Tornado outbreak of March 13–14, 1913

Tornado outbreak of March 13–14, 1913
Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes≥ 23
Maximum ratingF4 tornado
DurationMarch 13–14, 1913
Overall effects
Fatalities≥ 76
Injuries≥ 501
Damage> $228,200 ($7,260,000 in 2025 USD)[note 1]
Areas affectedMidwestern and Southern United States
Part of the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1913

On March 13–14, 1913, a tornado outbreak affected portions of the south-central United States, killing at least 76 people and injuring 501 others. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak, retroactively rated F4 on the Fujita scale, killed 15 people in Georgia. A pair of long-lived F4s in Tennessee collectively claimed 16 more lives. An F3 in Louisiana killed nine more people, and an F3 in Georgia caused eight additional fatalities. An F2 tornado family in Mississippi inflicted half a dozen more deaths as well, as did an F3 family in Tennessee. Many tornadoes in the outbreak were both large and long-tracked.[note 2]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
1 0 1 12 6 3 0 ≥ 23

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.[3][note 3] 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.[7][note 4] 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.

March 13 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, March 13, 1913
F#[note 4] Location County / Parish State Time (UTC)[note 5] Path length Width[note 6] Damage[note 7]
F2 Southern Brookeland Sabine TX 15:15–? 4 mi (6.4 km) 200 yd (180 m) Un­known
1 death – A wide, low-end F2 tornado hit 50 buildings, wrecking half a dozen of them, including a church and a home. Of the 50 injuries, just four were critical.[17]
F2 Northern Union Parish (LA) to Blanchard Springs (AR) to Caledonia (AR) to Hibank (AR) Union (LA), Union (AR) LA, AR 15:30–? 10 mi (16 km) 880 yd (800 m)♯ $24,000
1 death – A possible tornado family destroyed 15 homes, while damaging stores and other buildings. 47 injuries occurred.[18][17]
F3 W of Florien to S of Many to S of Fisher to Provencal Sabine, Natchitoches LA 15:30–16:00 25 mi (40 km) 880 yd (800 m)♯ >$50,000
9 deaths – An intense tornado destroyed 20 or more homes and killed hundreds of livestock. Four family members died in a home near Fisher, and 50 injuries occurred along the path.[19][17]
F2 NE of Oxford to W of Hickory Flat Lafayette, Marshall, Benton MS 18:30–? 15 mi (24 km) Un­known Un­known
1 death – A tornado, the first member of a long-tracked family, destroyed or damaged 12 homes, injuring 20 people, and considerably damaged farms.[20][17][2]
F2 Near Algoma to near Marietta Pontotoc, Lee, Prentiss MS 19:00–? 35 mi (56 km) Un­known Un­known
6 deaths – A tornado family flattened homes near Guntown and destroyed other buildings near Chesterville, injuring a total of 35 people. Five of the six deaths occurred near Chesterville.[17]
F4 SW of Middleton to ENE of Henderson Hardeman, McNairy, Chester TN 19:15–? 40 mi (64 km) 400 yd (370 m) Un­known
10 deaths – Possibly originating in Tippah County, Mississippi, this violent tornado was related to the Oxford–Hickory Flat F2. Near Middleton it obliterated a few homes, claiming five lives. It also injured 22 pupils and a schoolteacher there, while destroying 20 or more buildings. It leveled more homes near Henderson, claiming three lives, and killed two more people near McNairy. In the McNairy–Finger area it wrecked 10 buildings, while blowing down outbuildings and fences near Henderson. In all it destroyed 50 homes, all of which were frail, and injured 50 people.[21][20][17]
F2 E of Green Hill (AL) to Springer Station (TN) to SSE of Ethridge (TN) Lauderdale (AL), Lawrence (TN) AL, TN 19:45–? 25 mi (40 km) 200 yd (180 m) >$200
A tornado destroyed a sawmill, a few barns, fences, and several homes. It also downed trees, blew a house off its foundation, and partly destroyed an additional pair of barns. It passed just east of Iron City and Lawrenceburg. Grazulis incorrectly attributed a death and six injuries to the tornado, according to research by the National Weather Service in Nashville.[17][2]
F4 E of Huron to Lexington to Cavvia to S of Camden Henderson, Carroll, Benton TN 20:00–? 40 mi (64 km) 400 yd (370 m) Un­known
