Tornadoes in the United States 1950-2019 These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America . For about one mile north of Florence the telegraph poles were twisted off and thrown across the N., C. & St. L. Railroad, which obstructed traffic for a considerable time last night. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 2 1909, PAGE 5, "FALLING TIMBER": WILDER, Tenn., May 1. Ten years ago today, the most prolific tornado outbreak on record swept across the southeastern United States. Other F4 recorded were reported in Missouri near Golden, in Illinois near Texas City, and in south-central Tennessee near Bee Springs, just north of the Alabama state line. The storm extended over many states inflicting damage on widely scattered communities from the Great Lakes to the Gulf. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 4, section Robertson County: SPRINGFIELD, Tenn., April 30 - A "twister", or cyclone, struck Montgomery County last night at Rudolphtown and plowed its way on through Montgomery County and the Seventeenth District of Robertson County into Kentucky, leaving devastation in its wake and entailing a loss of over $50,000. Greatest damage and the most horrible loss of life occurred in the community between Bunker Hill and Bryson, but the destruction was by no means confined to one place. Following is a partia (?) The most lives were lost in the Bee Spring community of Giles County. It is impossible to obtain details, as the wires are all down. It is thought that the dead and injured list will be increased by further reports. Houses and barns with their contents, orchards, fences and timber make up a large list of valuable property much of which was literally blown out of existence in a few seconds. Mrs. Will Adcock and her daughter are reported killed, but not verified. The tornado outbreak this week featured more than 400 tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings that spanned nearly two-dozen states. Robert Barnes and wife, near Fayetteville. Questions? As the storm moved eastward, it cut a path into the Southall community, causing major damage and dealing additional death blows. Homes were destroyed in Marion, Arkansas, resulting in five deaths in Arkansas. Franklin, Tenn., Apr. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 4 1909, PAGE 5, "HEAVY DAMAGE AT CHARLOTTE": CHARLOTTE, Tenn., May 3. Although not specifically stated in the article, Mr. Henry Reed of Cross Roads died from his injuries per death certificate records. This particular cyclone began its work of destruction in the neighborhood of Conway, though several barns and tenant houses were blown down west of that place. SHAMBURGER (2016): Based on the reports in the Nashville American, the number of deaths and injuries cited by Grazulis is too low, and the reported 4 deaths and 50 injuries in Montgomery County were used here. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The deadliest tornado outbreak ever in Middle Tennessee struck the region from the evening hours of April 29, 1909, through the night and into the next day on April 30, 1909. SHAMBURGER (2016): Despite the death of the child and significant damage to the two homes in Perry County, this tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. -92-93 Daily Journal, Stevens Point, WI. 22 others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. $150,000 damage. As soon as neighbors could be informed of the disaster, they hastened to the relief of the suffering. Dickson was left to the right of the storm's pathway, and fortunately little damage was done here. Fayetteville was not in the pathway of the cyclone, but was near it. As soon as a message could be sent to Pulaski, local doctors and citizens hastened to the scene of disaster to aid as much as possible in the work of relief. The stock barn of Rural home Stock farm was torn to pieces, and there were many other houses, barns, and outhouses destroyed. The tornado likely began in Humphreys County based on the information by Grazulis and the Nashville American. Damage: B. Thompson lives was blown across the street and his barn turned over, but his family was not hurt. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, "AT WATERTOWN, TENN.". About 75 homes were damaged or destroyed at Centerville, and losses totaled over $100,000. J. Jack Pope's home was wrecked and he and his wife were killed. - The most horrible catastrophe ever known in Lincoln County was the cyclone which passed through the county last night about midnight, wrecking homes, destroying lives and injuring a large number of citizens. Damage: A. Hickerson a house barn, buggies and fences. One person was killed near Nolensville and another near Walterhill. In Tennessee, the town of Locke was mostly destroyed by the first F3 tornado. At the same time and place, Mrs. Thad Reese, who was a sister of Mrs. Guffey, with her two children, lost their lives, making seven deaths at this one house. Ed Ragland's house was blown from its foundation. This tornado appears to be from the same long-track supercell which tracked from the Memphis area and later produced the tornadoes in Hickman, Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, DeKalb, Putnam, Fentress, and Scott Counties. A relief committee was organized with John W. Young, Elkton R. 1, as chairman, and in a little while enough funds were in hand to provide food and clothing to supply the immediate necessities of those who had lost everything. Affecting particularly the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, it killed over 150 people, 60 of them in the U.S. state of Tennessee alone. The Elk Cotton Mill was damaged about $5,000. Striking