SPC Stats

Path length: 11.5 miles

Width:  250 yards

Fatalities:  0

Injuries:  25

Rating:  F3

County:  Jones

An estimated F3 tornado moved northeast through parts of Jones County and the town of Laurel during the evening of December 28, 1954.  It had a path of about ten miles per the Climatological Data National Summary (CDNS) and a width of 250 yards.  Twenty-five people were injured. 

The tornado crossed through 20 blocks of northwestern Laurel.  Per CDNS, 20 homes and two other buildings were destroyed.  Eight-seven homes and six other buildings had varying degrees of damage.  Numerous trees were uprooted and telephone and power lines were downed.  

Thomas Grazulis in Significant Tornadoes documented this event.  He noted less damage.  “Three homes were destroyed, four were unroofed, two were twisted, and 12 were otherwise damaged.”

Tornado Path

SPC coordinates:  Start: 31.63 / -89.18      End: 31.77 / -89.07

Corrected Coordinates based on CDNS:

Start:  31.652599/-89.207315        End: 31.754457/-89.087001

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 December 1954 Climatological Data National Summary (CDNS) and Thomas Grazulis in Significant Tornadoes and found the following differences:

Path Length:

  • SPC/NCDC have a 11.5 mile path length.
  • Grazulis and CDNS have a length at 10 miles.

      Sources:

      The Storm Prediction Center

      NCDC Storm Events Database

      December 1954 Climatological Data National Summary

      newspapers.com

      Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. Page 983.

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