In January 1983, 13 tornadoes were reported in the United States, with two fatalities occurring in Louisiana and a total of $11.325 million (1983 USD) in damage being reported. In February 1983, 41 tornadoes were reported in the United States with one fatality occurring in Florida and a total of $17.833 million (1983 USD) in damage being reported.
+ Color/symbol key Color / symbol Description † Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b ¶ Data from a local National Weather Service office ※ Data from the 1983 Storm Data publication ‡ Data from the NCEI database ♯ Maximum width of tornado ± Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable. 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.
January
January 29 event + List of confirmed tornadoes — Saturday, January 29, 1983F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F1Panama City BeachBayFL04:15–?A waterspout moved ashore and demolished 47 mobile homes. The tornado overturned 25 boats, ripped roofs off multiple homes, and downed numerous trees and power lines.Multiple sources:
January 31 event + List of confirmed tornadoes — Monday, January 31, 1983F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F1Spanish Camp to NW of Hungerford※WhartonTX15:30–?An F1 tornado wrecked a spacious tin barn, destroying a boat, truck, and camper stored inside. A pump house and a garage received minimal damage. Another barn was destroyed as well. The National Centers for Environmental Information incorrectly list the path as starting north of Spanish Camp, west of Hungerford. F1S of Tamina to N of Chateau Woods※MontgomeryTX16:00–?※An F1 tornado lofted tree limbs and stones, thereby shattering windows in, and damaging roofing and doors of, 51 businesses and homes, 29 of which incurred heavy damage. Fencing and trees were pulled out of the ground as well. F2SealyAustinTX16:15–?Various outbuildings, a mobile home, many barns, and three homes were wrecked. Trees were downed as well. Four people were injured. F1W of Clute※BrazoriaTX19:07–?Eight homes were destroyed or damaged. The NCEI wrongly said this tornado occurred north of Bay City in Matagorda County, Texas. F2†BeaumontJeffersonTX20:00–?An extremely brief but strong tornado struck a 100-unit pair of apartment complexes in Beaumont, destroying or damaging a total of about half the units. A person was injured in one of the apartments. Chimneys and roofing were damaged as well. F1Between Holly Beach and Johnson BayouCameronLA23:41–?‡‡A brief F1 tornado was observed near the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. F2±Vidrine to NW of Ville Platte※Evangeline※LA00:00–?A strong tornado wrecked 15 fishing camps on Millers Lake. Trees, fencing, and a barn were wrecked at Vidrine. The NCEI incorrectly list the parish as East Feliciana. F1Westlake※CalcasieuLA01:30–?Power lines, trees, roofs, and windows were damaged just west of Lake Charles. F2†Leleux※VermilionLA03:00–?1 death — One home was destroyed and a few others negligibly damaged. Three people were injured. At least two other tornadoes struck Kaplan while this event was in progress, but were not rated by the National Weather Service. F2†S of Bunkie※ to NNW of EvergreenAvoyellesLA03:30–?1 death — A mobile home was destroyed and agricultural outbuildings damaged. Two people were injured. F2E of Leonville to E of Port BarreSt. LandryLA04:15–?Sheds, a pair of trailers, and numerous barns were destroyed. F2BruslyWest Baton RougeLA05:30–?‡‡One home lost its roof and was destroyed. A few others received minor damage.
February
February 1 event + List of confirmed tornadoes — Tuesday, February 1, 1983F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F1SE of Hurley※JacksonMS11:00–?※A trailer was flipped, injuring three people. F0Northwestern MobileMobileAL11:30–?Six homes, power lines, and a few buildings at a shopping center were damaged, mostly by fallen trees. Airborne glass damaged automobiles and caused a minor injury. F1Warrington to western Pensacola※EscambiaFL13:45–?A tornado tipped over traffic barriers, knocked down traffic lights, and damaged trees, power lines, and roofing. One person was injured. F0E of Pensacola Beach※Santa RosaFL14:10–?Damage was mainly limited to broken tree limbs, though an automobile was flipped as well. F1AuburnOkaloosaFL14:30–?The concrete base of a metal television antenna was uplifted and the tower itself felled. Nearby barns and sheds were flattened as well. F2±New HarmonyWaltonFL15:30–?A mobile home was torn off its CBU foundation and overturned, severely injuring its occupant.
