April 1958 Florida tornado outbreak

The April 1958 Florida tornado outbreakcite web|author=Hagemeyer, Bartlett C.|year=1997|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/PDFs/Hagemeyer_AMS_WAF_1997.pdf|title=Peninsular Florida Tornado Outbreaks|publisher=American Meteorological Society|accessdate=2008-07-22] was a severe weather event that primarily affected the Florida peninsula on April 15, 1958. A total of five tornadoes touched down in the state and Georgia between 12–5 p.m. EST. 80 percent of the tornadoes were recorded in Florida, while 75 percent of the Florida events attained F3 intensity or greater. The strongest tornado produced F4 damage on the Fujita scale in Polk County, Florida, becoming one of only two F4 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. state of Florida.cite web|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwEvent~Storms|title=NCDC Storm Event Database|accessdate=2008-07-22] The second F4 tornado occurred on April 4, 1966 in Polk County near Gibsonia and Galloway.Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). "Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: Chronology and Analysis of Events." Environmental Films.] In total, 65–72 people were injured during the 1958 outbreak,cite web|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Tornadoes Wreck Homes, Injure 60 in Florida|publisher=Tucson Daily Citizen|accessdate=2008-07-22] but no deaths were directly related to the tornadoes.

ummary

The first tornado of the event touched down around 12 p.m. EST in rural Polk County, causing the worst damage near Bereah, Florida. The tornado is officially estimated to have attained F4 strength; however, the rating has been questioned. Thomas P. Grazulis disputes the rating and classifies the event at F3 status. The second tornado of the day touched down west of Ruskin, Florida, where it crossed Mullet Key. One B-47 bomber departing from MacDill Air Force Base was destroyed when it encountered the parent thunderstorm. The plane unsucessfully attempted to fly at lower altitudes and avoid it.cite web|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Tornadoes Wreck Homes, Injure 60 in Florida|publisher=Tucson Daily Citizen|accessdate=2008-07-22] The four crew members aboard were not found.cite web|author=The Associated Press|year=1958|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=City in Florida is Battered by Freak Twister|publisher=Moberly Monitor-Index|accessdate=2008-07-22] The tornado produced F1 damage. The third tornado touched down in Saint Johns County and affected neighborhoods north of Saint Augustine, producing F3 damage. However, Thomas Grazulis classifies the event at F2 intensity. The fourth tornado became the most destructive event of the outbreak, touching down near U.S. Route 441cite web|author=Campell, Scotty|year=1958|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=35 Family Units Cared for by Red Cross|publisher=Fort Pierce News-Tribune|accessdate=2008-07-24] west of Fort Pierce in Saint Lucie County. It moved east through the city's business district and moved offshore over the Atlantic Ocean. Initial estimates placed damages near $5,000,000 (1958 USD), but these estimates were deemed too high by the General Adjustments Bureau. Final estimates placed damages near "over half million" or $0.6 million. Martial law was declared after the tornado struck the city, but it was lifted on April 16. Grapefruit was tossed from the trees, but growers salvaged the majority of the fruit from the ground. The final tornado of the day affected rural areas near Riddleville, Georgia, producing F1 damage. An unconfirmed tornado was also reported near Wimauma, Florida.cite web|author=The Associated Press|year=1958|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=City in Florida is Battered by Freak Twister|publisher=Moberly Monitor-Index|accessdate=2008-07-22]

Tornado table

Confirmed tornadoes

References