635:
destruction occurred in a swath 150–200 yards (137–183 m) wide. As it passed through McDonald Chapel, eyewitnesses described the tornado funnel as appearing filled with fire and smoke. Many homes in McDonald Chapel were leveled, several of which were swept completely away. The most intense damage appeared to be F5 in intensity, but an F4 rating was rewarded because the homes were very poorly constructed. One of the homes reportedly had almost all of its brick foundation swept away, and a few larger homes were also leveled. The tornado continued across parts of
634:
indicated that trees were felled in a single direction, so the damage was not listed as tornadic at first, but was considered part of the tornado in posthumous analysis. Next, the tornado struck McDonald Chapel, with a path 200 yards (183 m) wide, devastating the community. Almost total
686:. The 1977 and 1998 tornadoes were rated F5, and killed 22 and 32 people, respectively, across most of the same areas that were hit in 1956. The 2011 event was rated high-end EF4, and killed 20 people in the area along with 44 others in
1402:
1036:
1407:
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707:
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1231:
1041:
102:
1467:
1337:
1286:
1081:
1537:
1211:
1567:
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1317:
931:
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991:
1603:
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471:– At least 200 people were injured. 48 people were still listed as hospitalized on April 17, two days after the tornado. Total damage reached $ 1.5 million.
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office in
Birmingham, Alabama, issued a bulletin that warned of the possibility that a "tornado or two" would touch down in an area covering western
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1111:
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1156:
966:
1562:
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683:
1131:
1101:
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1201:
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1171:
1021:
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951:
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1517:
1397:
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924:
831:
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671:. About 400 homes across northern Jefferson County were either damaged or destroyed. Most of the 25 deaths occurred at McDonald Chapel.
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Residences and barns were unroofed, and some small buildings were destroyed. The tornado path was 200 yards (183 m) wide.
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675:
1598:
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1452:
1106:
981:
961:
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earlier along its path. With 25 fatalities, the McDonald Chapel F4 was the deadliest tornado of 1956, surpassing the
125:) on that day, the Birmingham tornado produced major devastation across areas west and north of downtown Birmingham.
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118:
664:
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451:
154:
106:
79:
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1357:
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309:
158:
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627:
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442:
182:
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691:
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134:
727:
506:
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101:
was a deadly weather event that took place during the afternoon of Sunday April 15, 1956, across the
1291:
1121:
1116:
770:
656:
644:
446:
368:
186:
667:
County line. The tornado passed just one to two miles north of downtown
Birmingham as well as the
636:
526:
117:
killed 25 people and injured 200 others. While only two known tornadoes touched down across the
897:
879:
363:
304:
652:
640:
522:
484:
334:
193:
and gusts to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) were expected to remain the primary hazards.
480:
110:
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792:
617:
587:
561:
414:
276:
203:
88:
48:
22:
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About 25 homes were damaged, and others were unroofed near Dallas and
Cumming. 29
766:
146:
687:
909:
530:
142:
314:
540:
391:
518:
456:
114:
630:, where a tornado "roar" was heard. Damage between Pleasant Grove and
344:
876:
Significant
Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events
185:
Counties. An update at noon local time highlighted the prospects of
373:
190:
913:
767:"McDonald Chapel F-4 Tornado - Jefferson County April 15, 1956"
521:
were damaged or destroyed as well. F1 damage occurred south of
674:
The tornado event was similar to other deadly tornadoes on
189:
over west-central
Alabama between 1:00–7:00 p.m. CST.
761:
759:
757:
755:
753:
751:
749:
747:
405:
267:
708:
List of North
American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
468:
606:
580:
560:
75:
67:
41:
21:
896:, Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press,
626:The tornado started shortly before 3:00 PM CDT in
878:, St. Johnsbury, Vermont: Environmental Films,
817:
815:
813:
669:Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
925:
409:List of confirmed tornadoes – April 15, 1956
271:List of confirmed tornadoes – April 14, 1956
8:
822:"Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena".
773:: National Weather Service. 13 February 2013
555:
16:
853:
851:
849:
847:
845:
843:
841:
932:
918:
910:
793:"North America Tornado Cases 1950 to 1959"
554:
15:
355:A barn and a cattle shed were destroyed.
894:The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm
857:
200:
743:
719:
325:A barn was shifted off its foundation.
1604:April 1956 events in the United States
533:activity was reported along the path.
