View source for 1953 Waco tornado outbreak

{{Short description|United States meteorological event}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Dr Pepper Museum.jpg
| caption = The Dr Pepper Museum in 1999 with lighter-colored bricks showing damage, since repaired, from the F5 tornado on May 11, 1953
| duration = May 9–11, 1953
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Tornado outbreak
| tornadoes = 33
| fujita-scale = F5
| winds = 
| largest hail = 
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| deaths = 144 fatalities<br>895 injuries
| damage = $63.8 million {{USDCY|63796000|1953}}<ref>{{cite web |title=May 9-11, 1953 Tornadoes |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=09&beginDate_yyyy=1953&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=11&endDate_yyyy=1953&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL |website=National Centers for Environmental Information |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref>
| affected = [[Great Plains]], [[West North Central States|West North Central]] and [[East North Central States]]
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[Tornadoes of 1953|tornado outbreaks of 1953]]
}}
A deadly series of at least 33&nbsp;tornadoes hit at least 10&nbsp;different [[U.S. state]]s on May&nbsp;9–11, 1953. Tornadoes appeared daily from [[Minnesota]] in the north to [[Texas]] in the south. The strongest and deadliest tornado was a [[1953 Waco tornado|powerful F5 tornado]]{{#tag:ref|The [[Fujita scale]] was devised under the aegis of scientist [[Ted Fujita|T. Theodore Fujita]] in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.<ref name="FscaleUS">{{cite book|last1=Grazulis|first1=Thomas P.|authorlink1=Thomas P. Grazulis|title=The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm |url=https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz|url-access=registration|date=2001|publisher=[[University of Oklahoma Press]]|location=[[Norman, Oklahoma|Norman]]|isbn=978-0-8061-3538-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz/page/141 141]}}</ref> While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the [[Enhanced Fujita scale]] in the U.S. since February&nbsp;1, 2007,<ref name="EFscale">{{cite web |last1=Edwards|first1=Roger|title=Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html|website=The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)|publisher=Storm Prediction Center|access-date=25 February 2016|date=5 March 2015}}</ref> [[Canada]] utilized the old scale until April&nbsp;1, 2013;<ref name="FscaleCanada">{{cite web|title=Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) |url=https://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 |website=Environment and Climate Change Canada |date=6 June 2013 |access-date=25 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220706/http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> nations elsewhere, like the [[United Kingdom]], apply other classifications such as the [[TORRO scale]].<ref name="TORROscale">{{cite web|title=The International Tornado Intensity Scale |url=http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php |website=Tornado and Storm Research Organisation |access-date=25 February 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305120332/http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php |archivedate=5 March 2016 |date=2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>|group="nb"|name="Fujita"}} that struck [[Waco, Texas]] on May&nbsp;11, causing 114&nbsp;of the 144&nbsp;deaths in the outbreak. Alongside the [[1902 Goliad, Texas tornado|1902 Goliad tornado]], it was the deadliest tornado in Texas history and is the 11th deadliest tornado in U.S. history. The tornado's winds demolished more than 600&nbsp;houses, 1,000&nbsp;other structures, and over 2,000&nbsp;vehicles. 597&nbsp;injuries occurred, and many survivors had to wait more than 14&nbsp;hours for rescue. The destruction [[tornado myths#Near rivers, valleys, mountains, or other terrain features|dispelled a myth]] that the geography of the region spared Waco from tornadoes, and along with other deadly tornadoes in 1953, the Waco disaster was a catalyst for advances in understanding the link between tornadoes and radar-detected [[hook echo]]es. It also generated support for improved [[civil defense]] systems, the formation of [[weather radar]] networks, and improved communications between stakeholders such as meteorologists, local officials, and the public.

The Waco tornado was not the only deadly and damaging tornado in the outbreak sequence. On the same day as the Waco disaster, a high-end F4 tornado struck the Texas city of [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]], causing catastrophic damage, killing 13&nbsp;people, and injuring more than 150. The tornado swept away numerous homes and damaged a school, but students inside escaped without serious injuries. On May&nbsp;9, a long-tracked F3 tornado destroyed a large swath of [[Hebron, Nebraska]] and killed five&nbsp;people in the area. The following day, May&nbsp;10, featured numerous, often long-tracked and intense [[tornado family|tornado families]] across the states of [[Iowa]], Minnesota, and [[Wisconsin]]. Two&nbsp;families on nearly parallel paths traveled more than {{Convert|100|mi}} each and killed a combined total of six&nbsp;people, mostly in Wisconsin. At least one&nbsp;of the tornado families reached F4 intensity in Wisconsin. Two other F4 tornadoes also struck Iowa. Additionally, a relatively moderate tornado of F2 intensity caused significant loss of life in a shack in Minnesota, killing six&nbsp;people. Although 33&nbsp;tornadoes were officially registered from May&nbsp;9–11, others likely occurred but either went undetected or were not officially documented.

==Background==
After two days of intense tornado activity, May&nbsp;11, 1953, produced a rich, [[atmospheric instability|unstable]] air mass that moved northward over Texas from the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. As of 9:30&nbsp;a.m. [[Central Standard Time|CST]] (15:30 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]), [[thunderstorm]] activity from the overnight hours persisted, generating residual [[outflow boundary|outflow boundaries]]. Already, anomalously warm surface temperatures reached the mid-70s [[Fahrenheit|°F]] (mid-20s [[Celsius|°C]]) as far north as a line stretching from [[Dallas]] to [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]. [[Dew point]]s were correspondingly high as well, climbing into the lower 70s °F. (lower 20s °C) As a [[dry line]] crossed the [[warm sector]] in the afternoon, a layer of cool surface temperatures left by the outflow boundaries locally enhanced low-level [[wind shear]], acting as a mechanism to enable [[supercell]] and tornado formation. Winds backed along the outflow boundaries, perhaps aiding the formation of large and violent tornadoes.<ref name="WacoWeather">{{cite web|title=Remembering the May 11, 1953, Waco tornado, the deadliest tornado in Texas since 1900 |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/?n=wacotormay1953 |website=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Dallas/Fort Worth, TX |publisher=[[National Weather Service]] |access-date=19 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611024841/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/?n=wacotormay1953 |archive-date=11 June 2016 |date=6 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to conducive conditions for severe weather, the [[National Weather Service#History|U.S. Weather Bureau]] (later the National Weather Service) [[List of National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices|Weather Forecast Office]] in [[New Orleans]] issued a [[tornado warning#tornado alert|tornado alert]] covering sections of [[Central Texas|Central]] and [[West Texas]].<ref name="BrazosBluffs">{{cite web|last1=Sawyer |first1=Amanda |url=http://wacohistory.org/items/show/53 |title=Waco Tornado |website=Waco History |publisher=[[Baylor University]] |access-date=25 May 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611020157/http://wacohistory.org/items/show/53 |archivedate=11 June 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="WarningHistory">{{cite journal|last1=Coleman|first1=Timothy A.|last2=Knupp|first2=Kevin R.|last3=Spann|first3=James|last4=Elliott|first4=J. B.|last5=Peters|first5=Brian|author-link3=James Spann|title=The History (and Future) of Tornado Warning Dissemination in the United States|journal=[[Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society]]|date=May 2011|volume=92|issue=5|page=570|doi=10.1175/2010BAMS3062.1|bibcode=2011BAMS...92..567C|doi-access=free}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==Daily statistics==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
|+ Daily statistics
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Date
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Total
! scope="col" colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|[[Fujita scale]] rating
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Deaths
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Injuries
|-
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|&nbsp;F0&nbsp;
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|&nbsp;F1&nbsp;
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|&nbsp;F2&nbsp;
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|&nbsp;F3&nbsp;
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|&nbsp;F4&nbsp;
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|&nbsp;F5&nbsp;
|-
!scope="row"| May&nbsp;9
|align="right"|6
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|3
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|2
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|5
|align="right"|82
|-
!scope="row"| May&nbsp;10
|align="right"|22
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|10
|align="right"|6
|align="right"|2
|align="right"|3
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|12
|align="right"|57
|-
!scope="row"| May&nbsp;11
|align="right"|5
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|2
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|0
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|127
|align="right"|756
|-
!scope="row"| Total
|align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|unknown}}|33
|align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}}|1
|align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}}|15
|align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}}|8
|align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}}|4
|align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}}|4
|align="right" bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat5}}|1
|align="right"|144
|align="right"|895
|}
{{Clear}}

===May 9 event===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 9, 1953{{refn|group=nb|name=Date/Time|All dates are based on the local [[time zone]] where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in [[Coordinated Universal Time]] for consistency.}}
! scope="col"  style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|[[Fujita scale|F#]]
! scope="col"  style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County / Parish
! scope="col"  style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|State
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Start {{abbr|Coord.|Coordinates}}
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|{{abbr|Max.|Maximum}} width
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:48%; text-align:center;"|Summary
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|N of [[Huron, South Dakota|Huron]]
|[[Beadle County, South Dakota|Beadle]]
|[[South Dakota|SD]]
|{{coord|44.38|-98.23|name=Huron (May 9, F1)}}
|0005
|{{convert|1.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|440|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A short-lived, weak, but large tornado caused minor damage to several structures, including a hangar at the [[Huron Regional Airport]], a barn, and outbuildings on a farmstead.<ref name="HuronSD">{{cite journal|title=Severe Storms|journal=Climatological Data National Summary|date=May 1953|volume=4|issue=5|page=130|ref={{harvid|Climatological Data|1953}}}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|WSW of [[Bryant, South Dakota|Bryant]] to SE of [[Vienna, South Dakota|Vienna]]
|[[Clark County, South Dakota|Clark]], [[Hamlin County, South Dakota|Hamlin]]
|[[South Dakota|SD]]
|{{coord|44.57|-97.52|name=Bryant (May 9, F1)}}
|0100
|{{convert|6.8|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|97|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A tornado developed near [[Cherry Lake (South Dakota)|Cherry Lake]] and headed north-northeastward, producing minimal damage to structures on several farms.<ref name="HuronSD" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|S of [[McLean, Nebraska|McLean]]
|[[Wayne County, Nebraska|Wayne]]
|[[Nebraska|NE]]
|{{coord|42.3|-97.47|name=McLean (May 9, F1)}}
|0300
|{{convert|1.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|Only negligible damage occurred as a tornado briefly touched down.<ref name="McLeanNebraska">{{harvnb|Climatological Data|1953|p=131}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | F3
|N of [[Courtland, Kansas|Courtland]] to [[Republic, Kansas|Western Republic]] SW of [[Byron, Nebraska|Byron, NE]]
|[[Republic County, Kansas|Republic]]
|[[Kansas|KS]]
|{{coord|39.8|-97.9|name=Courtland (May 9, F3)}}
|0310
|{{convert|13.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|This tornado may have first developed south of Courtland, causing minor damage to a farm, before redeveloping, possibly as a separate tornado, beyond town. From that point on, it badly damaged 10&nbsp;farms in Kansas, with lesser damage to others in its path. One of the farmhouses was called "destroyed," along with many sheds and barns. According to [[Thomas P. Grazulis]], the tornado may have entered Nebraska, ending just north of the Kansas–Nebraska border, but its path in Nebraska was overlooked as media mostly covered the Belvidere event. Total losses reached $45,000. One&nbsp;injury may have occurred but was officially unconfirmed.<ref name="McLeanNebraska" /><ref name="Grazulis" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | F3
|[[Belvidere, Nebraska|Belvidere]] to [[Milford, Nebraska|Milford]]
|[[Thayer County, Nebraska|Thayer]], [[Fillmore County, Nebraska|Fillmore]], [[Saline County, Nebraska|Saline]], [[Seward County, Nebraska|Seward]]
|[[Nebraska|NE]]
|{{coord|40.25|-97.57|name=Belvidere (May 9, F3)}}
|0345
|{{convert|46.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|880|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|5 deaths – This large, intense, long-tracked, and very damaging tornado struck Belvidere, leveling a significant part of the town. In town, almost 100&nbsp;structures were beyond repair, including 50&nbsp;residences and 40&nbsp;businesses. A church lost its walls and roof, with only its arch left standing, and winds removed the uppermost wing of a school. Two&nbsp;farmhouses outside Belvidere sustained possible F4 damage. Additionally, aircraft and hangars were wrecked. Total losses reached $2.5 million (1953 [[United States dollar|USD]]), and 82&nbsp;injuries were officially reported, though the actual total may have been 80.<ref name="McLeanNebraska" /><ref name="Grazulis">{{cite book|last1=Grazulis|first1=Thomas P.|authorlink1=Thomas P. Grazulis|title=Significant Tornadoes, 1680–1991: a Chronology and Analysis of Events|date=July 1993|publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films|location=[[St. Johnsbury, Vermont|St. Johnsbury]]|isbn=1-879362-03-1|page=969}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|NE of [[Sumner, Nebraska|Sumner]]
|[[Dawson County, Nebraska|Dawson]]
|[[Nebraska|NE]]
|{{coord|40.97|-99.47|name=Sumner (May 9, F2)}}
|0500
|{{convert|1.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A short-lived, but strong tornado wrecked several structures, including a sizeable barn. The tornado was not rated as significant (F2+) by tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis.<ref name="McLeanNebraska" /><ref name="Grazulis" />
|}

