A destructive tornado outbreak impacted the Great Plains and Midwestern United States on June 23–24, 1952, generating several significant (F2+) tornadoes. Most of the tornadoes and casualties occurred in June 23, when an F4 tornado injured four an Iowa and an F3 tornado killed two and injured six in Wisconsin. Minneapolis, Minnesota was struck by long-tracked F2 tornadoes on both outbreak days, causing a combined 25 injuries alone. Overall, at least seven tornadoes were confirmed, killing two, injuring 35, and causing $22.5 million in damage.
The outbreak was caused by two low-pressure systems in the region. The first one formed late on June 21 in Eastern Colorado. This low eventually moved slowly northeastward into Southern Nebraska on June 23 before accelerating and dissipating later that day over the Buffalo Ridge in Southwestern Minnesota's portion of Coteau des Prairies. As that low dissipated another low formed over Extreme Northwestern Kansas in the High Plains and tracked northeastward through the central part of Nebraska through June 24. Environmental conditions were favorable the development of localized severe thunderstorms, some of which became tornadic.[2]
Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis listed an additional tornado:
An F3-level event destroyed an entire farmstead near Danube in Renville County, Minnesota. The tornado was also in the CDNS report. It is officially unrecorded.[3]
List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, June 23, 1952[nb 1][nb 2]
This tornado was likely one of several, embedded within a 150-square-mile (390 km2) series of downbursts, and caused "great destruction" along its path through farmland. Several tornadoes were probably responsible for the damage but were officially unrecorded. A number of barns were destroyed near Benson. Losses totaled $2.5 million. The tornado was rated F3 by Grazulis.[2][3][5]
This large, violent tornado first touched down south-southwest of Marcus. It moved east-northeastward, passing 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the town while causing major damage to farms in the region. It then clipped the south side of Cleghorn as it continued to damage or destroy farms across the region. It then continued to be strong to violent as it moved through areas northeast of town. Afterwards, it passed 2 miles (3.2 km) south and east of Larrabee while continuing to damage or destroy farms. The tornado then weakened and dissipated south-southwest of Peterson. In all, 53 farmsteads were hit, with 13 of them being completely demolished and 34 suffered major damage. There were four injuries and $2.5 million in damage.[2][3][6]
A tornado was photographed as it occasionally touched down near Forestburg over a 20-minute period. Fences, haystacks, and corn plants were destroyed. Damage was only estimated to be $30.[2][7]
A long-tracked tornado, which was probably a tornado family due to the path being non-continuous, moved through several counties southwest of Minneapolis, dissipating in the southwestern suburbs of the city. About 70 barns, silos, steel granaries, windmills, farm machinery, and automobiles were destroyed. Many homes, buildings, and barns were damaged and poultry and livestock were killed. Plate-glass windows were blown in, hundreds of trees were uprooted, power poles and wires were down and growing crops were damaged. Major damage occurred south of Lake Minnetonka as well. 10 people were injured and damage was estimated to be $10 million. The tornado was not listed as significant by Grazulis.[2][3][8]
2 deaths – This possible tornado was later confirmed. Severe damage occurred along its path, especially in Centuria, with a dozen homes being unroofed by the tornado. Witnesses did not see the funnel cloud, but said that the wind was of explosive force. A man was killed by flying debris as he sought shelter while a woman was killed in the basement of a small home that was obliterated. Six people were injured and damage was estimated at $2.5 million.[2][3][9]
June 24 eventedit
List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, June 24, 1952[nb 1][nb 2]
An airline pilot reported a funnel cloud that touched down about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Philip. A damage estimate of $30 was given for this tornado.[2][10]
A long-tracked tornado, which was probably a tornado family, first touched down near Cleveland and moved northeastward, causing severe damage along its path. It moved through the southwestern part of the Minneapolis suburbs before entering Downtown Minneapolis. After moving through it, it continued northeastward, going through the northeastern suburbs of Minneapolis before dissipating near Lino Lakes. About 35 houses, barns, outbuildings, garages, large canvas tent, silos, windmills, steel granaries, farm machinery, and automobiles were destroyed while many other homes, buildings, barns, an automobile racing speedway, hangars, and several airplanes were damaged. Poultry and some livestock were killed, hundreds of trees uprooted, many poles, wires, radio and television antennae down, plate-glass windows were blown in and growing crops damaged. A number of reports of funnel-shaped clouds were observed and a large trailer truck heavily loaded with tombstones was lifted off the road in extreme southern Anoka County and wrecked. In all, 15 people were injured and losses total $5 million. Grazulis rated the tornado F3 and described the event as a complex of tornadoes and downbursts.[2][3][11]
Non-tornadic impactsedit
Severe storms struck a large portion of the Central Plains, Great Lakes, and the Southeastern and Northeastern United States.There were 3 fatalities and 3 injuries.[2]
^ abAll 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.
