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Tornado outbreak of February 11–13, 1950

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Weather event in the United States
Tornado outbreak of February 11–13, 1950
Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes24
Maximum ratingF4 tornado
DurationFebruary 11–13, 1950
Overall effects
Fatalities41+
Injuries228
Damage≥ $1,560,000 ($19,760,000 in 2024 USD)
Areas affectedMainly Red River and Lower Mississippi Valleys
Part of the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1950

A deadly tornado outbreak devastated parts of Louisiana and Tennessee on February 11–13, 1950. The outbreak covered about a day and a half and produced numerous tornadoes, mostly from East Texas to the lower Mississippi Valley, with activity concentrated in Texas and Louisiana. Most of the deaths occurred in Louisiana and Tennessee, where tornadoes killed 25 and 9 people, respectively. Several long-lived tornado families struck the Red River region of northwestern Louisiana, especially the Shreveport–Bossier City area. One of the tornadoes attained violent intensity, F4, on the Fujita scale and caused eight deaths, including six at the Shreveport Holding and Reconsignment Depot near Barksdale Air Force Base. It remains one of the top ten deadliest tornadoes on record in the state of Louisiana, in tenth place. Also in Louisiana, two other destructive tornadoes on parallel paths killed 16. Seven additional deaths occurred across the border in East Texas. Nine people died in a tornado in western Tennessee as well. In all, the entire outbreak killed at least 41 people and left 228 injured. Also, several long-tracked tornadoes recorded in the outbreak likely contained more, shorter-lived tornadoes.

Outbreak statistics

Daily statistics of tornadoes during the tornado outbreak of February 11–13, 1950
Date Total F-scale rating Deaths Injuries Damage
 FU   F0   F1   F2   F3   F4   F5 
February 11 6 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 2 57 ≥$645,000
February 12 15 1 0 2 8 3 1 0 30+ 162 ≥$883,000
February 13 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 9 9 $32,000
Total 24 1 0 3 14 5 1 0 41+ 228 ≥$1,560,000

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
1 0 3 14 5 1 0 24

Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.

