1942 — May 2, tornado outbreak, IL (1), KS (3), MO (1) OK (26), esp. Chilesville area–   31

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 6-17-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

— 31  Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 412 and 900.

Illinois             (  1)

—  1  Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 900.

Kansas            (  3)

—  3  Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 900.

            —  1  Locale not noted. 15:30  1k  10inj  300y  30m  F4 tornado.

—  2  La Harpe, 5M SE of.

Missouri         (  1)

— 1  Fayette, 5M SE of. Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 900.

Oklahoma      (26)

–26  Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 900.

–12  Chilesville community, near Boley. 15:30 F4.

—  3  Fisher, north of. 15:15 F4.

—  3  Pawhuska. 14:30 F4.

—  4  Turley area. 15:15 F4.

—  4  Locality not noted in 15:30 F4 tornado.

—  1  Dewey, 2M NW of. George Nickols, 58. AP. “Many Die in State Tornadoes.” 5-3-1942, 1.

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “OK May 2, 1942   14:30  3k [killed] 28inj  600y  85m  F4. Nobile/Pawnee/Osage/ Washington/Nowata [counties] – Moved NE from south of Morrison to near South Coffeyville. Farm buildings were leveled as the funnel, up to a mile wide, cut through the sparsely settled ranching area. Pawhuska was the only town directly in its path. The three deaths were in a 12-block swath through SE Pawhuska. Damage totaled about $150,000, as 30 homes were destroyed. Most residents had taken shelter. Hundreds of cattle were killed.”

Grazulis: “OK May 2, 1942   15:15  7k  200inj  400y 55m  F4. Payne/Creek/Tulsa/Osage [counties] – Moved ENE from 2m S of Cushing to north of Owasso. Little damage was reported until the funnel passed south of Mannford and into Tulsa County. Most of the $65.000 damage was NW of Tulsa, where homes were leveled. Three people were killed north of Fisher, and four died near Turley.”

Grazulis: “OK May 2, 1942  15:30  16k  80inj  800y  55m  F4. Pottawatomie/Lincoln/ Okfuskee/Creek [counties]. – Moved E, then NE from near McLoud. Small homes were destroyed near Paden, Boley, and Welty, but the worst damage was in a small farming community north of ‘Chilesville,’ in Okfuskee County, near Boley. Twelve people were killed there as the community literally vanished. The funnel passed just south of Prague. $120,000.”

Grazulis: “KS  May 2, 1942  15:30  1k  10inj  300y  30m  F4. Wilson/Neosho [counties]. Moved NE from 6m SW of Fredonia, passing along the edge of Altoona and ending at Chanute. About 35 farms lost at least some property. At least four homes were leveled. One person died on one of the first farms to be hit. $150,000.

Grazulis: “KS  May 2, 1942  16:20  2k  15inj  200y  35m  F4. Allen/Bourbon/Linn – Moved NE, from 6M E of Humboldt, to 3m SW of Mound City, passing just west of Moran and NW of Xenia. Buildings were destroyed on at least 20 farms. Deaths occurred in farm homes 5m SE of La Harpe and SW of Mound City. $150,000.”

Sources

Associated Press. “Many Die in State Tornadoes.” The Daily Ardmoreite, OK, 5-3-1942, p. 1. Accessed 6-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ardmore-daily-ardmoreite-may-03-1942-p-1/

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