This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1954, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The article, therefore, documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.
Events
1954 broke the record for the most active tornado season just one year after 1953 set the mark. Unlike the previous year, however, many tornadoes were weak and the death toll for the year was much lower. April, May, and June all saw more than 100 tornadoes, the first time any month had officially seen more than 100. April was the most active of the three with 113 tornadoes. Meanwhile, the deadliest month was May, which had 13 fatalities.
United States yearly total
January There were two tornadoes confirmed in the US in January.
January 20
Two tornadoes developed within a squall line to the southeast of Starkville, Mississippi. First, a narrow, but strong F2 tornado, which was described as "two ribbons in the sky" with one of them touching down in a skipping fashion and absorbing the other, started near Oktoc. It destroyed two small homes and a barn, damaged other structures, and downed power lines and trees. The tornado remained aloft between Artesia and Mayhew before dissipating near the latter town. Two people were injured. While the first tornado was in progress, an F1 tornado formed near the Tombigbee River south of Columbus and moved northeastward. Damage was limited to destroyed or damaged outbuildings.
January 30 (Nova Scotia) A tornado accompanied by hail and lightning struck White Point Beach, Nova Scotia near Liverpool, although the damage done is unknown.
February There were 17 tornadoes confirmed in the US in February.
February 15–16
Three strong tornadoes struck Arkansas. On February 15, an F3 tornado hit Clarksville, destroying the gymnasium at the College of the Ozarks. It also destroyed eight homes and 60 other buildings, while damaging 160 other homes and 172 other buildings. There were 24 injuries. An F2 tornado than hit near Kellum in rural Sevier County, destroying a barn and damaging a home and trees, but causing no casualties. Early on February 16, a F3 tornado struck Chelford in Mississippi County, destroying a school, a church, four homes, and 20 other buildings. A man was killed in a small home that was completely swept away while injuring four other people were injured. An additional F1 tornado was observed "dipping" down and causing damage in Gaffney, South Carolina that afternoon, but there were no casualties. Overall, the four tornadoes killed one and injured 28.
February 19–21
An outbreak of mostly strong F2 tornadoes struck the Southern United States. On February 19, an F2 tornado struck Gorman, Texas, destroying 13 buildings and damaging 18 homes and 20 other buildings, injuring two people. Another F2 tornado touched down three times, striking Conroe during one of its touchdowns. Four homes and 10 other buildings were destroyed, nine other homes and four other buildings were damaged, and trees were snapped, injuring seven people. Yet another F2 tornado was spotted striking Sulphur Springs, Arkansas. Six homes and two other buildings were destroyed, three other homes were damaged, and one person was injured. A deadly F2 tornado struck a first offender camp at Angola in Tunica, Louisiana, ripping the roof off a dormitory and damaging guard towers and power lines. One person was killed and four others were injured. (the CDNS report lists only two injuries, which may have been caused by lightning and not the tornado, and Grazulis rated the tornado F1) Early on February 20, a long-tracked F2 tornado moved through Sumrall and Sanford, Mississippi along with an additional community west of Laurel, damaging or destroying over 90 homes and over 60 other buildings and damaged trees and agriculture supplies in storages. There were 10 injures. Another long-tracked F2 tornado passed through mostly rural areas and communities in Newton County and Neshoba County, passing near Decatur and through the House community. It damaged or destroyed 65 homes along with numerous other buildings and outbuildings, also injuring 10 people, all of which occurred in House. Overall, the 10 tornadoes killed one and injured 34.
March There were 62 tornadoes confirmed in the US in March.
March 13
An outbreak of four tornadoes struck Alabama and Georgia. A large F3 tornado struck Fort Mitchell, Alabama and Fort Benning, Georgia, damaging or destroying homes, buildings, and military equipment, killing two people and injuring 20 others (Grazulis rated the tornado F2 and said the tornado was embedded within a much larger area of damaging microburst winds). Another long-tracked F3 tornado began near Howard, Georgia, striking the communities Roberta, Knoxville, Lizella, Vineville and Macon, damaging or destroying over 750 homes, killing five, and injuring 75. An F1 satellite tornado was also observed northeast of Butler, damaging or destroying homes, but causing no casualties. Another weak, but fatal, long-tracked F1 tornado developed near Reynolds, moving through rural areas before striking Byron, Centerville and Elberta on the north side of Warner Robins and Robins Air Force Base. It then impacted Bullard east of there before dissipating. The tornado produced moderate to heavy damage along its path, especially in Elberta, where it unroofed or destroyed 12 small homes and killed a tenant farmer. Five other people were injured (Grazulis rated the tornado F2). This came just 10 months after F4 and F2 tornadoes caused considerable damage and casualties to these same areas. Overall, the four tornadoes killed eight and injured 100.
