Type | Tornado outbreak |
---|---|
Duration | August 29–September 2, 2021 |
Highest winds |
|
Tornadoes confirmed | 36 |
Max. rating1 | EF3 tornado |
Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 79 hours, 15 minutes |
Fatalities | 1 death, 7 injuries |
Damage | >$13.098 million (2021 USD) [1] |
Areas affected | Southeastern United States and Northeastern United States |
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2021 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado |
Hurricane Ida generated a tornado outbreak as it traversed the Southeastern, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeastern United States. Thirty-five confirmed tornadoes touched down from Mississippi to Massachusetts; one person was killed in Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania, and several people were injured in Alabama, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The most active and destructive part of the outbreak occurred during the afternoon of September 1, when several strong tornadoes struck Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, including an EF3 tornado which impacted Mullica Hill, New Jersey. The same storm later dropped an EF1 tornado that prompted a tornado emergency for Burlington, New Jersey and Croydon, and Bristol, Pennsylvania, the first of its kind in the Northeast, as well as the first such alert associated with a tropical cyclone or it's remnants. [2] This outbreak severely impacted New Jersey and the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, a region which had been significantly impacted by strong tornadoes from another outbreak that occurred just over a month prior, as well as several weak tornadoes from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred two weeks earlier. Overall, the 36 tornadoes killed one person and injured seven others.
At 16:55 UTC on August 29, Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, with sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a central pressure of 930 mbar (27 inHg). [3] Strong low-level shear, daytime boundary heating, and weak inland buoyancy led to an increasing risk for tornadoes across the Southeastern United States. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a slight risk for severe weather for the Central Gulf Coast for three straight days between August 29-31. [4] [5] [6] Numerous weak tornadoes touched down in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama during this time. One EF1 tornado caused considerable damage in Saraland, Alabama on August 30, injuring three people. [7] A small slight risk was also issued in the Mid-Atlantic for the Southern Delmarva Peninsula on August 31, where a confluence zone was expected to have an increasing westerly mid-level flow in response to Ida, although it was not the only influence in this area. [6] Two weak tornadoes occurred in Southwest Virginia that afternoon. [8]
As Ida became extratropical and moved into the Northeastern United States on September 1, a strengthening low-level jet (LLJ) along and south of a warm front coupled with a very moist atmosphere and sufficient surface heating led to a more substantial risk for tornadoes between Washington, D.C., and New York City and the SPC issued a tornado-driven enhanced risk for severe weather for this region. This included a 10% tornado risk with a 30% damaging wind risk added later on. [9] That afternoon, several supercells formed across the D.C. metropolitan area and quickly became tornadic as they moved northeast. An EF2 tornado struck Annapolis, Maryland, causing significant structural and tree damage throughout the city. [10] Another EF2 tornado caused severe damage in a residential neighborhood in Oxford, Pennsylvania. [11] Later, a large EF2 tornado struck Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania, severely damaging buildings, homes, and trees, killing one person and causing a few minor injuries. [11] An intense EF3 wedge tornado destroyed several homes and a dairy farm in Mullica Hill, New Jersey as well, injuring two people. [11] An EF1 tornado produced by the same storm prompted the issuance of the first ever tornado emergency the Northeast, as well as the first such alert associated with a tropical cyclone. A few other weak tornadoes also touched down later that evening and into September 2 before the remnants of Ida moved offshore, ending the outbreak.
EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
EF# | Location | County / parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF1 | WSW of Pass Christian to SW of Diamondhead | Harrison, Hancock | MS | 30°18′56″N89°15′30″W / 30.3156°N 89.2582°W | 11:23–11:28 | 3.8 mi (6.1 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | A waterspout moved onshore from the Gulf of Mexico damaging several homes, with one sustaining extensive roof damage. It continued to damage homes as it tracked northwest into the Bay of St. Louis. The tornado tracked near Diamondhead as it moved onshore from the bay. Shingles were removed from the roof of a nursing center as the tornado crossed I-10 before dissipating shortly thereafter. Trees were snapped or uprooted along the path as well. [12] [13] |
EF0 | Gulfport | Harrison | MS | 30°22′40″N89°03′53″W / 30.3777°N 89.0646°W | 22:15–22:19 | 0.74 mi (1.19 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Numerous trees and tree limbs were downed, including one large tree that was uprooted onto two houses. A house, a strip mall, and another building sustained roof damage as well. [14] |
EF1 | Eden Isle (1st tornado) | St. Tammany | LA | 30°12′40″N89°46′22″W / 30.2112°N 89.7729°W | 23:33–23:38 | 4.92 mi (7.92 km) | 175 yd (160 m) | Two buildings at a condominium complex had their roofs partially torn off. Numerous houses were damaged and trees were downed. [15] |
EF0 | SE to NW of Pearlington | Hancock | MS | 30°12′22″N89°30′27″W / 30.2061°N 89.5074°W | 23:59–00:09 | 10.55 mi (16.98 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | A waterspout moved onshore, blowing down road signs and posts. Trees and roofs of homes were damaged. [16] |
EF0 | Eden Isle (2nd tornado) | St. Tammany | LA | 30°13′11″N89°47′39″W / 30.2197°N 89.7942°W | 01:56–01:57 | 0.88 mi (1.42 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A brief tornado damage roofs and fences and uprooted trees. [17] |
EF0 | ESE of Waveland to Shoreline Park | Hancock | MS | 30°15′59″N89°23′11″W / 30.2664°N 89.3864°W | 03:11–03:14 | 3.34 mi (5.38 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | A waterspout moved onshore and caused minor damage to the roofs of several homes and an apartment complex. Several trees were also snapped or uprooted. [18] |
EF0 | NE of Waveland to NE of Shoreline Park | Hancock | MS | 30°17′44″N89°21′57″W / 30.2955°N 89.3658°W | 03:15–03:18 | 2.88 mi (4.63 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | A waterspout moved onshore, where the roofs of several homes sustained minor damage. Several trees were snapped or uprooted as well. [19] |
EF0 | Henderson Point | Harrison | MS | 30°18′29″N89°16′56″W / 30.3081°N 89.2822°W | 03:37–03:38 | 0.51 mi (0.82 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | A waterspout formed over the Mississippi Sound and moved inland. Several homes and a detached garage were damaged, trees were snapped or uprooted, and power lines were snapped. [20] |
EF# | Location | County / parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF0 | Biloxi (1st tornado) | Harrison | MS | 30°23′50″N88°56′00″W / 30.3973°N 88.9332°W | 09:18–09:19 | 0.17 mi (0.27 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | A very brief tornado caused minor damage to several homes and several apartment buildings. [21] |
EF0 | Biloxi (2nd tornado) | Harrison | MS | 30°23′48″N88°52′44″W / 30.3966°N 88.8788°W | 10:55–10:56 | 0.53 mi (0.85 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A brief tornado inflicted minor damage to several homes and a small office complex. Large tree limbs were snapped. [22] |
EF0 | NW of Mississippi City | Harrison | MS | 30°23′12″N89°03′23″W / 30.3868°N 89.0565°W | 12:44–12:45 | 0.52 mi (0.84 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A brief tornado damaged the roofs of several homes and snapped numerous trees. [23] |
EF0 | E of Gulfport to WSW of Biloxi | Harrison | MS | 30°23′28″N89°00′22″W / 30.391°N 89.0061°W | 12:49–12:51 | 1.04 mi (1.67 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | Trees were snapped and uprooted at a golf club. Several homes sustained damage, and a warehouse lost some of its roof panels. [24] |
EF0 | Biloxi (3rd tornado) | Harrison | MS | 30°23′50″N88°59′34″W / 30.3971°N 88.9928°W | 12:50–12:55 | 3.47 mi (5.58 km) | 125 yd (114 m) | Trees were downed and several houses sustained roof damage. The tornado crossed Big Lake and caused minor damage more homes. [25] |
