Tornadoes of 1976
| Timespan | January 7 - December 7, 1976 |
|---|---|
| Maximum rated tornado |
F5 tornado
|
| Tornadoes in U.S. | 680 |
| Damage (U.S.) | >$1 billion |
| Fatalities (U.S.) | 44 |
| Fatalities (worldwide) | >44 |
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1976, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
Numbers for 1976 were above average, however, the number of fatalities were significantly lower than normal.
12 tornadoes were confirmed in the U.S. in January.
36 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in February.
180 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in March. The Chicago area received the most tornadoes ever recorded, including several F2 and F3 tornadoes.
A major outbreak shifted into mainly Illinois and Indiana. The strongest tornadoes occurred in Illinois, but one F4 came very close to Lafayette, Indiana. Slight activity continued onto March 21 when the system moved across Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
An F5 tornado caused extensive damage in Spiro, Oklahoma, killing 2 people and injuring 64. An F4 tornado killed one when the tornado touched down in the Talihina, Oklahoma area.
113 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in April.
Several tornadoes touched down in Arkansas. The Arkansas tornadoes on 11 April 1976 were investigated using regular 30 min interval GOES digital infrared data, rawinsonde observations, Doppler sounder records and radar summaries covering the 3 hour time period immediately preceding the touchdown of the tornadoes. Clouds associated with the tornado were compared to other clouds that were not associated with tornadoes.
An F5 tornado hit Brownwood, Texas, causing no fatalities, but at least 15 injuries.
155 tornadoes were reported in the U.S. in May.
169 tornadoes were reported in June in the U.S.
One of the largest tornadoes in Iowa moved in between the cities of Ames, Iowa and Boone, Iowa on the afternoon of June 13, 1976. The tornado began southwest of the small town of Luther, Iowa a little before 3:30 pm and moved north northeast. The tornado strengthened and grew larger as it approached US Highway 30 just east of the intersection of IA 17. The tornado turned toward the north with the small hamlet of Jordan, Iowa in the path. A small satellite F3 tornado formed on the southwest side of the main tornado and moved around the back side and to the east of the tornado around 3:40 pm before merging back with the parent storm north of Jordan by 3:50 pm. The small hamlet of Jordan was raked by the nearly mile wide tornado, destroying nearly everything in its wake.
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