The 1953 Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak was a devastating tornado outbreak sequence spanning three days, two that featured tornadoes each causing at least 90 deaths—an F5 occurring in Flint, Michigan on June 8, 1953, and an F4 in Worcester, Massachusetts the next day. The Worcester storm stayed on the ground for nearly 90 minutes, traveling 48 miles across Central Massachusetts. In total, 94 people were killed, making it the 21st deadliest tornado in the history of the US. In addition to the fatalities, over 1,000 people were injured and 4,000 buildings were damaged. The tornado caused $52 million in damage, which translates to more than $350 million in today’s dollars. These tornadoes are among the deadliest in U S history and were caused by the same storm system that moved eastward across the nation. The tornadoes are also related together in the public mind because, for a brief period following the Worchester tornado, it was debated in the U.S. Congress whether recent atomic bomb testing in the upper atmosphere had caused the tornadoes. Congressman James Van Zandt (R-Penn.) was among several members of Congress who expressed their belief that the June 4th bomb testing created the tornadoes, which occurred far outside the traditional tornado alley. They demanded a response from the government. Meteorologists quickly dispelled such an assertion, and Congressman Van Zandt later retracted his statement.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1986: Severe and destructive storm strikes Texas
1908: Record flooding impacts north and central Texas
1933: 600-yd wide tornado destroys town of Liberal, KS
The May 1957 Tornado Outbreak
1918: Tornadoes strike Kansas town for 3 consecutive years
2007: Temperature reaches 115°F in Sibi, Pakistan
1894: Severe storms and wind sinks 9 ships on Lake Michigan
1814: Logs in swollen Maine rivers cause destruction
1874: The Mill River Flood
1968: Five tornadoes strike Iowa
1834: Late-season storm brings snow from Ohio to New England
1930: One of the few hail deaths in the US occurs
1934: Massive dust storm strikes Eastern US cities
2003: Record tornado outbreak impacts 25 US states
1889: Destructive tornado touches down in Reading, PA
1977: Powerful snowstorm strikes Northeast US
1360: Massive storms impact outcome of Hundred Years War
1840: Deadly Tornado strikes Natchez, MS
1937: The Hindenburg Disaster
1761: 5" of snow falls in Ashford, CT
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
History Obscura
Historycal: Words that Shaped the World
The Rest Is History
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra