Tornadoes of 1950

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Tornadoes of 1950
TimespanJanuary 3 — December 2
Maximum rated tornadoF4 tornado
  • 7 different locations
    on 6 different days
Tornadoes in U.S.201[1]
Damage (U.S.)$34.428 million (1950 USD) $358.7 million (2018 USD)
Fatalities (U.S.)70
Fatalities (worldwide)>74

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1950, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally.

This was the first year where tornadoes were documented by the U.S. Weather Bureau, which would later become the National Weather Service. It was the least active tornado season ever recorded. However, tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. In subsequent years, the documentation of tornadoes became much more widespread and efficient, with the average annual tornado count being around 1,253.[2]

Events[]

Main article: List of United States tornadoes in 1950

A major milestone in weather history, 1950 marks the first public tornado warning and use of radar to track storms. With this, tornado records began to be kept and a database was started. However, tornadoes were not given ratings until the Fujita scale came into effect in 1973, at which point every confirmed tornado back to 1950 was officially rated.

1950 had an early and violent start to the year with the first tornadoes touching down on January 3. Two F3 tornadoes and one F1 tornado touching down. One of the F3 tornadoes struck the northern suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri and caused almost $3 million in damage. The first killer tornado of 1950 was a lone F3 tornado on January 13 which struck Polk County, Arkansas killing one and injuring another. A rare F2 tornado also touched down in Northeastern Illinois on January 26. This is one of only two tornadoes to hit that area in the month of January with the other being an EF3 tornado on January 7, 2008. A deadly tornado outbreak occurred between February 11-13 across the Southern United States. A total of 19 tornadoes touched down, including an F4 tornado which left at least 18 people dead along an 82.6-mile-long (132.9 km) track in Louisiana on February 12. There were eight killer tornadoes, six of which were on February 12, which left at least 45 people dead. Two other long track tornadoes touched down in Louisiana, and F3 tornado which tracked 74.5 miles (119.9 km) leaving five dead, and an F2 tornado which traveled 58.4 miles (94.0 km) and left another five dead. Deadly outbreaks also occurred during the next two months of the year. The end of March saw 16 tornadoes in the Mississippi Valley with one fatality and 52 injuries. Little Rock, Arkansas was hit by an F2 tornado during the outbreak while back-to-back F2 tornadoes also hit Jackson, Mississippi. April began with a small outbreak that generated a fatal F3 tornado that killed one and injured eight in Tuckerman, Arkansas before a bigger outbreak took place at the end of the month. Seven tornadoes would touch down in the Central Plains and Mississippi, including violent F4 tornadoes in both Texas and Oklahoma, killing 11 and injuring 38.

The beginning of May, the most active month of the year on average in the United States, produced another tornado outbreak across the Central Plains, killing one and injuring 26. An F4 tornado in the outbreak produced near-F5 damage in Zook, Kansas. The end of the month saw four tornadoes strike the United Kingdom, killing four people. June had at least four killer tornadoes in the United States. At the beginning of the month, an F3 tornado killed two and injured one north of Kosciusko, Mississippi. Several days later, a violent F4 tornado hit Southern McPherson, Kansas, killing one and injuring five. A couple of weeks later, a tornado outbreak in Wisconsin produced killer F2 and F4 tornadoes in Colby and Rhinelander respectively, killing three and injuring 12. An additional outbreak sequence that took place during the middle of the month before that one injured 110 people with 101 of those injuries coming from an F2 tornado in Center, Nebraska. Tornado activity began to decrease in July, but an F4 tornado did injure 33 north of Uehling, Nebraska during the middle of the month. Four days later, 30 more people were injured when an F3 tornado hit Southeastern Lima, Ohio as well as Beaverdam.

Several tornadic events took place internationally as the activity in the United States went close to dormancy. In August, a long-tracked tornado of at least F3 intensity reportedly killed four in the Netherlands. On the first day of September, another long-tracked tornado caused major damage in Alberta, Canada. Another tornado injured seven people in Serangoon, Singapore at the beginning of November. The final major tornado event of the year took place in the United States when four tornadoes struck Illinois and Arkansas, killing three and injuring 28.[1][3][4]

United States yearly total[]

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 16 86 68 24 7 0 201

January[]

There were 7 tornadoes confirmed in the US in January.[1]

January 3[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 1 0 2 0 0

Three damaging tornadoes touched down in Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio, injuring seven people. The most damaging tornado struck the northern suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri and was rated F3. It destroyed 16 homes, causing $2.75 million in damage and injuring three people.[5][6][7] The same storm dropped another intense F3 tornado that obliterated four homes and numerous barns, injuring three more.[5][6] The F1 tornado briefly touched down in Northern Van Wert, Ohio, injuring one person.[8] These were the first tornadoes to be put in the database.[1]

January 13[]

The first killer tornado in the database struck north of Vandervoort in Polk County, Arkansas. The brief, but strong F3 tornado destroyed a house and it's furnishings, killing one person and injuring another.[1][3]

February[]

There were 20 tornadoes confirmed in the US in February.[1]

