St. Louis tornado outbreak of February 1959

A destructive and deadly outbreak of 17 tornadoes occurred on February 9–10, 1959, mostly during overnight hours, causing widespread destruction in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. The strongest of the outbreak was a violent F4 tornado which tore through Northwestern Downtown St. Louis. An F3 tornado also caused heavy damage to numerous structures in Southern Highland County, Ohio, including a school that was in session at the time the tornado hit. Overall, the outbreak caused 21 fatalities (all in St. Louis), 358 injuries, and $53.713 million in damage.[nb 1] Flooding also caused an additional fatality, and there two more injuries from wind damage and winter weather.

St. Louis tornado outbreak of February 1959

Type	Tornado outbreak
Duration	February 9–10, 1959
Lowest temperature	31 °F (−1 °C)
Tornadoes confirmed	17[1]
Max. rating^1	F4 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak^2	1 day, 2 hours, and 5 minutes
Highest gust	75 mph (121 km/h)
Largest hail	1.75 in (4.4 cm)
Damage	$53.713 million (1959 USD)[2]
Casualties	21 fatalities (+1 non-tornadic), 358 injuries (+2 non-tornadic)
Areas affected	Great Plains, Midwest, Southeast
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 1959 ^1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale ^2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Meteorological synopsis

An unusual surge of warm weather entered the Midwest in Early-February with temperatures climbing into the 60s across the region. A low-pressure system entered the area on February 9, spawning multiple clusters of severe thunderstorms over the Southern Great Plains. These storms would remain severe and tornadic throughout the overnight into the next day.[3]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating

FU	F0	F1	F2	F3	F4	F5	Total
0	1	9	3	3	1	0	17

February 9 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, February 9, 1959[nb 2][nb 3]

F#	Location	County / parish	State	Start coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max. width	Summary	Refs.
F1	Duquesne to Duenweg to W of Atlas	Jasper	MO	37.08°N 94.47°W	20:10–20:20	4.3 miles (6.9 km)	800 yards (730 m)	Large tornado touched down east of Joplin and moved due east before turning northeast. Damage involved multiple buildings "bursting outward", causing $50,000 in damage. One person was also injured in Duenweg. A roaring sound and heavy rain accompanied the tornado according to witnesses.	[5][6][7]
F1	WSW of Erin Springs	Garvin	OK	34.80°N 97.67°W	03:00–?	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	10 yards (9.1 m)	Brief tornado may have started in Grady County. Buildings on three farms were damaged and strong straight-line winds unroofed a garage and damaged TV antennas in Lindsay. There was $250 in damage from the tornado.	[8][9][10]
F1	ESE of Prague to WNW of Paden	Lincoln, Okfuskee	OK	35.48°N 96.65°W	03:30–?	3.8 miles (6.1 km)	500 yards (460 m)	Weak, but large tornado heavily damaged or destroyed multiple outbuildings on several farms. Tree tops were blown off as well and damages totaled $2,500. The tornado did not have a visible condensation funnel, but a roaring sound was heard as it passed by.	[11][12]
F1	Crestline	Cherokee	KS	37.20°N 94.63°W	04:16–?	0.5 miles (0.80 km)	10 yards (9.1 m)	Tornado occurred right next to the Kansas-Missouri state line south of Lawton. Several farm buildings were damaged, four calves were killed, and two pigs were crippled. Damage was estimated at $2,500. The tornado may have crossed into Missouri, but the exact track is unknown.	[10][13][14]
F1	Glen Town to Cane Hill to WSW of Masters	Dade, Cedar	MO	37.48°N 93.88°W	05:01–05:30	14.4 miles (23.2 km)	100 yards (91 m)	Glen Town and Cane Hill took a direct hit from this weak, but destructive tornado. Farm buildings were damaged, and farm machinery was blown over. A number of animals were killed and injured as well, including a hog that was completely impaled by a 2x4. There was $7,500 in damage. The track of the tornado may have been longer as damage was recorded as far back as Waco in Jasper County with additional damage in Polk County.	[10][15][16] [17][18]

February 10 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, February 10, 1959[nb 2][nb 3]

