Tornado outbreak of January 4–6, 1946
On January 4–6, 1946, a small but violent tornado outbreak stuck the South-Central United States. L. H. Seamon with the U.S. Weather Bureau, the predecessor of the National Weather Service, later stated this was the "most disastrous" tornado event of the year and the U.S. Weather Bureau also later stated in 1960 that January 4 had “outstanding tornadoes”.[1][2]
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | January 4–6, 1946 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | ≥10 |
| Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Fatalities | 30 fatalities, 412+ injuries |
| Areas affected | South—Central United States |
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 1946 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale | |
Confirmed tornadoes
All ratings on the Fujita scale were done by Thomas P. Grazulis, a tornado expert, and are classified as unofficial ratings since official ratings for tornadoes began in 1950. Grazulis only documented significant tornadoes (F2+), so the true number of tornadoes for this outbreak is most likely higher than 10.
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≥ 1 | ≥ 0 | ≥ 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ≥10 |
January 4 event
| F# [note 2] |
Location | County / Parish | State | Time (Local) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F2 | S of Decatur | Wise | TX | 14:00 | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 70 to 300 yd (64 to 274 m) | The last three cars of a freight train were derailed, injuring five workers in the caboose. Two people were injured in a nearby farmhouse that was "torn apart" by the tornado. The U.S. Weather Bureau documented a total of eight injuries from the tornado, while Thomas P. Grazulis documented seven injuries. The U.S. Weather Bureau also documented two farmhouses being destroyed by a tornado with a width of 300 yards (270 m), while Grazulis only documents one farmhouse destroyed by the tornado with a width of 70 yards (64 m).[3][4] |
| F3 | Clawson | Angelina | TX | 20:30 | 10 mi (16 km) | 800 to 880 yd (730 to 800 m) | 3 deaths – The tornado moved northeastward through the community of Clawson, where it destroyed 30 homes, killing three people in two separate homes. Along the tornado's path, it would damage 327 buildings and destroy 48 others.[3] The tornado injured 50 people and caused $500,000 (1946 USD) in damage.[4] |
| F4 | Nacogdoches to Appleby | Nacogdoches | TX | 20:45–21:30? | 20 mi (32 km) | 800 to 880 yd (730 to 800 m) | 10 deaths – This tornado occurred 7 miles (11 km) after the previous one, both produced by the same supercell. It caused extensive damage in the city of Nacogdoches, where 80 homes were completely destroyed and 150 others were damaged. Throughout the city, 75 people were injured, and on the west side of Nacogdoches, six people lost their lives. The tornado also struck the city of Appleby, damaging or destroying 300 buildings and flattening thousands of acres of forestry. Three people died in Appleby. Overall, the tornado caused ten fatalities, injured 200 others, and resulted in $1.5 million (1946 USD) in damages.[3][4][5] |
| F2 | Peniel | Hunt | TX | 21:00 | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | In Peniel, known today as Greenville, eleven homes were destroyed and eight others were damaged. 102 other buildings were damaged or destroyed by the tornado. In total, 17 people were injured by the tornado.[3][4] |
| F4 | Log Lake to Southview to Palestine | Anderson | TX | 21:00 | 18 mi (29 km) | 400 to 440 yd (370 to 400 m) | 15 deaths – The tornado touched down 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Palestine moving northeastward. Two people were killed near Log Lake. In the "Southview" community, the tornado destroyed 36 homes and damaged 122 other structures. 13 deaths occurred in seven of the destroyed homes in Southview. Numerous cars were thrown several hundred yards throughout Southview. At least 60 injuries occurred, with more most likely occurring, but not ones requiring treatment at a hospital. In total, the tornado killed 15 people and injured at least 60 others.[3][4][6] |
| F2 | St. Paul to Shiloh | Limestone | TX | 21:30 | 5 mi (8.0 km) | >0 yd (0 m) | 2 deaths – Nine homes were destroyed, leading to two deaths in two separate homes. Other property damage occurred as well.[3][4] The tornado injured at least 17 people.[3] |
January 5 event
| F# [note 2] |
Location | County / Parish | State | Time (Local) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FU | Waynesboro | Wayne | MS | Unknown | >0 mi (0 km) | >0 yd (0 m) | A tornado struck around Waynesboro, causing mostly roof and tree damage. This tornado did not receive an estimated rating on the Fujita scale from Thomas P. Grazulis, meaning it was believed to have been F0 or F1 intensity.[4] |
January 6 event
| F# [note 2] |
Location | County / Parish | State | Time (Local) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F4 | SE of Wilmot to Lake Chicot to SE of Lake Village | Ashley, Chicot | AR | 18:00 | 4 to 5 mi (6.4 to 8.0 km) or 23 mi (37 km) |
800 to 880 yd (730 to 800 m) | 3 deaths – The large tornado leveled numerous homes of all sizes along its path. Over 20 different homes were leveled on two plantations near Wilmot. Three homes were destroyed and swept away into Lake Chicot.[3] The U.S. Weather Bureau described this as a "small tornado", with a path length of 4–5 miles. They also stated that about 45 buildings were "demolished" and that 50 other buildings were damaged.[7] Both the U.S. Weather Bureau and Grazulis stated the tornado killed three people and injured 50 others.[7][3] |
| F3 | ENE of Seven Pines to near Coila to SE of Carrollton | Carroll | MS | 18:00 | 13 mi (21 km) | >0 yd (0 m) | 4 deaths – A dozen small homes were destroyed, with four deaths occurring in three of the destroyed homes.[3] Nearly every building in the community of Seven Pines was completely destroyed.[7] Grazulis noted that there were conflicts of when this tornado occurred, meaning this tornado was potentially two separate tornadoes.[3] The U.S. Weather Bureau only recorded two deaths for this tornado and noted that five people were injured, while Grazulis stated four deaths occurred and ten people were injured.[7][3] |
| F3 | NW of Indianola to NW of Sunflower to E of Doddsville | Sunflower | MS | 18:00 | 20 mi (32 km) | >0 yd (0 m) | 4 deaths – Two people were killed in a church that was destroyed north of Indianola. The tornado obliterated a nearby home, which led to a third death. A fourth person was killed northwest of Sunflower in a small home.[3] |
Notes
- All dates and times are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down.
- All ratings on the Fujita scale were done by Thomas P. Grazulis, a tornado expert, and are classified unofficial ratings since official ratings for tornadoes began in 1950.
References
- L. H. Seamon (U.S. Weather Bureau) (1 December 1946). "PRELIMINARY REPORT ON TORNADOES IN THE UNITED STATES DURING 1946". Monthly Weather Review. 74 (12): 211–213. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1946)074<0211:PROTIT>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- Laura V. Wolford (U.S. Office of Climatology); Frederick H. Mueller (Secretary of Commerce); F. W. Reichelderfer (Chief of U.S. Weather Bureau) (1960). "Tornado Occurrences in the United States" (PDF). Department of Commerce. pp. 22–25. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant tornadoes, 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: Environmental Films. pp. 922–925. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
- U.S. Weather Bureau (February 1946). "Late Storm Reports For January 1946". Monthly Weather Review. 74 (2): 37. Bibcode:1946MWRv...74Q..37.. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1946)074<0037:LSRFJ>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1520-0493. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- Cable (8 February 1946). "TERRIFIC TEXAS TORNADO". The Horsham Times. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- "A list of the top 10 worst tornadoes in Texas history". National Weather Service in Amarillo, Texas. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- U.S. Weather Bureau (January 1946). "Severe Local Storms For January 1946". Monthly Weather Review. 74 (1): 18. Bibcode:1946MWRv...74...18.. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1946)074<0018:SLSFJ>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1520-0493. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
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