Tornadoes of 1951

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tornadoes of 1951
TimespanJanuary 6 – December 20
Maximum rated tornadoF4 tornado
  • 5 locations
    on 4 different days
Tornadoes in U.S.260[1]
Damage (U.S.)$65.506 million (1951 USD)
Fatalities (U.S.)34
Fatalities (worldwide)>34

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1951, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

Events[]

Main article: List of United States tornadoes of 1951

1951 was the second year where tornadoes were officially documented in the United States. The year saw 59 more tornadoes than the previous year, although they were more spread out time wise and more weak tornadoes were confirmed. The most active and deadliest month of the year was June with 76 tornadoes and nine fatalities.

United States yearly total[]

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 49 100 83 23 5 0 260

January[]

There were 2 confirmed tornadoes in January.[1][2]

January 6[]

An F3 tornado developed within a squall line and moved northward through the Alexandria, Louisiana metropolitan area causing severe damage in the towns of , Tioga, Simms, and Pollock. Losses were estimated at $500,000 and 11 people were injured.[3][4]

January 11[]

A rare F2 tornado struck Mountain View, California, causing $2.5 million in damage, but no casualties.[5]

February[]

There were 10 confirmed tornadoes in February.[1]

February 19–20[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 1 1 4 1 0 0

A tornado outbreak struck areas from the Southern Plains to the Ohio Valley. On February 19, a long-track F2 tornado tracked through parts of El Reno, Oklahoma, injuring five people.[6][7] The next day, an F2 tornado tracked 112.8 miles through Arkansas from Keo and Marked Tree, injuring three.[8][9] Meanwhile, a brief, but strong F3 tornado killed one person and injured another near west of Starkville.[10] Near Bankston, Alabama, an F2 tornado caused severe damage and two injuries.[11] Overall, seven tornadoes touched down, injuring 11 and killing one.[1]

March[]

There were 6 confirmed tornadoes in March.[1]

April[]

There were 26 confirmed tornadoes in April.[1]

April 20–21[]

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

An outbreak of six tornadoes struck the Great Plains and the Lower Mississippi Valley. Although most of the tornadoes were weak, a couple of strong tornadoes did touchdown and there were numerous casualties. On April 21, back-to-back F0 tornadoes in Louisiana injured two and one in rural La Salle and Ouchita Parishes respectively.[12][13] The worst tornado was a long-tracked F3 tornado that touched down south of Soso, Mississippi, and moved northeast while slamming the towns of Moss and , killing two and injuring 16.[14][15] Overall, this outbreak killed two and injured 19.[16]

April 30[]

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

Six destructive tornadoes hit Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The first tornado of the outbreak was an early morning F3 tornado that hit Pratt, Kansas and areas west of Preston. That afternoon, another F3 tornado moved directly through Downtown Oklahoma City. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported from any of the tornadoes.[1]

May[]

There were 57 tornadoes confirmed in the US in May.[1]

May 18–19[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 1 4 1 0 1 0

A small, but deadly outbreak of seven tornadoes struck Oklahoma and Texas. On May 18, a violent F4 tornado hit areas north of Olney, Texas. Many homes in town were destroyed, some of which were swept away with very little debris left. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis noted that the tornado may have reached F5 intensity as well.[17] Two people were killed and 100 others were injured. All the other tornadoes struck Oklahoma, with no additional casualties.[1]

May 24–26[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 5 1 1 0 0

Another outbreak of deadly tornadoes struck areas from the Great Plains to the Southeast. On May 24, an F1 tornado killed one person west of O'Brien, Texas. The next day, another person was killed by an F3 tornado south of Clay Center, Kansas. The deadliest tornado came on May 26, when an F1 tornado struck Carrabelle, Florida, killing three. Overall, the outbreak produced seven tornadoes and five fatalities, although, oddly, there were no injuries recorded.[1]

June[]

There were 76 tornadoes confirmed in the US in June.[1]

June 13[]

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

An F2 tornado tore through the northwest side of Richmond, Virginia, injuring 12. A destructive, but non-fatal F1 tornado also hit Surf City, North Carolina.[1]

June 19[]

Main article: Tornado outbreak of June 19, 1951
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 1 2 1 0 1 0

An outbreak of five tornadoes struck the Midwest and Great Plains.[18][19] The only tornado to cause casualties was a large, long-tracked F4 tornado in Minnesota that caused major destruction in the western and northwestern Minneapolis suburbs, especially in the towns of Hutchinson, Rockford, Greenfield, Champlin, and Anoka. It killed one and injured 20 on its 52.6-mile-path (84.7 km).[20]

June 23[]

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

Two fatal tornadoes struck Kansas on June 23. The first tornado was an F1 tornado that hit areas just east of Rolla, killing one person. At the same time, an even stronger F2 tornado that touched down right over Downtown Hugoton, causing major damage to multiple structures, killing one person, and injuring five others. Overall, the Kansas tornadoes killed two and injured five.[1]

