User:ChessEric/Tornado outbreak sequence of April 25 – May 3, 1954

A long-lived and destructive tornado outbreak sequence struck the Great Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Southeast from late-April into early-May, 1954. 100 tornadoes were confirmed, including three violent F4 tornadoes. Four people killed, 165 others were injured, and there was $19.433 million (1954 USD) in damage.

Confirmed tornadoes

 * In addition to confirmed tornadoes, the Climatological Data National Summary listed the following, which are not officially listed as tornadoes:
 * A tornado destroyed a shed at Letchworth, in Prairie County, Arkansas, at 18:30 UTC on April 30.

Carlson–Beyersville–Gause–Grapeland, Texas
This intense, long-tracked tornado family first began northeast of Manda, just south of Carlson. The Climatological Data National Summary states that the event began 5 mi southwest of Coupland. Grazulis lists the touchdown as being west of Coupland. The tornado tracked across the southeastern portion of Coupland before striking the community of Beyersville. In Beyersville the tornado damaged all the homes. Passing through and just south of Thorndale, the tornado flattened many acres of timberland. The most severe damage along the entire path occurred in this area, not far from Salty, and covered a 6 mi swath of destruction. Barns and homes were extensively damaged. The tornado subsequently struck Hanover, Gause, Port Sullivan, Goodland, the northern side of Hearne, Flynn, Spring Seat, Centerville, and Grapeland before dissipating. The tornado destroyed three homes and three cotton gins, along with a pair of automobiles. Outbuildings were damaged as well. There were six injuries and $500,000 in damages. Grazulis listed this as a tornado family, which he rated F2, and said that the track beyond Milam County contained only weak tornadoes. Grazulis also claimed that the tornado did not produce evidently intense damage.

College Hill, Texas/Mineral Springs–Hot Springs, Arkansas
This long-lived tornado family consisted of three or more members. The first tornado initially felled trees, unroofed a store, destroyed four barns, and damaged outbuildings at College Hill. At that place a pair of homes were also impacted, one of which was destroyed; only a wall of the latter was left intact, and debris from the rest of the home was found 1/2 mi distant. The tornado tracked for only 1 mi before dissipating. In Arkansas the second tornado of the family developed. It struck western Mineral Springs, the outskirts of Nashville, and Bingen before ending west of Amity. In its 35 mi, intermittent path the tornado wrecked a pair of barns and unroofed a home. The third member of the tornado family skipped for 21 mi, starting just northeast of Bismarck and ending at Hot Springs. A home lost a few of its walls and its roof. Barns were torn in half as well. The last member of the family was responsible for two injuries. In all, the tornado family caused $775,000 in losses. Grazulis split the family into a trio of F2 events.

Crowell–Vernon, Texas/Snyder, Oklahoma
This violent, long-tracked tornado, which was over 1 mi wide at times, touched down in or within 10 mi of the town of Crowell and moved northeastward through mostly rural areas, passing just 4 mi northwest of the town of Vernon. Five outbuildings and three homes were complete destroyed while two more homes and an oil mill were unroofed. A 1953 Mercury automobile was also tossed and rolled 1/2 mi in distance, and four farmsteads were reportedly obliterated and swept away. The tornado then crossed the Red River into Oklahoma and turned north-northeastward, passing near Grandfield and Snyder, the latter location being where the tornado dissipated. In Oklahoma, the tornado, which at times was accompanied by golfball-sized hail, inflicted considerable damage to 20 homes and barns, a school, and a cotton gin. Along the entire path five people were injured and losses were $277,500. The tornado was observed by many people as it passed by as well. Either this or a separate tornado may have caused damage near Elliott, Texas. According to Grazulis, the tornado caused $400,000 in damages and likely peaked as an F5.

April 25
A man in Tuila, Texas was injured by baseball-size hail that fell through his smashed windshield. Golfball-sized hail also fell in Conway from the same storm. Buildings and automobiles were damaged in both towns.