EF0 | Biloxi (4th tornado) | Harrison | MS | 30°23′51″N88°58′25″W / 30.3974°N 88.9737°W | 12:56–12:58 | 1.05 mi (1.69 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | Several homes sustained minor roof damage. Portions of roofing were torn off at a bank and a restaurant, and trees and fences were damaged along the tornado's path. [26] |
EF0 | Pascagoula to SE of Helena | Jackson | MS | 30°21′00″N88°33′30″W / 30.3499°N 88.5583°W | 14:37–14:57 | 10.19 mi (16.40 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A waterspout moved ashore, causing light damage to multiple homes. Tree limbs were damaged. [27] |
EF1 | Saraland to E of Bucks | Mobile, Baldwin | AL | 30°47′42″N88°04′23″W / 30.7951°N 88.0731°W | 17:20–17:43 | 16.62 mi (26.75 km) | 175 yd (160 m) | The roof of a motel was partially removed just west of US 43 in Saraland, and several sections of another motel's roof were removed. The roof of an industrial building was partially removed and an 18-wheeler was overturned. Trees were uprooted or snapped along the path, including some that fell onto a home near I-65. Three people were injured. [28] In November 2023, this tornado was reanalyzed and had its path length adjusted from 9.96 mi (16.03 km) to 16.62 mi (26.75 km) due to a narrow swath of uprooted and snapped trees noted on Planet and Worldview satellite imagery. The ending point was also extended further to the northeast into the Mobile River delta. [29] |
EF1 | E of Malcolm | Clarke, Baldwin | AL | 31°13′N87°52′W / 31.21°N 87.86°W | 18:05–18:10 | 3.53 mi (5.68 km) | 175 yd (160 m) | In November 2023, a new tornado was found along the Alabama River based on a narrow swath of tree damage noted on Planet and Worldview satellite imagery. [29] |
EF1 | ESE of Rockville to WSW of Alma | Clarke | AL | 31°24′23″N87°47′32″W / 31.4064°N 87.7922°W | 18:25–18:28 | 3.5 mi (5.6 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | A mobile home was rolled and another home lost much of its roof. Trees were snapped or uprooted as the tornado tracked through a heavily wooded area. [30] |
EF0 | SE of Troy | Pike | AL | 31°43′36″N85°54′39″W / 31.7266°N 85.9109°W | 19:02–19:09 | 3.18 mi (5.12 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | A few trees were downed or had limbs snapped off. [31] |
EF0 | SE of Tuskegee | Macon | AL | 32°23′52″N85°35′53″W / 32.3979°N 85.5981°W | 20:45–20:46 | 0.48 mi (0.77 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | Trees and tree limbs were blown down, and a home sustained siding damage. [32] |
EF# | Location | County / parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF0 | SW of Peterman to Jones Crossroads | Houston | AL | 31°12′00″N85°29′22″W / 31.1999°N 85.4894°W | 20:59–21:08 | 0.89 mi (1.43 km) | 20 yd (18 m) | Trees were downed onto a mobile home. Farther along the path, the doors and siding of a warehouse were damaged and the roof of a shed was peeled off. [33] |
EF1 | SE of Radford | Montgomery | VA | 37°04′51″N80°31′08″W / 37.0808°N 80.5188°W | 22:34–22:38 | 1.9 mi (3.1 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | A barn was damaged and several trees were snapped or uprooted. [34] |
EF1 | NW of Merrimac | Montgomery | VA | 37°11′51″N80°26′15″W / 37.1974°N 80.4376°W | 22:59–23:00 | 0.22 mi (0.35 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | Several trees were uprooted and snapped, and a swing was destroyed. [35] |
EF0 | Midland City | Dale | AL | 31°19′10″N85°30′16″W / 31.3194°N 85.5045°W | 23:14–23:17 | 0.65 mi (1.05 km) | 125 yd (114 m) | Bleachers and a dugout at the Dale City High School were damaged. Numerous homes in Midland City sustained minor roof damage, and trampolines were lofted into the air. Several trees were also blown down, some of which fell onto and damaged a home. [36] |
EF0 | N of Bailey Crossroad | Geneva, Houston | AL | 31°11′18″N85°36′50″W / 31.1884°N 85.614°W | 23:34–23:40 | 2.29 mi (3.69 km) | 25 yd (23 m) | This tornado moved through open fields before damaging a barn near the end of its path. [37] [38] |
EF# | Location | County / parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF2 | Owensville to western Annapolis | Anne Arundel | MD | 38°51′00″N76°35′46″W / 38.85°N 76.596°W | 18:01–18:23 | 11.43 mi (18.39 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | This damaging tornado first touched down in Owensville before moving north-northeastward, downing trees and tree branches. As it entered the south side of Edgewater, it strengthened and struck a subdivision, where multiple homes had large sections of their roofs torn off, and one was unroofed entirely. The Center of Applied Technology South and South River High School both sustained roof damage, while the concession stand and football field grandstands were also damaged. Many homes suffered considerable roof, siding, and porch damage as the tornado moved farther north-northeast through residential areas. After crossing the South River, the tornado reached peak strength and struck several neighborhoods in Annapolis. Numerous homes, apartment buildings, businesses, warehouses, and restaurants had their roofs ripped off or sustained significant roof and siding damage, including a warehouse that sustained some collapse of exterior walls. Numerous windows were also shattered, signs were destroyed, and many power lines and trees were downed, some of which landed on homes. The tornado weakened and caused additional tree and roof damage as it approached US 301/US 50 before lifting just after crossing it. [39] |
EF0 | E of Edgemere | Baltimore | MD | 39°11′49″N76°26′31″W / 39.197°N 76.442°W | 18:48–19:00 | 6.73 mi (10.83 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | A high-end EF0 tornado developed at the confluence of the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay and moved north-northeastward, crossing the Shallow Creek, Back River, and Browns Creek. Trees and branches were snapped along the path before it dissipated near the Middle River. [40] |
EF2 | Eastern Oxford to NE of Russellville | Chester | PA | 39°46′N75°58′W / 39.77°N 75.97°W | 20:15–20:22 | 5.92 mi (9.53 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | This low-end EF2 tornado first caused significant damage in the Wiltshire subdivision at the east edge of Oxford. A home lost an exterior wall, another home lost a large part of its roof and much of its siding, and several other homes were damaged to a lesser degree. An outbuilding was damaged and an RV was flipped at a business near the subdivision as well. The tornado weakened as it continued to the north, damaging a metal storage building, turkey pens, outbuildings, power poles, trees, and crops before dissipating. Damage totaled $500,000. [41] |
EF0 | W of Hurlock | Dorchester | MD | 38°40′N75°52′W / 38.67°N 75.86°W | 20:45–20:58 | 3.82 mi (6.15 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A 40 ft (12 m) section of roofing was torn off of a metal building. Several large irrigation systems were flipped, and damage to soybean and corn crops also occurred. [42] |
EF2 | Fort Washington to Horsham | Montgomery | PA | 40°06′25″N75°14′17″W / 40.107°N 75.238°W | 21:35–21:49 | 8.28 mi (13.33 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | 1 death – This rain-wrapped, strong tornado touched down near the Philadelphia Cricket Club southwest of Whitemarsh, where minor low-end EF1 tree damage occurred. Additional minor damage occurred to homes and trees in and around Fort Washington State Park. The tornado strengthened to high-end EF1 intensity as it moved through Whitemarsh, crossed the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and moved into a more residential area as it entered Fort Washington, where many trees were snapped, and numerous homes sustained minor to moderate roof and siding damage. The tornado then rapidly intensified and reached its peak intensity of high-end EF2 as it crossed PA 309 in Upper Dublin. Numerous homes and apartment buildings sustained partial to total loss of their roofs, and one sustained collapse of some exterior walls. Almost all trees in this area were uprooted or snapped, and cars were flipped or damaged by flying debris. Upper Dublin High School sustained roof damage, a large building adjacent to the school lost a significant portion of its roof, and power poles were snapped. Homes near the school were damaged, and one woman was killed when a large tree fell onto her house on Kenyon Drive. The tornado weakened to high-end EF1 strength as it continued to move to the northeast, flattening a wide swath of trees in a wooded area and causing severe roof damage to buildings on the campus of Temple University Ambler. Homes were damaged in a nearby neighborhood as well, a few of which also had large sections of roofing torn off. Many additional trees were downed, and mostly minor roof damage to homes, commercial buildings, and a veterinary hospital occurred in Maple Glen before the tornado quickly dissipated near the Bucks County line. Damage totaled $5 million and two people were injured. [43] |
EF1 | S of Doylestown to Buckingham Township | Bucks | PA | 40°16′N75°07′W / 40.27°N 75.11°W | 21:59–22:06 | 4.31 mi (6.94 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | This tornado came from the same storm that produced the previous tornado above. It moved through a forested area, damaging and knocking down trees, some of which blocked roads. [44] |