June 25–27[]

Main article: Tornado outbreak sequence of June 25–27, 1951
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 6 4 2 1 0

A deadly and destructive three-day outbreak sequence affected areas from Colorado to Pennsylvania. The worst day of the outbreak came on June 27, which is when most of the injuries and all of the fatalities occurred. The first, and deadliest, of the seven tornadoes that touched down that day was the only violent tornado of the outbreak. The F4 tornado ripped through a residential areas on the north side of WaKeeney, Kansas, killing five and injuring 100.[21] Later, the two F3 tornadoes of the outbreak struck Illinois. The first F3 tornado struck Heman, injuring 35.[22][23] The second one moved through rural Logan County before striking the north side of Atlanta, killing one and injuring 15.[22][24] Overall, 13 tornadoes touched down, killing six and injuring 161.[25]

July[]

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

July 20[]

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

Two strong, destructive tornadoes caused casualties on July 20. The first tornado, rated F2, hit areas south of , injuring four. Later, an F3 tornado caused major damage in the Southwestern Minneapolis, Minnesota suburbs of Minnetonka, Edina, and Richfield, killing five and injuring 40. Overall, the two tornadoes caused five deaths and 44 injuries.[1]

August[]

There were 27 tornadoes confirmed in the US in August.[1]

August 17 (Soviet Union)[]

A strong, multi-vortex tornado accompanied by heavy rain and hail swept through the Khimki district of the Soviet Union.[26] The worst damage was in the village of Skhodnya, where a wooden railway platform was overturned.[27]

August 20–21[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 4 1 0 0

A series of strong tornadoes struck New England. A long-tracked F2 tornado moved through densely populated areas of Connecticut, including Hartford, injuring nine people. The strongest tornado was an F3 tornado in East Hampton, Connecticut that injured eight. Overall, the five tornadoes caused no fatalities, but injured 17.[1]

September[]

There were 9 tornadoes confirmed in the US in September.[1]

September 26[]

Main article: Great Lakes tornadoes of September 26, 1951
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 1 0 2 0

Two violent and deadly F4 tornadoes struck Wisconsin. The first one hit Cobb Town and Southern Manawa, killing six and injuring three.[28] The second one moved through rural Columbia County before striking areas south of Cambria, killing one and injuring nine.[29] Additionally, a fatal F2 tornado moved through the Huron–Manistee National Forests north of Bitely, Michigan, killing one and injuring three. Overall, the three tornadoes caused eight deaths and 15 injuries.[30]

October[]

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

November[]

There were 12 tornadoes confirmed in the US in November.[1]

November 13–16[]

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 1 7 2 0 0

An outbreak of mostly strong tornadoes struck areas from the Upper Mississippi Valley to the Southeast. The worst and strongest tornadoes touched down on November 13. An F3 tornado struck Como, Missouri, injuring one. An F2 tornado then struck near Ava and Campbell Hill, Illinois, injuring seven. This was followed by a short-lived, but strong F2 tornado that caused considerable damage in Downtown Gary, Indiana. The worst tornado then occurred in Kentucky, where an F3 tornado struck Calvert City and Gilbertsville, killing one and injuring 11. Overall, 10 tornadoes touched down, killing one and injuring 28.[1]

December[]

There were 10 tornadoes confirmed in the US in December.[1]

December 6[]

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

A brief, weak F1 tornado touched down south-southwest of Junction City, Oregon, causing no casualties. This was not the case in Illinois, where an F3 tornado moved through Spring Valley and Mendota, killing one and injuring another.[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 "1951 Tornadoes". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  2. ^ "January 1951 Tornadoes". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  3. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10032651 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  4. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10032652 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  5. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 9990145 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  6. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10099493 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  7. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10099704 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  8. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 9983006 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  9. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 9983007 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  10. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10047277 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  11. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 9979424 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  12. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10032656 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  13. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10032655 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  14. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10047279 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  15. ^ NCDC Storm Events Database Item 10047280 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  16. ^ "April 20-21, 1951 Tornadoes". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  17. ^ Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
  18. ^ "June 19, 1951 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Tornado Summaries". National Weather Service. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  20. ^ Minnesota Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 18 October 2020.Minnesota Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  21. ^ Kansas Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  22. ^ a b Logan County Tornadoes Since 1950. www.weather.gov (Report). NWS Central Illinois. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  23. ^ "Illinois Event Report: F3 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  24. ^ Illinois Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  25. ^ "Tornado Summaries". National Weather Service. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  26. ^ "Смерчи. Изучение смерчей и торнадо. Самые разрушительные и сильные смерчи в России". www.bibliotekar.ru. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  27. ^ "Смерчи в России. Досье". ТАСС. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
  28. ^ Wisconsin Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Center for Environmental Information. Retrieved 27 August 2020.Wisconsin Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Center for Environmental Information. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  29. ^ Wisconsin Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Center for Environmental Information. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  30. ^ "Tornado Summaries". National Weather Service. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
Retrieved from ""