User:CapeVerdeWave/May 26–29, 1973 tornado outbreak sequence

From May 22–31, 1973, a destructive tornado outbreak sequence affected the Southern, Midwestern, and Eastern United States. The severe weather event was the largest and the deadliest outbreak sequence in 1973 with at least 145 confirmed tornadoes causing 24 deaths, 820 injuries, and approximately $280.6 million (1973 USD) in damages. The deadliest tornado of the entire event was a large, violent, long-tracked tornado that crossed the state of Alabama on May 27, killing seven and injuring about 200 people. The tornado, which tracked for almost 140 mi, was rated F4 on the Fujita scale and largely destroyed the small town of Brent. A day earlier, on May 26, another long-lived F4 tornado in Arkansas caused the highest single-tornado injury total in the outbreak sequence, with 289 people injured. The tornado caused severe damage to the city of Jonesboro and killed three people. Two days before that, a well-documented F4 tornado obliterated Union City, Oklahoma, killing two and injuring four. Other notable, deadly tornadoes struck Kansas and Oklahoma on May 26, including an F1 in Kansas that killed three and a violent F4 that killed five in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. The outbreak on May 27 was reportedly the most severe to affect the U.S. state of Alabama since March 21, 1932.

Keefton, Oklahoma
A very powerful tornado struck Keefton, just northwest of Martin, in the late afternoon hours, engulfing 75% of the community. The tornado—up to 1/3 mi in width—reportedly produced "near total" devastation in its short but violent path. It killed four people in a pickup truck and injured the other critically. The truck was moved up to .5 mi from its original location. Additionally, a man perished in a home when it was leveled by the tornado. Only few structures in the area were still barely standing. 25 people were injured in the tornado, several severely. At least some damage affected more than 100 structures. The tornado demolished 40 homes, five businesses, a church, and 125 cars. At least six horses were killed on a farm in the area.

Jonesboro, Arkansas
A long-tracked, violent tornado touched down after sundown and tracked northeast from Augusta to Jonesboro. Initially, the tornado snapped trees and damaged various structures, primarily in Tupelo and Balch. 25 injuries and $110,000 losses (1973 USD) took place in Jackson County. Seven more injuries occurred in Poinsett County, with the first confirmed death at Weiner. Another fatality occurred at Otwell in Craighead County. The tornado may have reformed into two funnels as it struck Jonesboro, causing severe damage to businesses and residences. Total losses in Jonesboro reached $37 million in contemporary dollars, and one person died in town. 289 people were injured along the entire path.

Greensboro–Brent–Centreville, Alabama
This violent tornado touched down northeast of Demopolis and proceeded northeast. It first hit the town of Greensboro, where one person was killed and 72 others were injured. It then destroyed 90% of Brent, killing five and injuring 56. Damage was also occurred in Centreville, Montevallo, Columbiana, Wilsonville, and Childersburg before the tornado lifting near Mount Cheaha. The tornado had a maximum width of 800 yd and destroyed 216 buildings and 97 mobile homes along with 12,000 acres of timber along its 139.1 mi path. An additional 45 businesses were damaged or destroyed and 570 other buildings were damaged. Seven people were killed and 199 others were injured.

Center Point, Alabama
A long-tracked tornado family produced severe damage to Center Point, damaging more than 300 residences. Of these, 32 homes of frame construction were leveled, along with 48 trailers. All of the injuries and the fatality were in Center Point. At least 44 people (possibly 76) sustained injuries. One person perished in a home that sagged onto the basement, injuring family members sheltered inside. Besides homes, the tornado badly damaged or razed 35 businesses and leveled several structures on farms. A separate tornado, spawned by the parent storm, may have tracked farther to the northeast, ending just east of Gadsden, resulting in a total path length of 50 mi.