Type | Tornado outbreak |
---|---|
Duration | February 29, 1952 |
Highest gust | 63 miles per hour (101 km/h) |
Tornadoes confirmed | 8 |
Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 4 hours, 15 minutes |
Largest hail | .75 inches (1.9 cm) |
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 10 inches (25 cm) |
Fatalities | 5 fatalities (+4 non-tornadic), 336 injuries (+14 non-tornadic) |
Damage | $3.100 million (1952 USD) [1] $35.6 million (2024 USD) |
Areas affected | Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia |
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 1952 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado |
A localized, but destructive and deadly tornado outbreak impacted Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia on Leap Day in 1952. Thanks in part to unseasonably strong jet stream winds and a strong cold front, eight tornadoes left trails of damage and casualties. The tornado to cause the most casualties was an F1 tornado in Belfast, Tennessee, which killed three people and injured 166. A violent F4 tornado moved through Fayetteville, Tennessee, destroying most of the town and killing two and injuring 150 others. On the north side of Fort Payne, Alabama, an F3 tornado caused major damage and injured 12 people. In all, the outbreak killed five, injured 336, and caused $3.1 million (1952 USD) in damage. Four more fatalities and 14 more injuries occurred from other non-tornadic events as well.
On February 29, 1952, a strong cold front extending down from a low-pressure area spanned from Southern Indiana and Central Ohio southwestward through Central Arkansas into North Texas. A strong upper-level jet stream at the 200 mbar level was observed moving northeast out of Texas into the Tennessee Valley region with winds ranging from 110 to 130 miles per hour (180 to 210 km/h) or more. A strong upper-level trough at the 500 mbar level was also noted. The trough extended southeastward through the Central and Southern Plains states, where a second and third surface low had just combined behind the surface cold front. The combination of the strong cold front, strong low, and the unusually strong jet stream winds, led to the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes across portions of the Tennessee Valley in southern Middle Tennessee and Northeast Alabama. [2] [3]
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F1 | Belfast | Marshall | TN | 35°25′N86°42′W / 35.42°N 86.70°W | 22:00–? | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | 3 deaths – A brief, but catastrophic tornado destroyed a number of buildings in the center of Belfast as it struck four farms. Two of these farms were destroyed. 166 people were injured and losses totaled $25,000. As of 2024, this is the most injuries ever caused by an F1/EF1 tornado in the United States, although sources vary tremendously on the actual casualty toll as it appears that the injury count was actually for the F4 tornado listed below. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis assessed the tornado as having caused F3-level damage while only killing one person. [2] [5] [6] [7] |
F4 | Downtown Fayetteville | Lincoln | TN | 35°09′N86°35′W / 35.15°N 86.58°W | 22:30–? | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 300 yards (270 m) | 2 deaths – See section on this tornado – 150 people were injured and damage was estimated at $2.5 million. Grazulis assessed the tornado as having caused F3-level damage. [2] [5] [3] [8] |
F2 | Viola | Warren | TN | 35°32′N85°51′W / 35.53°N 85.85°W | 22:40–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | The storm that had "practically spent itself over Fayetteville" produced this strong, large tornado about 50 miles (80 km) to the northeast, damaging or destroying several farm buildings. Damage was estimated at $25,000. [2] [5] [9] |
F3 | Northern Fort Payne | DeKalb | AL | 34°30′N85°42′W / 34.5°N 85.7°W | 23:00–? | 3.3 miles (5.3 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | See section on this tornado – There were 12 injuries. [2] [5] [3] [10] [11] |
F2 | W of Claxton to Englewood | McMinn | TN | 35°18′N84°40′W / 35.3°N 84.67°W | 23:30–00:30 | 15.3 miles (24.6 km) | 587 yards (537 m) | A large tornado embedded in a mile-wide swath of hail moved eastward through the Eastanollee Valley before dissipating near the Etowah Highway. Many homes, barns, stores, and a church were destroyed or damaged. Many cattle and horses were killed as well. Damage to crops was confined to hay stored in thee barns that were destroyed. Losses totaled $250,000. [2] [5] [12] |
