# Tornado outbreak of April 30 – May 2, 1967

A destructive severe weather episode affected portions of the Midwestern and Southern United States from April 30–May 2, 1967. It consisted of two consecutive tornado outbreaks that generated at least 38 tornadoes, causing 13 fatalities and 90 injuries. All of the deaths occurred on April 30, which is known as the 1967 Iowa–Minnesota tornado outbreak, or Black Sunday, to residents of Iowa and southern Minnesota. That day spawned a total of 21 tornadoes, devastating the towns of Albert Lea and Waseca, Minnesota.

## Background

Beginning on April 30, 1967, a potent mid-latitude cyclone generated severe weather, including blizzards and severe thunderstorms, across a broad region extending from the northernmost High Plains and Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys. These conditions occurred within a seventy-two-hour-long span. By 1:00 p.m. CDT (12:00 p.m. CST; 18:00 UTC) on April 30, a low-pressure area of at most 984 millibars (29.06 inHg) was centered near Pierre, South Dakota, with a stationary front superimposed from north of Sioux Falls to near LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Nearby, a warm front also attended from south of Sioux Falls to near Des Moines, Iowa, and St. Louis, Missouri. As the warm sector advanced into northernmost Iowa and southern Minnesota, surface air temperatures rose into the 60s and low 70s °F, while dew points reached the 60s °F. Winds at the surface ranged from 15 to 25 miles per hour (24 to 40 km/h) out of the east-southeast. By 7:00 p.m. CDT (6:00 p.m. CST; 00:00 UTC), the warm front migrated to near the Minnesota-Iowa border, while the mid-level trough associated with the surface cyclone acquired a negative tilt. At the same time, a strong jet stream brought deep-layer wind shear over portions of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota—indicating favorable conditions for tornadogenesis.

## Daily statistics

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating :
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
| 0 | 1 | 8 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 38 |
| "FU" denotes unclassified but confirmed tornadoes. ||||||||
Daily statistics of tornadoes produced by the tornado outbreak sequence of April 30–May 2, 1967 :
| Date | Total | Fujita scale rating | Fujita scale rating | Fujita scale rating | Fujita scale rating | Fujita scale rating | Fujita scale rating | Fujita scale rating | Deaths | Injuries | Damage | Ref. |
| Date | Total | FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Deaths | Injuries | Damage | Ref. |
| April 30 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 81 | ≥$11,000,000 | |
| May 1 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ≥$25,000 | |
| May 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $25,000 | |
| Total | 38 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 90 | $286,962,000 | |
Outbreak death toll :
| State | Total | County | County total |
| Minnesota | 13 | Freeborn | 7 |
| Minnesota | 13 | Waseca | 6 |
| Totals | 13 | | |
| All deaths were tornado-related ||||

