1953 — May 1-2, Tornadoes, especially AL (9 deaths, May 1) and TN (4 deaths, May 2)– 13

–13 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 969.
–13 NCEI/NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. All States, Tornado, May 1-2, 1953.

Alabama (9) NCEI/NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. All States, Tornado, 5-1-1953.
–7 Clay County May 1 19:30 F4
–2 Choctaw County May 1 20:00 F4

Tennessee (4) NCEI/NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. All States, Tornado, 5-2-1953.
–4 Meigs County May 2 03:00 F4

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “AL MAY 1, 1953 1930 7k 12inj 400y 20m F4. CLAY–Moved ENE from 2m N of Millerville, passing 3m S of Ashland, to 2m S of Lineville. Nineteen homes were destroyed and 50 were damaged. Seven people were killed in three of the homes. A gas station was leveled, and about 100 other buildings were damaged. $200,000.

“AL MAY 1, 1953 2000 2k 3inj 200y 10m F4. CHOCTAW—Moved NE from lm S of Riderwood, passing 2m S of Lisman. Two homes were destroyed at Yantley. One was “totally disintegrated” and its debris was scattered for a half mile. The iron cookstove was carried a quarter of a mile. Thirty-five feet of curbing was “found to be missing.”….

“TN MAY 2, 1953 0300 3k 8inj 500y 18m F4. MEIGS/MCMINN—Moved E from “Idlewild,” a small community in a valley just east of Decatur, to Niota. Three homes were destroyed and 58 more were damaged. About 144 farm buildings were damaged or destroyed. What was described as a well-built two-story home was scattered for a half mile along the valley. Three people were killed in one family. A fourth death (not counted here) was in a small plane that crashed in the storm. $168,000….

‘SC MAY 2, 1953 1650 lk O inj…Fl. SUMTER—A church was shifted, and a barn and cabin were destroyed by falling trees near Sumter. A woman was killed when her car was thrown from the road. There is some question as to the tornadic nature of this event. $7,000.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 969.)

Sources

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

National Centers For Environmental Information, NOAA. Storm Events Database. All States, Tornado, May 1-2, 1953. Accessed 5-17-2023 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=01&beginDate_yyyy=1953&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=02&endDate_yyyy=1953&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL