Several destructive tornadoes struck the Southeastern United States, primarily along and east of the Lower Mississippi Valley, on February 13, 1952. Multiple intense tornadoes touched down throughout the day, three of which were killers. The deadliest and most destructive tornado of the outbreak was a violent F4 that touched down in south-central Tennessee, killing three people and injuring 44 others. A similarly destructive tornado—albeit of weaker, F2 intensity—formed from the same storm as the preceding F4 and became the second costliest of the outbreak. Another intense tornado affected the Mississippi embayment near Manila, Arkansas, injuring five people, and a pair of deadly F3s in Alabama claimed a combined two lives. In all, the outbreak killed five people and injured 102 others.
Meteorological synopsis A fast-moving low-pressure system formed over Northern California on February 11. As it moved quickly eastward another low formed over northeastern New Mexico on February 12. These lows moved in tandem into Oklahoma on February 13 and triggered a severe weather outbreak in the Southeastern United States starting that morning.Multiple sources:
Confirmed tornadoes
Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.
+ Color/symbol key Color / symbol Description † Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b ¶ Data from a local National Weather Service office ※ Data from the 1952 Climatological Data National Summary publication ‡ Data from the NCEI database ♯ Maximum width of tornado ± Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable.
+ List of confirmed tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of February 13, 1952F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F0Northern RodessaCaddoLouisiana10:00–?‡‡This tornado may have started in McLeod, Texas. A barn was shifted off its foundation, a garage lost a wall, and a trio of oil rigs were toppled. Lightning from the storm also burned down a home. F3†N of Buckeye†MississippiArkansas22:53–?†‡‡This short-lived, intense tornado obliterated a five-room home, debris of which was found away. The tornado also unroofed a home nearby and wrecked many outbuildings. All five injuries, two of which were serious, came from one family, but no damage estimate was given. The funnel cloud from this storm was seen in Manila and passed east-northeast of Leachville. F2S of CamdenBentonTennessee23:00–?†††This small-but-strong tornado damaged or destroyed nine homes and half a dozen other structures, affecting a total of nine families. F2NW of Holland to Denton to E of BraggadocioPemiscotMissouri23:10–?†※This tornado wrecked a few spacious barns and a small home while damaging several other barns and houses west of Steele. The funnel reportedly touched down a few times, producing intermittent damage. Large, hail accompanying the storm caused additional damage.Multiple sources: F0NNE of House※NeshobaMississippi01:30–?‡‡※A brief tornado formed southeast of Philadelphia, mangling a windmill. Windows and vehicles nearby were smashed or otherwise damaged by hail. Lightning damaged radio towers as well. Oats and gardens were also damaged. F2†Between Linton and NewsomDavidsonTennessee01:45–?†※A "'baby twister'" traversing a narrow valley struck the Poplar Farm, severely damaging a corn crib, a pair of farmhouses, and a shed laden with agricultural implements. F3New Lexington to S of Berry†Fayette, TuscaloosaAlabama02:30–?††※1 death – A destructive tornado moved northeastward, paralleling the Fayette–Tuscaloosa County line. In Tuscaloosa County, nine homes were destroyed or damaged, and a dozen additional were likewise affected in Fayette County. The sole fatality was due to a collapsed chimney. 14 injuries were reported.Multiple sources: F2†NE of Garden City to N of Chamblees Mill‡Cullman, BlountAlabama02:30–?≥ †※A tornado touched down near Garden City and moved northeastward. At least 62 homes were damaged or destroyed, and six injuries were confirmed. The tornado may have tracked all the way to Snead.Multiple sources: F1NE of SpeidenGiles※, LincolnTennessee03:00–?‡‡This, the first member of a tornado family, successively passed through or near the small, rural communities of McBurg, Swan Creek, and Boonshill. A house in Giles County was negligibly damaged. F3Shady Grove to Adamsville to Graysville to Pinson¶JeffersonAlabama03:30–?††1 death – An intense tornado moved through the northern suburbs of Birmingham, dispersing debris for several hundred yards. In all 131 homes and other structures were destroyed or damaged. 26 injuries were recorded. F2†Howell to Mulberry※LincolnTennessee04:00–?‡‡†This, the second member of the Speiden tornado family, destroyed or damaged 136 homes and various other structures. A few people were injured and 45 families affected. F1N of AthensMonroeMississippi04:00–?‡‡※A tornado was confirmed, but without details. One person was injured. F4Lois to Decherd†Moore, FranklinTennessee04:30–?†‡†3 deaths – See section on this tornado – 44 people were injured. F1WNW of KilnHancockMississippi04:30–?‡‡※A tornado was confirmed, but no other data were provided. A few people were injured. F2†Monteagle to Tracy CityGrundyTennessee04:30†–04:45※†※This was the final member of the Speiden–Decherd tornado family. About 150 homes and other buildings were damaged along the path, and widespread, F2-level damage was reported. Two people were injured.
Lois–Marble Hill–Beech Hill–Marble Plains–Decherd, Tennessee
This violent tornado developed from the same supercell that produced two prior tornadoes in Giles and Lincoln counties. It touched down just west of the Moore–Franklin county line near Lois and moved eastward. It first struck areas along SR 50 in Marble Hill causing catastrophic damage. It destroyed 23 homes and outbuildings and damaged 27 others, affecting 20 families. Hundreds of trees were also prostrated in Moore County, principally between Marble Hill and Lois. The tornado then moved into Franklin County and obliterated parts of Beech Hill where a church, school, store, and dwelling were all destroyed. After moving over rural, low-lying farmland, the tornado demolished portions of Marble Plains. One home in this area was swept away, killing the two occupants. The tornado then moved into Roark Creek, where several homes and two barns were leveled. After passing through another rural, forested area, the tornado roared into the north side of Decherd, where more heavy destruction and another fatality occurred. There were 15 homes destroyed and 50 others damaged while 85 other buildings were damaged or destroyed. Five freight cars on the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway were derailed and scattered along the right of way in the town as well. The tornado dissipated shortly afterwards. In all, 109 farms along the entire path reported damage, and more than 100 houses were destroyed or damaged in Franklin County. However, only a single homesite incurred F4 damage, just west of Decherd.Multiple sources:
Non-tornadic impacts Most of the damage during this event was either by tornadoes or the storm that produced it. However, one isolated report of large hail was recorded in Warren, Mississippi. Windows were broken, automobiles were dented, and gardens and winter grains were damaged.
See also List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes
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