Color/symbol key
Color / symbol Description
† Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b
Data from a local National Weather Service office
※ Data from the 1950 Storm Data publication
‡ Data from the NCEI database
♯ Maximum width of tornado
± Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable.
List of confirmed tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of February 11–13, 1950
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Date Time (UTC) Path length Width Damage
F2 Alvin※ Brazoria Texas 29°25′N 95°15′W / 29.42°N 95.25°W / 29.42; -95.25 (Alvin (Feb. 11, F0)) February 11 19:10–? 7 mi (11 km)※ 300 yd (270 m)† $75,000†
20 businesses and homes were destroyed or unroofed. The NCEI database incorrectly extends the path to Webster through Galveston and Harris counties.
F3 Western La Porte† Harris Texas 29°40′N 95°03′W / 29.67°N 95.05°W / 29.67; -95.05 (La Porte (Feb. 11, F3)) February 11 19:40†–? 15 mi (24 km)† 500 yd (460 m)† $200,000†
1 death – An intense tornado damaged 25 homes in its path, some of which it destroyed. The remaining homes lost their roofs, and in all, some 200 structures incurred damage. 20 injuries took place, and a female centenarian was killed.
F2† Montalba Anderson Texas Un­known February 11 02:30–? 2 mi (3.2 km) 100 yd (91 m) Un­known
Barns and a home were wrecked. Items from the buildings were strewn 1 mi (1.6 km) distant.
F2 Chappell Hill† Smith Texas 35°00′N 95°12′W / 35°N 95.2°W / 35; -95.2 (Tyler (Apr. 22, F2)) February 11 03:00–? 10 mi (16 km)† 75 yd (69 m)† $100,000
This strong tornado passed just east of Tyler, leveling 16 structures, including the store of a blacksmith and three homes. The tornado passed within 100 yd (300 ft) of a church with 300 people in attendance. Five people were injured.
F2† E of Pine to Omaha Camp, Titus, Morris Texas Un­known February 11 05:30–? ≥2 mi (3.2 km) 20 yd (18 m) ≥$70,000
A pair of homes were wrecked near the start of the path, resulting in a pair of injuries. At Omaha a gymnasium at a school was destroyed, along with several homes.
F3† S of Hughes Springs to Corley to E of New Boston† Cass, Bowie Texas 32°59′N 94°38′W / 32.98°N 94.63°W / 32.98; -94.63 (Hughes Springs (Apr. 22, F2)) February 11 05:45†–06:30 30 mi (48 km)† 150 yd (140 m)† $200,000†
1 death – At Hugh Springs 15 homes were a total loss and 24 others received damage. 15 injuries occurred in town. At Corley the tornado affected 15 additional homes, some of which it wrecked. Eight people were injured at Corley. In all 30 people were injured along the path.
F1 Downtown Dublin Erath Texas 32°05′N 98°21′W / 32.08°N 98.35°W / 32.08; -98.35 (Dublin (Feb. 12, F1)) February 12 07:15–? 2.3 mi (3.7 km)‡ 250 yd (230 m)※ $20,000※
Five structures were seriously damaged.
F2† Baileyville Falls Texas Un­known February 12 11:30–? 2 mi (3.2 km) 100 yd (91 m) $25,000
A strong tornado destroyed 10 homes. Five people were injured.
F2 SSW of Davis Prairie to southern Groesbeck† Limestone Texas 31°31′N 96°33′W / 31.52°N 96.55°W / 31.52; -96.55 (Groesbeck (Feb. 12, F2)) February 12 11:45†–? 8 mi (13 km)† 70 yd (64 m)† $25,000†
At Groesbeck approximately 20 businesses and homes lost their roofs or were destroyed. Debris rained on the courthouse in town, though the tornado dissipated beforehand. Four people were injured.
F2† Gill Harrison Texas Un­known February 12 16:00–? 6 mi (9.7 km) 100 yd (91 m) Un­known
Four homes were wrecked. 10 injuries were reported.
F2† S of Lufkin to Beulah to S of Huntington Polk, Angelina Texas Un­known February 12 16:42–? 15 mi (24 km) 100 yd (91 m) Un­known
3 deaths – This tornado struck two rural communities, sweeping away a home and strewing the debris for acres. A father and his two children died, and three other people sustained injuries, including the mother of the children. A school was destroyed as well.
F2† Near Chireno Nacogdoches Texas Un­known February 12 17:00–? 8 mi (13 km) 300 yd (270 m) Un­known
This tornado wrecked six homes and injured two people.
F3† S of Center (TX) to Fellowship (TX) to E of Keachi (LA)† Shelby (TX), DeSoto (LA)† Texas, Louisiana† 31°48′N 94°12′W / 31.8°N 94.2°W / 31.8; -94.2 (Center (Feb. 12, F1)) February 12 17:50†–? 30 mi (48 km)† 150 yd (140 m)† $250,000†
3 deaths – This intense, long-tracked tornado leveled a home at Fellowship, killing two people inside during lunchtime. 32 or more other injuries occurred in and near Fellowship. Other structures were damaged at Jericho. In Louisiana the tornado wrecked 12 homes, killing a third person. The tornado killed hundreds of chickens as well. In all, 37 people were injured along the path. This tornado belonged to the same family as the Shreveport F4 and ended near Logansport, Louisiana.
F2† Near Hell Creek† Union Mississippi 34°36′N 89°07′W / 34.6°N 89.12°W / 34.6; -89.12 (Myrtle #1 (Feb. 12, F2)) February 12 18:00–? 2 mi (3.2 km)† 33 yd (30 m)‡ $20,000†
A brief tornado struck four homes and a barn. Three of the homes lost their roofs, and a barn and the fourth home were flattened.
F2 Cane Creek※ Grant Arkansas 34°29′N 92°24′W / 34.48°N 92.4°W / 34.48; -92.4 (Cane Creek (Feb. 12, F2)) February 12 18:30–? 0.1 mi (0.16 km)‡ 100 yd (91 m) $450※
A brief-but-strong tornado swept away a barn, flattened a small house, unroofed another home, destroyed an outhouse and a chicken coop, and knocked down a 2-acre (0.81 ha) swath of trees.
F4 N of Stonewall to Barksdale Air Force Base† Caddo, Bossier† Louisiana 32°21′N 93°46′W / 32.35°N 93.77°W / 32.35; -93.77 (Stonewall (Feb. 12, F4)) February 12 19:00–? 20 mi (32 km)† 100 yd (91 m)† $350,000†
8 deaths – A violent tornado tracked just northwest of Forbing, leveling several homes. On the southern outskirts of Shreveport, the tornado caused two deaths. It then hit the Shreveport Holding and Reconsignment Depot, which had recently been renamed Slack Air Force Depot, near Barksdale Air Force Base. The tornado destroyed the Depot, causing the deaths of six people, including five airmen and a civilian worker. Nearby, injuries occurred in a mess hall and barracks as the tornado hit the AFB. With a forward speed of 35 mph (56 km/h), the parent supercell progressed into Arkansas, where it later spawned the Mount Holly F2 tornado. In all, 30 people were injured.
F3† Near Grand Cane to NE of Sligo† DeSoto, Bossier† Louisiana 32°12′N 93°35′W / 32.2°N 93.58°W / 32.2; -93.58 (Grand Cane (Feb. 12, F2)) February 12 19:24†–? 35 mi (56 km)† 200 yd (180 m)† $90,000†
7+ deaths – This intense tornado claimed the lives of at least three—possibly four—children in a pair of homes near Grand Cane. On a plantation, the tornado leveled a tenant home, killing three family members inside the structure. Nearby, the tornado overturned a vehicle, killing a pedestrian who was sheltering in a ditch. At least one additional fatality took place before the tornado dissipated, and 30 people were injured along the path. The NCEI database incorrectly lists the path as beginning west of Williams and ending west of Haynesville, passing southeast of the towns of Caspiana and McDade.
F3 Zwolle to Roy† to Gibsland※ Sabine, Natchitoches, Bienville‡ Louisiana 31°38′N 93°39′W / 31.63°N 93.65°W / 31.63; -93.65 (Zwolle (Feb. 12, F3)) February 12 20:00※–? 74.5 mi (119.9 km)‡ 100 yd (91 m)※ ≥$50,000†
9 deaths – This tornado family first generated intermittent, F1-level damage at Zwolle, along with downburst-related effects. At Roy, near Castor, the tornado destroyed or damaged 25 homes, some of which were leveled, with six deaths in one of them, all of which were in one family; in all eight people died in town. A final fatality occurred just northeast of Castor. The tornado obliterated numerous small homes in its path, but its damage is poorly documented outside Roy. Bodies of the dead were carried as far as 1⁄4 mi (0.40 km) from their original locations. 40 people were injured along the path.
F2 N of Mount Holly† Union, Ouachita† Arkansas 33°16′N 92°57′W / 33.27°N 92.95°W / 33.27; -92.95 (Mt. Holly (Feb. 12, F2)) February 12 21:00–? 6 mi (9.7 km)† 100 yd (91 m) $20,000※
A strong tornado damaged electrical wires, a store, and an oil camp. Additionally, the tornado leveled many barns and three homes.
FU※ Near Lovell Lake–LaBelle Jefferson Texas Un­known February 12 21:30–? Un­known 50 yd (46 m) $8,100
Eight homes were destroyed or damaged. One person was injured.
F1 E of Epps‡ East Carroll Louisiana 32°36′N 91°20′W / 32.6°N 91.33°W / 32.6; -91.33 (Epps (Feb. 12, F1)) February 12 05:00–? 0.5 mi (0.80 km)‡ 33 yd (30 m)‡ $25,000‡
A brief, weak tornado struck several structures, causing minimal damage.
F1 Rosemark Shelby Tennessee 35°21′N 89°46′W / 35.35°N 89.77°W / 35.35; -89.77 (Rosemark (Feb. 13, F1)) February 13 07:00–? 0.2 mi (0.32 km)‡ 7 yd (6.4 m)‡ $2,000※
A short-lived tornado destroyed outbuildings and caused extensive damage to a few farmhouses. Eight people were injured inside one of the houses.
F2 Hurricane Hill※ Lauderdale Tennessee 35°45′N 89°29′W / 35.75°N 89.48°W / 35.75; -89.48 (Ripley (Feb. 13, F2)) February 13 08:00–? 2 mi (3.2 km)† 20 yd (18 m)† $5,000※
9 deaths – A very brief but devastating tornado struck a residential area, leveling a few small homes on the hilltop. Two parents and their six children were inside one of the homes that were swept away. The structure, which was poorly built, was lofted 85 yd (255 ft) before disintegrating, killing all nine occupants. An injury occurred as well. As of 2017, this is the deadliest F2/EF2 tornado ever recorded in the United States.
F2 Southeastern New Albany† Union Mississippi 34°36′N 89°07′W / 34.6°N 89.12°W / 34.6; -89.12 (Myrtle #2 (Feb. 12, F1)) February 13 09:20–? 5 mi (8.0 km)† 33 yd (30 m)‡ $25,000‡
This tornado leveled a small residence in its path. Additionally, it destroyed three barns nearby. The NCEI database lists a pair of injuries and three fatalities, but Grazulis does not list any casualties.

