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1967 St. Louis tornado outbreak

Weather event in the United States

Field	Value
image	1967 St. Louis tornado track.gif
caption	Path of the F4 tornado in St. Louis

A wintertime tornado outbreak affected the Midwestern United States on January 24, 1967. Of the 30 confirmed tornadoes, 13 occurred in Iowa, nine in Missouri, seven in Illinois, and one in Wisconsin. The outbreak produced, at the time, the northernmost tornado to hit the United States in winter, in Wisconsin, until January 7, 2008. The tornadoes formed ahead of a deep storm system . The deadliest and most damaging tornado of the outbreak struck Greater St. Louis at F4 intensity, killing three people and injuring 216.

Background

Upper-air analysis at 00:00 UTC on January 25, 1967

On Tuesday, January 24, 1967, a negatively tilted trough bisected the Midwestern United States. As a cold front traversed the Upper Midwest, a line of intermittent, tornado-producing supercells developed.

Impact

Confirmed tornadoes

Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.

Color / symbol	Description	†	¶	※	‡	♯	±
Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b
Data from a local National Weather Service office
Data from the 1967 Storm Data publication
Data from the NCEI database
Maximum width of tornado
Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable.

Along with the 30 confirmed tornadoes listed, tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis listed two additional F2 tornadoes that may have touched down.
- The first occurred west of Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa, at 22:30 UTC, unroofing and tearing apart a house. It was officially listed as a severe thunderstorm wind in Storm Data.Multiple sources:
- The other occurred on the southern outskirts of Illinois City, Rock Island County, Illinois, at an unknown time, damaging homes before ripping the roof off a farmhouse. It was officially listed as part of a complex of severe thunderstorm winds in Storm Data.Multiple sources:

