2.3 S Oxford-2.3 NE Oxford The tornado struck a shopping center consisting of an E to W row of adjoining buildings along U.S. 78. The deaths and most of the injuries occurred when a grocery store in the direct path was destroyed. The windward wall apparently failed and the roof of the store collapsed inward. The grocery shelves kept the roof from crashing all the way to the floor and several hours were required for rescuers to reach all of the trapped victims. The 2 deaths were reported to have occurred in the rear or south part of the store. Three single family homes were destroyed and 14 were damaged. One apartment building was damaged. Three mobile homes were destroyed and 11 damaged. Three business buildings were destroyed and 9 damaged as well as 25 to 30 automobiles being either damaged or destroyed. Start: 33.58/-85.83 End: 33.63/-85.80

NWS EF Scale: F3

Part of 8-tornado outbreak on December 3, 1983