View source for Early May 1965 tornado outbreak

{{Short description|Tornado outbreak in the central United States}}
{{Infobox storm
 | name                 = Early May 1965 tornado outbreak
 | image                = May 6 Tornado Path.jpg
 | alt                  = 
 | caption              = Tornado tracks through [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] on May 6
 | type                 = Tornado outbreak
 | active               = May 5–8, 1965 
 | lowest pressure      = 
 | lowest temperature   = 
 | tornadoes            = 72
 | fujitascale          = F5
 | tornado duration     = 3 days, 7 hours, 2 minutes
 | highest winds        = 
 | hail                 = 
 | gusts                = 
 | maximum snow         = 
 | power outages        = 
 | casualties           = 17 fatalities, 770 injuries
 | damages              = Estimated $51 million<ref name=vortex>{{cite web|last=Lattery|first=Robert|title=Six Deadly Twisters|url=http://www.lattery.com/vortex100/intro.htm|access-date=18 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224181632/http://www.lattery.com/vortex100/intro.htm|archive-date=2012-02-24}}</ref><ref name=TwinCitiesNWS>{{cite web|title=Summary of May 6, 1965 Tornado Outbreak|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1965/5/6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130044905/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1965/5/6|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 30, 2010|publisher=National Weather Service|access-date=18 December 2013|location=[[Chanhassen, Minnesota]]}}</ref>
 | affected             = [[Great Plains]] and [[Midwestern United States]]
 | current advisories   = 
 | enhanced             = no
 | notes                = 
 | partof               = the '''[[Tornadoes of 1965|tornado outbreaks of 1965]]'''
}}
On May 5–8, 1965, a significant [[tornado outbreak]]{{#tag:ref|An 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) modern records that began in 1950, is defined as, at most, two (one) consecutive days without at least one [[Fujita scale#Rating classifications|significant]] (F2 or stronger) tornado.<ref name=OutbreakClimo>{{cite web|last=Schneider|first=Russell S.|title=Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875-2003)|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/schneider/otbrkseq.pdf|publisher=[[Storm Prediction Center]]|access-date=13 February 2013|author2=Harold E. Brooks |author3=Joseph T. Schaefer |location=[[Norman, Oklahoma]]}}</ref>|group="nb"}}{{#tag:ref|All damage totals are in 1965 [[United States dollar]]s unless otherwise noted.|group="nb"}} affected much of the [[Central United States]]. For four consecutive days, tornado outbreaks produced at least three [[Fujita scale#Rating classifications|significant]] (F2+) [[tornado]]es each day, and at least two violent (F4–F5) tornadoes on three of the four days. The entire sequence generated 37 significant tornadoes, including at least nine violent tornadoes, one of which was rated F5. On May 5, two F4s struck [[Iowa]], including a long-tracked [[tornado family]] that injured 11 people. On May 6, an outbreak of six strong tornadoes, four of them violent F4s, affected [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]] and [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul, Minnesota]], and has been nicknamed '''"The Longest Night"''', killing 13 people and causing major damages—at the time the most damaging single weather event in Minnesota history.<ref name="vortex" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://radiotapes.com/specialpostings.html|quote=May 6, 1965, the worst tornadoes in Twin Cities history struck the western and northern metro area. There were five tornadoes in the metro area, with another tornado just to the west in Sibley and McLeod Counties. Four of the tornadoes were rated F4 on the Fujita Scale, one was an F3 and another was an F2. There hasn't been a day since in Minnesota when there were four F4 tornadoes in a single day. Thirteen people were killed and 683 were injured.|archive-date=October 2, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191002180038/http://radiotapes.com/specialpostings.html|url-status=dead|title=Special Postings radiotapes.com|website=radiotapes.com|access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> Three of the six tornadoes occurred on the ground simultaneously, and two of them hit the section of [[Minnesota State Highway 100]] (now [[Interstate 694]]) and University Avenue in the city of [[Fridley, Minnesota|Fridley]].<ref name=MNTech>{{cite tech report |last1=Kuehnast |first1=E. L. |last2=Baker |first2=D. G. |last3=Enz |first3=J. W. |title=Climate of Minnesota, Part VIII &ndash; Precipitation Patterns in the Minneapolis–St. Paul Metropolitan Area and Surrounding Counties |number=301 |institution=University of Minnesota |year=1975 }}</ref> Both Fridley tornadoes damaged 1,100 homes and destroyed about 425; total losses reached $14.5 million, $5 million of which was to the Fridley school system.

On May 7, three significant tornadoes hit portions of the [[Upper Midwest]], and beginning early on May 8, a major tornado outbreak affected the Great Plains states, particularly in [[Nebraska]] and [[South Dakota]]. The outbreak on May 8 produced numerous significant, long-lived tornadoes, including at least three violent tornadoes, two of which were actually long-tracked tornado families. A very large F5 tornado struck [[Tripp County, South Dakota|Tripp County]] in South Dakota, and two major F4s tracked across parts of [[Greeley County, Nebraska|Greeley]] and [[Antelope County, Nebraska|Antelope]] Counties in Nebraska. One of the F4s struck the small village of [[Primrose, Nebraska|Primrose]], almost totally destroying the settlement, causing probable F5 damage, and killing four people. Additionally, a high-end F3 obliterated a farm in [[Gregory County, South Dakota]], and may have been an F4 as well. Many of the individual tornadoes on May 8 moved north and northwest, an unusual trajectory for [[supercell]]s in this part of the Great Plains. Many of the long-tracked tornadoes on this date, rather than single tornadoes, were probably tornado families like the two long-lived F4s.

