Tornado outbreak of November 20–21, 1900

Tornado outbreak of November 20–21, 1900
Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes≥ 14
Maximum ratingF4 tornado
DurationNovember 20–21, 1900
Overall effects
Fatalities≥ 97
Injuries> 388
Damage>$90,000 ($3,400,000 in 2025 USD)[note 1]
Areas affectedSouthern United States
Part of the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1900

On November 20–21, 1900, the deadliest November tornado outbreak in United States history killed at least 97 people and injured more than 388 others, generating at least 14 tornadoes; many of the tornadoes were long-lived and significant (F2 or stronger on the present-day Fujita scale). The deadliest of these tornadoes, retroactively rated F4, killed 42 people in northern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee. Another F4 hit Columbia, Tennessee, killing 27 others. A deadly F3 also claimed half a dozen or more lives in Arkansas, while another F3 in Tennessee killed a dozen more.[note 2]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 0 2 6 4 2 0 ≥ 14

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.

November 20 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, November 20, 1900
F#[note 4] Location County / Parish State Time (UTC)[note 5] Path length Width[note 6] Damage[note 7]
F1 Gallatin Sumner TN 14:00–? 4 mi (6.4 km) Un­known Un­known
A tornado toppled and shredded trees, including some of the "finest"; tore a windmill "into a thousand pieces"; destroyed a mobile photograph gallery; wrecked small buildings; unroofed or destroyed some barns; knocked down chimneys; and tore up fences, according to local media. It also unroofed a mill, flattened a shed annex, smashed windows, blew away light fixtures, and badly damaged a tollhouse.[17][18]
F3 S of Stuttgart to Yoder to Moro to near Oak Forest Arkansas, Monroe, Lee AR 19:00–20:15 45 mi (72 km) 300 yd (270 m) Un­known
6+ deaths – An intense tornado leveled "dozens" of small homes near Blackton, according to Grazulis, claiming a life, and killed a few more near Ulm, where it wrecked dwellings. While fleeing school in a wagon, 15 children and a teacher encountered the tornado, 10 of whom received severe injuries. The tornado obliterated all but four buildings at Moro, where three people died. Three more deaths may have occurred at Yoder. 40 injuries occurred.[19][20]
F4 Moon Lake (MS) to near Strayhorn (MS) to La Grange (TN) Coahoma (MS), Tunica (MS), Tate (MS), DeSoto (MS), Marshall (MS), Fayette (MS) MS, TN 20:38–22:28 90 mi (140 km) 500 yd (460 m) >$50,000
42 deaths – A large, violent, long-lived tornado family, attended by much lightning, passed close to Lula, killing 15 people, badly damaging fences, and destroying numerous buildings. Between Arkabutla and Dundee it felled trees and more buildings, including "hundreds" of homes, leaving "general desolation" on plantations, reports noted, while moving bodies 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km). In the Strayhorn–Arkabutla area it killed 22 people and wrecked 10–12 buildings near Love, where possible multiple vortices were reported. Little or no damage occurred in Marshall County, where the tornado may have weakened or dissipated. Entering Tennessee, it wrecked 20 buildings at La Grange and killed two people there. A sign from Lula was found there, 80 mi (130 km) away. In all 100 people were injured.[21][22][20]
F2 Tutwiler to Batesville Tallahatchie, Quitman, Panola MS 22:30–? 30 mi (48 km) 100 yd (91 m) Un­known
An intermittent tornado, the first member of a two-state family, destroyed many barns and small homes, tracking erratically. It also tore the roof off a church and injured 15 people.[21][20]
F3 E of Hamilton Marion AL 23:30–? 4 mi (6.4 km) 200 yd (180 m) Un­known
A tornado destroyed three farmhouses, injuring 11 people. Reports described it as resembling a "half-open umbrella".[20]
F3 W of West Harpeth to Nolensville to La Vergne Williamson, Davidson, Rutherford TN 00:00–00:41 25 mi (40 km) 350 yd (320 m)♯ Un­known
12+ deaths – An intense tornado wrecked "dozens" of homes, dispersing items "miles" from stores and houses, reports stated. 44 injuries occurred.[21][20][17]
