| Hurricane Hilda tornado outbreak | |
| Active: | October 3–4, 1964 |
| Tornadoes: | 12 |
| Fujitascale: | F4 |
| Tornado Duration: | 1 day, 11 hours, 30 minutes |
| Casualties: | 22 fatalities, 175 injuries |
| Damages: | ≥ $8.107 million (1964 USD) $ (USD) |
| Affected: | Southeastern United States |
| Enhanced: | no |
| Partof: | the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1964 |
On October 3–4, 1964, Hurricane Hilda and its remnants generated a tornado outbreak over portions of the Southeastern United States. The outbreak, which yielded at least 12 confirmed tornadoes, killed 22 people and injured 175 others. Most of the casualties occurred as a result of a violent tornado that devastated the northern outskirts of Larose, Louisiana, becoming the deadliest hurricane-generated tornado on record since 1900 and one of only two violent tornadoes (F4+) recorded in the southern Gulf Coast region of Louisiana. The tornado was also one of only two F4s known to have been produced by a tropical cyclone, the other having occurred during Hurricane Carla on September 12, 1961.[1] [2]
At 23:00 UTC on October 3, 1964, Hurricane Hilda made landfall at 29.5°N -91.5°W, near Calumet, Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds of 105mph and an estimated atmospheric pressure of 959mb. Although Hilda extensively damaged portions of Louisiana, most of its severest impacts, including the vast majority of fatalities, were related to hurricane-spawned tornadoes, along with inland flooding.[3] [4]
| Region | Locale | County | Deaths | Injuries | Damages | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Alabama | Barbour | 0 | 3 | |||
| Butler | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Conecuh | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Louisiana | Assumption | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Jefferson | 0 | 3 | |||||
| Lafourche | 22 | 165 | |||||
| Orleans | 0 | 2 | |||||
| St. Tammany | 0 | 0 | |||||
| North Carolina | 0 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 22 | 175 | |||||
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start | Time (UTC) | Path length | width | Summary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=# | F1 | Golden Meadow | Lafourche | LA | 29.37°N -90.23°W | 11:45–? | 0.5miles | 33yd | A brief tornado downed utility wires and damaged several structures. Losses totaled $2,500. | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | Galliano | Lafourche | LA | 29.43°N -90.28°W | 12:00–? | 0.5miles | 33yd | A short-lived tornado affected up to 10 homes and a funeral parlor. Several of the homes shifted on their CBS foundations or were overturned. Some boats were sunk and power lines downed as well. Losses totaled $25,000. Some minor injuries may have occurred. | |
| bgcolor=# | F4 | Northern Larose | Lafourche | LA | 29.6°N -90.37°W | 12:30–? | 1.5miles | 67yd | 22 deaths – This devastating, violent tornado paralleled LA 1 as it leveled a 1adj=midNaNadj=mid swath of homes. Only "shells" of brick homes remained in a few locations. Observers reported debris in Coteau, 16miles to the west of Larose. 165 people were injured and losses totaled $2 million. This was the deadliest hurricane-spawned tornado on record since 1900 and one of only two such tornadoes on record to have attained F4 intensity. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | New Orleans to Kenner | Orleans, Jefferson | LA | 29.93°N -90.22°W | 15:00–15:20 | 14.2miles | 83yd | This possible tornado family initially damaged automobiles and structures in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It then skipped to the intersection of the Veterans Highway and the Causeway, damaging gasoline stations and nearby buildings. Several vehicles, including a truck, were overturned or thrown into the air. Broken glass injured three people in Jefferson Parish and losses there totaled $2 million. Two other injuries and an additional $2 in losses occurred in Orleans Parish. At Kenner the tornado badly damaged 17 homes, several of which were unroofed. The NCEI indicates that the tornado developed north-northwest of Waggaman and ended near Seabrook. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Oakley to Attakapas Canal | Assumption | LA | 29.92°N -91.1°W | 17:10–17:15 | 1.5miles | 100yd | This tornado tracked generally westward. It passed near Napoleonville, felling several trees. Homes and other structures shifted on their foundations or were unroofed. Losses totaled $25,000. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | White Sand to W of West Poplarville | Pearl River | MS | 30.8°N -89.65°W | 21:20–? | 3.3miles | 33yd | This strong tornado destroyed a pumphouse, a pair of barns, and a small house. Losses were unknown. |
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start | Time (UTC) | Path length | width | Summary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=# | F2 | WNW of Lewisburg | St. Tammany | LA | 30.38°N -90.13°W | 09:25–? | 1miles | 183yd | This tornado destroyed or damaged six lightweight homes. Debris was strewn over a 5miles area. Losses totaled $25,000. | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | N of Flat Rock | Conecuh | AL | 31.5°N -86.83°W | 15:15–? | 0.1miles | 33yd | A tornado damaged several outbuildings and a few houses. Losses totaled $2,500. | |
| bgcolor=# | F1 | Northwestern Georgiana | Butler | AL | 31.63°N -86.77°W | 16:20–? | 3.3miles | 100yd | A tornado unroofed, destroyed, or otherwise damaged 19 houses, many barns, and a fertilizer plant. Numerous trees were downed as well. Losses totaled $25,000. Tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | NW of Williamston to SE of Alligator | Martin, Washington, Tyrrell | NC | 35.87°N -77.07°W | 20:30–21:30 | 54.1miles | 50yd | A possible tornado family severely damaged or destroyed outbuildings and five homes. It also moved heavy machinery for an unknown distance. Losses totaled $250,000. The publication Storm Data lists one injury. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | Western Eufaula | Barbour | AL | 31.8°N -85.2°W | 21:00–? | 0.1miles | 33yd | A tornado affected buildings along Pump Station Road in Eufaula. It destroyed or damaged two houses, a factory, and a hospital. Three people were injured and losses totaled $2,500. | |
| bgcolor=# | F2 | NE of Cedar Grove to N of Penderlea | Columbus, Bladen, Pender | NC | 34.3°N -78.9°W | 23:15–01:00 | 54.6miles | 50yd | This possible tornado family destroyed or damaged a trailer home, tobacco barns, various outbuildings, a few warehouses, and five homes. Losses totaled $250,000. The publication Storm Data lists one injury. |
