St. Louis tornado of 27 May 1896 (1896)

On May 27, 1896, an F4-estimated tornado struck downtown St. Louis, Missouri, causing severe damage. The event occurred during a major outbreak sequence, with skies darkening in the afternoon. The disaster threatened the city's ability to host the upcoming Republican National Convention, but the convention proceeded after a massive clean-up effort.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. St. Louis was a major port on the Mississippi River and the fourth-largest city in the country from 1870 until the 1920 census. The city had experienced previous deadly tornadoes, including events in 1871 and 1890. The 1896 tornado season was noted as one of the deadliest in United States history, setting the stage for the severe weather event that struck the city in May.

Event Impact. The tornado struck the downtown area in Missouri and eastern metro in Illinois on May 27, 1896. It was estimated as an F4 storm. The damage was severe enough to threaten the hosting of the 1896 Republican National Convention in June. However, after a massive clean-up effort, the convention went ahead as planned, demonstrating the city's resilience.

Historical Context. The event is remembered as the Great Cyclone of 1896, which killed 255 people. This disaster occurred in a city that had seen numerous tornadoes since official record-keeping began in 1950, but also endured many deadly and devastating tornadoes before that time. The 1896 event remains a significant landmark in the city's history.

People involved

Sources

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