==Meteorological synopsis==
Temperatures on May 6 were in the upper 70s °[[Fahrenheit|F]] with high [[dew point]]s, which was considered to be unusual for early May in Minnesota.<ref name="vortex" /> A strong [[low pressure area]] associated with an [[trough (meteorology)|upper-level system]] moving in from the southwest and a nearby slow-moving [[cold front]] helped spark the [[thunderstorm|storms]]. These storms formed as [[Training (meteorology)|training]] [[supercell]]s—an atmospheric phenomenon that is extremely rare in Minnesota. Because of the training, the same general areas from Sibley County through Carver and Hennepin and into northwestern Ramsey counties kept getting the brunt of these cells.<ref name="vortex" />
{{clear}}

==Confirmed tornadoes==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;float:right;"
|+'''Outbreak death toll'''
|- 
!'''State'''
!'''Total'''
!'''County''' 
!'''County<br />total'''
|-
|rowspan=4 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|[[Minnesota]]
|rowspan=4 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''13'''
|[[Anoka County, Minnesota|Anoka]]
|3
|-
|[[Carver County, Minnesota|Carver]]
|3
|-
|[[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin]]
|6
|-
|[[Sibley County, Minnesota|Sibley]]
|1
|-
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|[[Nebraska]]
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''4'''
|[[Boone County, Nebraska|Boone]]
|4
|-
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|Totals
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''17'''
|colspan=2|
|-
|colspan=4 align=center| <small>All deaths were tornado-related</small>
|-
|}
{{Tornado Chart| Total = 72| FU = 10| F0 = 14| F1 = 15| F2 = 22| F3 = 6| F4 = 8| F5 = 1|Enhanced=no}}
{{clear}}

===May 5===
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|-
!colspan="6"|List of confirmed tornadoes
|-
! [[Fujita scale|F#]] || Location || County || Time (UTC) || Path length || Damage
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>'''[[Iowa]]'''</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|[[Hartley, Iowa|Hartley]] to W of [[Sibley, Iowa|Sibley]]
|[[O'Brien County, Iowa|O'Brien]], [[Osceola County, Iowa|Osceola]]
|2030
|{{convert|21.8|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|S of [[Rinard, Iowa|Rinard]] to NE of [[Callender, Iowa|Callender]]
|[[Calhoun County, Iowa|Calhoun]], [[Webster County, Iowa|Webster]]
|2215
|{{convert|9.9|mi|km}}
|An intense tornado damaged eight farms near [[Farnhamville, Iowa|Farnhamville]] before hitting the south side of [[Slifer, Iowa|Slifer]]. The tornado destroyed a [[church (building)|church]] and a [[Clergy house|parsonage]], both of which were swept away.<ref name=Grazulis1>Grazulis, ''Significant Tornadoes'', 1073.</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|[[Osage, Iowa|Osage]] to N of [[Kendallville, Iowa|Kendallville]]
|[[Floyd County, Iowa|Floyd]], [[Howard County, Iowa|Howard]], [[Winneshiek County, Iowa|Winneshiek]]
|0200
|{{convert|41.6|mi|km}}
|Two large farmhouses were leveled {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} northwest of [[Kendallville, Iowa|Kendallville]], and about 28 farms were destroyed. All 11 injuries occurred in Mitchell County. The tornado was probably a family of several tornadoes, and it may have been continuous with the F3 tornado near [[Harmony, Minnesota]], listed farther below.<ref name=Grazulis1 />
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[South Dakota]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|Near [[Elkton, South Dakota|Elkton]]
|[[Brookings County, South Dakota|Brookings]]
|2045
|{{convert|34.7|mi|km}}
|Three farms were reported damaged.<ref name=StormData>{{cite journal|title=Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena|journal=Storm Data|date=May 1965|volume=7|issue=5|publisher=United States Department of Commerce|location=[[Asheville, North Carolina]]}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[North Dakota]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|unknown}} | <big>'''FU'''</big>
|W of [[Leal, North Dakota|Leal]]
|[[Barnes County, North Dakota|Barnes]]
|2100
|unknown
|Brief touchdown.<ref name=StormData />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|NE of [[Leonard, North Dakota|Leonard]] to NW of [[Harwood, North Dakota|Harwood]]
|[[Cass County, North Dakota|Cass]]
|2315
|{{convert|33.8|mi|km}}
|This tornado family moved erratically northward, destroying barns, sheds, and other farm buildings. Seven farms were hit. At least two separate tornadoes, two hours apart, may have produced damage.<ref name=Grazulis1 />
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Texas]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|W of [[Spofford, Texas|Spofford]]
|[[Kinney County, Texas|Kinney]]
|2300
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|NE of [[Wingate, Texas|Wingate]]
|[[Runnels County, Texas|Runnels]], [[Taylor County, Texas|Taylor]]
|0300
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Minnesota]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|SE of [[Sauk Centre, Minnesota|Sauk Centre]]
|[[Stearns County, Minnesota|Stearns]]
|2320
|{{convert|0.5|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|NW of [[Alexandria, Minnesota|Alexandria]] to NW of [[Wolf Lake, Minnesota|Wolf Lake]]
|[[Douglas County, Minnesota|Douglas]], [[Otter Tail County, Minnesota|Otter Tail]], [[Becker County, Minnesota|Becker]]
|2330
|{{convert|24.3|mi|km}}
|A tornado destroyed lakeside cottages near Lake Darling and badly damaged structures on eight farms as well. The tornado continued on to Big Toad Lake, where it destroyed a large, two-story "summer home." Five other homes and cottages sustained minor damage. A family of two separate tornadoes may have been involved.<ref name=Grazulis1 />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|S of [[Gaylord, Minnesota|Gaylord]] to E of [[New Auburn, Minnesota|New Auburn]]
