America's worst storms have left a lasting mark on the country's history. These natural hazards have left people without homes, inflicted thousands of deaths, and destroyed entire towns and cities.Powerful hurricanes, deadly tornadoes, huge blizzards and even dangerous winter storms have all wrought devastation and thousands of deaths. Other storms transformed whole cities and others developed into events that are remembered for generations.
Extreme weather events like the Great White Hurricane of 1888, the Great Galveston Storm of 1900, the Tri-State Tornado of 1925 demonstrate the potential for extreme weather. Some of America's worst storms, where and when they occurred, the number of people that lost their lives, and the damage they caused.
America's Worst Storms: 10 Deadliest Storms in U.S. History
Here is the list of America’s worst storms, including 10 of the deadliest storms in U.S. history. These powerful storms caused massive destruction, claimed thousands of lives, and left a lasting impact on communities across the country.
1888: The Great White Hurricane, East Coast
The Great White Hurricane 400+ dead Worst winter storm in U.S. History People widely thought The Great White Hurricane fell 2 to 4.2 feet on March 11 & 12 into New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts-though New York sustained the brunt of the impact-burying houses & train cars in drifts as deadly winds wrecked more than 200 vessels.
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1900: The Great Galveston Storm, Texas
US History's Deadliest Disaster September 8th, 1900 A Monster Category 4 hurricane ripped the Texas city of Galveston apart and plunged it beneath storm waters along the Gulf Coast, claiming the lives of roughly 6,000-12,000 residents who could not escape the savage winds, debris-hurling chaos and inundating storm surges. Unbeknownst to the people in their homes that dreadful afternoon, a warning about the storm and its path from Cuba had been dismissed by U.S. Meteorologists.
1913: The Great Storm, Great Lakes
The ill-favored Great Lakes Basin experienced the worst storm ever seen on it during November 1913. The two-part weather system that has since become known as the Great Storm brought blizzards, thunderstorms, violent winds, fatal waves, and driving frozen spray, killing over 250 men and damaging many more boats, up to 42 ships lost.
1922: Knickerbocker Storm, East Coast
Washington DC 1922 A deadly blizzard swept the entire East Coast in January 27th 28th, dumping an amazing 2.3 feet of snow in Washington DC.
The snow effectively shut down the city, and it is now recognized as one of the worst snowstorms ever recorded in the United States. Because of that disaster in which snow crushed the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre on M Street NW with deadly results people also call the blizzard the Knickerbocker Storm, for the lost names it claimed 98 lives and injured 133.
1925: Great Cyclone Disaster, Midwest and South
A devastating and large tornado outbreak hit portions of the Midwest and the South in March 1925, including the tornado responsible for the most deaths in the history of the U.S. This “Great Tri-State Tornado” of March 18 churned along a 165-mile path of devastation across southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and southwest Indiana.
The tornado killed 695 residents and destroyed 15,000 homes, while gusts reportedly climbed to nearly 300 miles per hour. In this photo, the monstrous tornado blows a house over 50 feet from its foundation.
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1926: Great Miami Hurricane, Florida
A 10-foot storm surge also hit Miami Beach following a large and deadly tropical cyclone that ripped through South Florida in September 1926. The cyclone killed 372 people, and the storm rendered roughly 43,000 others homeless, which was about one-third of the county's then-population.
The fierce winds caused boats to capsize on the sand, and many beach resort hotels – such as the Flamingo Hotel, shown in this photo – sustained severe damage from the powerful Category 4 hurricane, which also resulted in a disastrous situation in the Bahamas.
1928: Okeechobee Hurricane, Florida
Monstrous hurricane flattened Gulf Coast along with Puerto Rico on September 1928. It made landfall on the mainland at 4: category hurricane north of West Palm Beach on the east coast on 17 September, demolishing nearly anything within its path. It overflowed Lake Okeechobee creating storm surge. 2,500+ men, women, and children drowned. Homes floated off. It remains second-deadliest hurricane in U.S. History.
1936: Tupelo Gainesville tornado outbreak, Mississippi and Georgia
The deadliest tornado in US history up to that point, April 1936's Tupelo Tornado, devastated the town of Tupelo, Mississippi, leaving 216 people dead and over 700 people wounded.
That morning after it ravaged through MS and into the state of GA, it developed more tornadoes (including a "double twister") that devastated part of the industrial town of Gainesville, GA, where they reported 203 dead.
1938: The Great New England Hurricane, New England
Violent winds of 183 m/h and fatal waves affected parts of New England in the wake of a hurricane that hit Long Island on October 3, 1938. Of 8,900 houses swept out to sea, one belonged to Hollywood star Katharine Hepburn in Connecticut.
The tidal surge drove the water to 25 ft and heralded the brunt of the storm, and 'The Long Island Express' caused over 256 deaths. Photo: damaged house at Amherst, Massachusetts.
1947: The Woodward tornado, Oklahoma
The tornado that devastated Woodward on April 9, 1947, killed 185 people and injured over 1,000, making it the most catastrophic tornado to ever strike Oklahoma. The storm originated in the Texas Panhandle, spawned at least six tornadoes, and tracked a 220-mile path through Texas and Oklahoma, reaching into Kansas.
The tornado that hit the town of Woodward widened to up to 1.8 miles and moved at an approximate speed of 50 mph, destroying more than 1,000 homes and businesses in its path.
FAQs
1. What was one of America's worst storms?
The Great Galveston Storm of 1900 was one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history, causing thousands of deaths in Texas.
2. What was the Great White Hurricane?
The Great White Hurricane was a powerful blizzard that struck the northeastern United States in March 1888, bringing heavy snow and extremely strong winds.
3. What was the deadliest tornado in U.S. history?
The Tri-State Tornado of March 18, 1925, is generally regarded as the deadliest tornado in U.S. history, with 695 recorded deaths.
4. Which hurricane caused the Okeechobee disaster?
The 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane caused catastrophic flooding around Lake Okeechobee and resulted in thousands of deaths.
