On November 7–8, 1957, a significant tornado outbreak affected portions of the Southern United States, particularly the Golden Triangle of Southeast Texas and parts of Acadiana in Louisiana.[nb 2] The severe weather event inflicted 12 deaths and more than 200 injuries, especially in the vicinity of Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas. The most intense tornado of the outbreak, retrospectively rated F4 on the Fujita scale, struck the town of Orange, Texas, killing one person, injuring 81 others, and causing $11⁄2 million in losses. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak was an F3 that killed four people northwest of Carencro, Louisiana. The costliest tornado of the outbreak, also rated F3, caused $2.3 million in losses in the town of Groves, Texas, killing a few people there. Other intense tornadoes occurred as far east as Mississippi and North Carolina. In all, at least 28 tornadoes were confirmed, yet others were likely present as well.
"FU" denotes unclassified but confirmed tornadoes.
Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRADDoppler weather radar in 1990–1991.[12][nb 6] 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments.[16][nb 4] Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.
Color/symbol key
Color / symbol
Description
†
Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b
¶
Data from a local National Weather Service office
※
Data from the 1957 Climatological Data National Summary publication
‡
Data from the NCEI database
♯
Maximum width of tornado
±
Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable.
List of confirmed tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of November 7–8, 1957
This tornado unroofed or destroyed a few homes as it traversed rural, mostly forested land. Many trees and transmission wires were downed as well. The NCEI database lists the path as traveling from Lucas to Curtis and thence to just west of Haughton.[20][21][22]
This and the following two events are listed as a single tornado in the NCEI database, but were split into three distinct tracks in a reanalysis by the National Weather Service.[2]
This, the preceding, and the following event are listed as a single tornado in the NCEI database, but were split into three distinct tracks in a reanalysis by the National Weather Service. The NCEI database lists the path as traveling from just east-northeast of Illinois Plant to south-southwest of Iota.[2][23][22]
This and the preceding two events are listed as a single tornado in the NCEI database, but were split into three distinct tracks in a reanalysis by the National Weather Service. Between Lowry and Iota the three events altogether damaged just a few homes.[2][22]
This tornado damaged or destroyed three homes, one of which was a two-story structure. A Sun Oil Company utility shed was also damaged.[20][26][27][22]
1 death – This strong tornado destroyed or damaged more than 11 homes, one of which shifted on its foundation. 14 people were injured. This and the following tornado are listed as one event in the NCEI database, but were split into separate events in a reanalysis by the NWS.[28]
2 deaths – This intense tornado destroyed or damaged 235–315 homes in Alexandria. The tornado subsequently traversed the Red River and hit Wardville before dissipating, causing two injuries and destroying or damaging nine homes there. Only individuals—28 in all—whose injuries required medical attention were recorded; others may have received minor injuries. This and the preceding tornado are listed as one event in the NCEI database, but were split into separate events in a reanalysis by the NWS.[20][29][30][22]
2 deaths – Approximately 1,160 structures were destroyed or damaged, including many businesses and homes. The deaths occurred each in small homes that were flattened. 53 people were injured as well. This tornado was the costliest of the outbreak. The NCEI database lists the endpoint as south of Atreco.[20][33][34][22]
1 death – This was probably the most intense tornado of the outbreak, but only leveled frail structures beside the Sabine River in its path, so it may have merited high-end F3 status at most. About 430 homes were destroyed or damaged in Orange, including a two-story home that was flattened, killing a woman inside. A total of 12 barges and ships were torn from their moorings, some of which were moved onto the Louisiana shore. The tornado may have ended as a downburst in neighboring Louisiana. 81 people were injured, though other estimates ranged from 20 to 50. The NCEI database incorrectly labels this tornado as having moved southwestward.[35][36][37][38][39]
2 deaths – This intense, long-tracked tornado destroyed 23 structures near Cruger, including a tenant home. A car was transported for 1⁄4 mi (0.40 km) as well. One person was injured. The NCEI database indicates that the path extended from near Keirn to near Malmaison.[20][40][41][22]