===May 10 event===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, May 10, 1953{{refn|group=nb|name=Date/Time|All dates are based on the local [[time zone]] where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in [[Coordinated Universal Time]] for consistency.}}
! scope="col"  style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|[[Fujita scale|F#]]
! scope="col"  style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County / Parish
! scope="col"  style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|State
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Start {{abbr|Coord.|Coordinates}}
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|{{abbr|Max.|Maximum}} width
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:48%; text-align:center;"|Summary
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|SE of [[Vinson, Oklahoma|Vinson]]
|[[Harmon County, Oklahoma|Harmon]]
|[[Oklahoma|OK]]
|{{coord|34.88|-99.85|name=Vinson (May 10, F1)}}
|0700
|{{convert|3.6|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|440|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A weak tornado tracked through areas east of Vinson, damaging small structures, including barns, sheds, and some garages.<ref name="McLeanNebraska" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|NW of [[Tamora, Nebraska|Tamora]]
|[[Seward County, Nebraska|Seward]]
|[[Nebraska|NE]]
|{{coord|40.93|-97.28|name=Tamora (May 10, F1)}}
|0710
|{{convert|0.1|mi|m|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|NNE of [[McQueen, Oklahoma|McQueen]]
|[[Greer County, Oklahoma|Greer]]
|[[Oklahoma|OK]]
|{{coord|34.75|-99.65|name=McQueen (May 10, F1)}}
|0715
|{{convert|0.1|mi|m|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|17|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A tornado briefly touched down, leveling a chicken coop and a nearby barn.<ref name="DukeOklahoma">{{harvnb|Climatological Data|1953|p=132}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|SW of [[Mangum, Oklahoma|Mangum]]
|[[Greer County, Oklahoma|Greer]]
|[[Oklahoma|OK]]
|{{coord|34.85|-99.53|name=Mangum (May 10, F1)}}
|0715
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|17|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|Brief tornado with the appearance of a [[dust devil]] caused a frail shed to collapse and caused minor structural damage nearby.<ref name="DukeOklahoma" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|N of [[Thomas, Oklahoma|Thomas]]
|[[Custer County, Oklahoma|Custer]]
|[[Oklahoma|OK]]
|{{coord|35.78|-98.75|name=Thomas (May 10, F1)}}
|0720
|{{convert|0.1|mi|m|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|One&nbsp;barn was blown down.<ref name="DukeOklahoma" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|E of [[Mount Hope, Kansas|Mt. Hope]] to [[Wichita, Kansas|Southwestern Wichita]] to [[Udall, Kansas|Udall]]
|[[Sumner County, Kansas|Sumner]], [[Ness County, Kansas|Ness]]
|[[Kansas|KS]]
|{{coord|37.87|-97.6|name=Mount Hope (May 10, F1)}}
|0800
|{{convert|42.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|Long-tracked tornado hit Southwestern Wichita with no casualties reported.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|NNE of [[Renfrow, Oklahoma|Renfrow, OK]] to [[Udall, Kansas|Udall, KS]]
|[[Grant County, Oklahoma|Grant (OK)]], [[Sumner County, Kansas|Sumner (KS)]], [[Ness County, Kansas|Ness (KS)]]
|[[Oklahoma|OK]], [[Kansas|KS]]
|{{coord|36.98|-97.62|name=Renfrow (May 10, F2)}}
|0900
|{{convert|38.8|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|An intermittent tornado produced a skipping swath of damage from south of [[Caldwell, Kansas]] to Udall. It struck 13&nbsp;farmsteads, but produced only low-end F2 damage to some of them. The event may have been a [[tornado family|family]] of two&nbsp;or more tornadoes, as eyewitnesses reported multiple funnels on the ground. Additionally, a related but unconfirmed tornado may have caused damage to a farm in [[Butler County, Kansas]]. Total losses reached $30,000 (1953 USD), and one&nbsp;person may have been injured, but was not officially counted.<ref name="Grazulis2">{{harvnb|Grazulis|1993|p=970}}</ref><ref name="DukeOklahoma" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | F3
|[[Elmdale, Kansas|Elmdale]] to [[Eskridge, Kansas|Northwestern Eskridge]] S of [[Keene, Kansas|Keene]]
|[[Chase County, Kansas|Chase]], [[Morris County, Kansas|Morris]], [[Lyon County, Kansas|Lyon]], [[Wabaunsee County, Kansas|Wabaunsee]]
|[[Kansas|KS]]
|{{coord|38.35|-96.67|name=Elmdale (May 10, F3)}}
|1000
|{{convert|52.2|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|This intense tornado first caused minor damage to roofing material near [[Cottonwood Falls, Kansas|Cottonwood Falls]]. Later, the tornado further damaged farm equipment, trees, and numerous structures. After briefly lifting or dissipating, the tornado or tornado family damaged or destroyed 14&nbsp;cabins near [[Lake Kahola]]. In the [[Bushong, Kansas|Bushong]] area, the tornado affected three&nbsp;farms before weakening again. The last damage, apparently minimal, occurred near [[Harveyville, Kansas|Harveyville]]. The tornado was not rated as significant (F2+) by Grazulis.<ref name="DukeOklahoma" /><ref name="Grazulis2" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|N of [[Cambridge, Kansas|Cambridge]]
|[[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley]], [[Elk County, Kansas|Elk]]
|[[Kansas|KS]]
|{{coord|37.33|-96.67|name=Cambridge (May 10, F1)}}
|1030
|{{convert|6.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|440|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A weak, but large tornado downed fences and caused minimal damage to a few farms in its path. A rural barn was among damaged structures.<ref name="HumboldtNebraska" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|[[Bassett, Kansas|Eastern Bassett]]
|[[Allen County, Kansas|Allen]]
|[[Kansas|KS]]
|{{coord|37.9|-95.4|name=Bassett (May 10, F1)}}
|1130
|{{convert|0.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|200|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A brief tornado struck the eastern side of Bassett, damaging power lines, trees, and roofs in town. Winds downed a couple of sheds and a garage as well.<ref name="HumboldtNebraska" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|NE of [[Humboldt, Nebraska|Humboldt]]
|[[Richardson County, Nebraska|Richardson]]
|[[Nebraska|NE]]
|{{coord|40.18|-95.93|name=Humboldt (May 10, F1)}}
|1200
|{{convert|9.7|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|Many structures lost their roofs.<ref name="HumboldtNebraska">{{harvnb|Climatological Data|1953|p=133}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|[[Russellville, Arkansas|Russellville]]
|[[Pope County, Arkansas|Pope]]
|[[Arkansas|AR]]
|{{coord|35.27|-93.17|name=Russellville (May 10, F2)}}
|1810
|{{convert|2.3|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|200|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|Eyewitnesses observed twin tornadoes, moving parallel to each other, that combined into one narrow funnel and struck Russellville. Several structures sustained modest damage, and a movable [[roller rink]] was wrecked. The tornado was not rated as significant (F2+) by Grazulis.<ref name="HumboldtNebraska" /><ref name="Grazulis2" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0
|S of [[Nebraska City, Nebraska|Nebraska City]]
|[[Otoe County, Nebraska|Otoe]]
|[[Nebraska|NE]]
|{{coord|40.63|-95.87|name=Nebraska City (May 10, F0)}}
|1930
|{{convert|0.1|mi|m|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|33|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|Brief tornado touched down north-northeast of [[Paul, Nebraska|Paul]].
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|E of [[Dent, Missouri|Dent]]
|[[Texas County, Missouri|Texas]]
|[[Missouri|MO]]
|{{coord|37.55|-91.92|name=Dent (May 10, F1)}}
|2000
|{{convert|0.2|mi|m|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A brief tornado struck just southeast of [[Kinderpost, Missouri|Kinderpost]], near [[Licking, Missouri|Licking]], leveling a very large barn. While officially rated F1, the tornado was assigned an F2 rating by Grazulis.<ref name="Grazulis2" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | F4
|NW of [[Millerton, Iowa|Millerton]] to SSW of [[Russell, Iowa|Russell]]
|[[Wayne County, Iowa|Wayne]], [[Lucas County, Iowa|Lucas]]
|[[Iowa|IA]]
|{{coord|40.87|-93.33|name=Millerton (May 10, F4)}}
|2115
|{{convert|6.4|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A large and violent tornado, the first of the outbreak sequence, produced low-end F4 damage to a farmhouse, dispersing the debris a short distance from the foundation.<ref name="Grazulis2" /><ref name="HumboldtNebraska" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|NW of [[Clontarf, Minnesota|Clontarf]] to [[Cyrus, Minnesota|Cyrus]]
|[[Pope County, Minnesota|Pope]]
|[[Minnesota|MN]]
|{{coord|45.42|-95.75|name=Clontark (May 10, F2)}}
|2155
|{{convert|17|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|440|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A strong tornado, producing sporadic damage, struck 35&nbsp;farms in its path, completely destroying a couple of them. Barns and outbuildings were leveled, and trees, power lines, and utility poles were downed.<ref name="HumboldtNebraska" /><ref name="Grazulis2" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | F4
|ESE of [[Garner, Iowa|Garner]] to SSW of [[Silver Lake Township, Worth County, Iowa|Silver Lake]]
|[[Hancock County, Iowa|Hancock]], [[Cerro Gordo County, Iowa|Cerro Gordo]], [[Worth County, Iowa|Worth]]
|[[Iowa|IA]]
|{{coord|43.07|-93.52|name=Garner (May 10, F4)}}
|2210
|{{convert|26.6|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A long-lived, large and violent tornado tracked through several farms, damaging or destroying about 30&nbsp;homes. Roughly 200&nbsp;other structures on farms were likewise impacted. One farm lost all its buildings, with only the main house left standing. Of the three&nbsp;injuries, two&nbsp;were critical, both to a couple near [[Ventura, Iowa|Ventura]].<ref name="Grazulis2" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|ESE of [[Haven, Iowa|Haven]]
|[[Tama County, Iowa|Tama]]
|[[Iowa|IA]]
|{{coord|41.88|-92.45|name=Haven (May 10, F2)}}
|2230
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|33|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|This brief but strong tornado leveled an entire farm, including outbuildings and barns on the property. The tornado or a related but separate event may have caused additional damage near [[Independence, Iowa|Independence]], leading to a total path length of {{convert|10|miles|4=0}} or even longer.<ref name="ChelseaIowa">{{harvnb|Climatological Data|1953|p=134}}</ref><ref name="Grazulis2" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|[[Hollandale, Minnesota|Hollandale]] to SW of [[Blooming Prairie, Minnesota|Blooming Prairie]]
|[[Freeborn County, Minnesota|Freeborn]]
|[[Minnesota|MN]]
|{{coord|43.75|-93.2|name=Hollandale (May 10, F2)}}
|2300
|{{convert|6.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|67|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|6 deaths – This tornado was of moderate intensity, narrow, and relatively short-tracked, yet was one of the most devastating of the tornado outbreak sequence. Shortly after formation, it struck a big shack, which was hurled from its foundation. Six&nbsp;occupants—two&nbsp;parents, their four&nbsp;children, and two&nbsp;relatives—died in the destruction of the shack, which housed migrant workers. Afterward, the tornado leveled another small residence and mildly damaged 10&nbsp;nearby structures. In all, the tornado leveled three&nbsp;homes, four&nbsp;barns, and numerous outbuildings on six&nbsp;farms, mainly near Hollandale and [[Maple Island, Freeborn County, Minnesota|Maple Island]]. Total losses reached $35,000 (1953 USD), and three&nbsp;people were injured.<ref name="ChelseaIowa" /><ref name="Grazulis2" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | F4
|SW of [[Chester, Iowa|Chester, IA]], to [[St. Charles, Minnesota|St. Charles, MN]] ESE of [[Catawba, Wisconsin|Catawba, WI]]
|[[Howard County, Iowa|Howard (IA)]], [[Fillmore County, Minnesota|Fillmore (MN)]], [[Olmsted County, Minnesota|Olmsted (MN)]], [[Winona County, Minnesota|Winona (MN)]], [[Buffalo County, Wisconsin|Buffalo (WI)]], [[Trempealeau County, Wisconsin|Trempealeau (WI)]], [[Eau Claire County, Wisconsin|Eau Claire (WI)]], [[Chippewa County, Wisconsin|Chippewa (WI)]], [[Taylor County, Wisconsin|Taylor (WI)]], [[Price County, Wisconsin|Price (WI)]]
|[[Iowa|IA]], [[Minnesota|MN]], [[Wisconsin|WI]]
|{{coord|43.45|-92.4|name=Chester (May 10, F4)}}
|2330
|{{convert|162|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|100|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|2 deaths – [[1953 Waco tornado outbreak#Chester, Iowa/Wykoff–St. Charles, Minnesota/Cochrane–Catawba, Wisconsin|See section on this tornado]] – 24&nbsp;people were injured, though Grazulis listed an unofficial total of 17.<ref name="Grazulis2" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | F3
|ESE of [[Farmersburg, Iowa|Farmersburg]] to NE of [[Beulah, Iowa|Beulah]]
|[[Clayton County, Iowa|Clayton]]
|[[Iowa|IA]]
|{{coord|42.95|-91.33|name=Farmersburg (May 10, F3)}}
|0000
|{{convert|6.6|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|400|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|An intense tornado severely affected eight&nbsp;farms in its path, demolishing barns and [[silo]]s. Livestock suffered significant losses, with 60&nbsp;or more head of cattle dead. A farmer reportedly sustained non-critical injuries after being tossed for {{convert|700|ft|m|sigfig=3|lk=on}}, but was not documented in the official injury total. While officially rated F3, the tornado was assigned an F2 rating by Grazulis.<ref name="Grazulis2" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|[[River Falls, Wisconsin|River Falls]] to [[Amery, Wisconsin|Amery]] E of [[Gordon, Douglas County, Wisconsin|Gordon]]
|[[Pierce County, Wisconsin|Pierce]], [[St. Croix County, Wisconsin|St. Croix]], [[Polk County, Wisconsin|Polk]], [[Burnett County, Wisconsin|Burnett]], [[Washburn County, Wisconsin|Washburn]], [[Douglas County, Wisconsin|Douglas]]
|[[Wisconsin|WI]]
|{{coord|44.83|-92.67|name=River Falls (May 10, F2)}}
|0030
|{{convert|105.7|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|100|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|4 deaths – [[1953 Waco tornado outbreak#River Falls–Amery–Minong, Wisconsin|See section on this tornado]] – 27&nbsp;people were injured.
|}