|[[Sibley County, Minnesota|Sibley]]
|2345
|{{convert|11.2|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|S of [[Harmony, Minnesota|Harmony]] to SE of [[Melrose, Wisconsin|Melrose, WI]]
|[[Fillmore County, Minnesota|Fillmore]], [[Houston County, Minnesota|Houston]], [[Winona County, Minnesota|Winona]], [[La Crosse County, Wisconsin|La Crosse]] (WI)
|0100
|{{convert|65.2|mi|km}}
|This tornado may have consisted of two separate tornadoes, with the path of the first ending, and the second beginning, in Houston County. Homes and barns were reported destroyed near [[Canton, Minnesota|Canton]], [[Lenora, Minnesota|Lenora]], and [[Newburg Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota|Newburg]]. Farther along the path, more barns and a brick schoolhouse were also destroyed. As the tornado crossed into Wisconsin, it destroyed more buildings on several farms. A car in Wisconsin was moved {{convert|75|ft|m|sigfig=2}} as well.<ref name=Grazulis1 />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|SE of [[Elgin, Minnesota|Elgin]]
|[[Wabasha County, Minnesota|Wabasha]]
|0225
|{{convert|0.3|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|NW of [[Rushford Village, Minnesota|Rushford Village]]
|[[Winona County, Minnesota|Winona]]
|0300
|{{convert|0.2|mi|km}}
|A brief tornado destroyed two farms near [[Fremont, Minnesota|Fremont]]. Rating disputed, ranked F2 by Grazulis.<ref name=Grazulis1 />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|W of [[Le Roy, Minnesota|Le Roy]] to NE of [[Racine, Minnesota|Racine]]
|[[Mower County, Minnesota|Mower]], Fillmore
|0304
|{{convert|23.6|mi|km}}
|A tornado destroyed a barn and damaged 20 farms in its path.<ref name=Grazulis1 />
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Wisconsin]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|W of [[Grantsburg, Wisconsin|Grantsburg]] to W of [[Webster, Burnett County, Wisconsin|Webster]]
|[[Burnett County, Wisconsin|Burnett]]
|0215
|{{convert|14.3|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|NW of [[Cumberland, Wisconsin|Cumberland]] to S of [[Barronett, Wisconsin|Barronett]]
|[[Barron County, Wisconsin|Barron]]
|0530
|{{convert|4.5|mi|km}}
|
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|<small>Source: [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov National Climatic Database Center]</small>
|-
|}
{{clear}}

===May 6===
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|-
!colspan="6"|List of confirmed tornadoes
|-
! [[Fujita scale|F#]] || Location || County || Time (UTC) || Path length || Damage
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Minnesota]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|NE of [[Cologne, Minnesota|Cologne]] to N of [[Crystal Bay, Minnesota|Crystal Bay]]
|[[Carver County, Minnesota|Carver]]
|0008
|{{convert|13|mi|km}}
|3 deaths – The first of four powerful F4 tornadoes touched down just east of Cologne in Carver County. The tornado struck the Island Park–[[Mound, Minnesota|Mound]] area, where it destroyed 17 homes,<ref name=Grazulis1 /> some of which were leveled. The tornado then struck and destroyed most of the [[Navarre, Minnesota|Navarre]] community, where 16 homes were destroyed. The tornado also destroyed all barns and outbuildings on 30 farms. Homes were destroyed on 20 farms as well.<ref name=Grazulis1 /> According to a 1975 map, which contains the most revised data on the May 6 tornadoes, the tornado dissipated north of Crystal Bay.<ref name=MNTech />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|[[Chanhassen, Minnesota|Chanhassen]] to S of [[Wayzata, Minnesota|Wayzata]]
|[[Carver County, Minnesota|Carver]]
|0027
|{{convert|7|mi|km}}
|The second of the four F4 tornadoes—and the first of two to be photographed this day—touched down near Lake Susan in Chanhassen and traveled {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} toward [[Deephaven, Minnesota|Deephaven]] in [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin County]]. The first damage was reported south of Chanhassen, where 30 homes were damaged or destroyed. The tornado traveled due north, causing damage to a lumberyard and a shopping center. The tornado then damaged 35 homes at Lotus Lake and damaged or destroyed another 50 at [[Christmas Lake]]. As the tornado continued into Deephaven, it destroyed 100 homes, some of which were completely leveled, including "large and expensive" homes.<ref name=Grazulis1 /> According to official sources, the tornado dissipated after hitting Deephaven, and only two tornadoes hit Fridley;<ref name=MNTech /> however, Grazulis reports that the tornado turned northeast, continuing beyond Deephaven, passing just south of [[Medicine Lake, Minnesota|Medicine Lake]], striking [[Golden Valley, Minnesota|Golden Valley]], and hitting Fridley at 7:10&nbsp;p.m. (0110 UTC).<ref name=Grazulis1 /> Six homes were reportedly damaged in Golden Valley, "clocks stopped" in Fridley, and 25 airplanes were damaged or destroyed at [[Anoka County-Blaine Airport]] in [[Blaine, Minnesota|Blaine]].<ref name=Grazulis1 /> However, the official records end this tornado near Deephaven and only indicate that two tornadoes, not three, hit Fridley.<ref name=MNTech /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|E of [[New Auburn, Minnesota|New Auburn]] to NW of [[Lester Prairie, Minnesota|Lester Prairie]]
|[[Sibley County, Minnesota|Sibley]], [[McLeod County, Minnesota|McLeod]]
|0034
|{{convert|16|mi|km}}
|Tornado touched down about {{convert|3|mi|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} east of New Auburn in Sibley County and moved to just west of [[Lester Prairie, Minnesota|Lester Prairie]] in McLeod County. The tornado damaged or destroyed at least 25 farm buildings, as well as a church and a school, but there were no injuries or fatalities. Damage reached $1,000,000 (1965 USD).<ref name=Grazulis1 /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|E of [[Green Isle, Minnesota|Green Isle]] to NE of [[Norwood Young America]]
|[[Sibley County, Minnesota|Sibley]], [[Carver County, Minnesota|Carver]]
|0043
|{{convert|11|mi|km}}
|1 death – Tornado touched down about {{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} east of Green Isle in Sibley County and was on the ground {{convert|11|mi|km|abbr=out}}. It dissipated about {{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} southwest of [[Waconia, Minnesota|Waconia]] in [[Carver County, Minnesota|Carver County]]. A farmer and his cattle were killed {{convert|3|mi|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} southeast of [[Hamburg, Minnesota|Hamburg]].<ref name=Grazulis1 /> Photographs showed that nearby trees were debarked and shredded.<ref name="The May 6, 1965 Tornadoes">{{cite web |url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/HistoricalEvents/1965May06/index.php/ |title=The May 6, 1965 Tornadoes |date=May 13, 2013 |website=NWS Twin Cities |publisher=NOAA |access-date=23 December 2013}}</ref> The tornado was up to {{convert|0.75|mi|km|abbr=out}} wide near Norwood Young America and Waconia.<ref name=Grazulis1 /> Three barns were reportedly destroyed southwest of Cologne at 7:15&nbsp;p.m. (0115 UTC), but Grazulis counts the damage as being related to a second F2 tornado (not officially listed).<ref name=Grazulis1 /> 175&nbsp;people were injured which, as of 2022, in the most injuries caused by an F2/EF2 tornado.<ref>{{cite web |title=F2 Tornado - Facts Just for Kids |url=https://www.factsjustforkids.com/weather-facts/tornado-facts-for-kids/fujita-scale/f2-tornado/ |website=Facts Just for Kids |access-date=5 January 2022 |date=19 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|SW of [[Columbia Heights, Minnesota|Columbia Heights]] to [[Fridley, Minnesota|Fridley]] to N of [[Spring Lake Park, Minnesota|Spring Lake Park]]
|[[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin]],<ref name=Grazulis1 /> [[Anoka County, Minnesota|Anoka]]
|0106
|{{convert|7|mi|km}}
|3 deaths – [[Early May 1965 tornado outbreak#Fridley, Minnesota (two tornadoes)|See section on this tornado]] The first of at least two tornadoes to hit Fridley touched down in the southwesternmost corner of Fridley in Anoka County. It then moved across the Northern Ordnance industrial plant and continued to Osborne Road and [[Minnesota State Highway 65|Highway 65]].<ref name=Grazulis1 /><ref name="The May 6, 1965 Tornadoes"/> At this point, the tornado was visually spectacular and, like the Deephaven tornado, was one of the two tornadoes to be photographed during the outbreak.<ref name=Grazulis1 /><ref name="The May 6, 1965 Tornadoes"/> The funnel then struck Fridley directly, hitting the main school and park complex, the [[city hall]], and a trailer court.<ref name=Grazulis1 /><ref name="The May 6, 1965 Tornadoes"/> Three hundred people were attending an evening program in Fridley Junior High when the tornado struck, but only a single child was injured.<ref name=Grazulis1 /> The tornado eventually struck hundreds of homes in Fridley before continuing north-northeast into Spring Lake Park. There, the tornado was at its greatest intensity, destroying 150 homes and leveling some of them.<ref name=Grazulis1 /> Seventy-five percent of all the businesses in Spring Lake Park were reported destroyed, and 900 people in the town were said to be homeless.<ref name=Grazulis1 /> 175 people were injured. The tornado dissipated just northeast of Laddie Lake in [[Blaine, Minnesota|Blaine]] in Anoka County.<ref name="The May 6, 1965 Tornadoes"/>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|[[Golden Valley, Minnesota|Golden Valley]] to [[Fridley, Minnesota|Fridley]] to [[Lino Lakes, Minnesota|Lino Lakes]]
|Hennepin, Anoka, [[Ramsey County, Minnesota|Ramsey]]<ref name=Grazulis2 />
|0214
|{{convert|18|mi|km}}
|6 deaths – [[Early May 1965 tornado outbreak#Fridley, Minnesota (two tornadoes)|See section on this tornado]] The last and deadliest violent tornado of the day touched down in Golden Valley in Hennepin County and moved across north Minneapolis, Fridley in Anoka County, and [[Mounds View, Minnesota|Mounds View]] in Ramsey County before dissipating just west of [[Centerville, Minnesota|Centerville]] in Anoka County. Like the previous event, this tornado also struck the Northern Ordnance industrial plant. Total damage from the two tornadoes at the Northern Ordnance plant reached $2 million (1965 USD) in damage, shutting down the plant for more than one month.<ref name="The May 6, 1965 Tornadoes"/> Next, the tornado damaged 25 homes and eight businesses when it hit Golden Valley.<ref name=Grazulis2>Grazulis, ''Significant Tornadoes'', 1074.</ref>  The tornado then became the second of the day to hit Fridley, and even struck the same trailer park in Fridley hit by the previous tornado.<ref name="The May 6, 1965 Tornadoes"/><ref name=Grazulis2 /> The tornado also destroyed 85% of an elementary school. In Fridley, some homes were hit more than once by multiple tornadoes.<ref name=Grazulis2 /> As it continued into Mounds View, the tornado completely leveled numerous homes, killing six people. In all, 46 homes in Mounds View were destroyed, and losses reached about $1 million (1965 USD).<ref name=Grazulis2 /> 158 people were injured.