February 11–13[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 5 10 3 1 0
Main article: Tornado outbreak of February 11–13, 1950

The first tornado outbreak to be documented in the new tornado database, this deadly series of intense tornadoes struck areas from the Gulf Coast into the Ohio Valley.[9] The strongest event was an F4 tornado that tore an 82.6-mile-path (132.9 km) near Shreveport, Louisiana, although further analysis concluded that this was likely a tornado family. Regardless, at least 18 people were killed, while 77 others were injured.[10][11][12][13] Overall, at least 19 tornadoes touched down, killing at least 45 and injuring at least 201 others.[9]

March[]

There were 21 tornadoes confirmed in the US in March.[1]

March 26–27[]

Main article: Tornado outbreak of March 26–27, 1950
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 4 10 2 0 0

An outbreak of 16 tornadoes struck the Mississippi Valley. On March 26, an F3 tornado in Izard County, Arkansas injured one.[14] Later, a large F2 tornado moved directly through Downtown Little Rock, injuring seven.[15] After that, a massive, mile wide F3 tornado moved through Prairie County, Arkansas, injuring 20.[16] The next day, a brief, but fatal F2 tornado struck areas south-southwest of Belzoni, Mississippi, killing one and injuring two.[17] Later, back-to-back F2 tornadoes moved directly through Jackson, Mississippi, injuring seven and six respectfully.[18] Overall, the tornadoes injured 52 and killed one.[1]

April[]

There were 15 tornadoes confirmed in the US in April.[1]

April 2–3[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 2 1 1 0 0

An F3 tornado struck northwest of Tuckerman, Arkansas. One home was completely destroyed, another one was unroofed, and five barns, a hay shed, two garages, and 10 tons of hay were destroyed.[3] One person was killed and eight others were injured.[3] Three additional tornadoes touched down in Arkansas and Oklahoma with no additional casualties.[19]

April 18[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 1 1 0 0

An F3 tornado moved through the Northwestern suburbs of Mobile, Alabama, injuring 15. An additional F2 tornado struck near Spanish Fort and Blakeley, Alabama with no casualties.[1]

April 28–29[]

Main article: Tornado outbreak of April 28–29, 1950
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 2 2 1 2 0

An intense outbreak of seven tornadoes struck Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and Mississippi.[20] The three strongest tornadoes all occurred on April 28 and caused all the casualties.[5] A long-tracked F3 tornado touched down in the Quartz Mountain National Park on the shore of Lake Altus-Lugert in Oklahoma. It then moved north-northeast through Lugert and the east side of Lone Wolf, before turning due-north and striking Cambridge and the west side Sentinel, causing major damage, injuring one and killing another.[5][21][22][23] Later, a short-lived, but violent F4 tornado hit the north side of Clyde, Texas, killing five and injuring another five.[5][24] The worst event was another violent F4 tornado that touched down southwest of Downtown Holdenville, Oklahoma before moving directly through it. Five people were killed and 32 others were injured.[5][25][26] Overall, the outbreak killed 11 and injured 38.[1][20]

May[]

There were 61 tornadoes confirmed in the US in May.[1]

May 1–2[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 1 6 2 0 0 0

An outbreak of nine tornadoes hit Louisiana and Mississippi. On May 1, an F2 tornado moved through Natchitoches Parish, injuring seven. On May 2, another F2 tornado near killed one and injured five. Overall, the tornadoes killed one and injured 15.[1]

May 4–5[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 3 3 1 1 0

An outbreak of eight tornadoes impacted Kansas, Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma. On May 4, a fatal F2 tornado tore directly through Downtown Perryton, Texas, destroying several homes and a warehouse, killing one and injuring 13.[5][27] That night, a long-tracked, violent F4 tornado struck Zook, Kansas before tracking over open country and hitting Dundee and the Great Bend Municipal Airport outside of Great Bend. It destroyed 11 homes in Zook with near-F5 damage recorded at two homes while also striking another housing development northwest of Great Bend. One person was injured by this tornado.[5][28] Overnight, a large, .25 miles (0.40 km) wide F3 tornado moved through rural Jackson and Brown Counties before striking Hiawatha. It destroyed two homes and 123 barns while also damaging nine homes and eight barns north of Whiting near the beginning of its path, injuring 12.[5][29] Overall, the eight hour outbreak killed one and injured 26.[1][30]

May 21 (U.K.)[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 3 1 0 0 0

An outbreak of four tornadoes struck the United Kingdom, killing four people.