7:
1328:January 2012 (Center Point–Clay, AL)
832:United States Department of Commerce
824:Climatological Data National Summary
14:
556:McDonald Chapel/Sayreton, Alabama
551:McDonald Chapel/Sayreton, Alabama
830:(4). Asheville, North Carolina:
616:Most severe tornado damage; see
121:(the other occurred in northern
87:Most severe tornado damage; see
581:
475:
438:
359:
329:
300:
149:, and northern Alabama—namely,
42:
726:All damage totals are in 1956
1:
109:, with damage most severe in
1296:Hackleburg–Phil Campbell, AL
1287:Mid-April 2011 (April 19-24)
1282:Mid-April 2011 (April 14-16)
694:F5 that killed 18 people on
655:before lifting northwest of
99:1956 McDonald Chapel tornado
17:1956 McDonald Chapel tornado
610:25 fatalities, 200 injuries
469:See section on this tornado
71:25 fatalities, 200 injuries
1625:
1002:Early-April 1936 (April 5)
997:Early-April 1936 (April 1)
541:NCDC Storm Events Database
514:46.8 miles (75.3 km)
464:21.3 miles (34.3 km)
392:NCDC Storm Events Database
119:Southeastern United States
1312:Tuscaloosa–Birmingham, AL
947:
941:Tornado events in Alabama
892:Grazulis, Thomas (2003),
874:Grazulis, Thomas (1993),
614:
602:
598:
594:
576:
572:
568:
537:
408:
388:
352:0.1 miles (0.16 km)
322:0.1 miles (0.16 km)
270:
230:
227:
224:
221:
218:
215:
212:
209:
107:Jefferson County, Alabama
85:
80:Jefferson County, Alabama
63:
59:
55:
37:
33:
29:
977:Palm Sunday (March) 1920
202:Confirmed tornadoes by
169:Counties, plus parts of
797:bangladeshtornadoes.org
730:unless otherwise noted.
129:Meteorological synopsis
1197:Hurricane Katrina 2005
728:United States dollars
381:1 mile (1.6 km)
1599:F4 tornadoes by date
1589:Tornadoes in Alabama
1343:Hurricane Isaac 2012
1097:Hurricane Hilda 1964
1087:Hurricane Carla 1961
187:severe thunderstorms
1398:Early-February 2017
1378:Early-February 2016
1292:Super Outbreak 2011
1117:Super Outbreak 1974
771:Birmingham, Alabama
557:
206:
197:Confirmed tornadoes
139:U.S. Weather Bureau
18:
1508:Late-November 2022
1478:Hurricane Ida 2021
1383:Late-February 2016
1247:Super Tuesday 2008
1227:Late-November 2006
1207:Late-November 2005
1027:Late-February 1952
201:
133:At 5:15 a.m.
103:Greater Birmingham
1594:Tornadoes of 1956
1576:
1575:
1513:Mid-December 2022
1222:Mid-November 2006
1202:Mid-November 2005
1182:Veterans Day 2002
1022:Mid-February 1952
903:978-0-8061-3538-0
624:
623:
548:
547:
544:
399:
398:
395:
261:
260:
137:on April 15, the
95:
94:
1616:
1533:March–April 2023
1523:Early-March 2023
1518:Mid-January 2023
1498:Early-April 2022
1413:Early-March 2019
1333:Early-March 2012
1277:Early-April 2011
1147:Palm Sunday 1994
1112:Early-April 1974
934:
927:
920:
911:
906:
888:
861:
855:
836:
835:
834:: 120–122. 1956.