F#	Location	County / parish	State	Start coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max. width	Summary	Refs.
F0	Southeastern Florissant	St. Louis Co.	MO	38.78°N 90.30°W	07:40–?	0.2 miles (0.32 km)	10 yards (9.1 m)	Damage was noted to several homes in the northern part of St. Louis County north of the path of the F4 tornado. The damage was posthumously rated F0 with losses totaling $250.	[3][19][20]
F4	Crescent, MO to Northwestern Downtown St. Louis, MO to S of Madison, IL	St. Louis Co. (MO), St. Louis City (MO), St. Clair (IL), Madison (IL)	MO, IL	38.53°N 90.60°W	07:40–08:15	23.9 miles (38.5 km)	200 yards (180 m)	21 deaths – See section on this tornado – 345 people were injured and losses totaled $50.25 million.	[10][3][21] [22][23][24] [25][26][27][28]
F1	NW of Nashville to Irvington to Walnut Hill to S of Cartter	Washington, Jefferson, Marion	IL	38.35°N 89.40°W	08:30–?	29.8 miles (48.0 km)	10 yards (9.1 m)	Narrow, intermittent, but long-lived tornado damaged 10 farmsteads in Nashville and four others near Cartter. The towns of Irvington and Walnut Hill also took direct hits from this storm, which caused $250,000 in damage. A "terrific roar" was heard by witnesses to the event.	[3][10][29] [30]
F2	NE of New Washington	Clark	IN	38.57°N 85.52°W	10:00–?	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	10 yards (9.1 m)	A house and garage were destroyed by this brief, but strong tornado. Several other buildings were damaged as well and losses totaled $25,000.	[3][10][31] [32] [33][28]
F3	Bruceville area	Knox	IN	38.75°N 87.40°W	10:00–?	3.3 miles (5.3 km)	100 yards (91 m)	Intense tornado damaged or destroyed several barns in and around Bruceville, causing $25,000 in damage. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2.	[3][34][35][28]
F1	N of Palestine	Crawford	IL	39.00°N 87.18°W	10:30–?	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	10 yards (9.1 m)	Survey teams confirmed a weak, brief tornado within a much larger swath of wind damage. The tornado itself caused $25,000 in damage, and more than one may have touched down throughout the county. Additionally, the straight-line winds flipped a house trailer at Oblong, injuring one, and 10 farmsteads were damaged.	[3][10][36] [37]
F2	Edgewood	Marion	IN	39.68°N 86.15°W	11:50–?	0.4 miles (0.64 km)	50 yards (46 m)	Strong tornado hit the Penn Park addition in the Southern Indianapolis suburb of Edgewood. A total of 20 homes were damaged and a stone garage "exploded", with the roof being tossed 200 feet (61 m) to the north. Damage estimates totaled $25,000.	[3][38] [39][28]
F1	Morganfield	Union	KY	37.70°N 87.92°W	12:15–?	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	10 yards (9.1 m)	A high school was damaged by this brief, narrow, weak, but destructive tornado. One wall of the school caved in and four classrooms were unroofed. The tornado was confirmed by a resident who saw the funnel cloud from the heavy thunderstorm that produced the tornado. Although no other damage occurred, losses still reached $25,000.	[3][40][41]
F2	Mitchell	Lawrence	IN	38.73°N 86.50°W	13:00–?	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	10 yards (9.1 m)	The western and northern sides of Mitchell were heavily damaged by this brief, but strong tornado. The side of a barn was caved in on the west side of town while the north side saw three garages overturned, the roof and the spire of a church damaged, and tombstones knocked over at a cemetery. Damage was estimated at $250,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger.	[3][42][43][28]
F3	Eagle Station to Sanders	Owen, Carroll	KY	38.63°N 85.00°W	14:30–?	1.5 miles (2.4 km)	440 yards (400 m)	This large, intense tornado moved northeastward along Eagle Creek. Numerous outbuildings were leveled, 12 barns were flattened, and three homes were destroyed. Additionally, the tornado carried a washing machine 700 yd (640 m). Six people were injured and losses totaled $2.5 million.	[3][44][45][28]
F3	Sugar Tree Ridge to Northern Belfast to SW of North Uniontown	Highland	OH	39.08°N 83.70°W	15:40–?	10.5 miles (16.9 km)	400 yards (370 m)	See section on this tornado – Six people were injured and damage estimates totaled $250,000. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2.	[3][10][46] [47][48][49][28]
F1	W of Nelson to SW of Tate	Cherokee, Pickens	GA	34.38°N 84.43°W	22:15–?	2 miles (3.2 km)	100 yards (91 m)	Tornado damaged or destroyed a number of broiler rooms, barns, and residences over a small area. Damages were estimated at $25,000.	[50][51]

