Wikipedia

Tornadoes of 1963

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1963, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

Tornadoes of 1963
US tornado tracks of 1963.
TimespanJanuary 10–November 29, 1963
Maximum rated tornadoF4 tornado
Tornadoes in U.S.463[1]
Damage (U.S.)Unknown
Fatalities (U.S.)31
Fatalities (worldwide)>31

Events

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Fatal United States tornadoes in 1963
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
class=notpageimage|
Approximate touchdown location of killer tornadoes in 1963
Summary of tornadoes[2]
  • January 20 – Georgia (1 death)
  • March 11 – Alabama (2 deaths)
  • March 11 – Mississippi (2 deaths)
  • March 11 – Alabama (1 death)
  • March 11 – Tennessee (1 death)
  • March 19 – Indiana (2 deaths)
  • April 17 – Illinois, Indiana (1 death)
  • April 17 – Michigan (1 death)
  • April 22 – Illinois (1 death)
  • April 28 – Nebraska (1 death)
  • April 29 – Mississippi (5 deaths)
  • April 29 – Missouri (1 death)
  • April 29 – Tennessee (3 deaths)
  • April 29 – Mississippi (3 deaths)
  • May 26 – Oklahoma (1 death)
  • August 3 – Pennsylvania (2 deaths)
  • September 29 – North Carolina, South Carolina (3 deaths)

Total fatalities: 31

United States yearly total

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Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 98 179 148 33 5 0 463

January

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There were 15 tornadoes confirmed in the US in January.[3]

January 10–11

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 1 2 1 0 0

Four destructive tornadoes touched down in the Southeast and Indiana.[4] It started just before midnight in Tennessee on January 10 when a large, intense 400-yard-wide (370 m) F3 tornado struck Spring Hill, injuring four.[5] The next morning, an F1 tornado moved through the Northern and Eastern New Orleans suburbs, including the town of Meraux, injuring three.[6] F2 tornadoes also caused heavy damage in Thomaston, Georgia and Marshfield, Indiana later that day.[7][8] Overall, the tornadoes injured seven.[4]

January 19–20

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 5 5 0 0 0

Another outbreak of 10 tornadoes struck the Southeast.[9] On January 19, an F2 tornado caused major damage when it struck Northern Grove Hill.[10] The next day in Georgia, a large 400-yard-wide (370 m) F2 tornado struck Ellaville, Oglethorpe, and Montezuma, injuring one.[11] Another F2 tornado then struck northwest of Danville, injuring two.[12] At the same time, a large, long-tracked 500-yard-wide (460 m) F1 tornado traveled 70.2 miles (113.0 km) through Fort Gaines, Mullins Crossroads, Southern Dawson, and Southern Lake Blackshear, causing major damage, killing one and injuring four.[13] Another F2 tornado, then moved between Perry and Woody Acres as it struck Kathleen, injuring one.[14] An additional F2 tornado also caused considerable damage in Uvalda.[15] After a lull in activity, the outbreak ended with an F1 tornado east of Hubert, North Carolina.[16] Overall, the outbreak killed one and injured eight.[9]

February

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There were 5 tornadoes confirmed in the US in February.[17]

March

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There were 49 tornadoes confirmed in the US in March.[18]

March 1

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A rare F1 tornado touched down in Barbers Point Housing, Hawaii. It caused only moderate damage and no casualties.[19]

March 4–5

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 5 0 0 1 0

A small, but destructive outbreak of six tornadoes struck Oklahoma, Missouri, Alabama, and Georgia.[20] It started early on March 4 when an F1 tornado caused considerable damage in Frederick, Oklahoma.[21] Three more F1 tornadoes touched down in Missouri throughout the morning hours.[20] The next day, a large, violent, 667-yard-wide (610 m) F4 tornado was observed by several people as it tore through the Southern Birmingham suburbs of Bessemer, Homewood, and Mountain Brook, Alabama on the same day as the vote for the Birmingham mayor. The worst damage was in Bessemer along second and third avenues between 19th and 21st streets. In all, the tornado damaged 240 buildings, destroyed 29 other buildings, caused major damage to 25 more buildings, and injured 35.[22][23][24] Later, the same storm produced a narrow F1 tornado that injured three, destroyed one home, damaged several others, and blew down numerous trees in Eastern Rock Run, Alabama before moving into Georgia. There, it grew to 400 yards (370 m) wide and struck Southern Haney, Cave Springs, and Six Mile, injuring two more.[23][25] Overall, the outbreak ended up injuring 40.[20]

March 10–12

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 4 11 1 2 0

A second and even more destructive outbreak of 18 tornadoes pummeled the Southeast, killing six and injuring 38.[26][27][28]

March 18–19

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 2 7 0 0 0

Another outbreak of nine tornadoes struck Oklahoma, Tennessee, Indiana, and Kentucky.[29] It started with an isolated F2 tornado lifed a barn off its foundation and partially destroyed another one north of Tupelo, Oklahoma on March 18.[26][30] The last four tornadoes that occurred the next day all caused casualties.[31] First, an F1 tornado killed two women in Becks Mills, Indiana southwest of Salem when the old storm cellar they were in collapsed.[26][32] Next, an F1 tornado injured four in Devon, Kentucky just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio.[33] A strong F2 tornado then injured three and caused severe damage in Northern Cleveland, Tennessee.[34] Finally, the same complex of storms dropped another F2 tornado that injured one in Northwestern Athens, Tennessee.[35] In the end, the outbreak killed two and injured eight.[29]

