The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Preliminary government estimates say there were more tornadoes in a single day last week than any other day in history.

Government analysts say there were 312 tornadoes during last week's outbreak, including a record-setting 226 in one day.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the largest previous number on record in one event occurred from April 3-4, 1974, with 148 tornadoes.

NOAA says 334 people were killed during the 24-hour-period from 8:00 a.m. Wednesday to Thursday.

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More people were killed by tornadoes in the two-day period since April 5-6, 1936, when 454 people were killed, mostly in Tupelo, Miss., and Gainesville, Georgia," according to NOAA. And it was the deadliest single day for tornadoes since the March 18, 1925, tornado outbreak that had 747 fatalities across 7 states.