In the evening hours of Friday, May 4, 2007, amid a severe weather outbreak across the central United States, a massive and violent tornado moved through Kiowa County in southwest Kansas, before impacting the city of Greensburg and causing widespread devastation. The tornado, known as the Greensburg tornado, tracked 28.8 miles (46.3 km) through the area, killing 10 to 13 people and injuring 63. The tornado was the first to be rated EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale after the retirement of the original Fujita scale in the United States on February 1, 2007.
The tornado touched down south of Greensburg at around 9:03 p.m. CDT, moving to the north while continuing to widen. It eventually entered Kiowa County, crossing U.S. Route 183, before reaching a peak width of 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to the south of Greensburg, entering the city after making a northwest turn. The tornado dissipated northwest of Greensburg after being on the ground for just over an hour.
Ninety-five percent of the city was damaged or destroyed, with some form of damage to 662 structures, and monetary losses of $250 million (2007 USD).
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