This page documents all the known tornadoes that touched down in the United States during 1946. Tornadoes which occurred in the United States prior to 1950 are not officially rated. Tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis rated significant tornadoes, those rated F2 or higher on the Fujita scale, and the ratings are accepted and acknowledged by the National Weather Service. However, since the National Weather Service did not rate the tornadoes, the ratings are considered unofficial.
Confirmed tornadoes
January
January 4 event
January 5 event
January 6 event
January 8 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, January 8, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F2Port ArthurJeffersonTX08:00 or 08:30>Two homes had their roofs ripped off. The U.S. Weather Bureau states that several homes and outbuildings were damaged by the tornado.
February
February 13 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, February 13, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F3ArdmoreCarterOK02:45 or 03:00>1 death – On the eastern side of Ardmore 30–50 homes were destroyed and another 1,700 buildings damaged. In total, the tornado killed one person, injured 15 others, and caused $1–1.5 million in damage (equivalent to $-$ in 2022). Thomas P. Grazulis assigned an F3 rating, while Tornado Talk, a company dedicated to documenting tornado history, says this was a "possible F2 tornado". F2ENE of Cedartown to WNW of RockmartPolkGA20:45Eight barns were destroyed and five homes damaged in a rural community west-northwest of Rockmart.
February 18 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, February 18, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F0Oklahoma CityOklahomaOK15:00>>A "small tornado" caused minor damage to homes on the outskirts of Oklahoma City. This tornado did not receive an estimated rating on the Fujita scale from Thomas P. Grazulis, meaning he believes it was F0 or F1 intensity. The National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma rated it an F0 based on local records kept at the office.
February 27 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, February 27, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F2TampaHillsboroughFL14:00>>One home was destroyed and another partially unroofed in the Terrace Park neighborhood, leaving three people injured. The U.S. Weather Bureau describes it as "freak tornado". F2SE of LakelandPolkFL15:10The tornado demolished a home, damaged another, and destroyed several barns and sheds. Grazulis documents only one home being unroofed by the tornado. Tornado Archive documents the length of this tornado as .
March
March 15 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, March 15, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F2KewaneeLauderdale (confirmed) Forrest, Wayne (possible)MS21:25–22:00>The U.S. Weather Bureau documents a series of tornadoes in the Forrest, Wayne, and Lauderdale counties of Mississippi, which damaged several structures and caused $275,000 in damage ($ in 2022). Grazulis documents a tornado destroying multiple barns, a church, and a small home near Kewanne, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, but does not mention any damage or tornadoes in Forrest or Wayne county. One person was injured.
March 22 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, March 22, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F4SE of WynonaOsageOK20:00This large tornado destroyed 15 homes and a power plant, and damaged ten other homes. A piece of machinery was carried by the tornado.
March 27 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, March 27, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F2E of HoustonSuwanneeFL13:00>Several barns were destroyed and a school was unroofed.
April
April 5 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, April 5, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F2Around OttawaFranklinKS16:30A large barn and several smaller farm buildings were demolished across two farms.
April 15 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, April 15, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width FUEulessTarrantTX17:00The north-northeasterly tornado twisted and snapped large trees and blew in the front of multiple buildings. This tornado did not receive an estimated rating on the Fujita scale from Thomas P. Grazulis, meaning he believes it was F0 or F1 intensity. FUEulessTarrantTX17:00This easterly moving twin of the previous tornado blew the roof off the Euless Lumber Company and collapsed a house. This tornado did not receive an estimated rating on the Fujita scale from Thomas P. Grazulis, meaning he believes it was F0 or F1 intensity.
April 21 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, April 21, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width FUAround Timber LakeDeweySD22:00The tornado struck the city of Timber Lake, causing at least $150,000 in property damage ($+ in 2022). This tornado did not receive an estimated rating on the Fujita scale from Thomas P. Grazulis, meaning he believes it was F0 or F1 intensity. In 1946 the U.S. Weather Bureau published a paper stating the tornado’s width to be , which would make this the widest tornado ever documented.
May
May 10 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, May 10, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F3Curved around EufaulaMcIntosh, PittsburgOK19:451 death – One person was killed and five injured; additionally, 11 buildings were destroyed and seven damaged. In total $35,000 in damage occurred ($ in 2022), including $25,000 in property damage ($ in 2022). F2NW of Queen City, TexasCassTX??:??>>Two homes were destroyed.
May 15 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, May 15, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F4S of Loraine to Champion to MarynealMitchell, NolanTX??:??>1 death – On the west side of Champion, several homes were damaged and three destroyed, including one that was noted to be newly constructed. Inside the recently built house one was killed and two were severely injured. South of Loraine, two homes were destroyed, and in total over 100 animals were killed. The United States Weather Bureau documented this event as a hailstorm, rather than a tornado. F2SW of BriscoeWheelerTX??:??>>A home was unroofed.
