{{Short description|Weather event in the United States}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox weather event | image = F3+ damage in Oelwein after the tornado (1968).png | caption = Major damage in Oelwein, Iowa after an F5 tornado devastated the town on May 15. | formed = | duration = May 15–16, 1968 }}{{Infobox weather event/Tornado outbreak | tornadoes = 46 confirmed | fujitascale = F5 | duration = 27 hours, 32 minutes }}{{Infobox weather event/Effects | fatalities = 72 | injuries = 1,203 | damages = >$52.5 million | affected = Central and Southern United States }}{{Infobox weather event/Footer | season = tornado outbreaks of 1968 }} In mid-May 1968, a significant and deadly tornado outbreak struck most of the central and southern United States. Producing 46 tornadoes, the outbreak killed at least 72 people, including 45 in Arkansas alone. The outbreak also produced two tornadoes in Iowa that were rated F5 on the Fujita scale. It was one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in the United States since the 1960s and is one of the deadliest outbreaks in Iowa history.
==Meteorological synopsis== [[File:Tornado_outbreak_weather_map,_May_15,_1968.jpg|left|thumb|260x260px|Surface weather analysis map on May 15]] Severe weather activity started during the afternoon of May 15 as a low pressure system crossed the area. The first tornado touchdowns were across the Midwestern States including the two Iowa F5s that hit central and eastern parts of the state about 45 minutes apart during the late afternoon. Both tornadoes killed 18 in total. The first F5 tornado moved through five counties and {{convert|65|mi|km|0}}. It affected the town of Charles City just before 5 PM destroying much of the area. Damage figures were pegged at $30 million in Charles City alone while $1.5 million of damage was recorded elsewhere. This tornado killed 13 and injured 462 others. The second F5 tornado affected Fayette County and damaged or destroyed nearly 1000 homes. The hardest hit areas were Oelwein and Maynard where homes were completely swept away from their foundations. Five people were killed while 156 others were injured. Damage was estimated at $21 million. These were two of four F5 tornadoes across the country in 1968, the others being in southeastern Ohio on April 23 and in southwestern Minnesota on June 13. The next F5 tornadoes in Iowa took place in Jordan in 1976, and in Parkersburg, in 2008.<ref>[http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/events/ccy_tor68.php Abbotsford Tornado<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/tornado/fayette.php Fayette County, Iowa Tornadoes<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
After the first tornadoes struck the Northern Plains, activity developed further south during the evening hours including several deadly tornadoes in Arkansas. One of the tornadoes touched down west of Jonesboro before hitting the Craighead County city itself at around 10 PM CDT. The tornado caught most residents by surprise since most of the warning systems failed and killed at least 34.<ref>[http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/tornadoes/casestudies.shtml Case Studies – Tornadoes – Forces of Nature<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107195949/http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/tornadoes/casestudies.shtml |date=November 7, 2006 }}</ref> One more person was killed in neighboring Jackson County. The tornado was the deadliest in Arkansas since an F4 tornado that affected White County on March 21, 1952, killing 50.<ref>[http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lzk/html/top25.htm National Weather Service - Little Rock, Arkansas...Top 25 Weather Events of the 20th Century<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado.php?p=3&s=6&d=asc&yr=%&mo=%&day=%&st=Arkansas&fu=%&co=Any&l=500&format=basic&submit=Table&dcom=&dpho=&dvid=&ddat=on&dtim=on&dsta=on&dfuj=on&dfat=on&dinj=on&dwid=&dlen=on&dcou=on&dong=&dare=&dfar=&drot=&ddam=&dpl=&dpw=&dtyp=&drem=&dtlat=&dtlon=&dllat=&dllon=&dstt=&dtor= Tornado History Project]{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;float:right;" |- !'''State''' !'''Total''' !'''County''' !'''County<br />total''' |- | rowspan="4" style="background:#e6e9ff;" |Arkansas | rowspan="4" style="background:#e6e9ff;" |'''45''' |Baxter |3 |- |Craighead |34 |- |Independence |7 |- |Jackson |1 |- | rowspan="2" style="background:#e6e9ff;" |Illinois | rowspan="2" style="background:#e6e9ff;" |'''8''' |De Witt |4 |- |St. Clair |4 |- | style="background:#e6e9ff;" |Indiana | style="background:#e6e9ff;" |'''1''' |Wabash |1 |- | rowspan="2" style="background:#e6e9ff;" |Iowa | rowspan="2" style="background:#e6e9ff;" |'''18''' |Fayette |5 |- |Floyd |13 |- | style="background:#e6e9ff;" |Totals | style="background:#e6e9ff;" |'''72''' | colspan="2" | |- | colspan="4" style="text-align:center;" | <small>All deaths were tornado-related</small> |} The same city was hit by another destructive tornado five years later killing at least three and injuring 250 others while leaving much more destruction throughout the city than the 1968 event. The damage figures were about $62 million in 1973 dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comm.astate.edu/herald/archive/newsF98/0209tornado73.html |title=News Story |publisher=Comm.astate.edu |accessdate=2012-11-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105044225/http://comm.astate.edu/herald/archive/newsF98/0209tornado73.html |archivedate=2013-01-05 }}</ref> Another F4 tornado just to the west of Jonesboro killed 7 in Oil Trough in Independence County and 3 others were killed in Baxter County.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wmar01ap.htm |title=Archived copy |website=www.usatoday.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128142210/http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wmar01ap.htm |archive-date=28 January 1999 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
The activity ceased across the Deep South when the final tornadoes of the first part of the outbreak touched down across the Metropolitan Memphis area and northern Mississippi as well as in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. A smaller tornado outbreak from the same system took place across Oklahoma and Texas during the following day where seven tornadoes touched down including an F3 in Wilbarger County, Texas.
