April 1924 tornado outbreak
Encyclopedia
The April 1924 tornado outbreak was an outbreak of at least 26 significant tornadoes across the Southern and Southeastern states on April 29 and April 30, 1924. The tornadoes left over 110+ dead, and at least 1,133 injured.
The most severe damage during this outbreak was seen in parts of Georgia
, South Carolina
, North Carolina
and Virginia
on April 30. A tornado produced estimated F2
damage in the town of Lawrenceville, Georgia
, in Gwinnett County. The same supercell later produced a tornado or tornado family that left F3
damage along a path from Hartwell, Georgia
to south of Spartanburg, South Carolina
; this tornado passed through the southern part of the city of Anderson, South Carolina
, destroying 100 homes and two cotton mills, and generating $1,500,000 in damage. A last tornado from this storm left minor damage between Union
and Rock Hill, South Carolina
.
Between two and three hours later, a tornado produced F4
damage as it passed through Macon, Georgia
, sweeping away a few homes, damaging an industrial area, and killing 3.
A little over an hour later, the "Horrell Hill" tornado family began near Aiken, South Carolina
. This series of storms left an erratic path of F4 damage more than 100 miles long through 6 South Carolina counties. Passing 9 miles south of Columbia
, the storms missed most towns in the area, generating $1,000,000 in damage, though 1300 rural buildings were destroyed. 12 deaths were in the community of Horrell Hill
, where a school was struck; 39 were killed elsewhere by this series of storms. This series of storms eventually dissipated near Darlington
. As this series of storms dissipated, a last violent tornado (F3) passed through parts of Sumter and Florence
Counties, killing 14.
Among the last tornadoes of the outbreak were storms that left F3 damage in Pittsboro, North Carolina
, where a house was destroyed, and a tornado that nearly levelled large houses on a path that stretched from Robersonville, North Carolina
to the Roanoke River
. Yet another F3 storm passed just east of Amelia, Virginia, destroying several homes.
The most severe damage during this outbreak was seen in parts of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
on April 30. A tornado produced estimated F2
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
damage in the town of Lawrenceville, Georgia
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Lawrenceville is a city in and the county seat of Gwinnett County, Georgia, in the United States. The Census Bureau estimates the 2008 population at 29,258...
, in Gwinnett County. The same supercell later produced a tornado or tornado family that left F3
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
damage along a path from Hartwell, Georgia
Hartwell, Georgia
Hartwell is a city in Hart County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,188 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Hart County.-Geography:Hartwell is located at . It sits upon the southern border of Lake Hartwell...
to south of Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
; this tornado passed through the southern part of the city of Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
, destroying 100 homes and two cotton mills, and generating $1,500,000 in damage. A last tornado from this storm left minor damage between Union
Union, South Carolina
Union is the county seat of Union County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 8,393 at the 2010 census.It is the principal city of the Union Micropolitan Statistical Area , an which includes all of Union County and which is further included in the greater...
and Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill is the largest city in York County, South Carolina and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area, behind Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. The population was 71,459 as of . Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between...
.
Between two and three hours later, a tornado produced F4
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
damage as it passed through Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, sweeping away a few homes, damaging an industrial area, and killing 3.
A little over an hour later, the "Horrell Hill" tornado family began near Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
. This series of storms left an erratic path of F4 damage more than 100 miles long through 6 South Carolina counties. Passing 9 miles south of Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, the storms missed most towns in the area, generating $1,000,000 in damage, though 1300 rural buildings were destroyed. 12 deaths were in the community of Horrell Hill
Horrell Hill, South Carolina
Horrel Hill is an unincorporated community in Lower Richland County, South Carolina, South Carolina. Situated south of Fort Jackson and northwest of McEntire Joint National Guard Base, it is centered at about the intersection of Garner's Ferry Road and Harmon Road/Horrel Hill Road...
, where a school was struck; 39 were killed elsewhere by this series of storms. This series of storms eventually dissipated near Darlington
Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington is a city in and the county seat of Darlington County, in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is a center for tobacco farming. The population was 6,720 at the 2000 census and is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. As this series of storms dissipated, a last violent tornado (F3) passed through parts of Sumter and Florence
Florence County, South Carolina
Florence is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was recorded to be 125,761; in 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 131,097. Its county seat is Florence. The county's population is about 60% urban and it comprises part of...
Counties, killing 14.
Among the last tornadoes of the outbreak were storms that left F3 damage in Pittsboro, North Carolina
Pittsboro, North Carolina
Pittsboro, North Carolina is a town located in Chatham County, 34 miles southwest of Raleigh, 47 miles southeast of Greensboro, and 17 miles south of Chapel Hill. The population was 3,743 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chatham County....
, where a house was destroyed, and a tornado that nearly levelled large houses on a path that stretched from Robersonville, North Carolina
Robersonville, North Carolina
Robersonville, incorporated in 1872, is a town located in Martin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,731 at the 2000 census. Robersonville is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region...
to the Roanoke River
Roanoke River
The Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 mi long. A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains a largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains southeast across the Piedmont...
. Yet another F3 storm passed just east of Amelia, Virginia, destroying several homes.