March 18, 1925 Tri-State tornado

[xsubsailor]

 A few days ago something was mentioned about tornadoes in a thread, can't remember which one. This was the Grandpappy of them all and happened on this date in 1925.

I remember watching an interview with a survivor on, what I believe, was the 50th anniversary. He said he saw one of his friends holding on to a pole with her body horizontal to the ground like you would see in a cartoon and then she was gone.

In 1925, the area wasn't that populated, can you imagine what one of that magnitude would do now.

Lots of pictures and facts at the link.

• The path of the Tri-State Tornado was 235 miles with an average width of 3600 feet, however there were moments when the width reached over 1 mile wide.
• The Tri-State Tornado lasted for 3 1/2 hours, starting down at 1:01pm 3 miles NNW of Ellington, MO and dissipating at 4:30pm 3 miles SW of Petersburg, IN.
• Average forward speed of this tornado was 62 miles-per-hour with a record setting speed of 73 miles-per-hour at one point.
• The Tri-State Tornado was a F5 on the Fujita Scale with winds reaching near 300 miles-per-hour.

 

 

http://www.tornadofacts.net/tri-state-tornado-facts.php