Tornado outbreak sequence of April 2–5, 1957

On April 2–5, 1957, a deadly tornado outbreak sequence struck most of the Southern United States. The outbreak killed at least 21 people across three states and produced at least 72 tornadoes from Texas to Virginia. The outbreak was most notable due to a tornado that hit a densely populated area of the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, killing 10 people and injuring 200 or more. The tornado, highly visible for most of its path, was at the time the most observed and best-documented tornado in recorded history; hundreds of people photographed or filmed the F3 tornado as it moved just west of Downtown Dallas. The film of this tornado is still known for its unusually high quality and sharpness, considering the photography techniques and technology of the 1950s. Damage from the Dallas tornado reached as high as $4 million (1957 USD). Besides the famous Dallas tornado, other deadly tornadoes struck portions of Mississippi, Texas, and Oklahoma. Two F4 tornadoes struck southern Oklahoma on April 2, killing five people. Three other significant, F2-rated tornadoes that day killed two people in Texas and one more in Oklahoma. An F3 tornado struck rural Mississippi on April 4, killing one more person.[nb 2][nb 3][nb 4]

Tornado outbreak sequence of April 2–5, 1957
The 1957 Dallas tornado exhibiting multiple vortices on April 2
TypeTornado outbreak sequence
DurationApril 2–5, 1957
Highest gust83 kn (96 mph; 154 km/h) in Toledo, Ohio, on April 5[1][2]
Tornadoes
confirmed		72 confirmed
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2		3 days, 16 hours, 35 minutes
Largest hail2+1⁄2 in (6.4 cm) in Oklahoma on April 2[3]
Fatalities21 fatalities, 338 injuries
Damage$9.562 million (1957 USD)[nb 1][4]
$88.1 million (2021 USD)
Areas affectedCentral and Eastern United States

1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Background

At 6:30 a.m. CST (12:30 UTC) on Tuesday, April 2, 1957, a low-pressure system was situated over the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, with a warm front stretching into northern Louisiana and a cold front stretching along a surface-based trough into western Texas east of El Paso, Lubbock, and Amarillo. Temperatures on that day reached the 70s in northern Texas with dew points in the upper 60s to near 70 °F (21 °C). A strong upper-level jet, abundant instability in the atmosphere, and substantial wind shear provided additional fuel for the development of supercells across the region, particularly along and just north of the warm front. A capping inversion also helped maintain lifted indices of up to -71⁄2 through late afternoon, contributing to high convective available potential energy (CAPE) for severe thunderstorm development and tornadogenesis.[14]

Outbreak statistics
Outbreak death toll
State Total County County
total
Mississippi 1 Smith 1
Oklahoma 6 Bryan 3
Marshall 2
Murray 1
Texas 12 Dallas 10
Delta 1
Lamar 1
Totals 19
All deaths were tornado-related

Confirmed tornadoes
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 17 21 26 6 2 0 ≥ 72
  • In addition to confirmed tornadoes, a possible tornado may have destroyed a home in the Woodlawn community, near Sherman, on April 2. Another possible tornado hit Ballard County, Kentucky, on April 3, unroofing homes, destroying a drive-in theater, and uprooting trees. A loud roaring noise was heard. Another tornado may have also struck near Tansill in Pope County, Illinois, on the same date. Another Two other brief tornadoes may have hit near Westlake and at Tallulah, Louisiana, late on April 4.[15]

