A deadly series of at least 33 tornadoes hit at least 10 different U.S. states on May 9–11, 1953. Tornadoes appeared daily from Minnesota in the north to Texas in the south. The strongest and deadliest tornado was a powerful F5 tornado that struck Waco, Texas on May 11, causing 114 of the 144 deaths in the outbreak. Alongside the 1902 Goliad tornado, it was the deadliest tornado in Texas history and is the 11th deadliest tornado in U.S. history. The tornado's winds demolished more than 600 houses, 1,000 other structures, and over 2,000 vehicles. 597 injuries occurred, and many survivors had to wait more than 14 hours for rescue. The destruction dispelled a myth that the geography of the region spared Waco from tornadoes, and along with other deadly tornadoes in 1953, the Waco disaster was a catalyst for advances in understanding the link between tornadoes and radar-detected hook echoes. It also generated support for improved civil defense systems, the formation of weather radar networks, and improved communications between stakeholders such as meteorologists, local officials, and the public.
The Waco tornado was not the only deadly and damaging tornado in the outbreak sequence. On the same day as the Waco disaster, a high-end F4 tornado struck the Texas city of San Angelo, causing catastrophic damage, killing 13 people, and injuring more than 150. The tornado swept away numerous homes and damaged a school, but students inside escaped without serious injuries. On May 9, a long-tracked F3 tornado destroyed a large swath of Hebron, Nebraska and killed five people in the area. The following day, May 10, featured numerous, often long-tracked and intense tornado families across the states of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Two families on nearly parallel paths traveled more than each and killed a combined total of six people, mostly in Wisconsin. At least one of the tornado families reached F4 intensity in Wisconsin. Two other F4 tornadoes also struck Iowa. Additionally, a relatively moderate tornado of F2 intensity caused significant loss of life in a shack in Minnesota, killing six people. Although 33 tornadoes were officially registered from May 9–11, others likely occurred but either went undetected or were not officially documented.
Background After two days of intense tornado activity, May 11, 1953, produced a rich, unstable air mass that moved northward over Texas from the Gulf of Mexico. As of 9:30 a.m. CST (15:30 UTC), thunderstorm activity from the overnight hours persisted, generating residual outflow boundaries. Already, anomalously warm surface temperatures reached the mid-70s °F (mid-20s °C) as far north as a line stretching from Dallas to Austin. Dew points were correspondingly high as well, climbing into the lower 70s °F. (lower 20s °C) As a dry line crossed the warm sector in the afternoon, a layer of cool surface temperatures left by the outflow boundaries locally enhanced low-level wind shear, acting as a mechanism to enable supercell and tornado formation. Winds backed along the outflow boundaries, perhaps aiding the formation of large and violent tornadoes. Due to conducive conditions for severe weather, the U.S. Weather Bureau (later the National Weather Service) Weather Forecast Office in New Orleans issued a tornado alert covering sections of Central and West Texas.
Confirmed tornadoes + Daily statistics DateTotalFujita scale ratingDeathsInjuries F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 May 96031200582 May 102211062301257 May 115021011127756 Total331158441144895
May 9 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 9, 1953F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path length widthSummary F1N of HuronBeadleSD0005A 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. F1WSW of Bryant to SE of ViennaClark, HamlinSD0100A tornado developed near Cherry Lake and headed north-northeastward, producing minimal damage to structures on several farms. F1S of McLeanWayneNE0300Only negligible damage occurred as a tornado briefly touched down. F3N of Courtland to Western Republic SW of Byron, NERepublicKS0310This 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. F3Belvidere to MilfordThayer, Fillmore, Saline, SewardNE03455 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. F2NE of SumnerDawsonNE0500A 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.
May 10 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, May 10, 1953F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path length widthSummary F1SE of VinsonHarmonOK0700A weak tornado tracked through areas east of Vinson, damaging small structures, including barns, sheds, and some garages. F1NW of TamoraSewardNE0710 F1NNE of McQueenGreerOK0715A tornado briefly touched down, leveling a chicken coop and a nearby barn. F1SW of MangumGreerOK0715Brief tornado with the appearance of a dust devil caused a frail shed to collapse and caused minor structural damage nearby. F1N of ThomasCusterOK0720One barn was blown down. F1E of Mt. Hope to Southwestern Wichita to UdallSumner, NessKS0800Long-tracked tornado hit Southwestern Wichita with no casualties reported. F2NNE of Renfrow, OK to Udall, KSGrant (OK), Sumner (KS), Ness (KS)OK, KS0900An 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. F3Elmdale to Northwestern Eskridge S of KeeneChase, Morris, Lyon, WabaunseeKS1000This 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. F1N of CambridgeCowley, ElkKS1030A weak, but large tornado downed fences and caused minimal damage to a few farms in its path. A rural barn was among damaged structures. F1Eastern BassettAllenKS1130A 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. F1NE of HumboldtRichardsonNE1200Many structures lost their roofs. F2RussellvillePopeAR1810Eyewitnesses 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. F0S of Nebraska CityOtoeNE1930Brief tornado touched down north-northeast of Paul. F1E of DentTexasMO2000A 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. F4NW of Millerton to SSW of RussellWayne, LucasIA2115A 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. F2NW of Clontarf to CyrusPopeMN2155A 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. F4ESE of Garner to SSW of Silver LakeHancock, Cerro Gordo, WorthIA2210A 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. F2ESE of HavenTamaIA2230This 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 or even longer. F2Hollandale to SW of Blooming PrairieFreebornMN23006 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. F4SW of Chester, IA, to St. Charles, MN ESE of Catawba, WIHoward (IA), Fillmore (MN), Olmsted (MN), Winona (MN), Buffalo (WI), Trempealeau (WI), Eau Claire (WI), Chippewa (WI), Taylor (WI), Price (WI)IA, MN, WI23302 deaths – See section on this tornado – 24 people were injured, though Grazulis listed an unofficial total of 17. F3ESE of Farmersburg to NE of BeulahClaytonIA0000An 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 , but was not documented in the official injury total. While officially rated F3, the tornado was assigned an F2 rating by Grazulis. F2River Falls to Amery E of GordonPierce, St. Croix, Polk, Burnett, Washburn, DouglasWI00304 deaths – See section on this tornado – 27 people were injured.
May 11 event