819:
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207:
44:
19:
1624:
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1609:1956 in Alabama
1579:
1578:
1577:
1572:
1528:Late-March 2023
1493:Late-March 2022
1468:Late-March 2021
1458:Late-April 2020
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632:McDonald Chapel
553:
543:, Grazulis 1993
404:
394:, Grazulis 1993
266:
199:
131:
111:McDonald Chapel
12:
11:
5:
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1563:Early-May 2024
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1503:Mid-April 2022
1500:
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1488:Mid-March 2022
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1473:Early-May 2021
1470:
1465:
1463:Mid-March 2021
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1423:Mid-March 2019
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1338:Mid-March 2012
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1304:Smithville, MS
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1217:September 2006
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684:April 27, 2011
628:Pleasant Grove
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519:broiler houses
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443:Pleasant Grove
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402:April 15 event
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76:Areas affected
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1568:Late-May 2024
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1543:December 2023
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1483:December 2021
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1471:
1469:
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1454:
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1444:
1443:February 2020
1441:
1439:
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1434:
1433:December 2019
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1418:
1417:Beaurgard, AL
1414:
1411:
1409:
1408:December 2018
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1388:November 2016
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
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1374:
1373:December 2015
1371:
1369:
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1359:
1358:February 2013
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1348:December 2012
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1334:
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1323:November 2011
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1192:November 2004
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1178:
1177:November 2001
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1172:December 2000
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1162:February 1998
1160:
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1142:November 1992
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1137:November 1989
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1077:February 1961
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1067:December 1957
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1062:November 1957
1060:
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1047:December 1954
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1042:December 1953
1040:
1038:
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1028:
1025:
1023:
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1018:
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1013:
1012:February 1945
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988:
985:
983:
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978:
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957:February 1884
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885:1-879362-03-1
881:
877:
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871:
867:
860:, p. 996
859:
858:Grazulis 1993
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699:
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693:
689:
685:
681:
680:April 8, 1998
677:
676:April 4, 1977
672:
670:
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658:
654:
650:
649:Village Creek
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629:
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589:
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550:
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536:
532:
529:. Widespread
528:
525:and north of
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204:Fujita rating
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40:
36:
32:
28:
24:
20:
1548:January 2024
1438:January 2020
1393:January 2017
1353:January 2013
1307:
1299:
1272:October 2010
1242:January 2008
1237:October 2007
1122:January 1975
1051:
893:
875:
868:Bibliography
827:
823:
800:. Retrieved
796:
787:
775:. Retrieved
722:
692:Grand Rapids
673:
625:
618:Fujita scale
615:
467:25 deaths –
132:
98:
96:
89:Fujita scale
86:
1453:Easter 2020
659:, near the
431:Path length
293:Path length
147:Mississippi
145:, northern
1583:Categories
1558:April 2024
1553:March 2024
1448:March 2020
1428:April 2019
1403:April 2017
1368:April 2014
1267:April 2010
1257:April 2009
1252:March 2008
1232:March 2007
1212:March 2006
1167:April 1998
1157:April 1996
1132:April 1979
1127:April 1977
1102:March 1966
1092:March 1962
1082:April 1961
1057:April 1957
1052:April 1956
1032:March 1952
1017:April 1945
1007:March 1942
987:March 1932
982:April 1920
967:March 1913
962:April 1908
952:March 1875
738:References
688:Tuscaloosa
657:Trussville
645:Fultondale
641:Pratt City
607:Fatalities
447:Trussville
428:Time (UTC)
364:Midlothian
290:Time (UTC)
151:Lauderdale
68:Fatalities
1538:June 2023
665:St. Clair
661:Jefferson
637:Edgewater
539:Sources:
531:downburst
527:Woodstock
452:Jefferson
445:to NW of
390:Sources:
155:Limestone
143:Tennessee
113:. The F4
1363:May 2013
1318:May 2011
1262:May 2009
1187:May 2003
1152:May 1995
1107:May 1973
1072:May 1960
1037:May 1953
992:May 1933
972:May 1917
802:21 April
702:See also
498:Cherokee
490:Paulding
419:Location
335:Minneola
281:Location
159:Lawrence
105:area in
777:12 June
696:April 3
653:Tarrant
590:tornado
564:tornado
523:Acworth
502:Forsyth
485:Cumming
434:Damage
310:Lenawee
305:Morenci
296:Damage
183:Madison
179:Cullman
175:Winston
163:Colbert
123:Georgia
115:tornado
51:tornado
25:tornado
1310:
1308:·
1306:
1302:
1300:·
1298:
900:
882:
682:, and
651:, and
584:rating
481:Dallas
479:SW of
422:County
333:SE of
284:County
231:Total
181:, and
171:Marion
167:Morgan
165:, and
45:rating
714:Notes
511:2330
461:2100
425:State
378:0200
369:Ellis
349:0100
340:Clark
319:0000
287:State
898:ISBN
880:ISBN
804:2022
779:2014
582:Max.
494:Cobb
191:Hail
97:The
43:Max.
483:to
476:F2
439:F4
360:F1
330:F1
301:F1
228:F5
225:F4
222:F3
219:F2
216:F1
213:F0
210:FU
135:CST
1585::
840:^
826:.
812:^
795:.
769:.
746:^
698:.
678:,
647:,
643:,
639:,
588:F4
562:F4
507:GA
500:,
496:,
492:,
457:AL
415:F#
374:TX
345:KS
315:MI
277:F#
257:5
254:0
251:1
248:0
245:1
242:3
239:0
236:0
177:,
173:,
161:,
157:,
153:,
49:F4
23:F4
1419:)
1415:(
1314:)
1294:(
933:e
926:t
919:v
828:7
806:.
781:.
663:-
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