The Great Tri-State Tornado of Wednesday, March 18, 1925, is the deadliest tornado in U.S. history. It is the most exceptional tornado of a major outbreak of at least twelve known significant tornadoes across a large portion of the Midwestern and Southern U.S. The Tri-State Tornado alone inflicted 695 fatalities, more than twice as many as the second deadliest, the 1840 Great Natchez Tornado. The track left by the tornado was the longest ever recorded in the world as it crossed from southeastern Missouri, through southern Illinois, then into southwestern Indiana. Although not officially rated by NOAA, it is recognized by most experts (such as Tom Grazulis and Ted Fujita) as an F5 tornado, the maximum damage rating issued on the Fujita scale.