Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence

The 1953 Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence was a devastating tornado outbreak sequence spanning three days, two of which featured tornadoes each causing at least 90 deaths—an F5 occurring in Flint, Michigan, on June 8, 1953, and an F4 in Worcester, Massachusetts, on June 9.[nb 1][nb 2] These tornadoes are among the deadliest in United States history and were caused by the same storm system that moved eastward across the nation. The tornadoes are also related together in the public mind because, for a brief period following the Worcester tornado, it was debated in the U.S. Congress whether recent atomic bomb testing in the upper atmosphere had caused the tornadoes. Congressman James E. Van Zandt (R-Penn.) was among several members of Congress who expressed their belief that the June 4th bomb testing created the tornadoes, which occurred far outside the traditional tornado alley. They demanded a response from the government. Meteorologists quickly dispelled such an assertion, and Congressman Van Zandt later retracted his statement.

Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak
An F4 tornado near Erie, Michigan.
Photo courtesy of NOAA
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationJune 7–9, 1953
Tornadoes confirmed46
Max. rating1F5 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak23 days
Damage$2.56 billion (2006 USD)
Casualties245 fatalities, Unknown amount of injuries
Areas affectedMidwestern and Northeastern United States
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

The Flint-Worcester Tornadoes were the most infamous storms produced by a larger outbreak of severe weather that began in Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin, before moving across the Great Lakes states, and then into New York and New England. Other F3 and F4 tornadoes struck other locations in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire and Ohio.[2]

Confirmed tornadoes
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 11 9 13 7 5 1 46

This chart shows the number of tornadoes spawned from the initial storm system.

June 7 event
List of confirmed tornadoes — June 7, 1953
F#
Location
County
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Kansas
F1 E of Morland Graham 1900 0.1 miles (160 m)
F2 S of Hill City Graham 1900 0.1 miles (160 m)
F0 S of Edmond Graham 1900 10.9 miles (17.5 km)
F0 NE of Tampa to SW of Herington Marion, Dickinson 0445 12.6 miles (20.3 km)
Colorado
F1 W of Julesburg Sedgwick 2000 0.1 miles (160 m)
F1 N of Julesburg Sedgwick 2000 0.1 miles (160 m)
F0 SW of Julesburg (1st tornado) Sedgwick 2200 0.1 miles (160 m)
F0 SW of Julesburg (2nd tornado) Sedgwick 2200 0.1 miles (160 m)
F0 NW of Julesburg Sedgwick 2200 0.1 miles (160 m)
Nebraska
F2 NE of Mason City Custer, Sherman, Valley 2030 6.6 miles (10.6 km) Farm houses were destroyed and livestock were killed. Barns were leveled as well.
F2 NW of Giltner Hamilton 2100 6.6 miles (10.6 km) Tornado struck three farms, and roofs were torn off homes.
F0 S of Phillips Hamilton 2100 4.1 miles (6.6 km)
F1 NE of Rising City to NW of Linwood Butler 2100 22.7 miles (36.5 km) Barns were destroyed on a dozen farms.
F4 NW of Loup City to SW of Ord Sherman, Valley 2115 15 miles (24 km) 11 deaths – Homes were completely leveled and a car was thrown a quarter mile through the air. Worst damage occurred near Arcadia, where a farm was swept away, killing a family of 10. Bodies were thrown up to half a mile away from the residence. Farm machinery was thrown as well.[3]
F2 E of Scotia to SW of Spalding Greeley 2200 20.1 miles (32.3 km)
F2 NE of Octavia Butler 2200 6.9 miles (11.1 km)
F3 NW of Albion Boone 2215 8 miles (13 km) A house was destroyed along with multiple barns. Paint was stripped from a tractor and livestock were killed.
F0 SE of Upland Franklin 2230 9 miles (14 km)
F1 E of Macon Franklin 2300 15 miles (24 km)
F2 SW of Battle Creek to S of Pierce Madison 2300 16.6 miles (26.7 km)
F2 SW of Pierce to SW of Laurel Pierce, Cedar 2300 31 miles (50 km) Barns and outbuildings were destroyed on a dozen farms. Caused $31,000 in damage.
F1 N of Breslau Pierce 2310 8.2 miles (13.2 km)
F0 SW of Martinsburg Dixon 2340 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
F2 NW of Blair Washington 0045 4.1 miles (6.6 km)
F0 S of Hooper Dodge 0100 1 mile (1.6 km) Farm buildings and barns were destroyed.
South Dakota
F0 N of Mitchell Davison 2345 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Iowa
F2 NE of Westfield Plymouth 0015 11.3 miles (18.2 km) Barns were destroyed.
F2 N of Ida Grove to E of Fenton Ida, Sac, Pocahontas, Kossuth 0130 49.2 miles (79.2 km) Barns were destroyed
F2 N of Gowrie to SW of Olaf Webster, Hamilton, Wright 0300 49 miles (79 km) A church was lifted up and set down again. Barns were destroyed as well.
F3 W of Pomeroy to SE of Bode Calhoun, Pocahontas, Humboldt 0315 30.7 miles (49.4 km)
F2 NE of Winterset to E of Walford Madison, Warren, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa, Johnson 0315 116 miles (187 km) Several barns were destroyed.
F1 E of Boxholm Boone, Hamilton 0330 2.3 miles (3.7 km)
Minnesota
F1 SE of Trimont to SE of Grogan Martin, Watonwan 0100 19.1 miles (30.7 km)
Source: Tornado History Project – June 7, 1953 Storm Data(Grazulis, 1993)[2]

June 8 event
List of confirmed tornadoes — June 8, 1953
F#
Location
County
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Michigan
F4 NE of Temperance Monroe 2315 5.4 miles (8.7 km) 4 deaths – 15 houses destroyed and 14 more damaged. Trucks and cars were hurled through the air.
F3 SW of Ann Arbor Washtenaw 0030 11.3 miles (18.2 km) 1 death – A large tree landed on one house. One house was leveled along with three barns.
F3 W of Milford Livingston, Oakland 0030 9.1 miles (14.6 km) Caused damage to several buildings at the GM Proving Grounds 5 miles west of Milford.
F2 E of Sand Lake to N of Oscoda Iosco 0040 16.6 miles (26.7 km) 4 deaths – Five vacation cabins were leveled, and six others were badly damaged. A double funnel was reported in Wilber Township. Rating disputed, ranked F3 by Grazulis.
F3 S of Spruce Alcona 0108 1.8 miles (2.9 km) Five large barns were destroyed and livestock were killed. Rated F2 by Grazulis.
F5 N of Flushing to N of Columbiaville Genesee, Lapeer 0130 18.9 miles (30.4 km) 116 deaths – See section on this tornado
F0 SW of Caseville Huron 0300 0.1 miles (160 m)
F4 N of Kings Mill to N of Port Huron Lapeer, St. Clair 0330 33.8 miles (54.4 km) 1 death – Formed after the Flint tornado dissipated. Several homes and barns were blown away. One man was killed and several family members seriously injured near the St. Clair County line when their home was destroyed.
Ohio
F4 N of Deshler to Cleveland Henry, Wood, Sandusky, Erie, Lorain, Cuyahoga 0000 118 miles (190 km) 18 deaths – Was likely a tornado family according to Grazulis, with the first one (F4+) touching down near Deshler, and striking the north edge of Cygnet, where homes were swept away at possible F5 intensity, and 8 people were killed. This first tornado destroyed a steel and concrete bridge as it passed near Jerry City. The second tornado (F3) touched down east of Kimball, passed south of Ceylon and ended near Vermilion, destroying multiple homes along the path and killing one person. The third tornado (F3) touched down south of Elyria, and tore across west Cleveland. It killed 7 and destroyed at least 100 homes before moving offshore into Lake Erie.
Source: Tornado History Project – June 8, 1953 Storm Data, NCDC Storm Events Database, Grazulis 1993[2]

