of LeedeyDeweyOK22:15–?This strong tornado touched down north of the previous one. There was $2,500 in damage. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F3GearyBlaine, CanadianOK23:40–?1 death – This was the first of a complex of three tornadoes that formed over a path. More than 20 farmsteads were severely damaged or destroyed both in and around Geary, including one demolished building where a person was killed. The tornado, which caused $25,000 in damage, may have been up to wide. F2W of OkarcheCanadian, KingfisherOK00:15–?This was the second of a complex of three tornadoes that formed over a path. A schoolhouse was partly unroofed, and a three-story frame home was destroyed. Nearby farmsteads were also severely damaged or destroyed. The tornado, which caused $25,000 in damage, may have been up to wide. F1WNW of Okarche to SSE of KingfisherKingfisherOK00:30–?This was the third of a complex of three tornadoes that formed over a path. Farmsteads were severely damaged or destroyed. The tornado, which caused $25,000 in damage, may have been up to wide. F3SE of Fort StocktonPecosTX00:30–?This strong tornado touched down on the Johnny Bravo ranch in rural Pecos County well southeast of Fort Stockton, demolishing the ranch's headquarters, several barns and outbuildings, and three trucks, killing several horses and injuring one (although the injury was not officially counted). It supposedly lifted before touching down again on the Ligon ranch, destroying the ranch house, a windmill, and several outbuildings. Damage was estimated at $250,000. Storm Data list the tornado as happening on May 3 rather than May 4. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. F1S of Okarche to PiedmontCanadianOK00:45–?This tornado damaged several farmsteads and hail damaged 70 windows in Piedmont. Losses from the tornado totaled $2,500. F2S of ArnettEllisOK02:00–?A brief, but strong tornado destroyed outbuildings and uprooted trees on a farm, causing $2,500 in damage. Witnesses in Arnett saw the funnel from the tornado southwest of town. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F0NW of YukonCanadianOK02:25–?Police reported a tornado on the ground moving east over open country. There was no damage. F0W of PaducahCottleTX04:00–?A weak, narrow tornado damaged mesquites on the old Metador ranch, causing no monetary damages. Storm Data list the tornado as happening on May 3 rather than May 4.

May 5 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, May 5, 1961F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStartTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary F0NNW of Cheyenne WellsCheyenneCO22:00–?A pilot reported a tornado on the Claybank Route. There was no damage. F2Northern St. PetersburgPinellasFL22:15–?See section on this tornado – There was $25,000 in damage. F4Southeastern Talihina to Reichert to HoweLe FloreOK23:20–?16 deaths – This violent, catastrophic tornado first touched down southeast of Talihina, where an outbuilding on a farmstead was destroyed. It then moved through of forest in rural areas as it crossed over the Winding Stair Mountains, although there is a possibility that the tornado lifted, and a new tornado formed. As it came down Brushy Mountain, it became violent and struck Reichert, obliterating almost everything in its path. It then crossed the Yellow Spring Ridge and Potts Mountain and moved through both Glendale and Howe, completely destroying more buildings and homes before dissipating. In all, at least 70 homes were damaged or destroyed. It caused the most casualties during the outbreak, with 16 deaths and 58 injuries, along with $250,000 in damage. F3HugoChoctawOK00:30–?This brief but intense tornado unroofed two large buildings and uprooted many large trees, causing $25,000 in damage. The funnel cloud of the tornado was spotted on the northwest side of town before it touched down. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F2NE of Bethel to NW of SmithvilleMcCurtainOK02:00–?A strong tornado tracked over Boktuklo Mountains, destroying timber on an irregular path. There was no monetary damage value given. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F2Pleasant ValleyPopeAR02:30–?1 death – This strong tornado touched down north of Dover and moved northeastward. A house in the path was destroyed, killing one person and injuring four others. A car, truck and tractor were damaged as well, and losses totaled $25,000. F2PineyGarlandAR03:00–?A large, strong tornado touched down along Thornton Ferry Road and moved northeast along it, striking the Western Hot Springs suburb of Piney. A total of 25 homes were damaged or destroyed, six people were injured, and losses totaled $250,000. One source list the injury count as five. F1ConwayFaulknerAR04:30–?A large tornado touched down southwest of Conway and moved northeast lifting just before reaching the heart of the city. Six homes were damaged, several barns and garages were damaged or destroyed, trees and power lines were downed, and utility services were disrupted. One of the homes was unroofed as well. There were three minor injuries and $25,000 in damage. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2.

May 6 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 6, 1961F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStartTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary F1Southeastern Little RockPulaskiAR06:15–?A tornado moved from west to east along East Roosevelt Road on the southeastern side of Little Rock. A drive-in theater screen was destroyed while a second one was damaged, roofs and signs were extensively damaged, some buildings had structural damage, and trees were blown down. Three people were injured and losses totaled $250,000. F1W of StilwellAdairOK21:00–?Farmsteads were damaged, and fences and timber were torn up. Losses totaled $2,500. F1E of De Soto to SW of FestusJeffersonMO22:15–?Several witnesses spotted this tornado south and east of De Soto moving northeastward. Trees, barns, and roofs of homes were damaged, and losses totaled $25,000. F0NE of ElkhartElkhartIN00:30–?A brief tornado over an open field caused no damage. F0W of MelroseCherokeeKS00:30–?A small, brief tornado damaged a barn, although no damage value given. F3Witmer Lake, IN to Hamilton Lake, IN to Edon, OHLaGrange (IN), Steuben (IN), Williams (OH)IN, OH02:02–02:40See section on this tornado – Five people were injured and losses totaled $5.025 million. F0Forest HillLe FloreOK03:30–?Civil Defense spotters reported that a funnel cloud briefly touched down southeast of Howe. No damage occurred. F1N of BurlingtonKit CarsonCO04:30–?A small tornado damaged farm buildings and equipment with losses totaling $2,500. F2MidwayWhite, Jackson, IndependenceAR05:30–?2 deaths – A strong, multi-vortex tornado tore through Midway, destroying five homes, a church, and a gas station while damaging several other buildings. Six people were injured and losses totaled $250,000. Rain from the storm also damaged strawberries. F0Southern MooreClevelandOK05:50–?The police department spotted this tornado crossing a highway between Norman and Moore. It remained over open country and caused no damage. F2Oil Trough to ParoquetIndependenceAR05:56–06:06A strong tornado struck Oil Trough and Blackland, destroying six homes and causing considerable damage to other buildings. Barns were obliterated as well. Losses total $250,000.

May 7 event