MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (WSIL) -- The Tri-State Tornado hit on March 18, 1925, killing 695 people and marking a path of destruction for 219 miles.
March 18, 2025, marks the 100th anniversary of the deadliest tornado in US history, spanning three states, starting in Missouri, through southern Illinois and ending in Indiana.
The tornado started at around 1 p.m. near Ellington, Missouri. There is also evidence it could have started in Shannon County where damage occurred.
The first death was a farmer near Ellington. From here, the tornado hit Annapolis and Leadanna, killing four with multiple people injured and causing $500,000 in damage. 90% of Annapolis was destroyed.
Tornado damage in Annapolis, March 18, 1925
Tornado damage in Leadanna, March 18, 1925 - Photo:Â National Weather Service
The tornado then went across Madison County, destroying and damaging buildings and killing livestock.
After entering Bollinger County, at one point, the tornado injured 32 children from two different schools.
Crossing over into Perry County, Missouri, the F-5 tornado completely destroyed the town of Biehle, killed four and injured dozens.Â
Tornado damage in Biehle, March 18, 1925
Tornado damage in Biehle, March 18, 1925
The massive twister then crossed the Mississippi River and into Jackson County where it hit Gorham, Illinois. The town was 100% destroyed and 37 people were killed.
Tornado damage in Gorham, March 18, 1925
Tornado damage in Gorham, March 18, 1925
The tornado then hit Murphysboro, killing 234 people, injured more than 600 and left thousands homeless.
Aerial view of Murphysboro IL after the tornado as hundreds of homes and business were demolished.
Thirteen people perished when the Blue Front Hotel in Murphysboro IL caught fire in the hours following the tornado.
A view of damage to the business district of Murphysboro IL.
The tornado completely destroyed Logan School in Murphysboro IL.
Before exiting Jackson County, the storm rolled through De Soto, killing 69, including 33 children at De Soto school.
Another view of the De Soto IL school, where 33 children lost their lives.
In Franklin County, West Frankfort was hit. 148 people died and more than 500 homes were destroyed. Moments later, the tornado hit Parrish, killing 22 and destroying 90% of the town.
This is an aerial view of the tornado damage to homes on the west side of West Frankfort IL.
Hamilton County was then hit where the twister killed 41 and destroyed schools and farms.
Remains of a home near Olga in southern Hamilton County IL.
The F-5 tornado was responsible of killing more than 600 Illinoisans.
Right after the tornado crossed into Indiana, it hit the town of Griffin, destroying 100% of the town and killing 25 with hundreds injured.
The twister also hit Princeton, Indiana, killing 45 and injuring 150 people.
The 219-mile tornado was responsible for killing 695 people and damaging roughly $16.5 million in property, with Murphysboro taking roughly 2/3rds of the financial damage.
By the numbers
Below is some numbers presented by the National Weather Service about the Tri-State Tornado...
- 3 states affected (Missouri, Illinois, Indiana)
- 13 counties affected, including:
- Missouri: Reynolds, Iron, Madison, Bollinger, Perry
- Illinois: Jackson, Williamson, Franklin, Hamilton, White
- Indiana: Posey, Gibson, Pike
- 19+ communities affected, including:
- Missouri: Ellington, Redford, Leadanna, Annapolis, Cornwall, Biehle, Frohna
- Illinois: Gorham, Murphysboro, De Soto, Hurst-Bush, Zeigler, West Frankfort, Eighteen, Parrish, Crossville
- Indiana: Griffin, Owensville, Princeton
- 219 mile path length--a record for a single tornado
- 3/4 mile average path width (some accounts of over 1 mile wide)
- 3 1/2 hours of continuous devastation
- 1:01 p.m.—tornado touched down 3 miles NNW of Ellington, Missouri
- 4:30 p.m.—tornado dissipated about 3 miles SW of Petersburg, Indiana
- N 69° E heading maintained for 183 of the 219 miles
- 62 mph average speed
- 73 mph record speed between Gorham & Murphysboro
- F5 tornado on the Fujita Scale, with winds in excess of 200 mph
- 28.87" lowest pressure measured on a barograph trace at the Old Ben Coal Mine in West Frankfort, Illinois
- 695 deaths—a record for a single tornado
- 234 deaths in Murphysboro—a record for a single community from such a disaster
- 33 deaths at the De Soto school—a record for such a storm (only bombings and gas explosions have taken higher school tolls)
- 2,027 injuries
- 15,000 homes destroyed
Deadliest tornadoes in US history
Here is a breakdown of the 10 deadliest tornadoes in the history of the United States.