February 2 event + List of confirmed tornadoes — Wednesday, February 2, 1983F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F1Pine IslandHernandoFL09:30–?A trailer was destroyed and several permanent residences damaged. Trees were downed as well. F1Floral CityCitrusFL09:45–?Rural trees, mobile homes, power lines, and signage were damaged. One person was injured. F2Shiloh to Micanopy※Marion※, AlachuaFL10:40–?Five mobile homes were destroyed and a number of frame homes unroofed. Four injuries were reported, three of them serious. F1St. PetersburgPinellasFL11:00–?20 businesses, four homes, power lines, and trees were damaged. Windows were smashed as well. One person was mildly injured. F1BarbervilleVolusiaFL11:30–?A home sustained damage, mostly to roofing and a window, and trees and sheds were felled. F2±SW of Dover to NW of Plant CityHillsboroughFL11:50–?25 trailers were damaged to varying degrees. Trees and signs were downed and windows shattered. F1ArcadiaDe SotoFL13:20–?A shed was wrecked and a roof blown off. Trees were affected nearby. F1New Smyrna BeachVolusiaFL13:40–?A air compressor was blown off the roof of a condominium, and a fallen tree penetrated the roof of a home. A nearby marina and watercraft were extensively damaged. Trees were felled and mobile homes tipped onto their sides. F2Northern Orlando※OrangeFL13:45–?A few homes were destroyed. Trees, power lines, and signage were downed. F0Winter ParkOrangeFL14:00–?Little billboards and signs were toppled, landing on automobiles below. Power lines and trees were also damaged. F2Southeastern Orlando※OrangeFL14:05–?This tornado impacted a sprawling apartment complex, wrecking eight units and damaging 56 others. Nine people were injured at the complex. Additionally, 15 frame homes were partly or wholly unroofed. F2DeSoto CityHighlandsFL14:20–?1 death – 36 trailers were destroyed or damaged and a pair of frame homes unroofed. A vehicle was also damaged. F1Southern Rockledge※BrevardFL15:48–?The roof of an automobile repair shop was damaged. The NCEI list the touchdown as near Viera. F2Jensen BeachMartinFL18:20–?A number of trailers were destroyed and a frame home shorn of its roof. 14 other trailers received damage. One person was injured.
February 5 event + List of confirmed tornadoes — Saturday, February 5, 1983F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F0BruslyWest Baton RougeLA02:30A small, weak tornado impacted the Live Oak subdivision, which caused severe roof damage to two homes with numerous trees and fences destroyed. This was the second tornado to hit Brusly in just five days.Multiple sources:
February 9 event
February 10 event
February 22 event + List of confirmed tornadoes — Tuesday, February 22, 1983F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F2Manchester to S of ArleyWalker, WinstonAL19:15–?†Possibly multiple-vortex, this tornado produced scattered, mainly light damage, destroying or damaging chicken coops and sheds. It felled trees as well, along with a boathouse. Many other boathouses, boats, and automobiles were damaged, along with 14 homes. Most losses were tied to fallen trees near Lewis Smith Lake. F2HancevilleCullmanAL20:05–?※Buildings sustained damage to their roofs and interiors. An automobile was tossed on top of a pickup truck, and half a dozen vehicles were damaged. A brick church was unroofed and destroyed as well. Unusually for Alabama, the tornado was photographed, along with two others in the state this day. F1White City※CullmanAL20:15–?Trees were downed and a mobile home was wrecked. F1FitzgeraldBen HillGA20:45–?A doctor's office, bleachers at a pair of ballparks, a store, and 20 homes were damaged. Fallen trees damaged roofs as well. F2AlbertvilleMarshallAL21:28–?15 mobile homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, along with 17 other structures, four homes, a chicken coop, and a business. Three schools were damaged as well. Most of the damage was to mobile homes. A few people were injured in a trailer. F1NW of AlmaBaconGA23:05–?※A roof was dislodged, a boat damaged, and a barn wrecked. Trees were felled as well. F1E of AlmaBaconGA23:05–?※Four mobile homes and a barn were wrecked. Three injuries occurred.
February 27 event + List of confirmed tornadoes — Sunday, February 27, 1983F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F1N of Santa Rosa※SonomaCA13:20–?※※※On Oakhaven Court one home’s roof was ripped off and two other homes lost some of their roof shingles. Losses may have totaled $1 million.
See also Tornadoes of 1983
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