View source for Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942

{{short description|1942 tornado outbreak in the United States}}
{{Infobox weather event
 | image                = 
 | alt                  = 
 | caption              = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Tornado outbreak
 | duration             = March 16–17, 1942 
 | tornadoes            = ≥ 30
 | fujitascale          = F5
 | winds                = 
 | largest hail         = <!-- unused? -->
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Effects
 | year                 = 1942
 | damages              = $5,265,000 (${{Formatnum:{{Inflation|US|5,265,000|1942|r=-4}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} USD){{efn|All losses are in 1942 [[United States dollar|USD]] unless otherwise noted.|group=note|name=Losses}}
 | outages              = 
 | fatalities           = 149
 | injuries             = ≥ 1,312
 | affected             = [[Central United States|Central]] and [[Southern United States]]
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Footer
 | season               = [[tornadoes of 1942|tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1942]]
}}
On March&nbsp;16–17, 1942, a deadly late-winter [[tornado outbreak]] struck a large area of the [[Central United States|Central]] and [[Southern United States|Southern]] [[United States]], killing 149&nbsp;people and injuring at least 1,312. At least five&nbsp;states reported [[Fujita scale#Rating classifications|violent]] tornadoes, from [[Illinois]] and [[Indiana]] south to Mississippi, beginning with an F4 tornado in the morning in Illinois. Intense activity spread south to the [[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf Coast]] and north to the [[Michigan]]–Indiana border as the day went on. Seven&nbsp;violent tornadoes were reported, one&nbsp;of which was a powerful [[List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes|F5]] in Illinois. A long-tracked F4 [[tornado family]] in Mississippi claimed 63&nbsp;lives as well, becoming the deadliest event of the outbreak. Another long-lived F4 in Tennessee killed 15&nbsp;more people, and a series of intense tornadoes caused 24&nbsp;other deaths in Kentucky. The outbreak also produced 18&nbsp;tornadoes that caused at least one&nbsp;death—ranking eighth on a list of similar events since 1880 by tornado researcher [[Thomas P. Grazulis]].{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=37}}{{efn|An [[tornado outbreak|outbreak]] is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An [[tornado outbreak sequence|outbreak sequence]], prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one [[Fujita scale#Rating classifications|significant]] (F2 or stronger) tornado.<ref name=OutbreakClimo>{{cite conference |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/schneider/otbrkseq.pdf |title=Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875–2003) |last1=Schneider |first1=Russell S. |last2=Brooks |first2=Harold E. |last3=Schaefer |first3=Joseph T. |author-link2=Harold E. Brooks |year=2004 |publisher=[[American Meteorological Society]] |location=Hyannis, Massachusetts |conference=22nd Conf. Severe Local Storms |conference-url=https://ams.confex.com/ams/11aram22sls/techprogram/programexpanded_230.htm |access-date=September 17, 2019}}</ref>|group=note|name=Outbreak}}

==Daily statistics==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;float:center"
|+ Daily statistics of tornadoes produced by the tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Date
! scope="col" rowspan="2" align="center"|Total
! scope="col" colspan="7" align="center"|[[Fujita scale]] rating{{efn|The [[Fujita scale]] was devised under the aegis of scientist [[Ted Fujita|T. Theodore Fujita]] in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=141}}{{sfn|Grazulis|2001a|p=[https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz/page/131 131]}} Tornado ratings were retroactively applied to events prior to the formal adoption of the F-scale by the [[National Weather Service]].{{sfn|Edwards et al.|2013|p=641–642}} While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the [[Enhanced Fujita scale]] in the U.S. since February&nbsp;1, 2007,<ref name="EFscale">{{cite web|last1=Edwards|first1=Roger|title=Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html|website=The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)|publisher=Storm Prediction Center|access-date=February 25, 2016|date=March 5, 2015}}</ref> Canada used the old scale until April&nbsp;1, 2013;<ref name="FscaleCanada">{{cite web |title=Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) |url=https://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 |website=Environment and Climate Change Canada |publisher=[[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] |access-date=February 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220706/http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |date=June 6, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the [[TORRO scale]].<ref name="TORROscale">{{cite web|title=The International Tornado Intensity Scale |url=http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php |website=Tornado and Storm Research Organisation |publisher=[[Tornado and Storm Research Organisation]] |access-date=February 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305120332/http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |year=2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>|group=note|name=Fujita}}