April 2 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, April 2, 1957[nb 5][nb 6]
F# Location County / Parish State Start
coord.		 Time (UTC) Path length Max. width Summary
F2 ESE of Allison Cooke TX 33.25°N 97.38°W / 33.25; -97.38 (Allison (April 2, F2)) 09:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Tornado reported. Losses were unknown. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis did not classify the tornado as an F2 or stronger.[17][18][19]
F2 SE of Howe Grayson TX 33.47°N 96.58°W / 33.47; -96.58 (Howe (April 2, F2)) 21:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Tornado destroyed or damaged three homes, including a farmhouse, and blew cars off a road. Barns were also destroyed, and many trees were blown down. A couple were moved 50 yd (150 ft), critically injuring the woman. One other person was injured and losses totaled $25,000. Tornado may have been part of the same family as the Melissa–Anna–Van Alstyne F3.[20][21][22]
F2 WSW of Rowland Montague TX 33.93°N 97.72°W / 33.93; -97.72 (Rowland (April 2, F2)) 21:25–? 2 miles (3.2 km) 33 yards (30 m) Short-lived tornado destroyed a church, a warehouse, and three houses. One woman was mildly injured when the roof over her head collapsed. Losses totaled $25,000.[23][21][22]
F1 NNE of Ringling Jefferson OK 34.22°N 97.58°W / 34.22; -97.58 (Ringling (April 2, F1)) 21:30–? 2 miles (3.2 km) 33 yards (30 m) Short-lived tornado destroyed or damaged several farmsteads. Losses totaled $2,500.[24][21]
F0 NNE of Grapevine Tarrant TX 32.97°N 97.05°W / 32.97; -97.05 (Grapevine (April 2, F0)) 21:50–? 0.3 miles (0.48 km) 67 yards (61 m) Brief touchdown produced minimal damage. Losses totaled $2,500.[25][21]
F0 SW of Pottsboro Grayson TX 33.72°N 96.7°W / 33.72; -96.7 (Pottsboro (April 2, F0)) 22:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Brief tornado destroyed or damaged three homes and numerous barns. Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F3 with a 5-mile-long (8.0 km) path length.[26][21][22]
F3 Melissa to Anna to Van Alstyne Collin, Grayson TX 33.28°N 96.62°W / 33.28; -96.62 (Melissa (April 2, F3)) 22:20–? 10.7 miles (17.2 km) 33 yards (30 m) Intense tornado family comprised two distinct events, the first of which destroyed or damaged approximately 25 homes and barns, along with a church, a porch, and a warehouse, in and near Melissa, scattering debris for 3 mi (4.8 km). Second member of the family destroyed eight homes in Anna and left debris in Van Alstyne. Four people were injured and losses totaled $500,000. First member may have touched down at two locations east of McKinney.[27][28][21][21][22]
F3 Western Dallas Dallas TX 32.85°N 96.83°W / 32.85; -96.83 (Dallas (April 2, F3)) 22:30–23:10 17.2 miles (27.7 km) 100 yards (91 m) 10 deaths – See section on this tornado – At least 200 people were injured and losses totaled $2.5 million.[29][21][22]
F2 SE of Davis to S of Stratford Murray, Garvin OK 34.55°N 96.9°W / 34.55; -96.9 (Davis (April 2, F2)) 22:50–? 11.7 miles (18.8 km) 400 yards (370 m) Pair of tornadoes, paralleling each other within 2 mi (3.2 km), destroyed or damaged 28 barns and homes, carrying papers 40 mi (64 km) distant. A farmstead was nearly leveled at Corley, 3 mi (4.8 km) outside Stratford. One person—possibly two—was injured and losses totaled $50,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as a high-end F3, based on damage to three homes. NCEI lists the touchdown as west of Hickory.[30][31][32][22]
F2 W of Dougherty Murray OK 34.4°N 97.13°W / 34.4; -97.13 (Dougherty (April 2, F2)) 22:55–? 2 miles (3.2 km) 600 yards (550 m) 1 death – Large, intense tornado crossing U.S. Route 77 in the Arbuckle Mountains south of Davis threw a pickup truck 75 yd (225 ft), killing the driver, and also tossed a car 300 yd (900 ft). A 340-to-360-foot-tall (100 to 110 m) telecommunications tower was destroyed, and a television transmission center lost its roof. Two people were injured and losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F3.[33][34][35]
F4 N of New Woodville Marshall OK 34°N 96.65°W / 34; -96.65 (New Woodville (April 2, F4)) 23:29–? 5.2 miles (8.4 km) 200 yards (180 m) 2 deaths – Violent tornado touched down over Lake Texoma, destroying or severely damaging 15 homes, a pair of oil refineries, and a fishing camp. A pair of large homes were swept away, and a car was tossed 200 ft (61 m) as well, resulting in a fatality and injury. Six people were injured and losses totaled $2.5 million.[36][34][35]
F4 Calera to Durant to SW of Armstrong Bryan OK 33.93°N 96.43°W / 33.93; -96.43 (Calera (April 2, F4)) 23:58–? 7.9 miles (12.7 km) 200 yards (180 m) 3 deaths – Violent tornado destroyed a large barn and a drive-in theater in Calera (parodying a scene in the 1996 film Twister). Tornado also destroyed or damaged 160 businesses and homes in 29 blocks of Durant, along with a service station and nearly every building at Southeastern State College, now Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Three people were injured and losses totaled $500,000. Precursor to tornado was first observed as a funnel cloud near Denison, Texas.[37][34][38]