In addition to the 45 fatalities in Arkansas and 18 in Iowa, the outbreak killed eight in Illinois and one in Indiana.
==Confirmed tornadoes== {{Tornado Chart | Total=46 | F0=5 | F1=20 | F2=10 | F3=7 | F4=2 | F5=2}}
===May 15 event===
{| class="wikitable toccolours collapsible" style="width:100%;" |- !colspan="6"|List of confirmed tornadoes |- style="text-align:center;" |'''F#''' || '''Location''' || '''County''' || '''Time (UTC)''' || '''Path length''' || '''Damage''' |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Minnesota''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big> |'''NW of Northfield to S of New Trier''' |Rice, Dakota |2028 |15.4 miles <br /> (24.6 km) |One woman was injured when a barn collapsed onto her. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big> |'''NW of Hutton''' |Freeborn |2200 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) |Brief tornado caused minor damage. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''SW of Dodge Center''' |Dodge |2207 |7.8 miles <br /> (12.5 km) |Tornado damaged outbuildings on 3 farms. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''W of West Concord''' |Steele, Dodge |2240 |16.6 miles <br /> (26.6 km) |Outbuildings were damaged on 7 farms. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''W of Newburg''' |Fillmore |2345 |8.4 miles <br /> (13.4 km) |Tornado damaged 3 farms and a church. |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Illinois''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big> |'''E of Easton to SW of Emden''' |Mason, Logan |2030 |12.6 miles <br /> (20.2 km) |15 homes were damaged or destroyed beyond repair, with near F4 damage in some areas. Trailers and smaller buildings were destroyed and scattered.<ref name="Grazulis">{{cite book | last = Grazulis | first = Thomas P | title = Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991 |date=July 1993 | publisher = The Tornado Project of Environmental Films | location = St. Johnsbury, VT | isbn = 1-879362-03-1 }}</ref> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''S of Waynesville to S of Farmer City''' |De Witt |2200 |25.4 miles <br /> (40.6 km) |'''4 deaths''' – Passed along the south edge of Wapella, destroying 3 homes and several buildings on multiple farms. A library in Waynesville was torn apart. Grazulis states that this tornado produced near F4 damage, despite the official F1 rating.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big> |'''E of Milford''' |Iroquois |2350 |7.1 miles <br /> (11.4 km) |One home had its roof blown off and was torn apart. 25 loaded freight cars were blown from the tracks. Barns and trailers were destroyed as well.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big> |'''SE of Freeburg''' |St. Clair |0245 |2 miles <br /> (3.2 km) |'''4 deaths''' – A trailer park was completely destroyed at Freeburg, where 4 people were killed. Frame homes and other structures were badly damaged.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Kansas''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big> |'''NE of Louisburg, KS''' |Miami, KS, Cass, MO |2045 |2.7 miles <br /> (4.3 km) |Tornado struck 8 farms in two states. One farm home was unroofed and torn apart. Barns were destroyed as well along the path.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Iowa''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat5}} | <big>'''F5'''</big> |'''NE of Hampton to SE of Chester''' |Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Butler, Floyd, Chickasaw, Howard |2110 |62.1 miles <br /> (99.4 km) |''See article on this tornado –'' '''13 deaths''' – In Charles City, 13 people died, 450 were injured, and $30 million damage occurred. 372 homes were destroyed, 188 sustained major damage, and 356 sustained minor. A new housing project was leveled. 58 businesses were destroyed, 90 sustained major damage, and 46 sustained minor damage. Multiple homes in town were completely swept away. Farms were swept away in rural areas outside of town, and intense cycloidal scour marks were visible in fields. A department store was flattened and the downtown area on Main St. was heavily damaged. All 8 churches and 3 of the city schools were damaged or destroyed. All the bars were spared. The police station was heavily damaged. 1250 vehicles were destroyed. In Elma, nearly $1.5 million damage occurred. Five homes and 20 cars were demolished and the Roman Catholic Church was unroofed. Along the path, 13 people were killed, 462 injured, and total damages were estimated at $31.5 million. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat5}} | <big>'''F5'''</big> |'''Oelwein to W of Fayette''' |Fayette |2157 |13.1 miles <br /> (21 km) |''See article on this tornado –'' '''5 deaths''' – Tornado struck the towns of Oelwein and Maynard. Homes in both communities were completely swept away. Churches, businesses, and schools in Oelwein were badly damaged and destroyed. Nearly 1,000 homes in total were damaged or destroyed by the tornado along its path. 34 people were hospitalized as a result of their injuries.