Tornado outbreak of May 1927

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Coordinates: 40°33′23″N 94°58′18″W / 40.5564°N 94.9716°W / 40.5564; -94.9716
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Tornado outbreak of May 1927
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationMay 7–9, 1927
Tornadoes
confirmed		≥ 34
Max. rating1F5 tornado
Fatalities≥ 217 deaths, ≥ 1,156 injuries
DamageUnknown
Areas affectedMidwestern United States, Southern United States
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

The tornado outbreak of May 1927 occurred between May 7–9 in the Midwestern and Southern United States, producing numerous strong tornadoes and killing at least 217 people.[1]

Confirmed tornadoes[edit]

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
? ? ? 17 8 8 1 ≥ 34
List of known tornadoes during the tornado outbreak of May 7–9, 1927[1][nb 1]
F# Location County / Parish State Start
coord. 		Date Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary
F5 SW of Aetna to SSW of McPherson Comanche, Barber, Kingman, Reno, McPherson KS — May 7 0000 95 miles (153 km) 3,520 yd (3,220 m) 10 deaths – This intense, long-lived tornado family consisted of at least two tornadoes, the first touchdown of which may have occurred in Oklahoma. Both tornadoes were of immense size, up to 2 mi (3.2 km) wide at times, but their visibility allowed many people to seek shelter.[2] The tornadoes struck over one hundred farms, some of which were obliterated. Four deaths occurred southeast of Medicine Lodge, and another person died west of Kingman.[2] The tornado family also impacted the eastern side of Hutchinson, where three deaths and $750,000 in damages occurred.[nb 2] Two final deaths took place near McPherson before the tornadoes dissipated. Three hundred people were injured along the entire path,[2] and total losses reached $1.3 million.[3]
F3 W of North Platte to E of Hershey Lincoln NE — May 8 1215 15 miles (24 km) 100 yd (91 m)[3] A narrow tornado struck eight farms, four of which incurred F3-level damage. Three people were injured, and losses totaled $45,000.[4] Operationally, this and the succeeding event were considered a single tornado with a total path length of 34 mi (55 km),[3] but a reanalysis by Thomas P. Grazulis split them into two distinct tornadoes.[4]
F3 W and NW of Stapleton Lincoln NE — May 8 1600 18 miles (29 km) — This tornado, the second to strike Nebraska on May 8, wrecked at least three homes on ranches. One person was injured, and damages totaled $50,000.[4]
F2 Near Calumet to near Sutherland O'Brien IA — May 8 0200 6 miles (9.7 km) — One injury
F4 Near Macks Creek to near Olean Camden, Miller MO — May 8 0200 35 miles (56 km) — 4 deaths, thirty-three injuries – Major damage in the western part of Eldon. Damage in Olean may have been the dissipation of the tornado.[1]
F4 NW of Jefferson City to S of Benton City Cole, Boone, Callaway, Audrain MO — May 8 0315 40 miles (64 km) — 6 deaths, thirty injuries – A well-built home with a concrete basement was pulled over west of New Bloomfield.
F3 NW of Ava Douglas MO — May 8 0400 9 miles (14 km) — 2 deaths, thirty injuries – Nine homes were destroyed, and two men were killed.
F4 Nevada Collin TX — May 9 0825 15 miles (24 km) — 19 deaths, one hundred injuries – Formed southwest of Nevada, and impacted the western half of town. The tornado formed so close to town that no roar was heard to warn residents. There may have been more than two hundred injuries; the injured were placed in several nearby hospitals. Further down its path, the roar allowed people in the path to take shelter.[1]
F4 NW of Greenville to near Wolfe City Hunt TX — May 9 0900 15 miles (24 km) — 6 deaths, twenty injuries – Developed from the previous storm. Twenty farms were hit.[1]
F4 Garland Dallas TX — May 9 0910 1 mile (1.6 km) — 15 deaths, forty injuries – A brief but extremely destructive tornado moved through Garland. Moved from southwest to northeast of town with a highly erratic path, at one point turning 180°. Most casualties occurred in a five-block area.[1]
F2 NW of Holland to Beckette Mountain Faulkner AR — May 9 1900 12 miles (19 km) — A home and a barn were damaged
F3 Hickory Township Schuyler, Fulton IL — May 9 2010 12 miles (19 km) — One death, twelve injuries – Moved parallel to and north of the Illinois River. Five farm homes were damaged, and one boy was killed.[1]
F2 Shreveport Caddo LA — May 9 2025 1 mile (1.6 km) — Cut a block-wide damage path through part of Shreveport, doing minimal F2 damage. No injuries reported.[1]
