The 1956 McDonald Chapel tornado was a deadly weather event that took place during the afternoon of April 15, 1956, across the Greater Birmingham area in Jefferson County, Alabama, with damage most severe in McDonald Chapel. The F4 tornado killed 25 people and injured 200 others. While only two known tornadoes touched down across the Southeastern United States (the other occurred in northern Georgia) on that day, the Birmingham tornado produced major devastation across areas west and north of downtown Birmingham.
At 5:15 a.m. CST on April 15, the U.S. Weather Bureau office in Birmingham, Alabama, issued a bulletin that warned of the possibility that a "tornado or two" would touch down in an area covering western Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and northern Alabama—namely, Lauderdale, Limestone, Lawrence, Colbert, and Morgan Counties, plus parts of Marion, Winston, Cullman, and Madison Counties.[1] An update at noon local time highlighted the prospects of severe thunderstorms over west-central Alabama between 1:00–7:00 p.m. CST. Hail and gusts to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) were expected to remain the primary hazards.[1][2]
25 deaths – See section on this tornado – At least 200 people were injured. 48 people were still listed as hospitalized on April 17, two days after the tornado.[1] Total damage reached $1.5 million.[4][nb 1]
About 25 homes were damaged, and others were unroofed near Dallas and Cumming.[4] 29 broiler houses were damaged or destroyed as well. F1 damage occurred south of Acworth and north of Woodstock.[4] Widespread downburst activity was reported along the path.
The tornado started shortly before 3:00 PM CDT in Pleasant Grove, where a tornado "roar" was heard. Damage between Pleasant Grove and McDonald Chapel indicated that trees were felled in a single direction, so the damage was not listed as tornadic at first, but was considered part of the tornado in posthumous analysis.[1] Next, the tornado struck McDonald Chapel, with a path 200 yards (183 m) wide, devastating the community.[4] Almost total destruction occurred in a swath 150–200 yards (137–183 m) wide. As it passed through McDonald Chapel, eyewitnesses described the tornado funnel as appearing filled with fire and smoke.[1] Many homes in McDonald Chapel were leveled, several of which were swept completely away. The most intense damage appeared to be F5 in intensity, but an F4 rating was rewarded because the homes were very poorly constructed.[4] One of the homes reportedly had almost all of its brick foundation swept away,[1] and a few larger homes were also leveled.[4] The tornado continued across parts of, Edgewater, Pratt City, Fultondale, Village Creek, and Tarrant before lifting northwest of Trussville, near the Jefferson-St. Clair County line.[1] The tornado passed just one to two miles north of downtown Birmingham as well as the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. About 400 homes across northern Jefferson County were either damaged or destroyed.[4] Most of the 25 deaths occurred at McDonald Chapel.[1]
The tornado event was similar to other deadly tornadoes on April 4, 1977, April 8, 1998, and April 27, 2011. The 1977 and 1998 tornadoes were rated F5, and killed 22 and 32 people, respectively, across most of the same areas that were hit in 1956. The 2011 event was rated high-end EF4, and killed 20 people in the area along with 44 others in Tuscaloosa earlier along its path. With 25 fatalities, the McDonald Chapel F4 was the deadliest tornado of 1956, surpassing the Grand Rapids F5 that killed 18 people on April 3.
^ abcdefgh"McDonald Chapel F-4 Tornado - Jefferson County April 15, 1956". Birmingham, Alabama: National Weather Service. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
^"North America Tornado Cases 1950 to 1959". bangladeshtornadoes.org. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
^ abc"Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena". Climatological Data National Summary. Asheville, North Carolina: United States Department of Commerce. 7 (4): 120–122. 1956.
