56 years ago today a major tornado outbreak across the central U-S resulted in what was probably the worst tornado day of the 20th century in Iowa.
In the afternoon of May 15th, 1968, multiple tornadoes struck northeastern Iowa including two extremely violent F-5 tornadoes.
One of these moved from near Hansell in Franklin County through Butler, Floyd, Chickasaw and Howard County, dissipating just south of the Minnesota border near Chester. The large tornado passed directly through Charles City where it destroyed more than 350 homes and businesses. The town of Elma was also struck and suffered heavy damage. This tornado was on the ground for 65 miles, destroyed nearly 2-thousand homes, and resulted in 15 fatalities and more than 450 injuries with most of those occurring in and around Charles City.
The other F-5 tornado moved directly through Oelwein and Maynard before dissipating near Randalia in Fayette County, killing 5 and injuring more than 150 while destroying nearly a thousand homes along its path.
