Great Natchez Tornado strikes Natchez, Mississippi

Background. Natchez was a prominent antebellum city on the Mississippi River, known for cotton planters and trade. The Great Natchez Tornado formed southwest of the city and moved northeast along the river. A quoted historical account places the storm at the town's dinner hour, and it caused severe damage to the lower town and plantations; a historical source reports that large gangs of slaves were sent to clear debris and extricate victims' bodies.

Casualties. Official records state at least 317 deaths and 109 injuries, ranking it as the second-deadliest U.S. tornado. However, the toll may be higher because enslaved people's deaths were often uncounted in the South. Henry Tooley reported 74 city injuries and 35 river injuries, while other accounts suggest hundreds of enslaved Africans died on Louisiana plantations.

Aftermath. The tornado caused $1,260,000 in damage, demolishing the lower town except for one house. Recovery took years, with contributions arriving for relief. The storm checked Natchez's progress, delaying the construction of landmark buildings until the 1840s, with exceptions like St. Mary's Cathedral.