1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
On April 10–12, 1965, a historic severe weather event affected the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. The tornado outbreak produced 55 confirmed tornadoes in one day and 16 hours. The worst part of the outbreak occurred during the afternoon hours of April 11 into the overnight hours going into April 12. The second-largest tornado outbreak on record at the time, this deadly series of tornadoes, which became known as the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, inflicted a swath of destruction from Cedar County, Iowa, to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and a swath 450 miles long (724 km) from Kent County, Michigan, to Montgomery County, Indiana. The main part of the outbreak lasted 16 hours and 35 minutes and is among the most intense outbreaks, in terms of tornado strength, ever recorded, including at least four "double/twin funnel" tornadoes. In all, the outbreak killed 266 people, injured 3,662 others, and caused $1.217 billion (1965 USD) in damage.
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | April 10–12, 1965 |
| Highest gust | 80 mph (130 km/h) at three locations on April 11 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 55 confirmed |
| Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 1 day and 16 hours |
| Largest hail | 2 in (5.1 cm) at seven locations on April 10–12 |
| Fatalities | 266 fatalities, 3,662 injuries |
| Damage | $1.217 billion (1965 USD) $11.8 billion (2024 USD) |
| Areas affected | Southern and Midwestern United States (Upland South, Driftless Area, and Great Lakes region, primarily Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan) |
Part of the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1965 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |