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Mid–March 1953 tornado outbreak
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationMarch 12–15, 1953
Tornadoes
confirmed		23
Max. ratingF4 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak		4 days
Fatalities21 fatalities, 72 injuries
Areas affectedGreat Plains, Mississippi Valley, Southeastern United States
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 1953
Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
Time from first tornado to last tornado

The Mid–March 1953 tornado outbreak sequence was a widespread and deadly tornado outbreak that affected the Great Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Southeastern United States. At least 23 tornadoes were confirmed with the strongest one reaching F4 intensity and striking O'Brien, Texas on Friday the 13th. That same day, areas from Southern Oklahoma to the Southern Oklahoma City Metro were struck by an outbreak of six strong tornadoes that killed an additional three people and injured 22. The next day, 14 more tornadoes struck the Mississippi Valley causing 20 injuries and an additional death. The outbreak ended on March 15 after a long-tracked F3 tornado injured one in North Carolina. Overall, 21 people were killed and 72 others were injured.

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 1 4 11 6 1 0 23

March 12 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, March 12, 1953
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary Refs
F2 Northeastern Carthage Panola TX 32°10′N 94°20′W / 32.17°N 94.33°W / 32.17; -94.33 (Carthage (Mar. 12, F2)) 2230 2 mi (3.2 km) 80 yd (73 m) A tornado struck residential areas on northeastern side of Carthage, injuring two people.

March 13 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, March 13, 1953
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary Refs
F4 SSE of Jud to O'Brien to E of Knox City Haskell, Knox TX 33°17′N 99°57′W / 33.28°N 99.95°W / 33.28; -99.95 (Jud (Mar. 13, F4)) 2000 13.9 mi (22.4 km) 50 yd (46 m) 17 deaths – Violent tornado moved directly through O'Brien, causing catastrophic damage. 25 people were injured.
F2 SSE of Rush Springs to SSW of Middleberg Grady OK 34°46′N 97°57′W / 34.77°N 97.95°W / 34.77; -97.95 (Rush Springs (Mar. 13, F2)) 2315 23.6 mi (38.0 km) 100 yd (91 m) Long-tracked, strong tornado moved through a good portion of Grady County causing major damage and one injury.
F3 NE of Bradley Grady OK 34°53′N 97°42′W / 34.88°N 97.7°W / 34.88; -97.7 (Bradley (Mar. 13, F3)) 0019 1 mi (1.6 km) 100 yd (91 m) 1 death – Strong tornado struck areas just outside Bradley, causing significant damage. Eight people were injured.
F2 N of Washington McClain OK 35°04′N 97°29′W / 35.07°N 97.48°W / 35.07; -97.48 (Washington (Mar. 13, F2)) 0045 2 mi (3.2 km) 100 yd (91 m) A strong tornado injured two people.
F2 Eastern Norman Cleveland OK 35°11′N 97°15′W / 35.18°N 97.25°W / 35.18; -97.25 (Norman (Mar. 13, F2)) 0130 1.3 mi (2.1 km) 250 yd (230 m) A strong tornado moved through rural areas northwest of Etowah and south of Lake Thunderbird. There were no casualties.
F3 NE of Burneyville to NNE of Tishomingo Love, Carter, Johnston OK 33°55′N 97°16′W / 33.92°N 97.27°W / 33.92; -97.27 (Burneyville (Mar. 13, F3)) 0130 45.3 mi (72.9 km) 200 yd (180 m) 2 death – A long-tracked, strong tornado started just north of the Red River and moved northeast. Many rural structures were heavily damaged or destroyed and areas in the Lake Murray State Park were especially hard-hit with the Buzzard Roost Campground on the southwest side of the lake sustaining severe damage. Multiple RV parks on the northeast side also sustained damage. 11 people were injured.
F2 NW of Monroe Le Flore OK 35°00′N 94°32′W / 35°N 94.53°W / 35; -94.53 (Monroe (Mar. 13, F2)) 0400 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 100 yd (91 m) Brief, but strong tornado struck the northwest side of Monroe. There were no casualties.

