25 –159-160

lornajarrettblanchard March 16, 1942

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 6-28-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–159-160 Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.

— 2 Alabama

–21-22 Illinois

— 2 Indiana

— 24 Kentucky

— 85 Mississippi

— 25 Tennessee

Note 1: We do not include the Central IL NWS WFO inclusion of 2 deaths in SC in that we have not been able to substantiate.

Note 2: The greatest variable in the death toll range is in Mississippi where Grazulis reports 75 deaths, but the press at the time as well as the National Weather Service Central Illinois Weather Forecast Office reports 85. We choose to incorporate these last two numbers in our total.

Note 3: Our tally is close to the NWS Central IL WFO tally of 160 deaths (though they note 153, their total is 160.) We do not include the two they note for SC, which would bring their number to 158.)

–153 NWS, Central Ill. Weather Forecast Office. The Lacon F5 Tornado.. of March 16, 1942.

Tennessee 7 tornadoes 25 deaths

Mississippi 6 tornadoes 85 deaths

Illinois 5 tornadoes 22 deaths

Kentucky 4 tornadoes 24 deaths

Indiana 3 tornadoes 2 deaths

South Carolina 1 tornado 2 deaths

26 tornadoes 153 deaths [These numbers actually total to 160.]

–152 NWS. Northern Ind. Weather Forecast Office. “1942 Goshen killer tornado.” (No detail.)

–149 Evans. “Local Weather History: March 16, 1942 Tornado Outbreak…” WLFI News 18.

–149 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 502. (Does not a SC tornado.)

–11 IL Champaign and Vermilion counties F4. 10:30, 400y, 52m.

–63 MS Leflore, Carroll, Grenada, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha, Lafayette, Pontotoc, Union

— 1 MS Grenada County. 16:15 F2, 100y, 5m.

— 5 MS Marshall and Benton counties. 16:20 F3, 400y, 15m.

— 8 IL Peoria and Marshall counties. 16:30 F5, 400y, 30m.

— 5 TN Carroll, Henry and Stewart counties. 16:30 F3, 800y, 55m.

–15 TN McNairy, Chester, Henderson, Decatur counties. 16:30 F4, 800y.

— 1 MS Leake County. 17:00 F2, 18m.

— 2 IL Logan County. 17:00 F3. 400y, 5m.

— 5 MS Lee and Prentice Counties. 17:05 F4, 300y, 5m.

–11 KY Muhlenberg County (Browder). 17:40 F3, 300y, 10m.

— 2 AL Lauderdale County. 18:00 F3, 400y, 1.5m.

— 9 KY Grayson and Hardin counties. 18:15 F4, 200y, 30m.

— 2 TN Humphreys County. 18:30 F3, 100y, 15m.

— 4 KY Nelson County. 19:30 F3, 800y, 9m

— 1 TN Cheatham and Robertson counties. 19:00 F3, 800y, 3m.

— 2 TN Giles County. 20:00 F3, 150y, 20m.

— 2 IN Elkhart County. 21:32 F4, 2ooy, 10m.

–149 Wikipedia. “Tornado outbreak of March 16-17, 1942.” 6-6-2024 edit. (Notes no SC deaths.)

— 11 IL. Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion counties. 16:30-17:45, F4, 400 yd

—>63 MS. Leflore, Carroll, Grenada, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha, Lafayette, Pontotoc, Union

— 1 MS. Grenada County. 22:15, F2, 5 mi, 100 yd.

— 5 MS Marshall and Benton counties. 22:20. F3, 15 mi, 400 yd.

— 7 IL Peoria and Marshall counties. 22:30 F5, 30 mi, 400 yd.

— 4 TN Carroll and Henry counties. 22:30 F3, 30 mi, 800 yd.

— 15 TN McNairy, Henderson, Chester, Decatur counties. 22:30 F4, 45 mi, 800 yd.

— 2 IL Lincoln County. 23:00 F3, 5 mi, 400 yd.

— 1 MS Leake County. 23:00 F2, 16 mi.

— 5 MS Lee and Prentiss counties. 23:05 F4, 5 mi, 300 yd

— 1 TN Stewart County. 23:30 F2. 9 mi.

