1968 Charles City tornado
| |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 15, 1968, ~4:10 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) |
| Dissipated | May 15, 1968, ~5:40 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) |
| Duration | 1 hour, 30 minutes |
| F5 tornado | |
| on the Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | >261–300 mph (420–480 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 13 |
| Injuries | 462 |
| Areas affected | Northern Iowa, including northern Hansell, outskirts of Hampton, Charles City, Elma and Aredale |
Part of the Tornadoes of 1968 and Tornado outbreak of May 1968 | |
During the evening hours of May 15, 1968, an powerful Multi-vortex tornado hit Hansell, Hampton, Charles City, Elma and Aredale across central and northern Iowa. Unfortunately killing 13 and injuring 462. It was one of the largest tornadoes ever recorded in the state.[1] Hundreds of buildings were destroyed, primarily in the town of Charles City. Damage estimates were of more than $20 million.[2]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "May 15 1968 Iowa Tornado Summary". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "May 15 1968 Iowa Tornado Summary". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2026-07-12.