A deadly tornado outbreak produced at least 14 destructive tornadoes across Kansas, Louisiana, and Arkansas on Monday, January 3, 1949.[nb 2] The worst of the outbreak was a deadly, devastating and violent (estimated) F4 tornado that tore though Warren, Arkansas. Part of a multi-state family, the tornado killed at least 55 people,[2] a majority of the deaths in the outbreak, and is now tied with the Fort Smith tornado from 1898 as the deadliest in Arkansas history.[3] In addition, a pair of deadly F3 tornadoes in Louisiana, along with a few other strong tornadoes in Arkansas, claimed five more lives. Overall, a total of 60 or more people were killed from the outbreak, and over 500 sustained injuries.
Meteorological synopsis
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (May 2024)
Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRADDoppler weather radar in 1990–1991.[4][nb 3] 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments.[8][nb 4] Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.
List of confirmed tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of January 3, 1949[nb 5]
This intense tornado wrecked seven homes, half a dozen of them at Vilas, along with 20 or more barns and a 12-mile-long (19 km) stretch of power lines. One other building and 13 other homes incurred damage. One person was injured.[18][19]
This was the first member of a state-crossing tornado family that included the Warren F4. Some homes were wrecked near Sarepta, with 14 injuries resulting.[20][18][19]
1 death – This tornado destroyed approximately 20 homes, passing close to the path of a deadly F4 that hit Cotton Valley on December 31, 1947, killing 18 people. South of Haynesville a bus idled to let the tornado pass by 200 yd (600 ft) ahead. Seven people were injured, all at Gordon, where the death occurred.[21][19]
1 death – This tornado touched down intermittently, wrecking barns and small homes, including four homes at Grapevine. Vehicles were damaged as well. Seven people were injured.[22][19]
55+ deaths – This event likely comprised two or three distinct tornadoes, but details are incomplete. Small homes and several hundred acres of trees were leveled near the start of the path. Strengthening, the tornado tracked into Warren with catastrophic result. Of the 120 homes destroyed, most were leveled—many without trace, as foundations were swept clean. 72 others incurred severe damage, 150 more minor losses. A bus was twisted around a tree, multi-ton steel debris carried 3⁄4 mi (1.2 km), weighty timbers driven 2 to 3 ft (0.67 to 1.00 yd) straight into the earth, and a 1-tonne (1,000 kg), steel I-beam bent. In all, 500 homes were damaged. All known fatalities occurred at Warren, mostly in the northeastern section. 435 people were injured. Small items from Warren were carried 70 mi (110 km).[23][20][22][2][19][24]
^All losses are in 1949 USD unless otherwise noted.
^An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.[1]
^Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information.[5] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.[6] Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced NEXRAD was first installed and the National Weather Service began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.[7]
^The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.[9][10] Tornado ratings were retroactively applied to events prior to the formal adoption of the F-scale by the National Weather Service.[11] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,[12] Canada used the old scale until April 1, 2013;[13] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.[14]
^All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.
^The listed width values are primarily the average/mean width of the tornadoes, with those having known maximum widths denoted by ♯. From 1952 to 1994, reports largely list mean width whereas contemporary years list maximum width.[15] Values provided by Grazulis are the average width, with estimates being rounded down (i.e. 0.5 mi (0.80 km) is rounded down from 880 yards to 800 yards.[16][17]
^ abPurkins, DuVal (January 10, 1949). Woodard, Jann; Logen, Barbara (eds.). "A Tragic Record: January 3, 1949". Tornadoes in Bradley County, Arkansas. USGenWeb Project. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
^Grazulis, Thomas P.; Grazulis, Doris (26 April 2000). "The Most "Important" US Tornadoes by State". St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
^Edwards, Roger (March 5, 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
^Matthews, Anne (January 13, 1949). Woodard, Jann; Logen, Barbara (eds.). "Borne on the Winds". Tornadoes in Bradley County, Arkansas. Letter to Patsy Curry. USGenWeb Project. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
— (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN1-879362-03-1.
![[icon]](File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small}