At least four tornadoes occurred in Alabama on this date in
1953, including two that are thought to have been of F4 intensity. Nine people were killed and 17 were injured
in Alabama that day.
Tornado #1: Chilton
County F2 5:15 p.m. This tornado was on the ground for 1 ½ miles in the
Minooka community about 4 miles south of Calera. There were no fatalities, two injuries, three
homes destroyed and five other homes damaged.
Tornado #2 Clay
County F4 7:30 p.m. This tornado was on the ground for 12.1 miles in the Millerville-Lineville
area. The damage path was as wide as 440
yards. There were seven fatalities, 12
injuries, 19 homes destroyed and 50 other homes damaged. 36 other buildings were destroyed and 57 other
buildings were damaged. Numerous chickens were killed and stripped of their
feathers.
“Although it occurred three years before
my birth, I often heard my parents speak of this storm. Late in the evening at
dark while frying fish with another couple, my mother (who was pregnant with my
older brother) heard an all too familiar roar much like she heard on March 21,
1932 as her home was destroyed in Paint Rock, Alabama. The others insisted that
it was a train, but Mom insisted that it was a tornado. "Once you hear that
sound, you never forget it." They stepped outside to look around and the
funnel was less that two blocks away. Dad described it as a slender wedge with
much debris aloft, the base of the funnel gyrating in a looping fashion. They
jumped into the car to outrun it, but noticed it was moving away from them.
Their perspective would have been on State Highway 49 just south of Lineville
but north of the tornado's path. Dad was the local dentist and spent that
night at the hospital in nearby Ashland helping treat victims of the
storm. I am very thankful they didn't pursue outrunning the
tornado, especially at dark! Strangely, this storm occurred at the same time as
the Paint Rock Tornado”.
Tornado #3 Jefferson
County F1 8:00 p.m. This tornado was on the ground for only one tenth of a
mile in Trussville. There were no fatalities,
no injuries, and five homes destroyed according to the NWS.
Tornado #4 Choctaw
County F4 8:00 p.m. This tornado was on the ground for 10 miles in the Riderwood-Lisman
area. The damage path was as wide as 200
yards. There were two fatalities and three injuries. Debris was thrown over
one-half mile.
1953 Was an active year for tornadoes.
1953 Was an active year for tornadoes.
National Weather Service Birmingham: Alabama Tornado
Database http://www.weather.gov/bmx/tornadodb_1953
Chicago Tribune,
May 2, 1953
TornadoHistoryProject.com http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19530501.1.16
By: Mike Wilhelm
@Bamawx on Twitter
Bamawx on Facebook
By: Mike Wilhelm
@Bamawx on Twitter
Bamawx on Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment