Tornadoes of 1953
Clockwise from top: An F4 tornado near Worcester, Massachusetts on June 9th; A radar hook echo near Champaign, Illinois, being the first to be definitively linked to the occurrence of a tornado; The Vicksburg Evening Post following an F5 tornado on December 5th; An F4 tornado near Erie, Michigan on June 8th; Damage to downtown Waco, Texas after an F5 on May 11th; Violent damage to homes in Beecher, Michigan following a tornado on June 8th. | |
| Timespan | 1953 |
|---|---|
| Maximum rated tornado | F5 tornado
|
| Tornadoes in U.S. | 421 |
| Damage (U.S.) | $596.105 million (1953 USD) |
| Fatalities (U.S.) | 523 |
| Fatalities (worldwide) | >529 |
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1953 primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. This was the first year to record an F5 tornado as well as one of the deadliest tornado seasons in official U.S. records, which go back to 1950.
The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The article, therefore, documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.