1943 Hackleburg tornado
 Violent damage in downtown Hackleburg | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Date | April 12, 1943 |
| F4 equiv. tornado | |
| Max width | 200 yd (0.11 mi; 0.18 km) |
| Highest winds | >207 mph (333 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Injuries | 60 |
| Damage | $500,000 (1943 USD) |
| Areas affected | Marion County, Alabama, particularly Hackleburg |
Part of the Tornadoes of 1943 | |
In the early morning hours of April 12, 1943, a violent tornado passed through the town of Hackleburg, located in the U.S. state of Alabama. The tornado, which was rated F4 on the Fujita scale, destroyed a large portion of town and killed four people along a track spanning a width of 200 yards (180 m).
Meteorological synopsis
On April 9 a cold front set up Western Plateau region of the United States, moving eastward into New Mexico over the following day.[1]
Late on April 11, an area of thunderstorms existed from Tennessee to Central Kentucky, with a more scattered mode of storms being observed from Missouri to Arkansas. As the front moved into the Hackleburg area,[2] heavy rain and darkness occurred, being successed shortly after by the tornado.[3]
Tornado summary
The tornado impacted the town at around 2:30 a.m.,[4] being described as "having the noise of a freight train".[5] An estimated two-thirds of Hackleburg was destroyed,[6] with 85 homes and 17 more businesses being demolished in the tornado.[7] The Bank of Hackleburg building suffered roofing damage during the event,[5] being the only business in Hackleburg to not be completely destroyed.[8] Inventory from businesses were blown several miles to the northeast.[3] It reached a peak estimated width of 200 yards (180 m) while in town.[5][9] 325 residents were left homeless, while power was cut in the area.[10] Hackleburg mayor, C.E. Fell, estimated monetary damage in town at $500,000 (1943 USD).[11]
Near Bear Creek, significant damage was done to buildings on a high school campus.[12] Telephone lines were damaged in Franklin County before the tornado lifted.[13]
In all, four people were killed by the tornado and 60 others sustained injuries.[14]
Aftermath
A monument in Hackleburg was constructed as a memorial for the fatalities in tornadoes in Hackleburg history.[15]
See also
References and sources
Citations
- ↑ Fulks 1943, p. 154
- ↑ Fulks 1943, p. 160
- 1 2 Smith, Howard C. (April 25, 1943). "As Tornado Season Approaches". The Montgomery Advertiser. Vol. 115, no. 115. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Fulks 1943, p. 143
- 1 2 3 "Tornado Strikes Alabama Town". Union Springs Herald. Vol. 76. Birmingham, Alabama. April 15, 1943 [April 13, 1943]. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Grazulis 1990, p. 299
- ↑ Gathany, Bob (February 21, 2017). "Vintage photos of some of the worst tornado damage in Alabama 1943 - 1974". AL. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Hackleburg Looks Ahead, Determined". The Advertiser-Journal. Vol. 32, no. 17. Haleyville, Alabama. April 29, 1943. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Alabama Tornadoes 1943". National Weather Service. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Tornado Death Toll May Rise". The Birmingham Post. Vol. 23, no. 72. Cullman, Alabama. April 14, 1943. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Scores Injured as Twister Hits Marion, Cullman". The Birmingham News. Vol. 56, no. 25. April 12, 1943. pp. 1, 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Storm Returns One Year Later". The Advertiser-Journal. Vol. 33, no. 15. Haleyville, Alabama. April 13, 1944. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "9 Lives Toll of Alabama Windstorm". The Miami News. Vol. 48, no. 121. Hackleburg, Alabama. United Press. April 12, 1943. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Tiny Alabama town rebuilds after 2011 tornado". KTAR-FM. April 25, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Alabama tornado memorials". AL.com. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
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Sources
- Fulks, J.R. (1943). "Notes on Synoptic Situation Accompanying the Hackleburg, Alabama, Tornado of April 12, 1943". Federal Emergency Management Agency. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- Grazulis, Thomas P. (May 1984). Violent Tornado Climatography, 1880–1982. OSTI (Technical report). NUREG. Washington, D.C.: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. OSTI 7099491. CR-3670.
- — (November 1990). Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989. Vol. 2. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 978-1-879362-02-4.