1968 Tracy tornado

The 1968 Tracy tornado. was an extremely powerful F5 tornado that struck Tracy, Minnesota on Thursday, June 13, 1968, at around 7 o'clock.[1] The tornado killed nine people and injured 125 others.[1] The wind speeds of the tornado reached over 300 mph as it tracked 9 miles (14 km) through Murray, Lyon and Redwood counties in southwestern Minnesota. It is one of only two official F5 tornadoes that have occurred in Minnesota, although several other tornadoes that occurred before 1950 are estimated to have been F5 strength.[2] The tornado destroyed 111 homes, caused major damage to 76, and caused minor damage to 114. Five businesses were destroyed and 15 others were damaged. Some homes in town only had their foundations left behind. A few farms outside of town were swept completely away, and extensive ground scouring occurred.[3] An elementary school and 106 automobiles were destroyed, and a heavy boxcar was thrown more than a block by the storm. Two other boxcars were thrown 300 yards, and a steel I-beam was carried for two miles on a piece of roof.[4] Hard rains and hail were also reported.[5] A total of five tornadoes hit Minnesota on June 13, 1968, most of which were rated F0.[6]

1968 Tracy tornado
F5 tornado
Eric Lantz took his award-winning photo of the Tracy tornado as it was leaving the town.
FormedJune 13, 1968 7:04 pm
Max. rating1F5 tornado
Damage$43 million (2006 USD)
Casualties9 fatalities, 125 injuries
Areas affectedSouthwest Minnesota
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

See also

References
  1. "Minnesota Tornado History and Statistics". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  2. "F5 and EF5 Tornadoes of the United States". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  3. Ryan, Bob. (June 14, 1968). KSTP Coverage of 1968 Tracy tornado (motion picture). Tracy, Minnesota: KSTP. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  4. Grazulis, Thomas P (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
  5. Drew Sandholm. "Survivor Recalls Tracy Tornado", ABC News affiliate KSFY-TV. June 11, 2008.
  6. "Minnesota Tornadoes 1950-2012". Tornado Project Online. The Tornado Project. 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
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