March 14 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, March 14, 1953
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary Refs
F3 S of Branch to Hagarville Logan, Johnson AR 35°13′N 93°57′W / 35.22°N 93.95°W / 35.22; -93.95 (Branch (Mar. 14, F3)) 0630 40.1 mi (64.5 km) 880 yd (800 m) A large, long-tracked, strong tornado touched down in the Fox Valley moved northeast through rural areas and forest. It then struck the northwest side of Clarksville, which sustained heavy damage. Despite occurring in the early morning hours, there were no casualties.
F2 W of Mountain View to Melbourne to E of Franklin Stone, Izard AR 35°53′N 92°14′W / 35.88°N 92.23°W / 35.88; -92.23 (Mountain View (Mar. 14, F2)) 0630 36.2 mi (58.3 km) 333 yd (304 m) See section on this tornado
F3 E of Delaware to Dover Yell, Pope AR 35°17′N 93°17′W / 35.28°N 93.28°W / 35.28; -93.28 (Delaware (Mar. 14, F3)) 0730 12.2 mi (19.6 km) 880 yd (800 m) This large tornado touched down on the south shore of the Arkansas River before immediately crossing it as a tornadic waterspout, clipping the Delaware Park Public Use Area and Goose Island as it moved north-northeast. The tornado then made landfall south of London, turned northeast, and passed halfway between London and Mill Creek, damaging or destroying multiple homes and other structures. It then moved through more rural areas before inflicting moderate damage on the southwest side of Dover. The tornado then dissipated in the central part of Dover shortly thereafter. Unlike the previous early morning tornadoes, seven people were injured.
F2 NE of Altitude Prentiss MS 34°40′N 88°26′W / 34.67°N 88.43°W / 34.67; -88.43 (Altitude (Mar. 14, F2)) 2030 3.3 mi (5.3 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) 1 death – A strong tornado touched down east of Altitude and caused major damage as it moved northeast along MS 364.
F1 WSW of Hamburg Lincoln MO 39°13′N 90°45′W / 39.22°N 90.75°W / 39.22; -90.75 (Hamburg (Mar. 14, F1)) 2300 0.2 mi (0.32 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) One person was injured.
F2 WNW of Stanton to Southeastern Brownsville to S of Bells Haywood TN 35°28′N 89°27′W / 35.47°N 89.45°W / 35.47; -89.45 (Stanton (Mar. 14, F2)) 2340 24.8 mi (39.9 km) 33 yd (30 m) A strong tornado tracked northeast through Southeastern Brownsville before passing northwest of Willow Grove. Eight people were injured.
F2 N of Silerton to Henderson to SSW of Lexington Chester, Henderson TN 35°22′N 88°47′W / 35.37°N 88.78°W / 35.37; -88.78 (Silerton (Mar. 14, F2)) 0000 24 mi (39 km) 100 yd (91 m) A strong tornado touched down in the Chickasaw State Park and moved northeast. It passed directly through Henderson, causing major damage. Two people were injured.
F1 N of Dyersburg Dyer TN 36°05′N 89°23′W / 36.08°N 89.38°W / 36.08; -89.38 (Dyersburg (Mar. 14, F1)) 0030 0.2 mi (0.32 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) Brief tornado moved through northern side of Dyersburg.
F1 Northern Ripley Lauderdale TN 35°45′N 89°32′W / 35.75°N 89.53°W / 35.75; -89.53 (Ripley (Mar. 14, F1)) 0100 0.2 mi (0.32 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) Brief tornado hit areas just north of Downtown Ripley.
F3 E of Denmark to Jackson to ESE of Spring Creek Madison TN 35°32′N 88°58′W / 35.53°N 88.97°W / 35.53; -88.97 (Denmark (Mar 14, F3)) 0130 24.7 mi (39.8 km) 100 yd (91 m) Strong tornado moved northeast through the northwest side of Downtown Jackson causing major damage. It also caused significant damage to the Jackson State Community College. Three people were injured.
F2 NE of Addieville to SSW of Greendale Washington, Jefferson, Marion IL 38°24′N 89°28′W / 38.4°N 89.47°W / 38.4; -89.47 (Addieville (Mar. 14, F2)) 0200 42.3 mi (68.1 km) 200 yd (180 m) Strong, long-tracked tornado caused major damage along its path. It just barely missed multiple towns, including Wamac, which got hit on its southern side. It also hit the Centralia Municipal Airport.
F2 E of Martin Weakley TN 36°20′N 88°46′W / 36.33°N 88.77°W / 36.33; -88.77 (Martin (Mar. 14, F2)) 0315 0.3 mi (0.48 km) 600 yd (550 m) Brief, but strong tornado struck a neighborhood, injuring one person.
F0 New Goshen Vigo IN 39°35′N 87°28′W / 39.58°N 87.47°W / 39.58; -87.47 (New Goshen (Mar. 14, F0)) 0400 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 100 yd (91 m) A brief tornado struck just missed Downtown New Goshen.
F1 N of Bridgeton Parke IN 39°39′N 87°11′W / 39.65°N 87.18°W / 39.65; -87.18 (Bridgeton (Mar. 14, F1)) 0400 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 100 yd (91 m) A brief tornado struck just missed Downtown Bridgeton, touching down just north of Big Raccoon Creek and west-northwest of Bridgeton Covered Bridge. Tornado briefly moved northeast through farmlands north of the town in the direction of Snow Hill before dissipating.

