SPC Stats
Path length: 2.5 miles
Width: 100 yards
Fatalities: 1
Injuries: 30
Rating: F2
County: Okaloosa
The SPC Database lists three tornadoes in Okaloosa County on January 5, 1962. Storm Data and Grazulis document two events: One in Destin and one in Crestview. The tornado at Destin was a waterspout that came ashore. Several beach cottages were damaged. Rating given was F2.
In this summary, we look at the Crestview event. The damage was caused by twin tornadoes. It was documented in the Storm Data Publication as “two tornado clouds, about 100 yards apart and each making paths about 100 yards wide.” They had parallel paths that moved to the northwest into a residential area in Crestview. Per Thomas Grazulis in Significant Tornadoes, 10 frame homes and 10 trailers were destroyed. 300+ other homes damaged. Six businesses were destroyed.
There is a discrepancy on the injury count. Grazulis lists 65 injuries while the SPC and Storm Data Narrative have 30 injuries. Some newspapers had higher injury counts similar to Grazulis:
Sadly, 6-month-old Donna Joyce Johnson was killed in a destroyed home.
Tornado Path
Click Map To Enlarge
SPC coordinates: Start: 38.77 / -90.22 End: 38.83 / -90.03
Corrected Coordinates based on damage reports:
Start: 30.753300/-86.590724 End: 30.791289/-86.545562
Note: Exact tornado path may not be straight and/or continuous.
Newspaper Clippings
Discrepancies:
We gathered information for this event from the SPC & NCDC Databases, the January 1962 Storm Data Publication and Thomas Grazulis in Significant Tornadoes and found the following differences:
Width:
- SPC/NCDC have a 100 yard width.
- Grazulis has a width of 200 yards.
- Storm Data lists a 300 yard width.
Injury Count:
- Grazulis lists 65 injuries.
- Remaining sources list 30 injuries.
Sources:
January 1962 Storm Data Publication 1962
Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. Page 1039.
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