1968 Charles City tornado

1968 Hansell-Charles City tornado
  • The tornado as it was 2 miles southwest of Charles City
Meteorological history
FormedMay 15, 1968, ~4:10 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00)
DissipatedMay 15, 1968, ~5:40 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00)
Duration1 hour, 30 minutes
F5 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds>261–300 mph (420–480 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities13
Injuries462
Areas affectedNorthern Iowa, including northern Hansell, outskirts of Hampton, Charles City, Elma and Aredale
Part of the Tornadoes of 1968 and Tornado outbreak of May 1968

During the evening hours of May 15, 1968, an extremely powerful and violent multi-vortex tornado hit the communities of Hansell, Hampton, Charles City, Elma and Aredale across central and northern Iowa. It killed 13, injured 462, and was one of the largest tornadoes ever recorded in the state. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed, primarily in the town of Charles City. Damage estimates were of more than $20 million.

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