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F4 tornado in Gibson County, Tennessee

Tornado March 1, 1997 · Gibson County, Tennessee

F4
Rating
45.0 mi
Whole path
200 yd
Path width
1
Death
15
Injuries
$2.1M
Damage as recorded

NOAA records this tornado county by county. Its path ran through Mississippi County, Arkansas → Dyer County → Gibson County; the totals above are for the whole tornado.

EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated

The path drawn at its surveyed width of 200 yards (0.11 mi) — zoom in and the swath grows to true scale. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F4 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F4 meant devastating damage: well-built houses levelled; the scale paired it with winds of 207–260 mph, figures later judged too high, especially toward the top of the scale, and revised downward in the Enhanced Fujita scale. Ratings then, as now, came from the damage.

The wider storm

A tornado developed in Mississippi county Arkansas near the town of Lennie. Three mobile homes were damaged or destroyed and a cotton trailer was over turned. The tornado touched down again in Dyer county in Tennessee. The most severe damage with the tornado occurred in Dyer county. A thirteen-year-old girl was killed at her home which was destroyed by the tornado in the town of Finley. One hundred ninety building were damaged or destroyed in Dyer county including Dyer County High School. The tornado then continued into Gibson county where eight homes were damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down as well.

Began near Yorkville (36.1000, -89.1700).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 5623727. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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