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Oklahoma]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|NW of [[Loyal, Oklahoma|Loyal]]
|[[Kingfisher County, Oklahoma|Kingfisher]]
|0000
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|A brief touchdown destroyed a barn, a shop, a granary, and a shed. It also damaged four homes and two "combines."<ref name=Grazulis1 />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|SE of [[Dodson, Texas|Dodson, TX]], to W of [[Granite, Oklahoma|Granite, OK]]
|[[Harmon County, Oklahoma|Harmon]], [[Greer County, Oklahoma|Greer]]
|0050
|{{convert|31.3|mi|km}}
|This tornado may have begun in Texas. It damaged or destroyed at least six homes, 10 barns, a gin, a store, a church, and a school.<ref name=Grazulis1 />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|SE of [[Canton, Oklahoma|Canton]]
|[[Blaine County, Oklahoma|Blaine]]
|0100
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|[[Oakwood, Oklahoma|Oakwood]]
|[[Dewey County, Oklahoma|Dewey]]
|0100
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|[[Dewey, Oklahoma|Dewey]]
|[[Washington County, Oklahoma|Washington]]
|0300
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Nebraska]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|E of [[Newcastle, Nebraska|Newcastle]]
|[[Dixon County, Nebraska|Dixon]]
|0145
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|<small>Source: [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov National Climatic Database Center]</small>
|-
|}
{{clear}}

===May 7===
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|-
!colspan="6"|List of confirmed tornadoes
|-
! [[Fujita scale|F#]] || Location || County || Time (UTC) || Path length || Damage
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Wisconsin]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|S of [[Shell Lake, Wisconsin|Shell Lake]]
|[[Washburn County, Wisconsin|Washburn]]
|1430
|{{convert|1|mi|km}}
|A brief tornado unroofed a school in which 300 students sheltered, but none were hurt.<ref name=Grazulis2 />
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[South Dakota]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|unknown}} | <big>'''FU'''</big>
|NE of [[Lake Andes, South Dakota|Lake Andes]]
|[[Charles Mix County, South Dakota|Charles Mix]]
|1830
|unknown
|
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Iowa]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|unknown}} | <big>'''FU'''</big>
|[[Oelwein, Iowa|Oelwein]]
|[[Fayette County, Iowa|Fayette]]
|1855
|unknown
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|unknown}} | <big>'''FU'''</big>
|[[Fairfield, Iowa|Fairfield]]
|[[Van Buren County, Iowa|Van Buren]]
|2030
|unknown
|
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Kansas]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|S of [[Garden City, Kansas|Garden City]]
|[[Finney County, Kansas|Finney]]
|2200
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|N of [[Pierceville, Kansas|Pierceville]]
|Finney
|2200
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|N of [[Cimarron, Kansas|Cimarron]]
|Finney
|2200
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Minnesota]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|SW of [[Kenyon, Minnesota|Kenyon]]
|[[Le Sueur County, Minnesota|Le Seur]]
|0010
|{{convert|0.5|mi|km}}
|
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Oklahoma]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|[[Arnett, Oklahoma|Arnett]]
|[[Ellis County, Oklahoma|Ellis]]
|0050
|{{convert|0.8|mi|km}}
|
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Texas]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|S of [[Wheeler, Texas|Wheeler]]
|[[Wheeler County, Texas|Wheeler]]
|0050
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|<small>Source: [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov National Climatic Database Center]</small>
|-
|}
{{clear}}

===May 8===
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|-
!colspan="6"|List of confirmed tornadoes
|-
! [[Fujita scale|F#]] || Location || County || Time (UTC) || Path length || Damage
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Colorado]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|N of [[Nunn, Colorado|Nunn]]
|[[Weld County, Colorado|Weld]]
|0900
|{{convert|1|mi|km}}
|A brief touchdown caused damage to farm structures, equipment, and trees.<ref name=StormData />
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Wisconsin]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|N of [[Waukesha, Wisconsin|Waukesha]]
|[[Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Waukesha]]
|1915
|{{convert|2|mi|km}}
|
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Oklahoma]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|SE of [[Randlett, Oklahoma|Randlett]]
|[[Cotton County, Oklahoma|Cotton]]
|2000
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|SW of [[Barnsdall, Oklahoma|Barnsdall]]
|[[Osage County, Oklahoma|Osage]]
|2200
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|N of [[Stidham, Oklahoma|Stidham]]
|[[McIntosh County, Oklahoma|McIntosh]]
|0300
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|S of [[Marietta, Oklahoma|Marietta]]
|[[Love County, Oklahoma|Love]]
|0310
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Kansas]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|unknown}} | <big>'''FU'''</big>
|SW of [[Independence, Kansas|Independence]]
|[[Montgomery County, Kansas|Montgomery]]
|2115
|{{convert|1|mi|km}}
|A tornado caused $4,000 (1965 USD) in damage near the [[Independence Municipal Airport (Kansas)|Independence Municipal Airport]].<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|unknown}} | <big>'''FU'''</big>
|N of [[Girard, Kansas|Girard]]
|[[Crawford County, Kansas|Crawford]]
|2315
|unknown
