April–May 1953 tornado outbreak sequence

A widespread, destructive, and deadly tornado outbreak sequence affected the Southeastern United States from April 28 to May 2, 1953, producing 26 tornadoes, including five violent F4 tornadoes. In all, 36 people were killed, 361 others were injured, and total damages reached $26.713 million (1953 USD).[nb 1] There were additional casualties from non-tornadic events as well, including a washout which caused a train derailment that injured 10.

April–May 1953 tornado outbreak sequence

Type	Tornado outbreak
Duration	April 28–May 2, 1953
Tornadoes confirmed	26
Max. rating^1	F4 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak^2	5 days, 3 hours, 45 minutes
Highest winds	>100 mph (160 km/h) Warner Robins, Georgia F4 tornado
Highest gust	80 mph (130 km/h)
Largest hail	1.75 inches (4.4 cm)
Damage	$26.713 million (1953 USD)[1]
Casualties	36 fatalities (+4 non-tornadic), 361 injuries (+>14 non-tornadic)
Areas affected	Southeastern United States
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 1953 ^1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale ^2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Meteorological synopsis

Several low-pressure systems moved across North America from the end of April to the beginning of May. The first one dropped a cold front southward out of Canada. Another low came south-southeastward out of Wyoming, and moved into Northeastern New Mexico on April 29 with a cold front that moved across Oklahoma and Texas while a third low over South Texas produced a warm front and a small trough across that region. The second low absorbed the third one turned back north and occluded on April 30 while a low pressure trough produced a dryline and warm front, which was attached to a cold front on its eastern side, over the Southeast. A fourth and fifth low moved one right behind the other out of Nevada eastward into the region at the beginning of May. A sixth one formed over Iowa on May 1 and moved eastward into Illinois with a cold front dropping southwestward all the way into Texas. Atmospheric conditions were continually favorable in all of these cases for the development of severe weather and tornadoes throughout the period.[3][4][5]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating

FU	F0	F1	F2	F3	F4	F5	Total
0	3	6	7	3	5	0	26

• Note: The Climatological Data National Summary reported some additional tornadoes that were not counted toward the final total:

April 28

• A brief tornado was spotted aloft southwest of Greensburg, Kansas.

April 29

• Several buildings were damaged by a tornado in Lake Charles, Louisiana that just barely missed the Weather Bureau office at the Lake Charles Airport.
• Two tornadoes were spotted near Dighton, Kansas:
  • Tornado moved northeastward southwest of Dighton, causing no damage.
  • Tornado moved northeastward northeast of Dighton, "shaving wheat stubble" from the ground.

April 30

• A possible tornado caused damage in Beaver Rain, Georgia near the town of Norcross.
• Another possible tornado caused heavy damage in Baldwin County, Georgia while attendant rains caused additional damage.

May 2

• A wind damage report in Sumter, South Carolina was noted to have possibly been a tornado. This event also caused a fatality.[3]

April 28 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, April 28, 1953[nb 2]

F#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max. width	Summary	Refs.
F0	NNE of Woodward	Woodward	OK	36.45°N 99.38°W	21:00–?	0.1 mi (0.16 km)	27 yd (25 m)	No damage occurred from this brief tornado that moved over open ranch land.	[3][6]
F1	SSW of Nashoba	Pushmataha	OK	34.45°N 95.3°W	22:15–?	0.1 mi (0.16 km)	100 yd (91 m)	This tornado struck the Divide School community, inflicting $250 in damage to several buildings on a farm.	[3][7]
F0	NE of Elyria	Valley	NE	41.73°N 98.93°W	22:30–?	0.9 mi (1.4 km)	30 yd (27 m)	A cowshed was destroyed with losses totaling $2,500.	[3][8]
F3	Smithville	Bastrop	TX	30°N 97.17°W	00:15–?	0.5 mi (0.80 km)	200 yd (180 m)	A strong tornado moved through Smithville. A total of 16 homes were damaged or destroyed, one of which was lofted 200 yards (180 m) from its foundation; however, the home lacked anchor bolts of any kind. Three people inside this home were injured. There were damaged roofs and garages from this tornado as well and losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2.	[3][4][9] [10]
F1	Bradshaw	York	NE	40.88°N 97.75°W	01:00–?	0.1 mi (0.16 km)	10 yd (9.1 m)	A tornado moved through Bradshaw, destroying a chicken house while causing minor damage to adjacent buildings. Damage was estimated at $250.	[3][11][12]
F3	NW of Castle Hills to NW of Uptown San Antonio	Hays	TX	29.55°N 98.53°W	02:45–?	4.9 mi (7.9 km)	200 yd (180 m)	1 death – A deadly tornado struck the northern suburbs of San Antonio, ending southeast of present-day Hill Country Village and south-southeast of present-day Hollywood Park. A woman was killed and five other members of her family were injured when their home "exploded". Another house, barns, and outbuildings were destroyed as well. Damage values reached $250,000. The tornado may have actually occurred after the F4 tornado listed below.	[3][4][9] [13]
F4	Helotes	Bexar	TX	29.57°N 98.7°W	03:00–?	1 mi (1.6 km)	1,760 yd (1,610 m)	2 deaths – A short-lived but large, violent tornado struck the northwestern suburbs of San Antonio. It destroyed two (possibly four) homes while extensively damaging 15 others. One home was swept from its foundation and disintegrated. A vehicle was carried 200 yd (180 m) as well. A total of 15 people were injured, although no damage value was given. The tornado may have actually occurred at 02:05 UTC while causing only seven injuries and no fatalities.	[3][4][9] [14]

April 29 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, April 29, 1953[nb 2]

F#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max. width	Summary	Refs.
F2	SSW of Choudrant to Downsville	Lincoln	LA	32.48°N 92.53°W	18:30–?	11.5 mi (18.5 km)	200 yd (180 m)	Several outbuildings and six homes were damaged with losses totaling $2,500. The tornado may have occurred at 06:30 UTC rather than 18:30 UTC.	[3][9][15]

April 30 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, April 30, 1953[nb 2]

F#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max. width	Summary	Refs.
F2	NE of Buena Vista	Marion	GA	32.33°N 84.5°W	20:00–?	0.3 mi (0.48 km)	20 yd (18 m)	One home was damaged and another was destroyed by this strong tornado. Moderate to heavy damage was inflicted to other buildings and power and telephone lines and trees were blown down. Damage was estimated at $25,000 and three people were injured.	[3][4][9] [16]
F1	N of Fagan	Peach	GA	32.52°N 83.88°W	22:00–22:15	1 mi (1.6 km)	100 yd (91 m)	Damaging tornado, which occurred 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Fort Valley, was the first member of a 50-mile-long (80 km) tornado family that tracked from Fort Valley to near Jeffersonville and included the devastating F4 tornado listed below. It moved east-northeastward and impacted seven families on two farms with three farmhouses being destroyed and another one being damaged. Numerous other buildings sustained roof damage, a tractor was damaged, and a garden and row of pecan trees was destroyed. Five people were injured and losses totaled $25,000. The CDNS report only lists two injuries while giving the tornado a start time of 22:10 UTC	[3][4][9] [17]
F4	Southern Warner Robins to Robins Air Force Base	Houston	GA	32.6°N 83.6°W	22:13–?	1 mi (1.6 km)	333 yd (304 m)	18 deaths – See section on this tornado – 300 people were injured and losses totaled $25 million.	[3][4][18] [19][20]
F2	S of Dry Branch	Twiggs	GA	32.78°N 83.5°W	22:30–?	0.5 mi (0.80 km)	10 yd (9.1 m)	1 death – A strong tornado caused damage along Reggins Mill Road. A church was destroyed and a porch was unroofed, a car was hurled 75 yd (69 m) and damaged, and several other homes and property was damaged. Three people were injured and losses totaled $25,000.	[3][4][21] [22]
F3	Jeffersonville	Twiggs	GA	32.7°N 83.35°W	22:30–?	2 mi (3.2 km)	10 yd (9.1 m)	1 death – An intense tornado skirted Downtown Jeffersonville and caused major damage as moved northeastward near the Kooler Mines on Reggins Road. Four rural homes were destroyed, 11 other homes and trees were damaged and 15 families were affected. Two people were injured and losses totaled $250,000. The CDNS report list an even higher damage toll of $300,000.	[3][4][21] [23]
F2	Centerville to Northern Elberta	Bibb	GA	32.63°N 83.7°W	23:40–?	5.6 mi (9.0 km)	200 yd (180 m)	A separate strong tornado tracked northeastward through areas northwest of Warner Robins, destroying a church, several homes, and barns. Losses totaled $250,000.	[4][21][24]
F0	Southern Abingdon	Washington	VA	36.7°N 81.98°W	23:45–?	1 mi (1.6 km)	220 yd (200 m)	Damage was confined to buildings within a small area with losses totaling $2,500. The CDNS report says the tornado was on the ground for only 880 yards (800 m).	[3][25]
F1	NE of Potters Hill	Pender, Onslow, Jones	NC	35°N 77.67°W	00:00–?	0.1 mi (0.16 km)	10 yd (9.1 m)	This tornado caused minor damage to roofs and destroyed three outbuildings with losses totaling $25,000. The exact track of the tornado is unknown.	[3][26]

