A long-lived, destructive tornado outbreak sequence caused widespread damage and numerous casualties across the United States during mid- to late-May 1962. Over the course of 18 days, 188 tornadoes touched down across 25 states from California to Connecticut. There were 62 significant (F2+) tornadoes during the event, including 15 F3 tornadoes and four F4 tornadoes. In addition to the tornadoes, storms across the region produced destructive straight-line winds, large hail, heavy rainfall that led to flash flooding, and frequent lightning. Overall, the outbreak sequence caused three fatalities, 168 injuries, and caused $33.450 million in damage. There were additional casualties that occurred as a result of non-tornadic weather events as well.
Meteorological synopsis A persistent weather pattern brought almost daily severe and tornadic storms to the Great Plains as multiple low-pressure systems moved northward through the region due to a ridge to the east. In Nebraska and South Dakota, multiple strong tornadoes moved over the same areas on different days with Nebraska also seeing a violent tornado. One particularly devastating F3 tornado injured 32 in Mitchell, South Dakota. May 22 also saw a fatality when an F2 tornado struck Iowa City, Iowa. In the Northeastern United States, several stray tornadoes touched down and caused minor to major damage. Connecticut saw the most casualties from one tornado when an F3 tornado struck the northern suburbs of Waterbury, causing near-F4 damage, killing one, and injuring 50. Oklahoma and Texas saw three of the four violent tornadoes from the outbreak during the latter part of May. May 25, saw an F4 tornado injure nine in Dill City, Oklahoma while an F3 tornado killed one and injured another in Radium, Texas. Although the worst tornadoes happened during the outbreak sequence, the active period of daily tornadoes did not officially end until June 25. In addition to the tornadoes, widespread non-tornadic impacts occurred with lightning and flooding causing most of the non-tornadic casualties.
Confirmed tornadoes
Burton–Mills, Nebraska/Bonesteel, South Dakota
This massive, intense, long-tracked F3 tornado touched down well northwest of Springview and southeast of Naper, Nebraska on May 14 and moved northeast, striking the towns Burton and Mills. Nine farmsteads were obliterated, six others were partially destroyed, and one other one was damaged heavily damaged. Four of the farms had every building including the home swept away. In all, 10 homes were destroyed with debris from them scattered up to away. The tornado then crossed the state line and struck Bonesteel, South Dakota before dissipating. It traveled and was wide. It injured eight and caused $250,000 in damage. The tornado track may have been much longer as possible tornado damage was observed all the way to Carthage, South Dakota, a total distance of about . The tornado was rated F4 by Grazulis.=
Southern Corsica–Mitchell–Forestburg–Huron, South Dakota
This massive, intense, long-tracked F3 tornado was a possible continuation of the earlier large F3 tornado in Nebraska above. It is officially labeled to have touched down south of Corsica and moved northeast, before turning almost due north while passing northwest of Ethan, striking Mitchell, Forestburg, Huron, and Morningside before dissipating east of Broadland. It traveled , was wide, and injured two. Despite the destruction, no monetary damage value was given.
Closter−Tilden–Hartington–Wynot, Nebraska
Long-tracked, large F3 tornado family touched down just north-northwest of Closter on May 21 and moved north-northeast, strengthening as it struck Tilden. There was major damage in the town with some areas being completely destroyed. Six people were injured in Tilden with losses totaling at least $1 million. Turning northeast, the tornado weakened and may have lifted temporarily, with a funnel cloud being spotted aloft just southwest of McLean and east of Osmond. Damage was sporadic and of varying intensities until the tornado touched down solidly again as it approached Hartington. Major damage occurred in the town as walls and roofs being blown off of businesses and homes with losses totaling at least $100,000. One person was also injured. The tornado continued northeast, barely missing St. James and Wynot to the east before dissipating over the Missouri River just before crossing into South Dakota.
The tornado was on the ground for at least an hour and 10 minutes, traveled , and was wide. Seven people were injured and losses totaled $10 million. Gusty winds and hail accompanied the tornado as well.