Grazulis, Thomas (1993), Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events, St. Johnsbury, Vermont: Environmental Films, ISBN1-879362-03-1
Grazulis, Thomas (2003), The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm, Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, ISBN978-0-8061-3538-0
March 17, 2024
1956, mcdonald, chapel, tornado, template, infobox, storm, being, considered, deletion, deadly, weather, event, that, took, place, during, afternoon, april, 1956, across, greater, birmingham, area, jefferson, county, alabama, with, damage, most, severe, mcdona. The template Infobox storm is being considered for deletion The 1956 McDonald Chapel tornado was a deadly weather event that took place during the afternoon of April 15 1956 across the Greater Birmingham area in Jefferson County Alabama with damage most severe in McDonald Chapel The F4 tornado killed 25 people and injured 200 others While only two known tornadoes touched down across the Southeastern United States the other occurred in northern Georgia on that day the Birmingham tornado produced major devastation across areas west and north of downtown Birmingham 1956 McDonald Chapel tornadoF4 tornadoMax rating1F4 tornadoFatalities25 fatalities 200 injuriesAreas affectedJefferson County Alabama1Most severe tornado damage see Fujita scale Contents 1 Meteorological synopsis 2 Confirmed tornadoes 2 1 April 14 event 2 2 April 15 event 2 3 McDonald Chapel Sayreton Alabama 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 5 1 BibliographyMeteorological synopsis editAt 5 15 a m CST on April 15 the U S Weather Bureau office in Birmingham Alabama issued a bulletin that warned of the possibility that a tornado or two would touch down in an area covering western Tennessee northern Mississippi and northern Alabama namely Lauderdale Limestone Lawrence Colbert and Morgan Counties plus parts of Marion Winston Cullman and Madison Counties 1 An update at noon local time highlighted the prospects of severe thunderstorms over west central Alabama between 1 00 7 00 p m CST Hail and gusts to 60 miles per hour 97 km h were expected to remain the primary hazards 1 2 Confirmed tornadoes editConfirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total0 0 3 1 0 1 0 5April 14 event edit List of confirmed tornadoes April 14 1956F Location County State Time UTC Path length DamageF1 Morenci Lenawee MI 0000 0 1 miles 0 16 km A barn was shifted off its foundation 3 F1 SE of Minneola Clark KS 0100 0 1 miles 0 16 km A barn and a cattle shed were destroyed 3 F1 Midlothian Ellis TX 0200 1 mile 1 6 km Residences and barns were unroofed and some small buildings were destroyed The tornado path was 200 yards 183 m wide 3 Sources NCDC Storm Events Database Grazulis 1993 April 15 event edit List of confirmed tornadoes April 15 1956F Location County State Time UTC Path length DamageF4 Pleasant Grove to NW of Trussville Jefferson AL 2100 21 3 miles 34 3 km 25 deaths See section on this tornado At least 200 people were injured 48 people were still listed as hospitalized on April 17 two days after the tornado 1 Total damage reached 1 5 million 4 nb 1 F2 SW of Dallas to Cumming Paulding Cobb Cherokee Forsyth GA 2330 46 8 miles 75 3 km About 25 homes were damaged and others were unroofed near Dallas and Cumming 4 29 broiler houses were damaged or destroyed as well F1 damage occurred south of Acworth and north of Woodstock 4 Widespread downburst activity was reported along the path Sources NCDC Storm Events Database Grazulis 1993 McDonald Chapel Sayreton Alabama edit The template Infobox storm is being considered for deletion McDonald Chapel Sayreton AlabamaF4 tornadoMax rating1F4 tornadoFatalities25 fatalities 200 injuries1Most severe tornado damage see Fujita scaleThe tornado started shortly before 3 00 PM CDT in Pleasant Grove where a tornado roar was heard Damage between Pleasant Grove and McDonald Chapel indicated that trees were felled in a single direction so the damage was not listed as tornadic at first but was considered part of the tornado in posthumous analysis 1 Next the tornado struck McDonald Chapel with a path 200 yards 183 m wide devastating the community 4 Almost total destruction occurred in a swath 150 200 yards 137 183 m wide As it passed through McDonald Chapel eyewitnesses described the tornado funnel as appearing filled with fire and smoke 1 Many homes in McDonald Chapel were leveled several of which were swept completely away The most intense damage appeared to be F5 in intensity but an F4 rating was rewarded because the homes were very poorly constructed 4 One of the homes reportedly had almost all of its brick foundation swept away 1 and a few larger homes were also leveled 4 The tornado continued across parts of Edgewater Pratt City Fultondale Village Creek and Tarrant before lifting northwest of Trussville near the Jefferson St Clair County line 1 The tornado passed just one to two miles north of downtown Birmingham as well as the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport About 400 homes across northern Jefferson County were either damaged or destroyed 4 Most of the 25 deaths occurred at McDonald Chapel 1 The tornado event was similar to other deadly tornadoes on April 4 1977 April 8 1998 and April 27 2011 The 1977 and 1998 tornadoes were rated F5 and killed 22 and 32 people respectively across most of the same areas that were hit in 1956 The 2011 event was rated high end EF4 and killed 20 people in the area along with 44 others in Tuscaloosa earlier along its path With 25 fatalities the McDonald Chapel F4 was the deadliest tornado of 1956 surpassing the Grand Rapids F5 that killed 18 people on April 3 See also editList of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaksNotes edit All damage totals are in 1956 United States dollars unless otherwise noted References edit a b c d e f g h McDonald Chapel F 4 Tornado Jefferson County April 15 1956 Birmingham Alabama National Weather Service 13 February 2013 Retrieved 12 June 2014 North America Tornado Cases 1950 to 1959 bangladeshtornadoes org Retrieved 21 April 2022 a b c Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Climatological Data National Summary Asheville North Carolina United States Department of Commerce 7 4 120 122 1956 a b c d e f g Grazulis 1993 p 996 Bibliography edit Grazulis Thomas 1993 Significant Tornadoes 1680 1991 A Chronology and Analysis of Events St Johnsbury Vermont Environmental Films ISBN 1 879362 03 1 Grazulis Thomas 2003 The Tornado Nature s Ultimate Windstorm Norman Oklahoma University of Oklahoma Press ISBN 978 0 8061 3538 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1956 McDonald Chapel tornado amp oldid 1214042542, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
