This Day in History: Tri-State Tornado 1925

It was on this day 86 years ago the famous Tri-State Tornado moved through southeast Missouri, southern Illinois and southwest Indiana.  The tornado started around 1pm that afternoon just northwest of Ellington, Missouri.  From there the tornado continued to travel northeast into southern Illinois where it completely wiped out the town of Gorham.  Within the next 40 minutes, 541 people were killed as the tornado ripped through the towns of Murphysboro, De Soto, Hurst-Bush and West Frankfort.  The death toll in Murphysboro, which was 234, is the largest within a single city in U.S. history!  After moving through southern Illinois the tornado continued its destruction in southwest Indiana before weakening about 10 miles northeast of Princeton, IN.

In all 695 people were killed as the tornado was, at times, a mile wide and traveled anywhere between 55 and 75 mph.

The Paducah, KY NWS has a lot more information, along with pictures, detailing what lead up to this devastating tornado.