Tornado outbreak of June 5–6, 1916

On June 5–6, 1916, a deadly severe-weather episode produced at least 35 tornadoes across the Southern United States on June 5–6, 1916.[nb 2][nb 3] The outbreak killed at least 112 people, 76 of them in the U.S. state of Arkansas alone. Unconfirmed reports suggested higher totals in rural areas.[9] The outbreak was the deadliest June tornado outbreak in the state and one of the largest outbreaks in Arkansas history, with at least 24 significant tornadoes in-state. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak and the deadliest to strike Arkansas on June 5 was a powerful F4 tornado that hit Heber Springs, killing 25 people. Other deadly tornadoes struck much of the state and in nearby parts of Missouri and Illinois. Overnight on June 5–6, tornadoes spread east and south into Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi, with an F3 tornado hitting the northern suburbs of Jackson, Mississippi, killing 13 people there. It was one of the largest late-spring tornado outbreaks ever recorded in the Southern US.

Tornado outbreak of June 5–6, 1916
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationJune 5–6, 1916
Tornadoes
confirmed		≥35 confirmed
Max. rating1F4 tornado
DamageUnknown[nb 1]
Areas affectedSouthern United States
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

Confirmed tornadoes
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
 ?  ? 1 20 13 1 0 35

June 5 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, June 5, 1916[nb 4][nb 5]
F# Location County / Parish State Time (UTC) Path length Max. width Summary
F2 NNE of Ozark Franklin AR 19:30–? Un­known 400 yards (370 m) 1 death — Tornado destroyed three houses. Five people were injured.[11]
F2 Hot Springs Garland AR 20:15–? 8 miles (13 km) 200 yards (180 m) 4 deaths — Tornado tracked parabolically through the southern side of Hot Springs, roughly paralleling an F4 tornado that killed 10 people in the city on November 25, 1915. Tornado damaged 200 houses, one of which was left in front of a train. Twenty people were injured.[11][12]
F2 E of Greenland Washington AR 20:30–? 4 miles (6.4 km) 100 yards (91 m) 1 death — Tornado touched down in a small community, damaging or destroying 12 houses. Storm also struck three plantations and destroyed several tenant houses. Twelve people were injured.[11]
F3 N of Morrilton to Guy Conway, Faulkner AR 20:45–? 30 miles (48 km) 400 yards (370 m) 1 death — Tornado destroyed nine houses in the "Germantown" community then skipped through Conway County before damaging or destroying 20 buildings in Guy. Twenty people were injured.[11]
F2 Brewer Cleburne AR 21:00–? Un­known Un­known Tornado damaged or destroyed all of the 47 structures in Brewer. Four people were injured.[11]
F4 Barney to Heber Springs to Banner Faulkner, Cleburne AR 22:00–? 35 miles (56 km) 400 yards (370 m) 25 deaths — Devastating tornado family first killed a person north of Enola then two more people near Beckette Mountain, west of Rose Bud. Tornado then leveled 55 houses in northwestern Heber Springs, with at least 18 deaths within the town limits. Tornado leveled another house near Banner, killing four people inside. More than two-thirds of those killed were children. Papers from Beckette Mountain traveled 55 mi (89 km). A total of 150 people were injured.[11]
F2 SE of Melbourne to Sage Izard AR 22:00–? 5 miles (8.0 km) Un­known Tornado destroyed many barns. Two people were injured.[11]
F3 E of Dalark to N of Carthage Dallas AR 23:00–? 15 miles (24 km) 800 yards (730 m) 5 deaths — Tornado first destroyed a small house near Dalark, killing the five members of a family who lived inside, then continued into the town of Carthage. The tornado also caused minor damage in Carthage. Three people were injured.[11]
F2 E of Cato Pulaski AR 23:00–? 2 miles (3.2 km) 100 yards (91 m) Tornado hit two farms, destroying three houses. Five people were injured.[11]
F2 Western Little Rock Pulaski AR 23:00–? 1 mile (1.6 km) 200 yards (180 m) This tornado unroofed houses in Pulaski Heights, a neighborhood in Little Rock.[11]
F2 S of Cabot Lonoke AR 23:15–? 10 miles (16 km) 200 yards (180 m) 2+ deaths — This tornado killed a man and his daughter as their house was being destroyed. It also injured 22 people, two of whom were badly injured and may have died many weeks later.[11]
F2 Alvis Independence AR 23:30–? 1 mile (1.6 km) 100 yards (91 m) Tornado hit the historic community of Alvis, east-southeast of Mount Pleasant, destroying two houses and numerous barns. One person was injured.[11]
F3 Kensett to Judsonia to Bald Knob White AR 23:30–? 4 miles (6.4 km) 300 yards (270 m) 9 deaths — This strong tornado destroyed roughly one-third of Judsonia. Five children from the same family died, and another person was killed just northeast of Judsonia. An additional 35 people were injured.[11][9] Another deadly tornado struck Judsonia on March 21, 1952, killing 30 people in town and causing F4 damage.
F2 Sweet Home to Kerr Pulaski, Lonoke AR 23:30–? 15 miles (24 km) Un­known 1 death — Tornado destroyed houses and other structures on six farms. Five people were injured.[11]
F2 McMullin–Vanduser Scott MO 23:30–? Un­known Un­known A tornado was sighted from a train as it destroyed small houses, barns, and a nearby school. Three people were injured.[11]
F2 SE of Sharp Sharp AR 23:45–? 5 miles (8.0 km) Un­known Tornado reportedly destroyed houses and barns on six farms. Three people were injured.[11]
F2 NW of Stuttgart Arkansas AR 00:00–? Un­known Un­known Tornado destroyed barns.[11]
F2 NW of Slovak to DeValls Bluff Prairie AR 00:00–? 10 miles (16 km) 300 yards (270 m) 4 deaths — Tornado killed four people in tenant homes, and injured 42 people, ten of whom lived near Slovak .[13]
F3 N of Tuckerman Jackson AR 00:30–? 10 miles (16 km) 100 yards (91 m) 4 deaths — Tornado obliterated tenant homes and moved bodies up to 1⁄4 mi (0.40 km) away. Three members of one family died. 40 other people were injured.[13]
F3 NW of Brinkley Monroe AR 00:30–? 2 miles (3.2 km) 100 yards (91 m) 1 death — One house was destroyed, killing a man who was thrown 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km) from the foundation. Ten people were injured.[13]
F3 SE of Vallier Arkansas AR 01:00–? 5 miles (8.0 km) Un­known 2 deaths — Tornado killed two people, each of them on separate plantations. Eight others were injured.[13]
F2 W of Imboden, AR to Flatwoods, MO Lawrence (AR), Randolph (AR), Ripley (MO) AR, MO 01:30–? 45 miles (72 km) Un­known 1 death — Tornado family killed an Arkansas farmer and destroyed buildings in Shiloh Church, Missouri, south-southeast of Grandin. Intermittent damage continued across Missouri, with barns destroyed near Poynor and Flatwoods. Ten people were injured.[13]
F3 W of Dexter to W of Bloomfield Stoddard MO 01:30–? 7 miles (11 km) Un­known 7 deaths — Tornado leveled houses. The seven fatalities occurred in five different families, and 20 other people were injured.[13]
F1 N of Vanndale to Weona Junction Cross, Poinsett AR 02:00–? 20 miles (32 km) 300 yards (270 m) 2 deaths — Tornado blew a tree into a boarding house, killing two women and injuring 13 others who were inside. Four other injuries occurred elsewhere. Losses totaled $6,000.[13]
F3 N of Rector to Gravel Hill Clay AR 02:00–? 9 miles (14 km) 100 yards (91 m) 7 deaths — Destructive tornado destroyed small houses, killing seven people. The deaths occurred between Pollard and St. Francis. An additional 25 people were injured.[13]
F3 SW of Haynes to SE of Forrest City Lee, St. Francis AR 02:00–? 11 miles (18 km) Un­known 4 deaths — Tornado hit three large farms, destroying 16 tenant houses and killing four people on one of the farms. Another 40 people were injured.[13]
F2 S of Dubberly Webster LA 02:00–? Un­known Un­known Tornado destroyed small houses south of the village. Five people were injured.[13]
F3 SSW of Morehouse to Big Ridge Stoddard, New Madrid, Scott MO 03:30–? 8 miles (13 km) Un­known 7 deaths — Tornado obliterated three houses, killing six people in one of them. Fifteen barns and seven other houses were destroyed as well. Seventeen people were injured. The tornado may have continued to Kelso.[13]
F2 N of Marion, AR to SW of Munford, TN Critttenden (AR), Tipton (TN) AR, TN 04:00–? 25 miles (40 km) 300 yards (270 m) 2+ deaths — This tornado destroyed at least 20 houses in Missouri then hit a house and barn in Tennessee. There was one death in each state. The tornado may have crossed the Mississippi River north of Memphis, where the packet boat Eleonore capsized in stormy conditions. At least 19 - perhaps as many as 34 - people drowned when the boat capsized, but there is no clear evidence that a tornado caused the boat to sink. An "electric tornado" reportedly snapped the tree to which the boat was anchored, which measured 20 inches (1.7 ft) in diameter, and other nearby trees were also snapped along the shore. A total of 63 people sustained injuries.[13]
F3 W of Miner, MO to Blodgett, MO to Fayville, IL Scott (MO), Alexander (IL) MO, IL 04:00–? 30 miles (48 km) 200 yards (180 m) 5 deaths — This tornado injured five people from Blodgett as it destroyed much of the village. As many as 60 injuries occurred, mostly in rural areas. In Fayville, a 10-year-old girl died, 20 more people were injured, and 11 houses were destroyed.[13]

