![]() The extratropical cyclone responsible for the blizzard over the Midwestern United States at 14:01 UTC (10:01 a.m. CDT) on March 13. | |
Type | Extratropical cyclone Bomb cyclone Blizzard Ice storm Winter storm Flood Windstorm Tornado outbreak |
---|---|
Formed | March 8, 2019 |
Dissipated | March 16, 2019 |
Highest gust | 109 mph (175 km/h) at Grand Prairie Airport |
Lowest pressure | 968 mb (28.59 inHg) |
Tornadoes confirmed | 38 |
Max. rating1 | EF2 tornado |
Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 2 days, 3 hours and 14 minutes |
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 52 inches (130 cm) at Wolf Creek pass, Colorado |
Fatalities | 1 |
Damage | Unknown, at least $14.91 million tornadically |
Power outages | 140,000+ |
Areas affected | Southwestern United States, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Central United States, Eastern United States, Eastern Canada |
Part of the 2018–19 North American winter and tornado outbreaks of 2019 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado |
The March 2019 North American blizzard was a powerful Colorado Low that produced up to two feet of snow in the plains and Midwest. Rapid snowmelt following the storm caused historic flooding, and some areas received hurricane-force wind gusts. Comparable to the 1993 Storm of the Century, [1] [2] the storm was labeled a bomb cyclone after barometric pressure readings dropped in excess of 24 mbar (0.71 inHg ) over a 24-hour period. [3] After the storm entered Colorado from its origination in Arizona, the pressure dropped more than 30 mbar (0.89 inHg) and rapidly intensified over the western High Plains. [4] The severe storm set new all-time record low barometric pressure readings in Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico. The storm itself killed only one person in Colorado, but flooding caused by the storm killed at least 3, one in Iowa and at least two in Nebraska [5] [6] and left ~140,000 without power in Texas. [7]
The system originated from an extratropical low that developed in the Gulf of Alaska on March 8. Over the next two days, the system moved southeastward, bringing rainy and windy conditions to California on March 11, and the system was named "Winter Storm Ulmer" by The Weather Channel later that day, due to the storm's expected impacts. Early on March 12, the system moved onshore in Southern California, subsequently developing into a strong Colorado Low over the Southwestern United States. Late on March 12 through early March 13, the already-unusually strong Colorado low underwent explosive intensification, with the storm's minimum central pressure falling from 994 mbar (29.4 inHg ) to 968 mbar (28.6 inHg ) in roughly 16 hours, more than meeting the criteria for a weather bomb or "bomb cyclone" (a storm that undergoes a pressure drop of at least 24 mbar (0.71 inHg ) in 24 hours [8] ). The storm's tight pressure gradient allowed wind gusts in excess of 100 mph to develop in the Texas Panhandle. As the storm headed northward towards the Great Lakes, blizzard conditions were reported in several States, from Colorado all the way north into North Dakota and flooding hit the southern portions of those states. The storm also began weakening. [9]
At least 1 million acres of U.S. farmland, in nine major grain producing states, were flooded after the storm. [10]
Severe weather damage was widespread throughout the state, mainly from the 13 tornadoes that touched down on March 14. The strongest was an EF2 tornado, that passed north Holtville and continued to just southwest of Weoka, destroying or damaging outbuildings, homes, convenience stores, power poles, and trees along its path. A car was also moved 30 yards (27 m). In Fayette, 1.75 inches (4.4 cm) was reported while damaging winds knocked down numerous trees and power lines. Winds of 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) were reported near both Leola and Loveless. [11]
The storm underwent explosive cyclogenesis as it tracked across the Southern Rocky Mountains. [8] Colorado experienced heavy snow and hurricane-force wind gusts from the blizzard, up to as much as 110 miles per hour (180 km/h). [8] 6 to 10 inches (150 to 250 mm) of snow was recorded in the Denver region with 20 in (510 mm) reported in Nederland. [12] The storm brought wind gusts that exceeded Category 2 hurricane strength with gusts reaching 96 miles per hour (154 km/h) recorded at Peterson Air Force Base and a 92 mph (148 km/h) gust recorded in Glen Haven. A Category 1 force wind gust of 80 mph (130 km/h) was reported at Denver International Airport. [8] [13] The combination of high winds and snowy conditions forced the cancellation of all flights in and out of Denver International Airport most of the day March 13 and a third of the flights scheduled for March 14th. [14] The rapid intensification of the storm over Colorado set a new all-time record low pressure record of 970.4 mbar (28.66 inHg ) in Lamar, which is somewhat lower than the previous record for Colorado set in 1973 at 973.4 mbar (28.74 inHg ). [15] Numerous vehicular accidents were reported with at least 1,000 people stranded on the highways, requiring rescue by the National Guard and emergency services providers. A Colorado State Patrol officer was killed by one driver who lost control of his vehicle on Interstate 76 northeast of Denver. [16]
