Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | February 21,2023 |
Dissipated | February 28,2023 |
Category 2 "Minor"winter storm | |
Regional Snowfall Index:4.60 (NOAA) | |
Tornado outbreak | |
Tornadoes | 32 |
Maximum rating | EF2 tornado |
Derecho | |
Highest winds | 114 mph (183 km/h) in Memphis,Texas on February 26 (non-tornadic winds) [1] |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 15 fatalities (14 non-tornadic,1 tornadic) [2] [3] [4] |
Injuries | 25+ (10+ non tornadic,15 tornadic) |
Areas affected | Western,Southern and Midwestern United States |
Power outages | >1,200,000 [5] |
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2023 and 2022–23 North American winter |
A large and dynamic storm system bought widespread impacts across much of the United States at the end of February 2023. In the Western United States, heavy snow, hail, and gusty winds affected many areas. This led to the partial closure of several major highways, including I-205 in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, as well as numerous fatal accidents on other highways. Hundreds of flights were cancelled, thousands of people lost power, and multiple sporting events were postponed. In the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley, significant impacts from severe weather occurred. A severe squall line produced destructive straight-line winds in the St. Louis metropolitan area on February 23. The most impactful day in terms of severe weather was on February 26, when a powerful line of severe thunderstorms containing damaging straight-line winds and numerous embedded tornadoes impacted the Texas Panhandle, southern Kansas, and most of the state of Oklahoma. Dozens of instances of large hail, damaging wind gusts, and multiple tornadoes were confirmed with this event, including an EF2 tornado that killed a person in Cheyenne, Oklahoma. A 114 mph (183 km/h) wind gust from straight-line winds was reported in Memphis, Texas, which was the highest wind gust since the August 2020 Midwest derecho. Five of these tornadoes formed in the Oklahoma City metro area, including a high-end EF2 tornado that caused severe damage in the southeastern part of the city of Norman. [6] The event set the record for the most tornadoes ever recorded in Oklahoma in the month of February since modern records began in 1950. [7] More tornadoes touched down in Illinois the next day, including some in the Chicago metropolitan area. In addition to the severe weather impacts, parts of the Midwestern United States also received periods of heavy snowfall and gusty winds along with ice, causing dozens of accidents, knocking out power, and canceling hundreds of flights. The Northeastern United States was also affected by heavy snowfall.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2023) |
An upper-air disturbance, combined with high-altitude cold air and low pressure, dove southeast from British Columbia into the Western United States on February 21. [8]
State | Fatalities | Ref. |
---|---|---|
California | 1 | [9] |
Colorado | 3 | [10] |
Michigan | 1 | [11] |
Missouri | 1 | [12] |
Nevada | 5 | [13] |
Oregon | 2 | [14] |
Vermont | 1 | [15] |
Total | 14 |
Along the path of the winter storm, countless school districts across numerous states cancelled or delayed classes. Inclement weather forced the closure of many roadways. [16] [17] [18] [19] Weather watches and warnings were issued for snowfall, freezing rain, heavy rainfall, strong winds, and extreme cold. [20] [21]
Winter storm watches were hoisted for mountainous regions of the California Bay Area, the first since 2011, [22] [23] while only the second ever blizzard warning was issued for Los Angeles County, [24] and the first blizzard warning ever issued by the National Weather Service of San Diego. [25] Evacuation warnings were issued for Ventura County due to anticipated flooding and debris flows. [26] In Arizona, American Airlines issued travel waivers for Flagstaff Pulliam Airport in anticipation of strong winds. [27] Farther north in Oregon, the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer postponed their opening match of the 2023 season due to the storm; it had been scheduled to take place on February 25 but was moved to February 27. [28]
In Oregon, snow fell in Troutdale, Tigard, Stayton, Cathedral Park, Chapman Square, and Beaverton, in which the latter received 9 inches (23 cm) of snow. [29] Portland recorded 10.8 inches (27 cm) of snow, their largest accumulation on record so late in the winter season and the second-largest calendar day observation in the city's history. [30] [31] [32] For much of the Portland metro area, the heavy snow came as a surprise with some weather models having struggled to capture eventual location of the system. [33] On US 26 near Portland, more than 70 cars were abandoned because of the difficult driving conditions. [34] [14] Snow and ice led to the closure of I-205 over the Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge, as well as a 2 miles (3.2 km) stretch due to stalled vehicles from high snow accumulations with several other highways closing in Oregon, including US 101 and OR 34, where downed trees blocked the routes. [35] [36] Around 400 flights were cancelled at Portland International Airport. [37] Two deaths occurred in the city. [14] Snow led to the suspension of Newport's seafood and wine festival. [36] MAX Light Rail trains and TriMet buses were stalled, causing the delay of passengers arriving to their destinations. [38] [39] The inclement weather forced the closure of the City Hall in Lincoln City. [40] At least 15,000 power outages occurred across the state, with 9,000 occurring in just the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area alone. [37] [41]
In California, there were at least 172,000 power outages. Wind gusts of more than 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) were recorded, with San Francisco International Airport recording a wind gust of 68 miles per hour (109 km/h). [42] [43] Trees and power lines were knocked, down, including a tree which fell on several cars and an apartment building in Manhattan Beach. [44] [45] A tornado was also reported near Whittier on February 23. [46] A 1-year-old was critically injured after a tree fell on top of them in Boulder Creek. [47] For the first time in several years, hail fell on the Hollywood Sign. [48] Cars were stranded on I-15 for several hours as snow, hail, and high winds impacted travel. [49] There was a 20-car pileup on I-10 in Yucaipa, causing several injuries, while a 12-car pileup occurred on SR 189 near Crestline. [50] An accident in Tujunga that left one person dead and two others injured may have been related to the storm; however, the exact cause of the accident is under investigation. [9] Major League Soccer's 2023 season opener on February 25 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was rescheduled to July 4 due to the worsening weather. [51] Snow fell at unusually low elevations across Greater Los Angeles, (including in the upper reaches of the Crescenta Valley), the High Desert, and in parts of Northern California such as Eureka, Crescent City, Ukiah, Lakeport, and Cloverdale [52] [53] [54] and a waterspout moved ashore as an EFU tornado near Redway on February 27. [55] High seas led to the closure of the Redondo Beach pier. [44] Los Angeles International Airport temporarily instituted a ground stop due to the thunderstorms. [56] At Disneyland, the first performance of “Magic Happens” since 2020 was postponed due to the storm. [57] Snowy conditions in the Bay Area also led to road closures along SR 17, SR 29, and SR 128. [58] In the aftermath of the storm, Yosemite National Park closed and remained closed through March 17. [59] [60] During the storm, San Francisco fell to a record low of 39 °F (4 °C) on February 23, following a record cold high of 48 °F (9 °C) on February 22. [61] A rain squall in Los Angeles set temperatures to 41 °F (5 °C) on February 23, tying a daily record. [62]
In Arizona, 20,000 power outages were reported, with 9,000 in Coconino County and 5,000 in Maricopa County. [63] Over 200 miles (320 km) of I-40 closed, from the New Mexico state line until the junction with US 93. [64] In New Mexico, I-40 was also closed to the west of Gallup. In Albuquerque, winds gusted up to 73 mph (117 km/h), which left over 12,000 customers without electricity. [65] In Utah, at least 110-120 crashes were reported, including on I-15, and I-84. [66] [67] In neighboring Nevada, a Care Flight medical flight crashed shortly after takeoff near Stagecoach, killing all five occupants. Weather at the time of the crash consisted of steady snow with winds of 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 km/h). An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board is ongoing to determine the cause of the accident. [13] In Colorado, over 200 flights were cancelled at Denver International Airport. [68] Crashes were reported on I-25 and I-70, causing road disruptions. [69] After the storm moved through, Denver set a record for the coldest temperature on record for February 23, at −11 °F (−24 °C). [70] On February 25, an avalanche near the Vallecito Reservoir in La Plata County killed two people while another killed one person in La Manga Pass. [10] Northward in Wyoming, a large portion of I-80 and I-90 was closed. [71] [72] Snow stranded drivers and caused difficult conditions for first responders, including a near-miss when a semi almost hit a Wyoming Department of Transportation trooper. [73] [74] [75] In Washington, snow fell in the Cascade Range and the Northern Rockies. [76] The heavy snows, combined with 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) wind gusts, hindered efforts to rescue four people from an earlier avalanche, with only one surviving. [77] In Seattle, after the storm passed, a record low high temperature of 35 °F (2 °C) was set on February 23, breaking the record from the previous year, while a record low temperature of 22 °F (−6 °C) was set the next morning. [78] In Spokane, the high on February 23 was also a record, at only 16 °F (−9 °C). [79]
In South Dakota, health departments, including Sanford Health and Avera Health, announced closures in Sioux Falls. [80] [81] Governor Kristi Noem ordered state government executive branch offices closed in 36 counties. [82] Parts of I-90 and I-29 closed. [83] To the east, the National Weather Service forecast office in the Twin Cities warned of a "historic" winter storm. [84] About 1,600 free parking lots were made available in Minneapolis because of the inclement hazardous weather. [85] Numerous airlines, such as Delta, Southwest, United, and American airlines issued travel waivers in Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. [86] [87] [88] The Weather Prediction Center issued a rare extreme impact risk area. [89] Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a peacetime emergency and ordered emergency executive orders to the National Guard, Minnesota State Patrol, and Minnesota Department of Transportation. [90] [91] [92] Snow emergencies were issued in the cities of Brooklyn Park, Crystal, and New Hope. [93] Numerous businesses and stores, including Lunds & Byerlys, were closed. [94] [95] A no travel advisory was issued for several counties, including Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, and Watonwan counties. [96] In Wisconsin, Green Bay–Austin Straubel International Airport cancelled all flights on February 22 and most flights on February 23. [97]
Snow accumulated as high as 13.5 inches (34 cm), four miles north of Rochester, Minnesota. [98] Hundreds of crashes were reported, including jackknifed semi-trucks. [99] Wind gusts of over 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) impacted the Twin cities. [100] There were at least 134 calls for service to the south in Iowa, including 48 crashes which resulted in 10 injuries. [101] To the east in Wisconsin, I-94 was closed, as well as Green Bay regional airports. [102] There were more than 10,000 power outages, with 9,200+ of those outages from Kenosha alone. [103] Hundreds of flights were cancelled at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. [104] Snow emergencies were declared in Green Bay, Menasha, and Kaukauna. [105] A parking garage in Glendale partially collapsed, damaging two cars. [106] To the east, there were at least 811,000 power outages across Michigan, [107] with over 485,000 in the Detroit Metropolitan Area alone. [108] There was extreme amount of damage to power infrastructure. [109] Ice accumulated as high as 0.65 inches (17 mm) in Ann Arbor. [110] One firefighter died when a power line fell on him in Paw Paw. [11] To the south in Illinois, icy conditions caused downed trees and power lines, blocking roads. [111] 89,000 customers were without power in the Chicago metropolitan area. [112]