! scope="col" rowspan="2" align="center"|Deaths
! scope="col" rowspan="2" align="center"|Injuries
! scope="col" rowspan="2" align="center"|Damage{{efn|group=note|name=Losses}}
! scope="col" rowspan="2" align="center" class="unsortable"|
|-
! scope="col" align="center"|&nbsp;FU&nbsp;
! scope="col" align="center"|&nbsp;F0&nbsp;
! scope="col" align="center"|&nbsp;F1&nbsp;
! scope="col" align="center"|&nbsp;F2&nbsp;
! scope="col" align="center"|&nbsp;F3&nbsp;
! scope="col" align="center"|&nbsp;F4&nbsp;
! scope="col" align="center"|&nbsp;F5&nbsp;
|-
!scope="row"|March&nbsp;16
|align="right"|29
|align="right"|2
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|8
|align="right"|12
|align="right"|6
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|149
|align="right"|1,304
|align="right"|{{nts|5,240,000|prefix=$}}
|align="right"|{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|pp=898–900}}{{sfn|USWB|1942}}
|-
!scope="row"|March&nbsp;17
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|7
|align="right"|{{nts|25,000|prefix=$}}
|align="right"|{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|pp=898–900}}{{sfn|USWB|1942}}
|-class="sortbottom"
!scope="row"| Total
| align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|unknown}}|30
| align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|unknown}}|2
| align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}}|0
| align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}}|0
| align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}}|8
| align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}}|13
| align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}}|6
| align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat5}}|1
| align="right"|149
| align="right"|1,312
| align="right"|{{nts|5,265,000|prefix=$}}
| align="right"|{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|pp=898–900}}{{sfn|USWB|1942}}
|}
{{clear}}

==Confirmed tornadoes==
{{Tornado Chart | Total=≥ 30 | FU=2 | F0=0 | F1=0 | F2=8 | F3=13 | F4=6 | F5=1 |notes="FU" denotes confirmed but unrated tornadoes.}}
Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of [[NEXRAD]] [[Weather radar|Doppler weather radar]] in 1990–1991.{{sfn|Agee and Childs|2014|p=1496}}{{efn|Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information.{{sfn|Grazulis|2001a|pp=[https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz/page/251 251]–[https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz/page/254 4]}} Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.<ref name="TornadoClimaFAQ">{{cite web|last1=Edwards|first1=Roger|title=The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#Climatology|website=Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes|publisher=[[Storm Prediction Center]]|access-date=February 25, 2016|date=March 5, 2015}}</ref> Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced [[NEXRAD]] was first installed and the [[National Weather Service]] began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.{{sfn|Cook|Schaefer|2008|p=3135}}|group=note|name=Count}} 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of [[Fujita scale]] assessments.{{sfn|Agee and Childs|2014|pp=1497, 1503}}{{efn|group=note|name=Fujita}}

===March&nbsp;16 event===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|+ Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, March 16, 1942{{efn|All dates are based on the local [[time zone]] where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in [[Coordinated Universal Time]] and dates are split at midnight [[Central Time Zone|CST/CDT]] for consistency.|group=note|name=Date/Time}}
! scope="col"  style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|[[Fujita scale|F#]]
! scope="col"  style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County / Parish
! scope="col"  style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|State
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Width{{efn|The listed width values are primarily the average/mean width of the tornadoes, with those having known maximum widths denoted by ♯. From 1952 to 1994, reports largely list mean width whereas contemporary years list maximum width.{{sfn|Agee and Childs|2014|p=1494}} Values provided by Grazulis are the average width, with estimates being rounded down (i.e. {{convert|0.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} is rounded down from 880 yards to 800 yards).{{sfn|Brooks|2004|p=310}}{{sfn|Grazulis|1990|p=ix}}|group=note|name=Width}}
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Damage
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|SW of [[Okarche, Oklahoma|Okarche]] to E of [[Kingfisher, Oklahoma|Kingfisher]]
|[[Canadian County, Oklahoma|Canadian]], [[Kingfisher County, Oklahoma|Kingfisher]]
|[[Oklahoma]]
|05:10–?