===May 11 event===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, May 11, 1953{{refn|group=nb|name=Date/Time|All dates are based on the local [[time zone]] where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in [[Coordinated Universal Time]] for consistency.}}
! scope="col"  style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|[[Fujita scale|F#]]
! scope="col"  style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County / Parish
! scope="col"  style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|State
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Start {{abbr|Coord.|Coordinates}}
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|{{abbr|Max.|Maximum}} width
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:48%; text-align:center;"|Summary
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | F4
|SW of [[Grape Creek, Texas|Grape Creek]] to NNE [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]]
|[[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green]]
|[[Texas|TX]]
|{{coord|31.53|-100.58|name=Grape Creek (May 11, F4)}}
|2015
|{{convert|9.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|880|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|13&nbsp;deaths – This was the first of two&nbsp;extremely intense tornadoes to strike Texas on May&nbsp;11 and was likely spawned by an outflow boundary. After forming west-northwest of San Angelo, the tornado headed east-southeast and struck the north side of the city. There, the tornado caused catastrophic damage to a third of the city. In all, 288&nbsp;homes were destroyed and about 200&nbsp;sustained at least some damage. Many of the homes were swept away in a 15-square-block section of the city, and peak damage approached F5 intensity. Additionally, 19&nbsp;businesses were hit, including the Rocket [[drive-in theater|Drive-In]] theater, and 172&nbsp;vehicles were wrecked. The storm struck a school about 15&nbsp;minutes before students were scheduled for dismissal. The building, which had two&nbsp;stories, lost its roof and many walls, but students sheltered safely in interior hallways, and only 12&nbsp;were injured, none critically, though the school sustained $100,000 losses (1953 USD). Total contemporary damages reached $3.4 million, and 159&nbsp;injuries occurred.<ref name="WacoWeather" /><ref name="Grazulis2" /><ref name="SanAngeloNWS">{{cite web|title=The Lakeview Tornado: May 11, 1953 |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/sjt/?n=lakeview_tornado |website=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office San Angelo, TX |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=19 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611035218/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/sjt/?n=lakeview_tornado |archive-date=11 June 2016 |date=9 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|W of [[McAlester, Oklahoma|McAlester]]
|[[Pittsburg County, Oklahoma|Pittsburg]]
|[[Oklahoma|OK]]
|{{coord|34.93|-95.8|name=McAlester (May 11, F1)}}
|2100
|{{convert|0.1|mi|m|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A brief tornado passed near Lake Talawanda, downing trees but causing no structural damage.<ref name="Wisconsin" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat5}} | F5
|NNW of [[Lorena, Texas|Lorena]] to [[Waco, Texas|Waco]] to W of [[Axtell, Texas|Axtell]]
|[[McLennan County, Texas|McLennan]]
|[[Texas|TX]]
|{{coord|31.55|-97.15|name=Waco (May 11, 1953)}}
|2210
|{{convert|20.9|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|583|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|114&nbsp;deaths – [[1953 Waco tornado outbreak#Waco, Texas|See section on this tornado]] – Tied with the 1902 Goliad tornado as the deadliest on record in Texas. 597&nbsp;injuries were reported.<ref name="DeadliestTornadoes">{{cite web|last1=Grazulis |first1=Thomas P. |last2=Grazulis |first2=Doris |title=The Most "Important" US Tornadoes by State |url=http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm |website=The Tornado Project Online |publisher=The Tornado Project |access-date=18 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035740/http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |date=26 April 2000 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|NE of [[Wynnewood, Oklahoma|Wynnewood]]
|[[Garvin County, Oklahoma|Garvin]]
|[[Oklahoma|OK]]
|{{coord|34.67|-97.15|name=Wynnewood (May 11, F1)}}
|2230
|{{convert|2|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|33|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|Very little damage occurred as a tornado mostly affected uninhabited areas.<ref name="Wisconsin" />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|[[Jewett, Texas|Jewett]] to W of [[Corinth, Leon County, Texas|Corinth]]
|[[Leon County, Texas|Leon]]
|[[Texas|TX]]
|{{coord|31.32|-96.22|name=Jewett (May 11, F2)}}
|0030
|{{convert|9.5|mi|km|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|267|yd|m|sortable=on}}
|A possible tornado family produced spotty damage as it tracked to the northeast. Near Jewett, a brief touchdown resulted in damage to 19&nbsp;structures, including 12&nbsp;homes, one&nbsp;of which was beyond repair. Other possible touchdowns, though officially unconfirmed, occurred near [[Oakwood, Texas|Oakwood]], [[Tucker, Texas|Tucker]], and [[Palestine, Texas|Palestine]]. Yet another possible tornado struck [[Neches, Texas|Neches]], tearing the roof from a home. Three&nbsp;injuries may have occurred along the path. Total damage, including agricultural, in 1953 dollars was $48,000, but may have reached $100,000.<ref name="JewettTexas">{{harvnb|Grazulis|1993|p=972}}</ref><ref name="Wisconsin" />
|}
{{Clear}}

