Starting on the evening of July 13 and extending through July 16,2024,an intense sequence of severe weather outbreaks affected much of the Midwestern and NortheasternUnited States. This included two significant derechoes that each had wind gusts exceeding 100mph (160km/h),as well as multiple tornado outbreaks that produced a combined 90 tornadoes across the affected areas. A ring of fire pattern fueled multiple systems that brought heavy rain and a tornado outbreak to northern Illinois,contributing to a partial dam failure in Washington County,Illinois,and multiple events of 90mph (140km/h) wind gusts. The sequence as a whole killed five people and injured three more.[1][5][6][7]
The sequence began as a line of supercells and evolved into a powerful mesoscale convective system over Montana late on July 13,which raced southeasterly into North Dakota,South Dakota,and Nebraska while producing widespread wind gusts of over 60mph (97km/h) and as high as 108mph (174km/h) into the overnight hours of July 14.[8] Further east in Illinois and Indiana,a system on the morning of July 14 brought rainfall up to 6.3in (16cm) to Rockford,Illinois,which caused flash flood conditions,as well as scattered wind gusts of 60mph (97km/h).[9] Later that evening,a separate system,the remnants of the previous day's derecho and fueled by the same Ring of Fire pattern,produced a small-scale tornado outbreak and damaging wind event across the Chicago metropolitan area,with two tornadoes confirmed in the city of Chicago itself,and wind gusts reaching 90mph (140km/h). An additional 2.7in (6.9cm) of rain fell in Rockford,contributing to flooding conditions.[10]
The most destructive event of the sequence was a severe derecho that affected much of eastern Iowa,northern Illinois,and northwest Indiana on July 15 and 16. Extreme atmospheric instability contributed to a powerful bowing mesoscale convective system that brought widespread downburst wind gusts of over 75mph (121km/h) and peaking at 105mph (169km/h) near Camp Grove,Illinois.[11] Heavy rains in central Illinois led to the evacuation of parts of Nashville,due to the imminent failure of the Nashville City Reservoir Dam on July 16.[12] This derecho produced a tornado outbreak that spawned numerous tornadoes across its path,some of which hit the cities of Des Moines[13] and Davenport in Iowa,[14] and Aurora,Naperville,[15] and Joliet[16] in Illinois,with an extremely rare tornado causing minor damage in downtown Chicago.[17] Two significant tornadoes were confirmed,both in Illinois;an EF2 in Jo Daviess and Stephenson counties,[11] and an EF2 in Will and southern Cook counties.[15] Comparisons have been drawn between this and the August 2020 Midwest derecho,which affected many of the same areas.[18]
Starting on the afternoon of July 15 and extending through the 16,fourteen tornadoes were confirmed across New York state and New Hampshire. The strongest of these was a high-end EF2 tornado in Rome,New York,on July 16.[5] Another EF1 tornado produced one fatality in Canastota,New York.[19]
Meteorological synopsis
July 13 event
On the evening of July 13,a multitude of shortwave troughs were tracking southeastward across Saskatchewan,towards an area of east-southeasterly low-level winds,which,alongside favorable wind shear and daytime heating contributing to atmospheric instability,led the Storm Prediction Center to issue a wind-driven Enhanced (3/5) risk over Montana,North Dakota,and South Dakota at the 20Z convective outlook. Models showed supercells and bowing mesoscale features across the risk area.[20] As the day progressed,a line of supercell thunderstorms evolved into a mesoscale convective system and began to produce significant downburst winds across the risk area. The highest recorded wind gust was 108mph (174km/h) near Hoover,South Dakota. After the system passed,it was declared a derecho by the Storm Prediction Center.[8]
At the same time,a mesoscale convective system over Minnesota and Wisconsin posed a light severe threat,while the system moved southeastward into northern Illinois that evening.[20]
July 14 event
A tree uprooted by a weak tornado in Chicago on July 14.