June[]

There were 28 tornadoes confirmed in the US in June.[1]

June 3[]

An isolated, but strong F3 tornado struck rural areas northwest of Kosciusko, Mississippi, destroying a home and six other buildings and damaging five other buildings. Two people were killed and one other person was injured.[1][3]

June 8–9[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 2 0 0 1 0

On June 8, an isolated, but large, violent F4 tornado formed within a squall line and hit the south side of McPherson, Kansas, destroying buildings, trees, and power lines, killing one, and injuring five. Two F1 tornadoes touched down in Missouri and Oklahoma the next day, causing no additional casualties.[1][3]

June 13–16[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 4 2 3 0 0

Over the course of four days, nine tornadoes struck eight states. On June 13, an F2 tornado near Center, Nebraska injured 101 people. Overall, 110 people were injured in this tornado outbreak sequence, although there were no fatalities.[1]

June 25[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 2 1 2 1 1 0

An outbreak of five tornadoes struck Wisconsin.[31] An F2 tornado struck Colby, destroying three barns and killing one person.[5][32] At the same time, a violent, .5-mile-wide (0.80 km) F4 tornado leveled vacation homes near Crescent Lake before moving directly through Rhinelander, damaging or destroying 12 homes. Two people drowned when the tornado overturned their boat and 12 others were injured.[5][33] Two additional non-fatal F0 tornadoes also touched down in Kansas.[31] Overall, the tornadoes killed three and injured 12.[1][31]

July[]

There were 23 tornadoes confirmed in the US in July.[1]

July 15–16[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 1 0 0 1 0

On July 15, an isolated, but large, violent F4 tornado struck areas north of Uehling, Nebraska, injuring 33. The next day, an F1 tornado damaged residential areas on the south side of Dwight, Illinois, although no casualties occurred.[1]

July 18–19[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 3 2 1 0 0

A cluster of six tornadoes struck areas from the Midwest to the Ohio Valley. The only tornado to cause casualties occurred on July 19, when an F3 tornado hit Southeastern Lima, Ohio as well as Beaverdam. A total of 30 people were injured.[1]

August[]

There were 13 tornadoes confirmed in the US in August.[1]

August 23 (Netherlands)[]

A tornado of at least F3 intensity tracked 50 km from the Veluwe, Gelderland through Veluwe Forest to Haulerwijk, Friesland in the Netherlands. Four people were reportedly killed.

September[]

There were 3 tornadoes confirmed in the US in September.[1]

October[]

There were 2 tornadoes confirmed in the US in October.[1]

November[]

There were 4 tornadoes confirmed in the US in November.[1]

November 2 (Singapore)[]

A tornado struck Serangoon, Singapore, injuring seven people.

December[]

There were 4 tornadoes confirmed in the US in December.[1]

December 2[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 1 1 2 0 0

All four December tornadoes touched down on this day in the form of a deadly tornado outbreak that struck Illinois and Arkansas. First, a long-tracked F2 tornado struck Dorsey, White City, and Mt. Olive, Illinois, killing one and injuring three. The second tornado was the deadliest; a long-tracked F3 tornado moved through Highland, Pocahontas, Stubblefield, and Greenville, Illinois, killing two and injuring 25. An additional F3 tornado passed east of Franklin, Arkansas, while an F1 tornado passed north of Sparta, Illinois near Tilden, both of which caused no additional casualties. Overall, the four tornadoes killed three people and injured 28 others.[1]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "1950 Tornadoes". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  2. ^ "U.S. Tornado Climatology | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) formerly known as National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Climatological Data National Summary Publication | IPS | National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Monthly Climatic Data for the World - Select Publication | IPS | National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "North America Tornado Cases 1950 to 1959". bangladeshtornadoes.org. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b Grazulis 1993, p. 953
  7. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10063615 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. January 3, 1950. Retrieved March 4, 2019.NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10009710 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. January 3, 1950. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  8. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10086808 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. January 3, 1950. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Storm Events Database - Search Results | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Storm Prediction Center WCM Page: Severe Weather Database Files (1950-2014)". Storm Prediction Center. Storm Prediction Center. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  11. ^ Murdock, Scott D. (1998). "Barksdale AFB Off-Base Sites". Scott's USAF Installations Page. Airforcebase.net. Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  12. ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 954
  13. ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 953
  14. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 9982998 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. March 26, 1950. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  15. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 9982999 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. March 26, 1950. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  16. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 9983000 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. March 26, 1950. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  17. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10049527 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. March 27, 1950. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  18. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10049529 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. March 27, 1950. Retrieved March 6, 2019.NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10049531 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. March 27, 1950. Retrieved March 6, 2019.NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10049530 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. March 27, 1950. Retrieved March 6, 2019.NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10049532 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. March 27, 1950. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  19. ^ "April 2-3, 1950 Tornadoes". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Tornado Summaries". National Weather Service. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  21. ^ Oklahoma Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  22. ^ Oklahoma Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  23. ^ Oklahoma Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  24. ^ Texas Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  25. ^ Oklahoma Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  26. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Violent Tornadoes (F4/F5/EF-4/EF-5) in Oklahoma (1950-Present)". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  27. ^ Texas Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  28. ^ Kansas Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 16 February 2021.Kansas Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  29. ^ Kansas Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 16 February 2021.Kansas Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  30. ^ "May 4-5 Tornado Summaries". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  31. ^ a b c "June 25,1950 tornado summaries". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  32. ^ Wisconsin Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  33. ^ "Wisconsin Event Report: F4 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. Retrieved 17 February 2021.

Bibliography[]

  • Grazulis, Thomas (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
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