5,283
Recorded events
1,876
Counties affected
366
Direct deaths
$1.9B
Property damage
The 1974 severe weather season produced 5,283 recorded events across 1,876 U.S. counties, with 366 direct deaths. It ranks #47 among all years in the archive by event count.
Through the year
1974 severe weather by month
By hazard type
What hit the U.S. in 1974
| Hazard | Events | Deaths | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 2,535 | 0 | $0 |
| Hail | 1,628 | 0 | $0 |
| Tornado | 1,120 | 366 | $1.9B |
Deadliest days
The deadliest events of 1974
| Date | Event | County | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1974 | Tornado F5 | Greene County, Ohio | 36 | 1,150 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | Tornado F5 | Meade County, Kentucky | 31 | 257 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | Tornado F5 | Marion County, Alabama | 23 | 250 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | Tornado F5 | Lawrence County, Alabama | 14 | 60 |
| Jun 8, 1974 | Tornado F4 | Creek County, Oklahoma | 13 | 135 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | Tornado F5 | Limestone County, Alabama | 11 | 80 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | Tornado F4 | Jefferson County, Indiana | 10 | 175 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | Tornado F4 | White County, Indiana | 10 | 73 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | Tornado F4 | Putnam County, Tennessee | 10 | 51 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | Tornado F5 | Madison County, Alabama | 9 | 110 |
Violent tornadoes
EF4 and EF5 tornadoes of 1974
| Date | Scale | Touchdown county | Deaths | Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 | EF5 | Greene County, Ohio | 36 | 31.3 mi |
| 1974-04-03 | EF5 | Breckinridge County, Kentucky | 31 | 32.0 mi |
| 1974-04-03 | EF5 | Lamar County, Alabama | 28 | 79.5 mi |
| 1974-04-03 | EF5 | Lawrence County, Alabama | 28 | 52.0 mi |
| 1974-04-03 | EF5 | Limestone County, Alabama | 16 | 83.3 mi |
| 1974-04-03 | EF5 | Perry County, Indiana | 6 | 68.0 mi |
| 1974-04-03 | EF5 | Ohio County, Indiana | 3 | 20.8 mi |
| 1974-04-03 | EF4 | Benton County, Indiana | 18 | 108.7 mi |
| 1974-06-08 | EF4 | Payne County, Oklahoma | 14 | 29.0 mi |
| 1974-04-03 | EF4 | Lincoln County, Tennessee | 11 | 27.5 mi |