Arkansas-Tennessee tornado outbreak of 1952
Encyclopedia
The March 1952 Southern United States tornado outbreak was the ninth deadliest tornado outbreak
in the history of the United States
. Affecting the American South, it produced 209 deaths, fifty of which were related to a single tornado in Arkansas
. The outbreak produced eleven violent F4
tornado
es across the Southern United States
, which is the fourth largest number of F4–F5 events produced by a single outbreak. Only the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, the April 3, 1974, Super Outbreak
, and the April 25-28, 2011 tornado outbreak surpassed this number. The severe weather
event resulted in the fourth largest number of tornado fatalities within a 24-hour period since 1950. The weather system associated with the outbreak also produced several inches of snow
across the central and northern Great Plains
and the upper Midwest. Blizzard
conditions affected Kansas
, Nebraska
, and South Dakota
.
progressed across Oklahoma
and Arkansas. Southerly winds transported dewpoints
in excess of 64°F
across portions of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Strong upper level wind speeds moved eastward and intersected the warm, moist air mass. The first tornado developed in southwestern Arkansas and struck the town of Dierks during the early afternoon. The path width reached 800 yd (732 m), and seven fatalities occurred. The next F4 tornado, spawned by the same supercell
, affected White County and passed through the town of Judsonia. Killing fifty people, the tornado became the fourth deadliest tornado recorded in the U.S. state
of Arkansas. Nine additional F4 tornadoes developed within the next 22 hours and caused 123 deaths, which comprised 54.6% of the outbreak's fatalities. 90% of the outbreak's 31 confirmed tornadoes attained strong (F2–F3) or violent (F4–F5) intensity. This value is the highest percentage recorded for an outbreak with at least 30 confirmed and documented tornadoes. However, it can be presumed that many weaker tornadoes occurred but were not documented.
Simultaneously, a significant blizzard affected the Great Plains. In Kansas, 15 inches of snow were recorded. On March 22, Charles City, Iowa
, documented 11.6 inches, which was the town's greatest 24-hour snowfall record at the time. Minnesota reported 17 inches, while Bergland, Michigan, reported two feet (0.61 m) of snowfall. Heavy snow and strong winds disrupted highways and road traffic. Flash floods also affected Sumner
and Clay counties, Tennessee.
Tornado outbreak
While there is no single agreed upon definition, generally at least 6-10 tornadoes produced by the same synoptic scale weather system is considered a tornado outbreak. The tornadoes usually occur within the same day, or continue into the early morning hours of the succeeding day, and within the...
in the history of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Affecting the American South, it produced 209 deaths, fifty of which were related to a single tornado in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. The outbreak produced eleven violent F4
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es across the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, which is the fourth largest number of F4–F5 events produced by a single outbreak. Only the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, the April 3, 1974, Super Outbreak
Super Outbreak
The Super Outbreak is the second largest tornado outbreak on record for a single 24-hour period, just behind the tornado outbreak of April 25–28, 2011...
, and the April 25-28, 2011 tornado outbreak surpassed this number. The severe weather
Severe weather
Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous to human life and property.- Examples Include :Severe weather can occur under a variety of situations, but three characteristics are generally needed: a temperature or moisture boundary, moisture, and , instability in the...
event resulted in the fourth largest number of tornado fatalities within a 24-hour period since 1950. The weather system associated with the outbreak also produced several inches of snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
across the central and northern Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
and the upper Midwest. Blizzard
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
conditions affected Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, and South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
.
Meteorological synopsis
On March 21, 1952, a significant surface lowLow pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
progressed across Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and Arkansas. Southerly winds transported dewpoints
Dew point
The dew point is the temperature to which a given parcel of humid air must be cooled, at constant barometric pressure, for water vapor to condense into liquid water. The condensed water is called dew when it forms on a solid surface. The dew point is a saturation temperature.The dew point is...
in excess of 64°F
Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit is the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by, and named after, the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit . Within this scale, the freezing of water into ice is defined at 32 degrees, while the boiling point of water is defined to be 212 degrees...
across portions of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Strong upper level wind speeds moved eastward and intersected the warm, moist air mass. The first tornado developed in southwestern Arkansas and struck the town of Dierks during the early afternoon. The path width reached 800 yd (732 m), and seven fatalities occurred. The next F4 tornado, spawned by the same supercell
Supercell
A supercell is a thunderstorm that is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone: a deep, continuously-rotating updraft. For this reason, these storms are sometimes referred to as rotating thunderstorms...
, affected White County and passed through the town of Judsonia. Killing fifty people, the tornado became the fourth deadliest tornado recorded in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Arkansas. Nine additional F4 tornadoes developed within the next 22 hours and caused 123 deaths, which comprised 54.6% of the outbreak's fatalities. 90% of the outbreak's 31 confirmed tornadoes attained strong (F2–F3) or violent (F4–F5) intensity. This value is the highest percentage recorded for an outbreak with at least 30 confirmed and documented tornadoes. However, it can be presumed that many weaker tornadoes occurred but were not documented.
Simultaneously, a significant blizzard affected the Great Plains. In Kansas, 15 inches of snow were recorded. On March 22, Charles City, Iowa
Charles City, Iowa
Charles City is a city in Floyd County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2010 census a decrease of 160, or 2%, from 7,812 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Floyd County. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area, located on U.S...
, documented 11.6 inches, which was the town's greatest 24-hour snowfall record at the time. Minnesota reported 17 inches, while Bergland, Michigan, reported two feet (0.61 m) of snowfall. Heavy snow and strong winds disrupted highways and road traffic. Flash floods also affected Sumner
Sumner County, Tennessee
Sumner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 130,449. Its county seat is Gallatin, but its largest town is Hendersonville...
and Clay counties, Tennessee.
| State | Total | County | County total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
4 | Morgan Morgan County, Alabama Morgan County is the most populous county in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, and the second most populous county in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area in the U.S. State of Alabama. It was created by the Alabama Territorial legislature on February 6, 1818 from land acquired from the... |
4 |
| Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River... |
112 | Cross | 4 |
| Howard Howard County, Arkansas Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 13,789. The county seat is Nashville. Howard County is Arkansas's 74th county, formed on April 17, 1873, and named for James Howard, a state senator... |
7 | ||
| Lonoke | 11 | ||
| Mississippi | 2 | ||
| Poinsett | 3 | ||
| Prairie | 6 | ||
| White White County, Arkansas White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 77,076. The county seat is Searcy. White County is Arkansas's 31st county, formed on October 23, 1835, from portions of Independence, Jackson, and Pulaski counties and named for Hugh Lawson White, a... |
50 | ||
| Woodruff | 29 | ||
| Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
17 | Pemiscot Pemiscot County, Missouri Pemiscot County is a county located in the Bootheel in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 20,047. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 18,515. The largest city and county seat is Caruthersville... |
17 |
| Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi... |
9 | Marshall Marshall County, Mississippi -Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 34,993 people, 12,163 households and 9,110 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 per square mile . There were 13,252 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile... |
9 |
| Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area... |
67 | Carroll Carroll County, Tennessee Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 28,522. Its county seat is Huntingdon. It was named for Governor William Carroll.-Geography:According to the U.S... |
1 |
| Chester | 23 | ||
| Dyer | 16 | ||
| Fayette | 7 | ||
| Gibson | 2 | ||
| Hardeman | 4 | ||
| Henderson | 11 | ||
| Hickman | 3 | ||
| Totals | 209 | ||
| All deaths were tornado-related | |||
March 21
| F# Fujita scale The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation... |
Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River... |
||||||
| F4 | Dierks Dierks, Arkansas Dierks is a city in Howard County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,230 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dierks is located at .... area |
Howard Howard County, Arkansas Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 13,789. The county seat is Nashville. Howard County is Arkansas's 74th county, formed on April 17, 1873, and named for James Howard, a state senator... |
2040 | 13 miles (20.8 km) |
7 deaths were documented. The funnel struck the northwestern portion of Dierks. Twenty-two homes were destroyed by the F4 tornado. The majority of these structures were frail. | |
| F3 | SW of Ferndale | Saline | 2200 | 17.7 miles (28.3 km) |
The tornado affected Paron Paron, Arkansas Paron is an unincorporated community in Saline County, Arkansas, United States. Paron is located along Arkansas Highway 9 northwest of Benton. Paron has a post office with ZIP code 72122. Paron High School is located in the community.... . A church, home, and barns were destroyed. Homes also lost roofs. |
|
| F4 | SE of Searcy Searcy, Arkansas Searcy is the largest city and county seat of White County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,663. It is the principal city of the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of White County... to W of Russell Russell, Arkansas Russell is a town in White County, Arkansas, United States. Darrell Lutner is the current mayor. The population was 228 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Russell is located at .... |
White White County, Arkansas White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 77,076. The county seat is Searcy. White County is Arkansas's 31st county, formed on October 23, 1835, from portions of Independence, Jackson, and Pulaski counties and named for Hugh Lawson White, a... |
2250 | 14.6 miles (23.4 km) |
50 fatalities occurred, of which thirty were confirmed in Judsonia Judsonia, Arkansas Judsonia is a city in White County, Arkansas, United States. Rickey Veach is the current mayor. The population was 1,982 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Judsonia is located at .... . The tornado passed through the business district of Judsonia. In the town, 385 homes were destroyed and 560 exhibited damage. The tornado killed ten people in the eastern portions of Bald Knob Bald Knob, Arkansas Bald Knob is a city in White County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,210 at the 2000 census. Located at the intersection of two of the state's natural regions, Bald Knob is often promoted as "where the Ozarks meet the Delta". Bald Knob is also a leading strawberry producer in the... , and nine fatalities were reported in rural locales. A person also died near Russell. |
|
| F2 | S of Mayflower Mayflower, Arkansas Mayflower is a city in Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,631 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
Faulkner | 2300 | Unknown | Small homes were demolished west of the Mayflower area. Three homes were damaged and three were destroyed near Saltillo. | |
| F4 | Wattensaw area | Lonoke | 2300 | 7.6 miles (12.2 km) |
2 deaths were reported near Wattensaw. | |
| F3 | SW of England England, Arkansas England is a city in southwestern Lonoke County, Arkansas, United States, and the county's third most populous city. The population was 2,972 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area. England is home of the England Lions... to W of Tollville Tollville, Arkansas Tollville is an unincorporated community east of Little Rock in Prairie County, Arkansas, USA. It was reportedly founded by the Toll family, who were English emigrants. Founding families also included the Claytons and the Foots... |
Lonoke | 2300 | 16.2 miles (25.9 km) |
9 fatalities occurred in the town of England. Forty homes were destroyed, of which most were poorly constructed. | |
| F2 | Hickory Plains Hickory Plains, Arkansas Hickory Plains is an unincorporated community in Prairie County, Arkansas, United States. Hickory Plains is located at the junction of Arkansas Highway 13 and Arkansas Highway 38 west of Des Arc. Hickory Plains has a post office with ZIP code 72066.... to NE of Jasmine |
Prairie | 2320 | 13.3 miles (21.3 km) |
5 fatalities were recorded, of which two occurred at Hickory Plains. | |
| F? | NW of Tollville Tollville, Arkansas Tollville is an unincorporated community east of Little Rock in Prairie County, Arkansas, USA. It was reportedly founded by the Toll family, who were English emigrants. Founding families also included the Claytons and the Foots... |
Prairie | 2320 | Unknown | 1 death was reported. One source cites two fatalities. This tornado occurred south of Hazen Hazen, Arkansas Hazen is a city in Prairie County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,637 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hazen is located at .... . Fifteen homes were destroyed and twenty-seven received damage. |
|
| F3 | Georgetown Georgetown, Arkansas Georgetown is a town in southeastern White County, Arkansas, United States, overlooking the White River. First settled in 1789 before the Louisiana Purchase, the community is the oldest continuously settled area in Arkansas... to McCrory McCrory, Arkansas McCrory is a city in Woodruff County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,850 at the 2000 census.-Geography:McCrory is located at .... |
Woodruff | 2330 | 17.6 miles (28.2 km) |
The village of Georgetown was nearly completely destroyed. | |
| F4 | Cotton Plant Cotton Plant, Arkansas Cotton Plant is a city in Woodruff County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 960.-Geography:Cotton Plant is located at .... to Hillemann |
Woodruff | 2330 | 13.1 miles (21 km) |
29 fatalities occurred at Cotton Plant. The northwestern portion of the town was devastated and received F4 damage. Portions of Hillemann also sustained extensive damage. The funnel likely dissipated after striking Hillemann. | |
| F3 | SE of Blackville to Lake City Lake City, Arkansas Lake City is a town in Craighead County, Arkansas in the United States, along the St. Francis River. The population is 2,082 according to the 2010 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area... area |
Jackson, Poinsett, Craighead Craighead County, Arkansas Craighead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 96,443. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator Thomas... |