June 9 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday June 9, 1953[note 1]
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary
F4 E of Petersham to Northern Worcester NE of Fayville Worcester MA 42.47°N 72.17°W / 42.47; -72.17 (Petersham (June 9, F4)) 2025 34.9 miles (56.2 km) 900 yards (820 m) 90 deaths – See section on this tornado – 1,228 people were injured.
F3 SW of Exeter Rockingham NH 42.97°N 70.97°W / 42.97; -70.97 (Exeter (June 9, F3)) 2120 1.5 miles (2.4 km) 100 yards (91 m) A strong tornado tore the roofs off 15 homes and businesses in the Jady Hill area while also destroying the Exeter Country Club lodge. Five people were injured.
F3 SSW of Millbury to NE of Mansfield Worcester, Norfolk, Bristol MA 42.17°N 71.77°W / 42.17; -71.77 (Millbury (June 9, F3)) 2130 28 miles (45 km) 667 yards (610 m) This large, strong, damaging tornado formed after the Worcester tornado dissipated and devastated Wrentham, Southern Foxborough and Western Mansfield. Cars and trucks were overturned, numerous trees were downed and homes sustained roof and wall damage. A total of 17 people were injured.
F1 Rollinsford Strafford NH 43.23°N 70.83°W / 43.23; -70.83 (Rollinsford (June 9, F1)) 2200 1 mile (1.6 km) 40 yards (37 m) Weak tornado moved directly through Rollinsford.
Source: Tornado History Project – June 9, 1953 Storm Data, NCDC Storm Events Database, Grazulis 1993[2]

Northern Flint–Beecher, Michigan
Northern Flint–Beecher, Michigan
F5 tornado
Max. rating1F5 tornado
Casualties116 fatalities, 844 injuries
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
Main article: 1953 Flint–Beecher tornado

An F5 tornado hit Flint, Michigan on June 8, 1953.[4] The tornado moved east-northeast 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Flushing and devastated the north side of Flint and Beecher. The tornado first descended about 8:30 p.m. on a humid evening near a drive-in movie theater that was flickering to life at twilight time. Motorists in the drive-in began to flee in panic, creating many auto accidents on nearby roads. The tornado dissipated near Lapeer, Michigan. Nearly every home was destroyed on both sides of Coldwater Road. Multiple deaths were reported in 20 families, and it was reported that papers from Flint were deposited in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, some sixty miles east of Flint. Large sections of neighborhoods were completely swept away, with only foundations left. Trees were debarked and vehicles were thrown and mangled. One hundred and sixteen were killed,[5] making it the tenth deadliest tornado in U.S. history.[6] The death toll was surpassed by the 2011 Joplin tornado.[7] It is also one of only two F5 tornadoes ever to hit in Michigan. Another F5 tornado would hit in Hudsonville on April 3, 1956.[2]

Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
F4 tornado
Damage at Assumption College
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Casualties94 fatalities, 1228 injuries
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
Main article: 1953 Worcester tornado

The storm system that created the Flint tornado moved eastward over southern Ontario and Lake Erie during the early morning hours of June 9. As radar was still primitive (or nonexistent) in 1953, inadequate severe weather predictions resulted. (Even during the Super Outbreak of April 3, 1974, weather radar was still not up to this task; that outbreak resulted in a technological upgrade.) The Weather Bureau in Buffalo, New York merely predicted thunderstorms and said that "a tornado may occur." As early as 10 A.M., however, the Weather Bureau in Boston anticipated the likelihood of tornadic conditions that afternoon but feared the word "tornado" would strike panic in the public, and refrained from using it. Instead, as a compromise, they issued New England's first-ever severe thunderstorm watch.[8]

Rain fell across Worcester County throughout the day on June 9.[9] In New York, a strong cluster of thunderstorms began to build, moving eastward into Massachusetts. At approximately 4:25 pm (EST), a funnel cloud formed near the Quabbin Reservoir near New Salem.[10] Very soon after, a tornado spawned from the funnel cloud, touching down in a forest outside of the rural community of Petersham. The tornado then proceeded to pass through a farm field, where it struck a farmhouse and killed two people. As the storm moved eastward at approximately 35 mph (58 km/h), it hit the towns of Rutland and Holden, where 11 people were killed in total.[8](Grazulis, 1993)[2]

