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Tornado Information
Southeast MI

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Date/Time: Monday, June 8, 1953 8:30 pm EST
Fujita scale: F5
F5 definition: Incredible damage. Strong frame houses leveled off foundations and swept away; automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters; trees debarked; incredible phenomena will occur. Wind speeds approximately 261-318 mph. (Only F5 in Southeast Lower Michigan)
Fatalities: 116
113 occurred in a 4-mile stretch of Coldwater Road from 2500W to 1500E (Clio Road to Dort Highway)
Oldest fatality: 80
Youngest fatality: 5 months
Injuries: 844
Hospitals involved:
Genesee County: Hurley; St. Joseph; Flint General; Flint Osteopathic; McLaren General
Saginaw County: St. Mary; St. Luke; Saginaw General
Damage: $19 million in 1953 dollars ($125 million in 2003 dollars)
340 homes were destroyed, 107 suffered "major damage", and 153 suffered "minor damage". Another 66 buildings destroyed or damaged to farms, businesses and other buildings.
Path Length: 27 miles
Start: between Linden and Webster Roads, Mt. Morris Township, Genesee County;
End: Five Lakes Road, Deerfield Township, Lapeer County
Path Width: 833 yards
Speed of Tornado: Approximately 35 mph
Highest Temperature and Dewpoint observed at Flint:
Temperature: 82°F at 4:28 PM EST
Dewpoint: 72°F at 9:28 PM EST
Lowest Barometric Pressure observed at Flint: 29.71" of mercury recorded 8:28 PM EST
First report of rain occurred at the Flint observation (airport) at 10:47 PM EST
First Report of tornado per Flint observation (airport) occurred at 8:33 PM EST

Actual observations during the time of tornado converted to current METAR format:
(original observations: those listed below or complete observation form)

SPECI KFNT 090128Z 18020KT 12SM VCTS BKN040CB 26/22 A2997 RMK
AO2 SLP061 TS W-N MOV NE LTGICCG ALQDS T02560217
SPECI KFNT 090145Z 21020KT 12SM VCTS BKN040CB 26/22 A2997 RMK
A02 SLP061 TS ALQDS LTGICCG ALQDS UNCONFIRMED +FC 2MI N FLUSHING
MOV ENE POSSIBLY HITTING FNT 0133Z ESTIMATED T02560217

Severe Weather Bulletins highlighting the threat of hazardous weather June 8th 1953: 1
Daily summary: High temperature of 82°F, low temperature of 49°F, 0.07" of precipitation
Total Michigan tornadoes June 8th 1953: 8
The Flint-Beecher Tornado was just one of eight tornadoes that occurred during that evening across the eastern portion of the Lower Peninsula.
Total tornado fatalities on June 8th, 1953: 126
Total tornado injuries on June 8th, 1953: 925
Last F5 in Michigan: 4/3/56 in Southwest Lower Michigan (Ottawa-Kent-Montcalm Counties)
Last Violent Tornado (F4):
In Michigan, 4/2/77 in Southwest Lower (Kalamazoo-Eaton Counties). In Southeast Lower Michigan: 3/20/76 (Oakland County)