On This Day: May 15

Tornado Talk Summary

A significant tornado outbreak occurred May 15-16, 1968. Per the Storm Prediction Center, there were 46 confirmed tornadoes. Two were rated F4 (both in Arkansas) and two were rated F5 (both in Iowa). The Charles City F5 went straight through downtown just before 5pm CDT. 13 people were killed and over 450 injured. Read the full summary here

Picture taken by the Floyd County sheriff (L. L. Lane) at his spotter position on Highway 14. It shows the tornado when it was 2 miles southwest of Charles City. Image via NWS La Crosse

SIGTOR Spotlight

Highlighting a Tornado Before 1950
from Significant Tornadoes by Thomas Grazulis!

May 15, 1943: An F3 tornado moved from near Chapman, KS to Fort Riley. “Barracks, mess halls, and other builidngs were destroyed in the Fort Riley Cavalry Replacement Center.” Grazulis denotes near-F4 damage to farms to the northwest of Junction City. There was one fatality and 200 injuries.

Twister From The 2000s

On this day in 2013, a high-end EF4 tracked for a little of two miles through Grandbury, TX. Six people were killed, and 54 others were injured. The worst damage occurred in the Rancho Brazos Subdivision, where several homes were swept away. Source. 

A home that was slabbed, photo via NWS Dallas/Fort Worth.
Close-up view of a house that was swept away. Photo via NWS Dallas/Fort Worth.

Weather Rewind

Tornado and Other Weather Events From On This Day

On this day in 1896, an estimated F5 tornado swept through Sherman, TX. 73 people were killed, and over 200 others were injured as 20 homes were swept away, and many others were damaged or destroyed. Some of the bodies were carried up to 400 yards away and recovered from a muddy creek.  Source

Damage in Sherman, photo via US Tornadoes.

Pieces of the Past

A Look Back Through The Ages!  On This Day In History! 

Sources:  onthisday.com, thisdayinmusic.com & Britannica

Historical Event

On this day in 1951: AT&T becomes the 1st US corporation to have a million stockholders after young car salesman Brady Denton purchases 7 shares worth $1,078. Check out more historical events at onthisday.com

Famous Birthday

Madeleine Albright was born on May 15, 1937, in Prague, Czechoslovakia. She was a Czech-born American public official who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (1993–97) and who was the first woman to hold the cabinet post of U.S. secretary of state (1997–2001).  Albright died in 2022. Source:  Britannica

Film & TV

On this day in 1928: Mickey Mouse makes his 1st ever appearance in silent film “Plane Crazy”. Get more daily history at onthisday.com

Music Trivia

On this day in 1967: Paul McCartney met American photographer Linda Eastman during a concert at the Bag O’Nails nightclub in London. They married on March 12, 1969.  Get into the groove with more music trivia at thecurrent.org

Photo of the Day

On this day in 1957: At Malden Island in the Pacific Ocean, Britain tests its first hydrogen bomb in Operation Grapple. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

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