# Tornado outbreak of May 19–22, 1957

From May 19–22, 1957, a tornado outbreak took place across the US Central Plains. A total of 59 tornadoes were reported from Colorado to the Mississippi Valley. The most destructive tornado of the severe weather event—likely part of a long-lived family—was rated at F5, the highest level, and is often called the Ruskin Heights tornado, after the site of its worst damage, a suburb and housing development in southern Kansas City, Missouri. Additionally, a powerful F4 tornado virtually destroyed Fremont, Missouri, claiming seven lives, and an F3 tornado killed eight others in and near Belgrade, Missouri. A pair of F4s—one in Minnesota, the other in Kansas—also neared F5 intensity. In all, 59 people were killed during the outbreak, including 44 in the Ruskin Heights tornado.

## Background

The outbreak coincided with elevated tornado activity: the period May 19–26 was one of the most intense to date, since the founding of the United States Weather Bureau. At 00:30 UTC (7:30 p.m. CDT) on May 20, a 75-to-80-knot (86 to 92 mph; 139 to 148 km/h) mid-level jet stream bisected dew points of 65 °F (18 °C), coincident with a 986-millibar (29.1 inHg) low-pressure area and warm front over southeastern Nebraska. Soundings and surface weather observations indicated a robust, unstable warm sector, showing 3,000 j/kg of surface-based convective available potential energy (CAPE) and the presence of strong wind shear. Favoring supercells, this setup led to the then largest one-day total of tornadoes in Weather Bureau history. At 17:00 UTC (12:00 p.m. CDT) the Severe Local Storms Unit (SELS) in Kansas City had already issued a severe weather watch, mentioning tornadoes, for the Kansas–Nebraska state line and its environs. Subsequent updates covered much of the eastern Great Plains, from the Green Country to southeastern Nebraska. Upon formation, severe thunderstorms traveled at up to 42 mph (68 km/h), attended by extremely large hail.

## Outbreak statistics

Outbreak death toll :
| State | Total | County | County total |
| Kansas | 7 | Franklin | 3 |
| Kansas | 7 | Miami | 4 |
| Missouri | 52 | Carter | 7 |
| Missouri | 52 | Jackson | 37 |
| Missouri | 52 | St. Francois | 8 |
| Totals | 59 | | |
| All deaths were tornado-related ||||

## Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating :
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
| 0 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 59 |
Several unconfirmed tornadoes were also reported:
* May 20: tornadoes were reported south of Solomon Rapids, Kansas, and east of Concordia, Kansas.
Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.

### May 19 event

Confirmed tornadoes — Sunday, May 19, 1957 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Width | Damage |
| F1 | ESE of West Park | Fresno | CA | 36°42′N 119°50′W﻿ / ﻿36.70°N 119.83°W﻿ / 36.70; -119.83﻿ (West Park (May 19, F1)) | 16:18–16:23 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $30 |
| A brief tornado—the third on record in the Fresno area—tore loose roof shingles, downed an almond tree, and mangled a rooftop air conditioning unit. |||||||||
| F1 | NW of Bayard | Scotts Bluff | NE | 41°48′N 103°22′W﻿ / ﻿41.80°N 103.37°W﻿ / 41.80; -103.37﻿ (Bayard (May 19, F1)) | 01:30–? | 1.7 mi (2.7 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $30 |
| Watched by highway patrol, this tornado did little or no damage. |||||||||
| F2 | S of Vance | Morrill | NE | 41°45′N 103°07′W﻿ / ﻿41.75°N 103.12°W﻿ / 41.75; -103.12﻿ (Northport (May 19, F2)) | 03:30–? | 5.1 mi (8.2 km) | 67 yd (61 m) | $25,000 |
| This tornado blew a farmhouse off its foundation and stripped most of its roof. It destroyed outbuildings on a few farms as well. According to the Climatological Data National Summary, this tornado hit 6+1⁄2 mi (10.5 km) west of Bayard, implying touchdown in Scotts Bluff County. |||||||||
| F1 | W of Gurley | Cheyenne | NE | 41°19′N 102°59′W﻿ / ﻿41.32°N 102.98°W﻿ / 41.32; -102.98﻿ (Gurley (May 19, F1)) | 04:00–? | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $25,000 |
| This tornado damaged outbuildings. |||||||||

### May 20 event

Confirmed tornadoes — Monday, May 20, 1957 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Width | Damage |
| F0 | SSE of Bethune (CO) to near Herndon (KS) | Kit Carson (CO), Sherman (KS), Cheyenne (KS), Rawlins (KS) | CO, KS | 39°15′N 102°24′W﻿ / ﻿39.25°N 102.40°W﻿ / 39.25; -102.40﻿ (Bethune (May 20, F0)) | 17:00–19:35 | 70.1 mi (112.8 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $310 |
| This tornado, once officially rated F2, caused very little damage. It was likely a family of several weak events. |||||||||
| F0 | Southeastern Phillipsburg | Phillips | KS | 39°45′N 99°19′W﻿ / ﻿39.75°N 99.32°W﻿ / 39.75; -99.32﻿ (Phillipsburg (May 20, F0)) | 17:55–18:10 | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | Un­known |
| Details are unavailable. |||||||||
| F0 | N of Downs | Osborne | KS | 39°33′N 98°33′W﻿ / ﻿39.55°N 98.55°W﻿ / 39.55; -98.55﻿ (Downs (May 20, F0)) | 19:15–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| This tornado felled a shed, wires, and trees. |||||||||
| F0 | SW of Hunter | Mitchell | KS | 39°14′N 98°24′W﻿ / ﻿39.23°N 98.40°W﻿ / 39.23; -98.40﻿ (Hunter (May 20, F0)) | 19:25–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| Details are unavailable. |||||||||
| F1 | N of Burr Oak | Jewell | KS | 39°55′N 98°18′W﻿ / ﻿39.92°N 98.30°W﻿ / 39.92; -98.30﻿ (Burr Oak (May 20, F1)) | 20:05–? | 5.7 mi (9.2 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | $25,000 |
| Sounding train-like, this tornado damaged three homes and many outbuildings. |||||||||
| F0 | N of Red Cloud | Webster | NE | 40°06′N 98°31′W﻿ / ﻿40.10°N 98.52°W﻿ / 40.10; -98.52﻿ (Red Cloud (May 20, F0)) | 20:15–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $30 |
| A brief tornado hit nothing substantial. |||||||||
| F1 | NE of Broken Bow | Custer | NE | 41°26′N 99°37′W﻿ / ﻿41.43°N 99.62°W﻿ / 41.43; -99.62﻿ (Broken Bow (May 20, F1)) | 20:17–20:20 | 2.7 mi (4.3 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $30 |
| This tornado caused little damage. |||||||||
| F0 | E of Guide Rock | Nuckolls | NE | 40°04′N 98°16′W﻿ / ﻿40.07°N 98.27°W﻿ / 40.07; -98.27﻿ (Guide Rock (May 20, F0)) | 20:20–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $30 |
| Noted by highway patrol, this tornado caused little or damage. |||||||||
| F4 | ENE of Glasco to NW of Morrowville | Cloud, Republic, Washington | KS | 39°23′N 97°44′W﻿ / ﻿39.38°N 97.73°W﻿ / 39.38; -97.73﻿ ((May 20, F4)) | 20:50–? | 44.6 mi (71.8 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | $250,000 |
| Part of a family, this violent tornado struck 12 farms at F4 intensity, at one point approaching F5 status. The main event, it destroyed an entire farm near Haddam, and was accompanied by at least four—possibly up to eight—satellite tornadoes, along with many funnel clouds. The storm that produced the tornado damaged a 50-to-60-mile-long (80 to 97 km) swath. |||||||||
| F2 | SSE of Concordia | Cloud | KS | 39°31′N 97°38′W﻿ / ﻿39.52°N 97.63°W﻿ / 39.52; -97.63﻿ (Concordia (May 20, F2)) | 20:50–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| Details are unknown. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. |||||||||
| F2 | W of Huscher | Cloud | KS | 39°31′N 97°38′W﻿ / ﻿39.52°N 97.63°W﻿ / 39.52; -97.63﻿ (Huscher #1 (May 20, F2)) | 20:50–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| This tornado destroyed a barn. |||||||||