F2 | WNW of Vandiver to E of Parhams | Franklin | GA | 34°24′N83°20′W / 34.4°N 83.33°W | 01:00–? | 7.8 miles (12.6 km) | 77 yards (70 m) | A destructive tornado north of Carnesville moved eastward from the Strange district. Three or more homes and numerous smaller buildings were destroyed with moderate to heavy damages to several other homes and many smaller buildings. Many trees and utility lines were blown down and a substantial number of poultry was lost. Losses totaled $25,000. [2] [5] [13] |
F2 | NW of Homer to Mt. Pleasant to W of Jewelville | Banks | GA | 34°22′N83°35′W / 34.37°N 83.58°W | 01:30–? | 9.4 miles (15.1 km) | 300 yards (270 m) | A destructive tornado moved eastward, from Hickory Flat to Nails Creek, passing north of Homer and striking Mt. Pleasant. A total of 10 or more homes, a school, and numerous chicken houses and barns were destroyed with moderate to heavy damages to 25 or more homes, and many smaller buildings. Many trees and utility lines were blown down, and a large number of poultry lost. Three people were injured, and damage was estimated at $250,000. [2] [5] [14] |
F2 | S of Pendergrass | Jackson | GA | 34°07′N83°40′W / 34.12°N 83.67°W | 02:15–? | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | 17 yards (16 m) | Although information for this event is incomplete, a strong tornadic event is believed to have taken place. One dwelling was destroyed, injuring five occupants, while two other dwellings, a tenant house, and two barns, were unroofed. A large chicken house was also destroyed, causing the loss of more than 8,000 chicks. Losses totaled $25,000. [2] [5] [15] |
F4 tornado | |
---|---|
Highest winds |
|
Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
Fatalities | 2 fatalities, 150 injuries |
Damage | $2.5 million (1952 USD) |
Areas affected | Middle Tennessee |
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale |
This large, violent, and deadly F4 tornado touched down on the west side of downtown Fayetteville just northwest of the Old Lincoln County Hospital and moved east-northeast directly through it before dissipating near the Lincoln County Livestock Market along US 64. It traveled 2 miles (3.2 km) [nb 3] and was 300 yards (270 m) wide.
Of the 1,828 buildings in Fayetteville, 932 were damaged or destroyed. In all, 139 homes were destroyed, 152 had major damage, and another 164 sustained minor damage. An additional 23 farm buildings were destroyed, 15 others had major damage, and 11 more had minor damage. 105 businesses were destroyed, while 58 others had major damage; 37 more sustained minor damage, and nine additional ones had superficial damage. Damage to six churches alone in downtown Fayetteville were estimated at $300,000. Several business houses were destroyed, power and communications lines were damaged over a large area; and hundreds of huge shade trees were uprooted. Two people were killed, 150 others were injured, and losses totaled $2.5 million, although the NWS Huntsville and Climatological Data National Summary (CDNS) gives a value of over $3 million. As of 2022, this is one of only two violent tornadoes to strike on a Leap Day (February 29) with the other being another EF4 tornado that struck Harrisburg, Illinois, in 2012. Despite the extreme damage, Grazulis assessed the tornado as having caused F3-level damage. [2] [5] [3] [8]
F3 tornado | |
---|---|
Highest winds |
|
Max. rating1 | F3 tornado |
Fatalities | 12 injuries |
Damage | Unknown |
Areas affected | Northern Alabama |
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale |
This large, intense F3 tornado first touched down between 15th and 16th Streets in Minvale on the north side of Fort Payne. It blew down three large trees upon touching down, including one that missed a house by only 15 feet (4.6 m). It then leveled a house, "leaving only enough...for a good sized bonfire." All but one of the five occupants escaped without injury. As the tornado moved in the direction of Gault Avenue (US 11), a large storage house was leveled "as flat as a pool table." An electric refrigerator, a bicycle, other toys and large pieces of furniture were all crushed inside the structure. The tornado then lifted for about 20 feet (6.1 m) before touching down again and unroofing a house, which was twisted about 10 inches (25 cm) off of its foundation. The tornado then tore down large trees, tore off roofs, smashed out windows, and then tore into the telephone and power lines along Gault Avenue at the Black Motel, where considerable damage was done to the owner's home.