EF3 | E of Harrisonville to Mullica Hill to Deptford | Gloucester | NJ | 39°40′37″N75°15′00″W / 39.6769°N 75.2500°W | 22:10–22:30 | 12.37 mi (19.91 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | See section for this tornado – Two people were injured. |
EF1 | Upper Makefield Township | Bucks | PA | 40°17′53″N74°56′17″W / 40.298°N 74.938°W | 22:30–22:35 | 1.6 mi (2.6 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | Some trees were uprooted at the Jericho National Golf Club. Additional tree damage was found along with several flipped soccer goals at Brownsburg Park. The tornado dissipated just before crossing the Delaware River. [45] |
EF1 | Edgewater Park, NJ to Bristol, PA | Burlington (NJ), Bucks (PA) | NJ, PA | 40°04′N74°53′W / 40.06°N 74.89°W | 22:59–23:04 | 2.98 mi (4.80 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | This tornado came from the same storm that produced the Mullica Hill EF3 tornado and several pictures and videos were taken of it. Trees and power lines were damaged along the path and a few homes sustained minor damage. A tornado emergency was issued for this tornado, this first of its kind to be issued in the Northeast. [46] [47] |
EF0 | Princeton | Mercer | NJ | 40°19′N74°40′W / 40.31°N 74.67°W | 23:32–23:35 | 2.61 mi (4.20 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | This tornado was the last produced by the Mullica Hill supercell. Trees and branches were snapped and uprooted in town, but no structural damage occurred. [48] |
EF# | Location | County / parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF0 | Dennis | Barnstable | MA | 41°44′29″N70°12′49″W / 41.7413°N 70.2135°W | 05:30–05:31 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 15 yd (14 m) | A weak tornado caused minor damage to two homes in town, and knocked down three large oak trees. [49] |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | September 1,2021,6:10 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00) |
Dissipated | September 1,2021,6:30 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00) |
Duration | 20 minutes |
EF3 tornado | |
on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
Highest winds | 150 mph (240 km/h) |
Overall effects | |
Injuries | 2 |
Damage | >$2 million (2023 USD) [50] |
This intense wedge tornado caused major damage as it paralleled Route 45 to its west in Gloucester County. It first touched down at 6:10 p.m. EDT (22:10 UTC),east-southeast of Harrisonville,initially causing minor tree damage. Tree damage became more significant as it moved northeast into the eastern side of Cedar Grove,and dozens of trees were downed at EF1 intensity in the small community. The tornado became strong and destructive as it struck the Willow Oaks subdivision at the northeast edge of Cedar Grove,where multiple homes sustained significant structural damage on Marvin Lane. Roofs were ripped off,exterior walls were collapsed,vehicles were moved and damaged,and one home was left with only a few walls left standing,with the damage in this area being rated EF3. The tornado then weakened momentarily as it struck a commercial farm along Route 77 at the south edge of Mullica Hill,destroying barns and storage buildings at EF1 to EF2 intensity before strengthening again and moving through a subdivision in the eastern part of town.
The large tornado reached its peak intensity of mid-range EF3 at this location as it moved over Salvatore Lane and Clems Run. Several two-story homes sustained total roof and exterior wall loss in this area,and cars were tossed around. One house was completely leveled,though it was not well-anchored and nearby trees did not sustain damage consistent with a tornado stronger than EF3 strength. Crossing US 322 past Mullica Hill,the tornado maintained its strength as it destroyed barns and silos at a large dairy farm,and completely mowed down a wide swath of large trees as it moved through a wooded area. In the worst affected area,every tree in the direct path was snapped near the base. The tornado then briefly weakened to EF1 intensity before regaining EF2 intensity as it moved into Mantua Township and passed west of Barnsboro,where many trees were downed,homes sustained roof damage,and a large commercial greenhouse was partially destroyed. Continuing to the northeast,it remained at EF2 strength as it impacted Wenonah,where garages were destroyed,a fire station was damaged,and some homes had roofs and exterior walls ripped off.