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''W of Jackson Junction ''' |Fayette |2158 |0.3 miles <br /> (0.5 km) |Brief tornado touchdown with minor damage. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''Audubon area''' |Audubon |2245 |2 miles <br /> (3.2 km) |Barns were destroyed and house windows were blown out.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big> |'''S of Vernon Springs''' |Howard |2315 |4.7 miles <br /> (7.5 km) |The roof was torn off of a home and a concrete block garage was destroyed. Barns were destroyed as well.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Missouri''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big> |'''W of Pittsville ''' |Johnson |2130 |5.2 miles <br /> (8.3 km) |Tornado struck 7 farms, destroying barns and outbuildings. A gas station was destroyed and one home had its roof torn off.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''NW of Richmond''' |Ray |2145 |3.6 miles <br /> (5.8 km) |Tornado struck 5 farms, damaging barns and sheds. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big> |'''Fayetteville to Concordia''' |Johnson, Lafayette |2200 |12.3 miles <br /> (19.7 km) |Large barns and outbuildings were destroyed.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''S of Blackburn''' |Lafayette, Saline |2200 |4.9 miles <br /> (7.8 km) |Four farms sustained outbuilding damage. Trees and roofs were damaged, and a car was flipped by the tornado. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''S of Alba ''' |Jasper |2300 |2.5 miles <br /> (4 km) |Tornado damaged or destroyed structures on 3 farms. Tree damage occurred and a car was flipped, injuring the 3 occupants. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''W of Hillsboro ''' |Jefferson |0140 |5.9 miles <br /> (9.4 km) |Tornado caused tree damage along its path. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big> |'''SW of Neelyville ''' |Butler |0250 |0.2 miles <br /> (0.32 km) |Brief tornado destroyed two buildings and flipped a truck onto a station wagon. 1 person was injured. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''S of Campbell ''' |Dunklin |0320 |1.5 miles <br /> (2.4 km) |Tornado caused damage to treetops before lifting, then touching down fully in a rural area. |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Indiana''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big> |'''Mooresville area''' |Hendricks, Morgan |2145 |8.8 miles <br /> (14.1 km) |30 homes were damaged or had their roofs torn off, and multiple trailers were destroyed in Hazelwood. 20 additional homes were damaged at Lake Bodona, with some unroofed or nearly destroyed.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big> |'''N of West Lafayette''' |Tippecanoe |0351 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) |Two small buildings were destroyed. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big> |'''N of Beard''' |Clinton |0430 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) |A barn and farm machinery were destroyed near Beard.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big> |'''S of Wabash to E of Fort Wayne''' |Wabash, Huntington, Allen |0602 |50.3 miles <br /> (80.5 km) |'''1 death''' – 13 trailers were destroyed, one of which was thrown across a highway, resulting in a fatality. 35 homes were damaged, 15 of them in New Haven. Twenty garages and barns were destroyed, and 3 planes were damaged at Wabash airport. 15 people were injured.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Ohio''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''SE of Wooster''' |Wayne |2315 |1 miles <br /> (1.6 km) |Barns and outbuildings were destroyed.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big> |'''Dalton area''' |Wayne |0000 |1 miles <br /> (1.6 km) |Barns and outbuildings were destroyed.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Arkansas''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big> |'''NE of Mountain Home''' |Baxter |0030 |7.3 miles <br /> (11.7 km) |'''3 deaths''' – 20 homes and 12 trailers were destroyed. 4 businesses and 15 other homes were badly damaged. Boats, docks, and resorts were damaged at Lake Norfolk.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''NE of Viola''' |Fulton |0115 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) |Tornado caused damage in the Viola area where two trailers were flipped and a recreation hall sustained roof and wall damage. The roof was blown off of Viola School and several homes in Viola were damaged as well. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big> |'''N of Oil Trough''' |Independence |0236 |0.3 miles <br /> (0.5 km) |'''7 deaths''' – Tornado struck Oil Trough, destroying over half of the town. An implement company, a grocery store, and the post office were destroyed. The high school was badly damaged as well. A church with 60 people inside was badly damaged, but only one injury occurred there.