===Chester, Iowa/Wykoff–St. Charles, Minnesota/Cochrane–Catawba, Wisconsin===
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Chester, Iowa/Wykoff-St. Charles/River Falls–Amery–Minong, Wisconsin
| image = 
| caption = 
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Tornado
| winds = 
| fujita-scale = F4
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| casualties = 2 fatalities, 24 injuries
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
This destructive, large and violent, and extremely long-tracked tornado family likely contained at least five&nbsp;distinct tornadoes, spawned by one [[supercell]]. The first tornado in the series, though officially unconfirmed, may have formed near [[Greene, Iowa|Greene]] in [[Butler County, Iowa]], causing significant destruction on a farmstead.<ref name="ChelseaIowa" /> Continuous damage resumed near [[Chester, Iowa|Chester]], severely affecting 11&nbsp;farms south of the Minnesota–Iowa border,<ref name="ChelseaIowa" /><ref name="Grazulis2" /> with two&nbsp;injuries in Iowa. The storm then crossed into southern Minnesota, killing one&nbsp;person in a destroyed barn near [[Wykoff, Minnesota|Wykoff]]. Near [[Chatfield, Minnesota|Chatfield]], the tornado carried a schoolhouse from its foundation, causing its disintegration.<ref name="ChelseaIowa" /> The tornado then hit a few cars halfway between [[Dover, Minnesota|Dover]] and [[St. Charles, Minnesota|St. Charles]],<ref name="ChelseaIowa" /> one of which was carried {{convert|100|ft|m|sigfig=2}}, injuring four&nbsp;occupants and killing the fifth, a child.<ref name="Grazulis2" />

