On March 24–25, 1954, a small-but-intense tornado outbreak affected portions of the Central and Southern United States, killing two people and injuring 11. The outbreak generated 18 significant (F2 or stronger) tornadoes, including a deadly, violent event, retroactively rated F4, in Texas County, Missouri. Another intense tornado, rated F3, injured two people in a rural part of Barry County, also in Missouri. An F2 tornado in Benton County, Missouri, injured four. In addition, an F1 tornado in Collin County, North Texas—in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex—injured four more. At least four tornadoes also occurred in or near Greater St. Louis, causing locally extensive damage, and a quartet of strong tornadoes hit Oklahoma, with a few more F2s striking Arkansas.

Outbreak statistics + Daily statistics of tornadoes during the tornado outbreak of March 24–25, 1954 DateTotalF-scale ratingDeathsInjuriesDamage FU  F0  F1  F2  F3  F4  F5 March 2416008800008March 2512002811023 Total28001016110211

Confirmed tornadoes

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.

+ Color/symbol key Color / symbol Description † Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b ¶ Data from a local National Weather Service office ※ Data from the 1954 Climatological Data National Summary publication ‡ Data from the NCEI database ♯ Maximum width of tornado ± Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable.

March 24 event + Confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, March 24, 1954F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F1GoltryAlfalfaOklahoma21:15–?A brief tornado was reported. F2ESE of AlfalfaCaddoOklahoma21:30–?†※※Barns were wrecked on three farmsteads. F2NNW of NewkirkKayOklahoma01:05–?※※Barns on a few farmsteads lost their roofs. Five outbuildings and another barn were wrecked elsewhere. F2±E of WellsvilleFranklinKansas02:30–?‡‡Sheds and barns were damaged on three farmsteads. F2±NW of Chanute to NW of MoranWilson, AllenKansas03:00–?Damage to farms may have commenced farther southwest in Wilson County than officially indicated. F1Western Sapulpa to SW of OakhurstCreekOklahoma03:05–03:20※Garages and other structures were damaged. F2Western HaskellMuskogeeOklahoma03:25–?※Half a dozen homes were damaged. A barn and a cannery were wrecked as well. F1FriscoCollinTexas03:30–?※This tornado shattered windows and tore off roofing. Television antennae, sheds, and barns were damaged. A grain elevator was wrecked as well. Four injuries occurred. F1SE of Cherryvale※MontgomeryKansas03:30–?※Many farms were damaged, and trees were prostrated. F1E of Columbus※CherokeeKansas03:45–?Farmsteads were damaged. F1SE of Rose※ to NNE of JayDelawareOklahoma04:00–?※※Damage occurred on three farmsteads. F1Burgess※BartonMissouri04:00–?※Agricultural implements and a garage were damaged. F2†SW of Oakton to northern Lamar Heights to SW of MilfordBartonMissouri04:00–?††※12 homes were severely damaged, and a quartet of barns were wrecked. Livestock was injured or killed as well. F1NW of Seligman to W of Cape FairBarryMissouri04:00–?This tornado passed near Washburn and ended near Flat Creek. Details are unavailable. F2±W of Pensacola to Grand Lake o' the Cherokees※Mayes, Craig※, Delaware※Oklahoma04:18–?Details are unavailable. F2†Southern Centerton (1st tornado) to Bentonville to SW of GatewayBentonArkansas04:40–?※Numerous outbuildings, barns, and homes were destroyed or damaged. Many chickens were killed as well. Four people were injured.

March 25 event + Confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, March 25, 1954F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F2±NE of Saratoga to Lanagan to WNW of Rocky ComfortMcDonald, Newton※Missouri05:00–?This tornado destroyed or damaged many small frame farmhouses. Outbuildings and barns were wrecked as well. Livestock was killed or injured along the path, and one person was injured. F2†Fairview to Purdy to McDowellNewton, BarryMissouri05:00–?Barns, little frame homes, outbuildings, chicken coops, and machinery were destroyed or damaged. Trees were torn up and carried many yards. F2†Near SuccessTexasMissouri~05:00–?A small home was destroyed, along with a barn. The tornado killed "thousands" of poultry. F3ESE of Cato†BarryMissouri05:30–?††A seven-room, twin-story house was torn apart. A few injuries occurred. F2†S of Fordland to near Diggins† to N of Seymour※WebsterMissouri05:45–?††※A factory and a warehouse were flattened, along with four barns. 20 cows were also killed. F2†S of Selmore to OzarkChristianMissouri05:45–?†※This strong tornado formed over Elk Valley, northwest of Christian Center, ripping the roof off a farmhouse and tearing away the front of another home. Barns were wrecked as well, and livestock was injured or killed. Debris obstructed vehicular and pedestrian traffic "for hours". F4NW of Bendavis to SE of Old SuccessTexasMissouri06:55–?†2 deaths – This violent tornado hit more than 20 farms, tossing a vehicle a long distance. One home was obliterated, its debris scattered . The dead were found from the homesite. A truck, barns, and outbuildings were wrecked as well. Trees were uprooted and thrown many yards. F2†SSE of Gilmore to W of Portage des SiouxSt. CharlesMissouri08:00–?‡※A few small, anchor-bolted cottages were blown off their CMU foundations. A small home was wrecked as well. A hangar and a barn sustained damage. F1W of West AltonSt. CharlesMissouri08:00–?※Outbuildings were tipped onto their sides. Other structures received minor damage. A porch lost its roof as well. F2SW of Pacific to Maryland Heights†Franklin, St. Louis†Missouri08:00–?††※This strong tornado unroofed a brick home and wrecked another. A CMU garage was demolished, and a timber was embedded in the wall of a dining room. Windows, agricultural implements, and barns were destroyed or damaged as well. F1Gray Summit※FranklinMissouri08:00–?≤※‡※Several walls were downed, and a brick home was extensively damaged. F2†Southern Centerton (2nd tornado)BentonArkansas08:15–?†※A small barn and farmhouse were wrecked. Outbuildings were damaged and 3,000 fledgling chickens killed.

See also List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks Tornadoes of 1954

Notes

References

Sources