The Storm Prediction Center outlined a slight (2/5) risk convective outlook at 13Z,outflow from previous mesoscale convective systems had manifested as outflow boundaries over Iowa and Illinois,which were expected to be conducive to the formation of serial mesoscale convective systems that evening.[21] As the evening progressed,the remnants of the July 13 derecho reached Iowa,and threatened to re-intensify into a semi-discrete line of thunderstorms. The uncertainty of the timing of such development caused uncertainty among forecasters,however the severe threat over the Northern Illinois region was noted in a mesoscale discussion around that time.[22] Fueled by the westward migration of a high-pressure ridge over the Four Corners region in a ring of fire pattern,[23] six tornadoes were confirmed from the NWS Chicago area of responsibility.[10] In addition,an area of strong downburst winds caused non-tornadic gusts estimated at 90mph (140km/h) in DeKalb,Kane,and DuPage counties. Rainfall totals exceeding 2in (5.1cm) were recorded in Naperville and Aurora,with a peak total of 2.8in (7.1cm) recorded near Earlville,Illinois.
July 15 event
Observed sounding at 19z from Davenport,Iowa
The Storm Prediction Center outlined a moderate risk convective outlook at 20z,as extreme atmospheric instability and favorable vertical wind shear was predicted to be favorable to the formation of a bowing mesoscale convective system. Initial estimates stated that widespread wind gusts up to 60–75mph (97–121km/h) would be likely,as well as occasional gusts up to 85mph (137km/h).[24]
Before the system developed,a mesoscale discussion was issued,which described the convective setting over Iowa,Wisconsin,and Illinois. A short-wave trough was recorded moving into an area favorable for the development of a mesoscale convective system and brief tornadoes.[25] Concerns over the predictability of the incoming system prompted a rare 19z sounding from National Weather Service Quad Cities,Iowa/Illinois,near Davenport,Iowa. The returning sounding indicated extreme atmospheric instability values over 6500 J/kg,as well as a favorable vertical shear profile,indicating atmospheric favorability for a strong quasi-linear convective system,potentially with embedded tornadoes.[26]
A large tree uprooted by a tornado in Joliet,Illinois on July 15,2024.
In the state of New York,a downburst with winds up to 95mph (153km/h) and an accompanying EF1 tornado affected the city of Canandaigua.[32]
July 16 event
High-end EF2 damage to a business in Rome,New York on July 16,2024
The Storm Prediction Center issued an Enhanced risk (3/5) convective outlook over areas of New York and Vermont as the remnants of the previous day's derecho,now a weakening mesoscale convective system,would interact with the region's MLCAPE values nearing 1500j/kg and mid-level winds,which would favor a severe wind event with lesser tornadic potential. An EF2 tornado near Rome,New York,caused damage to a church and moved a B-52 Stratofortress from its position. At least 10 tornadoes were confirmed.[33]
Three people were injured when severe winds downed trees in Miles City,Montana. A woman died when a tree fell on their home in Cedar Lake,Indiana.[1] 500,000 customers in the Midwestern United States were left without power.[4] Two elderly residents of Alton,Illinois,drowned when their vehicle was overtaken by a flooded roadway near Elsah.[6] At O'Hare International Airport,an EF0 tornado was confirmed to have struck the terminal,being embedded in a swath of 70–80mph (110–130km/h). Despite advanced warnings,multiple flights were allowed to board before the storm hit,being stranded on the runway as travelers and staff at the airport took shelter.[35]
Rockford,Illinois
A multi-day flood event fueled by the ring of fire pattern brought historic flooding to Rockford,Illinois. The city's stormwater management systems were overwhelmed,as its 30,000 municipal drains were backed up by a 200-year flood.[36] Numerous flash flood reports were received by the National Weather Service as one-hour rain totals reached up to 4in (10cm). Roads were closed and the Rockford Fire Department performed water rescue operations to assist stranded drivers.[9] One fatality was confirmed in Rockford from the flooding conditions.[7]
Nashville,Illinois
On July 16,heavy rainfall attributed to the now-weakened derecho the previous night threatened to overtop the Nashville City Reservoir Dam,which prompted the evacuation of 200 homes in Nashville,Illinois. First responders working with Washington County emergency management assisted a resident unable to evacuate initially.[2]