|{{convert|12|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|1760|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}♯
|{{nts|30,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |The first tornado of the outbreak attained a peak width of up to {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on|lk=on}}. The tornado first struck Okarche and caused minor damage in town, but did most of its damage to several rural farmsteads. In the countryside, the tornado destroyed many barns and a home, killing hundreds of farm animals. The tornado severely injured one person, but did not cause any deaths.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=897}}{{sfn|Wahlgren|1942}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat4}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F4
|W of [[Ivesdale, Illinois|Ivesdale]] to NE of [[Alvin, Illinois|Alvin]]
|[[Piatt County, Illinois|Piatt]], [[Champaign County, Illinois|Champaign]], [[Vermilion County, Illinois|Vermilion]]
|[[Illinois]]
|16:30–17:45
|{{convert|60|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|400|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|300,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |12 deaths — This violent tornado either originated as or was related to a separate tornado that developed near [[Bement, Illinois|Bement]]. It moved northeast at about {{convert|50|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on|lk=on}}, and generated F4-level damage at two separate locations along its path. As it passed near [[Savoy, Illinois|Savoy]], [[Mayview, Illinois|Mayview]], and [[St. Joseph, Illinois|St. Joseph]], the tornado obliterated several farms. Subsequently, the tornado killed six people, including one each in five separate homes, as it impacted the western portion of Alvin. There, it destroyed or damaged approximately 25 homes, along with a church and several stores. Other fatalities occurred near Savoy, Mayview, St. Joseph, and [[Hope, Illinois|Hope]]. In all, the tornado injured 60 people.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=897}}{{sfn|Holcomb|1942}}{{sfn|Stapp|Bowman|1968|p=48}}<ref name="ILX-Lacon">{{cite web |title=The Lacon F5 Tornado of March 16, 1942 |url=https://www.weather.gov/ilx/16mar1942-tornadoes |website=National Weather Service [[List of National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices|Weather Forecast Office]] Central Illinois |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=30 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215225656/https://www.weather.gov/ilx/16mar1942-tornadoes |archive-date=15 December 2018 |location=[[Lincoln, Illinois]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat4}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F4
|S of [[Berclair, Mississippi|Berclair]] to near [[New Harmony, Mississippi|New Harmony]]
|[[Leflore County, Mississippi|Leflore]], [[Carroll County, Mississippi|Carroll]], [[Grenada County, Mississippi|Grenada]], [[Tallahatchie County, Mississippi|Tallahatchie]], [[Yalobusha County, Mississippi|Yalobusha]], [[Lafayette County, Mississippi|Lafayette]], [[Pontotoc County, Mississippi|Pontotoc]], [[Union County, Mississippi|Union]]
|[[Mississippi]]
|21:00–?
|{{convert|110|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|600|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|600,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |63+ deaths — [[Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942#Avalon–Cascilla–Otoucalofa–Tula, Mississippi|See section on this tornado]]
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2
|WNW of [[Smithfield, Illinois|Smithfield]] to [[Fairview, Illinois|Fairview]] to W of [[Farmington, Illinois|Farmington]]
|[[Fulton County, Illinois|Fulton]]
|[[Illinois]]
|22:00–?
|{{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{unk}}
|{{nts|100,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |As it struck 13 farmsteads this tornado destroyed homes and barns, unroofing many of the former. In all, the tornado injured 11 people, including a teacher who had canceled school early.<ref name="ILX-Lacon" />{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2
|N of [[Middlegrove, Illinois|Middlegrove]] to NNE of [[Elmwood, Illinois|Elmwood]]
|[[Knox County, Illinois|Knox]], [[Peoria County, Illinois|Peoria]]
|[[Illinois]]
|22:15–?
|{{convert|8|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{unk}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado passed near [[Yates City, Illinois|Yates City]] as it affected 10 or more farmsteads, four of which lost all outbuildings and barns; however, it only managed to unroof and destroy a few homes.<ref name="ILX-Lacon" />{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2
|S of [[Grenada, Mississippi|Grenada]]
|[[Grenada County, Mississippi|Grenada]]
|[[Mississippi]]
|22:15–?
|{{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|100|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|300,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |1 death — Striking an industrial section on the outskirts of Grenada, this tornado also hit 23 homes, but did much of its damage to a factory. As staff tended to victims of the Otoucalofa F4 at a hospital, this tornado passed {{convert|20|yd|m|abbr=on}} away. Four injuries occurred.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|W of [[Holly Springs, Mississippi|Holly Springs]] to NE of [[Spring Hill, Mississippi|Spring Hill]]
|[[Marshall County, Mississippi|Marshall]], [[Benton County, Mississippi|Benton]]
|[[Mississippi]]
|22:20–?
|{{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|400|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|100,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |5 deaths — This tornado destroyed about 50 homes and damaged the North Mississippi Branch Experiment Station (Mississippi Experimental Farm Station) of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES). The tornado continued northeastward to the Mississippi–Tennessee state line before dissipating. In all, 40 people were injured.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}<ref name="MAFES">{{cite web |title=North Mississippi Branch Experiment Station |url=https://www.mafes.msstate.edu/branches/north.asp?location=north |website=Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station |publisher=[[Mississippi State University]] |access-date=1 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701110924/https://www.mafes.msstate.edu/branches/north.asp?location=north |location=[[Mississippi State, Mississippi]] |date=1 July 2018 |orig-year=2015 |archive-date=1 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat5}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F5
|SSE of [[Dunlap, Illinois|Dunlap]] to SE of [[Henry, Illinois|Henry]]
|[[Peoria County, Illinois|Peoria]], [[Marshall County, Illinois|Marshall]]
|[[Illinois]]
|22:30–?
|{{convert|30|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|400|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|600,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |7 deaths — [[Tornado outbreak of March 16–17, 1942#Barrville–Lacon, Illinois|See section on this tornado]]
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|WSW of [[Huntingdon, Tennessee|Huntingdon]] to E of [[Springville, Tennessee|Springville]]
|[[Carroll County, Tennessee|Carroll]], [[Henry County, Tennessee|Henry]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|22:30–?
|{{convert|30|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|800|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|100,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |4 deaths — This long-tracked tornado first destroyed eight homes and severely injured 15 people in the Huntingdon area. Near [[Mansfield, Tennessee|Mansfield]], four people died, 45 sustained injuries, and a student was injured in a school. Afterward, the tornado narrowly missed [[Manleyville, Tennessee|Manleyville]] and Springville. In all, 61 people were injured.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}<ref name="MST">{{cite report|author=National Weather Service|date=2017|url=https://www.midsouthtornadoes.msstate.edu/index.php?cw=ohx|title=NWS Nashville Tornado Database|location=[[Old Hickory, Tennessee]]|publication-place=[[Mississippi State, Mississippi]]|accessdate=11 May 2024|via=[[Mississippi State University]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat4}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F4
|[[Bethel Springs, Tennessee|Bethel Springs]] to [[Beacon, Tennessee|Beacon]]
|[[McNairy County, Tennessee|McNairy]], [[Henderson County, Tennessee|Henderson]], [[Chester County, Tennessee|Chester]], [[Decatur County, Tennessee|Decatur]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|22:30–?
|{{convert|45|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|800|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|400,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |15 deaths — This violent, long-lived tornado mostly affected sparsely populated areas, but obliterated homes, farmsteads, and tracts of forested land. It killed eight people almost immediately as it touched down and caused four more deaths near [[Reagan, Henderson County, Tennessee|Reagan]]. Other deaths were reported east of [[Finger, Tennessee|Finger]], near [[Enville, Tennessee|Enville]], and near Beacon. Many small homes were flattened. 200 injuries occurred.{{sfn|Grazulis|1984|p=A-51}}{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2
|WNW of [[Bolivar, Tennessee|Bolivar]]
|[[Hardeman County, Tennessee|Hardeman]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|22:30–?
|{{unk}}
|{{unk}}
|{{unk}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado struck the Western Mental Health Institute, known then as Western State Hospital, and unroofed a number of buildings there. Broken glass injured 12 patients.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}<ref name="WMHI">{{cite web |title=Western Mental Health Institute |url=https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/hospitals/hospitals/western.html |website=Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services |access-date=7 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712205701/https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/hospitals/hospitals/western.html |archive-date=12 July 2018 |location=[[Nashville, Tennessee]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|SE of [[Hornsby, Tennessee|Hornsby]]
|[[Hardeman County, Tennessee|Hardeman]], [[McNairy County, Tennessee|McNairy]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|22:45–?
|{{convert|8|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{unk}}
|{{nts|40,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado injured five people and destroyed a total of eight homes.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|W of [[Lincoln, Illinois|Lincoln]] to SSE of [[Evans, Illinois|Evans]]
|[[Logan County, Illinois|Lincoln]]
|[[Illinois]]
|23:00–?
|{{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|400|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|25,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |2 deaths – This tornado destroyed six barns and three homes, one of which received "near-F4" damage. A couple sustained severe injuries and later died. In all, three people were injured.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|pp=898–9}}<ref name="ILX-Lacon" />
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2
|S of [[Ofahoma, Mississippi|Ofahoma]] to [[Carthage, Mississippi|Carthage]]
|[[Leake County, Mississippi|Leake]]
|[[Mississippi]]
|23:00–?
|{{convert|16|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{unk}}
|{{unk}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |1 death – This tornado produced intermittent damage along its path. In Carthage, the tornado destroyed several small homes, a sizeable church, and barns. 10 injuries were reported.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2
|[[Shelbyville, Indiana|Shelbyville]] to NE of [[Lewisville, Indiana|Lewisville]]
|[[Shelby County, Indiana|Shelby]], [[Rush County, Indiana|Rush]], [[Henry County, Indiana|Henry]]
|[[Indiana]]
|23:00–?