F2 Ambia Lamar TX 33.48°N 95.77°W / 33.48; -95.77 (Ambia (April 2, F2)) 00:00–? 6.5 miles (10.5 km) 100 yards (91 m) 1 death – Tornado destroyed a pair of homes, fatally crushing a man beneath debris. About seven other homes were destroyed nearby. Two people were injured and losses totaled $25,000. NCEI lists the path as extending from Ben Franklin to north of Roxton.[39][34][35]
F2 Northern Wheeler Wheeler TX 35.45°N 100.27°W / 35.45; -100.27 (Wheeler (April 2, F2)) 00:05–? 0.3 miles (0.48 km) 33 yards (30 m) Brief but strong tornado killed livestock, swept away a barn, damaged outbuildings, and severely damaged a farmhouse. Losses totaled $25,000.[40][34][38]
F3 Dido to Newark Tarrant, Wise TX 33.03°N 97.55°W / 33.03; -97.55 (Dido (April 2, F3)) 00:15–00:40 ≥0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Intense tornado destroyed or damaged numerous structures, including 11 homes, one of which was tossed 70 ft (21 m). A school lost its roof, school buses were tossed, a community centre made of sheet metal was flattened, and National Guard buildings were damaged. Two people were injured and losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as a 9-mile-long (14 km) F2. NCEI lists the touchdown as north of Briar.[41][34][38]
F2 E of Altus to W of Mountain View Jackson, Kiowa OK 34.63°N 99.27°W / 34.63; -99.27 (Altus (April 2, F2)) 00:30–? 43.7 miles (70.3 km) 150 yards (140 m) Long-tracked tornado skipped past Friendship and Roosevelt, wrecking a truck and several barns. A home lost its roof as well. One person was injured and losses totaled $50,000.[42][43][34][38]
F2 SE of Harmon Lamar TX 33.5°N 95.8°W / 33.5; -95.8 (Harmon (April 2, F2)) 00:30–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Brief but strong tornado struck the rural K-Bar Ranch, severely damaging an arena and outbuildings. Farm machinery, a garage, and a home received lesser damage, while another home was destroyed. Losses totaled $25,000.[44][34]
F1 ENE of Stony to Plainview Denton TX 33.23°N 97.33°W / 33.23; -97.33 (Stony (April 2, F1)) 00:30–? 1.5 miles (2.4 km) 67 yards (61 m) Tornado produced three distinct swaths of intermittent damage, including to outbuildings and a few barns. A home was partly unroofed as well. Losses totaled $25,000.[45][34]
F0 W of Asher Pottawatomie OK 34.98°N 96.95°W / 34.98; -96.95 (Asher (April 2, F0)) 00:40–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Brief touchdown reported. Losses totaled $30.[46][47]
F0 S of Altus to ESE of Friendship Jackson OK 34.6°N 99.32°W / 34.6; -99.32 (Altus #2 (April 2, F0)) 01:05–? 8.8 miles (14.2 km) 100 yards (91 m) Second Altus-area tornado hit the eastern side of Altus Air Force Base and moved into rural areas. Losses totaled $25,000.[48][47]
F1 SE of Grant to ESE of Spencerville Choctaw OK 33.93°N 95.5°W / 33.93; -95.5 (Grant (April 2, F1)) 01:15–? 16.8 miles (27.0 km) 33 yards (30 m) Tornado passed east of Hugo, destroying or damaging several barns and homes. Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F2.[49][47][38]
F2 Ben Franklin Delta TX 33.55°N 95.77°W / 33.55; -95.77 (Ben Franklin (April 2, F2)) 01:51–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) 1 death – Tornado destroyed six homes and damaged several others. Two people were injured and losses totaled $25,000. This and the previous event may have belonged to the same family. Grazulis listed the tornado as the same as the Ambia–Harmon F2s, considering all three to be a 30-mile-long (48 km) F3 event.[50][18][35]
F2 W of Bengal to McCurtain Latimer, Haskell OK 34.83°N 95.1°W / 34.83; -95.1 (Bengal (April 2, F2)) 03:00–? 23.3 miles (37.5 km) 880 yards (800 m) Tornado bypassed Salonia and Red Oak, destroying or damaging several stores, an old high school, and 28 homes. Two people were injured and losses totaled $50,000.[51][52][47][38]
F2 Northwestern Hartshorne to N of Patterson Pittsburg, Latimer OK 34.85°N 95.57°W / 34.85; -95.57 (Hartshorne (April 2, F2)) 03:05–? 11.7 miles (18.8 km) 440 yards (400 m) Tornado struck Haileyville, destroying a barn and tearing the roofs off a drugstore and two other businesses. More than 100 television antennae were snapped, and many trees were felled as well. Losses totaled $25,000.[53][47][38]
F1 ESE of Stephens Gap McCurtain OK 34.13°N 94.65°W / 34.13; -94.65 (Stephens Gap (April 2, F1)) 03:30–? 11.2 miles (18.0 km) 880 yards (800 m) Nocturnal tornado east of Beavers Bend Resort Park destroyed 3,000,000 board feet (7,100 m3) of timber near Carnasaw Tower in the Ouachita National Forest. Losses totaled $25,000.[54][18]
F0 Western Poteau Le Flore OK 35.05°N 94.63°W / 35.05; -94.63 (Poteau (April 2, F1)) 03:50–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Little or no damage reported. Losses totaled $30.[55][47]
F0 Northern Oklahoma City Oklahoma OK 35.6°N 97.55°W / 35.6; -97.55 (Oklahoma City (April 2, F0)) 04:30–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) 30-foot-wide (9.1 m) swaths of grain standing in a field were flattened near The Village. Losses totaled $30.[56][47]

April 3 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, April 3, 1957[nb 5][nb 6]
F# Location County / Parish State Start
coord.		 Time (UTC) Path length Max. width Summary
F1 SW of Courtney Love OK 33.93°N 97.52°W / 33.93; -97.52 (Courtney (April 3, F1)) 05:45–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Tornado swept away a home. Losses were unknown. Many tornadoes were reported nearby.[57][18]
F0 Northern Davenport Lincoln OK 35.72°N 96.77°W / 35.72; -96.77 (Davenport (April 3, F0) 06:15–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Funnel was observed aloft and later confirmed to have been a tornado. Losses totaled $30.[58][18]
F0 Northern Terrell Kaufman TX 32.75°N 96.28°W / 32.75; -96.28 (Terrell (April 3, F0)) 07:15–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Brief touchdown reported. Losses were unknown.[59][60]
F1 SSW of Woodlawn (1st tornado) Harrison TX 32.62°N 94.38°W / 32.62; -94.38 (Woodlawn (April 3, F1)) 16:28–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Brief touchdown. Losses totaled $30.[61][18]
F0 W of Parvin Denton TX 33.25°N 96.95°W / 33.25; -96.95 (Parvin (April 3, F0)) 16:30–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Tornado hit an open field, causing only $30 in losses.[62][18]
F0 Southern Fort Worth Tarrant TX 32.67°N 97.33°W / 32.67; -97.33 (Fort Worth (April 3, F0)) 16:45–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Losses totaled $30.[63][18]
F0 Western Duncanville Dallas TX 32.65°N 96.92°W / 32.65; -96.92 (Duncanville (April 3, F0)) 16:50–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Tornado damaged a single home. Losses totaled $250.[64][60]
F2 W of Lone Star Morris TX 32.88°N 94.72°W / 32.88; -94.72 (Lone Star (April 3, F2)) 17:00–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Tornado destroyed a structure and damaged six outbuildings on a farm. Losses totaled $250. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.[65][18][19]
F2 SSW of Woodlawn (2nd tornado) Harrison TX 32.62°N 94.38°W / 32.62; -94.38 (Woodlawn #2 (April 3, F2)) 17:30–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Tornado partly unroofed a home, damaged a pair of outbuildings, destroyed a shed, and downed trees. Losses totaled $2,500. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.[66][18][19]
F1 ESE of Caruth Dunklin MO 36.13°N 90.08°W / 36.13; -90.08 ((April 3, F1)) 18:00–18:10 1 mile (1.6 km) 100 yards (91 m) Tornado damaged several structures and a cotton gin. Losses totaled $2,500.[67][68]
F2 Alexander Greene AR 36.07°N 90.42°W / 36.07; -90.42 (Morning Star (April 3, F2)) 18:05–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Brief tornado destroyed a garage. Losses totaled $250. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. NCEI lists the touchdown as east-northeast of Morning Star.[69][68][19]
F3 ENE of Cash to N of Finch Craighead, Greene AR 35.8°N 90.92°W / 35.8; -90.92 (Cash (April 3, F3)) 18:05–? 22.6 miles (36.4 km) 100 yards (91 m) Intense tornado badly damaged a rice dryer and wrecked many structures. Losses totaled $25,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.[70][68][19]
F1 Manila Mississippi AR 35.8°N 90.17°W / 35.8; -90.17 (Manila (April 3, F1)) 18:30–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Brief tornado damaged a pair of homes. Losses totaled $250. NCEI lists the touchdown as north-northeast of Floodway.[71][68]
F1 Little Cypress Orange TX 30.1°N 93.73°W / 30.1; -93.73 (Little Cypress (April 3, F1)) 18:45–? 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 33 yards (30 m) Tornado ripped a 50-by-40-foot (15 by 12 m) portion of a roof off a school. Losses totaled $250. NCEI lists the touchdown as near downtown Orange.[72][68]
F0 E of Dogwood Mississippi MO 36.83°N 89.4°W / 36.83; -89.4 (Dogwood (April 3, F0)) 19:30–19:35 0.3 miles (0.48 km) 10 yards (9.1 m) Tornado damaged outbuildings on a farm. Losses totaled $2,500.[73][68]
F2 Hurstown Shelby TX 31.62°N 94.05°W / 31.62; -94.05 (Hurstown (April 3, F2)) 19:30–? 2 miles (3.2 km) 33 yards (30 m) Brief but strong tornado destroyed a pair of barns and a small home. Losses totaled $2,500. NCEI lists the touchdown as northwest of Hawthorne.[74][68][38]
F2 Cairo to Mound City Alexander, Pulaski IL 37°N 89.2°W / 37; -89.2 (Cairo (April 3, F2)) 20:00–? 6.8 miles (10.9 km) 33 yards (30 m) Tornado affected a two-block-wide swath, unroofing three large buildings. Five people were injured and losses totaled $250,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.[75][76][68][19]
F1 E of Woodburn Warren KY 2330 0.1 miles (0.16 km) A funnel cloud was observed and later confirmed to be a touchdown.[4][77]
F0 Jonesboro Jackson LA 0000 0.5 miles (0.80 km) A brief touchdown near Hodge caused minor damage.[4]
F1 SW of Hollandale Washington MS 0115 11.9 miles (19.2 km) A tornado damaged or destroyed 20 homes. It also destroyed and scattered a church and a cotton gin. Grazulis listed the tornado as an F2.[38]