Crescent–Northwestern Downtown St. Louis, Missouri/Madison, Illinois

Crescent–Northwestern Downtown St. Louis, Missouri/Madison, Illinois

F4 tornado
Max. rating^1	F4 tornado
Damage	$50.25 million (1959 USD)
Casualties	21 fatalities, 345 injuries
Areas affected	Greater St. Louis
^1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

This catastrophic and violent F4 tornado first touched down in the southwest corner of St. Louis County in Crescent, Missouri just southwest of Sherman. The tornado first caused some minor damage to homes in Sherman, as it moved northeast before passing through Jedburg and Cedar Bluff. Damage continued to be minor as the tornado struck Mountain Ridge, Lincoln Beach, Fern Glen, Southern Twin Oaks, Barretts, and Ozark View. As the tornado entered Warson Woods, it began to intensify sharply and damage became much more severe as it reached F2 status. Homes and stores had their roofs ripped off and numerous trees and power lines were downed. Similar to worst destruction was seen in Rock Hill, Brentwood, and Maplewood. Throughout St. Louis County, the tornado killed 10, injured 170, and caused $25 million in damage.

The tornado then entered St. Louis City, devastating the area. It first damaged dozens of buildings and homes in the neighborhoods of Franz Park, Hi-Pointe, and Clayton-Tamm in Northern Benton before tearing part of the roof off the St. Louis Arena and blowing down a TV tower in Northern Gratiot. It then reached its peak intensity as it tore through Forest Park and into the Central West End, Vandeventer, Covenant Blu-Grand Center, and Jeff Vanderlou neighborhoods in Northwestern Downtown St. Louis, where widespread F3 and F4 damage was observed. Many brick apartments and family restaurants at Olive St. and Boyle Ave. suffered major damage. A block away, multiple homes were heavily damaged or destroyed along Whitter St., including some that were leveled. A destroyed three-story house at the corner of Whitter St. and Delmar Blvd. saw its lower floors completely collapse, causing the attic to completely cave in on the structure while remaining largely intact. Eight people were killed at this location. More buildings were wrecked along Sarah St. and an apartment building along North Prairie Ave. lost its entire rear wall, leaving it open like a doll house. The tornado continued to wreak havoc as it swept through the St. Louis Place, Hyde Park, and Near North Riverfront neighborhoods. Numerous other buildings along with automobiles, trees, and power lines were damaged or destroyed with debris littering the streets and hundreds of people trapped in the rubble of the collapsed buildings. Throughout St. Louis, the tornado killed 11, injured 175, and caused $25 million in damage.

The tornado then weakened and crossed the Mississippi River into Brooklyn, Illinois near the McKinley Bridge in St. Clair County. Minor to moderate damage was inflicted to several factory buildings. The tornado then crossed into Madison County and through Southern Venice, doing some additional damage before dissipating east of Madison and south of Granite City. Damage in Illinois was estimated at $250,000 and no casualties occurred here. Some of additional minor damage also occurred south of Edwardsville, but this was most likely unrelated to the tornado.

In the end, the tornado was on the ground for at least 35 minutes, traveled 23.9 miles (38.5 km), was 200 yards (180 m) wide, and caused $50.25 million is damage. There was also some evidence that supports this possibly being a twin-funneled event as well. Over 2000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, including 16 homes that were destroyed and over 100 others that sustained major damage. 345 people were injured and 21 others were killed, making it the third deadliest tornado in the city's history. Interestingly, a severe thunderstorm warning had been in effect for this storm, but forecasters did not see enough evidence in their World War II-vintage radar to issue a tornado warning, especially since this was during the Winter months, which proved to be a fatal mistake.[3][10][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

Sugar Tree Ridge–Northern Belfast, Ohio

Sugar Tree Ridge–Northern Belfast, Ohio

F3 tornado
Max. rating^1	F3 tornado
Damage	$250,000 (1959 USD)
Casualties	6 injuries
Areas affected	Southern Highland County, Ohio
^1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