6 deaths – A violent tornado wrecked 24 or more farms, along with various public buildings and 58 houses in Lexington. At the latter place it destroyed the "most substantial" homes, but only leveled "poorer" ones, Grazulis reported, killing three people. According to the Monthly Weather Review, "shade trees that had ornamented the town for generations were strewn in all directions", and at least 100 buildings were destroyed. Between Camden and Cavvia the tornado destroyed at least 40 more buildings, causing a few additional deaths. In all 45 injuries occurred.[22][21][17]
F2 W of Pulaski to Waco to Pleasant Grove to N of Hill Giles, Maury TN 20:15–? 25 mi (40 km) Un­known Un­known
2+ deaths – A strong tornado destroyed 10 homes, felled thousands of trees, and blew down a pair of chimneys at the Newton White House, crossing the Duck River. Some additional deaths were rumored. 25 people were injured.[17][2]
F3 N of Sumac to Duncanville to Lillard Mill to SW of Caney Spring Giles, Marshall TN 20:30–? 25 mi (40 km) 800 yd (730 m) Un­known
2 deaths – An intense tornado destroyed several barns and homes, along with the front of a store. It badly damaged a number of farms, while also doing lesser damage to a mill and school. West of Cornersville, it hit the Mars Hill school, killing a student, and near Duncanville tossed a woman hundreds of yards. At Wilson Hill it hit a third school, killing a teacher. Along its track it mostly inflicted F1–F2 damage, doing F3 damage to just one home. A few people were injured.[17][2]
F1 S of Hardison Mill to WNW of Bear Wallow Maury, Marshall TN 20:45–? 7.5 mi (12.1 km) Un­known Un­known
1 death – A tornado damaged houses, a mill, and several other buildings, striking farms. It also knocked down a barn, killing a man inside.[2]
F3 Chapel Hill to E of Eagleville to near Blackman to SE of Smyrna Marshall, Rutherford TN 21:00–? 25 mi (40 km) Un­known Un­known
4 deaths – Related to the Sumac–Caney Spring F3, this tornado killed four family members in a home near Windrow. It also extensively damaged an academy and a church. In the Blackman–Eagleville area it blew homes off their foundations and badly damaged a number of others. Farms were damaged as well, and a boy was carried 300 yd (270 m). Downburst damage was reported near the end of the path. 15 injuries occurred. Grazulis considered this and the previous F3 a 50-mile-long (80 km) family.[17][2]
F3 Duke to Calvins Gap to Mount Gideon Calhoun AL 21:25–? 15 mi (24 km) 500 yd (460 m)♯ Un­known
4 deaths – A tornado destroyed a church, store, and school, along with 10 homes. It also wrecked barns, leveled trees, and drove a 2-by-4-inch (51 by 102 mm) board 8 ft (2.4 m) into the earth. 10 injuries occurred.[17][23]
F2 Near Wilsonville to W of Childersburg Shelby, Talladega AL 21:30–? 12 mi (19 km) 400 yd (370 m)♯ $4,000
A tornado destroyed a school, injuring a number of pupils and a teacher. It also wrecked several other buildings, injuring eight people in all.[17][23]
F2 W of Tanner Limestone AL 23:00–? Un­known Un­known Un­known
A tornado destroyed a pair of spacious homes, along with several smaller ones. Three deaths may have occurred. 15 injuries were confirmed.[17]
FU Eastern Atlanta Fulton GA ~00:00–? ≤13 mi (21 km) Un­known Un­known
A tornado formed just east of the Confederate Soldiers' Home.[24]
F3 W of Decatur to between Clarkston and Tucker DeKalb, Gwinnett GA 00:00–? 12 mi (19 km) 100 yd (91 m) Un­known
8 deaths – A tornado destroyed several farms and leveled timber, injuring 20 people.[17][24]
F4 N of Armuchee to Curryville to near Resaca Floyd, Gordon GA 02:00–? 25 mi (40 km) 1,760 yd (1,610 m)♯ Un­known
15 deaths – A large, violent tornado swept away numerous homes, impacting 30 farms. It caused fatalities on seven farms, mainly near Curryville, where it killed five children in a family. 50 injuries occurred.[21][25][26]
F3 Hokes Bluff Etowah AL Un­known ≥7 mi (11 km) Un­known Un­known
4 deaths – A tornado hit three homes, injuring 25 people, and may have continued to Gaylesville.[17]
F2 E of Petersburg Pike IN Un­known Un­known Un­known Un­known
A tornado unroofed and destroyed a school, injuring seven students.[17]

