Hurricane Hilda tornado outbreak explained

Hurricane Hilda tornado outbreak
Active:October 3–4, 1964
Tornadoes:12
Fujitascale:F4
Tornado Duration:1 day, 11 hours, 30 minutes
Casualties:22 fatalities, 175 injuries
Damages:≥ $8.107 million (1964 USD)
$ (USD)
Affected:Southeastern United States
Enhanced:no
Partof:the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1964

On October 3–4, 1964, Hurricane Hilda and its remnants generated a tornado outbreak over portions of the Southeastern United States. The outbreak, which yielded at least 12 confirmed tornadoes, killed 22 people and injured 175 others. Most of the casualties occurred as a result of a violent tornado that devastated the northern outskirts of Larose, Louisiana, becoming the deadliest hurricane-generated tornado on record since 1900 and one of only two violent tornadoes (F4+) recorded in the southern Gulf Coast region of Louisiana. The tornado was also one of only two F4s known to have been produced by a tropical cyclone, the other having occurred during Hurricane Carla on September 12, 1961.[1] [2]

Background

At 23:00 UTC on October 3, 1964, Hurricane Hilda made landfall at 29.5°N -91.5°W, near Calumet, Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds of 105mph and an estimated atmospheric pressure of 959mb. Although Hilda extensively damaged portions of Louisiana, most of its severest impacts, including the vast majority of fatalities, were related to hurricane-spawned tornadoes, along with inland flooding.[3] [4]

Outbreak statistics

Impacts by region
RegionLocaleCountyDeathsInjuriesDamagesSource
United StatesAlabamaBarbour03
Butler00
Conecuh00
LouisianaAssumption00
Jefferson03
Lafourche22165
Orleans02
St. Tammany00
North Carolina02
Total22175

Confirmed tornadoes

October 3 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, October 3, 1964
F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart
Time (UTC)Path length widthSummary
bgcolor=# F1Golden MeadowLafourcheLA29.37°N -90.23°W11:45–?0.5miles33ydA brief tornado downed utility wires and damaged several structures. Losses totaled $2,500.
bgcolor=# F1GallianoLafourcheLA29.43°N -90.28°W12:00–?0.5miles33ydA short-lived tornado affected up to 10 homes and a funeral parlor. Several of the homes shifted on their CBS foundations or were overturned. Some boats were sunk and power lines downed as well. Losses totaled $25,000. Some minor injuries may have occurred.
bgcolor=# F4Northern LaroseLafourcheLA29.6°N -90.37°W12:30–?1.5miles67yd22 deaths – This devastating, violent tornado paralleled LA 1 as it leveled a 1adj=midNaNadj=mid swath of homes. Only "shells" of brick homes remained in a few locations. Observers reported debris in Coteau, 16miles to the west of Larose. 165 people were injured and losses totaled $2 million. This was the deadliest hurricane-spawned tornado on record since 1900 and one of only two such tornadoes on record to have attained F4 intensity.
bgcolor=# F2New Orleans to KennerOrleans, JeffersonLA29.93°N -90.22°W15:00–15:2014.2miles83ydThis possible tornado family initially damaged automobiles and structures in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It then skipped to the intersection of the Veterans Highway and the Causeway, damaging gasoline stations and nearby buildings. Several vehicles, including a truck, were overturned or thrown into the air. Broken glass injured three people in Jefferson Parish and losses there totaled $2 million. Two other injuries and an additional $2 in losses occurred in Orleans Parish. At Kenner the tornado badly damaged 17 homes, several of which were unroofed. The NCEI indicates that the tornado developed north-northwest of Waggaman and ended near Seabrook.
bgcolor=# F2Oakley to Attakapas CanalAssumptionLA29.92°N -91.1°W17:10–17:151.5miles100ydThis tornado tracked generally westward. It passed near Napoleonville, felling several trees. Homes and other structures shifted on their foundations or were unroofed. Losses totaled $25,000.
bgcolor=# F2White Sand to W of West PoplarvillePearl RiverMS30.8°N -89.65°W21:20–?3.3miles33ydThis strong tornado destroyed a pumphouse, a pair of barns, and a small house. Losses were unknown.

October 4 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, October 4, 1964
F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart
Time (UTC)Path length widthSummary
bgcolor=# F2WNW of LewisburgSt. TammanyLA30.38°N -90.13°W09:25–?1miles183ydThis tornado destroyed or damaged six lightweight homes. Debris was strewn over a 5miles area. Losses totaled $25,000.
bgcolor=# F1N of Flat RockConecuhAL31.5°N -86.83°W15:15–?0.1miles33ydA tornado damaged several outbuildings and a few houses. Losses totaled $2,500.
bgcolor=# F1Northwestern GeorgianaButlerAL31.63°N -86.77°W16:20–?3.3miles100ydA tornado unroofed, destroyed, or otherwise damaged 19 houses, many barns, and a fertilizer plant. Numerous trees were downed as well. Losses totaled $25,000. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2.
bgcolor=# F2 NW of Williamston to SE of AlligatorMartin, Washington, TyrrellNC35.87°N -77.07°W20:30–21:3054.1miles50ydA possible tornado family severely damaged or destroyed outbuildings and five homes. It also moved heavy machinery for an unknown distance. Losses totaled $250,000. The publication Storm Data lists one injury.
bgcolor=# F2 Western EufaulaBarbourAL31.8°N -85.2°W21:00–?0.1miles33ydA tornado affected buildings along Pump Station Road in Eufaula. It destroyed or damaged two houses, a factory, and a hospital. Three people were injured and losses totaled $2,500.
bgcolor=# F2 NE of Cedar Grove to N of PenderleaColumbus, Bladen, PenderNC34.3°N -78.9°W23:15–01:0054.6miles50ydThis possible tornado family destroyed or damaged a trailer home, tobacco barns, various outbuildings, a few warehouses, and five homes. Losses totaled $250,000. The publication Storm Data lists one injury.

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20081016213739/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/PDFs/agnes30.pdf . October 16, 2008 . Thirty Years After Hurricane Agnes: the Forgotten Florida Tornado Disaster . Hagemeyer . Bartlett C. . Spratt . Scott M. . 2002 . . Melbourne, Florida . San Diego, California. 25th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology . https://ams.confex.com/ams/25HURR/webprogram/25HURR.html .
  2. Web site: Grazulis . Thomas P. . Grazulis . Doris . The United States' Worst Tornadoes . The Tornado Project . Environmental Films . August 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080514002740/http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm . May 14, 2008 . . April 26, 2000.
  3. U.S. Weather Bureau. 1961. Preliminary report on Hurricane "Hilda". http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1964/hilda/prenhc/prelim05.gif. Page 5. National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Miami. .
  4. Web site: Hurricane Hilda - September 28 – October 5, 1964. Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Prediction Center. June 10, 2014. Roth. David. Silver Spring, Maryland.