1953 Vicksburg, Mississippi tornado outbreak

The 1953 Vicksburg, Mississippi tornado outbreak was a deadly severe weather event that affected northeastern Louisiana, southeastern Arkansas, and western Mississippi on December 5, 1953. At least four confirmed tornadoes touched down; one of the tornadoes produced F5 damage on the Fujita scale as it moved through the city of Vicksburg, causing 38 deaths in the area. It remains the third deadliest tornado to affect the U.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 since 1950.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 the Mississippi River and moved northeast across the city of Vicksburg, dissipating south of Villanova, 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 near Clarksdale, 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