Later that day,a controlled failure of the fuse plug of the secondary dam on the Nashville City Reservoir led to flash flood conditions as water from the reservoir entered the evacuated areas of Nashville. After the rain subsided,inspectors from the United States Army Corps of Engineers conducted a brief drone survey of the dam structure and deemed it safe for residents to return.[2] The Nashville City Reservoir Dam had been known to have a "high hazard" of failure by regulators with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources,as do a total of 15% of dams in Illinois,according to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.[37]
A tornado tracked through Elburn causing damage to trees. As the tornado exited town, more farm buildings and trees were damaged, including one metal farm building that was destroyed.[40]
Embedded in strong straight-line winds, a brief tornado damaged a storage warehouse and a greenhouse. A Meijer had cart corrals tossed around, a light pole knocked over, and trees snapped and uprooted nearby.[40]
A weak tornado tracked through the western suburbs of Chicago, including La Grange, Brookfield, Riverside, Berwyn and Cicero. Damage was entirely confined to trees.[40]
This tornado developed near I-35 and moved southeast through or near Urbandale, Windsor Heights, and Des Moines. Extensive tree damage was noted along with damage to homes and power lines.[47]
A high-end EF1 tornado uprooted and snapped hundreds of trees. A barn was partially collapsed, with its roof displaced. Some other structures had minor roofing or window damage. A carport was also lofted.[48]
This high-end EF0 tornado flattened corn in a field before inflicting roof damage to a house at a farmstead. A metal structure was also collapsed onto the house. The tornado continued damaging trees south of the farmstead before lifting just across the Wapsipinicon River.[50]
A roof was significantly damaged in Jo Daviess County. The tornado moved through the Lake Carroll area, damaging a garage, gazebo and a boat dock. Numerous trees were also downed in the area. The tornado then tracked through Shannon, downing more trees, before lifting shortly after exiting town.[51]
An intermittent, low-end EF2 tornado snapped a wooden power pole near its base, snapped trees and impacted a farmstead, damaging an outbuilding and grain elevator.[51]
Two large grain elevator bins were dented, several outbuildings were damaged, and a few utility poles were snapped. Dozens of trees were downed, snapped, and uprooted.[52]
Dozens of large trees were snapped, with some falling on homes and at least one on a car. A large section of an apartment's roof was torn off. The tornado dissipated after crossing the Mississippi River into Illinois.[53]
This deviant tornado in Kewanee downed over one hundred trees in the city, with numerous trees being snapped or uprooted and some falling on homes. Many homesteads had minor roof damage, while a couple had large sections of their roof removed.[57]
Vehicles were flipped on IL-72. Entering Monroe Center, some trees were uprooted in the town. Exiting town, some crop damage was observed from satellite imagery before the tornado dissipated.[42]
This tornado began in Monica, where a couple of roofs and trees were damaged. The tornado moved southeast toward Princeville, damaging several large trees before dissipating.[42]
Many properties were struck and had trees extensively damaged at each one. One property lost forty tees. The tornado also downed a tree onto a powerline.[59]
This tornado began just outside of East Peoria before quickly moving into northern Morton. The tornado followed I-74 into an industrial complex, causing damage there. The tornado continued moving southeast, uprooting trees around Morton High School. Outside of Morton, more damage was documented at an American Legion building where siding was ripped off. The tornado then lifted shortly after.[42]
This tornado began in a wooded subdivision, damaging multiple trees. The tornado then entered a newer subdivision, damaging many more trees. One home had a small part of its roof and siding torn off. A window was also blown out at this home. The tornado then continued southeastward, damaging multiple old trees on a property, including two trees that were uprooted, before lifting.[59]
