1908 Dixie tornado outbreak
Type | Tornado outbreak |
---|---|
Duration | April 23–25, 1908 |
Tornadoes confirmed | ≥ 31 confirmed |
Max. rating1 | F5 tornado |
Duration of tornado outbreak2 | ≥ 3 days |
Largest hail | 3⁄4 in (1.9 cm) |
Fatalities | ≥ 324 fatalities, ≥ 1,720 injuries |
Damage | [nb 1] |
Areas affected | Midwestern and Southern United States |
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado |
On April 23–25, 1908, a destructive
Confirmed tornadoes
FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
? | ? | ? | 22 | 3 | 5 | 1 | ≥ 31 |
April 23 event
F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F2 | W of Valley Springs, SD to E of Benclare, SD to MN | Minnehaha (SD), Rock (MN) | SD, MN | 18:30–? | 5 miles (8.0 km) | Unknown | Possible tornado family struck three farmsteads, destroying stables, tearing roofs off homes, and killing a racehorse.[14] |
F2 | Oak Grove, TX to OK | Red River (TX), Bowie (TX), McCurtain (OK) | TX, OK | 22:15–? | 15 miles (24 km) | 250 yards (230 m) | Tornado destroyed 10 homes, a school, and a store. Only scattered concrete blocks remained at the school. Tornado crossed into Oklahoma before dissipating. Seven people were injured.[14]
|
F2 | W of DeQueen
|
Little River, Sevier | AR | 22:30–? | 11 miles (18 km) | Unknown | 3 deaths — Tornado destroyed a home, killing a family of three. Leaves and twigs rained from the sky in DeQueen.[15] |
F2 | W of Inwood | Lyon | IA | 22:30–? | 10 miles (16 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | Tornado killed more than 100 head of livestock, including 81 hogs and several sheep. Tornado damaged or destroyed several barns and a school as well. One person was injured.[15] |
F2 | Clifton to Cayote | Bosque | TX | 23:30–? | 10 miles (16 km) | Unknown | Tornado damaged or destroyed two homes and several other structures. Tornado tossed water 500 ft (150 m) high as it crossed the Bosque River. Trees along the river were thrown 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km) away. 10 people were injured.[15] |
F5 | SW of Pender to S of Thurston | Cuming, Thurston | NE | 00:00–? | 15 miles (24 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | 3 deaths — Tornado devastated several farms, one of which it obliterated, including a well-constructed multi-story farmhouse. Shingles and a picture from one of the farms rained from the sky in the town of Goodwin, 35 mi (56 km) away. 10 people were injured.[15] |
F4 | Deport to W of Fulbright | Red River, Lamar | TX | 00:00–? | 10 miles (16 km) | 300 yards (270 m) | 1 death — Tornado destroyed the business district, 25 homes, a pair of churches, and a cottonseed oil mill in Deport. Debris from homes were found 2 mi (3.2 km) away. Six people were injured and losses totaled $125,000.[15][16]
|
F3 | S of Rice | Navarro | TX | 00:30–? | 7 miles (11 km) | 150 yards (140 m) | 3+ deaths — 1⁄2-mile-wide (0.80 km) tornado struck a farm, destroying the manager's house, 14 tenant houses, and all barns on the property. Several other farmhouses were damaged or destroyed along the path. Six people were injured. Tornado may have continued into Wood County and caused four additional fatalities.[15] |
F2 | SE of Daingerfield | Morris | TX | 03:00–? | 10 miles (16 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | Tornado destroyed or damaged 17 homes, including four farmhouses. Five people were injured.[15] |
F2 | Hector | Pope | AR | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 3 deaths — Tornado damaged or destroyed the entire town, injuring 20 people.[15] |
April 24 event
F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F2 | Southern Walls | DeSoto | MS | 08:30–? | 7 miles (11 km) | Unknown | Tornado destroyed a store, a depot, and three homes. A station agent was injured and losses totaled $1,500.[15][17] |
F2 | Mason | Fayette, Tipton | TN | 09:00–? | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Unknown | Tornado destroyed three churches and a few homes.[18] |
F2 | Buntyn | Shelby | TN | 09:00–? | 5 miles (8.0 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | Tornado destroyed or unroofed 12 homes. 15 people were injured.[18] |
F4 | N of Lamourie, LA to Tillman, MS | Rapides (LA), Avoyelles (LA), Catahoula (LA), Concordia (LA), Adams (MS), Jefferson (MS), Claiborne (MS) | LA, MS | 11:00–? | 105 miles (169 km) | 700 yards (640 m) | 91 deaths — See section on this tornado |