The tornado then narrowed and gradually weakened,causing mostly minor damage to trees,fences,roofs and siding occurred in Woodbury Heights and Deptford before dissipating at 6:30 p.m. EDT (22:30 UTC). It traveled 12.37 miles (19.91 km) and reached a maximum path width of 400 yards (370 m). Two people were injured. This was the first F3/EF3 rated tornado in the state of New Jersey since 1990,and one of only four ever confirmed in the state. [10] [51] Damages exceeded $64 million,although the official estimate from the National Centers for Environmental Information is $5 million. [52] [51] [53]
An unseasonably strong tornado outbreak began on January 7, 2008, and continued for nearly four days across the Central and Southern United States, with the hardest hit area being southwestern Missouri, northwestern Arkansas, and the surrounding area. In addition, a strong supercell in northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin produced that region's first January tornadoes since 1967.
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.
An unusually prolific and very destructive late-winter tornado outbreak resulted in significant damage and numerous casualties across the southern and eastern half of the United States between February 23–24, 2016. Lasting over a day and a half, the outbreak produced a total of 61 tornadoes across eleven states, which ranked it as one of the largest February tornado outbreaks in the United States on record, with only the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak having recorded more. In addition, it was also one of the largest winter tornado outbreaks overall as well. The most significant and intense tornadoes of the event were four EF3 tornadoes that struck southeastern Louisiana, Pensacola, Florida, Evergreen, Virginia, and Tappahannock, Virginia. Tornadoes were also reported in other places like Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Severe thunderstorms, hail and gusty winds were also felt in the Northeastern United States and Mid-Atlantic states on February 24 as well.
A deadly tornado outbreak severely impacted the Southern United States, and also affected Iowa and Nebraska to a lesser extent, between November 27–30, 2016. The strongest tornadoes of the event affected Alabama and Tennessee during the late evening of November 29 and into the early morning hours of November 30. Overall, this outbreak produced 48 tornadoes, killed six people, and injured many others.
A prolific and deadly winter tornado outbreak struck areas across the Southeast United States between January 21–23, 2017. Lasting just under two days, the outbreak produced a total of 81 tornadoes, cementing its status as the second-largest January tornado outbreak and the third-largest winter tornado outbreak since 1950. Furthermore, it was the largest outbreak on record in Georgia with 42 tornadoes confirmed in the state. The most significant tornadoes were three EF3 tornadoes that heavily damaged or destroyed portions of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Albany and Adel, Georgia. A total of 20 people were killed by tornadoes—mainly during the pre-dawn hours of the outbreak—making it the second-deadliest outbreak in January since 1950, behind the 1969 Hazlehurst, Mississippi tornado outbreak that killed 32 people. In addition, the tornado death toll was higher than the entire previous year. In the aftermath of the outbreak, relief organizations assisted in clean-up and aid distribution. Total economic losses from the event reached at least $1.3 billion.
A small but damaging outbreak of 15 tornadoes impacted the Southeastern United States on February 7, 2017. The most damaging tornado of the outbreak was a large and powerful EF3 tornado. The tornado caused considerable damage along its path and left approximately 10,000 homes without electricity. 33 injuries occurred in the area after the tornado hit near Chef Menteur Highway with hundreds of structures sustaining moderate to significant damage along the ten-mile path. In response to the disaster, Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency.
The tornado outbreak of February 28 – March 1, 2017 was a widespread and significant outbreak of tornadoes and severe weather that affected the Midwestern United States at the end of February 2017 and beginning of March. Fueled by the combination of ample instability, strong wind shear, and rich low-level moisture, the event led to 71 confirmed tornadoes and thousands of other non-tornadic severe weather reports. The most notable aspect of the outbreak was a long-tracked EF4 tornado—the first violent tornado of 2017 and the first violent tornado during the month of February since the 2013 Hattiesburg, Mississippi tornado—that tracked from Perryville, Missouri to near Christopher, Illinois, killing one person. Three EF3 tornadoes were recorded during the event, including one that caused two fatalities in Ottawa, Illinois, one that caused a fatality near Crossville, and one that heavily damaged or destroyed homes in and around Washburn. In addition to the deaths, 38 people were injured by tornadoes and an additional 30 were injured by non-tornadic impacts, mainly by fallen trees.
