Tornadoes of 1979
 Tracks of all US tornadoes in 1979. | |
| Timespan | January 1 - December 23, 1979 |
|---|---|
| Maximum rated tornado | F4 tornado
|
| Tornadoes in U.S. | 855[1] |
| Damage (U.S.) | Unknown |
| Fatalities (U.S.) | 84 |
| Fatalities (worldwide) | >84 |
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1979, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
Synopsis[edit]
  Approximate touchdown location of killer tornadoes in 1979 | |||||
|
Numbers for 1979 were similar to that of 1980. Deaths were near normal, but injuries were above normal.
Events[edit]
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 349 | 318 | 116 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 855 |
January[edit]
16 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in January, of which all were confirmed.[3]
February[edit]
4 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in February, of which all were confirmed.[4]
March[edit]
53 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in March.[5]
March 18[edit]
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
On March 18, a minor outbreak swept across Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The strongest tornado was an F3 that struck Copan, Oklahoma. An F2 tornado hit Catoosa, Oklahoma, a suburb of Tulsa.[6]
March 29[edit]
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
On March 29, tornadoes touched down across Iowa and Illinois, including an F4 tornado that hit Braddyville, Iowa. An F0 struck a small suburb of Denver.[7]
April[edit]
123 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in April.[8]
April 10–12[edit]
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 10 | 19 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
A large tornado outbreak also called "Terrible Tuesday",[9] broke out in Texas and Oklahoma. Several deadly tornadoes occurred, including an F4 that decimated buildings in Wichita Falls, killing 42 people. An F2 tornado was notable for killing one person when it struck a mobile home park in Boonville, Indiana. A tornado killed three people in Lawton, Oklahoma. Overall, there were 58 deaths and over 2,000 injuries.
May[edit]
There were 112 tornadoes reported in the U.S. in May.[10]
June[edit]
150 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in June.[11]
June 28[edit]
A small, but deadly outbreak of tornadoes broke out in Iowa and Minnesota, including an F4 that killed three people in Manson, Iowa.[12][13]
July[edit]
132 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in July.[14]
July 16[edit]
An F3 tornado struck Cheyenne, Wyoming causing one fatality and 40 injuries. The tornado first to receive national attention by videotape as it ripped apart 500 homes.[15]
August[edit]
126 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in August.[16]
August 7 (Canada)[edit]
At least three tornadoes touched down in Woodstock, Ontario, killing two people and injuring 142 others.
September[edit]
69 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in September.[17]
September 5[edit]
An F3 tornado touched down in Tysons, Virginia, killing one person.[18]
October[edit]
47 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in October.[19]
October 3[edit]
An F4 tornado touched down in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, being a very rare New England tornado. The tornado was ranked as one of the costliest tornadoes in U.S. history, killing three people.[citation needed]
November[edit]
21 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in November.[20]
December[edit]
2 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in December.[21]
See also[edit]
- Tornado
- List of tornado outbreaks
- List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of 21st-century Canadian tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of European tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks in Asia
- List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of tornadoes striking downtown areas
- Tornado intensity
References[edit]
- ^ "1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "Severe Weather Database Files (1950-2021)". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. July 11, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "January, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "February, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "March, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "March 18, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "March 29, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "April, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "Weather History: Terrible Tuesday 1979". AccuWeather.com. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "May, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "June, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "June 28, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "Minnesota Tornado History and Statistics".
- ^ "July, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "Tornado History Project: 19790716.56.17". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.
- ^ "August, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "September, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "Tornado History Project: 19790905.51.7". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.
- ^ "October, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "November, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ "December, 1979". Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
External links[edit]
- U.S. tornadoes in 1979 - Tornado History Project