A tornado began over rural land, damaging trees and several outbuildings. The tornado then continued into the Shorewood area, damaging mainly crops. Entering Joliet, several trees were uprooted in a neighborhood near Joliet Regional Airport. Several wooden power poles were snapped before the tornado dissipated west of downtown.[56]
A high-end EF0 inflicted some structural damage in Glen Ellyn, where some stucco had gouges in it. Several trees were snapped or had limbs removed. The tornado crossed I-355 into Lombard, continuing to damage trees. One home had a portion of its roof damaged before the tornado dissipated.[56]
A tornado began in eastern Bensenville, damaging trees, before moving into O'Hare International Airport. As the tornado moved over the airport, windows, doors and exterior paneling and roofing of several terminals were damaged. Carts and loose objects were pushed and tossed around as well. The tornado lifted just before crossing the I-294 and I-190 interchange.[56]
This tornado, which moved along the northern edge of a larger area of damaging straight-line winds, first impacted a mobile home park, inflicting EF0 damage to mobile homes and trees. The tornado then peaked at low-end EF1 intensity, uprooting or snapping several large, healthy trees, inflicting minor shingle, siding, and fascia damage to structures, and blowing a greenhouse about 75ft (23m) to the north. The tornado then moved through a cemetery before dissipating as it transitioned into a concentrated corridor of damaging straight-line winds.[56]
A brief tornado produced a narrow region of damage to trees and residences, including damage to shingles and fascia. One home had damage to vinyl fencing, siding, gutters and a broken window.[56]
This tornado tracked through the suburbs of Flossmoor, Homewood, Glenwood, and Thornton, producing mostly tree damage until it reached Thornton, where some structural damage occurred.[56]
A tornado touched down along I-290, damaging trees. The tornado uprooted many trees by Rush Hospital. The most significant damage occurred near the Chicago Police Academy, where several trees were uprooted nearby and minor fascia occurred to the building. Roof damage was also noted on a nearby building. The tornado weakened and dissipated right next to the Presidential Towers, just before crossing the Chicago River into downtown Chicago.[56]
This tornado began in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood at Marquette Park, where several large trees were snapped. The tornado continued to damage trees across the park and a golf course located within the park. The tornado then entered the neighborhood of West Englewood, causing minor tree damage before lifting at William Ogden Park.[56]
A high-end EF0 tornado tracked through the West Town neighborhood. Damage consisted of uprooted trees, downed tree branches, windows blown out of buildings, and damage to roofing and siding materials on buildings.[56]
This long-tracked tornado touched down and immediately damaged an outbuilding and several trees. The tornado crossed the state line into Indiana, damaging the chimney and garage of a home at low-end EF1 strength. The tornado struck northern Cedar Lake and southern Crown Point, causing damage to trees. In Crown Point, an industrial building sustained roof and siding damage. The tornado crossed I-65 and weakened before strengthening once more as it tracked into Valparaiso. Large tree limbs were downed, and a home and vehicle were damaged when trees fell onto them.[56]
1 death – This tornado passed through Canastota, partially or completely unroofing homes, damaging or destroying outbuildings, damaging warehouses and other buildings, snapping power poles, and snapping or uprooting trees. An elderly man who was outside his home near the center of town was injured when the tornado lofted him into the soffit of a masonry building next door; he would later die from his injuries. A second person nearby was also lifted into the building but was uninjured.[66]
A tornado initially damaged trees before impacting some structures. A mobile home was shifted off its blocks and had much of its roof covering ripped off. Additional roof and garage damage occurred in the area. Two trees fell on a residence and an outbuilding, significantly damaging the roofs of both. The tornado impaled small to medium tree limbs into the ground in a backyard before lifting.[67]