The tornado outbreak of March 6–7, 2017 was a widespread severe weather and tornado outbreak that affected portions of the Midwestern United States in the overnight hours of March 6–7. Occurring just days after a deadly and more significant event across similar areas just a week prior, this particular outbreak led to 63 tornadoes within a 91⁄2-hour period as a quasi-linear convective system and discrete supercell thunderstorms traversed the region. The most notable aspect of the outbreak was an EF3 tornado that damaged or destroyed hundreds of structures within Oak Grove, Missouri, injuring 12 people but causing no fatalities. An EF1 tornado touched down near Bricelyn, the earliest known tornado on record in the state of Minnesota. Outside of tornadic activity, hundreds of damaging wind reports and a multitude of severe hail reports were documented.
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 November 30 – December 2, 2018 was a late-season tornado outbreak that occurred across portions of the West South Central states and Midwestern United States. As a potent shortwave trough moved across the southern portions of the country, it was met with ample moisture return and destabilization, resulting in widespread severe thunderstorms that produced damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes. The event began late on November 30 in Oklahoma, spreading east and resulting in one fatality in Aurora, Missouri. Several tornadic supercells moved across portions of Illinois on December 1, and resulted in 29 confirmed tornadoes. This outbreak was the largest December tornado event on record in Illinois history, surpassing the December 1957 tornado outbreak sequence. The most significant tornado of the event was an EF3 that impacted Taylorville, Illinois, damaging or destroying hundreds of structures and injuring 22 people.
A significant severe weather and tornado outbreak affected multiple regions of the Eastern United States in mid-April 2019. Over the course of 40 hours, 75 tornadoes touched down. The outbreak produced numerous strong tornadoes throughout portions of the Deep South, while additional significant tornadoes occurred as far north as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The most significant tornado of the event was a long-tracked, high-end EF3 tornado that struck Alto, Texas and killed two people. Numerous weak tornadoes were also confirmed, along with numerous reports of hail and damaging straight line winds.
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 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.
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.
A significant tornado outbreak sequence took place from March 24–28, 2021 in the Southern United States, just one week after another outbreak affected similar regions. There were 43 tornadoes confirmed across 11 states, with the bulk of activity primarily on March 25, which resulted in the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issuing its second high-risk outlook for the month of March, as well as the second high-risk outlook for 2021. Several intense tornadoes touched down on that day, including ones that prompted the issuance of rare tornado emergencies near Hoover, Alabama, Brent and Centreville, Alabama, and in the Newnan, Georgia area. March 27 also saw widespread tornado activity mainly across East Texas, Southern Arkansas, Louisiana, and Western Tennessee with several strong tornadoes touching down. Scattered to widespread wind and hail damage occurred throughout the outbreak sequence, and repeated rounds of heavy rain caused widespread severe flash and river flooding across much of Tennessee.
From April 4–5, 2022, a mesoscale convective system and numerous discrete supercells produced a swath of severe weather and several tornadoes in the Southeastern United States, including several strong, long tracked tornadoes. An EF3 tornado damaged or destroyed several homes in Bonaire, Georgia while a large EF3 tornado prompted a tornado emergency for Allendale and Sycamore, South Carolina. A violent EF4 tornado in Black Creek, Georgia resulted in one fatality as it destroyed several neighborhoods, and another large EF3 tornado caused widespread heavy tree damage northeast of Ulmer, South Carolina. More severe storms occurred across a large portion of the Southeast ahead of a cold front on April 6–7, with more tornadoes reported in South and Central Georgia and further south into Florida, all of which were weak. Along with the one tornadic death, trees felled by straight-line winds killed one person each in Louisiana and Texas.
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.
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