— 11 KY Muhlenberg County. 23:40 FE, 10 mi, 300 yd.

— 2 AL Lauderdale County. 00:00 F3, 1.5 mi, 400 yd.

— 9 KY Grayson and Hardin counties. 00:15 (Mar 17) F4, 30 mi, 200 yd.

— 2 TN Humphreys County. 00:30 (Mar 17) F3, 150 yd.

— 1 TN Montgomery, Cheatham and Roberson counties. 00:30 (Mar 17) F3, 15 mi.

— 4 KY Nelson County. 01:30 (Mar 17) F#, 15 mi, 200 yd.

— 2 TN Giles County. 02:00 (Mar 17) F3. 20 mi, 150 yd.

— 2 IN Elkhart County. 02:32 (Mar 17) F4. 10 mi, 200 yd.

–148 Murray, Bill. “The March 16, 1942 Tornado Outbreak.” Alabamawx.com.

–11 Illinois

–63 Mississippi (Itta Bena and Greenwood vicinity tornadoes.)

— 5 Mississippi (Baldwin, north of Tupelo tornado.)

— 2 Alabama. (Waterloo in Lauderdale County “around 6 p.m.

Alabama 2

— 02 Lauderdale County, AL. (Grazulis 1993, 273, 502)

Illinois 21-22

–22 NWS, Central Ill. Weather Forecast Office. The Lacon F5 Tornado.. of March 16, 1942.

–22 Locality breakouts noted below.

–21 Grazulis 1993, p. 502.

— 11 Champaign and Vermillion Counties, IL. (Grazulis 1993, 273, 502)

— 08 Peoria and Marshall Counties, IL. “

— 02 Logan County, IL. “

–20 AP. “Tornado Kills 20 Near Urbana…” The Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign. 3-17-1942, 1.

–20 Wikipedia. “Tornado outbreak of March 16-17, 1942.” 6-6-2024 edit.

–19 AP. “Debris of Tornado Cleaned Up in Central Illinois.” Alton Evening Telegraph, IL. 3-18-1942, 2.

–19 Illinois Public Media, NPR. “March 16 Illinois History Minute.” Accessed 6-28-2024.

–12 Piatt, Champaign and Vermilion counties, rural areas. IL Public Media, NPR.

Breakouts by locale, where noted.

— 8 Alvin, Vermilion Co. AP. “Tornado Kills 20 Near Urbana…” Daily Illini, Urbana. 3-17-42, 1.

— 1 Hope, Vermilion Co. AP. “Tornado Kills 20 Near Urbana…” Daily Illini, Urbana. 3-17-42, 1.

— 7 Lacon, Marshall Co. The Ladd Journal, IL. “Seven Die in Lacon Tornado. 3-19-1942, p. 1.

— 2 Mayview, Champaign Co. AP. “Tornado Kills 20 Near Urbana…” Daily Illini, Urbana. 3-17-42, 1.

— 3 St. Joseph area (1M north), Champaign Co. AP. “Tornado Kills 20 Near Urbana…” 3-17-42, 1.

— 1 Savoy, Champaign Co. AP. “Tornado Kills 20 Near Urbana…” Daily Illini, Urbana. 3-17-42, 1.

Indiana 2

–02 NWS, Central Ill. Weather Forecast Office. The Lacon F5 Tornado.. of March 16, 1942.

–02 Elkhart County, IN. (Grazulis 1993, 273, 502)

Kentucky 24

–24 Grazulis 1993, p. 502.

— 11 Muhlenberg County, KY. (Grazulis 1993, 273, 502)

— 09 Grayson, Hardin Counties, KY. “

— 04 Nelson County, KY. “

–24 NWS, Central Ill. Weather Forecast Office. The Lacon F5 Tornado.. of March 16, 1942.

–13 NWS. Louisville, KY Weather Forecast Office. Tornadoes of March 16, 1942.[1]

Mississippi 85

–85 AP. “85^th Death Result Mississippi Tornado.” Daily Herald, Biloxi and Gulfport, MS. 3-21-1942, 6.

–85 NWS, Central Ill. Weather Forecast Office. The Lacon F5 Tornado.. of March 16, 1942.

–81 AP. “Mississippi Buries Its Dead; Tornado Toll…81.” Delta Democrat-Times, Greenville, MS. 3-18-1942, 1.