March 24–25
An outbreak of 28 tornadoes struck the Great Plains and Arkansas. On March 24, an F1 tornado struck Frisco, Texas, destroying a grain elevator, blowing out windows, unroofing houses, and damaging barns, TV antennas, and sheds. Four injuries were officially counted, although the CDNS report does not list any injuries. Later, an F3 tornado moved through Centerton, Bentonville, and Twelve Corners, Arkansas, damaging or destroying several small homes, barns, and outbuildings, and killing a considerable number of chickens. Four people were injured. (Grazulis rated the tornado F2) An F2 tornado struck Lanagan and Longview, Missouri, damaging or destroying several small frame farmhouses, leveling small barns and outbuildings, and injuring or killing livestock. One person was injured. (Grazulis did not rate this as a significant (F2+) tornado) Another F3 tornado injured two near Cato, Missouri while destroying a two-story seven-room home and damaging trees, small frame homes, barns, and loose equipment. Overnight on March 25, a violent F4 tornado touched down near Bendavis in rural Texas County and moved northeastward to the northwest of Houston. It passed near Huggins, Upton, Bucyrus, and Success, damaging or destroying buildings on 20 farms. A frame house was obliterated with debris scattered up to away. The two occupants, an elderly woman and her son, were thrown and killed. Barns, outbuildings, and a truck were also destroyed and trees were downed as well. Overall, the outbreak killed two and injured 11.
April There were 113 tornadoes confirmed in the US in April. This was the first month in recorded history to have over 100 tornadoes.
April 5–8
An outbreak of 25 tornadoes occurred across mostly the Midwest. On April 5, a large F4 tornado tracked northeastward from west of Westboro, Missouri, destroying four homes and 25 outbuildings and damaging four other homes and 40 more outbuildings. It also threw a pickup truck , removed of topsoil, and uprooted trees and crops. Two people were injured. The tornado then crossed into Iowa and passed near Northboro, where it destroyed three more homes before dissipating. (Grazulis rated the tornado F3, but said near-F4 damage occurred) Later, a half-mile wide F2 tornado moved northeastward from near Scranton to near Farlin, damaging 18 farms, including five that suffered severe damage, destroyed one home, and threw timber through the walls of other homes. One person was injured. (Grazulis rated the tornado F3) Later, another F3 tornado east of Northboro unroofed a house. (Grazulis mentions this as only a possible tornado) Nearby, an F2 tornado began near Elmo, Missouri and moved northeastward, passing south of Braddyville, Iowa and northwest of Siam, Iowa before dissipating north of Bedford. The most severe damage occurred northwest of Siam, where at least two homes were leveled and swept away (the NCEI incorrectly labels this tornado as only being in Taylor County, Iowa; Grazulis rated the tornado F4). On April 6, an F2 tornado struck Ferdinand, Indiana, damaging several homes, two garages, two barns, and the roof of a church. (Grazulis did not rate this as a significant (F2+) tornado)
On April 7, four people were injured by an F2 tornado south of Avoca, Wisconsin that destroyed a farmhouse and 13 farm buildings, including several barns that were leveled, damaged seven other farm houses and 37 other farm buildings, and killed a cow. (Grazulis rated the tornado F3) Later, further to the south in Illinois, a deadly, long-tracked F3 tornado touched down near Saunemin and moved northeastward, lifting briefly before touching down again in Limestone Township. Continuing northeastward, the tornado tore through Indian Oaks north of Kankakee as a bell-shaped funnel cloud, destroying most of the town before ending west of Grant Park. Eight homes and 30 other buildings were destroyed, 30 other homes and 46 other buildings were damaged, about 30 farms lost buildings, and empty storage tanks were rolled for over . A woman was killed in a destroyed farmhouse and 13 other people were injured. (Grazulis lists the tornado as only occurring in Kankakee County due to the path break listed by the CDNS report, which did not include Ford County) The final strong tornado of outbreak was a brief F2 tornado in Swartz Creek, Michigan that was described as "seven fingers dangling beneath a dark cloud" with one of them touching down. A fire station and a garage was leveled with the garage roof thrown , two barns were destroyed, and two cars, two fire engines, and store windows were damaged. Two people were injured. (the CDNS report and Grazulis list the tornado as having occurred on April 8) In all, the tornadoes killed one and injured 22.
April 25 – May 3