## Confirmed tornadoes
### April 30 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, April 30, 1967 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
| F1 | NW of De Smet | Kingsbury | SD | 44°24′N 97°34′W﻿ / ﻿44.40°N 97.57°W﻿ / 44.40; -97.57﻿ (De Smet (April 30, F1)) | 21:15–? | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | 10 yards (9.1 m) | A brief tornado struck unpopulated countryside, resulting in no material damage. |
| F2 | NW of Vincent to ENE of Thor | Webster | IA | 42°36′N 94°02′W﻿ / ﻿42.60°N 94.03°W﻿ / 42.60; -94.03﻿ (Eagle Grove (April 30, F2)) | 21:50–? | 6.8 miles (10.9 km) | 200 yards (180 m) | Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F2 | ESE of Gruver to SE of Huntington | Emmet | IA | 43°23′N 94°41′W﻿ / ﻿43.38°N 94.68°W﻿ / 43.38; -94.68﻿ (Huntington (April 30, F2)) | 22:00–? | 8.2 miles (13.2 km) | 300 yards (270 m) | This tornado struck six barns, one of which was destroyed. Damage was also reported in Dolliver. |
| F2 | Emmetsburg to WNW of Ringsted | Palo Alto, Emmet | IA | 43°07′N 94°40′W﻿ / ﻿43.12°N 94.67°W﻿ / 43.12; -94.67﻿ (Halfa (April 30, F2)) | 22:10–? | 14 miles (23 km) | 300 yards (270 m) | This tornado struck the western portion of the community of Halfa, tearing the roofs off several homes. While passing east of Gridley, it also destroyed barns. |
| F2 | WSW of Crystal Lake | Hancock, Winnebago | IA | 43°13′N 93°48′W﻿ / ﻿43.22°N 93.80°W﻿ / 43.22; -93.80﻿ (Crystal Lake (April 30, F2)) | 22:30–? | 4.3 miles (6.9 km) | 300 yards (270 m) | This tornado struck eight farmsteads, three of which were nearly destroyed, except for the farmhouses. |
| F2 | NNE of Gruver | Emmet | IA | 43°25′N 94°41′W﻿ / ﻿43.42°N 94.68°W﻿ / 43.42; -94.68﻿ (Gruver (April 30, F2)) | 22:33–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 200 yards (180 m) | Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F3 | Clear Lake | Cerro Gordo | IA | 43°06′N 93°25′W﻿ / ﻿43.10°N 93.42°W﻿ / 43.10; -93.42﻿ (Clear Lake (April 30, F3)) | 23:05–? | 7.7 miles (12.4 km) | 250 yards (230 m) | This tornado destroyed barns, agricultural machinery, and one home. Observers reported three distinct funnel clouds. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F2. |
| F2 | Fort Madison | Lee | IA | 40°38′N 91°19′W﻿ / ﻿40.63°N 91.32°W﻿ / 40.63; -91.32﻿ (Fort Madison (April 30, F2)) | 23:20–? | 2.3 miles (3.7 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F4 | ENE of Manly to SSE of Otranto | Worth | IA | 43°18′N 93°10′W﻿ / ﻿43.30°N 93.17°W﻿ / 43.30; -93.17﻿ (Manly (April 30, F4)) | 23:28–? | 13.3 miles (21.4 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | This violent tornado caused extensive damage to approximately ten farms. |
| F3 | SSE of Kensett, IA to N of London, MN | Worth (IA), Freeborn (MN) | IA, MN | 43°20′N 93°12′W﻿ / ﻿43.33°N 93.20°W﻿ / 43.33; -93.20﻿ (Kensett (April 30, F3)) | 23:30–? | 17.2 miles (27.7 km) | 800 yards (730 m) | This tornado caused extensive damage to six farmsteads and destroyed a few homes. |
| F2 | W of Lemond to NE of Waseca | Waseca | MN | 43°59′N 93°25′W﻿ / ﻿43.98°N 93.42°W﻿ / 43.98; -93.42﻿ (Lemond (April 30, F2)) | 00:00–? | 9.2 miles (14.8 km) | 67 yards (61 m) | This tornado destroyed barns as it passed near Lemond and west of Meriden. The total path length may have been 30 miles (48 km). |
