Tornadoes of 1985

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1985, 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.

Tornadoes of 1985
Tracks of all US tornadoes in 1985.
TimespanJanuary–December 1985
Maximum rated tornadoF5 tornado
Tornadoes in U.S.684[1]
Damage (U.S.)unknown
Fatalities (U.S.)94[2]
Fatalities (worldwide)>108

Synopsis
Fatal United States tornadoes in 1985
Tornadoes of 1985 is located in the United States
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
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Tornadoes of 1985
Tornadoes of 1985
Approximate touchdown location of killer tornadoes in 1985
Summary of tornadoes[3]
  • March 17 – Florida (2 deaths)
  • April 5 – Illinois (1 death)
  • April 21 – Texas (3 deaths)
  • April 28 – Texas (1 death)
  • May 30 – Iowa, Wisconsin (2 deaths)
  • May 31 – Ohio, Pennsylvania (12 deaths)
  • May 31 – Pennsylvania (1 death)
  • May 31 – Pennsylvania, Ohio (16 deaths)
  • May 31 – Pennsylvania (2 deaths)
  • May 31 – Ohio, Pennsylvania (18 deaths)
  • May 31 – Pennsylvania (7 deaths)
  • May 31 – Ohio (1 death)
  • May 31 – Pennsylvania (4 deaths)
  • May 31 – Pennsylvania (9 deaths)
  • May 31 – Pennsylvania (6 deaths)
  • June 8 – Wisconsin (2 deaths)
  • June 8 – Michigan (1 death)
  • August 12 – Wisconsin (2 deaths)
  • August 16 – Alabama (1 death)
  • November 18 – Arkansas (3 deaths)
Total fatalities: 94

The tornado season of 1985 saw very little action in the winter months, and even the spring wasn't particularly notable until the massive May 31 outbreak, one of the most intense and deadliest in modern American history, which saw 44 tornadoes kill 88 people in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario, Canada. Eight of 1985's ten F4 tornadoes and the one F5 tornado happened during this outbreak.

Events

Confirmed tornado total for the entire year 1985 in the United States.

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 308 259 79 29 10 1 684

January

There were 2 tornadoes confirmed in the US in January.

February

There were 7 tornadoes confirmed in the US in February.

March

There were 38 tornadoes confirmed in the US in March.

March 11

An F2 tornado hit Hollister, California causing no injuries.

March 17

An F3 tornado killed two in Sarasota County, Florida.

April

There were 134 tornadoes confirmed in the US in April.

April 21–23

An F3 tornado in Texas resulted in three fatalities. Another notable storm from this event includes an F3 tornado that started about 4 miles northeast of Ida, Louisiana, moving into Arkansas, where it mainly dealt F1 damage in wooded areas. The tornadoes were part of a large outbreak that spawned over 30 tornadoes.[4]

April 29

A low-end F2 tornado touched down in the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. This tornado is notable due to the TOtable Tornado Observatory getting its closest to a tornado, being sideswiped by the edge of the storm. This storm brought the realization that TOTO had a center of gravity too high for extreme wind, resulting in it falling down when it got sideswiped.[4]

May

There were 182 tornadoes confirmed in the US in May.

May 10
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 1 3 1 3 2 0

An outbreak of tornadoes occurred in Kansas and Nebraska. One of the notable F4 tornadoes was the Agra Tornado, touched down in Phillips County, Kansas, near the city of Agra. The tornado then crossed into Nebraska travelling through Franklin, and Webster Counties. The tornado varied in width throughout its life, ranging from 200-1000 yards, Agra resident Bob Scales took images for of the tornado over a 20 minute period, showing the tornado go from a large wedge, to a stovepipe tornado.[5]

May 31
Main articles: 1985 United States–Canada tornado outbreak and 1985 Barrie tornado
F5 damage to a shopping center from Niles/Wheatland tornado.
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 4 12 7 12 8 1

A major tornado outbreak occurred in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario on the last day of May. 44 tornadoes were confirmed, including 14 in Ontario. It is the largest and most intense tornado outbreak ever to hit this region. 90 people were killed and nine tornadoes were F4 or stronger, including the F5 Niles-Wheatland tornado.

Areas with the most devastation and deaths were Wheatland, Atlantic, and Albion, Pennsylvania. Yourga Trucking in Wheatland was hit beyond recognition in addition to the Amish community in Atlantic. Wheatland had 310 injuries and 18 fatalities while Atlantic had 125 and 16.

June

There were 82 tornadoes confirmed in the US in June.

June 8

Tornadoes killed two in Wisconsin and one in Michigan.

July

There were 51 tornadoes confirmed in the US in July.

July 25
Main article: Hurricane Bob (1985)

An F3 tornado spawned by Hurricane Bob briefly touched down near the Albemarle County and Greene County line, hitting a grocery store and a subdivision, causing no deaths or injuries.[6]

August

There were 108 tornadoes confirmed in the US in August.

August 16
Main article: Hurricane Danny (1985)

An F3 tornado spawned by Hurricane Danny struck Waco, Tennessee, and produced a damage swath that was 500 yards wide.[7]

September

There were 40 tornadoes confirmed in the US in September.

October

There were 18 tornadoes confirmed in the US in October.

November

There were 19 tornadoes confirmed in the US in November.

November 18

An F3 tornado killed three in Arkansas.

December

There were 3 tornadoes confirmed in the US in December.

See also

References
  1. "U.S. Annual Tornado Maps (1952 - 2011): 1985 Tornadoes". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  2. "Tornadoes in 1985". Tornado History Project. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  3. "Severe Weather Database Files (1950-2021)". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. July 11, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  4. 1985-04 Publication https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html
  5. 1985-05 Publication https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html?_finish=0.43342628260688265
  6. 1985-07 Publication https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html
  7. 1985-08 Publication https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html
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