1953 Sarnia tornado outbreak

A localized, but devastating series of severe thunderstorms affected the Great Lakesregion during May 20-21, 1953. The strongest of these storms produced three intense, long-tacked tornadoes in Iowa, Michigan, and Ontario. Eight people were killed and at least 75 others were injured.[nb 1] There was also an additional fatality from a falling tree as well.

1953 Sarnia tornado outbreak
Aftermath: the photo here was taken by Gordon Cooke, a chemical engineer at Imperial Oil, a couple of days later as the cleanup began.
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationMay 20–21, 1953
Tornadoes confirmed3[1]
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak22 days
Casualties8 fatalities (+1 non-tornadic), At least 75 injuries[2]
Areas affectedIowa, Michigan, Ontario

1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Meteorological synopsis

A low pressure system formed over south central Montana early on May 20, 1953. This low moved eastward into South Dakota as favorable conditions to its east generated scattered severe thunderstorms across the Upper Midwest thanks in part to another low that was moving northeastward through Ontario. Continuing eastward, the original low moved into Minnesota by May 21 as it made a gradual northeastward turn, producing more severe weather until a high-pressure system pushed out of the area.[4]

Confirmed tornadoes
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3
  • According to Thomas P. Grazulis, an F2 tornado destroyed or damaged a motel and several barns as it affected six farms near Chelsea and Blairstown, Iowa, on May 20. The tornado reportedly struck Tama and Benton counties in Iowa. However, it is not officially listed.[5]

May 20 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, May 20, 1953[note 1]
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary Refs
F3 NE of Zenorsville to SW of Lime Springs Story, Hardin, Butler, Chicasaw, Howard IA 42.15°N 93.7°W / 42.15; -93.7 (Zenorsville (May 20, F3)) 03:00–04:25 116.1 mi (186.8 km) 400 yd (370 m) 1 death – A long-tracked, strong tornado family caused major damage while passing through the rural communities of Story City, Hubbard, Ackley, and Southern Alta Vista with most concentrated damage occurring at the later towns. The first member of the family felled trees and was observed as a narrow funnel near Charles City. Many barns, outbuildings, and a silo were destroyed on at least 10 farms. The tornado family also killed hundreds of chickens. The sole fatality came from a farmer who had a heart attack while he was working in a field when the storm struck and therefore indirectly attributable to the tornado at most. No damage value was given for the tornado. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis assessed the tornado family as having caused F2-level damage. [6][5]
F3 Eastern Cedar Rapids to NNW of Wyoming Linn, Jones IA 41.98°N 91.57°W / 41.98; -91.57 (Cedar Rapids (May 20, F3)) 0410 38.6 mi (62.1 km) 400 yd (370 m) A strong tornado touched down on the eastern side of Cedar Rapids and tracked east-northeastward, hitting the town of Martelle. The town sustained major damage as multiple homes and businesses were heavily damaged or destroyed. The tornado dissipated halfway between Onslow and Wyoming. In all, the tornado affected 10 farms, destroyed or damaged several barns, and unroofed a house. Seven people were injured. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. [7][5]

May 21 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, May 21, 1953[note 1]
F# Location County / Parish State / Province Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary Refs
F4 N of Smiths Creek, MI to Port Huron, MI to Sarnia, ON to S of Stratford, ON St. Clair (MI), Lambton (ON), Middlesex (ON) MI, ON 41.73°N 98.93°W / 41.73; -98.93 (Smiths Creek (May 21, F4)) 2121 ≥75 mi (121 km) ≥1,760 yd (1,610 m) 7 deaths – See section on this tornado – At least 68 people were injured. [8][9]

Port Huron, Michigan–Sarnia, Ontario
Port Huron, Michigan–Sarnia, Ontario
F4 tornado
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Casualties7 fatalities, ≥68 injuries
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
Main article: 1953 Sarnia tornado

This large, violent tornado touched down just before 4:30 p.m. CST near Smiths Creek, Michigan, southwest of Port Huron. It moved northeast and quickly strengthened before hitting Port Huron, resulting in widespread F3 and F4 damage. Two people were killed in Port Huron and 68 more were injured. Close to 400 homes were damaged or destroyed in the United States with monetary losses totaling $2.6 million ($24.4 million 2018 USD).[5] Crossing the St. Clair River, the 1-mile-wide (1.6 km) tornado moved into Canada just south of Sarnia Harbour.[10][5] Moving to the northeast, the tornado moved directly through Downtown Sarnia, Ontario, where almost 100 commercial buildings sustained damage.[9] At least 150 homes on the more suburban outskirts of the city were damaged and in some instances reduced to rubble. Before exiting Sarnia, the tornado curved even further to the northeast and began to weaken, as its path narrowed to approximately 30 m (33 yd) across.[9] The tornado then restrengthened as it moved into rural Lambton and Middlesex Counties, where more F4 damage was inflicted upon farmsteads and homes near Nairn, before it dissipated south of Stratford.[5] This suggested a total path length exceeding 120 km (75 mi), though it is highly probable that this damage path was made up of more than one tornado, possibly as many as four.[11] Overall, the tornado killed seven people and injured at least 68.[8][9]

Non-tornadic events

Widespread wind damage occurred throughout an 18 county area in Iowa on May 20. Some of the worst damage occurring near Almoral and Elgin where farmsteads were severely damaged. In Waterloo, a man was crushed to death when a tree fell on him while he was in bed. Other towns in the area reported mostly light damage with uprooted trees and disrupted power and communication lines and light scattered damage was reported elsewhere outside these counties as well. Wind and hail damage was also reported in Southern Wisconsin. Trees were uprooted, disrupting power and communication lines to several large cities, including Milwaukee and Madison. Rural areas were particularly hard-hit as farm buildings were damaged and small barns were destroyed. Hail caused some slight damage to crops throughout the region as well. Storm damage was also reported in Michigan the next day with winds damaged a couple of farm buildings northeast of Bath while a home and it contents along US 27 south of St. Johns were completely destroyed by fire after it was struck by lightning.[4]

See also

Notes
  1. All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
  1. An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.[3]

References
  1. "Tornado History Project: 1953". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.
  2. "Tornado Summaries". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  3. Schneider, Russell S.; Brooks, Harold E.; Schaefer, Joseph T. (2004). Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875-2003) (PDF). 22nd Conference on Severe Local Storms. Hyannis, Massachusetts: American Meteorological Society. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  4. "Climatological Data National Summary Publication | IPS | National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  5. Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. p. 972. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
  6. "Tornado History Project: 19530520.19.11". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.Iowa Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved February 5, 2021.Iowa Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved February 5, 2021.Iowa Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved February 5, 2021.Iowa Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  7. "Tornado History Project: 19530428.40.20". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.
  8. "Tornado History Project: 19530521.26.2". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.
  9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Our History – Bluewater Power Distribution". Archived from the original on September 10, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  11. Tornadoes - Atmospheric Hazards Web Site - Ontario - Adaptation and Impacts Research Group - [Meteorological Service of Canada - The Green Lane]

Sources
  • Grazulis, T. (1990). Significant Tornadoes: 1880–1989, Vol. 2. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: Environmental Films.
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