| F1 | WSW of Union | Steele | MN | 43°52′N 93°12′W﻿ / ﻿43.87°N 93.20°W﻿ / 43.87; -93.20﻿ (Ellendale (April 30, F1)) | 00:05–? | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | 10 yards (9.1 m) | Un­known |
| F3 | Alden to ESE of Matawan | Freeborn, Waseca | MN | 43°40′N 93°35′W﻿ / ﻿43.67°N 93.58°W﻿ / 43.67; -93.58﻿ (Alden (April 30, F3)) | 00:05–? | 14 miles (23 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | 2 deaths – Near the start of its path, this tornado neared the threshold of F4-level intensity, based on structural damage to farms. Additionally, the tornado destroyed barns. Twenty-three people sustained injuries. |
| F4 | ENE of Northwood, IA to ENE of Myrtle, MN | Worth (IA), Freeborn (MN) | IA, MN | 43°27′N 93°10′W﻿ / ﻿43.45°N 93.17°W﻿ / 43.45; -93.17﻿ (Myrtle (April 30, F4)) | 00:20–? | 7.6 miles (12.2 km) | 500 yards (460 m) | This powerful tornado destroyed ten farms in Minnesota, three of which sustained borderline-F5-level damage. One injury was reported. |
| F4 | NNW of Twin Lakes to Albert Lea to Owatonna | Freeborn, Steele | MN | 43°34′N 93°26′W﻿ / ﻿43.57°N 93.43°W﻿ / 43.57; -93.43﻿ (Albert Lea (April 30, F4)) | 00:23–? | 38.7 miles (62.3 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | 5 deaths – This destructive, long-tracked tornado caused $2 million in damages in Albert Lea alone. The tornado ravaged the western portion of the town; there, it significantly damaged 55 homes, and "completely leveled" 10 others. In all, the tornado destroyed 26 homes and severely damaged an additional 64 in Albert Lea. Along its entire path, the tornado flattened farms at six different locations. The tornado also destroyed many structures on farms near Owatonna. The tornado injured a total of 35 people. |
| F4 | W of Hartland to NNE of Waseca | Freeborn, Waseca | MN | 43°48′N 93°31′W﻿ / ﻿43.80°N 93.52°W﻿ / 43.80; -93.52﻿ (Hartland (April 30, F4)) | 00:52–? | 20.1 miles (32.3 km) | 267 yards (244 m) | 6 deaths – This tornado was the last violent event of the entire outbreak sequence. It paralleled Minnesota State Highway 13, known then as Highway 67, and damaged farms on each side of the highway. In Waseca, the tornado leveled six homes, destroyed 16, and extensively damaged 25. The tornado injured 22 people. |
| F1 | NW of Littleton | Buchanan | IA | 42°33′N 92°03′W﻿ / ﻿42.55°N 92.05°W﻿ / 42.55; -92.05﻿ (Littleton (April 30, F1)) | 01:00–? | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | Un­known |
| F1 | NW of Montezuma | Poweshiek | IA | 41°36′N 92°33′W﻿ / ﻿41.60°N 92.55°W﻿ / 41.60; -92.55﻿ (Montezuma (April 30, F1)) | 01:00–? | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | 10 yards (9.1 m) | Un­known |
| F2 | SE of Austin to E of Nicolville | Mower | MN | 43°38′N 92°56′W﻿ / ﻿43.63°N 92.93°W﻿ / 43.63; -92.93﻿ (Austin (April 30, F2)) | 01:15–? | 3.8 miles (6.1 km) | 10 yards (9.1 m) | This short-lived tornado destroyed a few barns and unroofed a home on a farmstead. |
| F2 | S of Marion to N of Eyota | Olmsted | MN | 43°56′N 92°21′W﻿ / ﻿43.93°N 92.35°W﻿ / 43.93; -92.35﻿ (Marion (April 30, F2)) | 02:10–02:15 | 6.8 miles (10.9 km) | 10 yards (9.1 m) | This tornado destroyed a barn and a trailer. |
| F2 | SSE of Epworth | Dubuque | IA | 42°24′N 90°54′W﻿ / ﻿42.40°N 90.90°W﻿ / 42.40; -90.90﻿ (Epworth (April 30, F2)) | 03:00–? | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |

### May 1 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, May 1, 1967 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
| F2 | E of North Zulch | Madison | TX | 30°55′N 96°05′W﻿ / ﻿30.92°N 96.08°W﻿ / 30.92; -96.08﻿ (North Zulch (May 1, F2)) | 12:00–? | 0.6 miles (0.97 km) | 33 yards (30 m) | A brief tornado destroyed a barn and a livestock pen. Fencing was wrenched from the ground as well. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F1 | NNW of Lambert | Hot Spring | AR | 34°21′N 93°14′W﻿ / ﻿34.35°N 93.23°W﻿ / 34.35; -93.23﻿ (Lambert (May 1, F1)) | 13:20–? | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | 10 yards (9.1 m) | A brief tornado felled many trees and damaged one home. |
| F2 | WSW of Ebenezer | Camp | TX | 32°57′N 94°55′W﻿ / ﻿32.95°N 94.92°W﻿ / 32.95; -94.92﻿ (Ebenezer (May 1, F2)) | 13:30–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | A brief tornado destroyed a pair of chicken coops and damaged a number of large livestock feeders. Trees were downed as well. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F1 | Mount Pleasant | Wood | TX | 33°10′N 94°58′W﻿ / ﻿33.17°N 94.97°W﻿ / 33.17; -94.97﻿ (Mount Pleasant (May 1, F1)) | 16:00–? | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | 10 yards (9.1 m) | A brief tornado damaged several buildings and a farmhouse on up to six farmsteads. Trees were uprooted as well. |
| F2 | NNE of Corsicana | Navarro | TX | 32°10′N 96°27′W﻿ / ﻿32.17°N 96.45°W﻿ / 32.17; -96.45﻿ (Corsicana (May 1, F2)) | 16:00–? | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 33 yards (30 m) | A brief tornado, coincident and possibly in conjunction with downbursts, flipped a mobile home and damaged or destroyed a few houses and several barns. A large pecan was prostrated as well. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F0 | SSE of Avinger | Cass | TX | 32°53′N 94°33′W﻿ / ﻿32.88°N 94.55°W﻿ / 32.88; -94.55﻿ (Avinger (May 1, F0)) | 17:00–? | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | 300 yards (270 m) | A brief tornado sheared and uprooted trees beside a church. |
| F1 | W of Negreet | Sabine | LA | 31°28′N 93°36′W﻿ / ﻿31.47°N 93.60°W﻿ / 31.47; -93.60﻿ (Negreet (May 1, F1)) | 18:50–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 33 yards (30 m) | A tornado was observed but did not produce damage. |
| F2 | E of Symonds | Bolivar | MS | 33°50′N 90°51′W﻿ / ﻿33.83°N 90.85°W﻿ / 33.83; -90.85﻿ (Symonds (May 1, F2)) | 19:45–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 200 yards (180 m) | A brief tornado affected a 600-acre (240 ha) conservation area as it tossed and sank forty motorboats, some of which were wrapped around trees. Additionally, the tornado tore a section from a 200-foot-long (61 m) pier, severely damaged several trees, and tilted a concession stand. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F2 | Onalaska to W of Leggett | Polk | TX | 30°48′N 95°07′W﻿ / ﻿30.80°N 95.12°W﻿ / 30.80; -95.12﻿ (Onalaska (May 1, F2)) | 20:00–20:10 | 8 miles (13 km) | 67 yards (61 m) | This tornado may have first begun in Point Blank, on the opposite shore of the Trinity River. In and near Point Blank, trees sustained damage, a church was destroyed, and homes were damaged. However, official data indicate that the tornado first impacted Onalaska, on the eastern side of Lake Livingston. In Onalaska, the tornado unroofed a combined store and post office; the building itself also lost its rear wall. The tornado injured two people, and losses reached $25,000. |
| F1 | W of Hazel | Calloway | KY | 36°30′N 88°21′W﻿ / ﻿36.50°N 88.35°W﻿ / 36.50; -88.35﻿ (Hazel (May 1, F1)) | 20:15–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | A brief tornado destroyed one house and minimally damaged a few others. Some outbuildings and trees were levelled as well. |
| F2 | NNE of Dayton | Liberty | TX | 30°04′N 94°53′W﻿ / ﻿30.07°N 94.88°W﻿ / 30.07; -94.88﻿ (Dayton (May 1, F2)) | 23:45–00:00 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | 33 yards (30 m) | A brief tornado caused sizeable damage to trees, splintered utility poles, and partly unroofed a building. Several other structures were substantially damaged, one of which had its steel doors knocked down. Additionally, a horse died as a barn collapsed during the tornado. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F3 | Mittie | Allen | LA | 30°40′N 92°56′W﻿ / ﻿30.67°N 92.93°W﻿ / 30.67; -92.93﻿ (Mittie (May 1, F3)) | 00:15–? | 5.2 miles (8.4 km) | 750 yards (690 m) | An intense tornado damaged or destroyed homes, sheds, barns, and trees. Two people sustained injuries, one of which was critical. |
| F2 | S of Geronimo | Guadalupe | TX | 29°39′N 97°58′W﻿ / ﻿29.65°N 97.97°W﻿ / 29.65; -97.97﻿ (Geronimo (May 1, F2)) | 02:45–? | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | 20 yards (18 m) | A brief tornado tore the roof off a home and destroyed a barn nearby. |
| F2 | Kaplan | Vermilion | LA | 30°00′N 92°17′W﻿ / ﻿30.00°N 92.28°W﻿ / 30.00; -92.28﻿ (Kaplan (May 1, F2)) | 04:40–? | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | A brief tornado affected 35 homes and businesses as it passed through Kaplan. Four people were injured. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |

### May 2 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, May 2, 1967 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
| F2 | E of Bayou Pigeon | Iberville | LA | 30°05′N 91°13′W﻿ / ﻿30.08°N 91.22°W﻿ / 30.08; -91.22﻿ (Bayou Pigeon (May 1, F2)) | 05:30–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | A brief tornado destroyed a mobile home and a delicatessen. A nearby home and a pilothouse also incurred damage. One person was injured. |
| F2 | SSE of Lucedale | George | MS | 30°54′N 88°35′W﻿ / ﻿30.90°N 88.58°W﻿ / 30.90; -88.58﻿ (Lucedale (May 2, F2)) | 07:25–? | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | 10 yards (9.1 m) | A brief tornado dislodged a house, flipped a nearby mobile home, and downed a large tree. A utility room and a carport were torn loose as well. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F2 | Dunean | Greenville | SC | 34°50′N 82°25′W﻿ / ﻿34.83°N 82.42°W﻿ / 34.83; -82.42﻿ (Dunean (May 2, F2)) | 00:10–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 67 yards (61 m) | A brief tornado significantly damaged three homes and slightly damaged about forty others. Windows, signage, and canopy-forming vegetation were broken. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |