# 1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak

The 1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak was a deadly tornado outbreak that struck the southern and central U.S Great Plains States on May 25–26, 1955. It produced at least 48 tornadoes across seven states including two F5 tornadoes in Blackwell, Oklahoma, and Udall, Kansas that caused most of the casualties. The outbreak killed 102 people while injuring hundreds more. Unusual electromagnetic activity was observed, including St. Elmo's fire.

## Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating :
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
| 0 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 48 |
* Sources: SPC Tornado data, Archived 2020-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, ,

### May 25 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, May 25, 1955 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
| F0 | Altus | Jackson | OK | 34°40′N 99°18′W﻿ / ﻿34.67°N 99.30°W﻿ / 34.67; -99.30﻿ (Altus (May. 25, F0)) | 11:00–? | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | A tornado embedded within a larger area of straight-line winds and hail caused minor damage, which was estimated $250. |
| F4 | SW of Aberdeen, TX to S of Dempsey, OK | Collingsworth (TX), Wheeler (TX), Roger Mills (OK) | TX, OK | | 2117 | 50 miles (80 km) | 1,100 yd (1,000 m) | 2 deaths – See section on this tornado |
| F0 | SE of Sterling City | Sterling | TX | | 0000 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 440 yd (400 m) | |
| F1 | E of Shattuck | Ellis | OK | | 0000 | 4.9 miles (7.9 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F1 | NE of Rush Springs | Grady | OK | | 0000 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| F0 | NE of Mayfield | Beckham | OK | | 0005 | 3.8 miles (6.1 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F1 | NE of Kingfisher | Kingfisher | OK | | 0100 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| F1 | NW of Antonino | Ellis | KS | | 0140 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| F2 | NE of Camargo | Dewey | OK | | 0230 | 5.1 miles (8.2 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | This strong tornado destroyed five houses and a trailer, and the occupant of that trailer was seriously injured. Other houses were damaged along the path as well (Grazulis 1991). |
| F3 | S of Deer Creek | Grant | OK | | 0300 | 13.3 miles (21.4 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | A house and several rural buildings were destroyed. One person was injured. Grazulis rated the tornado F2 (Grazulis 1991). |
| F2 | NE of Tonkawa | Kay | OK | | 0300 | 2.7 miles (4.3 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | This strong tornado destroyed at least four houses, numerous barns, and granaries. The tornado may have reached F3 intensity according to Grazulis (Grazulis 1991). |
| F5 | SE of Tonkawa, OK to South Haven, KS | Noble (OK), Kay (OK), Sumner (KS) | OK, KS | | 0326 | 28.4 miles (45.7 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | 20 deaths – See section on this tornado |
| F5 | E of Peckham, OK to NE of Atlanta, KS | Kay (OK), Sumner (KS), Cowley (KS) | OK, KS | | 0400 | 56.4 miles (90.8 km) | 1,300 yd (1,200 m) | 80 deaths – See section on this tornado |
| F1 | E of Rotan | Fisher | TX | | 0430 | 0.3 miles (480 m) | 440 yd (400 m) | |
| F1 | W of Martha | Jackson | OK | | 0500 | 6.2 miles (10.0 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F2 | SW of Benjamin | Knox | TX | | 0530 | 11.9 miles (19.2 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | This strong tornado destroyed a barn and damaged two houses (Grazulis 1991). |
| F2 | Wichita Falls area | Wichita | TX | | 0738 | 1.3 miles (2.1 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| Source: SPC Tornado data, Historical Tornado Cases for North America 1950-1959, NCDC reports, CDNS report, Grazulis 1991 |||||||||

