A giant, week long tornado outbreak sequence of 73 tornadoes occurred on May 3–9, 1961, impacting areas from Utah to the East Coast of the United States. Overall, the outbreak sequence caused 23 fatalities, 126 injuries, and $42.205 million in damages (1961 USD). Meteorological synopsis Multiple weather systems impacted mostly the Great Plains and Midwest, bringing multiple rounds of severe weather and tornadoes throughout the region starting on May 3 and ending on May 9. Other weather systems also produced tornadoes in Florida and Utah. Confirmed tornadoes May 3 event May 4 event May 5 event May 6 event May 7 event May 8 event May 9 event St. Petersburg, Florida A westward-moving waterspout crossing over Tampa Bay made landfall on the north side of St. Petersburg, causing severe damage to multiple buildings. Two homes were unroofed, including one where the TV antenna was bent and dropped on a car. A high school was also unroofed before the tornado dissipated after tracking only with a maximum width of . Although there were no casualties, the tornado left behind $25,000 in damage. Southeastern Talihina–Reichert–Glendale–Howe, Oklahoma This violent, catastrophic F4 tornado first touched down southeast of Talihina, where an outbuilding on a farmstead was destroyed. It then moved through of forest in rural areas of Le Flore County, Oklahoma as it crossed over the Winding Stair Mountains, although there is a possibility that the tornado lifted and a new tornado formed. As it came down Brushy Mountain, it became violent and slammed into Reichert, obliterating almost everything in its path. It then crossed the Yellow Spring Ridge and Potts Mountain and moved into Glendale, causing more destruction. The still violent tornado then obliterated more buildings and homes in the town of Howe. Afterwards, it weakened before dissipating. The tornado traveled , was , and caused $250,000 in damage. At least 70 homes were damaged or destroyed. It caused the most casualties during the outbreak, with 16 deaths and 58 injuries. Witmer Lake–Hamilton Lake, Indiana/Edon, Ohio A large, long-tracked F3 tornado–which was likely a tornado family–first touched down on the north shore of Witmer Lake in LaGrange County, Indiana. It moved due east and immediately became strong as it moved into Witmer Manor and Webers Landing. A total of 22 cottages were destroyed or badly damaged while 30 others sustained minor damage. All five injuries from the tornado occurred here before the tornado