This page documents all U.S. tornadoes confirmed in 1951. Due to lack of modern radar and storm spotters, tornado counts from this period are much lower than what we see today.
Tornado developed within a squall line and moved north-northward through the Alexandria metropolitan area with damaging winds extending several miles from the circulation. The towns of Sieps, Tioga, Simms, and Pollock were all severely damaged as well. In the end, two houses and four stores were destroyed while another 42 homes and 11 building damaged. Damages are estimated at $500,000 and 11 people were injured.
This tornado developed near Los Altos causing damage in a residential area before lifting. About three miles further northeast the tornado touchdown in an orchard, near Sunnyvale, with several trees uprooted. The tornado widened as it moved through the business district downing power poles, shifting buildings off foundations, and removing roofs off others. The tornado lifted north of Highway 101. Damages are estimated at $2.5 million.
Several tornadoes were possibly counted along the 45-mile path. When the tornado first touched down in Caddo County, five people were injured when two houses and one store had their roofs torn off. As the tornado entered southern Canadian County, several farms were damaged. In El Reno, two buildings were damaged, with the cooperative weather station being demolished. The tornado continued into Kingfisher County where it dissipated. Damages are estimated at $50,000 and five people were injured.
The second longest tracked tornado in the state of Arkansas started near the town of Keo. The twister continued northeast damaging and destroying several houses and farm buildings. The tornado lifted to the northeast of Marked Tree. Damages are estimated at $50,000 and three people were injured.
One building was completely demolished, while 15 others were damaged. Telephone and power lines also damaged. Damages are estimated at $25,000 and two injuries.
A waterspout moved ashore from the Gulf of Mexico causing damage to 20 buildings. Several of those buildings had roofs blown off and one was moved off its foundation. Power lines were also downed. Damages are estimated at $25 thousand.
2 injuries - Many farm buildings were destroyed, trees downed, and a few heads of livestock killed. One farmer was injured when they were blown into a field. Damages are estimated at $250 thousand.
This tornado moved through open farmlands 18 miles (29 km) north of Harrison. The CDNS report stated that one person was injured, but this was not officially documented.[35][39]
This tornado, which was accompanied by over 3 inches (7.6 cm) hail that damaged Coldwater, may have actually been the tornado that was reported in Clark County as this one supposedly occurred on June 20. It struck a farm, tearing down a new granary and a barn and damaging a car. The tornado may have crossed the state line into Oklahoma, but this was not confirmed.[35][40][41]
This probable tornado was later confirmed. A large barn was obliterated with its contents scattered over a wide area, including two large beams that were impaled into the side of a farm house. Large trees were snapped "like match sticks" as well. Losses totaled $25,000.[35][37][42]
Barns and outbuildings on 10 farms were demolished by this narrow, but strong northeastward-moving tornado. Homes and barns were damaged or moved from their foundations, granaries, silos, windmills, farm machinery, and automobiles were damaged or wrecked, poultry and livestock were killed, haystacks were scattered, trees were uprooted, power poles and wires were downed, and crops were damaged. Losses totaled $250,000. Very large hail to the size of tennis balls accompanied this tornado, causing additional damage to homes and property.[44][45][46]
This narrow, but strong tornado struck the Sidney Municipal Airport, badly damaging a hangar, house trailer, and one plane, although a damage estimate was not given. One person was injured. The CDNS report list the start time as 20:50 UTC. The tornado was not rated as significant (F2+) by Grazulis.[44][45][47]
This destructive tornado, which was embedded within a much larger area of damaging winds and hail, caused catastrophic damage in and between Duncan and Crystal Lake. In Duncan, the tornado destroyed the largest buildings in town. A large church and community center as well as all 21 homes in town were damaged or destroyed. Four people were injured in the town. The tornado then demolished four rural farmsteads, killed livestock, and overturned a freight train before striking Crystal Lake. Four homes were demolished, many more were damaged and four people were injured. In all, eight people were injured. The storm as a whole caused $4.5 million in damage in Franklin and Hancock Counties, but the damage estimate from the tornado itself was not given. The CDNS report listed that the tornado caused a fatality in Duncan, but that was not included in the NCEI database. The NCEI track of the tornado only shows it striking Crystal Lake as well. Grazulis rated the tornado F3.[44][45][48]
A waterspout developed over the Ohio River on the Ohio-West Virginia border and moved inland. One person was injured, although no damage estimate was given. The tornado was accompanied by strong straight-line winds that caused additional damage to farm buildings and trees.[44][51]
5 deaths – The roar of this short-lived, but violent tornado was heard just prior to it moving directly through WaKeeney shortly after midnight, causing catastrophic damage. A total of 45 homes were destroyed while 60 others were damaged. 100 people were injured and damage was estimated at $2.5 million. The tornado was accompanied by high winds and hail that caused additional damage.[44][45][54][55]
This tornado came from the same storm that produced the Wakeeney tornado. A farm was damaged with losses totaling $2,500. The tornado was also accompanied by high winds and hail that caused additional damage.[44][54][56]
This tornado accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds caused severe damage along its path with losses totaling $2.5 million. The CDNS report says the tornado hit Carlisle as well.[44][57]
This tornado accompanied by heavy rain and severe activity completely destroyed two farms near Heman with Grazulis noting that this was "probable F4 damage". 35 people were injured and losses totaled $2.5 million.[44][45][58][59]
1 death – This tornado accompanied by heavy rain and severe activity completely destroyed several farms along its path. 15 people were injured and losses totaled $2.5 million. Grazulis rated the tornado F2, although he noted that near-F3 damage occurred at one of the farms.[44][45][58][60]
This tornado touched down near Dayton and moved southeastward to Smicksburg. Two barns were unroofed, two silos demolished, trees were uprooted with some falling onto homes and across highways, and power and phone services disrupted. Losses totaled $2,500. The NCEI track has a path moving northeastward from north of Aultman through Beyer to Smicksburg. The tornado was not rated as significant by Grazulis.[44][45][61]
6 deaths – Several farm buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed with the greatest damage occurring just past Cobb Town about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Waupaca. There, three farms were obliterated and swept away at near-F5 intensity. Five of the six people killed came from one family, who were killed as they were cleaning chickens on their porch on the opposite side of the house from the approaching tornado. The other fatality occurred in the Lebanon Township near Sugar Bush where a 40-year-old woman was killed in a flattened home. Three other people were injured.[63][64][65][66]
1 death – A violent tornado struck a farm. There, a large house and every farm building was obliterated, including the house of the hired hand who was killed with debris from the home being left in a pile 300 feet (91 m) from the foundation. Hundreds of trees were stripped and/or uprooted, including some that were 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter, and chickens were defeathered. Officially, nine people were injured, although the CDNS report list 10 injuries. The tornado was rated F3 by tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis.[63][64][65][67]
1 death – A strong tornado blew down the west and south concrete walls of a tavern before ripping off its roof. An I-beam was thrown 100 yards (91 m) while steel beams were thrown 70 yards (64 m). Three people were injured.[63][64][65][68]
^ abcdeAll dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.
^Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[34]
^Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[43]
^Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[50]
^Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[53]
^Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[62]
^ abcde"Climatological Data: National summary". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data and Information Service, National Climatic Center. 1951. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
^Iowa Event Report: F1 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
^ abcdefghijkl"Climatological Data: National summary". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data and Information Service, National Climatic Center. 1951. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
^ abc"Climatological Data: National summary". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data and Information Service, National Climatic Center. 1951. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN1-879362-03-1.