Severe weather impacted the middle Mississippi Valley on February 22, particularly in the eastern St. Louis metropolitan area, where multiple reports of wind damage came in mainly for tree and power line damage. [113]
Record high temperatures were recorded in McAllen, Texas, at 95 °F (35 °C) on February 22. [114] Atlanta also soared to a monthly record high of 81 °F (27 °C), [115] as did Beckley, West Virginia at 77 °F (25 °C), and Chattanooga, Tennessee at 82 °F (28 °C). [116] On February 23, Nashville hit a monthly record high of 85 °F (29 °C), which also tied the statewide record for highest temperature in February. [117] [118] Muscle Shoals, Alabama also hit a monthly record high of 86 °F (30 °C). [119] The low of 69 °F (21 °C) on February 23 in Atlanta was not only the warmest low in February on record, but warmer than any low temperature in December, January or March. [120] Pittsburgh hit 70 °F (21 °C) for the third time in February 2023, the first time in history that Pittsburgh reached seventy degrees or higher in February three times. [121] However, some places further north in New Hampshire and Maine still recorded 5–10 in (13–25 cm) of snow late on February 23. [122] Toronto broke a daily snowfall record due to the storm at 17.4 cm (6.9 in). [123] The snow caused 14 cars to slide off I-89 in Franklin County, Vermont. [124] Another car crash on I-91 in Hartland, Vermont caused a fatality. [15] Boston Logan International Airport cancelled 125 flights and delayed 219 others on February 23. [125]
Heavy snowfall fell in parts of the New York City metropolitan area between February 27 and 28. By the morning of February 28, New Canaan, Connecticut had received 7 in (18 cm) of snow, while Port Jervis, New York and Bloomingdale, New Jersey had received 6 and 8.5 in (15 and 22 cm) respectively. [126] Up to 12 in (30 cm) of snow fell in Olivebridge, New York. [127] However, less snow fell in the city itself, with 1.8 in (4.6 cm) of snow in Central Park, 1.5 in (3.8 cm) of snow at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 1.7 in (4.3 cm) at Newark, New Jersey and 2.7 in (6.9 cm) of snow at LaGuardia Airport, [128] although parts of the Bronx saw as much as 5.6 in (14 cm) of snow. [129] The snowstorm resulted in 150 flight cancellations at LaGuardia Airport, 100 at JFK Airport and 50 at Newark Airport. [130] A snow emergency was declared due to the storm in Bridgeport, Connecticut. [131] Despite the snow that fell, however, it wound up being one of the least snowy December–February periods across the region, [132] and the least snowy winter on record in Central Park. [133] The snow led to a 15-car pileup on the Massachusetts Turnpike. [134]
The threat for organized severe weather across Oklahoma and adjacent areas was first highlighted by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) nearly a week before the event, on February 21 with a 15 percent risk area issued for the eastern Texas Panhandle, the western half of Oklahoma and much of Kansas. [135] The next day, as computer models began to exhibit greater consistency from run to run, a portion of the risk area was upgraded to a 30 percent risk area, [136] and subsequently to a level 3/Enhanced risk on the day 3 convective outlook. [137] The day before the event, this Enhanced risk was expanded northeastward toward Missouri and a level 4/Moderate risk was introduced across western Oklahoma, where increasing confidence caused forecasters to advertise the potential for a widespread damaging wind event. [138] On February 26, the greatest risk area was again extended across much of Oklahoma, and the SPC also messaged the potential for a few strong/EF2+ tornadoes across southwestern portions of the state. The 1630 UTC day 1 outlook noted that a powerful derecho with embedded swaths of 80–110 miles per hour (130–180 km/h) straight-line winds was likely, along with embedded tornadoes – including the risk for strong (EF2+) tornadoes – and isolated instances of very large hail. [139]
On the morning of February 26, water vapor imagery depicted a well-defined and compact cold-core low progressing eastward across California and Nevada. A powerful shortwave trough accompanied this feature. Farther to the east, a warm front stretched from southern Louisiana across southern Texas, separating cooler and drier air to the north from a more unstable environment to the south. As low-level flow increased in advance of the cold-core low, southerly winds allowed that moist airmass to surge rapidly northward throughout the morning and afternoon hours. [140] Much of the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, as well as western Oklahoma, experienced a four to eight degree increase in dewpoints within just a three-hour period. The meteorologists at the SPC noticed this and issued a Tornado Watch for parts of Texas and Oklahoma. The Tornado Watch was later expanded into central, northern and southern Oklahoma. Prior to the development of thunderstorms, strong wind fields already existed across the region, with bulk wind shear [note 1] topping 70 knots (80 mph; 130 km/h) and forecast to increase further. [142]
As the evening approached, supercells developed in the Texas Panhandle, further organizing as a cold front overtook the preexisting dryline and contributed to greater focus for convective activity. [143] To the north, a complex line of storms developed near a 988 millibars (29.2 inHg) surface low in southwestern Kansas, where multiple tornadoes were reported. [144] With time, the originally discrete storms from the Texas Panhandle became intertwined with a solidifying squall line pushing eastward into Oklahoma. These storms entered an environment of richer moisture, with dewpoints into the low 60s °F northward to near I-40, and modest instability on the order of 500–1,000 J/kg. Despite the presence of a capping inversion, strong forcing along the cold front was expected to erode inhibition, while low-level winds topping 70 knots (80 mph; 130 km/h) worked to assist in broad swaths of damaging winds. Favorable wind shear profiles supported embedded mesovortices and QLCS tornadoes within the