F#	Location	County / Parish	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length
N of De Kalb to SSE of Lake Station	Buchanan	MO	17:50–?	6.1 mi	100 yd
This strong tornado affected 12 or more farmsteads. It destroyed a concrete barn, along with assorted outbuildings and other barns. Homes lost their roofs, along with some walls. Losses totaled $250,000.
E of Haynesville to S of Barnesville	Clinton	MO	18:35–?	2.5 mi	50 yd
This strong but relatively brief tornado developed 1 mi west of the junction of Missouri Supplemental Route PP and U.S. Route 69. As it headed northeast, it struck five farmsteads, extensively damaging outbuildings on a few of them. Losses totaled $25,000. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.
SSE of Lake City to Northwestern Buckner to NE of Albany	Jackson, Ray	MO	18:40–19:00	14.5 mi	200 yd
2 deaths – This intense tornado first developed over the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, 3 mi from Buckner. Tracking northeastward, it first produced a narrow, spasmodic swath of structural damage, skirting Buckner and passing east of Sibley. As it neared Orrick, the tornado widened and intensified, striking Orrick High School while at maximum intensity. Part of a roof at the school collapsed, killing two students underneath. Two homes were destroyed and another lost its second story. Barns and outbuildings were leveled along the path. 18 people were injured and losses totaled $5 million.
SE of Polo	Caldwell	MO	18:50–?	2 mi	100 yd
Losses totaled $25,000.
E of Sturges	Livingston	MO	20:00–?	0.1 mi	10 yd
Losses totaled $30.
W of Green City to N of Pennville	Sullivan	MO	20:20–?	7.3 mi	50 yd
This tornado wrecked a number of outbuildings and a barn. Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F2.
Glendale to NW of Livonia	Putnam	MO	20:45–?	2.5 mi	50 yd
Moving generally northeastward, this tornado developed near the junction of Missouri Route 149 and U.S. Route 136. Losses totaled $2,500.
ESE of Queen City, MO to ESE of Pulaski, IA	Schuyler (MO), Scotland (MO), Davis (IA)	MO, IA	20:45–?	25.7 mi	440 yd
This violent tornado damaged or destroyed numerous outbuildings and barns on 24 farmsteads. Five of the farmsteads were destroyed, two of which had every structure leveled, including the farmhouse. A total of approximately 20 other farms were damaged as well. Two people were injured and losses totaled $2,525,000. Most of the path and the F4-level damage were in Missouri. Only a 2 mi segment continued into Iowa, with F1-level damage.
S of Douds to E of Fairfield	Van Buren, Jefferson	IA	21:15–?	25 mi	400 yd
This intense tornado produced sporadic damage. It badly damaged several homes, some of which lost roofs and walls. Barns and outbuildings were destroyed as well. Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F2. The NCEI only lists a single coordinate, north of Douds.
Western Washington	Washington	IA	21:45–?	1 mi	200 yd
Losses totaled $2,500.
N of Winfield	Henry	IA	21:50–?	0.1 mi	150 yd
Losses totaled $250,000.
SW of Columbus City	Louisa	IA	22:00–?	3 mi	250 yd
Losses totaled $30. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. The NCEI lists the path as occurring north of Fredonia and extending into Muscatine County.
N of Fort Madison to S of Wever (1st tornado)	Lee	IA	22:15–?	4.3 mi	300 yd
1 death – This intense tornado destroyed a pair of homes, one of which only had a single wall left standing. Six people were injured and losses totaled $250,000.
S of Wever (2nd tornado) to N of Skunk River	Lee	IA	22:20–?	3 mi	200 yd
This strong tornado crossed the Skunk River near Wever. Homes had their roofs torn off and barns were wrecked. Trailers were destroyed as well, injuring four people. Losses totaled $250,000.
ENE of Cairo	Louisa	IA	22:20–?	2 mi	150 yd
This strong tornado tore loose a wall from a house and tossed an automobile against the home. A nearby barn was destroyed as well. One person was injured and losses totaled $25,000.
ESE of Gladstone to W of Reeds	Henderson	IL	22:40–22:50	5.7 mi	77 yd
This tornado, while mostly affecting treetops, unroofed or otherwise damaged many outbuildings and barns. At least one barn was flattened, six utility poles splintered, and a farm shorn of all its outbuildings. Losses totaled $25,000. The tornado passed north of Biggsville.
S of Wheatland	Clinton	IA	22:45–?	2 mi	150 yd
Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.
NNE of Dixon	Clinton	IA	22:50–?	2 mi	143 yd
Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. Storm Data indicates that the tornado occurred near Calamus.
Southern Eldridge	Scott	IA	23:11–?	2 mi	250 yd
This strong tornado touched down just west of Mount Joy. It hurled an automobile and a truck from a roadway. Homes sustained breakage of their windows and barns were wrecked. Losses totaled $250,000.
NW of Elvira	Clinton	IA	23:15–?	1 mi	200 yd
Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.
NE of Tenmile	Clinton	IA	23:15–?	0.1 mi	100 yd
Several barns, a warehouse, and a Granger Hall were destroyed. Homes nearby had their roofs torn off. Losses totaled $250,000. The tornado may have developed near Bryant. Storm Data listed a 5 mi path.
E of Burke to NE of Mount Carroll	Carroll	IL	23:30–?	7.4 mi	77 yd
This intense tornado destroyed three homes on the northwestern side of Mount Carroll, one of which it impacted at borderline-F4 intensity. Roofing, outbuildings, and barns incurred extensive damage as well. 12 people were injured and losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis listed the time of occurrence as 22:40 UTC.
WSW of Saidora to NNE of White City	Mason	IL	23:30–?	4.5 mi	30 yd
This tornado paralleled the following event, just 3 mi away. Outbuildings, a hangar, and trees were destroyed or extensively damaged. An airplane was damaged as well. One person was injured. Losses were unknown. Storm Data attributed the sole injury to the next event.
S of Snicarte to SE of Bluff City	Mason	IL	23:30–?	5.1 mi	80 yd
1 death – This intense tornado destroyed rural homes and outbuildings. Three people were injured and losses totaled $25,000. The body of the dead was tossed 200 yd. Storm Data stated that the path was only 1 mi long.
S of Brodhead to SE of Milton	Green, Rock	WI	00:10–00:40	24.9 mi	200 yd
This intense but intermittent tornado wrecked a number of barns. A country club was stripped of its roof and a pair of walls as well. Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F2. At the time the tornado was the northernmost wintertime tornado on record in the contiguous United States.
ENE of Cooper to WSW of Cruger	Tazewell, Woodford	IL	00:30–?	3.3 mi	77 yd
This strong tornado snapped and felled trees. Roofing and outbuildings were damaged as well. Losses totaled $2,500. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.
S of Virden	Macoupin	IL	00:50–?	2.5 mi	100 yd
This tornado flipped a home upside down and shifted another. In all about 100 homes were damaged to varying degrees. Most of the damage was to roofing or from fallen trees. Several trailers were damaged as well, and a few grain bins were moved 200 –. Losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.
NW of Metamora	Woodford	IL	00:50–	2.5 mi
NE of Chesterfield to NE of Spanish Lake	St. Louis	MO	00:55–	25 mi
3 deaths – See section on this tornado
Champaign–Urbana	Champaign	IL	02:40–	10.4 mi
A trailer was destroyed and scattered, two others were overturned, and two more were damaged. One house had its roof torn off.

Northern Chesterfield–Maryland Heights–St. Ann–Lambert Field–Spanish Lake, Missouri

| fujita-scale = F4 $ ( USD)

The damage path ranged from 50 to 200 yards wide and the tornado was on the ground for approximately 35 minutes. Remarkably only 3 fatalities were reported while 216 people suffered injuries. Damage included 168 homes destroyed, 258 with major damage, and 1485 with minor damage. At least 600 businesses were damaged or destroyed. The total damage was estimated to be around 15 million dollars (approximately 125 million dollars in 2022).

The tornado was given a F4 rating on the Fujita Tornado Ranking Scale. The F4 occurrence was likely small in aerial coverage with the majority of the severe damage being classified as either F2 or F3.

Notes

References

Sources

References

(2004). "Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875–2003)". [[American Meteorological Society]].
"Janurary [sic] 24, 1967 Tornado Outbreak". National Weather Service.
(March 5, 2015). "The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)". [[Storm Prediction Center]].
(March 5, 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". Storm Prediction Center.
(June 6, 2013). "Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale)". [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]].
(2016). "The International Tornado Intensity Scale". [[Tornado and Storm Research Organisation]].
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