At about 5:00 pm, the tornado moved into the city of Worcester, alarming many residents. According to eyewitness accounts, the storm moved in extremely quickly, shocking the townsfolk. "I saw it grow noticeably darker," said eyewitness George Carlson, "Then it hit. Houses tumbled, trees fell, and it was all over. The tornado was definitely discernible. Like when you can see the lines of rain in an approaching rainstorm," he added.[11] The tornado, which had grown to a mile (1.6 km) wide, destroyed several structures in Northern Worcester, including parts of Assumption College. Other major structures included a newly built factory and a large residential development. Residential areas were devastated, where entire rows of homes swept away at possible F5 intensity.[2]

The funnel maintained its 1-mile width as it passed throughout much of Shrewsbury, and still did a high amount of damage when it moved through downtown Westborough, where it began curving towards the northeast in its final leg.[12] In the storm's final moments, 3 were killed when Fayville Post Office in Southborough collapsed.[12] Around the time it ended 5:45 pm, a tornado warning was issued, although by then it was too late.[12]

1953 tornado season in perspective
Main article: Tornadoes of 1953
Outbreak death toll
State Total County County
total
Massachusetts 90 Worcester 90
Michigan 125 Genesee 116
Iosco 4
Monroe 4
Washtenaw 1
Nebraska 11 Valley 11
Ohio 17 Cuyahoga 6
Erie 2
Henry 5
Lorain 1
Wood 3
Totals 247
All deaths were tornado-related

The year 1953 saw some of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history, including the Waco Tornado that hit on May 11, the Flint tornado of June 8, and the Worcester tornado on June 9. These 3 storms were also unique in occurring within a 30-day period.

Tornado tracks around Lake Erie from the June 8, 1953 tornado outbreak.

Other severe tornadoes of 1953 hit Warner Robins, Georgia in April, San Angelo, Texas in May (same day as Waco), Port Huron, Michigan later in May, Cleveland in June (same day as Flint and the day before Worcester), and Vicksburg, Mississippi in December.[13]

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See also

References
  1. Schneider, Russell S.; Harold E. Brooks; Joseph T. Schaefer. "Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875–2003)" (PDF). Norman, Oklahoma: Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  2. Grazulis, Thomas P (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
  3. http://www3.gendisasters.com/kansas/5276/arcadia,-ne-tornado-destroys-farm-house,-june-1953
  4. "Southeast Michigan Tornado Climatology". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  5. "1953 Beecher Tornado". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  6. "The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes". National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  7. "Joplin, Mo., single deadliest tornado since 1950". CBS News.
  8. O'Toole, John (1993). Tornado! 84 Minutes, 94 Lives. Chandler House Press. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  9. Pletcher 2006 p. 155
  10. Freeman, Stan (June 5, 2011). "Through history, Massachusetts tornadoes not unprecendented, and very deadly". masslive.
  11. Wheeler, James R. (June 10, 1953). "Randall Street homes grim reminders of death, destruction". Worcester Telegram. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  12. Chittick, William F. (2003). The Worcester tornado: June 9, 1953. W.F. Chittick. p. 19.
  13. "Tornado History Project: 1953". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.

Bibliography
  • Chittick, William F. (2003). The Worcester Tornado, June 9, 1953. Bristol, RI: Private Publication.
  • Chittick, William F. (2005). What Is So Rare As A Day In June: The Worcester Tornado, June 9, 1953. Bristol, RI: Multimedia Presentation.
  • O'Toole, John M. (1993). Tornado! 84 minutes, 94 lives. Worcester: Chandler House Press. ISBN 0-9636277-0-8

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) modern records that began in 1950, is defined as, at most, two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.[1]
  2. All damage totals are in 1953 United States dollars unless otherwise noted.
  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.
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