|Brief touchdown.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Nebraska]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|N of [[Saint Michael, Buffalo County, Nebraska|Saint Michael]] to SW of [[Farwell, Nebraska|Farwell]]
|[[Howard County, Nebraska|Howard]]
|2200
|{{convert|10.2|mi|km}}
|A tornado unroofed some homes and barns and passed northwest of [[Boelus, Nebraska|Boelus]].<ref name=Grazulis2 /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|NW of [[Farwell, Nebraska|Farwell]] to [[Orchard, Nebraska|Orchard]]
|[[Howard County, Nebraska|Howard]], [[Greeley County, Nebraska|Greeley]], [[Wheeler County, Nebraska|Wheeler]], [[Antelope County, Nebraska|Antelope]],
|2225
|{{convert|78.9|mi|km}}
|This long-tracked tornado was likely a family of multiple violent tornadoes. The tornado destroyed numerous farms, many of which were entirely leveled. Two people sheltering in a basement north of [[Greeley, Nebraska|Greeley]] may have been injured,<ref name=Grazulis2 /> but these injuries are not listed officially.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|SE of [[Long Pine, Nebraska|Long Pine]] to NW of [[Mills, Nebraska|Mills]]
|[[Rock County, Nebraska|Rock]], [[Keya Paha County, Nebraska|Keya Paha]]
|2230
|{{convert|44.9|mi|km}}
|A long-lived tornado leveled a farmhouse and may have injured a man fleeing in a pickup truck. The tornado also destroyed buildings on "at least a dozen" farms northwest of [[Newport, Nebraska|Newport]]. This event may have been two separate tornadoes, one {{convert|4|mi|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} east of [[Bassett, Nebraska|Bassett]] and another northwest of Newport. Rating disputed, ranked F3 by Grazulis.<ref name=Grazulis2 />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|E of [[Johnstown, Nebraska|Johnstown]]
|[[Brown County, Nebraska|Brown]], Keya Paha
|2230<ref name=Grazulis2 />
|{{convert|9|mi|km}}
|A strong tornado destroyed three homes on at least seven ranches, along with other structures. Vehicles were thrown up to {{convert|1/2|mi|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} from where they originated. According to Grazulis, this tornado caused near-F4 damage to ranches {{convert|6|mi|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} northwest of Ainsworth,<ref name=Grazulis2 /> though the official rating is only F2. The tornado may have stayed on the ground as far as [[Wewela, South Dakota]], and the parent storm eventually produced an F5 tornado near [[Colome, South Dakota|Colome]] in South Dakota.<ref name=Grazulis2 />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|[[Hebron, Nebraska|Hebron]] to E of [[Cordova, Nebraska|Cordova]]
|[[Thayer County, Nebraska|Thayer]], [[Fillmore County, Nebraska|Fillmore]], [[Saline County, Nebraska|Saline]], [[Seward County, Nebraska|Seward]]
|2240
|{{convert|40.1|mi|km}}
|A long-lived tornado leveled a barn {{convert|3|mi|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} east of [[Ohiowa, Nebraska|Ohiowa]].<ref name=Grazulis2 /> Several farms were reportedly destroyed as well.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|SW of [[Chambers, Nebraska|Chambers]] to [[Saratoga Township, Holt County, Nebraska|Saratoga]]
|[[Holt County, Nebraska|Holt]]
|2300
|{{convert|44.8|mi|km}}
|A long-tracked tornado destroyed and swept away many barns. A car was thrown {{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=out}}, and ranches were completely destroyed.<ref name=Grazulis2 /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|[[Stapleton, Nebraska|Stapleton]] to S of [[Valentine, Nebraska|Valentine]]
|[[Logan County, Nebraska|Logan]], [[Thomas County, Nebraska|Thomas]], [[Cherry County, Nebraska|Cherry]]
|2300
|{{convert|89.8|mi|km}}
|A long-lived tornado did "major damage" near [[Thedford, Nebraska|Thedford]],<ref name=StormData /> destroying at least one barn.<ref name=Grazulis2 /> Rating disputed, ranked F2 by Grazulis.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|N of [[Eagle, Nebraska|Eagle]]
|[[Cass County, Nebraska|Cass]]
|2300
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|Brief touchdown reported.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|N of [[Wood River, Nebraska|Wood River]] to [[Wausa, Nebraska|Wausa]]
|[[Hall County, Nebraska|Hall]], [[Greeley County, Nebraska|Greeley]], [[Boone County, Nebraska|Boone]], [[Antelope County, Nebraska|Antelope]], [[Cedar County, Nebraska|Cedar]]
|2330
|{{convert|125.7|mi|km}}
|4 deaths – This long-lived family of violent tornadoes destroyed 90% of the village of [[Primrose, Nebraska|Primrose]]. The tornado was reported to have had two funnels as it hit Primrose.<ref name=Tuscaloosa1>{{cite news|title=Tornadoes belt Nebraska|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iUUgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BJsEAAAAIBAJ&dq=primrose&pg=6627%2C1178179|access-date=25 November 2013|newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News|date=May 9, 1965|agency=The Associated Press}}</ref>  Homes were swept from their foundations, and the damage swath was {{convert|300|yd|m|abbr=out}} wide.<ref name=DAB1>{{cite news|title=Four Dead In Twister|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PLItAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uMwEAAAAIBAJ&dq=primrose&pg=793%2C2174052|access-date=25 November 2013|newspaper=Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal|date=May 10, 1965|agency=The Associated Press}}</ref>  Tree damage in the village was severe.<ref name=Lewiston1>{{cite news|title=Tornado Death Toll Reaches 4 At Primrose|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pqZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VzIMAAAAIBAJ&dq=primrose&pg=5132%2C1528593|access-date=25 November 2013|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|date=May 10, 1965|agency=The Associated Press}}</ref> Vehicles were thrown hundreds of yards, and there may have been F5 damage to buildings as well.<ref name="F5F6Book">{{Cite book|last=Grazulis |first=Thomas P. |author-link=Thomas P. Grazulis |title=F5-F6 Tornadoes |publisher =The Tornado Project |year=2001 |location=St. Johnsbury, VT }}</ref> Cars were carried for {{convert|400|yd|m|abbr=out}}, and a truck body was carried and rolled for {{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=out|spell=in}}.<ref name=Grazulis2 /> 53 people were injured, and four were dead at Primrose. At least one horse was killed.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|E of [[Ainsworth, Nebraska|Ainsworth]]
