Which U.S. city was devastated by an EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011?

The U.S. city devastated by an EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011, was Joplin, Missouri. The violent tornado struck during the early evening, crossing the southern part of the city before continuing into rural areas.

The tornado touched down at about 5:34 p.m. CDT and remained on the ground for roughly 38 minutes. Its path stretched about 21.6 miles, and the circulation reached nearly a mile wide. Damage surveys ultimately rated it EF5, the highest category on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

Joplin suffered catastrophic losses: 158 people died, more than 1,150 were injured, and thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed. St. John’s Regional Medical Center and Joplin High School were among the major facilities hit. The disaster is often confused with other famous 2011 tornadoes, including the Tuscaloosa EF4 and the Moore EF5, but those struck different cities and dates.