line as the storm complex continued east. [145] Multiple tornadoes occurred in the Eastern Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma, including a high-end EF2 tornado that obliterated manufactured homes and killed one person at the western edge of Cheyenne. Several damaging QLCS tornadoes also ended up touching down throughout the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, including another high-end EF2 tornado that caused significant damage in southeastern Norman. [146] [147] As storms entered eastern Oklahoma, they encountered a less favorable environment and weakened considerably, reducing the threat for severe weather with eastward extent into the pre-dawn hours of February 27, although scattered wind and tornado reports continued all the way into Missouri. [148] In all, 12 tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma; the day alone set the record for the most tornadoes ever recorded in Oklahoma during the month of February (the previous record was 6 in February of 1975 and 2009). [7] Over 100 reports of damaging straight-line wind gusts were received by the SPC, including multiple observations above hurricane-level windspeeds, peaking at 114 mph (183 km/h) in Memphis, Texas. [55]
More than 76,000 people in Oklahoma lost power on the night of February 27, though it was restored for most by the following morning. [149] Amtrak's northbound Heartland Flyer was severely delayed due to debris on the tracks caused by the EF2 Norman tornado. [150]
More severe weather was forecast for February 27, although the threat area was initially poorly forecast. A 15 percent risk area was initially outlined for eastern Kentucky and eastern Tennessee on February 24. [151] The outlined area was given a slight risk the next day, thought weather data models began to show that ingredients for severe weather were shifting farther north towards the Ohio Valley region. [152] The slight risk was then shifted northwestward twice the subsequent day at both day 2 outlook times. [153] By the time the day 1 outlook was issued, the slight risk covered much of the Ohio Valley. While only moderate instability was in place, very strong wind shear and a discrete convective mode close to the surface low brought the possibility of both damaging winds and a few tornadoes in this area, with a 5% tornado risk area in place for much of Ohio, and a 2% tornado risk present farther west across Indiana and Illinois. [154] Later that day, multiple supercell thunderstorms developed in Illinois before they tracked eastward. Two EF0 tornadoes caused minimal damage in the Chicago suburbs of Plainfield and Naperville. Farther east in Indiana, a high-end EF1 tornado damaged the roof of a warehouse, snapped trees, and damaged or destroyed barns and outbuildings near McCordsville. In Ohio, another high-end EF1 tornado caused considerable damage to homes, trees, and outbuildings in and around Jacksonburg. An EF0 tornado overturned mobile homes and damaged abandoned farm structures at the Pickaway Correctional Institution near Orient. Several other weak tornadoes were also confirmed across all three states as well. [155]
EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF0 | Eastern Liberal | Seward | KS | 37°00′50″N100°55′11″W / 37.014°N 100.9198°W | 22:42–22:54 | 3.89 mi (6.26 km) | 20 yd (18 m) | A small high-end EF0 tornado moved through the eastern edge of Liberal. A house and an adjacent outbuilding suffered garage door failure, resulting in the uplift of a portion of the roof deck, while other homes had minor damage. A few mobile homes sustained roof and window damage, one of which slid off its foundation blocks. An outbuilding was heavily damaged, and a small, unanchored garden shed was rolled 30 ft (9.1 m). Fencing was blown over, and some empty plastic chemical tanks were tossed around. [156] [157] |
EF0 | NW of Lela | Wheeler | TX | 35°14′45″N100°23′47″W / 35.2457°N 100.3964°W | 00:29–00:30 | 0.19 mi (0.31 km) | 25 yd (23 m) | A very brief tornado was captured on video; no damage was observed. [158] |
EF1 | SE of Kelton | Wheeler | TX | 35°23′12″N100°07′17″W / 35.3868°N 100.1214°W | 00:41–00:46 | 1.88 mi (3.03 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | This high-end EF1 tornado captured on video by a storm chaser as it touched down southeast of the rural community of Kelton. A metal outbuilding was completely destroyed, with debris strewn downwind and wrapped around trees. Another outbuilding was damaged, trees were snapped or uprooted, and tumbleweeds were blown into a fence that was partially knocked down. [159] |
EFU | NE of Dodson, TX to SSE of Vinson | Harmon | OK | 34°48′36″N99°57′14″W / 34.81°N 99.954°W | 01:08–01:14 | 7.5 mi (12.1 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | Storm chasers observed a tornado. No damage was observed, and the tornado's path length is estimated. [160] |
EF2 | Western Cheyenne to W of Strong City | Roger Mills | OK | 35°37′N99°42′W / 35.61°N 99.70°W | 01:13–01:18 | 7 mi (11 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | 1 death – A high-end EF2 tornado touched down at the Mignon Laird Municipal Airport and caused major damage as it struck the west edge of Cheyenne, along with rural areas north-northeast of town. Several manufactured homes were obliterated and swept away, and an occupant of one of the residences was killed. Debris from the manufactured homes was scattered long distances through fields, vehicles were flipped and tossed, and major tree damage occurred, including some debarking. A cell tower was toppled over, and a two-story frame home had a large section of its roof removed, along with a second floor exterior wall. A few other houses also had significant roof damage, and an RV was rolled into the side of one residence. Outbuildings were also damaged or destroyed, power poles were snapped, and an ODOT building had a large section of its roof torn off. Some metal-framed buildings were also heavily damaged, one of which sustained buckling of its roof purlins. In addition to the fatality, at least three people were injured. A photograph from one of the destroyed mobile homes was found roughly 100 miles (160 km) away in Lambert. [161] [149] [162] |
EF1 | S of Erick | Beckham | OK | 35°09′00″N99°55′05″W / 35.15°N 99.918°W | 01:13–01:18 | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A few barns were destroyed, while power lines and tree branches were damaged as well. [163] |