April 4 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, April 4, 1957[nb 5][nb 6]
F# Location County / Parish State Start
coord.		 Time (UTC) Path length Max. width Summary
F2 NE of Vernon to W of Forreston Winston, Noxubee, Lowndes MS 0615 40.7 miles (65.5 km) A tornado destroyed rural farms and outbuildings.[38]
F3 Sanatorium to SW of Penantly Simpson, Smith, Jasper MS 0700 40.2 miles (64.7 km) 1 death – This tornado first struck the Mississippi Tuberculosis Sanatorium (now Boswell Regional Center), injuring 30 of 200 patients in a dormitory. Nearby, the tornado also damaged or destroyed 10 homes. West of Bay Springs, the tornado killed a person and injured 15 others who had sought shelter in a school bus. The tornado also struck the rural "Ted" and "Warren Hill" communities, near the Smith–Jasper county line, before dissipating.[4][38]
F2 SE of Middle Fork Henderson TN 0710 0.1 miles (0.16 km) This brief tornado destroyed two homes. It also damaged four other homes and numerous barns.[38]
F3 SE of Ramer to Eastview to NE of Gravel Hill McNairy TN 0715 7.3 miles (11.7 km) This tornado destroyed nine homes and nine barns. It also damaged 13 other homes. The tornado was rated F2 by Grazulis.[38]
F1 SE of Lonoke Lonoke AR 2330 0.3 miles (0.48 km) A tornado damaged 20 acres (8.1 ha), destroying a grain bin and knocking down fences and light poles.[4]