|{{convert|30|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|400|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|300,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |As this tornado touched down on the southern side of Shelbyville, it injured seven people and damaged homes, factories, and a hatchery. Intermittent damage occurred elsewhere, primarily on the eastern outskirts of [[Mays, Indiana|Mays]] and near Lewisville. Near the latter, a number of cattle died and a barn was destroyed.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat4}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F4
|Northern [[Baldwyn, Mississippi|Baldwyn]] (1st tornado)
|[[Lee County, Mississippi|Lee]], [[Prentiss County, Mississippi|Prentiss]]
|[[Mississippi]]
|23:05–?
|{{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|300|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|250,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |5 deaths – This was one of two powerful tornadoes to strike Baldwyn in close succession. It damaged or destroyed more than 50 homes, several of which were leveled; F4 damage only occupied a limited area, however. 50 injuries occurred. A separate but related tornado may have caused an additional fatality near [[Verona, Mississippi|Verona]], but this could not be confirmed.{{sfn|Grazulis|1984|p=A-51}}{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2
|W of [[Standing Rock, Tennessee|Standing Rock]] to S of [[Dover, Tennessee|Dover]]
|[[Stewart County, Tennessee|Stewart]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|23:30–?
|{{convert|9|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{unk}}
|{{unk}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |1 death – This tornado was related to the Huntingdon F3. Near Stribling, south of [[Short Creek (Tennessee River tributary)|Short Creek]], it removed soil and swept away a home, killing a youth inside. Seven other people were injured there. Eight rural farms were also destroyed across Stewart County, near Lick Creek.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}{{sfn|HCHS|1995|p=90}}<ref name="MST" />
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|Downtown [[Baldwyn, Mississippi|Baldwyn]] (2nd tornado)
|[[Lee County, Mississippi|Lee]], [[Prentiss County, Mississippi|Prentiss]]
|[[Mississippi]]
|23:40–?
|{{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|750,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado closely followed the first event in Baldwin, but produced greater losses than the latter, owing to its having struck the center of town. The tornado damaged or destroyed homes, schools, and businesses before ending as a [[downburst]]. 15 injuries occurred.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|SE of [[Greenville, Kentucky|Greenville]] to E of [[Drakesboro, Kentucky|Drakesboro]]
|[[Muhlenberg County, Kentucky|Muhlenberg]]
|[[Kentucky]]
|23:40–?
|{{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|300|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|300,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |11 deaths – This intense tornado obliterated 12 small homes in [[Browder, Kentucky|Browder]] and killed 10 people in town, five of whom perished in one family. A final death occurred on a farm near Drakesboro. 50 injuries occurred.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|[[Waterloo, Alabama|Waterloo]]
|[[Lauderdale County, Alabama|Lauderdale]]
|[[Alabama]]
|00:00–?
|{{convert|1.5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|400|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|35,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |2 deaths – This short-lived tornado damaged or destroyed 24 homes. The bodies of the dead were found {{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on}} from their home. 30 injuries occurred.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat4}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F4
|N of [[Caneyville, Kentucky|Caneyville]] to N of [[Summit, Kentucky|Summit]]
|[[Grayson County, Kentucky|Grayson]], [[Hardin County, Kentucky|Hardin]]
|[[Kentucky]]
|00:15–?
|{{convert|30|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|150,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |9 deaths – This powerful tornado, which formed from the same storm as the Browder F3, injured 40 people as it tracked near [[Millwood, Kentucky|Millwood]], [[Leitchfield, Kentucky|Leitchfield]], [[Clarkson, Kentucky|Clarkson]], and Summit. Approximately 20 homes were destroyed, several of which were obliterated.{{sfn|Grazulis|1984|p=A-51}}{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|SSW of [[McEwen, Tennessee|McEwen]]
|[[Humphreys County, Tennessee|Humphreys]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|00:30–?
|{{unk}}
|{{convert|150|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{unk}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |2 deaths – This tornado injured 10 people and destroyed six homes as it passed near [[Hurricane Creek (Duck River tributary, Tennessee)|Hurricane Creek]], a tributary of the [[Duck River (Tennessee)|Duck River]], and [[Bold Spring, Tennessee|Bold Spring]].{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|SW of [[Hickory Point, Tennessee|Hickory Point]] to [[Oak Plains, Tennessee|Oak Plains]] to WNW of [[Coopertown, Tennessee|Coopertown]]
|[[Montgomery County, Tennessee|Montgomery]], [[Cheatham County, Tennessee|Cheatham]], [[Robertson County, Tennessee|Robertson]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|00:30–?
|{{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|800|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|100,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |1 death – This tornado destroyed a total of at least 24 barns and homes. Many chickens were killed, 20 people were injured.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}<ref name="MST" />
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|N of [[Bardstown, Kentucky|Bardstown]]
|[[Nelson County, Kentucky|Nelson]]
|[[Kentucky]]
|01:30–?
|{{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|70,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |4 deaths – This tornado flattened rural homes as it tracked from near [[Deatsville, Kentucky|Deatsville]] to [[Coxs Creek, Kentucky|Coxs Creek]]. 40 injuries occurred.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|unk}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| FU
|W of [[Five Points, Lawrence County, Tennessee|Five Points]] to W of [[Fall River, Tennessee|Fall River]]
|[[Lawrence County, Tennessee|Lawrence]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|01:30–?
|{{unk}}
|{{unk}}
|{{nts|45,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A "devastating" tornado severely damaged or destroyed outbuildings, barns, and homes. Rural roads were clogged with debris, left impassible.<ref name="MST" />
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|[[Goodspring, Tennessee|Goodspring]] to [[Diana, Tennessee|Diana]]
|[[Giles County, Tennessee|Giles]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|02:00–?
|{{convert|20|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|150|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|150,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |2 deaths – This tornado damaged or destroyed 24 homes as it struck Diana.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2
|SW of [[Plymouth, Indiana|Plymouth]]
|[[Marshall County, Indiana|Marshall]]
|[[Indiana]]
|02:15–?
|{{unk}}
|{{unk}}
|{{unk}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This short-lived tornado destroyed a barn and injured two people beside the [[Yellow River (Indiana)|Yellow River]].{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat4}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F4
|SE of [[Goshen, Indiana|Goshen]]
|[[Elkhart County, Indiana|Elkhart]]
|[[Indiana]]
|02:32–?
|{{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|500,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |2 deaths – This violent tornado destroyed or damaged 87 homes on the outskirts of Goshen. As the tornado neared the end of its life, it narrowed and intensified to F4-level intensity. As it did so, it obliterated a home and caused two deaths. In all, 53 injuries occurred.<ref name="NWSGoshen42">{{cite web |title=1942 Goshen killer tornado |url=https://www.weather.gov/iwx/19420316_goshen_tornado |website=Northern Indiana Weather Forecast Office |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=11 May 2024 |location=[[Syracuse, Indiana]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Grazulis|1984|p=A-51}}{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|unk}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| FU
|W of [[Findlay, Illinois|Findlay]]
|[[Shelby County, Illinois|Shelby]]
|[[Illinois]]
|{{unk}}
|{{unk}}
|{{unk}}
|{{unk}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado was reported.<ref name="ILX-Lacon" />
|}
{{clear}}

===March&nbsp;17 event===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|+ Confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, March 17, 1942{{efn|group=note|name=Date/Time}}
! scope="col"  style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|[[Fujita scale|F#]]
! scope="col"  style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County / Parish
! scope="col"  style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|State
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Width{{efn|group=note|name=Width}}
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Damage
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#{{#invoke:Storm categories|color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3
|Between [[Norway, South Carolina|Norway]] and [[Springfield, South Carolina|Springfield]]
|[[Orangeburg County, South Carolina|Orangeburg]]
|[[South Carolina]]
|23:30–?
|{{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|400|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{nts|25,000|prefix=$}}
|- class="expand-child"
| colspan="7" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado injured seven people as it destroyed or damaged 15 homes.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=899}}
|}
{{clear}}

===Avalon–Cascilla–Otoucalofa–Tula, Mississippi===
{{Infobox weather event
| name                 = Avalon–Cascilla–Otoucalofa–Tula, Mississippi
| formed               = March 16, 1942, 4:00 p.m. [[Central Time Zone|CDT]] ([[UTC−05:00]])
| dissipated           = 
| duration             = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Tornado
| basin = atl
| fujita-scale = F4
| winds =
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| casualties = ≥ 63 fatalities, 500 injuries
| damages    = $600,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|600,000|1942|r=-4}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} USD)
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