|[[Brown County, Nebraska|Brown]], Keya Paha
|2330
|{{convert|4.1|mi|km}}
|A tornado passed east of Ainsworth.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|W of [[Hampton, Nebraska|Hampton]]
|[[Hamilton County, Nebraska|Hamilton]]
|2330
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|Brief touchdown occurred between [[Aurora, Nebraska|Aurora]] and Hampton.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|N of [[Phillips, Nebraska|Phillips]] to NE of [[Chapman, Nebraska|Chapman]]
|[[Hamilton County, Nebraska|Hamilton]]
|2335
|{{convert|7.2|mi|km}}
|A tornado destroyed all the buildings except the farmhouse on a farm. Rating disputed, ranked F2 by Grazulis.<ref name=Grazulis2 />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|W of [[Spencer, Nebraska|Spencer]]
|[[Boyd County, Nebraska|Boyd]]
|0000
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|Brief touchdown witnessed.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|[[Columbus, Nebraska|Columbus]] to W of [[Clarkson, Nebraska|Clarkson]]
|[[Platte County, Nebraska|Platte]], [[Colfax County, Nebraska|Colfax]]
|0000
|{{convert|24|mi|km}}
|A tornado skipped along and destroyed structures on several farms.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|E of [[Winside, Nebraska|Winside]] to [[Dakota City, Nebraska|Dakota City]]
|[[Wayne County, Nebraska|Wayne]], [[Dixon County, Nebraska|Dixon]], [[Dakota County, Nebraska|Dakota]]
|0030
|{{convert|41.5|mi|km}}
|A skipping tornado caused mostly minor damage, but produced major damage to a farm northeast of [[Wayne, Nebraska|Wayne]].<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[South Dakota]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|unknown}} | <big>'''FU'''</big>
|N of [[Fort Thompson, South Dakota|Fort Thompson]]
|[[Buffalo County, South Dakota|Buffalo]]
|2200
|unknown
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat5}} | <big>'''F5'''</big>
|E of [[Wewela, South Dakota|Wewela]] to NE of [[Winner, South Dakota|Winner]]
|Tripp
|2315
|{{convert|30|mi|km}}
|[[Early May 1965 tornado outbreak#Colome, South Dakota|See section on this tornado]]. This huge tornado, about {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} wide, damaged 25 farms, destroyed seven farms, and completely swept away three of them near [[Gregory, South Dakota|Gregory]].<ref name=Grazulis2 /><ref name=F5F6Book /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|SW of [[Colome, South Dakota|Colome]]
|Tripp
|2323
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|SW of [[Burke, South Dakota|Burke]]
|[[Gregory County, South Dakota|Gregory]]
|0000
|{{convert|1.5|mi|km}}
|A brief tornado moved northwest and destroyed all buildings on a farm, including two homes, a concrete barn, and a wooden barn. Vehicles and machinery were mangled into unrecognizable shapes. Rating disputed, ranked F4 by Grazulis.<ref name=Grazulis2 /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|SE of [[Howard, South Dakota|Howard]]
|[[Miner County, South Dakota|Miner]]
|0030
|{{convert|3.3|mi|km}}
|Moved northwest, north of [[Canova, South Dakota|Canova]]. Some farm structures were damaged, and cattle were killed.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|SE of [[Onida, South Dakota|Onida]]
|[[Sully County, South Dakota|Sully]]
|0030
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|W of [[Baltic, South Dakota|Baltic]] to NE of [[Colton, South Dakota|Colton]]
|[[Clay County, South Dakota|Clay]]
|0100
|{{convert|4.5|mi|km}}
|Barns and concrete silos were destroyed on three farms.<ref name=Grazulis2 /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|SW of [[Pukwana, South Dakota|Pukwana]]
|[[Brule County, South Dakota|Brule]]
|0100
|{{convert|4.3|mi|km}}
|A tornado moved northwest, destroying newly built barns on two farms, along with several silos.<ref name=Grazulis2 /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|NW of [[Gettysburg, South Dakota|Gettysburg]]
|[[Potter County, South Dakota|Potter]]
|0100
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|Brief touchdown over open country.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|unknown}} | <big>'''FU'''</big>
|NW of [[Oahe Dam]]
|[[Stanley County, South Dakota|Stanley]]
|0200
|unknown
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|SW of [[Akaska, South Dakota|Akaska]]
|Potter
|0332
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|unknown}} | <big>'''FU'''</big>
|SE of [[Timber Lake, South Dakota|Timber Lake]]
|[[Dewey County, South Dakota|Dewey]]
|0425
|unknown
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|unknown}} | <big>'''FU'''</big>
|SW of [[Mobridge, South Dakota|Mobridge]]
|[[Corson County, South Dakota|Corson]]
|0435
|unknown
|
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|<big>[[Arkansas]]</big>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|SE of [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]]
|0230
|[[Sebastian County, Arkansas|Sebastian]]
|{{convert|5.1|mi|km}}
|A tornado destroyed motel cabins and tore roofs and walls from homes. Business buildings sustained damage on seven farms.<ref name=Grazulis2 /> 
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|<small>Source: [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov National Climatic Database Center]</small>
|-
|}
{{clear}}

===Fridley, Minnesota F4 Tornadoes (Two tornadoes)===