The last tornado to be strong as well as cause casualties first touched down just to the west of Sugar Tree Ridge and quickly reached its peak intensity as it moved eastward directly into the tiny town. About 12 farms incurred damage, including one that saw all its buildings leveled, the house catch fire, and a car thrown 75 yards (69 m) into a ditch and destroyed. A garage at another home was ripped off its foundation and tossed into the backyard mostly intact while another house with four occupants was leveled, although everyone escaped with only minor injuries. The tornado remained strong as it passed south of Folsom, before roaring into Northern Belfast. The Belfast school, which was in session at the time of the tornado, sustained heavy damage to its roof, walls, and windows. Two children were injured when a brick chimney fell through the roof of an occupied classroom, scattering debris all over the place. Cars were demolished and more utility lines were downed and severed in the area as well. Dozens of farm buildings were damaged or destroyed before the tornado weakened and dissipated southwest of North Uniontown.

The tornado traveled 10.5 miles (16.9 km), was 400 yards (370 m) wide, and was posthumously rated F3. Six people were injured and losses totaled $250,000. The tornado may have traveled slightly farther than indicated as more damage was reported downwind after the tornado supposedly dissipated.[3][10][46][47][48][49]

Non-tornadic impacts

At least 20 reports of strong thunderstorms winds and hail came from this system.[52] February 9 saw a peak hail report of 1.75 inches (4.4 cm) east of Nowata, Oklahoma while February 10 saw a peak wind gust of 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) east of Campbell, Missouri.[53][54] Prior to the tornadoes, heavy thunderstorms dropped 3 inches (7.6 cm) of rain in the Greater St. Louis area, flooding basement and streets. One man was killed after drowning in flood waters in Alton, Missouri.[25] There were also reports of heavy snow, ice, and more flooding, which resulted in at least one additional injury.[10]

Aftermath

The St. Louis F4 tornado destroyed 47 homes and buildings, caused major damage to 245 others, and inflicted minor damage to 1,633 more. This left almost 1,400 people were homeless after the storm. The tornado came so quickly and unexpectedly that emergency responders were very slow in realizing the extent of the disaster, which occurred at around 2 am CST, when most people were sleeping after a long-day of already rough weather. The Weather Bureau did not receive its first report of serious damage until 2:38 am CST, over 20 minutes after the tornado had lifted. Communications following the tornado were complicated as many utility wires were downed, so the city's Civil Defense agency was not called in until about 4 am CST. Many people were trapped under the debris from the buildings and rescuers worked throughout the night to save them. Temperatures in the region dropped to 31 °F (−1 °C) by noon the next day as well. In the days following the disaster, citizens donated $240,000 to the Red Cross.[25]

The tornado also bought about a new inquiry for tornado sirens. Despite the casualties and damages caused by the tornado, the Weather Bureau stood by their decision to not issue a tornado warning and even if one had been issued, the city's defense sirens would not have sounded because they were to be used to alert the area of air-raid strikes, not for weather warnings (this was very common during the Cold War era). It was not until another deadly outbreak in 1967 produced another F4 tornado that killed three in the same general area that tornado sirens were finally installed.[25]

The F3 tornado in Southern Highland County, Ohio injured and killed multiple farm animals and downed over 100 power lines in Sugar Tree Ridge alone. In Belfast, the Belfast School was damaged so severely that school officials dismissed all of the classes immediately. The school also sustained extensive roof damage, and with more bad weather forecasted to hit the area in the days following the disaster, emergency workers worked late into the night that Tuesday to make hurried repairs on the buildings.[48][49]

See also

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• List of tornadoes striking downtown areas
• St. Louis tornado history
• Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896
  • 1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado
• Tornado outbreak sequence of April 19–24, 2011
  • 2011 St. Louis tornado

Notes

1. All losses are in 1959 USD unless otherwise noted.
2. 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.
3. Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[4]

References

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2. "Tornado Summaries". National Weather Service. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
3. "North America Tornado Cases 1950 to 1959". bangladeshtornadoes.org. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
4. Brooks, Harold E. (April 2004). "On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity". Weather and Forecasting. Boston: American Meteorological Society. 19 (2): 310. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
5. "Missouri F1". Tornado History Projects. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
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