2340 | 28.5 miles (45.6 km) |
Seven homes were destroyed and eight received damage in Jackson County. The tornado produced a skipping damage swath. | |
| F4 | Hickory Ridge Hickory Ridge, Arkansas Hickory Ridge is a city in Cross County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 384 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hickory Ridge is located at .... area |
Cross | 0000 | Unknown | 4 deaths were verified in the town of Hickory Ridge. Of the town's homes, thirty were destroyed and eighty-six were afflicted with damage. | |
| F3 | Fisher Fisher, Arkansas Fisher is a town in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 265 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Fisher is located at .... area to Trumann Trumann, Arkansas Trumann is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,889 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Trumann is located at .... |
Poinsett, Mississippi | 0045 | Unknown | 3 deaths are officially listed. One possible fatality occurred at Fisher. In Fisher, twenty-one homes were destroyed or incurred damage. Additionally, there were two deaths north of Harrisburg Harrisburg, Arkansas Harrisburg is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,192 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area... . In Trumann, twenty-four buildings were damaged or destroyed. The third death also occurred at Trumann. |
|
| F3 | S of Marked Tree Marked Tree, Arkansas Marked Tree is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas in the United States, along the St. Francis River, at the mouth of the Little River. The population was 2,800 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.... to Lepanto Lepanto, Arkansas Lepanto is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,133 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area... area |
Poinsett | 0045 | 9.4 miles (15 km) |
1 death occurred. The tornado originated south of Marked Tree and ended near Lepanto. A small home was destroyed and twenty-two homes were damaged. | |
| F3 | Trumann Trumann, Arkansas Trumann is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,889 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Trumann is located at .... to Blytheville Blytheville, Arkansas Blytheville is the largest city in and one of the two county seats of Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 15,620 at the 2010 census.... |
Mississippi | 0100 | 39.7 miles (63.5 km) |
1 fatality occurred near Milligan Ridge. This tornado likely dissipated in the Blytheville area and redeveloped into a new tornado. | |
| Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area... |
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| F4 | S of Lapata | Dyer | 0000 | 4.7 miles (7.5 km) |
2 deaths were confirmed. Twelve homes were demolished near Bonicord, while five were destroyed near RoEllen. | |
| F3 | SE of Dyersburg Dyersburg, Tennessee Dyersburg is a city in and the county seat of Dyer County, Tennessee, United States, north-northeast of Memphis on the Forked Deer River. The population was 17,145 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Dyersburg is located at... |
Dyer | 0230 | 18.1 miles (29 km) |
10 deaths are officially listed, although one source does not include the tenth death. The damage path extended through the eastern section of Dyersburg. | |
| F4 | S of Owl Hoot | Dyer | 0230 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
4 deaths occurred. One resource states that at least eight deaths were attributable to the tornado. This event may have represented a continuation of the path of the Cooter, Missouri, F4 tornado. | |
| F2 | Medina Medina, Tennessee Medina is a city in Gibson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,479 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Medina is located at .... area |
Gibson | 0445 | Unknown | ||
| F3 | SE of Milan Milan, Tennessee Milan is a city in Gibson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 7,851 at the 2010 census. The zip code assigned by the U.S. Postal Service is 38358. Residents of Milan are usually referred to as Milanites... |
Carroll Carroll County, Tennessee Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 28,522. Its county seat is Huntingdon. It was named for Governor William Carroll.-Geography:According to the U.S... |
0450 | Unknown | This tornado passed through the Milan Arsenal, damaging thirty buildings and fifty-nine vehicles. Barracks were also damaged. Damage estimates reached $500,000 (1952 USD United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ). |
|
| F2 | Leach area | Carroll Carroll County, Tennessee Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 28,522. Its county seat is Huntingdon. It was named for Governor William Carroll.-Geography:According to the U.S... |
0500 | Unknown | 1 death occurred. Twelve homes were destroyed south of Huntingdon Huntingdon, Tennessee Huntingdon is a town in Carroll County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 4,349 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carroll County.-Geography:Huntingdon is located at .... . |
|
