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🌪️ This Week In Tornado History

December 18, 1957 - Murphysboro, IL: This twister traveled close to 30 miles through parts of Jackson, Williamson and Franklin Counties in Illinois. Per Thomas Grazulis in Significant Tornadoes, the path followed closely to a section of the great Tri-State Tornado of March 18, 1925. There were 11 fatalities including 4 members of the Butcher family. George Butcher lost his wife and three children when their home was hit. A daughter was seriously hurt, and another son was not injured.

December 19, 2017 - Rusk, TX: An EF2 tornado passed through areas just southwest of Rusk, TX. Extensive tree and powerline damage occurred along the three-mile path. A few homes lost parts of their roofs.

December 20, 1973 - Miami-Dade County, FL: A quick-hitting F2 tornado moved through parts of southern Miami-Dade County on this day. It was one of two tornadoes to strike the area. The other hit near Kendall and was later rated F1. The greatest damage appeared to be in the Florida City area. The Gateway Trailer Estates was hit and numerous mobile homes were destroyed. Some were blown into a nearby lake.

December 21, 1891 - Marshalltown, IA: A possible F2 tornado moved “slowly” from 4 miles SW of Marshalltown to the west side of town. A house and four barns were destroyed. Thomas Grazulis reported that one personal was thrown 200 yards. He lists no fatalities. Newspapers at the times stated that a man was fatally injured.

December 22, 2011 - Rome, GA: An EF2 tornado tracked for 12 miles across Floyd County, GA, near Rome. Numerous trees and power lines were toppled along the path, and at least 20 homes had significant damage. Three people were injured.

December 23, 2015 - Holly Springs-Ashland, MS: 31 tornadoes occurred on this day. The strongest and deadliest of the day was this long track EF4, the second in a tornado family that caused damage through parts of northern Mississippi into southeastern Tennessee. Path length was just over 75 mile. 36 were injured and there were 9 fatalities. The attached damage photos from the Damage Assessment Toolkit. At left, the remains of a home that was leveled along Lamar Road. At right, the spot where a poorly constructed home disappeared in the Ashland area, killing several people.

December 24, 1945 - Sumrall, MS: An F2 tornado destroyed six houses, two churches, and a store NW of Sumrall, MS. Three were killed in one home. One body was carried for a quarter mile. “Groceries from the store were scattered across half a square mile.” Source: Thomas Grazulis.