| F2 | SW of Huscher | Cloud | KS | 39°28′N 97°38′W﻿ / ﻿39.47°N 97.63°W﻿ / 39.47; -97.63﻿ (Huscher #2 (May 20, F2)) | 20:50–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| Details are unknown. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. |||||||||
| F3 | E of Rice to E of Hollis | Cloud | KS | 39°34′N 97°34′W﻿ / ﻿39.57°N 97.57°W﻿ / 39.57; -97.57﻿ (Rice (May 20, F3)) | 20:50–? | 6.1 mi (9.8 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| This tornado destroyed a barn. Grazulis rated it F2. |||||||||
| F1 | WSW of Anselmo | Custer | NE | 41°36′N 99°56′W﻿ / ﻿41.60°N 99.93°W﻿ / 41.60; -99.93﻿ ((May 20, F1)) | 21:00–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $2,500 |
| This tornado mainly affected remote areas. |||||||||
| F1 | N of Rockerville | Pennington | SD | 43°58′N 103°21′W﻿ / ﻿43.97°N 103.35°W﻿ / 43.97; -103.35﻿ (Rockerville (May 20, F1)) | 21:00–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $2,500 |
| This tornado blew down a barn. |||||||||
| F2 | W of Reynolds to E of Palmyra | Thayer, Jefferson, Saline, Lancaster | NE | 40°04′N 97°30′W﻿ / ﻿40.07°N 97.50°W﻿ / 40.07; -97.50﻿ (Reynolds (May 20, F2)) | 22:00–? | 75.3 mi (121.2 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $250,000 |
| This tornado hit more than 12 farms, destroying barns, and unroofed homes as well. On a farm it killed upward of 500 turkeys. In all, the tornado struck "15 sets" of structures. Grazulis listed a 30-mile (48 km) path. |||||||||
| F2 | Doniphan to NE of Phillips | Hall, Hamilton | NE | 40°46′N 98°22′W﻿ / ﻿40.77°N 98.37°W﻿ / 40.77; -98.37﻿ (Doniphan (May 20, F2)) | 23:00–? | 18.2 mi (29.3 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| Producing scattered damage, this tornado hit three farms, one of them at "near-F3" intensity. |||||||||
| F2 | S of Maysville to NNE of Weatherby | DeKalb | MO | 39°51′N 94°21′W﻿ / ﻿39.85°N 94.35°W﻿ / 39.85; -94.35﻿ (Weatherby (May 20, F2)) | 23:00–? | 9.8 mi (15.8 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | $25,000 |
| This tornado hit eight farms, destroying buildings, including two or more barns. |||||||||
| F0 | N of Pawnee | Pawnee | OK | 36°21′N 96°48′W﻿ / ﻿36.35°N 96.80°W﻿ / 36.35; -96.80﻿ ((May 20, F0)) | 23:00–? | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $30 |
| A brief tornado snapped power lines and damaged roofing. |||||||||
| F2 | NE of Friend to N of Emerald | Saline, Gage, Lancaster | NE | 40°41′N 97°15′W﻿ / ﻿40.68°N 97.25°W﻿ / 40.68; -97.25﻿ (Friend (May 20, F2)) | 23:20–? | 23.9 mi (38.5 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $25,000 |
| This tornado intermittently touched down, destroying a few barns. |||||||||
| F0 | S of Hartford | Lyon | KS | 38°14′N 96°00′W﻿ / ﻿38.23°N 96.00°W﻿ / 38.23; -96.00﻿ (Hartford (May 20, F0)) | 23:45–? | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $250 |
| A weak tornado damaged windows, roofs, and trees. |||||||||
| F2 | NE of Hominy | Osage | OK | 36°25′N 96°23′W﻿ / ﻿36.42°N 96.38°W﻿ / 36.42; -96.38﻿ (Hominy (May 20, F2)) | 23:45–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $25,000 |
| This tornado collapsed a warehouse, damaging equipment inside, and mangled girders. Grazulis did not rate it F2 or stronger. |||||||||