| F1 | Carthage Carthage, Tennessee Carthage is a town in Smith County, Tennessee, United States, and is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,251 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Smith County, and perhaps best known as the hometown of former Vice President Al Gore, and his father,... area |
Smith | 0515 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
A large building was unroofed and destroyed in the downtown region of Carthage. According to one publication, the tornado attained F2 intensity. | |
| F3 | Bruceton Bruceton, Tennessee Bruceton is a town in Carroll County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,478 in the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:... area |
Carroll Carroll County, Tennessee Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 28,522. Its county seat is Huntingdon. It was named for Governor William Carroll.-Geography:According to the U.S... |
0517 | 5.1 miles (8.2 km) |
The business district of Bruceton was destroyed, and three homes were demolished. | |
| F4 | SW of Bolivar Bolivar, Tennessee Bolivar is a city in Hardeman County, Tennessee, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,802. It is the county seat of Hardeman County. The town was named for South American revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar, but is pronounced to rhyme with the name Oliver. Bolivar... to Darden area |
Hardeman, Chester, Henderson | 0530 | 46.8 miles (74.9 km) |
38 deaths occurred. This tornado descended in Hardeman County. It touched down southwest of Bolivar and moved northeast to the Darden area. Four fatalities occurred in the northern section of Bolivar, where fourteen homes were demolished. In Henderson, 120 homes were destroyed and 260 received damage in the northern half of the town. Twenty-three people died in the town. The remaining eleven fatalities were reported from north of Jacks Creek Jacks Creek, Tennessee Jacks Creek, also called Jack's Creek, is an unincorporated community in Chester County, Tennessee, United States.-Geography:The community is situated on Highway 100E... to the vicinity of Darden. |
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| F2 | Buffalo area | Humphreys Humphreys County, Tennessee Humphreys County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 17,929. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 18,212. Its county seat is Waverly.-Geography:According to the U.S... |
0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
0555 | Three farm houses were unroofed and barns were demolished. The tornado affected the Squeeze Bottom area, which was situated near Buffalo. | |
| Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
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| F4 | E of Holland Holland, Missouri Holland is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 246 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Holland is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.... |
Pemiscot Pemiscot County, Missouri Pemiscot County is a county located in the Bootheel in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 20,047. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 18,515. The largest city and county seat is Caruthersville... |
0200 | 6.5 miles (10.4 km) |
17 fatalities were attributed to the tornado. Farms and tenant homes were devastated in the vicinity of Cooter Cooter, Missouri Cooter is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 440 at the 2000 census.-History:According to Houck's History of Missouri the town of Cooter was named in 1854 for the Coutre family, early settlers to the area. The Coutres are believed to have emigrated from France in... . One source indicates that this tornado traversed the Mississippi River and entered Tennessee, causing eight additional fatalities in the next state. The parent supercell thunderstorm was accompanied by hail Hail Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms... . Seventy homes were destroyed and 130 received damage. |
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| Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi... |
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| F? | Madison Madison, Mississippi Madison is a city in Madison County, Mississippi, USA. The population was 14,691 at the 2000 census. The population is currently 16,930. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is currently the highest income city in the state... area |
Madison Madison County, Mississippi -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 74,674 people, 27,219 households, and 19,325 families residing in the county. The population density was 104 people per square mile . There were 28,781 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile... |
0230 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
A brief tornado was observed. One person was injured. | |
| F4 | Byhalia Byhalia, Mississippi Byhalia is a town in Marshall County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 706 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-History:... area to SE of Pattersonville, TN |
Marshall, MS Marshall County, Mississippi -Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 34,993 people, 12,163 households and 9,110 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 per square mile . There were 13,252 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile... ; Fayette, TN |