In Minnesota, four&nbsp;other people sustained injuries while inside a barn, and three&nbsp;more injuries were in another automobile;<ref name="Grazulis2" /> in all, 17&nbsp;injuries were confirmed in the state. Across Fillmore, Olmsted, and Winona counties in Minnesota, over 24&nbsp;farms received widespread, often severe damage, including the destruction of most buildings in some cases. The tornado downed many power lines and utility poles as well, and there was widespread loss of livestock.<ref name="ChelseaIowa" /> Entering [[Whitewater State Park]], the tornado splintered "hundreds" of trees,<ref name="Grazulis2" /> and buildings in the park were badly damaged.<ref name="ChelseaIowa" /> After destroying a steel bridge near [[Crystal Spring, Minnesota|Crystal Spring]], the tornado apparently dissipated into [[downburst#Straight-line winds|straight-line winds]],<ref name="ChelseaIowa" /> though Grazulis suggested that tornado damage may have continued to [[Cochrane, Wisconsin]].<ref name="Grazulis2" />

Reports indicated that the storm crossed the [[Mississippi River]] into Wisconsin,<ref name="Wisconsin">{{harvnb|Climatological Data|1953|p=135}}</ref> where tornado activity definitely resumed northeast of Cochrane and ended near [[Brownville, Wisconsin|Brownville]]. As in Minnesota,<ref name="ChelseaIowa" /> damage was discontinuous, implying that two&nbsp;or more tornadoes were involved.<ref name="Grazulis2" /> Between Cochrane and Brownsvulle, the tornado hit roughly 100&nbsp;farms, at least 20&nbsp;of which lost buildings, and produced high-end F3 damage to some homes. "Hundreds" of dead livestock littered the landscape.<ref name="Grazulis2" /> Beyond Brownsville, the tornado(es) likely weakened and reformed into two, perhaps three, others, starting with spotty damage near [[Gilman, Taylor County, Wisconsin|Gilman]]. A farmhouse was swept from its foundation, and fragments of the home were lofted for {{Convert|7|mi|spell=in}}. The tornado was reportedly exceptionally large and violent while southeast of [[Catawba, Wisconsin|Catawba]],<ref name="Grazulis2" /> shortly before dissipation. Five&nbsp;injuries occurred in Wisconsin, though the actual total may have been 12.<ref name="Grazulis2" />

Maximum damage intensity was F3 in Iowa and Minnesota and F4 in Wisconsin. The swath of damage between St. Charles and Whitewater State Park, Minnesota, across Olmsted and Winona counties, may have been from a separate thunderstorm, as Grazulis does not count it as part of the same tornado family.<ref name="Grazulis2" />
{{Clear}}