^ abPrior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[4]
Referencesedit
^"Tornado Summaries". National Weather Service. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
^ abcdefghi"Climatological Data: National summary". U.S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau. 1952. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
^Brooks, Harold E. (April 2004). "On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity". Weather and Forecasting. 19 (2). Boston: American Meteorological Society: 310. Bibcode:2004WtFor..19..310B. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2.
^Minnesota Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
^Iowa Event Report: F4 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
^South Dakota Event Report: F0 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^Minnesota Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 12 January 2022.Minnesota Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 12 January 2022.Minnesota Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 12 January 2022.Minnesota Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^Wisconsin Event Report: F3 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^"South Dakota Event Report: F0 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
^Minnesota Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 27 March 2022.Minnesota Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
May 03, 2024
tornado, outbreak, june, 1952, destructive, tornado, outbreak, impacted, great, plains, midwestern, united, states, june, 1952, generating, several, significant, tornadoes, most, tornadoes, casualties, occurred, june, when, tornado, injured, four, iowa, tornad. A destructive tornado outbreak impacted the Great Plains and Midwestern United States on June 23 24 1952 generating several significant F2 tornadoes Most of the tornadoes and casualties occurred in June 23 when an F4 tornado injured four an Iowa and an F3 tornado killed two and injured six in Wisconsin Minneapolis Minnesota was struck by long tracked F2 tornadoes on both outbreak days causing a combined 25 injuries alone Overall at least seven tornadoes were confirmed killing two injuring 35 and causing 22 5 million in damage Tornado outbreak of June 23 24 1952TypeTornado outbreakHighest winds63 miles per hour 101 km h Tornadoesconfirmed7Max rating1F4 tornadoDuration oftornado outbreak21 day 4 hours 30 minutesFatalities2 fatalities 3 non tornadic 35 injuries 3 non tornadic Damage 22 500 million 1952 USD 1 258 million 2024 USD Areas affectedGreat Plains Midwestern United StatesPart of the tornado outbreaks of 19521Most severe tornado damage see Fujita scale2Time from first tornado to last tornado Contents 1 Meteorological synopsis 2 Confirmed tornadoes 2 1 June 23 event 2 2 June 24 event 3 Non tornadic impacts 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesMeteorological synopsis editThe outbreak was caused by two low pressure systems in the region The first one formed late on June 21 in Eastern Colorado This low eventually moved slowly northeastward into Southern Nebraska on June 23 before accelerating and dissipating later that day over the Buffalo Ridge in Southwestern Minnesota s portion of Coteau des Prairies As that low dissipated another low formed over Extreme Northwestern Kansas in the High Plains and tracked northeastward through the central part of Nebraska through June 24 Environmental conditions were favorable the development of localized severe thunderstorms some of which became tornadic 2 Confirmed tornadoes editConfirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total 0 2 0 3 1 1 0 7 June 23 event edit Tornado researcher Thomas P Grazulis listed an additional tornado An F3 level event destroyed an entire farmstead near Danube in Renville County Minnesota The tornado was also in the CDNS report It is officially unrecorded 3 List of confirmed tornadoes Monday June 23 1952 nb 1 nb 2 F