1878 Wallingford tornado
Picture of a destroyed house in Wallingford | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | August 9, 1878 6:15 p.m. EST |
| F4 tornado | |
| on the Fujita scale | |
| Overall effects | |
| Casualties | ~34 fatalities, 70+ injuries |
| Damage | ~$5.3 million (2007 USD) |
| Areas affected | Southern Connecticut |
The Wallingford tornado was a violent tornado that struck the town of Wallingford, Connecticut, on Friday, August 9, 1878. The tornado, unofficially rated F4 by tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis, destroyed most of the town, killing about 34 people—estimated totals varied—and injuring at least 70, many severely. This was the deadliest tornado ever to strike the state of Connecticut, and the second deadliest ever in New England, after the Worcester tornado of 1953.