### May 26 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, May 26, 1955 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
| F2 | E of Osage City to Leavenworth | Osage, Douglas, Leavenworth | KS | 0627 | 66.2 miles (106.5 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | This long-tracked tornado – which may have been a tornado family due its skipping damage path – leveled barns and produced $200,000 in rural farm damage (Grazulis 1991). |
| F0 | Velma area | Stephens | OK | 0830 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| F1 | N of Chickasha | Grady | OK | 0830 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| F1 | South Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | OK | 0900 | 0.5 miles (800 m) | 50 yd (46 m) | |
| F1 | E of Moore | Cleveland | OK | 0900 | 11.6 miles (18.7 km) | 70 yd (64 m) | |
| F0 | SW of Shawnee | Pottawatomie | OK | 0930 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| F0 | Cushing | Payne | OK | 1000 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| F0 | Durant | Bryan | OK | 1120 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | |
| F1 | Sallisaw to NE of Stony Point | Sequoyah | OK | 1245 | 14.2 miles (22.9 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F1 | Joplin | Jasper | MO | 1300 | 2.7 miles (4.3 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | |
| F0 | Corsicana | Navarro | TX | 1430 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 3 yd (2.7 m) | |
| F1 | SW of Clarksburg | Moniteau | MO | 1545 | 0.2 miles (320 m) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F2 | E of Coatsburg | Adams | IL | 1750 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | |
| F0 | N of McPherson | McPherson | KS | 1900 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| F2 | SE of Pekin | Tazewell | IL | 2049 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F1 | Burbank | Cook | IL | 2200 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F1 | W of Filckerville to W of Beecher | Kankakee, Will | IL | 2230 | 18.7 miles (30.1 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | Jessieville area to NW of Pinnacle | Garland, Saline | AR | 2245 | 28.8 miles (46.3 km) | 1,000 yd (910 m) | This tornado damaged 23 homes, primarily in the community of Blakely with total losses being estimated at $200,000. Grazulis rated the tornado F2 (Grazulis 1991). |
| F1 | SE of Hubbard | Dakota | NE | 2300 | 4.3 miles (6.9 km) | 17 yd (16 m) | |
| F2 | SE of Pleasant Valley | Perry | AR | 2320 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | This tornado destroyed five barns, and damaged six others (Grazulis 1991). |
| F2 | NE of Wayne | Wayne | NE | 2330 | 6.5 miles (10.5 km) | 167 yd (153 m) | Buildings were destroyed on five farms (Grazulis 1991). |
| F2 | W of St. Joseph, MO | Doniphan | KS | 2330 | 7.8 miles (12.6 km) | 220 yd (200 m) | Eight buildings on a farm were destroyed while two other farms were also damaged. |
| F0 | N of Norborne | Carroll | MO | 0000 | 0.2 miles (320 m) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | This brief tornado unroofed and shifted a farmhouse 20 feet (6.1 m) off its foundation. Grazulis rated the tornado F2 due to roof removal (Grazulis 1991). |
| F0 | S of Redfield | Bourbon | KS | 0030 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| F0 | NW of Baxter Springs | Cherokee | KS | 0100 | 0.1 miles (160 m) | 33 yd (30 m) | |
| F1 | SW of Koshkonong | Howell | MO | 0100 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F1 | SW of Linneus | Linn | MO | 0100 | 0.2 miles (320 m) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F2 | N of Worthington | Schuyler | MO | 0200 | 11.7 miles (18.8 km) | 27 yd (25 m) | This strong tornado snapped hundreds of trees and destroyed many homes on five separate farms. A couple was injured when their home was nearly leveled, indicating possible F3 damage (Grazulis 1991). |
| F2 | 'SW of Weldon | Woodruff, Jackson | AR | 0220 | 7.5 miles (12.1 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | This strong tornado destroyed six homes and damaged 25 others (Grazulis 1991). |
| Source: SPC Tornado data, Historical Tornado Cases for North America 1950-1959, NCDC reports, CDNS report, Grazulis 1991 |||||||||

### Wellington-Aberdeen, Texas/Sweetwater-Dempsey, Oklahoma

Moved northeast from 10 to 12 miles north of Wellington, Texas, and passed just east of Aberdeen. The tornado ended northeast of Sweetwater, Oklahoma, or just south of Dempsey.
F4 damage occurred in both Texas and Oklahoma. 13 farm homes were destroyed, some of which were swept away. 100 cattle were killed and a car was carried 700 feet (0.13 mi). Two people were killed on the Oklahoma side of the path, and 18 were injured along both states.

