April–May 1953 tornado outbreak sequence

The April–May 1953 tornado outbreak sequence was a widespread and deadly tornado outbreak sequence that affected the Southeastern United States, producing 26 tornadoes, including five F4 tornadoes. 36 people were killed and 361 others were injured.[nb 1][2]

April–May 1953 tornado outbreak sequence
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationApril 28–May 2, 1953
Tornadoes confirmed26
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak25 days
Casualties36 fatalities, 361 injuries
Areas affectedSoutheastern United States
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Confirmed tornadoes
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 3 6 7 3 5 0 26

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 / 36.45; -99.38 (Woodward (Apr. 28, F0)) 21:00–? 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 27 yd (25 m) [3]
F1 SSW of Nashoba Pushmataha OK 34.45°N 95.3°W / 34.45; -95.3 (Nashoba (Apr. 28, F1)) 22:15–? 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 100 yd (91 m) [4]
F0 NE of Elyria Valley NE 41.73°N 98.93°W / 41.73; -98.93 (Elyria (Apr. 28, F0)) 22:30–? 0.9 mi (1.4 km) 30 yd (27 m) [5]
F3 Smithville Bastrop TX 30°N 97.17°W / 30; -97.17 (Smithville (Apr. 28, F3)) 00:15–? 0.5 mi (0.80 km) 200 yd (180 m) A strong tornado moved through Smithville. 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 were injured. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. [6][7]
F1 Bradshaw York NE 40.88°N 97.75°W / 40.88; -97.75 (Bradshaw (Apr. 28, F1)) 01:00–? 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) A tornado moved through Bradshaw with no casualties. [8][9]
F3 NW of Castle Hills to NW of Uptown San Antonio Hays TX 29.55°N 98.53°W / 29.55; -98.53 (Castle Hills (Apr. 28, F3)) 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. It unroofed, destroyed, or extensively damaged 19 homes. Five people were injured. [6][10]
F4 Helotes Bexar TX 29.57°N 98.7°W / 29.57; -98.7 (Helotes (Apr. 28, F4)) 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. One home was swept from its foundation and disintegrated. A vehicle was carried 200 yd (180 m) as well. 15 people were injured. [6][11]

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 / 32.48; -92.53 (Choudrant (Apr. 29, F2)) 18:30–? 11.5 mi (18.5 km) 200 yd (180 m) A barn and six homes were wrecked. [6][12]

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 / 32.33; -84.5 (Buena Vista (Apr. 30, F2)) 20:00–? 0.3 mi (0.48 km) 20 yd (18 m) Two homes were destroyed and three people were injured. [6][13]
F1 S of Fort Valley Peach GA 32.52°N 83.88°W / 32.52; -83.88 (Fort Valley (Apr. 30, F1)) 22:00–? 1 mi (1.6 km) 100 yd (91 m) Three farmhouses were destroyed and five people were injured. This was the first member of a 50-mile-long (80 km) tornado family that tracked from Fort Valley to near Jeffersonville, including the devastating F4 tornado listed below. [6][14]
F4 Southeastern Warner Robins to Robins Air Force Base Houston GA 32.6°N 83.6°W / 32.6; -83.6 (Warner Robins (Apr. 30, F4)) 22:13–? 1 mi (1.6 km) 333 yd (304 m) 18 deaths – A violent tornado struck Robins Air Force Base, severely damaging or destroying 340 residences, many of which were obliterated. 1,000 other housing units received lesser damage. 300 people were injured. The tornado was filmed as it passed through Robins Air Force Base. [15][16][17]
F2 S of Dry Branch Twiggs GA 32.78°N 83.5°W / 32.78; -83.5 (Dry Branch (Apr. 30, F2)) 22:30–? 0.5 mi (0.80 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) 1 death – A strong tornado destroyed a church and unroofed a home. A car was hurled 75 yd (69 m) as well. Three people were injured. [18][19]
F3 Northern Jeffersonville Twiggs GA 32.7°N 83.35°W / 32.7; -83.35 (Jeffersonville (Apr. 30, F3)) 22:30–? 2 mi (3.2 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) 1 death – A strong tornado damaged or destroyed 15 homes. Two people were injured. [18][20]
F2 Centerville to Northern Elberta Bibb GA 32.63°N 83.7°W / 32.63; -83.7 (Centerville (Apr. 30, F2)) 23:40–? 5.6 mi (9.0 km) 200 yd (180 m) A strong tornado tracked northeast through areas northwest of Warner Robins. A church, several homes, and barns were destroyed. [18][21]
F0 Southern Abingdon Washington VA 36.7°N 81.98°W / 36.7; -81.98 (Abingdon (Apr. 30, F0)) 23:45–? 1 mi (1.6 km) 220 yd (200 m) This was the second largest tornado of the day behind only the Warner Robins F4. [22]
F1 NE of Potters Hill Pender NC 35°N 77.67°W / 35; -77.67 (Potters Hill (Apr. 30, F1)) 00:00–? 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) Brief tornado. [23]