Iowa was also affected by heavy rains and flooding, closing parts of all nine state parks. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed an emergency disaster proclamation March 14th. [17] One man was killed in Iowa. [6] Flooding across Iowa was described as "catastrophic" especially in the Missouri River Valley south of Council Bluffs, Iowa. There, at least 30 levee failures flooded towns and highways. Interstate 29 was closed from Council Bluffs to the Missouri state border and from there to St. Joseph, Missouri, with portions of the interstate under 15 ft (4.6 m) of water. [18]
The state was affected by severe thunderstorms that produced several tornadoes. Most notably, an EF2 tornado spotted near West Paducah, strong enough to rip part of the roof off of the Mount Zion church. Other tornadoes were also spotted, one in Morgansfield and the other 7 miles (11 km) north of Corydon.
Meteorologists were forecasting a record low barometric pressure reading as the storm passed over Kansas. The current record set in 1878 at 971.6 mbar (28.69 inHg ) and the storm was forecast to have a slightly lower reading, the equivalent of a Category 2 Hurricane. [19] Dodge City, Kansas reported a new record low pressure.[ citation needed ]
Upwards of 70 buildings in Vernon were damaged by an EF2 tornado late on March 14. Strong winds and flooding also affected the state.
Western Nebraska experienced severe wind gusts and more than a foot of snow in some localities. A wind gust of 89 mph (143 km/h) was recorded in Hemingford, Nebraska and Interstate 80 was closed from Kearney, Nebraska to the Wyoming border. The Interstate 80 closure in Nebraska along with the portions closed in Wyoming spanned a distance of more than 500 miles (800 km). [20] In the eastern half of the state, rapidly melting snows along with frozen rivers caused record setting flooding in many rivers and streams. On the Niobrara River, the Spencer Dam collapsed and the unregulated flooding destroyed 3 bridges downstream including the Highway 281 bridge. [21] In east central Nebraska, residents along the flooded Missouri, Platte and Elkhorn Rivers were forced to evacuate as some locals experienced all-time record flooding. The city of Norfolk, Nebraska evacuated a third of its residents. [22] The Platte and Elkhorn Rivers had overflowed their levees in the greater Omaha, Nebraska region and some communities were put under a mandatory evacuation order. The Platte River at numerous sites had reached flooding of "historical proportions" with some sites breaking all-time record flood levels by as much as 5 feet (1.5 m). [23] By March 15, access to the city of Fremont was blocked due to all roads being closed in and out of the city. [24] This remained the case days later with national guard military convoys being set up to get food and other supplies into the city. Offutt Air Force Base had extensive flooding from the Platte River and 3,000 ft (910 m) of their only runway was covered in water while 30 buildings had been flooded. [25] As of March 18, 2 persons were reported to have drowned in Nebraska and 2 more are missing and presumed dead. [6] On March 18, Nebraska governor Pete Ricketts stated that the floods caused "the most extensive damage our state has ever experienced." [26] Losses from flooding in Nebraska alone exceeds $1.3 Billion, including $449 million in infrastructure damage, $440 million of crop damage, $400 million of lost cattle. More than 2,000 homes and 340 businesses were damaged or destroyed, costing the state another $85 million. [27]
In the central parts of Nebraska, large ice slabs were reported to have destroyed crops, and Sub-Zero conditions often hurt livestock. An additional round of Flooding is said to have wiped out some farms for years. [28]
A new all-time low barometric pressure reading for New Mexico was set in Clayton and wind gusts of 100 mph (160 km/h) were recorded in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. [29] In addition, powerful thunderstorms moving through the state spawned several tornadoes, damaging many homes.