— 6 Baldwin County, Baldwyn [The total of these reported losses comes to 87.]

— 6 Benton County, Michigan City

— 8 Grenada County, Grenada

— 6 Lafayette County, Oxford and Tula

— 1 Leake County, Carthage

— 6 Lee and Prentis counties, Baldwyn

— 1 Lee County, Verona

–31 Leflore County

— 3 Marshall County, Holly Springs

–19 Yalobusha County, in and around Water Valley

–75 Grazulis 1993, pp. 502 and 898.

— 01 Grenada County. 16:15 F2, 100y, 5m. (p. 898)

— 01 Leake County. 17:00 F2, approximately 18m (p. 898)

— 05 Lee, Prentiss Counties. 17:05 F4, 300y, 5m. (p. 899)

— 63 Leflore/Carroll/Grenada/Tallahatchie/Yalobusha/Lafayette/Pontotoc/Union. (Grazulis)

— 5 Carroll County near Avalon (p. 898)

— 4 Grenada County near Holcomb

—>19 Leflore County

–3 Itta Bena

— 03 Tallahatchie County near Cascilla.

—>19 Yalobusha County, mostly at O’Tuckalofa

— 05 Marshall, Benton Counties. 16:20 F2, 400y, 15m. (p. 898)

— 65 Baldwin. NWS WFO Dodge City, KS. Today’s Weather Trivia. 11-1-2005.

— 65 “ Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, 56.

— 65 AP. “65 Killed, Over 600 Injured In Storms…” Delta Democrat-Times, Greenville, MS. 3-17-1942, 1.

— 5 Avalon Carroll County

— 4 Baldwyn Lee and Prentis counties.

–19 Greenwood area Leflore County.

— 3 Avalon vicinity, west of. in Leflore County. Mr. and Mrs. Walker and baby.

— 2 Berclair. Ramsey McEachern and Mrs. R. A. Kelley.

— 1 Itta Bena

–23 unidentified Negroes.

— 6 Grenada Grenada County

— 6 Michigan City vic. Benton County

— 2 North Holly Springs Marshall County

— 5 Oxford and Tchula Lafayette and Holmes counties

–18 Water Valley Yalobusha County.

South Carolina 2 (We do not use this number; could find no corroboration.)

–2 NWS, Central Ill. Weather Forecast Office. The Lacon F5 Tornado.. of March 16, 1942.

Tennessee 25

–25 Grazulis 1993, p. 502.

— 05 Carroll, Henry, Stewart Counties, TN.

— 15 McNairy, Chester, Henderson, Decatur Counties, TN.

— 02 Humphreys County, TN.

— 01 Cheatham, Robertson Counties, TN.

— 02 Giles County, TN.

— 25 NWS, Central Ill. Weather Forecast Office. The Lacon F5 Tornado.. of March 16, 1942.

Narrative Information

Wikipedia: “On March 16–17, 1942, a deadly late-winter tornado outbreak struck a large area of the Central and Southern United States, killing 149 people and injuring at least 1,312. At least five states reported violent tornadoes, from Illinois and Indiana south to Mississippi, beginning with an F4 tornado in the morning in Illinois. Intense activity spread south to the Gulf Coast and north to the Michigan–Indiana border as the day went on. Seven violent tornadoes were reported, one of which was a powerful F5 in Illinois. A long-tracked F4 tornado family in Mississippi claimed 63 lives as well, becoming the deadliest event of the outbreak. Another long-lived F4 in Tennessee killed 15 more people, and a series of intense tornadoes caused 24 other deaths in Kentucky. The outbreak also produced 18 tornadoes that caused at least one death—ranking eighth on a list of similar events since 1880 by tornado researcher ^Thomas P. Grazulis.”

Illinois

Illinois Public Media, NPR. “March 16 Illinois History Minute.” Accessed 6-28-2024:

“It’s March 16th, and on this day in 1942, a tornado outbreak caused damage and death in five states. Two of the most violent tornadoes struck central Illinois. One killed seven people in Peoria and Marshall Counties, including three in the town of Lacon. Another killed 12 people in rural areas of Piatt, Champaign and Vermilion Counties. The University of Illinois’ Daily Illini reported that the tornado missed hitting Urbana by just a few hundred yards.”