May 16 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, May 16, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F2Sandy RidgeLowndesAL02:00A large family home was destroyed, along with smaller homes and other farm buildings; pecan trees and a truck were also destroyed. FUCarnegieCaddoOK20:00>This southwestward-moving tornado damaged several buildings.
May 17 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, May 17, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width FUAround Marion and CrayneCrittendenKY14:30–17:30>This tornado injured two near Crayne and caused $350,000 in damage ($ in 2022). F3NWN of West End to Norris CityFranklin, Saline, Hamilton, WhiteIL16:301 death – Six homes and twelve barns were damaged in rural areas. In Norris City, three homes were nearly leveled, killing one person.
May 18 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 18, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width FUBeloitLyonIA18:30>Small buildings and windmills were damaged; several trees were uprooted. F4SE of Stoneburg to NE of BowieClay, Montague, DentonTX19:003 deaths – In Stoneburg, a church was obliterated, with debris splintered and scattered for a mile. That said, a linen scarf was untouched that laid on the pulpit. Elsewhere along the tornado's track, an elderly man was killed and his wife injured after their house was destroyed. Also killed were a "prominent elderly couple" when their home was leveled, along with every barn on their new ranch. The U.S. Weather Bureau considers this tornado and the following tornado the same, while Grazulis splits the tornadoes up. In total, three people were killed, 15 others injured, and $112,000 in damage occurred ($ in 2022). F4Around SangerDentonTX20:001 death – East of Sanger three homes were leveled and a nine-year-old girl was killed by flying debris while she ran for the storm cellar. Another home was destroyed on the north side of Sanger. The U.S. Weather Bureau considers this tornado and the following tornado the same, while Grazulis splits the tornadoes up. In total, one person was killed and five were injured.
May 19 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, May 19, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F2Morgan CitySt. MaryLA20:45>A grocery store was destroyed and four homes were unroofed in Morgan City.
May 20 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, May 20, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F3SE of Seven Springs to N of Kinston to NW of GriftonWayne, Lenoir, PittNC20:152 deaths – Three homes and twelve barns were destroyed, with 25 other homes damaged. An elderly couple was killed in their home northwest of Grifton. The U.S. Weather Bureau documents this as two separate tornadoes, with Wayne County being hit, while Grazulis documents this as one tornado that did not hit Wayne County. In total, two people were killed, 50 were injured, and the tornado caused $110,000 in damage ($ in 2022).
May 22 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, May 22, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width FUHill CityGrahamKS18:00The U.S. Weather Bureau documents this as a tornado and hail event that caused crop and property damage totaling $40,000 ($ in 2022).
May 23 event
May 24 event
May 29 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, May 29, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F4Wellsford to CullisonKiowa, PrattKS17:00Considerable damage occurred in Cullison, with up to $110,000 ($ in 2022) in damage documented by the U.S. Weather Bureau. One farmhouse was swept away, and numerous other farm buildings were destroyed. Five vortex clouds were observed with this tornado. F2NE of Stoneburg or ForestburgMontagueTX18:00>>One home was destroyed and another was unroofed. The U.S. Weather Bureau said this tornado struck Forestburg while Grazulis said northeast of Stoneburg. FUPenalosaKingmanKS19:40>>No damage was reported. FUPrattPrattKSP.M.>>The U.S. Weather Bureau documented that "chief loss in wheat [ranged] from 25 to 100 percent."
May 30 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, May 30, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width FU???Sumner, CowleyKS13:00>>Minor damage occurred to buildings. F2SW of to Arkansas CityCowleyKS13:20"Homes, barns, and businesses were unroofed." F2Through CrestonUnionIA14:20Warehouses were destroyed, homes unroofed, and 40 railroad cars derailed. About 100 other homes sustained various types of damage from the combined effect of the tornado and accompanying downburst. The tornado caused $250,000 in damage ($ in 2022).
May 31 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, May 31, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width FUArkansas CityCowleyKS14:15The tornado caused property damage. F2S of Fort Recovery to SharpsburgMercerOH16:05 or 17:30Multiple buildings on four farms were destroyed and several homes were unroofed or damaged.
June
June 6 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, June 6, 1946F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (local)Path lengthMax width F2Moose Lake to BarnumCarltonMN19:00 or 19:45-21:45 rural buildings were destroyed, two people injured, and hundreds of animals killed. A downburst associated with this storm damaged 25 homes; three homes were destroyed, if they were destroyed by the tornado or downburst. The U.S. Weather Bureau documented this as a "small tornado" with hail.
June 7 event