Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS

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NOUS43 KICT 181200
PNSICT
KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-181500-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
700 AM CDT Mon Mar 18 2024

...ON THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY...

In 1925, the Tri State Tornado roared into the record
books.Starting in Southeast Missouri about 60 miles
west of Cape Girardeau, the tornado roared across
Southern Illinois before lifting in extreme Southwest
Indiana 10 miles northeast of Princeton.  It was on the
ground for 219 miles, which remains the record for the
longest continuous track.  For about 100 miles of its
track, it was three fourths of a mile wide.  Its greatest
width reached NEARLY 2 AND A HALF MILES.  The average
speed was 62 mph and the top speed of 73 mph was a
record.  It also set the record for longest time on the
ground at three and a half hours.  It remains the
deadliest tornado on record with 695 fatalities and 2,027
injuries.  At times the tornado was so wide that
eyewitnesses described it as a rolling fog bank.  No
doubt, the tornado was an F5.  Some of the worst
destruction and loss of life occurred in Murphysboro as
well as DeSoto and West Frankfort Illinois.

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