Tornado outbreak of February 13, 1952

Several destructive tornadoes struck the Southeastern United States, primarily along and east of the Lower Mississippi Valley, on February 13, 1952. Multiple intense tornadoes touched down throughout the day, three of which were killers. The deadliest and most destructive tornado of the outbreak was a violent F4 that touched down in south-central Tennessee, killing three people and injuring 44 others. A similarly destructive tornado—albeit of weaker, F2 intensity—formed from the same storm as the preceding F4 and became the second costliest of the outbreak. Another intense tornado affected the Mississippi embayment near Manila, Arkansas, injuring five people, and a pair of deadly F3s in Alabama claimed a combined two lives. In all, the outbreak killed five people and injured 102 others.

Meteorological synopsis
A fast-moving low-pressure system formed over Northern California on February 11. As it moved quickly eastward another low formed over northeastern New Mexico on February 12. These lows moved in tandem into Oklahoma on February 13 and triggered a severe weather outbreak in the Southeastern United States starting that morning.

Confirmed tornadoes
Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis. 



Lois–Marble Hill–Beech Hill–Marble Plains–Decherd, Tennessee
This violent tornado developed from the same supercell that produced two prior tornadoes in Giles and Lincoln counties. It touched down just west of the Moore–Franklin county line near Lois and moved eastward. It first struck areas along SR 50 in Marble Hill causing catastrophic damage. It destroyed 23 homes and outbuildings and damaged 27 others, affecting 20 families. Hundreds of trees were also prostrated in Moore County, principally between Marble Hill and Lois. The tornado then moved into Franklin County and obliterated parts of Beech Hill where a church, school, store, and dwelling were all destroyed. After moving over rural, low-lying farmland, the tornado demolished portions of Marble Plains. One home in this area was swept away, killing the two occupants. The tornado then moved into Roark Creek, where several homes and two barns were leveled. After passing through another rural, forested area, the tornado roared into the north side of Decherd, where more heavy destruction and another fatality occurred. There were 15 homes destroyed and 50 others damaged while 85 other buildings were damaged or destroyed. Five freight cars on the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway were derailed and scattered along the right of way in the town as well. The tornado dissipated shortly afterwards. In all, 109 farms along the entire path reported damage, and more than 100 houses were destroyed or damaged in Franklin County. However, only a single homesite incurred F4 damage, just west of Decherd.

Non-tornadic impacts
Most of the damage during this event was either by tornadoes or the storm that produced it. However, one isolated report of large hail was recorded in Warren, Mississippi. Windows were broken, automobiles were dented, and gardens and winter grains were damaged.