===River Falls–Amery–Minong, Wisconsin===
{{Infobox weather event
| name = River Falls–Avery–Minong, Wisconsin
| image = 
| caption = 
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Tornado
| winds = 
| fujita-scale = F2
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| casualties = 4 fatalities, 27 injuries
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
This was the second of two long-tracked tornado families in Wisconsin on May&nbsp;10. It first formed on the outskirts of River Falls and tracked to the north-northeast. Here, the tornado demolished a [[summer house]], which collapsed onto occupants, injuring four&nbsp;who had been picnicking but had sought safety during the storm. Initially, multiple tornadoes were likely present, as damage was discontinuous until the tornado(es) passed east of [[New Richmond, Wisconsin|New Richmond]]. At that point, a continuous swath of significant damage began and continued to near [[Amery, Wisconsin|Amery]]. The first fatality, an elderly female, occurred in St. Croix County when her home was leveled, injuring three&nbsp;other people inside. Farther on, in Polk County, two&nbsp;additional deaths took place: one from flying debris, another in a destroyed barn. In Burnett County, the tornado felled a tree, which hit a [[dairy]] building, causing a final death. Beyond Amery, scattered, poorly documented destruction occurred for the remainder of the path. A separate tornado likely formed near [[Minong, Wisconsin|Minong]] and dissipated near Gordon, destroying cabins and other small residences. Six&nbsp;injuries occurred across Washburn and Douglas counties, one of which was severe. There were 11&nbsp;injuries near Amery<ref name="Grazulis2" /> and 27&nbsp;along the entire path. Reports from local staff of the [[American Red Cross]] indicated that the tornado family destroyed or damaged 113&nbsp;homes and affected 215&nbsp;other structures. Collapsing barns killed livestock inside, though the precise number was undetermined. Numerous trees were downed along the path, and utilities were disrupted. The tornado(es) mostly impacted sparsely populated areas.<ref name="Wisconsin" /> While officially rated F2, the tornado was assigned an F4 rating by Grazulis, based on damage to homes near Amery.<ref name="Grazulis2" />
{{Clear}}

===Waco, Texas===
{{Main|1953 Waco tornado}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Waco, Texas
| image = Track map waco sm.jpg
| caption = Path of the Waco tornado
| duration = 
| formed = May&nbsp;11, 1953, 4:10 p.m. CST (22:10 UTC)
| dissipated = 
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Tornado
| winds = >{{convert|261|mph|kph|abbr=on}}
| fujita-scale = F5
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| casualties = 711
| deaths = 114
| injuries = 597
| damages = $41 million (1953 [[United States dollar|USD]]){{refn|group=nb|name=Losses|All losses are in 1953 USD unless otherwise noted.}}<br>${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|52000000|1953|r=-4}}}} ({{inflation/year|US}} USD)
| areas = [[Lorena, Texas|Lorena]], [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], [[Bellmead, Texas|Bellmead]] and [[Axtell, Texas]]
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
According to an old legend—attributed without corroboration to the [[Waco tribe|Huaco]], a local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribe—tornadoes, or at least severe ones, could not touch down in Waco, a city located in a [[Depression (geology)|geological depression]]. Supposedly due to the bluffs around the [[Brazos River]], tornadoes and other severe weather were relatively rare and mild in the city.<ref name="BrazosBluffs" /><ref name="BrazosBluffs2">{{cite magazine |date=May 2013 |title=Looking Back at the Waco Tornado of 1953 and the Lessons Learned... |url=http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/temo/archives/2013/Vol60No5/articles/article2.htm |url-status=dead |magazine=Texas Emergency Management Online |publisher=[[Texas Department of Public Safety#Emergency Management Division|Texas Department of Public Safety]] |volume=60 |issue=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521140327/http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/temo/archives/2013/Vol60No5/articles/article2.htm |archive-date=21 May 2016 |access-date=25 May 2016 }}</ref> The 1953 storm, however, [[tornado myths#Near rivers, valleys, mountains, or other terrain features|disproved the myth]] when it tracked directly through downtown Waco as an F5 tornado.

The tornado first formed around 4:10&nbsp;p.m. [[Central Standard Time|CST]] (22:10&nbsp;UTC) about {{Convert|3|mi|4=0|spell=in}} north-northwest of the Lorena community. It quickly began damaging structures, destroying a home near Lorena as it tracked north-northeastward.<ref name="Grazulis2" /> The tornado produced F5 damage outside of the city of Waco.

As it neared Waco, operators of [[weather radar]] at [[Texas A&M University]] detected a [[hook echo]] in association with the parent [[supercell]]. This was one of the first times that radar linked [[tornadogenesis]] with hook-echo signatures.<ref name="WarningHistory" /> However, because heavy rain obscured the tornado, it was largely invisible to people in its path. The [[High precipitation supercell|high-precipitation]] nature of the parent storm may have heightened the death toll in Waco by delaying appropriate action.<ref name="WacoWeather" /> The storm also generated baseball-sized [[hail]] in its path.<ref name="BrazosBluffs" /> The tornado passed close to [[Hewitt, Texas|Hewitt]] before entering downtown Waco.<ref name="Grazulis2" />

As the thunderstorm began pounding the city with rain, many people on the streets crowded into local buildings for shelter, yet few of the buildings in downtown Waco were constructed sturdily enough to withstand the winds, so they collapsed almost immediately. Thirty people died in the R. T. Dennis building alone.<ref name="BrazosBluffs" /> Newer buildings with steel reinforcement, including the 22-story Amicable office building (now called the [[ALICO Building]]), weathered the storm. The [[Dr Pepper]] bottling plant, today the Dr Pepper Museum, also remained standing but sustained damage.<ref name="BrazosBluffs" /> Bricks from the collapsed structures piled up in the street to a depth of {{convert|5|ft|m|abbr=out|spell=in}}. Some survivors were trapped under rubble for 14&nbsp;or more hours; numerous bodies remained buried beneath piles of rubble and for many days were unaccounted for.<ref name="Bricks">{{harvnb|Grazulis|1993|p=971}}</ref> After devastating downtown Waco, the tornado continued to the north-northeast and dissipated about {{Convert|5|mi|4=0|spell=in}} west of Axtell.<ref name="WacoWeather" /> While the tornado destroyed homes outside the city, media largely focused on destruction in downtown Waco.<ref name="Grazulis2" />