EF1 | ENE of Vinson to S of Willow | Greer | OK | 34°56′13″N99°40′55″W / 34.937°N 99.682°W | 01:23–01:34 | 11 mi (18 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | Trees were damaged or uprooted, power poles were snapped, and outbuildings were damaged. This tornado was upgraded from EF0 to EF1 by the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma three months later. [164] |
EF1 | E of Lone Wolf to NNW of Hobart | Kiowa | OK | 34°59′13″N99°12′07″W / 34.987°N 99.202°W | 01:45–01:54 | 7.5 mi (12.1 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | This tornado was caught on video via a Ring security camera. A propane tank was tossed, power poles were snapped, and tree limbs were downed. Outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and metal debris was thrown into fields. A stop sign was blown over as well. [165] |
EF0 | NW of Amorita | Alfalfa | OK | 36°56′24″N98°18′22″W / 36.94°N 98.306°W | 02:31–02:32 | 0.2 mi (0.32 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A farm shed was destroyed by this brief tornado. [166] |
EF0 | NW of Gracemont | Caddo | OK | 35°09′47″N98°17′02″W / 35.163°N 98.284°W | 02:32–02:39 | 5.1 mi (8.2 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | Trees were damaged and granite headstones were moved at a cemetery. [167] |
EF0 | WSW of Minco | Grady | OK | 35°16′34″N98°00′47″W / 35.276°N 98.013°W | 02:52–02:53 | 0.25 mi (0.40 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | This brief tornado damaged a barn and a garage. [168] |
EF1 | W of Tuttle to WNW of Mustang | Grady, Canadian | OK | 35°17′02″N97°52′01″W / 35.284°N 97.867°W | 02:57–03:07 | 10.7 mi (17.2 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | This tornado passed to the west of Tuttle and Mustang, inflicting major roof damage to multiple homes, and damaging or destroying several metal outbuildings. Power poles were snapped, a decorative brick wall was blown over, and a stop sign was bent to the ground. A few trees were uprooted as well. [169] [170] |
EF1 | Western Oklahoma City to Bethany | Oklahoma | OK | 35°25′26″N97°39′36″W / 35.424°N 97.66°W | 03:12–03:18 | 5.5 mi (8.9 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | This tornado moved through the western suburbs of Oklahoma City. Metal buildings and a restaurant supply business had roofing torn off, and another business had one of its exterior walls blown out. Carports, fences, power poles, and trees were damaged as well. [171] |
EF2 | NE of Cole to Southeastern Norman to SSW of Newalla | McClain, Cleveland | OK | 35°07′23″N97°33′00″W / 35.123°N 97.55°W | 03:15–03:38 | 26.12 mi (42.04 km) | 900 yd (820 m) | A strong, fast-moving and damaging tornado touched down near Cole and moved northeastward, damaging the roofs of homes, overturning a semi-truck on I-35, snapping power poles, and causing considerable damage to hangars at the David J Perry Airport in Goldsby. The tornado crossed the Canadian River into the southeastern part of Norman and strengthened to high-end EF2 intensity, destroying part of a self-storage facility, heavily damaging two gas stations, and damaging 450 homes and some apartment buildings. 150 homes sustained some sort of roof damage, 50 of which had partial to total loss of their roofs, along with a few that had some loss of exterior walls. The NCED Hotel and Conference Center sustained considerable damage to one of its exterior walls, and several cars were flipped, moved, or damaged by flying debris. Many trees were snapped or uprooted in Norman, and numerous wooden power poles were also snapped. Continuing northeast of Norman, the tornado damaged many additional homes, several of which had their roofs and exterior walls ripped off at high-end EF2 strength. Extensive tree and power pole damage occurred before the tornado moved farther to the northeast, causing less intense damage to trees and power poles in and around the rural community of Stella before dissipating. The tornado injured twelve people and caused $50.2 million (2023 USD) in damage. In an analysis of the tornado, it was determined that this tornado was moving over 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). [172] [173] [174] |
EF1 | SSE of Newalla to southern McLoud | Cleveland, Pottawatomie | OK | 35°22′34″N97°08′46″W / 35.376°N 97.146°W | 03:42–03:48 | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A couple of homes had roof damage, a mobile home was damaged, and an RV was overturned. Outbuildings were damaged, power poles were snapped, and trees were snapped or uprooted. [175] [176] |
EF2 | Northern Shawnee to E of Meeker | Pottawatomie, Lincoln | OK | 35°23′24″N96°55′19″W / 35.39°N 96.922°W | 03:45–03:51 | 6.1 mi (9.8 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | A tornado touched down just north of the Shawnee Mall at the northern edge of Shawnee, snapping power poles and overturning pivot irrigation sprinklers. It tracked to the north-northeast and reached high-end EF2 strength as it moved into Aydelotte, where it partially or completely unroofed a few homes, overturned vehicles, downed trees, and damaged or destroyed well-built garages and storage buildings. The tornado crossed into Lincoln County and caused some additional tree and outbuilding damage before dissipating. Another high-end EF2 tornado would strike Shawnee and Aydelotte on April 19. [177] [178] |
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF1 | NW of McElhany | Newton | MO | 36°48′N94°25′W / 36.80°N 94.42°W | 07:02–07:03 | 0.75 mi (1.21 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | More than 10 farm outbuildings and farm implements were heavily damaged or destroyed, 2 RVs were rolled, and minor roof damage was inflicted to a few homes. Trees and power lines were damaged as well. [179] |
EF0 | E of Golden City | Dade | MO | 37°22′19″N94°02′42″W / 37.372°N 94.045°W | 07:25–07:27 | 1.65 mi (2.66 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | A large machinery outbuilding was heavily damaged, with tin from the structure being strewn in a cyclonic manner. Tree limbs were downed as well. [180] |
EF0 | S of Stockton Lake | Dade | MO | 37°34′N93°41′W / 37.56°N 93.69°W | 07:47–07:49 | 1.29 mi (2.08 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A few weakly-rooted trees were uprooted, and large branches were broken off other trees. [181] |
EF0 | E of Bondville | Champaign | IL | 40°05′51″N88°21′23″W / 40.0975°N 88.3564°W | 14:43–14:44 | 1.14 mi (1.83 km) | 30 yd (27 m) | A farm outbuilding suffered minor damage. [182] |
EFU | N of Champaign | Champaign | IL | 40°10′10″N88°15′54″W / 40.1694°N 88.2649°W | 14:55–14:56 | 1.53 mi (2.46 km) | 25 yd (23 m) | A tornado touched down and crossed I-57, inflicting no damage. [183] |
EFU | SW of Clarence | Ford | IL | 40°26′24″N88°00′00″W / 40.4400°N 88.0000°W | 15:15–15:17 | 1.6 mi (2.6 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A tornado was confirmed by eyewitness accounts and photos and videos. No known damage occurred. [184] |
EF0 | NW of Shorewood to Southwestern Plainfield | Kendall, Will | IL | 41°33′00″N88°15′49″W / 41.5501°N 88.2636°W | 15:41–15:44 | 2.2 mi (3.5 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A high-end EF0 tornado inflicted trim and roof shingle damage to numerous homes as it moved through residential areas. A few homes also had damage to gutters and windows, and one home suffered additional damage after a trampoline was thrown into it, impaling several pieces of it into the home's siding. The roof of a garden shed was damaged, and trees and tree branches were downed as well. [185] [186] |
EF0 | Northern Naperville | DuPage | IL | 41°47′02″N88°09′43″W / 41.7839°N 88.1619°W | 15:52–15:54 | 1.4 mi (2.3 km) | 30 yd (27 m) | Several trees were damaged in Naperville as a result of this weak tornado. [187] |
EF1 | SE of McCordsville | Hancock | IN | 39°51′56″N85°54′41″W / 39.8656°N 85.9115°W | 18:28–18:34 | 5.24 mi (8.43 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A high-end EF1 tornado damaged the roof of a warehouse and destroyed a farm outbuilding. A large and historic barn was damaged and slid off its foundation, and numerous trees were snapped. [188] |
EF1 | Eden | Hancock | IN | 39°56′32″N85°46′09″W / 39.9423°N 85.7692°W | 18:37–18:39 | 0.29 mi (0.47 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A brief tornado touched down in the rural community of Eden, removing the roof and exterior wall of a barn, and driving 2x4 beams into the ground at different angles downwind of the structure. Several trees were snapped or uprooted as well. [189] |
EF1 | Jacksonburg to NW of Middletown | Butler | OH | 39°32′17″N84°30′13″W / 39.5381°N 84.5036°W | 19:37–19:43 | 4.17 mi (6.71 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | This tornado first touched down in Jacksonburg, where minor tree and outbuilding damage occurred. The tornado continued to the northeast, where homes suffered minor to severe roof and siding damage, including one two-story home that was unroofed and had a second story back wall knocked down at high-end EF1 strength. A nearby barn was also leveled on the property, with debris from the structure being strewn through an adjacent field. An RV trailer was tipped over onto a vehicle, and dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted along the path as well. [190] |
EF0 | Convoy | Van Wert | OH | 40°55′02″N84°42′57″W / 40.9171°N 84.7159°W | 20:00–20:02 | 0.59 mi (0.95 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | A weak tornado lofted a swing set and tossed a small, unanchored chicken coop over a shed. The side of the shed was pushed in, while its metal roofing was pushed out. Sporadic tree and shingle damage occurred in town as well. [191] |
EF1 | N of Dodo to W of Dialton | Clark | OH | 40°00′33″N84°00′14″W / 40.0091°N 84.004°W | 20:19–20:21 | 2.31 mi (3.72 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | A barn was completely destroyed, and several homes had roof shingles and siding removed, including four well-built homes that suffered minor to moderate roof damage. One of the homes also had its garage door blown in, and trees were snapped or uprooted as well, including one tree that fell on and severely damaged a home's front porch awning. [192] |
EFU | SW of Redway | Mendocino | CA | 39°59′04″N124°00′06″W / 39.9844°N 124.0016°W | 20:24–20:25 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | Public video shows a waterspout moving onshore and quickly dissipating as the terrain became steeper. [193] |
EF0 | SW of Orient | Pickaway | OH | 39°47′20″N83°10′38″W / 39.7889°N 83.1773°W | 21:03–21:05 | 1.35 mi (2.17 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A high-end EF0 tornado rolled two strapped down single-wide manufactured homes onto their sides and caused lesser damage to several other nearby manufactured homes. A garage was unroofed, and multiple abandoned farm structures at the Pickaway Correctional Institution sustained considerable damage. A frame home sustained minor roof damage, and trees and tree branches were downed. The tornado dissipated as it was entering Orient, although building insulation was found in trees throughout the town. [194] |
EF0 | SE of Etna | Licking | OH | 39°56′57″N82°38′57″W / 39.9491°N 82.6492°W | 21:41–21:42 | 0.29 mi (0.47 km) | 90 yd (82 m) | A brief tornado lofted a small metal shed over some trees, with debris scattered 200 ft (61 m) away. Several softwood trees were snapped or uprooted as well. [195] |
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks that occurred in 2007, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally, particularly in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the summer season. Some tornadoes also take place in Europe, e. g. in the United Kingdom or in Germany.
The tornado outbreak of March 28–31, 2007, also known as the Late-March 2007 tornado outbreak, was a tornado outbreak that took place across the central United States. It developed in the High Plains from South Dakota to central Texas on March 28, 2007, which produced most of the tornadoes. Several more tornadoes were reported the next three days before the system weakened on March 31. It affected western Nebraska, western Kansas, extreme eastern Colorado, and much of Oklahoma, and Texas. It was the second major outbreak of 2007, four weeks after an outbreak farther east. The outbreak produced 80 confirmed tornadoes, with five deaths and extensive damage being reported. In addition to the tornadoes, widespread hail as large as softballs and destructive straight-line winds as strong as 90 mph (140 km/h) were reported.
