Weather event in the United States
In mid-May of 1968, a significant and deadly tornado outbreak struck most of the central and southern United States. Producing 46 tornadoes, the outbreak killed at least 72 people, including 45 in Arkansas alone. The outbreak also produced two F5 tornadoes in Iowa. It was one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in the United States since the 1960s and is one of the deadliest outbreaks in Iowa history.
Outbreak description.
Severe weather activity started during the afternoon of May 15 as a low pressure system crossed the area. The first tornado touchdowns were across the Midwestern States including the two Iowa F5s that hit central and eastern parts of the state about 45 minutes apart during the late afternoon. Both tornadoes killed 18 in total. The first F5 tornado moved through five counties and . It affected the town of Charles City just before 5 PM destroying much of the area. Damage figures were pegged at $30 million in Charles City alone while $1.5 million of damage was recorded elsewhere. This tornado killed 13 and injured 462 others. The second F5 tornado affected Fayette County and damaged or destroyed nearly 1000 homes. The hardest hit areas were Oelwein and Maynard where homes were completely swept away from their foundations. Five people were killed while 156 others were injured. Damage was estimated at $21 million. These were two of four F5 tornadoes across the country in 1968, the others being in southeastern Ohio on April 23 and in southwestern Minnesota on June 13. The next F5 tornadoes in Iowa took place in Jordan in 1976, and in Parkersburg, in 2008.
After the first tornadoes struck the Northern Plains, activity developed further south during the evening hours including several deadly tornadoes in Arkansas. One of the tornadoes touched down west of Jonesboro before hitting the Craighead County city itself at around 10 PM CDT. The tornado caught most residents by surprise since most of the warning systems failed and killed at least 34. One more person was killed in neighboring Jackson County. The tornado was the deadliest in Arkansas since an F4 tornado that affected White County on March 21, 1952, killing 50.
The same city was hit by another destructive tornado five years later killing at least three and injuring 250 others while leaving much more destruction throughout the city than the 1968 event. The damage figures were about $62 million in 1973 dollars. Another F4 tornado just to the west of Jonesboro killed 7 in Oil Trough in Independence County and 3 others were killed in Baxter County.
The activity ceased across the Deep South when the final tornadoes of the first part of the outbreak touched down across the Metropolitan Memphis area and northern Mississippi as well as in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. A smaller tornado outbreak from the same system took place across Oklahoma and Texas during the following day where seven tornadoes touched down including an F3 in Wilbarger County, Texas.
In addition to the 45 fatalities in Arkansas and 18 in Iowa, the outbreak killed eight in Illinois and one in Indiana.
Confirmed tornadoes.
Hansell — Aredale — Marble Rock — Charles City — Elma — Chester, Iowa.
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This tornado was first spotted near Hansell at around 4:10 P.M. At one point, two tornadoes were seen simultaneously on the ground. Several farms were destroyed before the tornado appeared to lift near Marble Rock. As the tornado approached Charles City, it intensified and enlarged. Thirteen people were killed and 415 were injured by the tornado in Charles City. The tornado then moved to Elma, causing severe damage there. The tornado then turned to the north and dissipated 14 miles north of Elma. 372 homes were destroyed in Charles City, and the damage total was $30 million in Charles City and $1.5 million in Elma.
Oelwein — Maynard, Iowa.
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This tornado occurred less than an hour after the Charles City F5 touched down. 
In Olewein, it killed two people and destroyed 68 homes, with hundreds taking varying amounts of damage. 
In addition, it destroyed or damaged every business in the area. Some people reported more than one tornado on the ground. 
After moving northeast for a while, it hit the western side of Maynard, leveling five blocks of land, including several homes and the newly-constructed church. Two fatalities occurred in Maynard. In total, 156 injuries were recorded, and damage estimates were $21 million.
Jonesboro — Manilla, Arkansas.
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This violent tornado would be the deadliest of the outbreak, killing 35 people and injuring over 300. Some of those fatalities were caused by cars being wrapped around trees. 170 homes and some businesses were destroyed by the tornado. Nettleton High School was almost completely destroyed by the tornado. Large amounts of cotton crops were destroyed by heavy rain associated with the storm. In addition to Jonesboro, the tornado ran through the downtown area of Manila, destroying a large section of it. Despite the tornado having being observed to lift between Jonesboro and Manila, the NWS counts this as one tornado.
References.
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