Tornadoes of 1966

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| title = Fatal United States tornadoes in 1966

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| image = {{Location map+|United States|width=450|float=none|relief=yes|border=none|caption=Approximate touchdown location of killer tornadoes in 1966

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{{Location map~|United States|lat=32.18|long=-90.55|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6|link=1966_Candlestick_Park_tornado_outbreak#Candlestick_Park_tornado}}

{{Location map~|United States|lat=27.92|long=-82.8|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6|link=Tornado_outbreak_of_April_4–5,_1966#Largo–Clearwater–Carrollwood–Temple_Terrace–Galloway–Gibsonia–Loughman,_Florida}}

{{Location map~|United States|lat=31.93|long=-89.83|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6|link=}}

{{Location map~|United States|lat=38.92|long=-95.92|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6|link=Tornado_outbreak_sequence_of_June_1966#Topeka,_Kansas}}

{{Location map~|United States|lat=39.17|long=-95.18|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6|link=}}

{{Location map~|United States|lat=42.1|long=-87.93|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6|link=}}

{{Location map~|United States|lat=48.8|long=-98.1|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6|link=}}

{{Location map~|United States|lat=46|long=-99.47|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6|link=}}

{{Location map~|United States|lat=45.43|long=-98.52|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6|link=}}

{{Location map~|United States|lat=42.8|long=-93.65|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6|link=}}

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| caption = Summary of tornadoes{{Cite web|date=July 11, 2022|title=Severe Weather Database Files (1950-2021)|url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/#data|access-date=November 12, 2022|work=Storm Prediction Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}{{colbegin|colwidth=16em}}

• March 3 – Mississippi, Alabama (58 deaths)
• April 4 – Florida (11 deaths)
• April 26 – Mississippi (1 death)
• June 8 – Kansas (16 deaths)
• June 8 – Kansas (1 death)
• June 9 – Illinois (1 death)
• June 24 – North Dakota (1 death)
• July 31 – North Dakota, South Dakota (2 deaths)
• July 31 – South Dakota (1 death)
• October 14 – Iowa (6 deaths)

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Total fatalities: 98

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{{Tornado chart|Enhanced=no|Total=585|F0=169|F1=239|F2=145|F3=25|F4=4|F5=3}}

One tornado was reported in the United States in January.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/1/map|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215210117/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/1/map|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 15, 2019|title=Tornado History Project: January, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}

The only confirmed tornado of the month, a brief, nighttime F3 tornado, struck near New Orleans, Louisiana. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

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There were 28 tornadoes reported in the United States in February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/2/map|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215210112/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/2/map|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 15, 2019|title=Tornado History Project: February, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}

{{Tornado chart small|F0= 1|F1= 3|F2= 3|F3= 1|F4= 0|F5= 0|FU= 0|Enhanced=No}}

A localized outbreak occurred in Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana. An F3 tornado struck areas near Edna, Texas. There were no fatalities or injuries from the outbreak.

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There were 12 tornadoes reported in the United States in March.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/3/map|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221230938/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/3/map|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 21, 2018|title=Tornado History Project: March, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}

{{Main|1966 Candlestick Park tornado outbreak}}

{{Tornado chart small|F0= 0|F1= 3|F2= 0|F3= 0|F4= 0|F5= 1|FU= 0|Enhanced=No}}

On March 3, a supercell produced an extremely violent, exceptionally long-tracked F5 tornado that devastated parts of Jackson, Mississippi and Alabama. The tornado, dubbed the Candlestick Park Tornado (after the shopping center it leveled) killed 58 people and injured over 500 along its 202.5 mile long track. The same supercell that produced the Candlestick Park Tornado also spawned two short lived F1 tornadoes with an additional F1 tornado occurring the next day.{{cite web |title=Tornado Summaries |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=03&beginDate_dd=03&beginDate_yyyy=1966&endDate_mm=03&endDate_dd=04&endDate_yyyy=1966&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL |website=National Weather Service |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=15 July 2020}}

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There were 80 tornadoes reported in the United States in April.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/4/map|title=Tornado History Project: April, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Main|Tornado outbreak of April 4–5, 1966}}

{{Tornado chart small|F0= 0|F1= 0|F2= 1|F3= 0|F4= 1|F5= 0|FU= 0|Enhanced=No}}

Two long-track tornadoes touched down in Florida, and traveled across the whole state. One tornado touched down near Largo and tore through Northern Tampa at around 8:00 in the morning. This tornado devastated several communities across Florida, receiving an F4 rating. That tornado killed 11 people, and injured over 500. The second tornado, an F2, did not cause as much damage as the first tornado, as the funnel remained aloft for most of its life span.{{harvnb|Storm Data Publication|1966|loc=[https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=04&beginDate_dd=04&beginDate_yyyy=1966&endDate_mm=04&endDate_dd=05&endDate_yyyy=1966&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL Events Reported]}}

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There were 98 tornadoes reported in the United States in May.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/5/map|title=Tornado History Project: May, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Tornado chart small|F0= 3|F1= 4|F2= 3|F3= 2|F4= 0|F5= 0|Enhanced=No}}

Two F3 tornadoes occurred, one in Washington County, Kansas, and the other in Shawnee County, both were reported to be skipping along their tracks. Many other tornadoes were reported.1966-05 Publication https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html

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{{Tornado chart small|F0= 3|F1= 2|F2= 2|F3= 0|F4= 0|F5= 0|FU= 0|Enhanced=No}}

An F1 tornado injured 11 people when it tracked through Columbus, Georgia. It was one of seven tornadoes to touch down that day.

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There were 126 tornadoes reported in the United States in June.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/6/map|title=Tornado History Project: June, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Main|June 1966 tornado outbreak sequence}}

{{Tornado chart small|F0= 22|F1= 14|F2= 18|F3= 2|F4= 2|F5= 1|Enhanced=No}}

A violent F5 tornado tracked through Topeka, Kansas on June 8, killing 16 people and injuring 450. This tornado disproved several myths, as Burnett’s Mound, a local hill, was believed to protect the city from tornadoes. However, the F5 tornado traveled directly over the mound and into Topeka, where it killed 16 people. The tornado directly impacted Washburn University, and rows of homes were absolutely clean from their foundations. Elsewhere, an F4 tornado struck Leavenworth, Kansas, killing one and injuring two. In total, the outbreak produced 59 tornadoes, killed 18 people, and injured 543.{{cite web |title=Tornado Summaries |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=06&beginDate_dd=03&beginDate_yyyy=1966&endDate_mm=06&endDate_dd=12&endDate_yyyy=1966&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL |website=National Centers for Environmental Information |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=14 June 2022}}

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There were 100 tornadoes reported in the United States in July.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/7/map|title=Tornado History Project: July, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Multiple tornadoes were reported, including an F3 that traveled around 25 miles through McIntosh County, North Dakota, and McPherson County, South Dakota.1966-07 Publication https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html

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There were 58 tornadoes reported in the United States in August.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/8/map|title=Tornado History Project: August, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Tornado chart small|F0= 5|F1= 1|F2= 0|F3= 0|F4= 0|F5= 0|FU= 0|Enhanced=No}}

Isolated tornadoes touched down in multiple regions of the U.S.. The strongest one was an unusual F1 tornado that injured 9 people near Globe, Arizona.

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There were 22 tornadoes reported in the United States in September.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/9/map|title=Tornado History Project: September, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

An isolated, but strong 60–yard wide F3 tornado tracked 4.5 miles through southeastern Cleveland, Ohio, injuring 20 people, but killing no one.

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There were 29 tornadoes reported in the United States in October.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/10/map|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720052833/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/10/map|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 20, 2020|title=Tornado History Project: October, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}

{{Tornado chart small|F0= 1|F1= 6|F2= 13|F3= 2|F4= 0|F5= 1|FU= 0|Enhanced=No}}

A tornado outbreak occurred across the Midwest. The outbreak produced a violent F5 tornado that devastated Belmond, Iowa, killing six and injuring 172, although the F5 rating is disputed. In all, 23 tornadoes touched down across four states, killing six people and injuring 225 others.{{cite web |title=Tornado Summaries |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=08&beginDate_dd=14&beginDate_yyyy=1966&endDate_mm=08&endDate_dd=15&endDate_yyyy=1966&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL |website=National Centers for Environmental Information |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=14 June 2022}}

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There were 20 tornadoes reported in the United States in November.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/11/map|title=Tornado History Project: November, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Tornado chart small|F0= 0|F1= 1|F2= 3|F3= 0|F4= 0|F5= 0|FU= 0|Enhanced=No}}

An unusual series of strong tornadoes occurred in Southern California, affecting Los Angeles. Two of the three F2 tornadoes touched down in Los Angeles, injuring 10 people but killing no one.{{cite web |title=Storm Prediction Center WCM Page |url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/#data |website=www.spc.noaa.gov |accessdate=17 July 2020}}{{cite web |title=Tornado Summaries |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=11&beginDate_dd=07&beginDate_yyyy=1966&endDate_mm=11&endDate_dd=07&endDate_yyyy=1966&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL |website=National Centers for Environmental Information |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=14 June 2022}}

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There were 11 tornadoes reported in the United States in December.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1966/12/map|title=Tornado History Project: December, 1966|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

• Tornado
• Tornadoes by year
• Tornado records
• Tornado climatology
• Tornado myths
• 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
• List of tornadoes with confirmed satellite tornadoes
• Tornado intensity
• Fujita scale
• Enhanced Fujita scale

{{Reflist}}

{{Tornadoes by year}}

Torn

Category:1966 meteorology