A destructive and deadly tornado outbreak that took place across the Southern and Central United States from May 1 to May 3, 2008. The outbreak was responsible for at least seven fatalities and 23 injuries in Arkansas. There were at least 29 tornado reports from Iowa to Oklahoma on May 1 and 67 more in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas on May 2. A total of 60 tornadoes were confirmed by weather authorities.
A significant early season tornadic event affected portions of the Midwestern and Southern United States at the end of January 2013. The first signs of the outbreak came on January 23 as the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) detailed the eastward progression of a shortwave trough into an increasingly unstable air mass across portions of the lower Mississippi Valley; however, considerable uncertainty in the placement of severe thunderstorms caused the SPC to remove their threat outline. Succeeding many changes in the forecast, a Day 1 Moderate risk was issued for January 29, warning of the potential for widespread/significant damaging winds and a few strong tornadoes. The threat shifted eastward on January 30, encompassing a large section of the Southeastern United States. By late that day, the shortwave trough tracked northeastward into New England, ending the severe weather threat.
On November 17, 2013, the deadliest and costliest November tornado outbreak in Illinois history took shape, becoming the fourth-largest for the state overall. With more than 30 tornadoes in Indiana, it was that state's largest tornado outbreak for the month of November, and the second largest outbreak recorded in Indiana. Associated with a strong trough in the upper levels of the atmosphere, the event resulted in 77 tornadoes tracking across regions of the Midwest United States and Ohio River Valley, impacting seven states. Severe weather during the tornado outbreak caused over 100 injuries and eleven fatalities, of which eight were tornado related. Two tornadoes—both in Illinois and rated EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale—were the strongest documented during the outbreak and combined for five deaths. In addition to tornadoes, the system associated with the outbreak produced sizeable hail peaking at 4.00 in (10.2 cm) in diameter in Bloomington, Illinois, as well as damaging winds estimated as strong as 100 mph (160 km/h) in three locations.
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2017. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, Argentina and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail. There were 1,522 reports of tornadoes in the United States in 2017, of which 1,418 were confirmed. Worldwide, 43 fatalities were confirmed in 2017: 35 in the United States, five in China, two in Paraguay, and one in Brazil.
The April 2018 North American storm complex brought a wide swath of severe and winter weather that affected much of Midwest across to the East Coast of the United States. This particular outbreak led to at least 73 confirmed tornadoes over a three-day period, most of which occurred across Arkansas and Louisiana during the evening hours of April 13. The most significant tornadoes were an EF1 that caused a fatality in Red Chute, Louisiana, early on April 14, an upper-end EF2 tornado that impacted eastern sections of Greensboro, North Carolina on April 15, causing 17 injuries, and a significant EF3 tornado that impacted areas from Lynchburg to Elon, Virginia, causing severe damage and at least 10 injuries.
The tornado outbreak of April 17–19, 2019 was a multi-day, widespread severe weather event stretching from the South-Central United States to the East Coast of the United States. On the heels of a significant tornado outbreak just a few days prior, another potent upper-level trough progressed eastward and served as the impetus for widespread, damaging thunderstorms. The outbreak began on April 17 with several short-lived, generally weak tornadoes across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The following day, a total of 43 tornadoes were recorded across central Mississippi, tying the Hurricane Rita tornado outbreak as the largest in Mississippi state history. On April 19, the event spread eastward. North Carolina recorded 12 tornadoes, the state's sixth largest outbreak in a single day, while Virginia recorded 16 tornadoes, its third-most in a 24-hour period. Overall, 97 tornadoes were confirmed, the strongest of which was a high-end EF3 tornado that heavily damaged or destroyed homes and outbuildings near Rocky Mount, Virginia. There were no fatalities recorded in association with tornadic activity, but four people were killed by trees that were downed by strong straight-line winds.
A significant severe weather and tornado outbreak affected the Southern United States between December 16–17, 2019. Discrete supercells developed in the early morning on December 16 and moved northeast, spawning multiple strong, long-tracked tornadoes in cities such as Alexandria and in Laurel before congealing into an eastward-moving squall line. During the outbreak, the National Weather Service issued several PDS tornado warnings as well as a rare tornado emergency for Alexandria. In addition to this, the Storm Prediction Center issued six tornado watches for the outbreak. The event happened to take place on the same date of another outbreak in a similar area 19 years earlier.
A significant severe weather event impacted the South Central United States between October 20–22, 2019. Forecasters first identified the threat on October 16 as a large upper-level trough was expected to combine with an unstable atmosphere across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas particularly. On the evening of October 20, discrete supercell thunderstorms developed across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, contributing to several tornadoes. One of those tornadoes caused EF3 damage in the Dallas suburbs, becoming the costliest tornado event in Texas history, at $1.55 billion. A later squall line contributed to additional tornadoes and a widespread swath of damaging winds as the system tracked eastward.
A multi-day severe weather and tornado outbreak impacted the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States from February 5–7. A powerful upper-level trough progressed eastward across the country, intersecting an abundant supply of moist air to produce severe weather. An eastward-propagating cold front supported a damaging squall line across the Southeast U.S. on February 5–6; supercell thunderstorms ahead of this line also produced numerous tornadoes. One EF1 tornado in the pre-dawn hours of February 6 killed one person in Demopolis, Alabama. On the morning of February 7, a secondary front progressed across Maryland and Virginia, unexpectedly leading to hundreds of damaging wind reports across Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Five tornadoes were reported in the Washington, D.C., area, the most on record for a wintertime severe weather event. Across the three-day outbreak, 37 tornadoes were confirmed, including several that were strong and long-tracked. The tornado outbreak was part of a much larger storm complex that would eventually become European windstorm Storm Ciara.
