1962 — March 31, F3 Tornado, Milton area, Santa Rosa County, FL — 17

–17 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1040.
–17 Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, p. 57.
–17 NCDC/NOAA. “Event Record Derails.”
–17 NCDC/NOAA. “Query Results.” FL, Santa Rosa, 03/31/1962, 0800, F4 Tornado, 17 deaths

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “FL…Mar 31, 1962…0900…17k [killed]…100inj…200y…8m…F3…Santa Rosa.
“Moved NE from 4m SW to 4m NE of Milton, destroying 75 small homes. Trailers and cars were thrown several hundred feet. About 200 other homes and buildings on the NW side of Milton were damaged. About 80 injuries required hospital treatment. A mother and three young children were killed in one home. At least 10 homes had a single death. The tornado damage may have extended as far as Munson. $1,500,000.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1040.)

Ludlum: “Florida’s worst tornado disaster at Milton in northwest panhandle killed 17, injured 100.”

National Climatic Data Center: Began at about 8 o’clock CST; traveled for about 7 miles; width of 440 yards. (NCDC/NOAA)

Sources

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

Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

National Climatic Data Center. Event Record Detail, Tornado, Florida, 31 Mar 1962. NCDC: NOAA Satellite and Information Service. Accessed 1/2/2009 at:
http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~17355

National Climatic Data Center, National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service, NOAA. “Query Results.” “Santa Rosa [County]…03/31/1962…0800 [time]…Tornado…F4…17 [deaths]…100 [injured]…2.5M.”