F2 | Northern Braxton | Simpson | MS | 15:15–? | Unknown | Unknown | Tornado destroyed several homes. 10 people were injured and losses totaled $10,000.[15][17] |
F2 | N of Wahalak to S of Shuqualak | Kemper, Noxubee | MS | 17:45–? | 10 miles (16 km) | Unknown | 3 deaths — Tornado swept away three small homes. 10 people were injured and losses totaled at least $5,000.[15][17] |
F4 | Weiss, LA to Amite, LA/Purvis, MS to SW of Richton, MS | Livingston (LA), St. Helena (LA), Tangipahoa (LA), Washington (LA), Marion (MS), Lamar (MS), Forrest (MS), Perry (MS), Wayne (MS) | LA, MS | 17:45–? | 155 miles (249 km) | 1,000 yards (910 m) | 143 deaths — See section on this tornado |
F4 | SW of Dora to Southern Albertville to Northern Sylvania | Walker, Jefferson, Blount, Marshall, DeKalb | AL | 20:40–22:15 | > 105 miles (169 km) | 500 yards (460 m) | 35 deaths — See section on this tornado |
F2 | N of Brooklyn to S of Janet | Forrest, Perry, Greene | MS | 20:45–? | 25 miles (40 km) | Unknown | 5+ deaths — Tornado may have caused as many as seven fatalities. 20 people were injured and losses totaled $290,500.[15][17] |
F2 | Thomasboro to Rantoul | Champaign | IL | 23:30–? | 6 miles (9.7 km) | 30 yards (27 m) | Tornado unroofed several homes.[18] |
F4 | Bluffton, AL to Cave Spring, GA | Cherokee (AL), Polk (GA), Floyd (GA) | AL, GA | 01:10–? | 16 miles (26 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | 11 deaths — Tornado leveled many small homes and damaged other structures. Bodies were found 1⁄4 mi (0.40 km) away. 50 people were injured.[18] |
F2 | Fort Deposit | Lowndes | AL | 03:00–? | 5 miles (8.0 km) | 250 yards (230 m) | 2 deaths — Tornado destroyed 50 structures. 22 people were injured and losses totaled $80,000.[18][19] |
F3 | E of Cleveland to Climer | Bradley | TN | 03:00–? | 10 miles (16 km) | 400 yards (370 m) | 1 death — Tornado struck 20 farms and damaged or destroyed numerous structures, including five homes. Eight people were injured.[18] |
F2 | NE of Montgomery | Montgomery, Elmore | AL | 03:10–? | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Unknown | Tornado destroyed a small building and a barn. Losses totaled $3,000.[18][20] |
April 25 event
F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F2 | Southern Atlanta | Fulton | GA | 05:00–? | Unknown | 50 yards (46 m) | One home shifted on its foundation and another was torn in half.[18] |
F3 | Pine Mountain to S of Greenville | Harris, Meriwether | GA | 06:00–? | 15 miles (24 km) | 150 yards (140 m) | 10 deaths — Tornado destroyed 40 homes, four churches, and a hotel. 40 people were injured and losses totaled $200,000.[18] |
F2 | N of Columbus | Muscogee | GA | 06:30–? | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 200 yards (180 m) | 2 deaths — Tornado destroyed several homes. 12 people were injured and losses totaled $30,000.[18] |
F2 | W of Griffin to S of McDonough | Spalding, Henry | GA | 07:30–? | 15 miles (24 km) | 200 yards (180 m) | 8 deaths — Tornado struck several frail homes at a mill. 100 people were injured and losses totaled $140,000.[18] |
F2 | Poulan | Worth | GA | 11:00–? | Unknown | 100 yards (91 m) | Tornado destroyed or damaged several homes and barns. Four people were injured.[18] |
F2 | Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park | Walker | GA | 18:30–? | 3 miles (4.8 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | Tornado severely damaged the historic monument, then called Chickamauga National Historic Park, downing at least 100 large trees, some of which it hurled 300 yd (900 ft; 0.17 mi; 0.27 km) through the air. Tornado also destroyed three historic homes.[18] |
F2 | Diamond | Gilmer | GA | 20:00–? | 3 miles (4.8 km) | 200 yards (180 m) | Tornado unroofed and destroyed several homes. Five people were injured.[18] |
Concordia Parish, Louisiana/Pine Ridge–Church Hill, Mississippi
F4 tornado | |
---|---|
Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
Fatalities | ≥ 91 fatalities, ≥ 400 injuries |
Damage | $182,000 (1908 USD) $6.17 million (2024 USD) |
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale |
The first of two major, long-tracked, violent tornadoes first began at about 5:00 a.m.