On April 22, 2020, an outbreak of discrete supercell thunderstorms across portions of Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana led to widespread severe weather, including multiple strong tornadoes. Two people were killed by a high-end EF2 that struck the town of Madill, Oklahoma, and three more were killed by an EF3 wedge tornado that moved through Onalaska, Texas. Dozens of others were injured as well. The event came to fruition as a trough progressed eastward across the United States, interacting with a moist and unstable environment. Tornado activity continued into Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia overnight into the day on April 23. Isolated tornado activity also occurred during the overnight hours on April 21.
A tornado outbreak occurred on Saint Patrick's Day in the Deep South. Mississippi and Alabama were greatly affected, with numerous tornadoes being confirmed, including four that were rated EF2. Six people were injured by four different tornadoes across Alabama during the outbreak. A non-tornadic fatality also occurred due to a car crash near Natchez, Mississippi. The outbreak began the day before, with a couple tornadoes in Mississippi, and continued over the next two days. The storm moved eastward and affected portions of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia on March 18, spawning more tornadoes and causing wind damage before the storms pushed offshore that night. In total, 51 tornadoes were confirmed during the event, including 25 in Alabama, making it the sixth-largest tornado event in the state's history, and is sometimes locally referred to as the Saint Patrick's Day tornado outbreak of 2021. The same areas would be hit again by a more significant and destructive tornado outbreak sequence one week later.
On December 15, a rapidly-deepening low-pressure area contributed to a historic expanse of inclement weather across the Great Plains and Midwestern United States, resulting in an unprecedented December derecho and tornado outbreak across portions of the Northern United States, a region normally affected by snow and cold weather during this time of year. Non-thunderstorm winds spurred the formation of rapidly-moving fires across Colorado and western Kansas, with attendant dust and debris spreading eastward. From central Kansas northeastward into eastern Wisconsin, the powerful derecho led to hundreds of damaging wind reports. At least 57 hurricane-force wind reports were received by the National Weather Service, signaling the most prolific wind event in the United States dating back to at least 2004. Numerous embedded circulations within this rapidly-progressing derecho produced dozens of tornadoes, including 33 that were rated EF2. The culmination of non-thunderstorm, thunderstorm, and tornadic winds caused widespread damage to structures, trees, power lines, and vehicles across the Plains and Midwest. At least 600,000 people lost power on December 15, and temperatures dropped significantly across the affected region following the event, causing accumulating snow, which hindered cleanup and recovery efforts. The storm killed at least 5 people directly, as well as 2 people indirectly through wildfires partly spawned by the storm, and caused at least $1.8 billion in damages. The number of tornadoes in this event broke a record for largest outbreak in the month of December that had been set less than a week prior. The event also became one of the largest single-day outbreaks in recorded history, with 120 tornadoes occurring over an eight-hour period.
A large tornado outbreak struck the Southern region of the United States on March 21–22, 2022, before transitioning to the Eastern United States on March 23. The outbreak started with numerous supercell thunderstorms and severe squall lines developing in central Texas and southern Oklahoma, prompting the issuance of numerous tornado warnings, including multiple PDS tornado warnings. An EF3 tornado caused considerable damage in Jacksboro, Texas while an EF2 tornado from the same storm caused a fatality in Sherwood Shores. Other strong tornadoes caused damage near College Station and in the Austin and Houston metropolitan areas. Severe and tornadic activity continued into the next day as the system moved eastward with numerous tornadoes reported in Mississippi and Alabama. On the evening of March 22, a supercell moved through the New Orleans metropolitan area, with an EF3 tornado producing severe damage in Arabi, resulting in one death and at least two injuries. Widespread flooding also accompanied the decaying squall line in Alabama. Tornadoes occurred on March 23 over the Eastern United States, associated with the same system, including EF2 tornadoes near Pickens, South Carolina, and Gladesboro, Virginia. In all, 85 tornadoes were confirmed.
The April 2022 North American storm complex affected much of the Rocky Mountains and the Midwestern United States with tornadoes, heavy snow, and gusty winds. The system in general first began impacting the Northwest on April 11, before moving eastward into the Rocky Mountains the following day. It was also responsible for producing a large severe weather outbreak of tornadoes and damaging straight-line wind in the Midwest and South while contributing to a powerful blizzard in the upper Midwest states of North and South Dakota.
A four-day tornado outbreak affected the Central and Southern United States in mid-December 2022. The outbreak produced strong tornadoes in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, resulting in severe damage and three fatalities. On December 13, a high-end EF1 tornado was caught on video from multiple angles as it caused considerable damage in Grapevine, Texas, where five people were injured, and multiple EF2 tornadoes caused significant damage in other parts of Texas and Oklahoma that morning. Two large EF2 tornadoes occurred near DeBerry, Texas and Keachi, Louisiana to the southwest of Shreveport, Louisiana, with the second one causing severe damage and two fatalities. An EF3 tornado struck the northern fringes of Farmerville, causing major structural damage and 14 injuries.
An intense low-pressure system produced widespread impacts across the United States in early March 2023. Additionally, an outbreak of 35 tornadoes affected 12 states from the Southern United States to the Great Lakes. In all, the storm system killed 13 people due to flooding and strong winds. At least 17 other people were injured.
From April 1 to 3, 2024, a significant tornado outbreak, which also included a derecho, affected much of the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. The National Weather Service issued dozens of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings across West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri during the event. A total of 32 million people were estimated to be under watches or warnings, and over 150,000 people were estimated to be without power. and 15 people were injured. The event was given an outbreak intensity score of 28 points, ranking it as a significant tornado outbreak, and five people were killed by non-tornadic events as well.
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