A high wind warning was issued by the National Weather Service as thunderstorms with 50 mph (80 km/h) wind gusts downed power lines, tree branches, some fences, and caused other kinds of minor wind damage across Oklahoma City and its suburbs. [30]
The City of Pierre achieved full on blizzard conditions (frequent wind gusts above 35 mph/56 km/h producing visibility lower than 1/4 mile/400 metres for at least 3 hours). These conditions prompted the closure of the I-90 from Wall to Chamberlain. 18.3 inches (46 cm) of snow fell in Kadoka and winds gusted to 70 mph (112 km/h) in Rapid City. [31]
At San Augustin Pass and at Pine Springs, Texas wind gusts of 104 and 103 mph (167 and 166 km/h) respectively were recorded. At Grand Prairie's municipal airport, a wind gust of 109 mph (175 km/h) tore through, flipping several small airplanes. [32] Winds were great enough in the Texas panhandle to blow over numerous tractor-trailers. [29]
Blizzard conditions were reported for all of eastern Wyoming, especially in the southeastern sections of the state from Casper to the state capital in Cheyenne. Snowfalls in excess of one foot were recorded in several locations with wind gusts of 76 mph (122 km/h) in Carbon County. Both Interstate 25 and Interstate 80 were closed through most of the state. [33]
An additional snow squall moved across Southeast Wyoming Friday through Sunday, adding 1-2 inches of snow. Due to the location of the low, many areas were above freezing and had rain instead, which prompted the NWS to issue Flood watches and warnings in the area. [34]
The storm brought above seasonal temperatures to much of Atlantic Canada, along with soaking rains. Although, Labrador was affected by heavy snow with up to 30 cm (1 foot) of snow in some areas. Afterwards, the storm moved out to sea. [35]
The provinces experienced their warmest day in weeks, sparking the risk for isolated severe thunderstorms in extreme southwestern Ontario. These storms triggered flooding along the Humber River, resulting in an evacuation order for 200 people. [36] Behind the storm's cold front, cold, below seasonal temperatures returned along with snowsqualls in the snow belts. Meanwhile, Northern Ontario was hit with heavy snow and strong winds, producing blizzard-like conditions. [37]
EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 20 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF2 | N of Hagerman to Dexter | Chaves | NM | 33°00′04″N104°26′25″W / 33.0010°N 104.4402°W | 23:55–00:10 | 15.19 mi (24.45 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | A strong tornado touched down near Hagerman before moving northward and striking the town of Dexter. Six homes or mobile homes in Dexter were severely damaged or destroyed, while an additional dozen others suffered minor to moderate damage. An RV camper was tossed and destroyed, and debris was scattered throughout the town and wrapped around power lines. Trees and power lines were downed, and pivot irrigation sprinklers were destroyed outside of town. Six people were injured. This was the earliest EF1 or stronger tornado in the state of New Mexico on record and also the first tornado in Chaves County during the month of March going back to 1959. | [38] |
EF2 | S of Malaga | Eddy | NM | 32°10′35″N104°04′46″W / 32.1763°N 104.0794°W | 00:08–00:30 | 14.7 mi (23.7 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | Numerous power poles were snapped or damaged along the path. | [39] |
EF1 | E of Andrews | Andrews | TX | 32°19′12″N102°29′18″W / 32.3199°N 102.4883°W | 02:55–03:01 | 0.81 mi (1.30 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | Homes and mobile homes sustained roof damage as a result of this high-end EF1 tornado, including one frame home that sustained collapse of its attached garage. A mobile home was flipped upside down, and an overhead door was bowed out at a metal building. Power poles were damaged, street signs were bent to the ground, and a small outbuilding was blown across a road and destroyed. A large 300 ft (91 m) tall communications tower was toppled, though the structure was determined to have been top-heavy. Trees were snapped, and an empty fiberglass storage tank was blown over as well. | [40] |
EF1 | E of Anton | Hockley, Lamb | TX | 33°48′02″N102°09′18″W / 33.8006°N 102.1549°W | 03:35–03:40 | 3.41 mi (5.49 km) | 125 yd (114 m) | A large metal building was destroyed, a single family residence suffered significant damage, and a center pivot was damaged as well. Trees and powerlines were snapped. | [41] [42] |