Mitchell, South Dakota
This devastating F3 tornado, which occurred on the same day as the tornado above, may have started just north Armour, where a farm place was demolished with the house swept from its foundation and other buildings ripped to pieces. A tornado was also reported west of Ethan before the tornado is said to have officially touched down on the west side of Mitchell and proceeded northeast, causing catastrophic damage. A home on West 4th Avenue "exploded" into pieces, tossing its occupants down the street, including two children that were miraculously found safe after the tornado dropped them a block away, with nothing more than a few cuts and bruises. Their parents were also injured with the father sustaining a severe head injury that he never recovered from, dying five years later, although it was not officially counted. Further northeast at Herbie's Diner, two employees took cover in a walk-in cooler just as the café was being obliterated. Five people were trapped under the debris at the diner and three of the women had been burned by the hot water from the coffeemaker. They were all rescued, and not were seriously injured. Eight people were spared as they had jumped inside a car parked inside a nearby gas station as the tornado hit. A roar like a large freight train was heard as the tornado struck the café as well. The tornado then caused more destruction on the north side of Mitchell. Several other homes were destroyed or extensively damaged and a trailer in the area was blown away. A police car with two Mitchell police officers was picked up and tossed across a street with a 4-by-4 post being driven through the back window. Both officers survived thanks to the metal grate that separates the back and front seats. Many other cars and trucks were demolished and, in some extreme cases, strands of straw were propelled through car radiators. Huge, wide trees up to tall were uprooted and many roads were blocked by downed trees and other debris. The tornado weakened and dissipated shortly after exiting the city.
The tornado traveled officially and was wide. A total of 15 businesses were demolished and several buildings were reduced to rubble, causing parts of Mitchell to look like it had been bombed. A total of 32 people were injured and damage was estimated at $2.5 million. It was the worst tornado to hit the region until May 30, 1998, when an F4 tornado destroyed the small town of Spencer, killing six people and injuring 150 others.
Iowa City, Iowa
A large and destructive F2 tornado touched down within the city limits of Iowa City, Iowa on May 22 and moved northeast, striking the southern and eastern part of town. It first struck the Iowa City Trailer Park, where three trailers were damaged by falling trees. An wind gust was measured at the Iowa City Airport as the storm passed just barely to the southeast. The tornado then crossed over the Iowa River and struck the national guard armory. A quarter of the roof of the block-long building was ripped off with most of it landing in a pile that looked like kindling wood in the front yard. Further along the path, a large tree fell on a two-story home while another large tree fell on and obliterated a garage while damaging the car inside it. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted as the tornado continued northeastward and numerous power and transmission lines were downed before it dissipated.
The tornado tracked and was wide. Although it not immediately deemed as such, a damage survey, as well as an eyewitness's account of seeing a lowering followed by "two tails" hanging below as it moved through the city, confirmed that a tornado had taken place. One person was killed and damage was estimated at $250,000. Despite the damage, Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.
Bunker Hill–Fairmount–Waterville–Wolcott–Southington, Connecticut
On May 24, this highly destructive and deadly F3 tornado touched down along Middlebury Road (US 6A) (present-day Route 64) near Hillcrest in the extreme northeastern part of Middlebury. It moved erratically and slowly in a general east to northeastwardly path as it moved first along and then over the Straits Turnpike (Route 63) and through the south side of Watertown at only . Several walls at the new Engineered Plastics plant that was under construction on Commercial Street, the road that runs parallel to Straits Turnpike, were knocked down, a nearby construction shed was flattened, and dozens of trees and power lines were blown down on this part of the path. It then struck Dion's Restaurant, where it blew out windows, knocked down a sign, and tossed a car in the air before depositing it upside-down in a field. A well-digging rig located at the State Dairy property was blown over and windows at Pioneer Volkswagen were blown out. The tornado then moved through a wooded area before it strengthened to near peak intensity as it moved through Bunker Hill at F3 intensity before strengthening to its peak as it struck Fairmount and Waterville at high-end F3 intensity north of Waterbury. At all three locations, homes were flattened or had their roofs torn completely away with the residential area of Fairmount being completely destroyed at "near-F4" intensity. At nearby Waterville, part of the residential area and the most of industrial area was completely destroyed. Half of the Waterville Bible Church was destroyed, the roof of the Sprague School gym was blown off, and a lumber company and a corrugated cardboard manufacturer were obliterated with pieces of the buildings being tossed into the Naugatuck River. A man within this part of the damage path between Bunker Hill and Waterville was attempting to seek shelter in his home when he was struck by a large tree limb, killing him instantly.