1953 — May 10, Tornado Outbreak, especially MN (8 deaths) and WI (4 deaths) — 12

— 12 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 970.

Minnesota (8)
–8 Nat. Centers For Environmental Info. Storm Events Database. All States, Tornado, 5-10-1953.
–6 Freeborn County F4 17:00
–1 Filmore County F4 17:45
–1 Olmsted County F4 18:10

Wisconsin (4)
–4 National Centers For Environmental Info. Storm Events Database. WI Tornado 5-10-1953.
–1 St. Croix County F2 18:35
–2 Polk County F2 19:10
–1 Burnett County F2 19:35

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “WI MAY 10, 1953 1530 4k 21inj 200y f80m F4. PIERCE/ST.CROIX/POLK/ BURNETT [counties] —What was probably a family of tornadoes moved NNE from lm SW of River Falls, across the edge of that town. Severe and seemingly continuous damage began 3m E of New Richmond, and continued to the west edge of Amery, passing 8m E of Balsam Lake and 4m NW of Loraine. Damage in the less populated areas north of Amery was not well documented. Three picnickers were injured at a park in River Falls when they took shelter in a summer home which collapsed. In St. Croix County, an elderly woman was killed, and three other people were injured, when her home was destroyed in Stanton Township, about 5m NE of New Richmond. Two people died in Polk County. A man was killed by flying debris as he ran from the barn to the house near Amery, and a girl was killed in the destruction of a barn at “Indian Creek,” 8m E of Lewis. The final death was in Burnett County, lm N of Hertel, when a tree crushed a milk house. Eleven of the injuries were in homes on the west edge of Amery, where damage was at F4 intensity. $1,000,000….

“MN MAY 10, 1953 1700 6k 3inj 60y 8m F2. FREEBORN—Moved ENE, passing lm SE of Hollandale and near Maple Island. Six people were killed in the destruction of what was called a “home,” but in actuality was a large shack used to house migrant workers. All six fatalities and two of the injuries were to members of one family. Buildings were destroyed on about a half dozen farms. $35,000.

“MN MAY 10, 1953 1700 lk 1linj 400y 18m F3. OLMSTED/WINONA–Moved NE, passing about 2m NW of St. Charles. Farms were torn up all along the track. An infant was killed and four other people were injured in a car that was thrown 100 feet, about 1.5m W of St. Charles. Four more injuries occurred in a barn, and three more in another car. Hundreds of trees were snapped at Whitewater State Park. It’s possible that this tornado was continuous to Wisconsin, NW of Fountain City.

“IA-MN MAY 10, 1953 1715 lk 5inj 400y 40m F3. HOWARD, IA /FILLMORE/ OLMSTED, MN–Moved NNE from 5m SW of Chester, Iowa, to 4m NE of Chatfield, Minnesota. Eleven farms were damaged in the six-mile-long path in Iowa, and two people were injured. At least 20 other farms lost property in Minnesota. A man was killed as his barn was destroyed lm SE of Wykoff. A rural school was leveled 3m S of Chatfield.” (Grazulis 1993, p. 970)

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, 5-10-1953. Accessed 5-17-2023 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=10&beginDate_yyyy=1953&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=10&endDate_yyyy=1953&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL

National Centers For Environmental Information, NOAA. Storm Events Database. WI Tornado 5-10-1953. Accessed 5-17-2023 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=10&beginDate_yyyy=1953&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=10&endDate_yyyy=1953&county=ALL&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=55%2CWISCONSIN