May 1 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, May 1, 1953[nb 2]

F#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max. width	Summary	Refs.
F2	Minooka/Ocampo	Chilton	AL	33.03°N 86.75°W	23:15–?	1.5 mi (2.4 km)	100 yd (91 m)	Strong tornado destroyed three homes and six barns and damaged six other homes. Two people were injured and losses totaled $25,000.	[3][4][21] [27]
F4	NE of Carr Mill to Southern Ashland to Midway to Southern Lineville	Clay	AL	33.22°N 85.93°W	01:30–?	12.1 mi (19.5 km)	440 yd (400 m)	7 deaths – See section on this tornado – There were 12 injuries and $250,000 in damage.	[3][4][21] [5][28]
F1	Western Trussville	Jefferson	AL	33.62°N 86.62°W	02:00–?	0.1 mi (0.16 km)	10 yd (9.1 m)	Brief tornado struck Trussville just west of downtown, destroying five homes and another building while damaging at least one other building. Losses totaled $2,500. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2.	[3][4][21] [5][29][12]
F4	Yantley	Choctaw	AL	32.25°N 88.38°W	02:00–?	0.1 mi (0.16 km)	100 yd (91 m)	2 deaths – Brief but violent tornado touched down south of Riderville and passed south of Lisman while devastating the north side of Yantley. Three homes were destroyed, including one that disintegrated with its cookstove found ^1⁄4 mi (0.40 km) away while other debris was scattered up to ^1⁄2 mi (0.80 km) away. The tornado also removed 35 ft (11 m) of curbing. Three people were injured and losses totaled $25,000.	[3][4][21] [5][30]

May 2 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 2, 1953[nb 2]