| F2 | NW of Prague | Lincoln | OK | 35°30′N 96°42′W﻿ / ﻿35.50°N 96.70°W﻿ / 35.50; -96.70﻿ (Prague (May 20, F2)) | 00:00–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $2,500 |
| This tornado hit at least eight farms, downing outbuildings, fences, and trees. It also damaged farmhouses. |||||||||
| F0 | NW of Madison | Greenwood | KS | 38°10′N 96°10′W﻿ / ﻿38.17°N 96.17°W﻿ / 38.17; -96.17﻿ (Madison (May 20, F0)) | 00:15–? | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Un­known |
| This tornado caused minimal damage to old sheds, trees, and roofs. |||||||||
| F5 | SW of Williamsburg (KS) to E of Raytown (MO) | Franklin (KS), Miami (KS), Johnson (KS), Jackson (MO) | KS, MO | 38°27′N 95°30′W﻿ / ﻿38.45°N 95.50°W﻿ / 38.45; -95.50﻿ (Williamsburg (May 20, F5)) | 00:15–01:53 | 71 mi (114 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | $2,500,000 |
| 44 deaths – See article on this tornado – 531 people were injured. |||||||||
| F0 | WNW of Kiefer | Creek | OK | 35°57′N 96°05′W﻿ / ﻿35.95°N 96.08°W﻿ / 35.95; -96.08﻿ (Kiefer (May 20, F0)) | 01:00–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| This tornado killed a cow and destroyed outbuildings. |||||||||
| F0 | E of Hogshooter | Nowata | OK | 36°42′N 95°46′W﻿ / ﻿36.70°N 95.77°W﻿ / 36.70; -95.77﻿ (Hogshooter (May 20, F0)) | 01:00–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $30 |
| This tornado tore up a 500-yard-long (1,500 ft) stretch of fence and blew an oil tank into a ditch. |||||||||
| F1 | Northern Broken Arrow | Tulsa | OK | 36°04′N 95°48′W﻿ / ﻿36.07°N 95.80°W﻿ / 36.07; -95.80﻿ (Broken Arrow (May 20, F1)) | 01:30–? | 3.6 mi (5.8 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | $250,000 |
| This tornado moved through town, causing roof and other damage—mostly minimal—to roughly 200 homes, one of which lost its roof entirely. The tornado also overturned cars, downed trees, and destroyed outbuildings. Grazulis rated it F2. |||||||||
| F3 | Homewood | Franklin | KS | 38°30′N 95°26′W﻿ / ﻿38.50°N 95.43°W﻿ / 38.50; -95.43﻿ (Homewood (May 20, F3)) | 01:37–? | 5.6 mi (9.0 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| This tornado may have been related to or the same as the Ruskin Heights F5. Grazulis did not rate it F2 or stronger. Further details are unavailable. |||||||||
| F2 | N of Sibley to Richmond | Jackson, Ray | MO | 39°12′N 94°12′W﻿ / ﻿39.20°N 94.20°W﻿ / 39.20; -94.20﻿ (Sibley (May 20, F2)) | 01:37–? | 12.8 mi (20.6 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $25,000 |
| Related to the Ruskin Heights F5, this tornado caused "considerable" damage, and strewed debris over a 40-acre (16 ha) field. However, Grazulis did not rate it F2 or stronger. |||||||||
| F0 | SW of Beggs | Okmulgee | OK | 35°42′N 96°07′W﻿ / ﻿35.70°N 96.12°W﻿ / 35.70; -96.12﻿ ((May 20, F0)) | 02:04–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $30 |
| Seen by Ground Observer Corps, this tornado apparently did little or no damage. |||||||||
| F1 | W of Chelsea | Rogers | OK | 36°32′N 95°28′W﻿ / ﻿36.53°N 95.47°W﻿ / 36.53; -95.47﻿ ((May 20, F1)) | 04:30–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | Un­known |
| This tornado uplifted and shifted a home. It also leveled many outbuildings. |||||||||