This significant, high-end EF2 tornado began near the Erie Canal and tracked northeast through Rome. In Rome, two churches sustained significant damage to their steeples and roofs, with complete collapses of some walls. Bricks falling from the churches and other buildings crushed multiple vehicles. A vehicle was flipped in a parking lot and an RV was pushed over. Hundreds of large trees were snapped or uprooted, some damaging homes. There was also significant roof loss on multiple residences, along with blown out garage doors and windows. A few properties had debris impaled into their lawns or homes. The tornado shifted a decommissioned B-52 bomber at Griffiss International Airport before lifting nearby.[68]
This high-end EF1 tornado occurred within a large area of wind damage, with some trees downed in a convergent pattern. During clean up efforts, a woman was seriously injured after being struck by a tree.[74]
A high-end EF1 tornado first touched down near a pond, downing numerous trees on the pond's western shoreline. The tornado then tracked due north, causing sporadic tree damage. The tornado then grew wider and snapped and uprooted hundreds of trees. A garage was also shifted 15ft (4.6m), and a tree fell onto the roof of a home. The tornado then climbed a hill, continuing to increase in severity as trees and branches fell on homes, lifting shortly thereafter.[76]
This extremely brief tornado which was observed by a storm spotter and captured on a surveillance camera was embedded within a much larger area of both damaging straight-line winds and large hail. It tossed an 800lb (360kg) trailer onto the far front corner panel of a car and moved a Suburban 3in (76mm) during the two seconds it was in contact with the ground.[77]
A derecho is a widespread, long-lived, straight-line wind storm that is associated with a fast-moving group of severe thunderstorms known as a mesoscale convective system.
On February 10–11, 2009, a broad-scale damaging wind event and small tornado outbreak affected the Central and Eastern United States. During the two-day period, 14 tornadoes touched down in seven states. Oklahoma was struck by six tornadoes, the most of any state. The six tornadoes in Oklahoma also tied the record for the most tornadoes ever recorded in the state during the month of February, which would later be broken in 2023. The first day of the outbreak produced the most tornadoes; the second brought mainly high wind damage and rain or snow in most of the Northeast.
The May 2009 Southern Midwest Derecho was an extreme progressive derecho and mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) event that struck southeastern Kansas, southern Missouri, and southwestern Illinois on May 8, 2009. Thirty-nine tornadoes, including two of EF3 strength on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, were reported in addition to high non-tornadic winds associated with the derecho and MCV. Due to the abnormal shape of the storm on radar and the extremely strong winds, many called this an "inland hurricane." A new class of storm, the Super Derecho, has been used to describe this event after analysis in 2010. Embedded supercells produced hail up to baseball size in southern Missouri, a rare event in a derecho. A wind gust of 106 mph (171 km/h) was recorded by a backup anemometer at the Southern Illinois Airport after official National Weather Service equipment failed. This derecho was the last of a series of derechos that occurred at the beginning of May.
From May 3 to May 11, 2003, a prolonged and destructive series of tornado outbreaks affected much of the Great Plains and Eastern United States. Most of the severe activity was concentrated between May 4 and May 10, which saw more tornadoes than any other week-long span in recorded history; 335 tornadoes occurred during this period, concentrated in the Ozarks and central Mississippi River Valley. Additional tornadoes were produced by the same storm systems from May 3 to May 11, producing 363 tornadoes overall, of which 62 were significant. Six of the tornadoes were rated F4, and of these four occurred on May 4, the most prolific day of the tornado outbreak sequence; these were the outbreak's strongest tornadoes. Damage caused by the severe weather and associated flooding amounted to US$4.1 billion, making it the costliest U.S. tornado outbreak of the 2000s. A total of 50 deaths and 713 injuries were caused by the severe weather, with a majority caused by tornadoes; the deadliest tornado was an F4 that struck Madison and Henderson counties in Tennessee, killing 11. In 2023, tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis created the outbreak intensity score (OIS) as a way to rank various tornado outbreaks. The tornado outbreak sequence of May 2003 received an OIS of 232, making it the fourth worst tornado outbreak in recorded history.