F#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max. width	Summary	Refs.
F2	W of Powell	Anderson, Knox	TN	36.03°N 84.07°W	08:15–?	0.8 mi (1.3 km)	100 yd (91 m)	A brief but strong tornado touched down between Claxton and Powell. Four homes were destroyed while four others along with two other buildings on a farm property were damaged. Seven families were affected and losses totaled $2,500.	[3][4][21] [31]
F4	NE of Decatur to ESE of Walnut Grove	Meigs, McMinn	TN	35.52°N 84.78°W	09:00–?	4.2 mi (6.8 km)	33 yd (30 m)	4 deaths – See section on this tornado – Eight people were injured and losses totaled $250,000.	[3][4][21] [32][33]
F1	E of Foley	Assumption	LA	29.92°N 91°W	21:00–?	1 mi (1.6 km)	100 yd (91 m)	A tornado touched down and damaged some buildings and a lot of sugarcane near the towns of Foley, Napoleonville, Ratliff, Elmwood, Madewood, Bertie, Rosedale, and Woodlawn. Losses totaled $250,000.	[3][34]
F2	Brink to Low Ground	Greensville, Emporia	VA	36.62°N 77.63°W	00:45–?	2 mi (3.2 km)	100 yd (91 m)	This strong, hopping tornado skipped between Brink and Low Ground. About 25 farm buildings, including three large tobacco farms, were heavily damaged or destroyed and about 100 trees were uprooted. Losses totaled $25,000. A witness reported the tornado as "a cone-shaped cloud that was picking up dirt and leaves; sounded like 20 or 30 big bombers flying right over the house."	[3][21][35]

Warner Robins, Georgia/Robins Air Force Base

Warner Robins, Georgia/Robins Air Force Base

F4 tornado
Max. rating^1	F4 tornado
Damage	$25 million
Casualties	18 fatalities, 300 injuries
^1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

This catastrophic, violent F4 tornado was first observed as a funnel cloud 5 minutes before it touched down. It immediately became intense as it moved east-northeastward and caused major damage as it struck the city farm. It then tore through a large housing project just south of Downtown Warner Robins. Terrific winds that well exceeded 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) destroyed 275 apartment units, 65 homes, and 25 trailers while heavily damaging 84 other apartment units, and 135 other homes. There was also extensive destruction and damage to many other structures and property nearby with debris being hurled high into the air and scattered a ¹⁄₂ mi (0.80 km) or more away from the path of the tornado. The high death and injury toll was mainly caused by this as people were hit by flying bricks and other debris. The tornado was filmed as it passed through Robins Air Force Base before it dissipated shortly thereafter.

The tornado was on the ground for 1 mile (1.6 km) and was 333 yards (304 m) wide. 600 families were affected as the violent tornado severely damaged or destroyed 340 residences, many of which were obliterated. 1,000 other housing units received lesser damage as well. There were 18 deaths and 300 injuries and losses totaled a staggering $25 million. Hail as large as golf balls also accompanied the tornado, although the damage it caused was indistinguishable to the total losses.[3][18][19][20]

Carr Mill–Southern Ashland–Midway–Southern Lineville, Alabama

Carr Mill–Southern Ashland–Midway–Southern Lineville, Alabama

F4 tornado
Max. rating^1	F4 tornado
Damage	$250,000
Casualties	7 fatalities, 12 injuries
^1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

This large, violent F4 tornado developed northeast of Carr Mill north of Millerville and moved northeastward, passing south of High Pine and Rays Crossroads and north of Harkins Crossroad. It then passed just barely south of Downtown Ashland and moved directly through Midway before dissipating just south of Downtown Lineville. Of the approximately 170 structures hit, 19 homes and 36 other buildings were destroyed, including a gas station that was leveled, while 50 other homes and 57 other buildings were damaged. Chickens were killed and stripped of their feathers as well.

The tornado traveled 12.1 miles (19.5 km) and was 440 yards (400 m) wide. There were seven fatalities split among three homes, 12 injures, and $250,000 in damage.[3][4][21][5][28]

Decatur–Walnut Grove, Tennessee

Decatur–Walnut Grove, Tennessee

F4 tornado
Max. rating^1	F4 tornado
Damage	$250,000
Casualties	4 fatalities, 8 injuries
^1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

A squall line produced an 18 mi (29 km) long path of straight-line winds in Meigs and McMinn Counties, causing widespread damage. As the squall line passed through Decatur, this violent F4 tornado developed within it over the Decatur Ridge just northeast of Decatur and caused major damage as it moved northeastward through the No Pone Valley. 205 structures were hit by the tornado with three homes and 55 farm buildings being destroyed, including a well built two-story home that was obliterated with debris scattered up to ¹⁄₂ mi (0.80 km) away. A total of 58 other homes and 89 farm buildings were damaged as well. The tornado dissipated as it crossed over Brickell Ridge east-southeast of Walnut Grove.