### Tonkawa-Blackwell, Oklahoma/South Haven, Kansas

This deadly and powerful tornado formed in extreme northern Noble County at around 9:00 p.m. CDT, just west of Marland, before crossing the county line, passing east of Tonkawa, and through the eastern portions of the Kay County town of Blackwell as an F5 tornado up to 400 yards (370 m) wide (Grazulis 1991).
It claimed the lives of 20 people in Blackwell and injured over 200 before crossing into and dissipating over Sumner County, Kansas. Along with destroying nearly 200 homes, the tornado also demolished the town's main employers including the Acme Foundry and the Hazel Atlas Glass plant. 400 homes were destroyed or swept away, and 500 other homes were damaged. 60 businesses were also destroyed and the local hospital also sustained major damage. Most of the western half of the town was spared the worst of the damage. Multiple eyewitnesses reported seeing a prominent blue light in the funnel.

### Braman, Oklahoma/Geuda Springs-Oxford-Udall-Atlanta, Kansas

About 30 minutes after producing the Blackwell tornado, the same supercell produced this large, violent and long-tracked tornado just east of the first tornado track near the Kansas/Oklahoma border. It proceeded northward across Sumner and Cowley Counties. The town of Udall was especially hard hit with F5 damage that included the disintegration of numerous structures and homes all across the town. Even the town's water tower was toppled. The funnel, about 1,300 yards (1,200 m) wide, hit Udall at around 10:30 p.m. CDT. Half of the town's population was killed or injured. Numerous homes and businesses were destroyed, many of which were swept away, including a 30-by-40 foot concrete block building that was obliterated, with the foundation left mostly bare of any debris. Vehicles were thrown hundreds of yards and mangled beyond recognition, including a pickup truck that was wrapped around a tree and stripped of everything but its frame and tires. The Udall public school building sustained major damage, with beams snapped and blown away. The tornado later dissipated after traveling over 50 miles (80 km) from the Oklahoma border to southeast of Wichita.
Almost immediately, volunteers and rescue workers descended into the darkness to aid the survivors. Ambulances and automobiles of all kinds rushed the growing numbers of injured to hospitals in three neighboring towns. The closest hospitals were William Newton and St Mary's Hospitals, 17 miles southeast in Winfield, the former of which took in 129 patients that night. Several were taken to St Luke's Hospital in Wellington, 23 miles to the southwest, while the remainder were taken to three hospitals in Wichita to the northwest. This tornado was the deadliest in the state's history with 80 fatalities and 273 injuries.

## Other tornadoes and further notes

Outbreak death toll :
| State | Total | County | County total |
| Kansas | 80 | Cowley | 75 |
| Kansas | 80 | Sumner | 5 |
| Oklahoma | 22 | Kay | 20 |
| Oklahoma | 22 | Roger Mills | 2 |
| Totals | 102 | | |
| All deaths were tornado-related ||||
In addition to the F5 tornadoes, NWS officials confirmed an additional F2 tornado near Tonkawa which may have been either part of the Blackwell tornado or a satellite tornado. Other tornadoes in the region occurred on May 27 near the same region but did little damage. Among them were those produced by a thunderstorm which traveled through the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, where it produced weak tornadoes with minimal damage in the towns of Norman and Chickasha.
Another deadly tornado occurred south of Woodward and at Cheyenne in Roger Mills County in southwestern Oklahoma, killing two people. This storm originated from the Texas Panhandle. The final tornado in the hardest-hit region occurred during the early morning hours of May 26 when a weak tornado occurred in Salisaw in Sequoyah County near the Arkansas border.
Numerous tornadoes occurred across the Midwestern states from Arkansas to Illinois. The strongest tornado was located near the Little Rock area but no fatalities were reported with this tornado or any other on May 26. While filming the movie Picnic, during filming of the actual picnic scenes in Halstead, Kansas, a tornado swept through the area, forcing the cast and crew to take cover. While the storm spared the set, it devastated the nearby town of Udall and the film crew drove their trucks and equipment there to help clean up the damage. Actress Rosalind Russell, one of the stars of the film, agreed to appear during a baseball game in Wichita to cast the opening pitch and make a plea for funds to help the tornado victims.