F2 Bethlehem to Tacaleeche to northwestern Ripley to E of Corinth Marshall, Union, Benton, Tippah, Alcorn MS 00:30–01:30 55 mi (89 km) 200 yd (180 m) Un­known
2 deaths – The second member of the Tutwiler–Batesville family, this tornado wrecked a few homes each at Tacaleeche and Bethlehem. It then hit Ripley, destroying approximately 25 homes there and injuring 30 people. Near Corinth it swept away cabins. In all 40 injuries occurred.[21][23]
F2 Near Cayce (MS) to Tracy to Vance (MS) to near Moscow (TN) Marshall (MS), Fayette (TN) MS, TN 00:45–01:15 17–24 mi (27–39 km) Un­known Un­known
3 deaths – A strong tornado annihilated a two-story home, a frame store, and a brick office. It also destroyed 10 cabins, a number of farmhouses, another residence, and a general store. 25 injuries occurred.[21][20]
F2 Near Huntington to N of Cleveland to N of Charleston to near Reynolds Bolivar, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha, Panola MS 01:00–03:30 95 mi (153 km) Un­known Un­known
A probable tornado family injured 30 people, several critically, striking plantations. Little additional information is available.[24][20]
F3+ SW of Red Sulphur Springs to Lowryville to ENE of Houston Hardin, Wayne TN 02:00–? 25 mi (40 km) Un­known Un­known
4 deaths – Related to the Tutwiler–Corinth family, an intense tornado flattened trees, barns, houses, and fences, especially in the Indian Creek valley. At Lowryville it swept away a home, carrying off "every piece of timber", fencing, and trees on the property "as if swept by a broom", according to local media. Numerous other homes were leveled as well, and many injuries, some severe, were reported. The tornado also killed much livestock. Damage may have reached F4 or greater intensity.[24][23][17][18]
F4 SE of Ashwood to northern Columbia Maury TN 03:30–? 8 mi (13 km) 300 yd (270 m) $40,000
27 deaths – The last member of the Tutwiler–Houston family, a violent tornado annihilated "dozens" of homes, most of which were frail, according to Grazulis. It destroyed a cluster of approximately 25 houses just west of downtown Columbia, trapping 13 people beneath debris and causing most of the known deaths. It also leveled a mill, while downing fences and trees at an arsenal near present-day Columbia Academy. In all it wrecked about 50 buildings. 75 injuries occurred.[24][22][2][17][18]
F1 NE of Fairfield Sumner TN Un­known ≥2 mi (3.2 km) Un­known Un­known
A tornado unroofed a barn, leveled another, and destroyed a tenant home. It also ripped up fences and prostrated trees. The tornado intensified over time and likely crossed into Kentucky, but further details are unavailable.[17][18]
F2 Northern White House to N of Cottontown to NNW of Buck Lodge Robertson, Sumner TN Un­known 8 mi (13 km) Un­known Un­known
A strong tornado shifted, unroofed, and collapsed a schoolhouse, burying a dozen out of 26 pupils beneath the roof; none of the students received more than slight injuries. The tornado also leveled other barns, a smokehouse, a dwelling, and much timber, killing a horse. A few wagons were tossed against a tree as well, while barns and homes were unroofed. Eight injuries occurred.[17][18]

November 21 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, November 21, 1900
F#[note 4] Location County / Parish State Time (UTC)[note 5] Path length Width[note 6] Damage[note 7]
F2 Near Huntsville Madison AL 08:30–? 3 mi (4.8 km) 100 yd (91 m) Un­known
A low-end F2 tornado unroofed or ripped apart 19 cabins.[24][2]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ All losses are in 1900 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 Grazulis 1993, p. 693.
  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 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 25 May 2025 – via Mississippi State University.
  18. ^ a b c d e "November 20, 1900 Tornado Outbreak". Nashville, TN Weather Forecast Office. Old Hickory, Tennessee: National Weather Service. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  19. ^ Emery 1900, p. 500.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g Grazulis 1993, p. 692.
  21. ^ a b c d e Emery 1900, pp. 499–501.
  22. ^ a b Grazulis 1984, p. A-18.
  23. ^ a b Grazulis 1993, pp. 692–3.
  24. ^ a b c d Emery 1900, p. 501.

Sources

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