This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1958, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
Events
1958 featured widespread tornado activity across the entire United States. Several strong tornadoes even impacted California, causing significant damage, but no casualties. The most active and deadliest month was June, which featured several violent tornadoes and 43 fatalities.
United States yearly total
January
There were 11 tornadoes confirmed in the US in January.
January 1 (Manitoba) A tornado was confirmed in Amaranth, Manitoba. Damage information is unknown.
January 10
A rare F0 tornado hit Crescent City, California. There was only minor damage with no casualties being reported.
January 24
An isolated, but strong F2 tornado tore through Cochran, Georgia, injuring 16.
February
There were 20 tornadoes confirmed in the US in February.
February 3
A brief, but rare F0 tornado struck Gualala Point Island south of Gualala, California. There were no casualties.
February 26–27
A destructive and deadly outbreak of 16 tornadoes hit the Southeast. The first tornado to cause casualties on February 26 was a short-lived, but strong F2 tornado that injured two on the south side of Hosston, Louisiana. Three destructive tornadoes then struck Mississippi. The first one was a long-tracked F3 tornado that moved directly through Downtown Jackson, killing eight and 26 injuries on its 69.7 mile path. Just 10 minutes after that tornado touched down, an even longer-tracked F3 tornado touched down further to the east, striking Harrisville, Piney Woods, Walnut Grove, and Madden, killing one and injuring 34 on its 71-mile-path. Further to the south, an F2 tornado pummeled the towns of White Sand, Hillsdale, and Eastern Lumberton, injuring nine.
Later that evening, another F2 tornado tracked through Gulf Hills, Vancleave, and Hurley, Mississippi, injuring one. A catastrophic F3 tornado then tore through the rural Mississippi counties of Perry, Greene, and Wayne, killing four and injuring 20. The final strong tornado of the event took place just before midnight when a brief, but destructive F3 tornado hit Savannah, Tennessee, although there were no casualties. Two weak tornadoes touched down the next day before the outbreak came to an end. In the end, the tornadoes killed 13 and injured 92.
February 28
A rare F0 tornado moved through O'Neals, California. There were no casualties.
March
There were 15 tornadoes confirmed in the US in March.
March 12
A rare F0 tornado touched down in Madera, California. There were no casualties, but some minor damage did occur.
March 28
A rare, strong 200-yard-wide F2 tornado touched down in McKinleyville, California. While there were no casualties, major damage was reported along the 2.0-mile-path.
April
There were 76 tornadoes confirmed in the US in April.
April 1–6
A tornado outbreak sequence of 32 tornadoes hit areas from California to Virginia. It started with four tornadoes on April 1, including three rare early to late-morning F1 tornadoes that touched down in California. The first one caused considerable damage to the San Francisco International Airport. The second one struck the town of Cortez. the final one struck the southeastern side of Laguna Beach. There were no casualties from the tornadoes. Four tornadoes touched down the next day, all of which caused casualties. A brief, but damaging F1 tornado injured one north of South Union, Kentucky. A large, half-mile wide F1 tornado then hit Fletcher and Cement, Oklahoma, injuring one as well. In Texas, a deadly F3 tornado struck Wichita Falls, killing one and injuring 14. Another F3 tornado hit Stoneburg, injuring one.
After minimal tornado activity from April 3–4, a deadly outbreak of 17 tornadoes struck the Midwest and Alabama on April 5. It started with a long-tracked late-morning F1 tornado that struck Remsen, Eastern Alton, and Western Newkirk, Iowa, injuring one on its 37-mile path. That afternoon, a deadly, long-tracked F3 tornado tore through New Athens, Fayetteville, New Memphis Station, Damiansville, Breese, Hagarstown, and Western Vandalia, Illinois, killing one and injuring eight on its 60.5 mile path. An F1 tornado then injured one in rural Perry County, Missouri. Back in Illinois, another F3 tornado struck Vergennes, the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Southern Du Quoin, and Sesser, injuring 11.