As the tornado tore through Wills Valley, large sheets of tin were hurled into power and telephone lines, severing dozens of the wires. A huge neon sign at the Lefty Cooper café, which was on the southern fringe of the tornado, was turned 90° from north–south to east–west, and a large cattle truck at the Fort Payne Sales Barn was completely flipped over. Additionally, two nearby cars were tossed 100 yards (91 m) before being rolled up into a ball of scrap. Behind the Sales Barn, sheets of galvanized roofing metal were strewn through a field up to a mile away, and many sheets lodged themselves in trees all over Lookout Mountain. The tornado also heavily damaged another house on the mountain that overlooked Beason Gap before weakening and dissipating in Lakewood shortly after that.
The tornado traveled 3.3 miles (5.3 km), was 400 yards (370 m) wide [nb 4] , destroyed 12 homes, and damaged 20 other homes. It also destroyed 25 other buildings and damaged 35 others. Although no damage value was given, it is estimated that tornado did anywhere between $150,000 to $400,000 in damage. There were 12 injuries. [2] [5] [3] [10] [11]
Early on February 29, in Valley View, Texas, strong straight-line winds accompanied by pea-sized hail damaged the roofs of multiple buildings. That evening, a destructive squall line passed over Chattanooga, Tennessee, toppling sign boards, radio and TV aerials, breaking plate glass windows along Market and Broad Streets, and breaking telephone and power lines. The squall line moved rapidly eastward, passing over Lovell Field at 8:17 pm and capsizing several small aircraft. Winds were measured at around 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) with a peak of 63 miles per hour (101 km/h). Another windstorm moved through Cleveland, Tennessee, although damage from this storm was confined to blown-down sign boards and forest land. Hailstones approximately 3⁄4 inch (1.9 cm) in diameter accompanied the storm. A 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km) area in Monteagle, Tennessee, suffered heavy damage, with multiple buildings unroofed and signs blown down. Light damage also occurred outside this small area. [2]
The same storm system bought heavy snow to parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States on March 1. Snowfall rates of 1 inch (2.5 cm) an hour slowed traffic to a crawl in multiple counties of Southeastern Pennsylvania. In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a man died while shoveling heavy snow. In Philadelphia, one person was killed and four others were injured after their car, whose driver was blinded by snow, crashed into a traffic island. In New Jersey, 3 to 10 inches (7.6 to 25.4 cm) of snow was recorded throughout the state, with the heaviest snow in the south. One person was killed and 10 others were injured due to afternoon rush hour traffic accidents attributed to the storm. Most roads were blocked during the morning hours, but normal traffic resumed by mid- to late afternoon. Damage was estimated at several thousand dollars. Most of the damage was to automobiles, although there was some damage to power and communication lines. In Delaware, an Air Force corporal was killed when he was hit by a car while pushing his own car, which had stalled in the snow. Traffic tie-ups were also reported Maryland and a few power failures were reported for several hours in Baltimore. [2]
Severe weather from February 29 continued overnight into the morning of March 1. In Darlington, South Carolina, trees were uprooted and limbs and television aerials were blown down. Another thunderstorm in Newberry, South Carolina, destroyed a home and damaged a few others, although the event may have occurred late on February 29. [2]
The F4 tornado that hit Fayetteville, Tennessee, was the fourth tornado to strike the city in just over 100 years. The previous tornadoes occurred on March 14, 1851; March 27, 1890; and April 29, 1909, all of which took similar paths. An EF2 tornado would also follow a path similar to this tornado on March 24, 2023. [16] In Fort Payne, Alabama, the northern half of town was left without lights and telephones for several hours as power crews worked under large spot lights to remove hot wires and restore new ones as best they could. [3]
The 2002 Veterans Day weekend tornado outbreak was an unusually severe and expansive severe weather event across portions of the Central and Eastern United States from the evening hours of November 9 into the early morning hours of Veterans Day, November 11, 2002. A series of troughs tracked eastward across the United States, providing strong wind shear, while anomalously warm and unstable air surged northward into the Ohio River Valley. As a result, multiple tornadoes occurred across Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri on November 9. A far more widespread and severe event occurred the following day, with three distinct tornado outbreaks focused across areas from Illinois to Pennsylvania; Tennessee and Kentucky; and areas from Mississippi to South Carolina. The most intense tornado of the outbreak was a violent F4 tornado that occurred near Van Wert, Ohio. A total of 76 tornadoes occurred during the 3-day period, collectively resulting in 36 deaths and 303 injuries. As of 2022, the event ranks as the third-largest tornado outbreak on record in November.