March 17, AP: “Twenty persons were killed about 11 a.m. yesterday when a tornado slashed a 400-yard path of destruction five miles south and east of Champaign-Urbana and continued through Vermillion county taking its heaviest toll in Alvin, 15 miles north of Danvill.

“Six of the 20 died in Champaign county, where the twister, travelling in a northeasterly direction, cut across Savory, Myra station, Mayview, and St. Joseph leaving tragedy in its wake…

“Two little girls and their young mother died in their home on the W. Z. Black form, one mile north of St. Joseph. The body of the mother, Mrs. Willard Laughlin, 25, was found in a tree 300 feet from the wreckage of the home. The daughters were Phyllis 4, and Janice 3. A third daughter, Ellna, 10 months old, was taken to Burnham city hospital where attendants described her condition as good. Mr. Willard Laughlin, who was with his family at the time of the storm was dazed. The Laughlins had moved to St. Joseph from Sadorus only two weeks ago.

“The body of Mrs. Letha Rowland, 44, a widow, was found in the yard of her home, two miles northeast of Mayview. Her daughter, Sharon, 5, was treated for cuts and bruises at Burnham hospital. The Rowland home was demolished.

“Raymond Bushue, Savoy, was killed by a metal beam when a grain bin at the J. T. Smith and Sons seed houses blew away near Savoy.

“Eight persons were killed in Alvin, where the storm tore up the business district and left only a few residences standing. The dead there were George Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Hoover, Billy Smith, 12, Mrs. Dessie Scott, Mr. Ollie Thornsborough, Everett Schumaker, and Henry O’Farrell.

“Louise Maxine Duglas, six months old, was killed at her home near Hope, northeast of Urbana. Her father, Lorence Douglas found his wife and another child injured near the baby’s body.

“The storm started near Bement, Platt county, and for 60 miles followed a straight line, going south of Champaign and north of Danville. It missed the villages and stayed in rural territory until it struck Alvin, a community of 339 population. Through the center of Alvin the storm’s path varied from one to two blocks in width….” (Associated Press. “Tornado Kills 20 Near Urbana…” The Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, IL. 3-17-1942, p. 1.)

Mississippi

March 17, AP: “Jackson, Miss., March 17 (AP) – The known death toll in a series of tornadic storms that struck north central and northeast Mississippi late Monday afternoon stood at 65 today with the probability it would yet include a dozen or more persons killed in remote rural communities. The injured list mounted into the hundreds in one of the worst disasters in the state in years. The storms were followed by torrential rains, disrupted communications and blocked highways that made rescue work difficult in the heavily populated cotton growing belt, inhabited predominantly by Negroes.

“The known casualty list was 19 dead and 2006 in Leflore county around Greenwood; 18 dead and 45 injured in the vicinity of Water Valley; 6 dead and more than 100 injured at Grenada; 4 dead, 1 missing and 90 injured at Baldwyn, itself hard hit; 5 dead and many injured at Avalon; 5 reported dead and several hundred hurt, many slightly, at Oxford and Tchula; 6 dead near Michigan City, and 2 dead near North Holly Springs….” (Associated Press. “65 Killed, Over Injured In Storms. State’s Worst Disaster In Years.” Delta Democrat-Times, Greenville, MS. 3-17-1942, p1.)

March 18, AP: “Jackson, Miss., March 18 (AP) – Mississippi turned today toward burying its dead – who totaled at least 81 – and clearing the wreckage left by the tornadoes which brought injury and destruction of a dozen communities Monday.

“There were several group burials in places where the wind’s fury had struck down more than one member of a family. At Tula [Lafayette County], for instance, Clarice, Claudia and Wylie Lee Neal were placed in the same grave, in separate coffins.

“The legislature yesterday appropriated $10,000 for relief work and a similar amount was made available by the WPA in Washington.

“Baldwyn, one of the hardest-hit communities, was under martial law, guarded by 40 home guardsmen against possible looting among wreckage of stores. All but two shops in the town of 1,000 were wrecked.

“More than 100 of the 600-odd who were injured were in hospitals, and several were expected to die.

