The first six days of December 1953 produced a destructive and deadly tornado outbreak sequence[nb 1] across the Southern United States.

1953 had already been extremely deadly tornado season due to multiple outbreaks that affected a vast majority of the country in the Spring and Early-Summer.

Adequate moisture and wind shear on the warm side of the system allowed for repeated rounds of severe and tornadic supercells and squall lines over a six-day period.

[4][5] This large and violent, deadly, long-track tornado was embedded within a much larger area of damaging straight-line winds, heavy rain, and a sharp temperature gradient.

It followed an erratic path, devastating areas in and around Fort Polk, Alexandria, Georgetown, and Kisatchie National Forest during the early-morning hours of December 3.

Then, the tornado moved through Lacamp and clipped the northwest side of Leander where, at peak intensity, it severely damaged four houses.

[19] The tornado then made an abrupt turn to the north-northwest (possibly occluding or reforming) and struck the Paradise community east of Tioga causing significant property damage.

[18] After entering Grant Parish and striking Pollock Municipal Airport, the tornado heavily damaged the town of Bentley.

[18] From there, the tornado continued along a northeasterly track, clipping the towns of Breezy Hill and Western Lincecum and heavily damaging Mudville as it crossed over US 165.

[28][35] It destroyed electrical services and multiple buildings in and around downtown, ignited several fires, and totaled numerous automobiles.

At one point the twister was actually headed directly towards the downtown area, but fortunately narrowly missed it as well the VA hospital five miles north of the city.