1968 — May 15, Tornado Outbreak, esp. AR/45, IA/18, IL/8; also, IN, KS, OH, MO — 71

–71 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 510, 1096-1099.
–71 NCEI. Storm Events Database. Search Results…US States and Areas. Tornado 5-15-1968.
–13 Floyd County IA 15:25 F5
— 5 Fayette County IA 15:57 F5
— 4 De Witt County IL 16:00 F1
— 3 Baxter County AR 18:30 F3
— 7 Independence County AR 20:36 F4
— 1 Jackson County AR 20:45 F4
— 4 St. Clair County IL 20:45 F3
–34 Craighead County AR 21:50 F4 –34 Jonesboro. KAIT 8, Jonesboro.

Arkansas (45)
— 3 Baxter County. NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, Ark., 15 May 1968, 1830 CST.
— 7 Independence County. NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, Ark., 15 May 1968, 2036.
–34 Craighead County. NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, Ark., 15 May 1968, 2150.
— 1 Jackson County. NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, Ark., 15 May 1968, 2045 CST.

Illinois ( 8)
— 4 Dewitt. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1098.
— 4 St. Clair. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1099.

Iowa (18)
— 5 Fayette Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 1097-1099.
–13 Franklin/Butler/Floyd/Chickasaw/Howard Counties. Grazulis 1993, 1097; NWS WI WFO

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “AR MAY 15, 1968 1830 3k 25inj 200y 7m F2. BAXTER–Moved E from 3m N of Mountain Home to Lake Norfork, and to Henderson. About 20 homes and 12 trailers were destroyed. Many of these were cottages or small homes. There was major damage to 15 other homes and four businesses. Boats on Lake Norfork were damaged, as were several docks and resorts.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1098.)

Grazulis: “AR MAY 15, 1968 2036 7k 24inj 300y 5m F4 INDEPENDENCE–Moved ENE through Oil Trough. Over half of the town was destroyed, and few homes in town escaped damage. There was roof and wall damage to the high school. An implement company, a grocery store, and the post office were destroyed. A church containing 60 people was damaged, but only one person was hurt.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1099.)

Grazulis: “AR MAY 15, 1968 2045 35k 361inj 100y f40m F4.
JACKSON/CRAIGHEAD/MISSISSIPPI–Moved ENE through the south part of Tuckerman. Six homes were destroyed as the tornado passed near Valley View, Jonesboro, Fairview, Nettleton, Black Oak, and Needham. About 164 homes were destroyed at Jonesboro. The entire Nettleton School was destroyed. At least seven cars on one stretch of highway were hurled across a nearby railway. Some cars were wrapped around trees, killing the occupants.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1099.)

Grazulis: “IL. MAY 15, 1968 1600 4k 75inj 800y 15m F3. DEWITT–Moved ESE across the south edge of Wapella, killing four people in three separate homes. All three had near-F4 damage. Every farm on the Waynesville-Wapella road lost buildings. The public library at Waynesville was torn apart.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1098.)

Grazulis: “IL MAY 15, 1968 2045 4k 51inj 150y 2m F3 ST.CLAIR–At Freeburg, a trailer court was completely destroyed, killing four people in three separate trailers. Frame homes and other buildings were badly damaged.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes…. 1993, p. 1099.)

Grazulis: “IA. MAY 15, 1968 1557 5k 156inj 500y 15m F5. FAYETTE–Moved NNE from SW of Oelwein to Maynard and E of Randalia. Homes were leveled and swept away in both Oelwein and Maynard. The warning sirens sounded for only 15 seconds before the power failed in Oelwein. Nearly 1000 homes were damaged or destroyed along the path, and 34 people had to be hospitalized. Almost 1000 families were affected. $21,000,000.” (Grazulis 1993, 1098)

NWS La Crosse WFO: “Moved northeast from north of Hansell, passing east of Aredale, west of Greene, east of Marble Rock, and devastating Charles City. The tornado grew larger and more intense as it approached Charles City. The huge funnel passed directly through town, destroying 337 homes, and causing about $30 million in damage. The tornado continued to the northeast hitting Elma and causing another $1.5 million in damages. From there the tornado turned to the north and dissipated south of Chester, 4 miles south of the Minnesota border. Nearly 2000 homes were damaged or destroyed. All 13 deaths occurred in Floyd County. 450 injuries were reported in Floyd County and 12 injuries in Howard County.” (NWS La Crosse WI WFO. Chickasaw County (IA) Tornadoes 1850-2006. 2007)

Sources

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

KAIT 8, Jonesboro, AR. “50 Years Later: The 1968 Tornado.” 5-16-2018. Accessed 5-6-2020 at: https://www.kait8.com/story/38200020/50-years-later-the-1968-tornado/

National Centers for Environmental Information, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Search Results for all U.S. States and Areas. Tornadoes, 5-15-1968. Accessed 5-6-2020 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=15&beginDate_yyyy=1968&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=15&endDate_yyyy=1968&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL

National Climatic Data Center. Event Record Details, Tornado, Ark., 15 May 1968, Baxter County, 1830 CST. NCDC, NOAA, Dept. Commerce. Accessed 2/6/2009 at: http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms

National Climatic Data Center. Event Record Details, Tornado, Ark., 15 May 1968, Craighead County, 2150 CST. NCDC, NOAA, Department of Commerce. Accessed 2/2/2009 at: http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~7245

National Climatic Data Center. Event Record Details, Tor., Ark., 15 May 1968, Independence County, 2036. NCDC, NOAA, Department of Commerce. Accessed 2/6/2009 at: http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~7239

National Climatic Data Center. Event Record Details, Tornado, Ark., 15 May 1968, Jackson County, 2045. NCDC, NOAA, Department of Commerce. Accessed 2/6/2009 at: http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~7240

National Weather Service Forecast Office, La Crosse, WI. “Chickasaw County (IA) Tornadoes 1850-2006.” Tornadoes in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and southwest and central Wisconsin. NWS, NOAA, 2007. At: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/tornado/chickasaw.php