April 5 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Friday, April 5, 1957[nb 5][nb 6]
F# Location County / Parish State Start
coord.		 Time (UTC) Path length Max. width Summary
F0 Barnesville Lamar GA 0800 1.3 miles (2.1 km) A tornado damaged utility lines and trees in Barnesville. Several barns were reported destroyed, and porches were blown away as well.[4]
F2 SW of Ellaville to S of Gordon Schley, Macon, Peach, Houston, Twiggs, Wilkinson GA 0900 75 miles (121 km) 2 deaths – A family of three or more tornadoes began with an F2 touchdown near Ellaville, damaging or destroying 85 homes across Schley County. Two children died near the border of Macon County, and 37 homes were damaged or destroyed in the "Lowe" community. In Twiggs County, another F2 touchdown leveled a small home near Jeffersonville. A third, weaker touchdown in Wilkinson County damaged roofs and uprooted trees.[4][38]
F2 Thomson to SW of Appling Warren, McDuffie, Columbia GA 1200 23.3 miles (37.5 km) This family of three or more tornadoes may have begun southwest of Warrenton, where homes and barns were destroyed, but is officially plotted as having started near Thomson, where more homes and barns were destroyed at F2 intensity. In "Leah", a second F2 tornado touched down, destroying a church and seven homes. A third F2 touchdown destroyed a home in the "Pumpkin Hill" community between Appling and Harlem.[38]
F2 E of Monetta to N of Lexington Lexington SC 1245 21.3 miles (34.3 km) One home was destroyed and several others were damaged. A large recreation hall was badly damaged.[4]
F1 Prosperity Newberry SC 1314 3.3 miles (5.3 km)
F0 E of Moultrie to NW of Sparks Colquitt, Cook GA 1330 13.7 miles (22.0 km) A tornado destroyed homes and two barns. Trees were uprooted as well.[4]
F1 N of Waycross Ware GA 1600 0.1 miles (0.16 km) A tornado destroyed one home and damaged trees and other structures in "Jamestown", near Blackshear.[4]
F0 Hutchinson Island Chatham GA 1634 0.3 miles (0.48 km) A tornado damaged roofs and small structures. Many trees were uprooted as well.[4]
F1 SW of Union City Randolph IN 1800 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F2 Muncie Delaware IN 1805 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F0 NE of Fairmount Grant IN 1830 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F2 NW of Heltonville Lawrence IN 1830 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F1 Big Stone Gap Wise VA 1840 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F1 N of Lizton Hendricks IN 1845 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F2 NE of Redkey Jay IN 1915 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F2 SE of Middletown Henry IN 2000 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
F1 SE of Elizabeth City Pasquotank, Camden NC 2130 6.1 miles (9.8 km)
F1 NW of Yadkinville Yadkin NC 2310 4.7 miles (7.6 km)
F1 NE of Springdale Lancaster SC 0130 1 mile (1.6 km)
F1 High Point Guilford NC 0135 4.7 miles (7.6 km)

Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
F3 tornado
Highest winds
Max. rating1F3 tornado
Fatalities10 fatalities, 200+ injuries
Damage$2.5 million (1957 USD)
$23 million (2021 USD)
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

At around 3:00 p.m. CST (21:00 UTC), the first tornadoes touched down north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area. At around 4:30 p.m. CST (some sources say 4:15 p.m. CST), a tornado touched down in southern Dallas County, south of modern-day Interstate 20 near Redbird Airport, and traveled northward for about 45 minutes through the Dallas neighborhoods of Oak Cliff, Kessler Park, West Dallas (only 2.5 mi (4.0 km) west of Downtown Dallas) and Love Field before lifting over Bachman Lake, west of Dallas Love Field, just after 5:00 p.m. CST. As it first touched down, the tornado was barely visible, with only a debris cloud showing at the base of the thin funnel cloud. 13 minutes later, the tornado funnel became more visible and was seen clearly to touch the ground.

The tornado reached its maximum intensity, likely in the upper range of the F3 category, as it approached the Trinity River. In this area, between Singleton Boulevard and Riverside Drive, homes were completely swept off their foundations, and nearby railroad cars were overturned; while the damage appeared to be F4 in appearance, the homes had been poorly constructed, lacking wall studding and being "set on piers 8 to 12 ft (2.4 to 3.7 m) on center." Thus the tornado was officially rated F3, which is consistent with photogrammetric estimates of 175-mile-per-hour (282 km/h) peak winds in the worst-damaged area. Some time after crossing the Trinity River, the tornado weakened, and shortly afterward passed over a parking lot about 3⁄4 mi (1.2 km) west of the U.S. Weather Bureau office at Dallas Love Field. The funnel then entered the rope stage and dissipated just north of Bachman Lake.

In all, the Dallas tornado killed 10 and injured at least 200 (some sources say 216) others. Damage was estimated at $4 million (1957 USD). The tornado completely destroyed about 131 (some sources say 154) homes, badly damaged 111, and mildly damaged 287. Nearly 600 (some sources list 574) structures and more than 500 homes were damaged, including between nine and 28 permanent apartment buildings that were completely destroyed. Some businesses and schools were also damaged, but the Parkland Memorial Hospital was narrowly spared, as was Dallas Love Field. Another, though officially unconfirmed, tornado in Collin County, north of the city, may have briefly touched down just east of the dissipating Dallas tornado and caused damage.

The Dallas tornado was heavily documented, filmed, and photographed by several eyewitnesses as it passed through residential and commercial areas of Dallas. Visible for much of its 17-mile (27 km) path, the tornado, at the time, was the most observed in recorded history: 125 observers produced thousands of photographs and hours of high-quality, 16-mm film measuring 2,000 ft (610 m) in length. The tornado was highly visible due to its slow, 30-mile-per-hour (48 km/h) forward speed, a lack of precipitation, and its coincidence with ideal, late-afternoon lighting. Occurring shortly before the end of the workday, the tornado passed just west of Downtown Dallas and was seen by many business and factory workers. Many TV studios had time to film the tornado from rooftops.

A researcher from the Severe Weather Forecast Unit in Kansas City noticed that several old theories were proven false during the Dallas tornado. One of the theories was that all air and debris flowed inward into the funnel and then upward, but on the outside edges of the funnel debris and people were even lifted. WFAA-TV in Dallas produced a 30-minute documentary about the tornado about one week later. The tornado became the subject of several scientific papers analyzing the life cycle of and wind speed speeds in a tornado. Among the studies was the first-ever photogrammetric analysis of wind speeds in a tornado. The film of the tornado is still regarded as being of exceptionally high quality and sharpness. Additionally, structural surveys following this and the Fargo tornado later in the year provided data that contributed to the development of the Fujita scale.[78]

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.[5]
  3. 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.[6][7] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,[8] Canada utilized the old scale until April 1, 2013;[9] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.[10]
  4. 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.[11] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.[12] 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.[13]
  5. 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.
  6. Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[16]

References
  1. Storm Data Publication 1957, Events Reported
  2. USWB 1957, p. 115.
  3. Storm Data Publication 1957, Events Reported
  4. Storm Data Publication 1957, Events Reported
  5. 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 17 September 2019.
  6. Grazulis 1993, p. 141.
  7. Grazulis 2001a, p. 131.
  8. Edwards, Roger (5 March 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  9. "Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale)". Environment and Climate Change Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  10. "The International Tornado Intensity Scale". Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  11. Grazulis 2001a, pp. 251–4.
  12. Edwards, Roger (5 March 2015). "The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)". Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  13. Cook & Schaefer 2008, p. 3135.
  14. Multiple sources:
  15. USWB 1957, pp. 106, 110–1, 113.
  16. Brooks 2004, p. 310.
  17. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122239
  18. USWB 1957, p. 109.
  19. Grazulis 1993, pp. 1000–4.
  20. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122240
  21. USWB 1957, p. 106.
  22. Grazulis 1993, p. 1000.
  23. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122241
  24. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092662
  25. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122242
  26. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122243
  27. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122244
  28. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122246
  29. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122245
  30. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092663
  31. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092664
  32. USWB 1957, pp. 106–7.
  33. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092666
  34. USWB 1957, p. 107.
  35. Grazulis 1993, p. 1001.
  36. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092668
  37. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092669
  38. Grazulis 1993, p. 1003.
  39. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122247
  40. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122248
  41. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122249
  42. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092670
  43. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092673
  44. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122251
  45. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122250
  46. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092671
  47. USWB 1957, p. 108.
  48. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092677
  49. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092678
  50. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122252
  51. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092680
  52. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092686
  53. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092682
  54. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092687
  55. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092688
  56. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092689
  57. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092690
  58. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10092691
  59. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122254
  60. USWB 1957, p. 111.
  61. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122257
  62. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122258
  63. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122259
  64. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122260
  65. Storm Data Publication 1957, #101222261
  66. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122262
  67. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10060393
  68. USWB 1957, p. 110.
  69. Storm Data Publication 1957, #9984224
  70. Storm Data Publication 1957, #9984225
  71. Storm Data Publication 1957, #9984226
  72. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122263
  73. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10060395
  74. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10122265
  75. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10008392
  76. Storm Data Publication 1957, #10008607
  77. US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Tornado Listing". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  78. Multiple sources:

Sources
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.