the residence of Prof. W. H. Hooks it blew away all of his residence except the kitchen, his stable, outbuildings and shade trees. The residence of J. M. Lews at that place was twisted entirely around, but it did not fall, but is in such a damaged condition that it will be necessary to tear it down. Damage: This page was last edited on 12 March 2022, at 09:35. This large tornado then passed 2 to 3 miles south of Nolensville, moved 1 mile northwest of Florence Station, passed over Wards Mill (also called Evans Mill or Nice Mill) around 4 miles southeast of Smyrna, then damaged homes and barns just south of Walter Hill. Dive into the history of the Volunteer State. Special thanks to Sam Shamburger from the National Weather Service office in Nashville, who did extensive research on this tornado outbreak. Andy Beshear said Saturday. As it moved into Williamson County it eventually passed just south of Franklin causing 8 deaths and 11 injuries. Centreville, Tenn., April 30. Photos of the damage in the Hillsboro (Leiper's Fork) area from the Nashville American newspaper show extreme damage, with a home wiped off the foundation and a hillside forest completely destroyed, suggesting this tornado reached F4 intensity. National Weather Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The property loss cannot be estimated. Mrs. Berry (sic) Prosser, near Fayetteville; fatally injured. The total list of those killed in Giles County, so far as could be learned the day after the storm was eighteen white people and four negroes, making twenty two in all. Hardest-hit areas were in and around Pulaski, Bryson and Fayetteville. The writer went across the country to Sulphur Fork, following it up, and through Charlotte, on the west side of town. It went on record as an F2 tornado. The cyclone struck Primm Springs, a summer resort in Hickman County, and devastated the country. North of Memphis, Tennessee, two F3 tornadoes killed a total of 22 from Crittenden County, Arkansas, to Carroll County, Tennessee. One brick home was completely demolished. From that point, the storm moved into the Greenbrier section, where it destroyed two stores, several churches, and numerous farm houses, barns and outbuildings. James Marshall, a young man of about 20, was blown from the bed in an upstairs room and lodged in a tree about twenty-five feet away but escaped without injury. Coming into Robertson County the storm struck the barn of Mrs. Laban Warfield on the place occupied by Mr. Duff. The property loss will mount into the thousands. Among those whose homes are wrecked are Postmaster C. H. Underhill, Asa Hickerson, Mrs. Lizzie McPherson and Jim Butler. The path length was extended from Grazulis' 15 miles to 20 miles and path width added as 1/4 mile based on the information in the Nashville American, along with the time being adjusted to 8 PM from 830 PM. Coming as it did near midnight, when the people generally were asleep, many barely escaped in their night clothes. The McConnico Church southeast of Franklin was also heavily damaged. This was the deadliest tornado outbreak in the U.S. since May 2011, when more than 170 people were killed. Web. The courthouse was unroofed, and sixteen of its beautiful shade trees uprooted. Eight-year-old boy of Paulina Farris, colored, Centreville. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. The deadliest January tornadoes on record. The next place in Tennessee was the farm of Mrs. Kate Wall, where all the fences and outbuildings were blown away and considerable other damage wrought. All NOAA, (The following newspaper article was transcribed from The Pulaski Citizen of May 6, 1909.). Fortunately no one was killed, but several were wounded. Following is a partia (?) These pictures show the damage in Centerville in Hickman County where there were nine deaths and 32 injuries. In all there were 12 tornadoes that caused 62 fatalities in Middle Tennessee. Elam Tucker, who lives at the old Suttle place, near Aspen Hill, lost his barn, also Will Coon, Billy Widene, and D. Biles, and the tenant houses on the Phillips place, south of Tucker's, were wrecked. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The tornado appears to have begun west of Aspen Hill in Giles County, not in Limestone County, Alabama, as Grazulis stated, then passed near Aspen Hill where it damaged homes and barns, through Conway where the school was destroyed, between Bunker Hill and Bryson, and through Bee Springs destroying numerous homes and the Bee Springs Church on Bee Springs Road about 1/3 mile south of Stevenson Road. These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America. The several cashiers will take charge of same several cashiers will take charge of same and see to it that it is property and judiciously distributed among those who are destitute. Show. Two of the couple's sons were blown over a 20-foot bluff and into a nearby creek. The desperately injured are: R. H. Thompson, a son and daughter of Mrs. Money, Hiram Prince and Prof. R. S. Ballen. Four people are known to be dead and two are missing, supposed to have been blown away as their home was demolished. The tornado outbreak of late-April 1909 was a deadly tornado outbreak that affected much of the central and Southern United States between April 29 and May 1, 1909. Many Lives and Much Property Lost in Giles County. The tornado tore apart eight or nine farms and damaged or destroyed 25 buildings in Charlotte. FROM THE PULASKI CITIZEN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON MAY 6, 1909 "FIFTY HOUSES WRECKED. The tornado touched down just outside of Aspen Hills, just a few miles west of here. 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