March 14 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, March 14, 1913
F#[note 4] Location County / Parish State Time (UTC)[note 5] Path length Width[note 6] Damage[note 7]
F2 E of Montgomery Montgomery, Macon AL 07:00–? 4 mi (6.4 km) 50 yd (46 m) Un­known
1 death – A tornado hit a plantation, destroying a small home and injuring 15 people.[27]
F2 Un­known Bullock AL 08:00–? Un­known Un­known Un­known
1 death – A tornado destroyed many homes at the Wiley Hill plantation.[27]
F2 Girard (AL) to Columbus (GA) Russell (AL), Muscogee (GA) AL, GA 09:30–? 8 mi (13 km) 50 yd (46 m) $150,000
Starting in present-day Phenix City, a strong tornado destroyed or damaged 40 buildings there, including 10 homes. Entering Georgia, it struck downtown Columbus, downing trees, unroofing stores, and damaging factories. Downbursts accompanied the tornado, doing most of the damage. A dozen injuries occurred.[27][24]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ All losses are in 1913 United States dollars unless otherwise noted.
  2. ^ An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.[1]
  3. ^ Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information.[4] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.[5] Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced NEXRAD was first installed and the National Weather Service began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.[6]
  4. ^ a b c The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.[8][9] Tornado ratings were retroactively applied to events prior to the formal adoption of the F-scale by the National Weather Service.[10] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,[11] Canada used the old scale until April 1, 2013;[12] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.[13]
  5. ^ a b All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.
  6. ^ a b The listed width values are primarily the average/mean width of the tornadoes, with those having known maximum widths denoted by ♯. From 1952 to 1994, reports largely list mean width whereas contemporary years list maximum width.[14] Values provided by Grazulis are the average width, with estimates being rounded down (i.e., 0.5 mi (0.80 km) is rounded down from 880 yards to 800 yards).[15][16]
  7. ^ a b The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Data publication does not list exact damage totals for every event, instead giving damage categories. As such, damage for individual tornadoes is not comprehensive.

References

  1. ^ Schneider, Russell S.; Brooks, Harold E.; Schaefer, Joseph T. (2004). Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875–2003) (PDF). 22nd Conf. Severe Local Storms. Hyannis, Massachusetts: American Meteorological Society. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g National Weather Service (2017). Written at Old Hickory, Tennessee. NWS Nashville Tornado Database (Report). Mississippi State, Mississippi. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025 – via Mississippi State University.
  3. ^ Agee and Childs 2014, p. 1496.
  4. ^ Grazulis 2001a, pp. 251–4.
  5. ^ Edwards, Roger (March 5, 2015). "The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)". Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  6. ^ Cook & Schaefer 2008, p. 3135.
  7. ^ Agee and Childs 2014, pp. 1497, 1503.
  8. ^ Grazulis 1993, p. 141.
  9. ^ Grazulis 2001a, p. 131.
  10. ^ Edwards et al. 2013, p. 641–642.
  11. ^ Edwards, Roger (March 5, 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  12. ^ "Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale)". Environment and Climate Change Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada. June 6, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  13. ^ "The International Tornado Intensity Scale". Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. 2016. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  14. ^ Agee and Childs 2014, p. 1494.
  15. ^ Brooks 2004, p. 310.
  16. ^ Grazulis 1990, p. ix.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Grazulis 1993, p. 736.
  18. ^ Alciatore 1913.
  19. ^ Cline 1913.
  20. ^ a b Emery 1913, p. 415.
  21. ^ a b c Grazulis 1984, p. A-26.
  22. ^ Emery 1913, pp. 415–6.
  23. ^ a b Von Hermann 1913, p. 342.
  24. ^ a b c Von Hermann 1913, p. 341.
  25. ^ Grazulis 1993, pp. 736–7.
  26. ^ Von Hermann 1913, pp. 341–2.
  27. ^ a b c Grazulis 1993, p. 737.

Sources

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