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF0 | Southwestern Junction | Kimble | TX | 30°29′10″N99°47′03″W / 30.4861°N 99.7843°W | 08:00–08:01 | 0.19 mi (0.31 km) | 30 yd (27 m) | Storage sheds and an awning in town were damaged by this brief tornado. A power pole was snapped at its base while a nearby home had its windows blown out. | [43] |
EF0 | Junction | Kimble | TX | 30°29′24″N99°46′32″W / 30.4900°N 99.7756°W | 08:03–08:05 | 0.71 mi (1.14 km) | 140 yd (130 m) | This tornado touched down immediately after the previous tornado lifted in Junction. Several roofs were ripped off, windows were blown out, and trees and power lines were damaged. A piece of wood was impaled into the exterior wall of a residence, and a deer feeder lid was lodged into the side of a business. An overhead door was blown out at a fire station. | [44] |
EF1 | Zephyr | Brown | TX | 31°40′44″N98°48′00″W / 31.679°N 98.8001°W | 08:19–08:21 | 1.39 mi (2.24 km) | 230 yd (210 m) | A small residence in Zephyr was overturned and tossed 50 ft (15 m) from its foundation. Several roofs were ripped off, awnings and power lines were destroyed, power poles were snapped, and the brick wall was blown out of a store. Trees and a grandstand were damaged. | [45] |
EF1 | E of Mineral Wells | Palo Pinto, Parker | TX | 32°48′32″N98°05′33″W / 32.8088°N 98.0924°W | 08:25–08:28 | 2.3 mi (3.7 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | A manufacturing storage building lost some sheet metal roofing. A commercial automotive repair center suffered significant roof and wall damage. Damage to signs, utility poles, and trees occurred as well. | [46] |
EF1 | NE of Cool | Parker | TX | 32°51′54″N97°54′37″W / 32.865°N 97.9102°W | 08:37–08:39 | 0.75 mi (1.21 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | A site-built frame home had most of its roof removed. A nearby metal-clad commercial building saw its metal roof cross members severely twisted and most of its sheet metal roofing ripped off. Trees and outbuildings were damaged. | [47] |
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF2 | NW of Cunningham to West Paducah | Carlisle, Ballard, McCracken | KY | 36°55′25″N88°53′46″W / 36.9236°N 88.896°W | 14:18–14:35 | 16.71 mi (26.89 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | This strong tornado first passed near the towns of Lovelaceville, Massac, and Camelia, causing significant damage to at least a dozen homes, including a few with roof loss and some exterior walls ripped off. Dozens of barns, outbuildings, garages, and grain bins were also destroyed. A church had most of its roof and a second-story exterior wall torn off, and vehicles were damaged by flying debris in the parking lot. A business was heavily damaged, a pontoon boat was thrown 120 yd (110 m), and a mobile home was rolled and destroyed. The tornado weakened as it struck West Paducah, where a mall and an adjacent strip mall sustained damage to their roofs and metal fascia. Other businesses had roofing and siding peeled off, a semi-truck was blown over, fences were downed, and signs were damaged as well. Dozens of power poles were blown down, and hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted along the path. Over a dozen vehicles were damaged. One injury occurred when a grain bin was blown on top of a pickup truck. This tornado passed very close to the National Weather Service office in Paducah, and was caught on video by a meteorologist on duty. | [48] [49] [50] |
EF1 | W of Morganfield | Union | KY | 37°37′54″N88°04′22″W / 37.6317°N 88.0728°W | 15:10–15:22 | 9.86 mi (15.87 km) | 125 yd (114 m) | A semi-truck was blown over, resulting in minor injuries to the driver. Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted, several power poles were toppled, and a farm building had a portion of its roof ripped off. A car, a trailer, and a second semi-trailer were blown upside down as well. | [51] |
EF0 | NW of Smith Mills | Henderson | KY | 37°47′50″N87°46′37″W / 37.7973°N 87.7769°W | 16:14–16:15 | 1.25 mi (2.01 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Several trees and tree limbs were snapped, and a few trees were uprooted. | [52] |
EF0 | NNW of Viola | Graves | KY | 36°51′26″N88°38′03″W / 36.8572°N 88.6342°W | 16:27–16:28 | 0.68 mi (1.09 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | Brief tornado uprooted two large trees. | [53] |
EF0 | N of Sebree | Webster, Henderson | KY | 36°38′29″N87°31′53″W / 36.6413°N 87.5314°W | 17:42–17:44 | 1.23 mi (1.98 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Several trees and limbs were downed. Shingles were blown off a house. | [54] [55] |
EF1 | N of Brownstown | Jackson | IN | 38°55′13″N86°02′18″W / 38.9202°N 86.0382°W | 18:06-18:07 | 1.24 mi (2.00 km) | 40 yd (37 m) | A brief tornado damaged some agricultural operations, destroying a pole barn and blowing the roof off of a grain silo. | [56] |
EF0 | NE of Campbellsburg | Washington | IN | 38°43′21″N86°13′30″W / 38.7225°N 86.2251°W | 18:14–18:17 | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 35 yd (32 m) | A low-hanging wall cloud produced a tornado that intermittently reached the ground, snapping several treetops. A nearby barn sustained significant damage. | [57] |
EF0 | N of Slaughters | Webster | KY | 37°30′14″N87°29′45″W / 37.504°N 87.4958°W | 18:15–18:17 | 2.27 mi (3.65 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | One television antenna was knocked over. Corn fields were disturbed along the path. | [58] |
EF0 | SSE of Lowell | Lake | IN | 41°16′13″N87°24′26″W / 41.2704°N 87.4072°W | 18:51–18:53 | 1.46 mi (2.35 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | Some shingle damage was inflicted to a home and one utility pole was snapped, with others damaged. Most of the damage was limited to fallen trees. The tornado was first tornado in Lake County since 2014 and the earliest in the calendar year for the county since 1976. | [59] |
EF1 | N of Hanceville to SW of Holly Pond | Cullman | AL | 34°05′42″N86°46′24″W / 34.095°N 86.7734°W | 21:10–21:30 | 11.07 mi (17.82 km) | 112 yd (102 m) | A small hay barn was completely destroyed and several outbuildings were damaged. A community center had portions of its roof lifted up and sheets of its metal roofing peeled back. One former chicken house used as a storage building had its entire roof ripped off while a second chicken house suffered moderate damage. Trees were snapped and uprooted. | [60] |
EF0 | NW of Allgood | Blount | AL | 33°55′32″N86°32′38″W / 33.9256°N 86.5439°W | 22:04–22:09 | 2.58 mi (4.15 km) | 115 yd (105 m) | Damage associated with the tornadoes was primarily limited to trees with the exception of a damaged porch on a single-family home. | [61] |
EF1 | Allgood to SW of Gallant | Blount, Etowah, St. Clair | AL | 33°53′32″N86°32′27″W / 33.8921°N 86.5409°W | 22:05–22:29 | 8.32 mi (13.39 km) | 1,175 yd (1,074 m) | A mobile home park in Allgood suffered extensive damage from falling trees, with some mobile homes destroyed. A barn and an outbuilding were destroyed, and several frame homes sustained minor roof damage. Past Allgood, minor roof and structural damage occurred, and farm structures were damaged, including chicken houses that had sheet metal roofing peeled off. Numerous soft and hardwood trees were either snapped or uprooted along the path, some of which landed on vehicles and houses. | [62] [63] [64] |
EF0 | S of Bankhead Lock and Dam | Tuscaloosa | AL | 33°22′24″N87°20′48″W / 33.3733°N 87.3468°W | 22:25–22:28 | 1.24 mi (2.00 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A tornado was confirmed over a heavily forested area based on radar data. Trees were downed, and a mobile home sustained minor damage. | [65] |
EF2 | NW of Perry to SW of Lennon | Shiawassee | MI | 42°50′02″N84°14′18″W / 42.834°N 84.2384°W | 22:45–23:05 | 18.2 mi (29.3 km) | 700 yd (640 m) | A significant tornado touched down near Perry before passing near Morrice. 10 mobile homes were damaged by falling trees in this area, and frame homes sustained roof damage and broken windows. North of Bancroft, the tornado intensified and inflicted severe structural damage to several homes, including a two-story house that sustained total roof removal and collapse of a second floor exterior wall. Additional major damage occurred at the southeastern fringes of Vernon, where multiple homes sustained severe roof and wall damage, and a fabrication business was destroyed. Housing insulation from Vernon was found up to 7 mi (11 km) away. Barns and outbuildings were destroyed along the path, and trees and power lines were downed. The tornado was the first to impact Shiawassee County since June 2015. | [66] |
EF0 | WNW of Pittsburg | Shiawassee | MI | 42°53′03″N84°13′23″W / 42.8842°N 84.223°W | 22:47–22:54 | 6.4 mi (10.3 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Numerous pine and hardwood trees were snapped along the path of the tornado. One farm outbuilding lost its roof. | [67] |
EF1 | SE of Springville | St. Clair | AL | 33°43′37″N86°21′48″W / 33.7269°N 86.3633°W | 22:54–23:03 | 4.71 mi (7.58 km) | 530 yd (480 m) | This tornado damaged or destroyed several outbuildings and downed hundreds of trees; several trees fell on structures, damaging them. | [68] |