In all, 114&nbsp;deaths occurred in the Waco area, with 597&nbsp;injured and over $41&nbsp;million (1953 [[United States dollar|USD]]) in property damage.<ref name="Grazulis2" /> The tornado destroyed 196&nbsp;businesses and factories.<ref name="ALICObuilding">{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=John|title=The ALICO Building: A Long, Tall Texan|work=[[Waco Tribune-Herald]]|date=January 10, 1985}}</ref> 150&nbsp;homes were wrecked.<ref name="Grazulis2" /> Over 2,000&nbsp;cars sustained at least some damage.<ref name="Grazulis2" />
{{Clear}}

==Aftermath and records==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;float:right;"
|+'''Outbreak death toll'''{{#tag:ref|Data derived from the [[National Centers for Environmental Information|NCEI]] [[Storm Data#Background|Storm Events Database]].<ref name="StormEventsWaco">{{cite web|title=Events between 05/09/1953 and 05/11/1953|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=05&beginDate_dd=09&beginDate_yyyy=1953&endDate_mm=05&endDate_dd=11&endDate_yyyy=1953&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL|website=Storm Events Database|publisher=[[National Centers for Environmental Information|NCEI]], [[Storm Prediction Center]]|access-date=25 May 2016}}</ref>|group="nb"|name="County death tolls"}}
|-
!'''State'''
!'''Total'''
!'''County'''
!'''County<br />total'''
|-
| rowspan="3" style="background:#e6e9ff;"|[[Minnesota]]
| rowspan="3" style="background:#e6e9ff;"|'''8'''
|[[Fillmore County, Minnesota|Fillmore]]
|1
|-
|[[Freeborn County, Minnesota|Freeborn]]
|6
|-
|[[Olmsted County, Minnesota|Olmsted]]
|1
|-
| style="background:#e6e9ff;"|[[Nebraska]]
| style="background:#e6e9ff;"|'''5'''
|[[Thayer County, Nebraska|Thayer]]
|5
|-
| rowspan="2" style="background:#e6e9ff;"|[[Texas]]
| rowspan="2" style="background:#e6e9ff;"|'''127'''
|[[McLennan County, Texas|McLennan]]
|114
|-
|[[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green]]
|13
|-
| rowspan="3" style="background:#e6e9ff;"|[[Wisconsin]]
| rowspan="3" style="background:#e6e9ff;"|'''4'''
|[[Burnett County, Wisconsin|Burnett]]
|1
|-
|[[Polk County, Wisconsin|Polk]]
|2
|-
|[[St. Croix County, Wisconsin|St. Croix]]
|1
|-
| style="background:#e6e9ff;"|Totals
| style="background:#e6e9ff;"|'''144'''
|colspan=2|
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| <small>All deaths were tornado-related</small>
|}
Following the Waco tornado, attempts to organize disaster relief were stymied by poor organization. Local residents had not expected the tornado and had assumed that the area's geography safeguarded Waco from tornadoes.<ref name="BrazosBluffs2" /> Initially, the tornado also severed communications between downtown Waco and outlying areas, so assistance was slow to arrive. The chaotic relief efforts eventually spurred greater coordination between civilians and local governments, leading to the development of [[civil defense]].<ref name="BrazosBluffs2" /> Notably, the Waco event was one of the first instances that proved the effectiveness of radar in tracking tornadogenesis; coincidentally, another such case occurred later in the same year. A retrospective study of the [[1953 Worcester tornado|tornado]] that struck [[Worcester, Massachusetts]], on June&nbsp;9 revealed that, as at Waco, local radar detected the hook echo that signified the tornado.<ref name="WarningHistory" /> Researchers concluded that improved communications, coupled with the formation of radar coverage, could lead to accurate tornado warnings, thereby reducing loss of life in future storms. This task proved especially important following the devastating loss of life at Waco and Worcester, along with the [[1953 Flint–Beecher tornado|June&nbsp;8 catastrophe]] at [[Flint, Michigan]], in the same year.<ref name="SPCHistory">{{cite web|last1=Corfidi |first1=Stephen |title=A Brief History of the Storm Prediction Center |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/history/early.html |website=NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center |publisher=Storm Prediction Center |access-date=27 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624003328/http://www.spc.noaa.gov/history/early.html |archive-date=24 June 2016 |date=13 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The state of Texas supported the implementation of 20&nbsp;radar facilities, each with a {{Convert|200|mi|4=-wide|adj=mid}} radius, that proved successful in reducing death tolls in later tornadoes.<ref name="WarningRadar">{{harvnb|Grazulis|2001|p=90}}</ref> The system was known as the Texas Radar Tornado Warning Network and also included communications between weather officials, [[storm spotting|storm spotters]], and local officials.<ref name="WarningHistory" /> Thus the Waco tornado helped catalyze development of a nationwide severe weather warning system.

The Waco tornado remains the eleventh deadliest tornado on record in the United States and is tied with the 1902 Goliad tornado as the deadliest in Texas history.<ref name="25DeadliestUSTornadoes">{{cite web|last1=Edwards |first1=Roger|title=The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/killers.html|website=The Online Tornado FAQ|publisher=[[Storm Prediction Center]]|access-date=27 May 2016|date=29 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="DeadliestTornadoes" />

{{Clear}}

==See also==
* [[List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes]]
* [[List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks]]
* [[List of tornadoes striking downtown areas]]
* [[1922 Austin twin tornadoes]]
* [[1970 Lubbock tornado]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ydt01 Texas History Online]
* [https://www.weather.gov/fwd/wacotormay1953 70th Anniversary of the Waco Tornado - NWS Fort Worth]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
  | before = [[1927 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado|St. Louis, MO–East St. Louis, IL]] (1927)
  | title  = Costliest U.S. tornadoes on Record
  | years  = May 11, 1953
  | after  = [[1953 Worcester tornado|Worcester, MA]] (1953)
}}
{{s-end}}{{F5 and EF5 tornadoes}}{{Wisconsin tornado events}}
{{25 deadliest US tornadoes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1953-05-11 Tornado Outbreak, Waco}}
[[Category:F5, EF5 and IF5 tornadoes]]
[[Category:Tornadoes of 1953|05-11 Waco]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Iowa]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Kansas]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Texas]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:History of Waco, Texas]]
[[Category:1953 natural disasters in the United States|05-11 Tornado]]
[[Category:May 1953 in the United States|11, Tornado]]