The following is a list of the deadliest tornadoes in the Americas including Canada, Mexico, and the United States as well as the countries and islands of the Caribbean and the countries included in both Central America and South America. While the significant majority of tornadoes on this list occurred in the United States, there are also entries for Argentina, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, and Uruguay.

The deadliest tornado on record was the Daulatpur–Saturia tornado which occurred in the Dhaka division of Bangladesh on April 26, 1989. With a rating of at least F3 from the World Meteorological Organization and top winds estimated at greater than , the tornado killed an estimated 1,300 people and injured at least 12,000 others. Of all the recorded tornadoes with death tolls of 100 or greater, at least 24 of them occurred in Bangladesh and/or India, and two of them occurred in Europe (in the countries of Italy and Malta).

In the Americas, there are 15 tornadoes on record that caused at least 100 fatalities, the most recent being the Joplin EF5 tornado which killed 161 people in May 2011. There are at least 450 tornadoes on record that caused greater than ten fatalities; the most recent of these was the Somerset-London Kentucky EF4 tornado which killed 19 people in May 2025.

100+ fatalities RankAffected Communities YearMonth & Day Fatalities Injuries F or EF Notes Other References 1 Ellington, Missouri-Murphysboro/De Soto, Illinois-Griffin/Princeton, Indiana1925 689-6952,027F5 By far, the deadliest tornado in United States history and the second deadliest in world history. While the National Weather Service’s official death toll was 689, the American Red Cross reported 695 fatalities; however, the actual death toll was probably much higher than either figure as many people later died of their injuries 1925 Tri-State tornado2Natchez, Mississippi1840317109F4+Great Natchez Tornado, (Grazulis, p. 559)3 Encarnación, Paraguay1926300–500500+F5The deadliest tornado in South American history. Estimates on number of fatalities differ.1926 Encarnación tornado3St. Louis, Missouri—East St. Louis, Illinois18962551,000F4These figures probably do not include actual numbers of African-American people or residents of Shanty town boats in the Mississippi River who were killed or injured.1896 St. Louis – East St. Louis tornado, (Grazulis, p. 676)4Tupelo, Mississippi1936216700F5At least 100 people were still hospitalized when this death toll was published, so the actual death toll may be much higher. The Mississippi State Geologist estimated a death toll of 233. African-American casualties were not counted properly. (Grazulis gave this tornado an F5 rating.)1936 Tupelo–Gainesville tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 865)5Gainesville, Georgia19362031,600F4At least 40 people were still missing in collapsed buildings when these figures were published, so the actual death toll may be much higher.1936 Tupelo–Gainesville tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 866)6Glazier/Higgins, Texas—Woodward, Oklahoma1947181970F5This was a family of tornadoes. Widely accepted death tolls per city are as follows: 107 in Woodward, 51 in Higgins, and 17 in Glazier. Six others were killed in rural parts of southern Oklahoma.1947 Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornado outbreak (Grazulis, p. 927)7Joplin, Missouri20111581,150EF5 As of 2026, this is the only 21st century tornado in the Americas with a death toll greater than 100. Five additional people died from a rare Mucormycosis fungal infection (caused by Apophysomyces trapeziformis) that was found in their wounds; a police officer was struck by lightning and killed the following day while engaged in recovery efforts; and four others died from their injuries in the two weeks after the tornado. Those ten deaths were considered "indirect fatalities" and are not counted in the final death toll.2011 Joplin tornado8Amite/Pine, Louisiana—Purvis/Richton, Mississippi1908143770F41908 Dixie tornado outbreak9New Richmond, Wisconsin1899117200F5The number of fatalities could have been much lower, but a circus had come to town and a number of people from nearby communities were there when the tornado struck.1899 New Richmond tornado10Flint—Beecher, Michigan1953116844F51953 Flint–Beecher tornado11Waco, Texas1953114597F51953 Waco tornado, (Grazulis, p. 970)Goliad, Texas1902114250F41902 Goliad, Texas, tornado13Omaha, Nebraska1913103350F4Tornado outbreak sequence of March 191314Mattoon—Charleston, Illinois1917101638F4Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 752)15Shinnston, West Virginia1944100381F4Historians suggested a death toll as high as 153.1944 Shinnston tornado

50–99 fatalities RankAffected Communities YearMonth & Day Fatalities Injuries F or EF Notes Other References 16Marshfield, Missouri188099200F4The death toll was probably higher. (Grazulis, p. 608)Marshfield Cyclone17Maynard/Brockett, Arkansas—Poplar Bluff, Missouri192798300F4Tornado outbreak of May 1927, (Grazulis, p. 809)Gainesville, Georgia190398180F4A 1932 newspaper reported a death toll of 104, which included deaths that occurred later due to injuries sustained during the tornado. (Grazulis, p. 700)1903 Gainesville, Georgia, tornado19Snyder, Oklahoma190597150F51905 Snyder tornado20Petersham—Barre—Rutland—Holden—Worcester—Shrewsbury—Westborough—Southborough, Massachusetts1953941,288F4+Grazulis has stated that this tornado should have been rated F5 (Grazulis, p. 974). He also stated that the previously reported death toll of 90 is incorrect, based on overwhelming evidence in John O’Toole's book Tornado! 84 Minutes, 94 Lives1953 Worcester Tornado21DeWitt/Camanche, Iowa—Albany/Morrison Township, Illinois186092200F4Grazulis gave this an F4 rating. He also reported a death toll as high as 111. (Grazulis, p. 566)22Concordia Parish, Louisiana—Natchez/Pine Ridge/Church Hill, Mississippi190891400F41908 Dixie tornado outbreak23Starkville/Cedarbluff/Aberdeen, Mississippi—Bexar/Hackleburg/Phil Campbell/Spruce Pine/Waco/Mehama, Alabama192088700F4April 1920 tornado outbreak24Sandusky-Lorain, Ohio192485300F41924 Lorain–Sandusky tornado (Grazulis, p. 790)25Udall, Kansas195580273F5Grazulis reported 270 injuries (Grazulis, p. 987)1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak26St. Louis, Missouri192779550F3Tornado outbreak of September 29, 192727Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky189076200F4Tornado outbreak of March 27, 189028Rocksprings, Texas192774205F5One-third of the town was killed by this tornado.29Farmington—Howe—Sherman, Texas189673200F5Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896, (Grazulis, p. 674)30Hackleburg—Phil Campbell—Tanner—Harvest—Athens, Alabama201172145EF5"Hackleburg-Phil Campbell tornado" The deadliest single tornado in the 2011 Super Outbreak and in Alabama history.2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornadoSt. Cloud—Sauk Rapids, Minnesota188672213F4A couple was killed on their wedding day, with nine of their wedding guests also among the fatalities. (Grazulis, p. 637)1886 St. Cloud-Sauk Rapids tornado outbreak32Pomeroy, Iowa189371200F5One report suggested a death toll as high as 89, but this could not be confirmed.(Grazulis, p. 664)Peggs, Oklahoma192071100F434Antlers, Oklahoma194569353F5This tornado occurred the same afternoon as the death of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; as a result, this extremely violent and deadly tornado received little or no media attention, even from local newspapers. (Grazulis, p. 919)Tornado outbreak of April 12, 194535Rippey—Grinnell—Malcom, Iowa188268300F5One report suggested a death toll as high as 130.1882 Grinnell tornado (Grazulis, p. 615)36Tiptonville, Tennessee—Bondurant/Hickman/Clinton/Dublin, Kentucky191767345F4Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25 – June 1, 1917, (Grazulis, p. 752)37Tuscaloosa—Holt—Alberta City—Concord—Pleasant Grove—Birmingham (Pratt City)—Fultondale, Alabama2011641,500EF4"Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado" Second highest toll for a single tornado during the 2011 Super Outbreak.2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado38Itta Bena—Greenwood—Avalon, Mississippi—Cascilla—Otoucalofa—Tula, Mississippi194263500F4Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942San Justo, Santa Fe Province, Argentina197363350F5Dr. Ted Fujita studied this and determined it was "the worst tornado ever recorded in the world outside the borders of the United States." It was only on the ground for San Justo tornado40*Williamsonville, Wisconsin187160*A "Fire-nado", an extension of a forest fire that engulfed about half of the Door County peninsula, killed three-quarters of the people (reports range between 57 and 60) in this small village. The National Weather Service now issues tornado warnings when conditions are favorable for the formation of "Fire-nadoes" during wildfires.Peshtigo fire, (Grazulis, p. 575)41Mims Chapel/Avinger, Texas—Trigenta/Shiloh/Hempstead County, Arkansas192159300F4Grazulis, p. 773)42Cary/Gooden Lake/Pugh City/Morgan City/Money, Mississippi—Middleton, Tennessee197158795F4Grazulis reported 700 injuries (Grazulis, p. 1,121)Tornado outbreak of February 21–22, 1971Jackson, Mississippi196658518F5Grazulis reported 57 deaths and 504 injuries. (Grazulis, p. 1,079)1966 Candlestick Park tornado outbreak44Mayfield—Princeton—Dawson Springs—Bremen, Kentucky202157515+EF42021 Western Kentucky tornadoFergus Falls, Minnesota191957200F51919 Fergus Falls tornado (Grazulis, p. 764)46Wesson—Beauregard—Georgetown, Mississippi188356300F4(Grazulis, p. 617)47Warren, Arkansas194955435F4(Grazulis, p. 941)Fort Smith—Van Buren, Arkansas189855113F41898 Fort Smith, Arkansas, tornado (Grazulis, p. 681)49Steedman—Horrell Hill—Gaillard Crossroads, South Carolina192453534F4"The Horrell Hill Tornado"April 1924 tornado outbreak, (Grazulis, p. 788)50Pryor, Oklahoma194252350F4Two days after the tornado struck, the Associated Press reported a total of 60 deaths; "an unofficial check of mortuaries in the storm area showed 70 known dead." The World History Project reported greater than 400 injuries.(Grazulis, p. 899)51Kensett—Judsonia—Bald Knob—Russell, Arkansas195250325F4Tornado outbreak of March 21–22, 1952, (Grazulis, p. 962)

30–49 fatalities