March 28

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A second rare F1 tornado struck Kawela Bay, Hawaii after coming ashore as a waterspout, causing an estimated $20,000 in damage to three beach houses and injuring one person.[26][36]

April

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There were 84 tornadoes confirmed in the US in April.[37]

April 17

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 1 1 2 1 1 0

A localized, but destructive outbreak of six tornadoes hit Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Michigan, killing two and injuring 71.[citation needed]

April 18–19

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 1 9 10 1 0 0

The previous outbreak was followed by a weaker, but larger outbreak of 22 tornadoes across the Midwest and the Ohio Valley, injuring 23.[citation needed]

April 22

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 1 2 4 0 0

Another deadly outbreak of seven tornadoes hit the Midwest, killing one and injuring 70.[citation needed]

April 28–30

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 3 10 16 7 1 0

The final three days of April produced the biggest outbreak of the month, with 37 tornadoes touching down across the Midwest, Mississippi Valley, and Southeast. The outbreak left 13 dead and 72 injured.[citation needed]

May

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There were 71 tornadoes confirmed in the US in May.

May 19–20

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 1 4 4 1 0 0

An outbreak of 10 tornadoes hit New England, Texas and Georgia, although there were no casualties.[citation needed]

May 25–27

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 4 8 6 3 0 0

An outbreak of 21 tornadoes hit the Midwest and Alabama, killing one and injuring 13.[citation needed]

June

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There were 90 tornadoes confirmed in the US in June.[citation needed]

June 5 (France)

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A narrow & brief but strong F2 tornado caused damage in Nevian, France.[38]

July

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There were 62 tornadoes confirmed in the US in July.[citation needed]

August

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There were 26 tornadoes confirmed in the US in August.[citation needed]

August 1 (France)

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 0 2 0 0

2 F3 tornadoes were reported in France, Both of which reached a total width of 500 meters (546 yards).[39]

August 3

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A brief, isolated, but strong F3 tornado killed two and injured 70 in Pennsylvania.[citation needed]

August 16

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 0 3 0 0

Three F3 tornadoes injured 39 in Wisconsin.[citation needed]

August 20 (Germany)

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
1 0 0 1 0 0 0

A high-end F2 tornado was reported in Moers, Germany. A second tornado was reported in the Netherlands.[39]

August 27 (Denmark)

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
1 0 0 0 1 0 0

A brief waterspout occurred in the Baltic sea. Later on in the morning, a High-End F3/T7 tornado damaged over 20 buildings, including a school in and around Fårvang, Denmark. At least 2 homes were entirely destroyed. A barn were also destroyed. The tornado caused damage up to 201 thousand Danish Krone. ESWD mentions that it may have reached F4 intensity.[39]

September

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There were 33 tornadoes confirmed in the US in September.[citation needed]

September 1–4

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 4 3 2 1 0 0

Scattered activity across the US produced 10 tornadoes and 21 injuries.[citation needed]

September 10–11

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 1 6 0 0 0 0

An outbreak of seven weak tornadoes struck the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and New England with an F1 tornado injuring nine in the southeastern suburbs of Columbus, Ohio.[citation needed]

September 28–29

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 2 7 0 0 0

An outbreak of nine tornadoes hit the Southeast, killing three and injuring 18.[citation needed]

October

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There were 13 tornadoes confirmed in the US in October.[citation needed]

November

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There were 15 tornadoes confirmed in the US in November.[citation needed]

December

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There were no tornadoes confirmed in the US in December, the first occurrence of this since October 1952.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "1963 Tornadoes". Tornado Archive.
  2. ^ "Severe Weather Database Files (1950-2021)". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. July 11, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "January 1963 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b "January 10-11, 1963 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Indiana F3". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Louisiana F1". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Georgia F2". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Indiana F2". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  9. ^ a b "January 19-20, 1963 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Alabama F2". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Georgia F2". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Georgia F2". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Georgia F1". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Georgia F2". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Georgia F2". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  16. ^ "North Carolina F1". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  17. ^ "February 1963 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  18. ^ "March 1963 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Hawaii F1". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  20. ^ a b c "March 4-5, 1963 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Oklahoma F1". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Alabama F4". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  23. ^ a b US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Alabama Tornadoes 1963". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Do You Remember the March 5, 1963 Tornado?". The Alabama Weather Blog. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Alabama-Georgia F1". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  26. ^ a b c d "Storm Data Publication | IPS | National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  27. ^ "Climatological Data National Summary Publication | IPS | National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Tornado Summaries". National Weather Service. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  29. ^ a b "March 18-19, 1963 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  30. ^ "Oklahoma F2". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  31. ^ "March 19, 1963 Tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Indiana F1". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  33. ^ "Kentucky F1". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Tennessee F2". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  35. ^ "Tennessee F2". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  36. ^ "Hawaii F1". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  37. ^ "Tornado History Project: April, 1963". www.tornadohistoryproject.com. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  38. ^ "European Severe Weather Database". eswd.eu. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  39. ^ a b c "European Severe Weather Database". eswd.eu. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
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