Modern tornado records are considered to have begin in 1950. If you plot annual tornado fatalities since that time, one single year stands out above all the rest. 1953. A total of 519 people lost their lives in tornadoes across the United States that year.
One of the deadly twisters occurred on April 30, 1953. The tornado struck the Warner Robbins AFB in Georgia. Eighteen Air Force personnel and their family members were killed. As a side note, some excellent footage was taken of the violent tornado as it tore across the base.
The Warner Robbins tornado was the beginning volley in a deadly season that would rage out of control all the way to December. Things really turned tragic in May, as 163 people perished. A massive tornado struck downtown Waco, Texas on May 11th, killing 114 people.
In June, an incredible 244 people died in tornadoes. Only two months have had more since 1950. You can probably guess them if you try. April 1974 and April 1965 (Palm Sunday Outbreak.) On June 8th, a powerful weather system produced a one-half wide-wide tornado that hit Flint, Michigan. The killer resulted in 116 people. It is the last single tornado to kill more than 100 people in the U.S.
The next day, the very same weather system produced a massive tornado that devastated a large part of Worcester, Massachusetts. New England’s deadliest tornado ever killed 94 people along a 46 mile path.
An endnote was added to the year on December 5th when an F4 tornado slammed into Vicksburg, Mississippi, killing 38 people. Never have killer tornadoes struck population centers with such deadly results.
One of the deadly twisters occurred on April 30, 1953. The tornado struck the Warner Robbins AFB in Georgia. Eighteen Air Force personnel and their family members were killed. As a side note, some excellent footage was taken of the violent tornado as it tore across the base.
The Warner Robbins tornado was the beginning volley in a deadly season that would rage out of control all the way to December. Things really turned tragic in May, as 163 people perished. A massive tornado struck downtown Waco, Texas on May 11th, killing 114 people.
In June, an incredible 244 people died in tornadoes. Only two months have had more since 1950. You can probably guess them if you try. April 1974 and April 1965 (Palm Sunday Outbreak.) On June 8th, a powerful weather system produced a one-half wide-wide tornado that hit Flint, Michigan. The killer resulted in 116 people. It is the last single tornado to kill more than 100 people in the U.S.
The next day, the very same weather system produced a massive tornado that devastated a large part of Worcester, Massachusetts. New England’s deadliest tornado ever killed 94 people along a 46 mile path.
An endnote was added to the year on December 5th when an F4 tornado slammed into Vicksburg, Mississippi, killing 38 people. Never have killer tornadoes struck population centers with such deadly results.
on April 30, 2006, 3:11 am
---At least one power line down, with other spotty outages.
---Numerous small branches/limbs down.
---94.1 WZBQ radio station knocked offline.
Recorded a gust at 31 earlier...some tough breezes around here.
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