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 NE of Wessington Chilton AL 33.03°N 86.75°W / 33.03; -86.75 (Wessington (May 1, F2)) 23:15–? 1.5 mi (2.4 km) 100 yd (91 m) 14 homes and barns were destroyed, unroofed, or otherwise damaged. Two people were injured. [18][24]
F4 NE of Carr Mill to Southern Ashland to Southern Lineville Clay AL 33.22°N 85.93°W / 33.22; -85.93 (Carr Mill (May 1, F4)) 01:30–? 12.1 mi (19.5 km) 440 yd (400 m) 7 deaths – Large, violent tornado moved northeast, passing just barely south of Downtown Ashland and Downtown Lineville. Approximately 170 structures were destroyed or damaged, including a gas station. The deaths were split among three homes and 12 others were injured. [18][25]
F1 Western Trussville Jefferson AL 33.62°N 86.62°W / 33.62; -86.62 (Trussville (May 1, F1)) 02:00–? 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) Brief tornado struck Trussville just west of downtown. Five homes were destroyed or damaged. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. [18][26][9]
F4 Yantley Choctaw AL 32.25°N 88.38°W / 32.25; -88.38 (Yantley (May 1, F4)) 02:00–? 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 100 yd (91 m) 2 deaths – Brief but violent tornado devastated the north side of Yantley. A few homes were destroyed and a cookstove was found 1⁄4 mi (0.40 km) away. The tornado also removed 35 ft (11 m) of curbing. Three people were injured. [18][27]

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 Claxton Anderson, Knox TN 36.03°N 84.07°W / 36.03; -84.07 (Powell (May 2, F2)) 08:15–? 0.8 mi (1.3 km) 100 yd (91 m) A brief but strong tornado touched down between Claxton and Powell, damaging or destroying eight homes and several barns. [18][28]
F4 NE of Decatur Meigs, McMinn TN 35.52°N 84.78°W / 35.52; -84.78 (Decatur (May 2, F4)) 09:00–? 4.2 mi (6.8 km) 33 yd (30 m) 4 deaths – A violent tornado developed over the Decatur Ridge just northeast of Decatur and caused major damage as it moved northeastward over Brickell Ridge. The tornado damaged or destroyed 205 structures, including 61 homes, at least one of which was well constructed. Three of the four fatalities were in one family. Eight people were injured. According to Grazulis, the fourth death may have been unrelated to the tornado. [18][29][30]
F1 E of Foley Assumption LA 29.92°N 91°W / 29.92; -91 (Foley (May 2, F1)) 21:00–? 1 mi (1.6 km) 100 yd (91 m) A brief tornado touched down between Foley and Woodlawn. [31]
F2 W of Skippers Emporia VA 36.62°N 77.63°W / 36.62; -77.63 (Skippers (May 2, F2)) 00:45–? 2 mi (3.2 km) 100 yd (91 m) This tornado damaged or destroyed 28 barns. [18][32]

See Also

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.[1]
  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.
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gollark: That wouldn't really work.
gollark: Ale, stop crushing our dreams.
gollark: To be fair, you *mostly* can get away with just tracking on interesting/recently uesd channels like my trilaterætor does.
gollark: ... what?

References
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. National Weather Service (February 2020). Oklahoma Event Report: F0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. National Weather Service (February 2020). Oklahoma Event Report: F1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  5. National Weather Service (February 2020). Nebraska Event Report: F0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  6. 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.
  7. National Weather Service (February 2020). Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  8. National Weather Service (February 2020). Nebraska Event Report: Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  9. "Storm Prediction Center WCM Page". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  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). Texas Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  12. National Weather Service (February 2020). Louisiana Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  13. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  14. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  15. Grazulis 1993, pp. 968–9
  16. Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001). The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-8061-3538-0.
  17. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  18. Grazulis 1993, p. 969
  19. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  20. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F3 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  21. National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  22. National Weather Service (February 2020). Virginia Event Report: F0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  23. National Weather Service (February 2020). North Carolina Event Report: F1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  24. National Weather Service (February 2020). Alabama Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  25. National Weather Service (February 2020). Alabama Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  26. National Weather Service (February 2020). Alabama Event Report: Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  27. National Weather Service (February 2020). Alabama Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  28. National Weather Service (February 2020). Tennessee Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  29. National Weather Service (February 2020). Tennessee Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  30. National Weather Service (February 2020). Tennessee Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  31. National Weather Service (February 2020). Louisiana Event Report: F1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  32. National Weather Service (February 2020). Virginia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
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