- 1953 Vicksburg, Mississippi tornado outbreak
The 1953
Vicksburg, Mississippi tornado outbreak was a deadlysevere weather event that affected northeasternLouisiana , southeasternArkansas , and westernMississippi onDecember 5 ,1953 . At least four confirmedtornado es touched down; one of the tornadoes produced F5 damage on theFujita scale as it moved through the city of Vicksburg, causing 38 deaths in the area. It remains the third deadliest tornado to affect theU.S. state of Mississippi; only the 1840 Natchez tornado and March 3, 1966 Jackson tornado resulted in more deaths. It is one of only two F5 tornadoes recorded in Mississippi since1950 .cite web|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan/events/CandlestickPark/Thu.php|title=Thursday: Other Violent Tornadoes in Mississippi History|publisher=National Weather Service Jackson, Mississippi office|accessdate=2008-07-17]ummary
The first tornado touched down near
Bernice, Louisiana and moved northeast to the Mount Union area, injuring 16 people. The second tornado featured the longest continuous track of the event, traveling 58.3 miles (93.8 km) across northeastern Louisiana and southeastern Arkansas. Both tornadoes caused damage equivalent to F2 intensity. The third tornado became the deadliest event during the outbreak. It touched down over theMississippi River and moved northeast across the city of Vicksburg, dissipating south ofVillanova, Mississippi . The tornado was preceded by heavy rains as it moved through the city.cite web|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwEvent~Storms|title=NCDC Storm Event Database|accessdate=2008-07-17] Twelve blocks of the city's business district were affected by the tornado, and fires also burned cotton.cite web|author=The Associated Press|year=1953|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?|title=28 Killed, 230 Hurt as Twister Shakes City of Vicksburg|publisher=Beckley Post-Herald|accessdate=2008-07-17] The tornado broke the city's gas line, and it remained out of service after repairs.cite web|author=The Associated Press|year=1953|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Tornado|publisher=Newport Daily News|accessdate=2008-07-17] Residents were forced to avoid cooked food as temperatures dropped to 31°F overnight on
December 6 . In total, 270 people received injuries. The tornado is officially estimated to have been a F5 tornado on the Fujita scale; however, the rating is questionable, since the tornado demolished frail structures.Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). "Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: Chronology and Analysis of Events." Environmental Films.] The final tornado of the outbreak produced F2 damage and caused 11 injuries near the Mississippi River in Coahoma County, Mississippi. In addition, severe thunderstorm winds injured seven people nearClarksdale, Mississippi .cite web|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?|title=230 Injured as Tornado Rips Vicksburg, Miss.|publisher=Charleston Daily Mail|accessdate=2008-07-17]
Tornado table
Confirmed tornadoes
References
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