F2 Near Eden Peoria IL — May 9 2030 — — Farm house had roof torn off and carried 1⁄4 mi (0.40 km) away. No injuries.[1]
F2 Scott to Lonoke Pulaski, Lonoke AR — May 9 2030 15 miles (24 km) — Seven injuries; many rural homes were damaged.
F3 W of Carlisle to Birdeye Lonoke, Prairie, Woodruff, St. Francis, Cross AR — May 9 2030 65 miles (105 km) — 8 deaths, sixty-nine injuries – Likely a tornado family. Many houses were leveled on a long track.[1]
F4 Imboden to Poplar Bluff, MO Lawrence (AR), Randolph (AR), Ripley (MO), Butler (MO) AR, MO — May 9 2035 60 miles (97 km) — 98 deaths, three hundred injuries – Produced F4 damage in rural Arkansas before devastating the larger town of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The tornado took three minutes to pass through the town, killing eighty-three, twenty-one alone at the Melbourne Hotel. Thirty-one square blocks were obliterated.[1]
F4 Hoxie Lawrence AR — May 9 2050 5 miles (8.0 km) — 11 deaths, two hundred injuries – A short-tracked tornado devastated the town of Hoxie. One hundred buildings were destroyed, including a new high school, killing two students.[1]
F2 NE of Kingsland to NW of Randall Cleveland, Lincoln AR — May 9 2110 28 miles (45 km) — 9 deaths, twenty-four injuries – All fatalities occurred near Toledo and Randall. The tornado seemed to become more intense toward the end of its path.[1]
F2 N of Kingston Madison AR — May 9 2115 — — Four injuries in a home near Kingston.
F2 Bethesda Independence AR — May 9 2120 — — Six homes were damaged at Bethesda.
F2 Norphlet Union AR — May 9 2130 2 miles (3.2 km) — One death, thirty-five injuries – All buildings in Norphlet were damaged.
F3 SW of Egypt to NW of Fontaine Craighead, Lawrence, Greene AR — May 9 2150 27 miles (43 km) — 12 deaths, eight injuries – Mother and five children killed near Egypt, three people killed in postmaster's home near Fontaine (known then as Lanieve).
F4 SW to NE of Strong Union AR — May 9 2220 6 miles (9.7 km) — 24 deaths, seventy-two injuries – Most of town of Strong was leveled, many prominent citizens killed or injured
F2 NW of Long Grove to SE of DeWitt Scott, Clinton IA — May 9 2220 10 miles (16 km) — Several farms had buildings damaged
F3 E of Morrisonville to NE of Decatur Christian, Macon IL — May 9 2225 45 miles (72 km) — One death, 116 injuries – Near F4 intensity in Christian County as dozens were injured on farms. Widened and weakened in Decatur area.[1]
F2 N to NE of Owaneco Christian IL — May 9 2230 5 miles (8.0 km) — Several barns destroyed
F2 E of Clarence Natchitoches LA — May 9 2230 3 miles (4.8 km) — One death, ten injuries – One woman killed in a tenant house
F3 SW of Chittyville to NE of West Frankfort Williamson IL — May 9 2255 16 miles (26 km) — Twenty-one injuries; many homes lost roofs in Chittyville (known then as Centerville) and West Frankfort
F2 SW to NE of Calvin Winn LA — May 9 0030 8 miles (13 km) — Tornado damaged unoccupied buildings
F2 NW of Joppa, IL, to E of Samoth McCracken (KY), Massac (IL) KY, IL — May 9 1830 10 miles (16 km) — 6 deaths, twenty injuries – man killed aboard towboat on Ohio River, several towns hit
F2 Renick to SW of Evansville Randolph, Monroe MO — May 9 0127 10 miles (16 km) — Several farm houses and barns destroyed
F2 W to NE of Walker Ottawa MI — May 9 — — — Several barns destroyed
F2 Loomis to Beaverton Isabella, Clare, Gladwin MI — May 9 — 10 miles (16 km) — Forty farms damaged

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
  2. ^ All losses are in 1927 USD unless otherwise stated.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes, 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. pp. 202–4. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
  2. ^ a b c Grazulis 1993, p. 808
  3. ^ a b c U.S. Weather Bureau (May 1927). "Severe Local Storms, May, 1927" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. 55 (5). Washington, D.C.: American Meteorological Society: 247. Bibcode:1927MWRv...55..247.. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1927)55<247:SLSM>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 18 August 2019. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b c Grazulis 1993, p. 809

Bibliography[edit]

  • National Historical Company (1882), "34: Tornadoes", The History of Nodaway County, Missouri, National Historical Company, pp. 502–11

40°33′23″N 94°58′18″W / 40.5564°N 94.9716°W / 40.5564; -94.9716

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