This long-tracked [[tornado family]] caused at least 19&nbsp;deaths in Leflore County as it leveled many small homes. Three&nbsp;of the fatalities occurred near [[Itta Bena, Mississippi|Itta Bena]] and [[Greenwood, Mississippi|Greenwood]]. In Carroll County, the tornado caused five&nbsp;additional deaths near [[Avalon, Mississippi|Avalon]]. The tornado also impacted and hurled a school bus for {{convert|50|yd|m|abbr=on|lk=on}}; 11&nbsp;children and the driver sustained injuries. As it traversed Grenada County, the tornado struck another school bus and killed a child. Nearby, the tornado obliterated a house and claimed three&nbsp;more lives. Three&nbsp;other people died in another home near [[Cascilla, Mississippi|Cascilla]] in Tallahatchie County. The tornado generated its worst damage in [[Otoucalofa Creek|Otoucalofa]], known then as O'Tuckalofa, near [[Water Valley, Mississippi|Water Valley]]. In this area, the tornado destroyed {{convert|10|mi2|km2|abbr=on|lk=on}} of timber and killed 19&nbsp;people, including the [[Superintendent (education)|school superintendent]], whose home and school were leveled and whose car was moved {{convert|300|yd|ft|abbr=on|lk=on}}.  Northwest of [[Tula, Mississippi|Tula]], five&nbsp;more deaths occurred, four&nbsp;of which took place in a single home. In all, the tornado injured 500&nbsp;people and caused $600,000 in losses.{{sfn|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}
{{clear}}

===Barrville–Lacon, Illinois===
{{Infobox weather event
| name                 = Barrville–Lacon, Illinois
| formed               = March 16, 1942, 5:30 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
| dissipated           = 
| duration             = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Tornado
| basin = atl
| fujita-scale = F5
| winds =
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| casualties = 7 fatalities, 70 injuries
| damages    = $600,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|600,000|1942|r=-4}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} USD)
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
This extremely violent tornado remains the most recent F5 or [[Enhanced Fujita scale|EF5]] tornado on record in [[Central Illinois]]. It touched down east of [[Kickapoo, Illinois|Kickapoo]] and impacted areas near [[Alta, Illinois|Alta]] and on the northwestern outskirts of [[Chillicothe, Illinois|Chillicothe]]. The tornado subsequently struck the settlement of [[Barrville, Illinois|Barrville]], beside the [[Illinois River (Illinois)|Illinois River]], before crossing the river to the south of [[Sparland, Illinois|Sparland]]. Near the river, the tornado caused one&nbsp;fatality. The tornado intensified to its peak intensity as it entered [[Lacon, Illinois|Lacon]]; although it bypassed the [[business district]], the tornado destroyed a quarter of the town, which inclusively totaled about 60&nbsp;homes, several of which were entirely swept away. Three&nbsp;deaths occurred in Lacon. About {{convert|3|mi|km|abbr=on}} farther on to the northeast, the tornado produced F5-level damage to a farmhouse and killed three&nbsp;people there. The tornado also lofted debris from Lacon for a total distance of up to {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=on}}. Two&nbsp;schools in Lacon received extensive damage as well, and a home in town was uplifted and deposited in a neighboring yard. Along the entire path, about 70&nbsp;injuries occurred, along with $600,000&nbsp;in losses.<ref name="BarrvilleSummary">Multiple sources:
*{{harvnb|Grazulis|1993|p=898}}
*{{cite web |title=The Lacon F5 Tornado of March 16, 1942 |url=https://www.weather.gov/ilx/16mar1942-tornadoes |website=National Weather Service [[List of National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices|Weather Forecast Office]] Central Illinois |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=30 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215225656/https://www.weather.gov/ilx/16mar1942-tornadoes |archive-date=15 December 2018 |location=[[Lincoln, Illinois]]}}
</ref>
{{clear}}

==See also==
*[[List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks]]
*[[List of tornado-related deaths at schools]]
*[[Tornado outbreak of March 31 – April 1, 2023#Bethel Springs–Adamsville–Hookers Bend–Hohenwald, Tennessee|Tornado outbreak of March 31 – April 1, 2023]] — Spawned an [[Enhanced Fujita scale#Rating classifications|EF3 tornado]] that also struck Bethel Springs

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Sources==
*{{cite journal |first1=Ernest M.|last1=Agee|first2=Samuel|last2=Childs|title=Adjustments in Tornado Counts, F-Scale Intensity, and Path Width for Assessing Significant Tornado Destruction|journal=Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology|date=June 1, 2014|volume=53|issue=6|pages=1494–1505|doi=10.1175/JAMC-D-13-0235.1|publisher=American Meteorological Society|doi-access=free|url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/apme/53/6/jamc-d-13-0235.1.xml|ref={{sfnRef|Agee and Childs|2014}}}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Brooks |first1=Harold E. |author-link1=Harold E. Brooks |title=On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity |journal=[[Weather and Forecasting]] |date=April 2004 |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=310–19 |doi=10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2004WtFor..19..310B }}