The Tornado outbreak of November 1992, sometimes referred to as The Widespread Outbreak, was a devastating, three-day outbreak of tornadoes that struck the Eastern and Midwestern United States on November 21–23. This exceptionally long-lived and geographically large outbreak produced 95 tornadoes over a 41-hour period, making it one of the longest-lasting and largest outbreaks ever recorded in the US, and published studies of the outbreak have indicated the possibility of even more tornadoes. There were 26 fatalities, 641 injuries, and over $300 million in damage.
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2004. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2001. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.
The tornado outbreak of April 1–2, 1974, affected much of the eastern and central United States. Four fatalities and more than seventy injuries were confirmed in this outbreak. Damaging, deadly tornadoes struck Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama—including the Nashville and Huntsville metropolitan areas. In the latter areas, tornadoes produced F3 damage on the Fujita scale and impacted areas that would later sustain damage on April 3. Large hail and severe thunderstorm winds also impacted a broad area.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1989, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1983, in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1974, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1961, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1957, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1954, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1953, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. This was the first year to record an F5 tornado as well as one of the deadliest tornado seasons in official U.S. records, which go back to 1950.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1952, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1951, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1950, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally.
A widespread, destructive, and deadly tornado outbreak sequence affected the Southeastern United States from April 28 to May 2, 1953, producing 24 tornadoes, including five violent F4 tornadoes. The deadliest event of the sequence was an F4 tornado family that ravaged Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia, on April 30, killing at least 18 people and injuring 300 or more others. On May 1, a pair of F4 tornadoes also struck Alabama, causing a combined nine deaths and 15 injuries. Additionally, another violent tornado struck rural Tennessee after midnight on May 2, killing four people and injuring eight. Additionally, two intense tornadoes impacted Greater San Antonio, Texas, on April 28, killing three people and injuring 20 altogether. In all, 36 people were killed, 361 others were injured, and total damages reached $26.713 million (1953 USD). There were additional casualties from non-tornadic events as well, including a washout which caused a train derailment that injured 10.
A widespread and deadly tornado outbreak affected the Great Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Southeast between March 12–15, 1953. At least 23 tornadoes were confirmed with the strongest one reaching F4 intensity and striking O'Brien, Texas on Friday the 13th. Overall, 21 people were killed, 72 others were injured, and damages were estimated at $6.835 million (1953 USD). There were additional casualties from non-tornadic events as well.
The first six days of December 1953 produced a destructive and deadly tornado outbreak sequence across the Southern United States. There were 19 confirmed tornadoes, including a violent F4 tornado that hit the northwest side of Alexandria, Louisiana and even more violent F5 tornado that hit Vicksburg, Mississippi. In all, the tornadoes killed 49 people, injured 404 others, and caused $45,709 million in damage. The death toll made this deadliest December tornado outbreak ever recorded and it would not be surpassed until 2021. This was also the last of the series of deadly and catastrophic tornado outbreaks to strike the US in 1953.
Between April 23–30, 1961, a tornado outbreak sequence struck the Midwest, Ohio, and Mississippi Valleys, and the Eastern United States. Large hailstorms accompanied the tornadoes as well and numerous other weather events also occurred. Three people were killed, 38 others were injured and losses totaled $26.810 million. Two additional fatalities also occurred due to flooding and lightning.