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big> |'''E of Tuckerman to SW of Blytheville''' |Jackson, Craighead, Mississippi |0245 |20.9 miles <br /> (33.4 km) |'''35 deaths''' – Tornado first struck the south side of Tuckerman before tearing through Jonesboro. At least 164 homes were destroyed in Jonesboro, and multiple others were damaged. Several fatalities occurred when vehicles were thrown from a road and wrapped around trees. The tornado also impacted the towns of Fairview, Nettleton, and Manila. The tornado was not on the ground between Jonesboro and Manila, but the NWS (National Weather Service) counts the event as one tornado.<ref name=":0" /> The downtown area of Manila was destroyed, and Nettleton School was completely destroyed as well.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Tennessee''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''Memphis area (southeast)''' |Shelby |0520 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) |Tornado remained over open country. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''Germantown area''' |Shelby |0715 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) |Brief tornado reported. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''SW of Dixonville''' |Shelby |0750 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) |No damage reported. |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Mississippi''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big> |'''SW of Lewisburg''' |DeSoto |0620 |5.2 miles <br /> (8.3 km) |Two concrete block houses were badly damaged and another was pushed several feet from its foundation. An additional 3 homes were destroyed, one was unroofed, and 3 others were damaged. A mobile home, antique shop, implement company, garage, and chicken house were all destroyed. A barn was unroofed, and many trees and power poles were downed. 6 people were injured. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''E of Bowman''' |Tate |0640 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) |Tornado uprooted multiple trees. |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''NW of Taska''' |Marshall |0730 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) |One truck was pushed from the road, another jackknifed, and two others were involved as the tornado briefly moved down the highway. |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<small>Source: {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130204170650/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado.php?yr=1968&mo=5&day=15&st=%25&fu=%25&co=Any&l=auto&submit=Table&ddat=on&dtim=on&dsta=on&dfuj=on&dfat=on&dinj=on&dlen=on&dcou=on&format=basic&p=1&s=1 Tornado History Project Storm Data - May 15, 1968]}} </small> |}
===May 16 event=== {| class="wikitable toccolours collapsible" style="width:100%;" |- !colspan="6"|List of confirmed tornadoes |- style="text-align:center;" |'''F#''' || '''Location''' || '''County''' || '''Time (UTC)''' || '''Path length''' || '''Damage''' |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Oklahoma''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big> |'''SE of Wilson''' |Carter |2015 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) | |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big> |'''NW of Overbrook''' |Love |2115 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) | |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big> |'''NW of Taylor''' |Cotton, Stephens |2143 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) | |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''W of Marietta''' |Love |2345 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) | |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big> |'''NE of Asphaltum''' |Jefferson |0000 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) | |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|'''Texas''' |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big> |'''NW of Bellevue''' |Clay |2015 |0.1 miles <br /> (0.16 km) | |- |bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big> |'''SW of Vernon''' |Wilbarger |2110 |2 miles <br /> (3.2 km) |A home lost its roof and two walls.<ref name="Grazulis"/> |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<small>Source: {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130204170650/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado.php?yr=1968&mo=5&day=15&st=%25&fu=%25&co=Any&l=auto&submit=Table&ddat=on&dtim=on&dsta=on&dfuj=on&dfat=on&dinj=on&dlen=on&dcou=on&format=basic&p=1&s=1 Tornado History Project Storm Data - May 16, 1968]}} </small> |}
=== Charles City—Elma, Iowa === {{Main|1968 Charles City tornado}} {{Infobox weather event | name = Charles City—Elma, Iowa | image = Charles City tornado.jpg | width = 300 | alt = Tornado near Charles City, IA | caption = The tornado as it was 2 miles southwest of Charles City | duration = 1 hour, 30 minutes | formed = May 15, 1968, ~4:10 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) | dissipated = May 15, 1968, ~5:40 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) }}{{Infobox weather event/Tornado | basin = atl | winds = >{{convert|261–300|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} | fujita-scale = F5 | gusts = }}{{Infobox weather event/Effects | deaths = 13 | injuries = 462 | damages = }}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
This extremely powerful and large tornado was first spotted near Hansell at around 4:10 P.M. At one point, two tornadoes were seen simultaneously on the ground. Several farms were destroyed before the tornado appeared to lift near Marble Rock.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=May 15 1968 Iowa Tornado Summary |url=https://www.weather.gov/arx/may151968event |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref> As the tornado approached Charles City, it intensified and enlarged. Thirteen people were killed and 415 were injured by the tornado in Charles City. The tornado then moved to Elma, causing severe damage there. The tornado then turned to the north and dissipated 14 miles north of Elma. 372 homes were destroyed in Charles City, and the damage total was $30 million in Charles City and $1.5 million in Elma.<ref name=":0" /> {{clear}}
===Oelwein—Maynard, Iowa=== {{Main|1968 Oelwein tornado}}
{{Infobox weather event | name = Oelwein—Maynard, Iowa | image = Oelwein Tornado Earl Bardach.jpg | width = 300 | alt = | caption = The tornado as it was forming just outside of Oelwein, IA | formed = May 15, 1968, ~4:57 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) | dissipated = May 15, 1968, ~5:40 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) }}{{Infobox weather event/Tornado | basin = atl | winds = >{{convert|261|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} | fujita-scale = F5 }}{{Infobox weather event/Effects | deaths = 5 | injuries = 156 | year = 1968 | damages = }}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
This tornado occurred less than an hour after the Charles City F5 touched down. In Olewein, it killed two people and destroyed 68 homes, with hundreds taking varying amounts of damage. In addition, it destroyed or damaged every business in the area. Some people reported more than one tornado on the ground. After moving northeast for a while, it hit the western side of Maynard, leveling five blocks of land, including several homes and the newly constructed church. Two fatalities occurred in Maynard. In total, 156 injuries were recorded, and damage estimates were $21 million.<ref name=":0" /> {{clear}}
===Jonesboro—Nettleton—Manila, Arkansas=== {{Infobox weather event | name = Jonesboro—Nettleton—Manilla, Arkansas | image = Nettleton School Aftermath.png | width = 300 | alt = | caption = The ruins of the Nettleton Elementary School in Jonesboro after the tornado | formed = May 15, 1968, ~9:45 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) <ref name=":0" /> | dissipated = May 15, 1968, ~10:50 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00)<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=9983240|website=ncdc.noaa.gov|title=Storm Event Database|author=NOAA}}</ref> }}{{Infobox weather event/Tornado | basin = atl | winds = {{convert|207–260|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} | fujita-scale = F4 }}{{Infobox weather event/Effects | deaths = 35 | injuries = 364 | year = 1968 | damages = }}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
This violent tornado, also referred to as the “First Jonesboro Tornado,” would be the deadliest of the outbreak, killing 35 people and injuring over 300. Some of those fatalities were caused by cars being wrapped around trees. 170 homes and some businesses were destroyed by the tornado. Nettleton High School was almost completely destroyed by the tornado. Large amounts of cotton crops were destroyed by heavy rain associated with the storm.<ref name=":0" /> In addition to Jonesboro, the tornado ran through the downtown area of Manila, destroying a large section of it.<ref name="Grazulis" /> Despite the tornado having been observed to lift between Jonesboro and Manila, the NWS counts this as one tornado.<ref name=":0" /> {{clear}}
==See also== * List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/events/ccy_tor68.php Iowa tornadoes of May 15, 1968 (Courtesy of NWS La Crosse, Wisconsin)]
{{DEFAULTSORT:1968-05-15 Tornado Outbreak}} Category:F5, EF5 and IF5 tornadoes 05-15 Category:Tornadoes in Arkansas Category:Tornadoes in Illinois Category:Tornadoes in Indiana Category:Tornadoes in Iowa Category:Tornadoes in Kansas Category:Tornadoes in Missouri Category:Tornadoes in Minnesota Category:Tornadoes in Ohio Category:Tornadoes in Oklahoma Category:Tornadoes in Tennessee Category:Tornadoes in Texas Tornado 05-15 Tornado 05-15 Tornado 15