• Source: Tornado outbreak of May 29, 1953

A destructive outbreak of nine tornadoes struck the Great Plains on May 29, 1953. The worst one was an F5 tornado that hit Fort Rice, North Dakota, destroying multiple structures and causing the majority of the casualties that day. Other strong tornadoes occurred that day, including an F2 tornado that did major damage when it struck McLaughlin, South Dakota. Overall, the outbreak killed two people, injured 22 others, and caused $827,500 (1953 USD) in damage.




Meteorological synopsis


An unusually strong surface low-pressure system moved into northwestern South Dakota during the afternoon of May 29, 1953. Surface observations indicated that it, along with another nearby low to its southeast, had a pressure lower than 996 mb (29.41 inHg). A dryline extended from this strong low southward ahead of a cold front that curled southwestward while a warm front extended east-northeastward into the Coteau des Prairies of southeastern North Dakota Behind the surface low, an upper-level low moved northeastward through Montana, increasing the pressure gradient over the Northern Plains and inducing high wind shear across the area. Temperatures that afternoon reached anywhere from the upper 80s to mid-90s and with dew points from 60 to 70 °F, the atmosphere was ripe for an outbreak of severe thunderstorms.




Confirmed tornadoes






= Cannon Ball-Fort Rice-Lake Oahe-Britin-Moffit, North Dakota

=

The tornado, which was over 3/4 of a mile in width, struck Fort Rice, destroying 16 homes and leveling a church.
Pews from the church were driven four feet into the ground. Additionally, components of a car were thrown for over a half mile.
The tornado also crossed Lake Oahe before dissipating near Britin (not to be confused with Britain) and Moffit.
One person was killed in Fort Rice while another person was killed near the touch down point north of Cannon Ball. There were 20 injuries and $500,000 in damage. Despite the damage, tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis questioned some of the construction of the buildings and initially rated this as an F4 tornado. However, he did subsequently rate the tornado F5. This tornado was one of the only two F5 tornadoes to strike North Dakota, the other being the Fargo tornado which would occur a few years later.




See also


List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes
June 20–23, 1957 tornado outbreak sequence
Fargo tornado




Notes






References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Tornado outbreak of May 29, 1953
• 1953 Waco tornado outbreak
• Outline of tornadoes
• 1985 United States–Canada tornado outbreak
• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• List of F5, EF5, and IF5 tornadoes
• Tornado outbreak sequence of April 28 – May 2, 1953
• List of European tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• 1953 Flint–Beecher tornado
• 1997 Jarrell tornado