Amite–Pine, Louisiana/Purvis–Richton, Mississippi
F4 tornado | |
---|---|
Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
Fatalities | ≥ 143 fatalities, ≥ 770 injuries |
Damage | $1.157 million (1908 USD) $39.2 million (2024 USD) |
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale |
The second of the two long-tracked F4s was one of the deadliest tornadoes in
Bergens–Southern Albertville–Northern Sylvania, Alabama
F4 tornado | |
---|---|
Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
Fatalities | 35 fatalities, 188 injuries |
Damage | > $500,000 (1908 USD) > $17 million (2024 USD) |
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale |
A destructive tornado first began at about 2:40 p.m.
Farther along the path, the tornado destroyed numerous homes in the village of Old Democrat, located 4 mi (6.4 km) northeast of Dora, killing two more people there. Next, the "coal-black" funnel struck Warrior and the town of Wynnville, killing two people each at both locations. Turning to the north-northeast, the tornado then crossed into Marshall County and struck Albertville, destroying half the town. An oil tank weighing 9 t (20,000 lb) was carried 1⁄2 mi (2,600 ft; 880 yd; 800 m) at this location, and a train was overturned and destroyed. At least 15 people died in Albertville and 150 were injured. The tornado continued through heavily forested areas along the remainder of its path, possibly dissipating and reforming into a new tornado. It passed through Ten Broeck and the northern edge of Sylvania before ending, having traveled at least 105 mi (169 km) and possibly as long as 125 mi (201 km) within one hour and 35 minutes. Although the tornado killed 35 people, it only injured 188, likely due to the low population of the area impacted.[15][26][27][28][29]
See also
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- April 1924 tornado outbreak – Produced a deadly F3 tornado in Pine Mountain
- 2008 Atlanta tornado outbreak – Produced an EF2 tornado in Downtown Atlanta
Notes
- ^ All losses are in 1908 USD unless otherwise noted.
- 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.[4]
- ^ 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.[5][6] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,[7] Canada utilized the old scale until April 1, 2013;[8] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.[9]
- ^ 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.[10] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.[11] 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.[12]
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b c Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[13]
References
- ^ Roger Edwards, ed. (19 March 2021). "The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes". The Online Tornado FAQ. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ a b Grazulis, Thomas P.; Grazulis, Doris. "The Most "Important" US Tornadoes by State". The Tornado Project Online. The Tornado Project. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 56
- ^ 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.
- ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 141.
- ^ Grazulis 2001a, p. 131.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale)". Environment and Climate Change Canada. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ "The International Tornado Intensity Scale". Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ Grazulis 2001a, pp. 251–4.
- ^ 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.
- .
- ^ a b Grazulis 1993, p. 712
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Grazulis 1993, p. 713
- ^ Written at Deport, Texas. "One Man Killed at Deport". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas. April 24, 1908. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Selden 1908, p. 133.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Grazulis 1993, p. 714
- ^ Chaffee 1908, pp. 133–4.
- ^ Chaffee 1908, p. 134.
- ^ a b Grazulis 2001a, p. 293
- ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 184
- ^ Heidorn, Keith C. (April 1, 2008). "Deadly Tornadoes of April 1908". The Weather Doctor. Valemount, British Columbia: Islandnet.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2012.
- ^ a b Cline 1908, p. 132.
- ^ Grazulis 2001a, p. 200
- ^ Grazulis 2001a, p. 295
- Weather Forecast Office. Calera, Alabama: National Weather Service. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Chaffee 1908, p. 133.
- ^ Lehman 1908, p. 134.
Sources
- Chaffee, F. P. (May 1908). Written at Montgomery, Alabama. "Tornadoes in Alabama, April 24 and 30, 1908". Monthly Weather Review. 36 (5). Washington, D.C.: United States Weather Bureau: 133–134.
- ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
- ISBN 978-0-8061-3538-0.
- Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001b). F5-F6 Tornadoes. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films.
- Lehman, W. F. (May 1908). Written at Birmingham, Alabama. "Tornado at Dora and Bergens, Ala., April 24, 1908". Monthly Weather Review. 36 (5). Washington, D.C.: United States Weather Bureau: 134.
- Selden, W. S. (May 1908). "Tornadoes in Mississippi, April 24, 1908". Monthly Weather Review. 36 (5). U.S. Weather Bureau: 132–3. .