The tornado traveled 4.2 miles (6.8 km) and was 33 yards (30 m) Three of the four fatalities were in one family and eight other people were injured, with losses totaling $250,000. According to Grazulis, the fourth death may have been unrelated to the tornado when a plane crashed because of the storm.[3][4][21][32][33]

Non-tornadic impacts

On April 28, the same storm that produced the Woodward, Oklahoma F0 tornado produced heavy wind damage on the south side of town with gust clocked at 80 miles per hour (130 km/h). On April 29, severe thunderstorms with torrential rainfall and high winds struck all of Louisiana. Rainfall peaked at 10 inches (250 mm) in Leesville while New Orleans saw heavy wind damage as trees, signs, and power and telephone lines were blown down. Several towns also saw homes, streets, and other properties flooded and several highways were closed. A washout caused five cars of the Southern Belle passenger train to derail near Montgomery, injuring 10. Three fatalities were also reported throughout the state and 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Alexandria due to flooding. This same line of storms moved through all of Mississippi, where similar impacts took place. One person was killed at Byhalta while two others were injured in Natchez by a landslide. 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) winds caused widespread tree and powerline damage and 50 families were evacuated from Jackson due to flooding. In Vicksburg, the site of a massive F5 tornado in December of that year, 7.25 inches (184 mm) of rain fell in only eight hours, leaving much of the region flooded out. Winds and heavy rain also caused damage in other parts of Mississippi, St. Louis, Missouri, which recorded up to 82 miles per hour (132 km/h), central and northern Illinois, and Alabama into April 30. Heavy rainfall and winds in Columbia, South Carolina led to several indirect injuries due to vehicle accidents while strong winds in Franklin, Indiana ripped a roof off of a packing plant and slammed it against a dwelling, injuring two of its occupants. A squall line moved throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic at the beginning of May, bringing more damage due to wind, hail, heavy rain, and flooding across the region.[3]

See also

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• May 1960 tornado outbreak sequence
• 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak

Notes

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.[2]
2. All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.

References

1. National Weather Service (February 2020). Events reported between 04/28/1953 and 05/02/1953 (5 days) (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
2. 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 17 September 2019.
3. "Climatological Data National Summary Publication | IPS | National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
4. "North America Tornado Cases 1950 to 1959". bangladeshtornadoes.org. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
5. US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Alabama Tornadoes 1953". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
6. National Weather Service (February 2020). Oklahoma Event Report: F0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
7. National Weather Service (February 2020). Oklahoma Event Report: F1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
8. National Weather Service (February 2020). Nebraska Event Report: F0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
9. 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. 968. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
10. National Weather Service (February 2020). Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
11. National Weather Service (February 2020). Nebraska Event Report: Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
12. "Storm Prediction Center WCM Page". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
13. National Weather Service (February 2020). Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
14. National Weather Service (February 2020). Texas Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
15. National Weather Service (February 2020). Louisiana Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
16. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
17. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
18. Grazulis 1993, pp. 968–9
19. Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001). The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-8061-3538-0.
20. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
21. Grazulis 1993, p. 969
22. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
23. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F3 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
24. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
25. National Weather Service (February 2020). Virginia Event Report: F0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
26. National Weather Service (February 2020). North Carolina Event Report: F1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
27. National Weather Service (February 2020). Alabama Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
28. National Weather Service (February 2020). Alabama Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
29. National Weather Service (February 2020). Alabama Event Report: F1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
30. National Weather Service (February 2020). Alabama Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
31. National Weather Service (February 2020). Tennessee Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
32. National Weather Service (February 2020). Tennessee Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
33. National Weather Service (February 2020). Tennessee Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
34. National Weather Service (February 2020). Louisiana Event Report: F1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
35. National Weather Service (February 2020). Virginia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.