*{{cite journal|last1=Cook|first1=A. R.|last2=Schaefer|first2=J. T. |title=The Relation of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to Winter Tornado Outbreaks|journal=[[Monthly Weather Review]] |date=August 2008|volume=136|issue=8|pages=3121–3137|doi=10.1175/2007MWR2171.1 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2008MWRv..136.3121C}}
*{{cite journal |first1=Roger|last1=Edwards|first2=James G.|last2=LaDue|first3=John T.|last3=Ferree|first4=Kevin|last4=Scharfenberg|first5=Chris|last5=Maier|first6=William L.|last6=Coulbourne|title=Tornado Intensity Estimation: Past, Present, and Future|journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society|date=May 1, 2013|volume=94|issue=5|pages=641–653|doi=10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00006.1|doi-access=free|publisher=American Meteorological Society|url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/94/5/bams-d-11-00006.1.xml|ref={{sfnRef|Edwards et al.|2013}}}}
*{{cite tech report|last=Grazulis|first=Thomas P.|author-link=Thomas P. Grazulis|date=May 1984|title=Violent Tornado Climatography, 1880–1982|series=NUREG|number=CR-3670|website=[[Office of Scientific and Technical Information|OSTI]]|institution=[[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|osti=7099491 |osti-access=free}}
**{{cite book | last = Grazulis | first = Thomas P. |title = Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989 |date=November 1990 | publisher = The Tornado Project of Environmental Films | location = [[St. Johnsbury, Vermont]] | isbn = 1-879362-02-3 |volume=2 |author-mask=1}}
**{{cite book |last1=Grazulis |first1=Thomas P. |title=Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events |date=July 1993 |publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films |location=[[St. Johnsbury, Vermont]] |isbn=1-879362-03-1 |author-mask=1}}
**{{cite book|last1=Grazulis|first1=Thomas P.|title=The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm|url=https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz|url-access=registration|date=2001a|publisher=[[University of Oklahoma Press]]|location=[[Norman, Oklahoma|Norman]]|isbn=978-0-8061-3538-0|author-mask=1}}
**{{Cite book|last=Grazulis|first=Thomas P. |title=F5-F6 Tornadoes|publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films|year=2001b |location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont|author-mask=1}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Holcomb |first1=E. W. |title=Tornadoes of March 16, 1942 |department=Illinois section |journal=Climatological Data |date=March 1942 |volume=47 |issue=3 |page=13 |series=Illinois |publisher=National Climatic Data Center |location=[[Springfield, Illinois]] |publication-place=Asheville, North Carolina|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/cd/cd.html}}{{dead link|date=October 2024}}
*{{cite book |author=Houston County Historical Society |title=History of Houston County, Tennessee 1871–1996 |date=1995 |publisher=[[Turner Publishing Company]] |isbn=1-56311-194-2 |ref={{harvid|HCHS|1995}}}}
*{{cite book |last1=Stapp |first1=Catherine |last2=Bowman |first2=W. I. |title=History Under Our Feet: the Story of Vermilion County, Illinois |date=1968 |publisher=Interstate Printers and Publishers, Inc. |location=[[Danville, Illinois]] |asin=B002T9WTMC}}
*{{cite journal |author1=U.S. Weather Bureau |title=Severe Local Storms, March 1942 |journal=[[Monthly Weather Review]] |date=March 1942 |volume=70 |issue=3 |page=61 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1942)070<0061:SLSM>2.0.CO;2 |url=ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/mwr/070/mwr-070-03-0061a.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225193049/https://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/070/mwr-070-03-0061a.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2017|access-date=11 May 2024 |ref={{harvid|USWB|1942}} |location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|bibcode=1942MWRv...70Q..61. |author1-link=National Weather Service |doi-access=free|via=[[American Meteorological Society]]}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Wahlgren |first1=H. F. |title=Tornadoes |journal=Climatological Data |date=March 1942 |volume=51 |issue=3 |page=13 |department=Oklahoma section |publisher=[[National Climatic Data Center]] |location=[[Oklahoma City]] |publication-place=[[Asheville, North Carolina]]|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/cd/cd.html}}
*{{cite tech report|last1=Wilson|first1=John W.|last2=Changnon|first2=Stanley A.|url=https://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/C/ISWSC-103.pdf|title=Illinois Tornadoes|number=103|series=Illinois State Water Survey|year=1971|location=[[Urbana, Illinois]]|publisher=State of Illinois Department of Registration and Education|accessdate=11 May 2024}}

{{Alabama tornado events}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1942-03-15}}
[[Category:F5 tornadoes]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Illinois]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Indiana]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Alabama]]
[[Category:20th-century tornadoes|1942]]
[[Category:1942 meteorology|Tornado outbreak,03,15]]
[[Category:1942 natural disasters in the United States|Tornado outbreak,03,15]]
[[Category:March 1942 events in North America|Tornado outbreak]]