The Super Outbreak: A Look Back

We've been tracking plenty of severe weather across the country Thursday, but it hardly compares to the Super Outbreak of April 3rd, 1974, which is widely known as one of the biggest and most violent tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.

Super Outbreak Tornado Paths and Fatalities

Between April 3rd and 4th, 148 tornadoes made confirmed touchdowns in 13 different states, killing 319 people. It would be the deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history until the 2011 Super Outbreak, which killed 324 people.

One of the hardest hit cities back in 1974 was the town of Xenia, Ohio. An F-5 tornado destroyed most of the town, killing 36 people in the process.







Events like this have helped shape how we forecast and prepare for severe weather. If you're interested in learning more about the tornadoes of the Super Outbreak, the Tornado History Project has put together an interactive map of the event. You can find it by clicking here. -BA