4 deaths – This intense tornado destroyed or damaged 85 homes and outbuildings. Two of the dead, a couple, were cast 150 yd (140 m). 15 people were injured, though some sources list 10 to 12 injuries. An F1 tornado is incorrectly listed in the NCEI database as having killed a few people and injured 13 others near the northern edge of Carencro, but in a reanalysis by the NWS is assessed as having been the same event as this tornado. Grazulis listed a 15-mile-long (24 km) path that began southeast of Branch and ended near Sunset.[20][44][45][46][47][39]
A strong tornado touched down in the Rebel Acres neighborhood, damaging television antennae and roofing. At Powell Chapel the tornado tore off a roof, porch, and wall. A garage and a barn were wrecked as well.[48][52][39]
15 homes were destroyed or damaged. Five people were injured. The NCEI database incorrectly lists a path that extends from eastern Aliceville to east-northeast of Hickory.[48][53][54][39]
Seven small homes and a few larger were destroyed or damaged, along with many barns. Numerous trees were prostrated or otherwise bent in half. Fallen trees damaged a few vehicles as well. One minor injury was reported.[56][57][58]
Eight homes were severely damaged or destroyed on US 64, just east of Rocky Mount. 23 farmsteads and 10 other homes were wrecked elsewhere along the path. A school was destroyed as well. 52 other structures received damage. Five people were injured. The NCEI database incorrectly lists a path from east of Drivers Store to west of Windsor via Crisp and Quitsna.[48][59][60][61][58]
^All losses are in 1957 USD unless otherwise noted.
^An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.[1]
^ abAll 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.
^ abThe 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.[3][4] Tornado ratings were retroactively applied to events prior to the formal adoption of the F-scale by the National Weather Service.[5] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,[6] Canada used the old scale until April 1, 2013;[7] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.[8]
^The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Data publication does not list exact damage totals for every event, instead giving damage categories. As such, damage for individual tornadoes is not comprehensive.
^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.[13] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.[14] 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.[15]
^All starting coordinates are based on the NCEI database and may not reflect contemporary analyses
^The listed width values are primarily the average/mean width of the tornadoes, with those having known maximum widths denoted by ♯. From 1952 to 1994, reports largely list mean width whereas contemporary years list maximum width.[17] Values provided by Grazulis are the average width, with estimates being rounded down (i.e. 0.5 mi (0.80 km) is rounded down from 880 yards to 800 yards.[18][19]
^Edwards, Roger (March 5, 2015). "Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage". The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC). Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
^Shamburger, Shawn (2009). "Nome/China TX Tornado". Lake Charles, LA Weather Forecast Office. Lake Charles, Louisiana: National Weather Service. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^Shamburger, Shawn (2009). "Boyce LA Tornado". Lake Charles, LA Weather Forecast Office. Lake Charles, Louisiana: National Weather Service. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^Shamburger, Shawn (2009). "Alexandria LA Tornado". Lake Charles, LA Weather Forecast Office. Lake Charles, Louisiana: National Weather Service. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^Shamburger, Shawn (2009). "Port Acres TX Tornado". Lake Charles, LA Weather Forecast Office. Lake Charles, Louisiana: National Weather Service. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^Shamburger, Shawn (2009). "Groves TX Tornado". Lake Charles, LA Weather Forecast Office. Lake Charles, Louisiana: National Weather Service. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^Shamburger, Shawn (2009). "Orange TX Tornado". Lake Charles, LA Weather Forecast Office. Lake Charles, Louisiana: National Weather Service. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
^Shamburger, Shawn (2009). "Higginbotham LA Tornado". Lake Charles, LA Weather Forecast Office. Lake Charles, Louisiana: National Weather Service. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
— (November 1990). Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989. Vol. 2. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN1-879362-02-3.
— (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN1-879362-03-1.