0400 | 29.6 miles (47.4 km) |
Officially, the tornado caused 16 deaths. One publication lists seventeen fatalities. Twenty-two homes were destroyed in Mississippi, while sixteen were destroyed in Tennessee. The majority of the deaths were documented in Mississippi. The tornado passed northwest of Moscow, Tennessee Moscow, Tennessee Moscow is a city in Fayette County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 556 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Moscow is located at .... . It was formerly classified at F5 intensity, but an extensive study did not ascertain F5 damage. A concrete block building was destroyed, but the integrity of the construction was unknown. The Storm Prediction Center Storm Prediction Center The Storm Prediction Center , located in Norman, Oklahoma, is tasked with forecasting the risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the contiguous United States. The agency issues convective outlooks, mesoscale discussions, and watches as a part of this process... officially reduced the intensity to F4 status. |
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| Sources: NCDC National Climatic Data Center The United States National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina is the world's largest active archive of weather data. The center became established in late 1951, with the move into the new facility occurring in early 1952.... Storm Events Database, SPC Storm Prediction Center The Storm Prediction Center , located in Norman, Oklahoma, is tasked with forecasting the risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the contiguous United States. The agency issues convective outlooks, mesoscale discussions, and watches as a part of this process... Storm Data, Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: Chronology and Analysis of Events by Thomas P. Grazulis |
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March 22
| F# Fujita scale The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation... |
Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
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| Kentucky Kentucky The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth... |
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| F3 | S of Hodgenville Hodgenville, Kentucky Hodgenville is a city in and the county seat of LaRue County, Kentucky, United States. It sits along the North Fork of the Nolin River. The population was 2,874 at the 2000 census... |
Larue LaRue County, Kentucky LaRue County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is included in the Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 13,373. Its county seat is Hodgenville... |
0605 | 2.7 miles (4.3 km) |
Nine cottage buildings and the county fairgrounds were destroyed. Twelve homes were unroofed, and approximately forty received minor damage. | |
| Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area... |
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| F2 | Spot area | Hickman | 0620 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
3 deaths occurred. Seven homes were destroyed and two were damaged. Eleven families were impacted. | |
| Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
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| F4 | W of Falkville Falkville, Alabama Falkville is a town in Morgan County, Alabama, in the United States, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 1,202.-Geography:... to S of Huntsville Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census.... |
Morgan Morgan County, Alabama Morgan County is the most populous county in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, and the second most populous county in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area in the U.S. State of Alabama. It was created by the Alabama Territorial legislature on February 6, 1818 from land acquired from the... |
2100 | 21.6 miles (34.6 km) |
4 deaths were recorded. The tornado developed near Massey and moved northeast, traveling west of Falkville. Thirty-five homes were destroyed, and some structures received F4 destruction. The funnel also passed through the Redstone Arsenal Redstone Arsenal Redstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area... . |
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| Sources: NCDC National Climatic Data Center The United States National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina is the world's largest active archive of weather data. The center became established in late 1951, with the move into the new facility occurring in early 1952.... Storm Events Database, SPC Storm Prediction Center The Storm Prediction Center , located in Norman, Oklahoma, is tasked with forecasting the risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the contiguous United States. The agency issues convective outlooks, mesoscale discussions, and watches as a part of this process... Storm Data, Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: Chronology and Analysis of Events by Thomas P. Grazulis |
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