April 1958 Florida tornado outbreak

The April 1958 Florida tornado outbreak[1] was a severe weather event that primarily affected the Florida peninsula on April 15, 1958. A total of five tornadoes touched down in the states of Florida and Georgia between 12–5 p.m. EST. 80 percent of the tornadoes were recorded in Florida, while 75 percent of the Florida events attained F3 intensity or greater. The strongest tornado produced F4 damage on the Fujita scale in Polk County, Florida, becoming one of only two F4 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. state of Florida, although the rating is disputed.[2] The second F4 tornado occurred on April 4, 1966, in Polk County near Gibsonia and Galloway.[3] In total, 36 people were injured during the 1958 outbreak,[3][4] but no deaths were directly related to the tornadoes.[2] In addition to confirmed tornadoes, an unconfirmed tornado was also reported near Wimauma, Florida.[5]

April 1958 Florida tornado outbreak
DurationApril 15, 1958
Tornadoes confirmed5
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak26 hours
Casualties4 non–tornadic deaths, 36 injuries
Areas affectedFlorida and Georgia
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Tornado table
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 0 2 0 2 1 0 5

Confirmed tornadoes
F# Location County State Time (UTC) Path length Damage
F4 Bereah Polk FL 1700 0.1 miles [6] The first tornado of the day produced severe damage in rural Polk County. Nine small homes were destroyed near Bereah, but only one residence was well constructed. Seven injuries occurred,[3][4] and a water tank containing 2,500 gallons was thrown for more than one mile (1.6 km).[3] Rating disputed, ranked F3 by Grazulis.
F1 WSW of Gulf City Hillsborough FL 1720 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 The second tornado of the day touched down west-southwest of Ruskin, Florida,[7] where it crossed Mullet Key.[5]
F3 N of Saint Augustine Saint Johns FL 1720 3.6 miles
(5.8 km)		 The third tornado touched down in Saint Johns County and affected neighborhoods north of Saint Augustine,[3] producing F3 damage.[2] The tornado destroyed six homes in multiple subdivisions north of Saint Augustine.[3] In addition, 8–10 homes received damage,[4] and nine people were injured.[3][4] Rating disputed, ranked F2 by Grazulis.
F3 Fort Pierce Saint Lucie FL 1809 14.8 miles
(23.8 km)		 The fourth tornado became the most destructive event of the outbreak,[2] touching down near U.S Route 441[8] west of Fort Pierce in Saint Lucie County.[2] It moved east through the city's business district[3] and moved offshore over the Atlantic Ocean.[8] A total of 28 homes were demolished or received damage in the Fort Pierce area, while 200 additional buildings were destroyed or damaged as well. In addition, nine small residences were destroyed outside the city. Initial estimates placed damages near $5,000,000 (1958 USD),[3][8] but these estimates were deemed too high by the General Adjustments Bureau.[8] Final estimates placed damages near "over half million"[8] or $0.6 million.[2] Martial law was declared after the tornado struck the city, but it was lifted on April 16.[5] Grapefruit was tossed from the trees, but growers salvaged the majority of the fruit from the ground.[8] Most of the 20 injuries were inflicted by flying glass in the city's downtown business district.[3]
F1 Riddleville Washington GA 2130 0.8 miles
(1.3 km)		 Tornado leveled three homes, all unoccupied, as well as a barn. It also damaged two additional homes.[9]
Sources: NCDC Storm Events Database, SPC Storm Data, Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: Chronology and Analysis of Events by Thomas P. Grazulis

Non-tornadic effects

One B-47 bomber departing from MacDill Air Force Base was destroyed when it encountered the parent thunderstorm. The plane unsuccessfully attempted to fly at lower altitudes and avoid it.[4] The four crew members aboard were not found.[5]

See also

References
  1. Hagemeyer, Bartlett C. (1997). "Peninsular Florida tornado outbreaks". Weather and Forecasting. American Meteorological Society. 12 (3): 399–427. Bibcode:1997WtFor..12..399H. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(1997)012<0399:PFTO>2.0.CO;2.
  2. "NCDC Storm Event Database". Archived from the original on 17 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  3. Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: Chronology and Analysis of Events. Environmental Films.
  4. "Tornadoes Wreck Homes, Injure 60 In Florida". Tucson Daily Citizen. Tucson, Arizona. The Associated Press. April 16, 1958.
  5. "City in Florida is Battered by Freak Twister". Moberly Monitor-Index. Moberly, Missouri. Associated Press. April 16, 1958.
  6. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19580415.12.9
  7. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19580415.12.10
  8. Campbell, Scotty (April 17, 1958). "Tornado Damage Loss Estimates Drop". Fort Pierce News-Tribune. Fort Pierce, Florida.
  9. "Storm data and unusual weather phenomena". Climatological Data National Summary. United States Department of Commerce. 9 (4): 107–129. April 1958.
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