EF0 | SE of Flushing | Genesee | MI | 42°59′34″N83°53′28″W / 42.9927°N 83.8910°W | 23:09–23:17 | 8.05 mi (12.96 km) | 125 yd (114 m) | A pole barn was collapsed and trees were snapped and downed. | [69] |
EF0 | ENE of Morgan Springs | Perry | AL | 32°45′50″N87°22′00″W / 32.7638°N 87.3668°W | 23:19–23:26 | 4.48 mi (7.21 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Snapped and fallen trees blocked some roadways. | [70] |
EF0 | NW of Grayton | Calhoun | AL | 33°50′43″N86°01′46″W / 33.8453°N 86.0295°W | 23:22–23:24 | 1.18 mi (1.90 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | Damage was mostly snapped or uprooted trees, however one house sustained minor shingle damage. | [71] |
EF0 | N of Genesee Township | Genesee | MI | 43°06′25″N83°38′47″W / 43.1069°N 83.6465°W | 23:24–23:29 | 6.54 mi (10.53 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | One mobile home was flipped onto its side and a second was partially blown off its foundation. Other homes suffered roof and siding damage. Trees were snapped, and a couple of small trailers were flipped. | [72] |
EF1 | ESE of Ellards | Perry, Chilton | AL | 32°47′48″N87°10′15″W / 32.7966°N 87.1707°W | 23:37–23:57 | 9.44 mi (15.19 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | Some power poles and numerous trees were toppled by the tornado, with some outbuildings damaged by the uprooted trees. | [73] [74] |
EF0 | ENE of Dayton | Marengo | AL | 32°23′46″N87°36′38″W / 32.396°N 87.6105°W | 23:39–23:49 | 5.06 mi (8.14 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | Several trees were snapped and a few homes suffered minor damage. | [75] |
EF0 | E of Cave Spring | Floyd | GA | 34°07′07″N85°15′31″W / 34.1187°N 85.2586°W | 00:06–00:08 | 1.68 mi (2.70 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | Two homes were damaged. One had its carport collapsed and portions of its roof and a nearby building peeled back. The second had a significant portion of its metal roof peeled back, and a trampoline was tossed 100 yd (91 m) over the structure into nearby trees. A shed was destroyed and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. | [76] |
EF0 | Navarre | Stark | OH | 40°48′05″N81°26′34″W / 40.8014°N 81.4427°W | 00:11–00:17 | 8.7 mi (14.0 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Trees were either uprooted or sustained broken tree limbs. Some minor shingle and siding damage occurred to a few homes in town. | [77] |
EF0 | Nimishillen Township | Stark | OH | 40°52′N81°19′W / 40.87°N 81.31°W | 00:23-00:26 | 1.6 mi (2.6 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A silo and two barn roofs were damaged. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which fell on power lines. A gazebo was collapsed, the foundation of a garage was cracked, and doors to a barn and a garage were damaged or collapsed. Several homes had shingles and siding ripped off. | [78] |
EF0 | NNW of Central Mills | Perry, Dallas | AL | 32°20′42″N87°28′04″W / 32.3449°N 87.4677°W | 00:27–00:33 | 2.94 mi (4.73 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | Damage was mostly limited to trees, though one home lost a portion of its roof. | [79] [80] |
EF0 | N of Clanton to SSE of Marble Valley | Chilton, Coosa | AL | 32°55′39″N86°36′57″W / 32.9276°N 86.6157°W | 00:39–01:06 | 11.91 mi (19.17 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | Minor tree damage occurred where the tornado first touched down, along with brick facade damage to a home. Sheet metal was torn off of manufactured homes and outbuildings. Widespread tree damage occurred in heavily forested areas throughout the path of the tornado. | [81] [82] |
EF0 | E of Weogufka | Coosa | AL | 33°01′20″N86°16′30″W / 33.0221°N 86.2749°W | 01:21–01:23 | 0.62 mi (1.00 km) | 40 yd (37 m) | Damage was limited to snapped and uprooted trees. | [83] |
EF1 | NW of Independence | Autauga | AL | 32°31′42″N86°47′17″W / 32.5282°N 86.788°W | 01:44–01:55 | 7.09 mi (11.41 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, and a few homes suffered minor roof damage. | [84] |
EF0 | ESE of Parkdale | Coosa | AL | 33°04′51″N86°04′55″W / 33.0809°N 86.0820°W | 01:46–01:51 | 2.07 mi (3.33 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | Some metal roof sheeting was stripped by the tornado alongside snapped and uprooted trees. | [85] |