Location County Parish State Startcoord Time UTC Path length Max width Summary F2 ESE of Benson to W of Sunburg Swift MN 45 18 N 95 30 W 45 3 N 95 5 W 45 3 95 5 Benson Jun 23 F2 22 30 8 4 miles 13 5 km 220 yards 200 m This tornado was likely one of several embedded within a 150 square mile 390 km2 series of downbursts and caused great destruction along its path through farmland Several tornadoes were probably responsible for the damage but were officially unrecorded A number of barns were destroyed near Benson Losses totaled 2 5 million The tornado was rated F3 by Grazulis 2 3 5 F4 SSW of Marcus to Southern Cleghorn to Southern Larrabee to SSW of Peterson Cherokee IA 42 45 N 95 51 W 42 75 N 95 85 W 42 75 95 85 Marcus Jun 23 F4 00 30 24 1 miles 38 8 km 400 yards 370 m This large violent tornado first touched down south southwest of Marcus It moved east northeastward passing 4 miles 6 4 km south of the town while causing major damage to farms in the region It then clipped the south side of Cleghorn as it continued to damage or destroy farms across the region It then continued to be strong to violent as it moved through areas northeast of town Afterwards it passed 2 miles 3 2 km south and east of Larrabee while continuing to damage or destroy farms The tornado then weakened and dissipated south southwest of Peterson In all 53 farmsteads were hit with 13 of them being completely demolished and 34 suffered major damage There were four injuries and 2 5 million in damage 2 3 6 F0 Forestburg Sanborn SD 42 45 N 95 51 W 42 75 N 95 85 W 42 75 95 85 Forestburg Jun 23 F0 00 55 2 miles 3 2 km 43 yards 39 m A tornado was photographed as it occasionally touched down near Forestburg over a 20 minute period Fences haystacks and corn plants were destroyed Damage was only estimated to be 30 2 7 F2 Jeffers to Lafayette to Chaska to Eden Prairie Cottonwood Brown Nicollet Sibley Carver Hennepen MN 44 00 N 95 17 W 44 00 N 95 28 W 44 00 95 28 Jeffers Jun 23 F2 02 30 104 8 miles 168 7 km 220 yards 200 m A long tracked tornado which was probably a tornado family due to the path being non continuous moved through several counties southwest of Minneapolis dissipating in the southwestern suburbs of the city About 70 barns silos steel granaries windmills farm machinery and automobiles were destroyed Many homes buildings and barns were damaged and poultry and livestock were killed Plate glass windows were blown in hundreds of trees were uprooted power poles and wires were down and growing crops were damaged Major damage occurred south of Lake Minnetonka as well 10 people were injured and damage was estimated to be 10 million The tornado was not listed as significant by Grazulis 2 3 8 F3 St Croix Falls to Centuria to Bone Lake Polk WI 45 25 N 92 38 W 45 42 N 92 63 W 45 42 92 63 St Croix Falls Jun 23 F3 03 30 18 2 miles 29 3 km 100 yards 91 m 2 deaths This possible tornado was later confirmed Severe damage occurred along its path especially in Centuria with a dozen homes being unroofed by the tornado Witnesses did not see the funnel cloud but said that the wind was of explosive force A man was killed by flying debris as he sought shelter while a woman was killed in the basement of a small home that was obliterated Six people were injured and damage was estimated at 2 5 million 2 3 9 June 24 event edit List of confirmed tornadoes Tuesday June 24 1952 nb 1 nb 2 F Location County Parish State Startcoord Time UTC Path length Max width Summary F0 NE of Philip Haakon SD 44 11 N 101 27 W 44 18 N 101 45 W 44 18 101 45 Philip Jun 23 F0 16 00 0 1 miles 0 16 km 23 yards 21 m An airline pilot reported a funnel cloud that touched down about 15 miles 24 km northeast of Philip A damage estimate of 30 was given for this tornado 2 10 F2 NW of Cleveland to Downtown Minneapolis to Lino Lakes Le Sueur Scott Hennepin Ramsey Anoka MN 44 20 N 93 51 W 44 33 N 93 85 W 44 33 93 85 Cleveland Jun 23 F2 00 30 70 9 miles 114 1 km 267 yards 244 m A long tracked tornado