June 6 event
Confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, June 6, 1916[nb 4][nb 5]
F# Location County / Parish State Time (UTC) Path length Max. width Summary
F3 S of Yokena Warren MS 05:30–? 10 miles (16 km) 250 yards (230 m) 4 deaths — Tenant houses were leveled, and bodies of its residents were found as far as 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km). A total of 25 people sustained injuries.[13]
F2 Oak Grove West Carroll LA 05:45–? Un­known 50 yards (46 m) A late-night tornado destroyed two houses, the Masonic Hall, and the Methodist church in Oak Grove. Five people were injured.[13]
F3 Northern Jackson Hinds, Madison MS 07:10–? 15 miles (24 km) 100 yards (91 m) 13 deaths — This tornado crossed the northern side of Jackson and dissipated northeast of the city. It damaged or destroyed 250 houses and completely leveled other smaller ones. Larger well-constructed buildings lost roofs and chimneys. Fifty-six people were injured.[13]
F2 Pineville Smith MS 09:30–? 2 miles (3.2 km) 50 yards (46 m) Small, brief tornado destroyed rural houses and barns. Three people were injured.[13]
F2 Taylors Ferry Jefferson AL 17:00–? 7.5 miles (12.1 km) 200 yards (180 m) This tornado destroyed four houses, and five people were injured.[13]

See also

Notes
  1. All losses are in 1916 USD unless otherwise noted.
  2. 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.[1][2] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,[3] Canada utilized the old scale until April 1, 2013;[4] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.[5]
  3. 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.[6] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.[7] 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.[8]
  4. 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.
  5. Prior to 1994, only the average widths of tornado paths were officially listed.[10]

References
  1. Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. p. 141. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
  2. Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001). The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-8061-3538-0.
  3. Edwards, Roger (5 March 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  4. "Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale)". Environment and Climate Change Canada. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  5. "The International Tornado Intensity Scale". Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  6. Grazulis 2001, pp. 251–4
  7. Edwards, Roger (5 March 2015). "The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)". Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  8. Cook, A. R.; Schaefer, J. T. (August 2008). Written at Norman, Oklahoma. "The Relation of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to Winter Tornado Outbreaks". Monthly Weather Review. Boston: American Meteorological Society. 136 (8): 3135. Bibcode:2008MWRv..136.3121C. doi:10.1175/2007MWR2171.1.open access
  9. "Over 100 lives lost in Southern storms". New York Times. June 7, 1916. p. 11.
  10. Brooks, Harold E. (April 2004). "On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity". Weather and Forecasting. Boston: American Meteorological Society. 19 (2): 310. Bibcode:2004WtFor..19..310B. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2.
  11. Grazulis 1993, p. 747
  12. Grazulis 1993, p. 745
  13. Grazulis 1993, p. 748
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