### May 21 event

Confirmed tornadoes — Tuesday, May 21, 1957 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Width | Damage |
| F1 | NW of Centralia | Craig | OK | 36°48′N 95°23′W﻿ / ﻿36.80°N 95.38°W﻿ / 36.80; -95.38﻿ (Centralia (May 21, F1)) | 05:00–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $30 |
| This tornado extensively damaged ranchland, hitting a farmhouse and outbuildings. |||||||||
| F1 | NE of Vinita | Craig | OK | 36°39′N 95°08′W﻿ / ﻿36.65°N 95.13°W﻿ / 36.65; -95.13﻿ (Vinita (May 21, F1)) | 05:00–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $30 |
| This tornado uplifted roofing and damaged a trio of barns. |||||||||
| F3 | SW of Spavinaw to NE of Jay | Mayes, Delaware | OK | 35°21′N 95°05′W﻿ / ﻿35.35°N 95.08°W﻿ / 35.35; -95.08﻿ (Spavinaw (May 21, F3)) | 05:10–? | 20.4 mi (32.8 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | $5,000 |
| Passing near Lone Chapel, this tornado destroyed or damaged 40 outbuildings, a home, and a barn. The tornado caused an injury as well. Grazulis rated it F2. |||||||||
| F1 | NE of Staples | Todd, Cass | MN | 46°21′N 94°47′W﻿ / ﻿46.35°N 94.78°W﻿ / 46.35; -94.78﻿ (Staples (May 21, F1)) | 18:00–? | 3.8 mi (6.1 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | $25,000 |
| This tornado splintered pine trees. It also destroyed a garage and barn. Grazulis rated it F2. |||||||||
| F4 | E of Rush City | Chisago | MN | 45°35′N 92°52′W﻿ / ﻿45.58°N 92.87°W﻿ / 45.58; -92.87﻿ (Rush City (May 21, F4)) | 19:00–? | 9.2 mi (14.8 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $25,000 |
| This violent tornado sheared off 2-foot-thick (0.61 m) trees and produced borderline-F5 damage to a home. It destroyed a total of four homes and eight barns. It injured a few people as well. |||||||||
| F3 | SSE of Custer to E of Doss to NNE of Stone Hill | Dent | MO | 37°33′N 91°30′W﻿ / ﻿37.55°N 91.50°W﻿ / 37.55; -91.50﻿ ((May 20, F3)) | 21:00–? | 10.2 mi (16.4 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | $25,000 |
| This intense tornado destroyed three homes, one of which it leveled, and damaged a few others. |||||||||
| F2 | ENE of Brownbranch to Squires to WSW of Sweden | Taney, Douglas | MO | 36°48′N 92°48′W﻿ / ﻿36.80°N 92.80°W﻿ / 36.80; -92.80﻿ (Brownbranch (May 21, F2)) | 21:15–? | 14.5 mi (23.3 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | $250,000 |
| This tornado destroyed a home and school, forcing 11 students and a teacher to shelter underground in a farmhouse. Grazulis rated it F3. |||||||||
| F1 | WSW of Leeper to W of Silva | Wayne | MO | 37°04′N 90°43′W﻿ / ﻿37.07°N 90.72°W﻿ / 37.07; -90.72﻿ (Leeper (May 21, F1)) | 21:30–? | 13 mi (21 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $2,500 |
| Possibly related to the Fremont F4, this tornado hit four farms, damaging structures. It also unroofed a few homes. Grazulis rated it F2. |||||||||
| F1 | SSW of Centerville | Reynolds | MO | 37°25′N 90°58′W﻿ / ﻿37.42°N 90.97°W﻿ / 37.42; -90.97﻿ (Centerville (May 21, F1)) | 21:45–? | 0.2 mi (0.32 km) | 17 yd (16 m) | $30 |
| This tornado damaged a number of buildings. |||||||||
| F3 | SE of Sunlight to Belgrade to Desloge | Washington, St. Francois | MO | 37°46′N 90°55′W﻿ / ﻿37.77°N 90.92°W﻿ / 37.77; -90.92﻿ (Sunlight (May 21, F3)) | 21:45–? | 22.2 mi (35.7 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | $75,000,000 |
