What is the record for the largest and heaviest object lifted by a tornado? (2024)

The record for the largest and heaviest object lifted by a tornado is difficult to determine with absolute certainty. However, there have been several notable instances where tornadoes have lifted extremely heavy objects over significant distances.

Here are some examples of the heaviest objects lifted by tornadoes:

1. El Reno Tornado (2011): This tornado hurled an oil tanker weighing approximately 25,000 lbs (11,340 kg) a mile without leaving any noticeable ground impacts [1].

2. Lubbock Tornado (1970): The tornado tossed a 26,000 lb (11,793 kg) fertilizer tank 3/4 of a mile over a freeway and several undamaged fences [1].

3. Tuscaloosa Tornado (2011): Witnesses reported that this tornado hurled a train car weighing 71,600 lbs (32,482 kg) 130 yards in one throw [1].

4. Pampa Tornado (1995): This tornado lifted a 35,000 lb (15,876 kg) lathe [1].

It's important to note that accurate tornado statistics can be difficult to find, especially for tornadoes that occurred before the weather radar age. Additionally, recording techniques were not standardized, making information on tornadoes before 1970 often unreliable [1].

Learn more:

1. heaviest moved by tornado |
2. The Tornado Project’s Terrific, Timeless and Sometimes Trivial Truths about Those Terrifying Twirling Twisters!
3. Tornado records - Wikipedia