1978 Whippoorwill tornado
| F1 tornado | |
|---|---|
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
| Duration | June 17, 1978 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 1 |
| Max. rating1 | F1 tornado |
| Fatalities | 16 fatalities, 3 injuries |
| Damage | $250,000 |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale | |
The 1978 Whippoorwill tornado, also known as the Whippoorwill Disaster was a deadly tornado that struck Osage County, Kansas on June 17, 1978. The tornado, which was on the ground for 8 miles (13 km), struck a tourist boat called the Whippoorwill, causing it to capsize and drowning 16 out of the 58 passengers and crew. In the United States, the 1978 Whippoorwill tornado is the deadliest F1 rated tornado on the Fujita scale.