1953 Waco tornado outbreak#Waco tornado

|+ Daily statistics

|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 9, 1953{{refn|group=nb|name=Date/Time|All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.}}

! scope="col" style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|F#

! scope="col" style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County / Parish

! scope="col" style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|State

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Start {{abbr|Coord.|Coordinates}}

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time (UTC)

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|{{abbr|Max.|Maximum}} width

! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:48%; text-align:center;"|Summary

|N of Huron

|Beadle

|SD

|{{coord|44.38

|0005

|{{convert|1.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|440|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A short-lived, weak, but large tornado caused minor damage to several structures, including a hangar at the Huron Regional Airport, a barn, and outbuildings on a farmstead.{{cite journal|title=Severe Storms|journal=Climatological Data National Summary|date=May 1953|volume=4|issue=5|page=130|ref={{harvid|Climatological Data|1953}}}}

|WSW of Bryant to SE of Vienna

|Clark, Hamlin

|SD

|{{coord|44.57

|0100

|{{convert|6.8|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|97|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado developed near Cherry Lake and headed north-northeastward, producing minimal damage to structures on several farms.

|S of McLean

|Wayne

|NE

|{{coord|42.3

|0300

|{{convert|1.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Only negligible damage occurred as a tornado briefly touched down.{{harvnb|Climatological Data|1953|p=131}}

|N of Courtland to Western Republic SW of Byron, NE

|Republic

|KS

|{{coord|39.8

|0310

|{{convert|13.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This tornado may have first developed south of Courtland, causing minor damage to a farm, before redeveloping, possibly as a separate tornado, beyond town. From that point on, it badly damaged 10 farms in Kansas, with lesser damage to others in its path. One of the farmhouses was called "destroyed," along with many sheds and barns. According to Thomas P. Grazulis, the tornado may have entered Nebraska, ending just north of the Kansas–Nebraska border, but its path in Nebraska was overlooked as media mostly covered the Belvidere event. Total losses reached $45,000. One injury may have occurred but was officially unconfirmed.

|Belvidere to Milford

|Thayer, Fillmore, Saline, Seward

|NE

|{{coord|40.25

|0345

|{{convert|46.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|880|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|5 deaths – This large, intense, long-tracked, and very damaging tornado struck Belvidere, leveling a significant part of the town. In town, almost 100 structures were beyond repair, including 50 residences and 40 businesses. A church lost its walls and roof, with only its arch left standing, and winds removed the uppermost wing of a school. Two farmhouses outside Belvidere sustained possible F4 damage. Additionally, aircraft and hangars were wrecked. Total losses reached $2.5 million (1953 USD), and 82 injuries were officially reported, though the actual total may have been 80.{{cite book|last1=Grazulis|first1=Thomas P.|authorlink1=Thomas P. Grazulis|title=Significant Tornadoes, 1680–1991: a Chronology and Analysis of Events|date=July 1993|publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films|location=St. Johnsbury|isbn=1-879362-03-1|page=969}}

|NE of Sumner

|Dawson

|NE

|{{coord|40.97

|0500

|{{convert|1.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A short-lived, but strong tornado wrecked several structures, including a sizeable barn. The tornado was not rated as significant (F2+) by tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis.

|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, May 10, 1953{{refn|group=nb|name=Date/Time|All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.}}

! scope="col" style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|F#

! scope="col" style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County / Parish

! scope="col" style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|State

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Start {{abbr|Coord.|Coordinates}}

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time (UTC)

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|{{abbr|Max.|Maximum}} width

! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:48%; text-align:center;"|Summary

|SE of Vinson

|Harmon

|OK

|{{coord|34.88

|0700

|{{convert|3.6|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|440|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A weak tornado tracked through areas east of Vinson, damaging small structures, including barns, sheds, and some garages.

|NW of Tamora

|Seward

|NE

|{{coord|40.93

|0710

|{{convert|0.1|mi|m|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|

|NNE of McQueen

|Greer

|OK

|{{coord|34.75

|0715

|{{convert|0.1|mi|m|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|17|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A tornado briefly touched down, leveling a chicken coop and a nearby barn.{{harvnb|Climatological Data|1953|p=132}}

|SW of Mangum

|Greer

|OK

|{{coord|34.85

|0715

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|17|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Brief tornado with the appearance of a dust devil caused a frail shed to collapse and caused minor structural damage nearby.

|N of Thomas

|Custer

|OK

|{{coord|35.78

|0720

|{{convert|0.1|mi|m|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|One barn was blown down.

|E of Mt. Hope to Southwestern Wichita to Udall

|Sumner, Ness

|KS

|{{coord|37.87

|0800

|{{convert|42.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Long-tracked tornado hit Southwestern Wichita with no casualties reported.