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Fridley, Minnesota F4 Tornadoes
| image = 
| caption = 
| duration = 
| formed = May&nbsp;6, 1965
| dissipated = 
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Tornado
| winds = >{{convert|261|mph|kph|abbr=on}}
| fujita-scale = F4
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| casualties = 22
| deaths = 9; 3 from the first F4 and 6 more from the other
| injuries = 333; 175 from the first F4, and 158 from the other
| damages = $14.5 million (1965 USD)
| areas = [[Fridley, Minnesota]] Area
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
Two tornadoes touched down in Fridley, just over an hour apart. In all, six people were killed in the Fridley tornadoes and over 180 were injured. Over 450 homes were destroyed in Fridley, and neighboring [[Mounds View, Minnesota|Mounds View]] also sustained heavy damage. A man who called WCCO radio after the first Fridley tornado claimed on air that he had been in his car when the tornado hit and that the tornado blew out his car windows. Although he is widely believed to have been killed by the second Fridley twister later that night (which did kill a 26-year-old man with a similar name), the caller was actually a teacher at Fridley Junior High School who survived. The tornado also damaged the sign adorning the [[Heights Theater]] in [[Columbia Heights, Minnesota|Columbia Heights]]. In all, both Fridley tornadoes damaged 1,100 homes and destroyed about 425; total losses reached $14.5 million, $5 million of which was to the Fridley school system.<ref name=TwinCitiesNWS /><ref name=Grazulis1 /> Photographs for the earlier [[Deephaven, Minnesota|Deephaven]] and second Fridley tornado were published in the ''[[Minneapolis Tribune]]'' (now ''Star Tribune'') newspaper. Early radar images showed the supercells as they moved through the area.<ref name=TwinCitiesNWS />
{{clear}}

===Colome, South Dakota===
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Colome, South Dakota
| image = 
| caption = 
| duration = 
| formed = May&nbsp;8, 1965
| dissipated = 
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Tornado
| winds = {{convert|261-318|mph|kph|abbr=on}}
| fujita-scale = F5
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| casualties = 1
| deaths = 0
| injuries = 1
| damages = 
| areas = [[Colome, South Dakota]]
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
On May 8, an extremely intense and massive F5 tornado passed east of the town of [[Colome, South Dakota]], in [[Tripp County, South Dakota|Tripp County]], and became the only tornado to be rated as such in South Dakota's history. The tornado reached {{convert|1,760|yds|mi|abbr=out|spell=in}}, or {{convert|1,610|m|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} in width and would destroy seven farms with three being swept clean at F5 intensity, only leaving empty basements behind. A car was thrown and was badly damaged, another car would be flipped on its back, and entire planks would be embedded into the ground. Fortunately, the tornado resulted in no deaths, but there was an injury. In all, the Colome, SD F5 was on the ground for 30.10 miles (48.44 kilometers) and would become the strongest-rated tornado of the outbreak and the strongest tornado in South Dakota state history.
{{clear}}

==Aftermath==
The outbreak in Minnesota on May 6 was voted a tie by the Minnesota Climatology Office for the "fifth most significant Minnesota Weather Event of the 20th Century" with the 1965 Mississippi & Minnesota River Flooding.<ref name=MNClimo>{{cite web|title=Significant Minnesota Weather Events of the 20th Century|url=http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/top5/top5.htm|publisher=Minnesota Climatology Working Group|access-date=18 December 2013|location=[[St. Paul, Minnesota]]|archive-date=11 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011000031/http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/top5/top5.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Considering this outbreak occurred just three weeks after the [[1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak|Palm Sunday tornado outbreak]], quick and successful warnings from the [[U.S. Weather Bureau]] and transmission from [[WCCO Radio]] kept the death toll relatively low. This was also the first time in [[Minnesota]] state history where [[civil defense siren]]s were used for severe weather purposes.<ref name=TwinCitiesNWS />
{{clear}}

==See also==
*[[Climate of Minnesota]]
*[[List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{Cite book|last=Grazulis |first=Thomas P.|year=1993|title=Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events|publisher=Environmental Films|isbn=1-879362-03-1}}
*{{Cite book|last=Grazulis |first=Thomas P. |author-mask=1 |year=2003|title=The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-3538-0}}

==External links==
* [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/HistoricalEvents/1965May06/index.php May 6, 1965 Tornado Outbreak] (NWS Twin Cities, MN)
* [https://radiotapes.com/special-postings/#Tornadoes Aircheck recordings of WCCO Radio's tornado coverage from May 6 and 7, 1965.]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EagEra6-2e8 8mm Home Video of May 6, 1965 Fridley, MN Tornado Damage]  YouTube Video.

{{F5 and EF5 tornadoes}}
{{Wisconsin tornado events}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1965-05-05 Tornado Outbreak}}
[[Category:F5, EF5 and IF5 tornadoes]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Tornadoes of 1965|05-05]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Kansas]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Texas]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Colorado]]
[[Category:1965 in Minnesota|05-05 Tornado]]
[[Category:1965 in Nebraska|05-05 Tornado]]
[[Category:1965 in Kansas|05-05 Tornado]]
[[Category:May 1965 in the United States|05-05 Tornado]]