January – Tornado Talk

The San Francisco Bay Area Tornadoes – January 11, 1951

During the morning hours of January 11, 1951, a squall line pushed across the San Franciso Bay area. The storms produced millions of dollars in damage as straight-line winds and tornadoes ripped through the region. Per the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) databases, one twister occurred on this day, an F2 in Sunnyvale. Thomas Grazulis in Significant Tornadoes lists two tornadoes, the Sunnyvale F2, as well as an F2 at San Jose. Upon doing research, we were able to definitively confirm two additional tornadoes, one that moved through parts of Marin and Sonoma counties and a weak one in Contra Cosa County. It is likely that other funnels occurred, though reports in the newspapers were not detailed enough to confirm others.

By Nick Wilkes, 12 monthsDecember 29, 2022 ago

Bowerton-Georgetown, MS F4 Tornado – January 31, 1908

Details extracted from the March 1908 Monthly Weather Review. The article was by W. S. Belden, Section Director. Dated Vicksburg, MS, February 17, 1908. Described as a “tornado of remarkable energy and duration”.

By Jen Narramore, 5 yearsJanuary 31, 2019 ago

Adairsville, GA EF3 Tornado – January 30, 2013

44 tornadoes were confirmed on January 30, 2013. The strongest was given a rating of EF3. It tracked over 21 miles through parts of Bartow and Gordon Counties in Georgia. There were 17 injuries and 1 fatality.

By Jen Narramore, 5 yearsJanuary 30, 2019 ago

Thayer-Van Buren, MO F4 Tornado – January 29, 1947

This summary looks back at an estimated F4 tornado from January 28, 1947. It moved from parts of Fulton County, Arkansas into Oregon and Carter Counties in Missouri.

By Jen Narramore, 5 yearsJanuary 29, 2019 ago

Faulkner-White County, AR F3 Tornado – January 28, 1956

There was one tornado reported on January 28, 1956. It hit during the late evening in Faulkner County, AR. It moved to the northeast from the Wooster area to 1 mile south of Greenbriar. The Climatological Data Summary then states the tornado “went aloft for 10 miles, returning to the ground in Barney-Enola Area.”

By Jen Narramore, 5 yearsJanuary 28, 2019 ago

Felton, DE F2 Tornado – January 27, 1967

Per the Storm Data Publication, this was the first tornado to hit in Delaware during the winter months (December through February). The twister moved to the northeast for only 1/2 mile. Four houses were destroyed.

By Jen Narramore, 5 yearsJanuary 27, 2019 ago

Randolph County, AL F3 Tornado – January 26, 1974

This tornado moved to the northeast for about 20 miles. The Storm Data entry mentions that the tornado cloud was sighted several times and that during the early part of the path it was not continuous.

By Jen Narramore, 5 yearsJanuary 26, 2019 ago

Barwick, GA F2 Tornado – January 25, 1933

This summary looks back at an estimated F2 tornado from January 25, 1933. It moved through parts of Thomas & Brooks Counties in Georgia and caused damage near the town of Barwick.

By Jen Narramore, 5 yearsJanuary 25, 2019 ago

St. Louis, MO F4 Tornado – January 24, 1967

This summary focuses in on the what the NWS deems the 4th worst tornado in history to hit the St. Louis Metropolitain Area. It is also the last F4 tornado to affect St. Louis.

By Jen Narramore, 5 yearsJanuary 24, 2019 ago

Hazlehurst, MS F4 Tornado – January 23, 1969

A long-track, deadly tornado occurred on January 23, 1969. In his book, “The Tornado: Nature’s Ultimate Windstorm”, Thomas Grazulis notes that the process that brought about using the Fujita Scale to rate tornadoes can be traced to this event. (Grazulis, 2003). This tornado devastated the town of Hazlehurst, MS. It is the deadliest tornado on record (1950-current) in the month of January.

By Jen Narramore, 5 yearsJanuary 23, 2019 ago