| 8 deaths – This intense tornado destroyed 20% of Belgrade, as well as 24 barns and large, rural homes. It also destroyed structures at a school, in addition to multiple churches. It injured 50 people as well. An F4 tornado also hit Belgrade on March 19, 1948. |||||||||
| F4 | Fremont to Van Buren | Carter | MO | 36°57′N 91°10′W﻿ / ﻿36.95°N 91.17°W﻿ / 36.95; -91.17﻿ (Fremont (May 21, F4)) | 21:53–? | 9.1 mi (14.6 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | $250,000 |
| 7 deaths – See section on this tornado – 75 people were injured. |||||||||
| F2 | WNW of Burfordville to ESE of Millersville | Cape Girardeau | MO | 37°23′N 89°50′W﻿ / ﻿37.38°N 89.83°W﻿ / 37.38; -89.83﻿ ((May 21, F2)) | 23:00–? | 5.1 mi (8.2 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | $25,000 |
| This tornado hit 12 farms, destroying four barns and damaging other structures. It also unroofed a home and felled trees. |||||||||
| F2 | E of Lewistown to northwestern Monticello to SW of Benjamin | Lewis | MO | 40°05′N 91°47′W﻿ / ﻿40.08°N 91.78°W﻿ / 40.08; -91.78﻿ (Lewistown (May 21, F2)) | 23:30–? | 7.4 mi (11.9 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | $500,000 |
| This tornado unroofed and destroyed a three-story apartment, along with four homes. It also damaged a barn. A few injuries occurred. |||||||||
| F2 | S of Columbia to SE of Shiloh | Monroe, St. Clair | IL | 38°25′N 90°12′W﻿ / ﻿38.42°N 90.20°W﻿ / 38.42; -90.20﻿ (Columbia (May 21, F2)) | 21:50–? | 19.7 mi (31.7 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | $250,000 |
| This tornado hit Scott Air Force Base, but did its worst damage near Columbia. Grazulis did not rate it F2 or stronger. |||||||||
| F2 | SE of Claremont | Richland | IL | 38°42′N 87°59′W﻿ / ﻿38.70°N 87.98°W﻿ / 38.70; -87.98﻿ (Claremont (May 21, F2)) | 23:00–? | 3.6 mi (5.8 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | $25,000 |
| This tornado hit four farms, destroying a barn. |||||||||
| F2 | SSE of Wilton to ENE of Stockton | Cedar, Muscatine, Scott | IA | 41°33′N 91°00′W﻿ / ﻿41.55°N 91.00°W﻿ / 41.55; -91.00﻿ ((May 21, F2)) | 23:00–? | 8.9 mi (14.3 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $250,000 |
| Perhaps part of a family, this tornado destroyed a grain elevator. It also hit four farms, destroying or damaging barns. Grazulis indicated a path near West Branch. |||||||||
| F3 | Alto Pass to ENE of Makanda | Union, Jackson | IL | 37°34′N 89°19′W﻿ / ﻿37.57°N 89.32°W﻿ / 37.57; -89.32﻿ (Alto Pass (May 21, F3)) | 00:07–? | 8.5 mi (13.7 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | $250,000 |
| This tornado destroyed 25 or more buildings and wrecked a high school. It also toppled 5,000 fruit trees. Grazulis rated it F2. |||||||||
| F3 | Southeastern Colmar | McDonough | IL | 40°30′N 90°48′W﻿ / ﻿40.50°N 90.80°W﻿ / 40.50; -90.80﻿ (Colmar (May 21, F3)) | 01:40–? | 13.7 mi (22.0 km) | 120 yd (110 m) | $250,000 |
| This intense tornado destroyed a few homes. |||||||||
| F2 | Paradise | Warrick | IN | 37°58′N 87°17′W﻿ / ﻿37.97°N 87.28°W﻿ / 37.97; -87.28﻿ (Paradise (May 21, F2)) | 02:03–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $25,000 |
| This tornado lofted and spun a home 150 ft (46 m), injuring a few occupants. The roof of the home was moved 500 ft (150 m). Grazulis rated the tornado F3. |||||||||

### May 22 event

Confirmed tornadoes — Wednesday, May 22, 1957 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Width | Damage |
| F1 | E of Cardwell to N of Deering | Dunklin, Pemiscot | MO | 36°03′N 90°16′W﻿ / ﻿36.05°N 90.27°W﻿ / 36.05; -90.27﻿ ((May 22, F1)) | 05:45–? | 23.7 mi (38.1 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | $50,000 |
| This tornado damaged treetops, as well as the roofs of barns and homes. Shortly before dissipation, it wrecked all barns on a farmstead. Grazulis rated it F2. |||||||||
| F1 | W of Kennett | Dunklin | MO | 36°14′N 90°04′W﻿ / ﻿36.23°N 90.07°W﻿ / 36.23; -90.07﻿ (Kennett (May 22, F1)) | 05:45–? | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | $2,500 |
| This brief tornado damaged a 1-mile-long (1.6 km) stretch. |||||||||
| F2 | SSW of Carrollton | Carroll | KY | 38°37′N 85°12′W﻿ / ﻿38.62°N 85.20°W﻿ / 38.62; -85.20﻿ (Carollton (May 22, F2)) | 07:00–? | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | $25,000 |
| Hitting west of English, this tornado destroyed a quartet of barns and tore the roof off a home. |||||||||
| F0 | Southern Charleston | Charleston | SC | 32°45′N 79°55′W﻿ / ﻿32.75°N 79.92°W﻿ / 32.75; -79.92﻿ (Charleston (May 22, F0)) | 13:50–? | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 7 yd (6.4 m) | $30 |
| A waterspout moved ashore, causing little damage. |||||||||

### Williamsburg−Spring Hill, Kansas/Ruskin Heights–Raytown, Missouri

This violent, long-tracked, multiple-vortex event was likely a family of tornadoes. Forming near Williamsburg, it moved northeastward through several counties, producing near-continuous damage; a single tornado was likely present for 50 mi (80 km) or more. Around Homewood, the tornado was attended by up to 10 tentacle-like vortices or satellite tornadoes, producing major damage to rural property and carrying gravestones miles away. Passing near Ottawa, Rantoul, and Spring Hill, it leveled many homes and caused seven fatalities. It also damaged a drive-in, motel, and truck stop. South of Wellsville, the tornado may have dissipated and reformed; it then continued uninterruptedly for the rest of its life.
Along the Kansas–Missouri border the tornado followed a near-straight line, causing $1 million in losses in Kansas. Affecting the southern suburbs of Kansas City, it entered Missouri, tearing through Martin City, Hickman Mills, and Ruskin Heights, along with the northeastern side of Grandview. Housing incurred F5 damage, besides some businesses at a shopping center. Some areas were reportedly "swept clean", and a newly built brick school in Ruskin Heights was badly damaged. 85% of Martin City was uninhabitable. In all the tornado claimed 37 lives in Missouri and injured 500 or more people. Debris from Hickman Mills was found in Iowa, 165 mi (266 km) away, and other debris was carried aloft 30,000 ft (9,100 m; 5.7 mi; 9.1 km).
Historically, the 1957 F5 was not the only significant tornado to affect the area: an F3 tornado also affected Martin City and nearby Holmes Park on May 23, 1946, destroying or damaging chicken coops, silos, a marketplace, barns, and homes. The tornado killed a couple and injured five people.

### Fremont–Van Buren, Missouri

A cyclic supercell was likely responsible for this deadly, violent tornado, which probably formed over remote parts of the Mark Twain National Forest. The tornado, possibly a member of a long-lived family, did little or no damage before Fremont. Entering town, the tornado rendered unusable all but seven structures, causing "F5-appearing" damage. Hardest hit were schools, businesses, and homes on the eastern side of Fremont, along and near the railroad; these were poorly built, so the tornado was rated F4, but F5 winds could have occurred. A three-story brick school was nearly leveled, and trees in town were partly debarked. In all, the tornado badly damaged or destroyed 50 homes in Fremont, while causing lesser damage to 31 others. The tornado also severely damaged a dozen other buildings in town, as well as eight small businesses. Past Fremont, the tornado remained intense, damaging structures in Van Buren at "near-F3" intensity. In Van Buren the tornado destroyed 25 homes and severely damaged 35 more. It also badly damaged or destroyed 91 other structures and caused significant damage to three small businesses. In all, it damaged about half of Van Buren. Its path may have been 25 mi (40 km) long. Six of the seven fatalities were at Fremont, where over 25% of the population was killed or injured.