which was probably a tornado family first touched down near Cleveland and moved northeastward causing severe damage along its path It moved through the southwestern part of the Minneapolis suburbs before entering Downtown Minneapolis After moving through it it continued northeastward going through the northeastern suburbs of Minneapolis before dissipating near Lino Lakes About 35 houses barns outbuildings garages large canvas tent silos windmills steel granaries farm machinery and automobiles were destroyed while many other homes buildings barns an automobile racing speedway hangars and several airplanes were damaged Poultry and some livestock were killed hundreds of trees uprooted many poles wires radio and television antennae down plate glass windows were blown in and growing crops damaged A number of reports of funnel shaped clouds were observed and a large trailer truck heavily loaded with tombstones was lifted off the road in extreme southern Anoka County and wrecked In all 15 people were injured and losses total 5 million Grazulis rated the tornado F3 and described the event as a complex of tornadoes and downbursts 2 3 11 Non tornadic impacts editSevere storms struck a large portion of the Central Plains Great Lakes and the Southeastern and Northeastern United States There were 3 fatalities and 3 injuries 2 See also editList of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks List of tornadoes striking downtown areasNotes edit 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 a b Prior to 1994 only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed 4 References edit Tornado Summaries National Weather Service National Centers for Environmental Information Retrieved 1 September 2020 a b c d e f g h i Climatological Data National summary U S Department of Commerce Weather Bureau 1952 Retrieved 21 September 2022 a b c d e f Grazulis Thomas P July 1993 Significant Tornadoes 1680 1991 A Chronology and Analysis of Events St Johnsbury Vermont The Tornado Project of Environmental Films p 965 ISBN 1 879362 03 1 Brooks Harold E April 2004 On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity Weather and Forecasting 19 2 Boston American Meteorological Society 310 Bibcode 2004WtFor 19 310B doi 10 1175 1520 0434 2004 019 lt 0310 OTROTP gt 2 0 CO 2 Minnesota Event Report F2 Tornado National Weather Service Report National Centers for Environmental Information Retrieved 21 October 2020 Iowa Event Report F4 Tornado National Weather Service Report National Centers for Environmental Information Retrieved 21 October 2020 South Dakota Event Report F0 Tornado National Centers for Environmental Information Report National Weather Service Retrieved 12 January 2022 Minnesota Event Report F2 Tornado National Centers for Environmental Information Report National Weather Service Retrieved 12 January 2022 Minnesota Event Report F2 Tornado National Centers for Environmental Information Report National Weather Service Retrieved 12 January 2022 Minnesota Event Report F2 Tornado National Centers for Environmental Information Report National Weather Service Retrieved 12 January 2022 Minnesota Event Report F2 Tornado National Centers for Environmental Information Report National Weather Service Retrieved 12 January 2022 Wisconsin Event Report F3 Tornado National Centers for Environmental Information Report National Weather Service Retrieved 12 January 2022 South Dakota Event Report F0 Tornado National Centers for Environmental Information National Weather Service Retrieved 6 May 2022 Minnesota Event Report F2 Tornado National Centers for Environmental Information Report National Weather Service Retrieved 27 March 2022 Minnesota Event Report F2 Tornado National Centers for Environmental Information Report National Weather Service Retrieved 27 March 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tornado outbreak of June 23 24 1952 amp oldid 1176551119, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