EF2 | NNE of Holtville | Elmore | AL | 32°38′29″N86°20′19″W / 32.6413°N 86.3385°W | 02:32–02:48 | 8.58 mi (13.81 km) | 650 yd (590 m) | A strong tornado caused significant damage as it passed south of Titus. At least 50 structures were damaged, including several homes that sustained total roof loss and some collapse of exterior walls. At least 35 power poles were snapped or downed, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, including a large swath of trees that was completely flattened in a convergent pattern. Two convenience stores were damaged, with a gas station canopy toppled over onto one of them. Outbuildings were destroyed, and a car was tossed over 30 yd (27 m) as well. | [86] |
EF0 | SSW of Wedowee | Randolph | AL | 33°17′52″N85°35′27″W / 33.2979°N 85.5907°W | 03:00–03:09 | 4.38 mi (7.05 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | An outbuilding destroyed and roof damage was inflicted to a chicken house. | [87] |
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 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.
The February 2016 North American winter storm was a strong winter storm that caused more than 70,000 people in southern California to lose their electricity, with many broken trees and electrical lines in that area, with the Southern Rocky Mountains having the potential to receive some of the greatest snowfall from the system. One person in San Diego, California area died when a tree fell on their car. Another person in Minnesota died after being struck by a car while crossing a street.
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.
The tornado outbreak and floods of April 28 – May 1, 2017 were a series of severe weather events that affected the central United States, producing life-threatening flooding and a major tornado outbreak. It formed out of a disturbance in the Southwestern United States on April 28, and caused significant impacts, including a heavy snowstorm in the Rockies, and other types of severe weather. Up to 3 feet (36 in) of snow fell on the cold side of the system, and up to a foot of rain fell in and around the central parts of the nation.
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.
The tornado outbreak of January 10–11, 2020 was a two-day severe weather event stretching from the South-Central Plains eastward into the Southeast United States. An eastward-moving shortwave trough tracked across the continental United States through that two-day period, combining with abundant moisture, instability, and wind shear to promote the formation of a long-lived squall line. Hundreds of damaging wind reports were received, and 80 tornadoes occurred within this line, making it the third largest January tornado outbreak on record. Three tornadoes—an EF1 in eastern Texas, an EF2 in northern Louisiana, and an EF2 in western Alabama—led to a total of seven deaths, all in mobile homes. There were five other storm related deaths, including two due to icy roads in Lubbock, Texas, one due to drowning in Oklahoma, and one due to icy roads in Iowa. The system also brought a monthly record high temperature to Boston and Bridgeport. Extensive damage and several other injuries occurred as well. The severe weather event was notable in that it was forecast well in advance, with the Storm Prediction Center first highlighting the risk area a full week beforehand. Total damage from the event reached $1.1 billion according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.
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.
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. 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.
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.
On July 19 and 20, 2018, an unexpected strong tornado outbreak affected Iowa and nearby areas. The event was triggered mostly by three supercells that produced several tornadoes across southeastern Iowa east and southeast of Des Moines. Two of the tornadoes reached EF3 intensity, affecting Pella and Marshalltown. These were the strongest tornadoes to hit Iowa since June 22, 2015, when another EF3 tornado struck near Lovilia. Of the 37 injuries, 13 occurred in Pella, and 23 in Marshalltown, and one the following day in Indiana. The event was also notable due to the Table Rock Lake duck boat accident that killed 17 people and injured 7 others at Table Rock Lake, Missouri.
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.
On May 12, 2022, a severe squall line followed by a derecho took place across the Midwestern United States. Two fatalities occurred from the first line of storms while three more deaths occurred from the derecho itself.
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