Remembering the deadly tornadoes that struck Xenia and Cincinnati 48 years ago

Enquirer staff
·1 min read
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This photograph was taken on April 3, 1974, by Xenia hospital employee Fred Stewart and distributed by the Associated Press. It shows a tornado moving through Xenia's Pine Crest neighborhood.

Today marks the 48th anniversary when a series of deadly tornadoes struck the Midwest, causing destruction and havoc and the loss of more than 300 lives. Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana were among the worst hit, suffering 167 deaths.

An F5 tornado on the Fujita scale touched down in Xenia, Ohio, killing 32 and destroying more than 1,000 homes. Another F5 tornado hit the Cincinnati's Sayler Park, killing four people. This Super Outbreak was one of the worst in history.

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The National Weather Service says in all, 148 tornadoes were documented from this event, of which 95 were rated F2 or stronger on the Fujita scale and 30 were F4 or F5.

The damage reports from some areas were almost incredible, with trees uprooted, homes and buildings smashed and literally blown away, power lines down, telephone service out – and hundreds upon hundreds of people left homeless.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xenia tornado: April 1974 Super Outbreak also struck Cincinnati