“Latest reports indicated 31 dead and about 300 injured in Leflore county, 19 dead and 45 injured in and around Water Valley, six dead and about 125 injured at Baldwyn, eight dead and about 100 injured at Grenada, six dead near Oxford and Tula, six dead at Michigan City, three dead at Holly Springs and one each at Carthage and Verona.” (Associated Press. “Mississippi Buries Its Dead; Tornado Toll Stands At 81.” Delta Democrat-Times, Greenville, MS. 3-18-1942, pp. 1 and 5.)

March 21, AP: “Grenada, Miss., March 21 – (AP) – Death of 13-year-old Patty Fay Knight raised to 85 the total of known dead from the tornadoes which ripped through a dozen north Mississippi communities. The girl was the 11^th fatality in the Grenada area. She died in Methodist hospital in Memphis yesterday.” (Associated Press. “85^th Death Result Mississippi Tornado.” Daily Herald, Biloxi and Gulfport, MS. 3-21-1942, p. 6.)

Sources

Associated Press. “85^th Death Result Mississippi Tornado.” Daily Herald, Biloxi and Gulfport, MS. 3-21-1942, p. 6. Accessed 6-28-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/biloxi-daily-herald-mar-21-1942-p-6/

Associated Press. “65 Killed, Over Injured In Storms. State’s Worst Disaster In Years.” Delta Democrat-Times, Greenville, MS. 3-17-1942, p. 1. Accessed 6-28-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/greenville-delta-democrat-times-mar-17-1942-p-1/

Associated Press. “Mississippi Buries Its Dead; Tornado Toll Stands At 81.” Delta Democrat-Times, Greenville, MS. 3-18-1942, pp. 1 and 5. Accessed 6-28-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/greenville-delta-democrat-times-mar-18-1942-p-1/

Associated Press. “Tornado Kills 20 Near Urbana…” The Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, IL. 3-17-1942, p. 1. Accessed 6-28-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chicago-daily-illini-mar-17-1942-p-1/

Evans. “Local Weather History: March 16, 1942 Tornado Outbreak in the Midwest & How A Supercell In Our Area Seemingly Spared.” WLFI News 18, Lafayette IN. Accessed 6-28-2024 at: https://www.wlfi.com/news/local-weather-history-march-16-1942-tornado-outbreak-in-the-midwest-how-a-supercell-in/article_1e6a37f4-c465-11ed-8b0f-873e9cd56f60.html

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

Illinois Public Media, NPR. “March 16 Illinois History Minute.” Accessed 6-28-2024 at: https://will.illinois.edu/illinoishistory/story/march-16-illinois-history-minute

Ludlum, David M. Early American Winters 1604-1820. Boston: American Meteorological Society, 1966.

Murray, Bill. “The March 16, 1942 Tornado Outbreak.” Alabamawx.com. Accessed 6-27-2024 at: https://www.alabamawx.com/?p=16323

National Weather Service, Central Illinois Weather Forecast Office. The Lacon F5 Tornado.. of March 16, 1942. Accessed 6-27-2024 at: https://www.weather.gov/ilx/16mar1942-tornadoes

National Weather Service, Dodge City, KS Forecast Office,. Today’s Weather Trivia (March). NWS, Nov 1, 2005. Accessed at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ddc/wxtrivia/wxtrvMar.php

National Weather Service, Louisville, KY Weather Forecast Office. Tornadoes of March 16, 1942. Accessed 6-27-2024 at: https://www.weather.gov/lmk/tornado_climatology_march161942

National Weather Service, Norther Indiana Weather Forecast Office. “1942 Goshen killer tornado.” Accessed 6-27-2024 at: https://www.weather.gov/iwx/19420316_goshen_tornado

The Ladd Journal, IL. “Seven Die in Lacon Tornado. 3-19-1942, p. 1. Accessed 6-28-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ladd-journal-mar-19-1942-p-1/

Wikipedia. “Tornado outbreak of March 16-17, 1942.” 6-6-2024 edit. Accessed 6-27-2024 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_of_March_16%E2%80%9317,_1942

[1] Shows the tracks of the Grayson-Hardin counties tornado with 9 deaths and the Nelson County tornado with 4 deaths. Does not note the Muhlenberg Couty tornado causing 11 deaths.