1971 Joplin tornado
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|name=. Remove this parameter; the article title is used as the name by default.Significant damage from the tornado | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 5, 1971, 5:55 p.m. CST |
| Dissipated | May 5, 1971 |
| F3 tornado | |
| on the Fujita scale | |
| Max width | 70–700 yards (0.040–0.398 mi; 0.064–0.640 km) |
| Path length | 13.1 miles (21.1 km) |
| Highest winds | 158–206 mph (254–332 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 60 |
| Damage | $2.5 million (1971 USD) |
| Areas affected | Joplin, Missouri |
| Houses destroyed | 10 |
Part of the Tornadoes of 1971 | |
During the early evening hours of May 5, 1971, an intense and destructive tornado touched down near the southwest corner of Joplin, Missouri, before moving northeast into the city. The tornado tracked across 37 blocks, inflicting significant damage on numerous houses and dozens of businesses, with 10 homes being completely destroyed. One man was killed, and dozens of people sustained injuries. The damage totaled to $2.5 million (1971 USD). The tornado occurred only ten days after a severe hail storm struck the city, and was one of the most intense and only fatal tornado to occur in Joplin until May 22, 2011.