Non-tornadic effects

A severe thunderstorm generated strong winds just 1+1⁄2 mi (2.4 km) east of Pushmataha, Choctaw County, Alabama, at 6:00 p.m. EST (00:00 UTC) on February 13. The winds felled trees and damaged a trio of homes, one of which was leveled. Almost 18 hours previous barns and a few homes were damaged by strong winds at Marietta, Cass County, Texas. A day earlier hail and wind caused negligible damage to property in and near Winnsboro, Louisiana, as well.

See also

Notes

  1. All losses are in 1957 USD unless otherwise noted.
  2. 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.
  3. ^ All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.
  4. ^ The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated. Tornado ratings were retroactively applied to events prior to the formal adoption of the F-scale by the National Weather Service. While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007, Canada used the old scale until April 1, 2013; nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.
  5. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Data publication does not list exact damage totals for every event, instead giving damage categories. As such, damage for individual tornadoes is not comprehensive.
  6. Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information. Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life. Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced NEXRAD was first installed and the National Weather Service began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.
  7. All starting coordinates are based on the NCEI database and may not reflect contemporary analyses
  8. The listed width values are primarily the average/mean width of the tornadoes, with those having known maximum widths denoted by ♯. From 1952 to 1994, reports largely list mean width whereas contemporary years list maximum width. Values provided by Grazulis are the average width, with estimates being rounded down (i.e. 0.5 mi (0.80 km) is rounded down from 880 yards to 800 yards.

References

  1. Schneider, Russell S.; Brooks, Harold E.; Schaefer, Joseph T. (2004). Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875–2003) (PDF). 22nd Conf. Severe Local Storms. Hyannis, Massachusetts: American Meteorological Society. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  2. Grazulis, Thomas P.; Grazulis, Doris (26 April 2000). "The Most "Important" US Tornadoes by State". The Tornado Project Online. The Tornado Project. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  3. Grazulis 1993, pp. 953–954.
  4. Grazulis 1993, p. 141.
  5. Grazulis 2001a, p. 131.
  6. Edwards et al. 2013, p. 641–642.
  7. Edwards, Roger (March 5, 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  8. "Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale)". Environment and Climate Change Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada. June 6, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  9. "The International Tornado Intensity Scale". Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. 2016. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  10. Agee and Childs 2014, p. 1496.
  11. Grazulis 2001a, pp. 251–4.
  12. Edwards, Roger (March 5, 2015). "The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)". Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  13. Cook & Schaefer 2008, p. 3135.
  14. Agee and Childs 2014, pp. 1497, 1503.
  15. Agee and Childs 2014, p. 1494.
  16. Brooks 2004, p. 310.
  17. Grazulis 1990, p. ix.
  18. ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 953.
  19. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10120402
  20. ^ USWB 1950, p. 10.
  21. Storm Data Publication 1950, 10120403
  22. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10120404
  23. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10120405
  24. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10120406
  25. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10120407
  26. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10120408
  27. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10120409
  28. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10120410
  29. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10032623
  30. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10049524
  31. Storm Data Publication 1950, #9981923
  32. Grazulis 1984, p. A-59.
  33. Murdock, Scott D. (1998). "Barksdale AFB Off-Base Sites". Scott's USAF Installations Page. Airforcebase.net. Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  34. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10032626
  35. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10032628
  36. ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 954.
  37. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10032624
  38. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10032627
  39. Grazulis 1993, pp. 953–4.
  40. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10032625
  41. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10032629
  42. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10032630
  43. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10032632
  44. ^ USWB 1950, p. 11.
  45. Storm Data Publication 1950, #9981924
  46. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10032633
  47. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10126026
  48. "F2 Tornado - Fujita Scale". factsjustforkids.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  49. Storm Data Publication 1950, #10126027

Sources

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