March 15 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, March 15, 1953
F# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary Refs
F3 ESE of Bailey to Macclesfield to Crisp Nash, Wilson, Edgecombe NC 35°46′N 78°06′W / 35.77°N 78.1°W / 35.77; -78.1 (Bailey (Mar. 15, F3)) 0200 30.1 mi (48.4 km) 27 yd (25 m) See section on this tornado – 1 person was injured.

Allison–Melbourne–LaCrosse, Arkansas

Allison–Melbourne–LaCrosse, Arkansas
F2 tornado
Max. ratingF2 tornado
Fatalities0 fatalities, 0 injuries
Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

A second long-tracked, strong tornado touched down around the same time the F3 tornado touched down well to its southwest. It moved northeast, striking the rural community of Allison and inflicting moderate damage. It continued northeast and hit Melbourne, where severe damage was inflicted to multiple structures and homes. It then moved out of Melbourne and hit the northwest side of Lacrosse, where more damage was observed. It then moved back into rural areas of Izard County before dissipating as it was approaching Ash Flat from the southwest. Similar to the previous tornado, there were no casualties despite the fact the tornado hit multiple communities in the early morning hours.

Bailey–Northern Wilson–Macclesfield–Crisp, North Carolina

Bailey–Northern Wilson–Macclesfield–Crisp, North Carolina
F3 tornado
Max. ratingF3 tornado
Fatalities0 fatalities, 1 injury
Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

A narrow, but long-tracked, strong tornado touched down southeast of Bailey moving southeast. West-southwest of Sims, it turned east and moved toward the northern side of Wilson. It then struck several neighborhoods there, causing heavy damage as multiple homes were heavily damaged or destroyed. Moving east, the tornado exited Wilson into rural areas of Wilson County damaging mostly farmlands. It then moved through the rural community of Wilbanks, damaging the homes in the area. The tornado then moved into Edgecombe County and directly into Macclesfield. Damage here was severe, with numerous structures being destroyed and residential areas sustaining major damage. The tornado then moved into Crisp, causing additional severe damage before weakening and dissipating east of town. The tornado caused no fatalities, but did injure one person.

Notes

  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.

References

  1. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1953/table
  2. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530312.48.3
  3. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530313.48.4
  4. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530313.40.5
  5. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530313.40.6
  6. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530313.40.7
  7. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530313.40.8
  8. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530313.40.9
  9. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530313.40.10
  10. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.5.3
  11. ^ http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.5.4
  12. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.5.5
  13. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.28.6
  14. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.29.1
  15. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.47.2
  16. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.47.3
  17. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.47.4
  18. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.47.5
  19. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.47.6
  20. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.17.1
  21. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530501.1.18
  22. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.18.1
  23. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530314.18.2
  24. ^ http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530315.37.1
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