|NNE of Renfrow, OK to Udall, KS

|Grant (OK), Sumner (KS), Ness (KS)

|OK, KS

|{{coord|36.98

|0900

|{{convert|38.8|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|An intermittent tornado produced a skipping swath of damage from south of Caldwell, Kansas to Udall. It struck 13 farmsteads, but produced only low-end F2 damage to some of them. The event may have been a family of two or more tornadoes, as eyewitnesses reported multiple funnels on the ground. Additionally, a related but unconfirmed tornado may have caused damage to a farm in Butler County, Kansas. Total losses reached $30,000 (1953 USD), and one person may have been injured, but was not officially counted.{{harvnb|Grazulis|1993|p=970}}

|Elmdale to Northwestern Eskridge S of Keene

|Chase, Morris, Lyon, Wabaunsee

|KS

|{{coord|38.35

|1000

|{{convert|52.2|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This intense tornado first caused minor damage to roofing material near Cottonwood Falls. Later, the tornado further damaged farm equipment, trees, and numerous structures. After briefly lifting or dissipating, the tornado or tornado family damaged or destroyed 14 cabins near Lake Kahola. In the Bushong area, the tornado affected three farms before weakening again. The last damage, apparently minimal, occurred near Harveyville. The tornado was not rated as significant (F2+) by Grazulis.

|N of Cambridge

|Cowley, Elk

|KS

|{{coord|37.33

|1030

|{{convert|6.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|440|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A weak, but large tornado downed fences and caused minimal damage to a few farms in its path. A rural barn was among damaged structures.

|Eastern Bassett

|Allen

|KS

|{{coord|37.9

|1130

|{{convert|0.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|200|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A brief tornado struck the eastern side of Bassett, damaging power lines, trees, and roofs in town. Winds downed a couple of sheds and a garage as well.

|NE of Humboldt

|Richardson

|NE

|{{coord|40.18

|1200

|{{convert|9.7|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Many structures lost their roofs.{{harvnb|Climatological Data|1953|p=133}}

|Russellville

|Pope

|AR

|{{coord|35.27

|1810

|{{convert|2.3|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|200|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Eyewitnesses observed twin tornadoes, moving parallel to each other, that combined into one narrow funnel and struck Russellville. Several structures sustained modest damage, and a movable roller rink was wrecked. The tornado was not rated as significant (F2+) by Grazulis.

|S of Nebraska City

|Otoe

|NE

|{{coord|40.63

|1930

|{{convert|0.1|mi|m|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|33|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Brief tornado touched down north-northeast of Paul.

|E of Dent

|Texas

|MO

|{{coord|37.55

|2000

|{{convert|0.2|mi|m|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A brief tornado struck just southeast of Kinderpost, near Licking, leveling a very large barn. While officially rated F1, the tornado was assigned an F2 rating by Grazulis.

|NW of Millerton to SSW of Russell

|Wayne, Lucas

|IA

|{{coord|40.87

|2115

|{{convert|6.4|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A large and violent tornado, the first of the outbreak sequence, produced low-end F4 damage to a farmhouse, dispersing the debris a short distance from the foundation.

|NW of Clontarf to Cyrus

|Pope

|MN

|{{coord|45.42

|2155

|{{convert|17|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|440|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A strong tornado, producing sporadic damage, struck 35 farms in its path, completely destroying a couple of them. Barns and outbuildings were leveled, and trees, power lines, and utility poles were downed.

|ESE of Garner to SSW of Silver Lake

|Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Worth

|IA

|{{coord|43.07

|2210

|{{convert|26.6|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A long-lived, large and violent tornado tracked through several farms, damaging or destroying about 30 homes. Roughly 200 other structures on farms were likewise impacted. One farm lost all its buildings, with only the main house left standing. Of the three injuries, two were critical, both to a couple near Ventura.

|ESE of Haven

|Tama

|IA

|{{coord|41.88

|2230

|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|33|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|This brief but strong tornado leveled an entire farm, including outbuildings and barns on the property. The tornado or a related but separate event may have caused additional damage near Independence, leading to a total path length of {{convert|10|miles|4=0}} or even longer.{{harvnb|Climatological Data|1953|p=134}}

|Hollandale to SW of Blooming Prairie

|Freeborn

|MN

|{{coord|43.75

|2300

|{{convert|6.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|67|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|6 deaths – This tornado was of moderate intensity, narrow, and relatively short-tracked, yet was one of the most devastating of the tornado outbreak sequence. Shortly after formation, it struck a big shack, which was hurled from its foundation. Six occupants—two parents, their four children, and two relatives—died in the destruction of the shack, which housed migrant workers. Afterward, the tornado leveled another small residence and mildly damaged 10 nearby structures. In all, the tornado leveled three homes, four barns, and numerous outbuildings on six farms, mainly near Hollandale and Maple Island. Total losses reached $35,000 (1953 USD), and three people were injured.

|SW of Chester, IA, to St. Charles, MN ESE of Catawba, WI

|Howard (IA), Fillmore (MN), Olmsted (MN), Winona (MN), Buffalo (WI), Trempealeau (WI), Eau Claire (WI), Chippewa (WI), Taylor (WI), Price (WI)

|IA, MN, WI

|{{coord|43.45

|2330

|{{convert|162|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|100|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|2 deaths – See section on this tornado – 24 people were injured, though Grazulis listed an unofficial total of 17.

|ESE of Farmersburg to NE of Beulah

|Clayton

|IA

|{{coord|42.95

|0000

|{{convert|6.6|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|400|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|An intense tornado severely affected eight farms in its path, demolishing barns and silos. Livestock suffered significant losses, with 60 or more head of cattle dead. A farmer reportedly sustained non-critical injuries after being tossed for {{convert|700|ft|m|sigfig=3|lk=on}}, but was not documented in the official injury total. While officially rated F3, the tornado was assigned an F2 rating by Grazulis.

|River Falls to Amery E of Gordon

|Pierce, St. Croix, Polk, Burnett, Washburn, Douglas

|WI

|{{coord|44.83

|0030

|{{convert|105.7|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|100|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|4 deaths – See section on this tornado – 27 people were injured.

|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, May 11, 1953{{refn|group=nb|name=Date/Time|All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.}}

! scope="col" style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|F#

! scope="col" style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County / Parish

! scope="col" style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|State

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Start {{abbr|Coord.|Coordinates}}

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time (UTC)

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length

! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|{{abbr|Max.|Maximum}} width

! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:48%; text-align:center;"|Summary

|SW of Grape Creek to NNE San Angelo

|Tom Green

|TX

|{{coord|31.53

|2015

|{{convert|9.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|880|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|13 deaths – This was the first of two extremely intense tornadoes to strike Texas on May 11 and was likely spawned by an outflow boundary. After forming west-northwest of San Angelo, the tornado headed east-southeast and struck the north side of the city. There, the tornado caused catastrophic damage to a third of the city. In all, 288 homes were destroyed and about 200 sustained at least some damage. Many of the homes were swept away in a 15-square-block section of the city, and peak damage approached F5 intensity. Additionally, 19 businesses were hit, including the Rocket Drive-In theater, and 172 vehicles were wrecked. The storm struck a school about 15 minutes before students were scheduled for dismissal. The building, which had two stories, lost its roof and many walls, but students sheltered safely in interior hallways, and only 12 were injured, none critically, though the school sustained $100,000 losses (1953 USD). Total contemporary damages reached $3.4 million, and 159 injuries occurred.{{cite web|title=The Lakeview Tornado: May 11, 1953 |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/sjt/?n=lakeview_tornado |website=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office San Angelo, TX |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=19 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611035218/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/sjt/?n=lakeview_tornado |archive-date=11 June 2016 |date=9 May 2013 |url-status=live }}

|W of McAlester

|Pittsburg

|OK

|{{coord|34.93

|2100

|{{convert|0.1|mi|m|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A brief tornado passed near Lake Talawanda, downing trees but causing no structural damage.

|NNW of Lorena to Waco to W of Axtell

|McLennan

|TX

|{{coord|31.55

|2210

|{{convert|20.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|583|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|114 deaths – See section on this tornado – Tied with the 1902 Goliad tornado as the deadliest on record in Texas. 597 injuries were reported.{{cite web|last1=Grazulis |first1=Thomas P. |last2=Grazulis |first2=Doris |title=The Most "Important" US Tornadoes by State |url=http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm |website=The Tornado Project Online |publisher=The Tornado Project |access-date=18 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035740/http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |date=26 April 2000 |url-status=dead }}

|NE of Wynnewood

|Garvin

|OK

|{{coord|34.67

|2230

|{{convert|2|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|33|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|Very little damage occurred as a tornado mostly affected uninhabited areas.

|Jewett to W of Corinth

|Leon

|TX

|{{coord|31.32

|0030

|{{convert|9.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}

|{{convert|267|yd|m|sortable=on}}

|A possible tornado family produced spotty damage as it tracked to the northeast. Near Jewett, a brief touchdown resulted in damage to 19 structures, including 12 homes, one of which was beyond repair. Other possible touchdowns, though officially unconfirmed, occurred near Oakwood, Tucker, and Palestine. Yet another possible tornado struck Neches, tearing the roof from a home. Three injuries may have occurred along the path. Total damage, including agricultural, in 1953 dollars was $48,000, but may have reached $100,000.{{harvnb|Grazulis|1993|p=972}}

|+Outbreak death toll{{#tag:ref|Data derived from the NCEI Storm Events Database.{{cite web|title=Events between 05/09/1953 and 05/11/1953|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=09&beginDate_yyyy=1953&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=11&endDate_yyyy=1953&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL|website=Storm Events Database|publisher=NCEI, Storm Prediction Center|access-date=25 May 2016}}|group="nb"|name="County death tolls"}}

| rowspan="3" style="background:#e6e9ff;"|8

|Fillmore

|1

|6

|1

| style="background:#e6e9ff;"|5

|Thayer

|5

| rowspan="2" style="background:#e6e9ff;"|127

|McLennan

|114

|13

| rowspan="3" style="background:#e6e9ff;"|4

|Burnett

|1

|2

|1

| style="background:#e6e9ff;"|144

|colspan=2|