The 2010 New Year's Eve tornado outbreak was a three-day-long tornado outbreak that impacted the central and lower Mississippi Valley from December 30, 2010 to January 1, 2011. Associated with a low pressure system and a strong cold front, 37 tornadoes tracked across five states over the length of the severe event, killing nine and injuring several others. Activity was centered in the states of Missouri and later Mississippi on December 31. Seven tornadoes were rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale; these were the strongest during the outbreak. Non-tornadic winds were recorded to have reached as high as 80 mph (130 km/h) at eight locations on December 31, while hail as large as 2.75 in (7.0 cm) was documented north-northeast of Mansfield, Missouri. Overall, damage from the outbreak totaled US$123.3 million, most of which was related to tornadoes. This is the most prolific tornado outbreak in Missouri in the month of December.
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.
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, 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. 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. 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 and left ~140,000 without power in Texas.
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.
An intense derecho affected much of the Midwestern United States on August 10–11, 2020, primarily eastern Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. It caused high winds and spawned an outbreak of weak tornadoes. Some areas reported torrential rain and large hail.
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 June 18–19, 2021, a severe weather outbreak affected the Midwestern United States, affecting the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Floods, caused by training convection, caused $51.7 million in damage and causing rainfall amounts of up to 7 inches (180 mm) across western Indiana, causing one death. Hail damage also occurred from the storm complex system, which caused damage across several states that amounted to $1.9 million. A tornado outbreak also ensued, with 2 EF2 and 5 EF1 tornadoes confirmed, which caused $1.56 million in damage.
A significant early spring tornado outbreak occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of March 5, 2022 in the Midwest, primarily in the state of Iowa, before transitioning to a damaging wind event across northern parts of Illinois and Indiana. Multiple tornadoes were reported, several of which were produced by a dominant supercell thunderstorm in central Iowa. One long-track, low-end EF4 tornado caused major damage near the towns of Winterset and Norwalk, resulting in six fatalities. Multiple other supercells spawned along an area of moderate destabilization in northern Missouri, prompting further tornado warnings in southern Iowa, as they entered a highly favorable environment for maturing. Large hail and damaging wind gusts accompanied the storms, which continued their passage across the Midwestern states into overnight. More tornadic weather was confirmed in Arkansas and Missouri the next day and into the early morning of March 7. In addition to that, straight line winds killed one person near Hazel, Kentucky when a semi trailer was blown over on US 641. Another non-tornadic fatality occurred in western New York as the storm approached.
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.
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.
A significant late-season tornado outbreak took place on November 4, 2022, across Northeast Texas, southwestern Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma, and northwestern Louisiana with multiple large, destructive tornadoes occurring over a span of several hours. Major damage was reported in Sulphur Springs, Powderly, Caviness, Paris, Cason, Daingerfield, Athens, New Boston, Texas, and Idabel, Oklahoma, with the latter two communities being placed under tornado emergencies. Two fatalities occurred in Cason, Texas, and Pickens, Oklahoma respectively. Numerous PDS tornado warnings were issued as well. An additional tornado embedded within a narrow, but intense line of showers with damaging winds was also confirmed in Illinois the following morning as the system progressed eastward. Strong winds affected most of the western Great Lakes throughout the day before moving into Canada that evening. Two fatalities and at least 34 injuries were confirmed from tornadoes, and an additional fatality occurred near Stilwell, Oklahoma from drowning.
On the afternoon of May 21, 2024, a violent and destructive multi-vortex tornado struck the communities of Villisca, Nodaway, Brooks, Corning, and Greenfield in southwestern Iowa, killing five people and injuring 35 others. The tornado was the strongest of a large widespread tornado outbreak that occurred from May 19-27, 2024 in the central United States. The tornado reached peak intensity in the city of Greenfield, leading the National Weather Service in Des Moines, Iowa to assign a rating of mid-range EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with maximum wind speeds estimated at 185 mph (298 km/h). However, winds of 309–318 mph (497–512 km/h) were measured in a sub-vortex of the tornado by a DOW, placing it among the strongest tornadoes ever measured.
A significant tornado outbreak, along with a derecho, affected much of the Midwestern and Southeastern United States from April 1 to 3, 2024. The National Weather Service issued dozens of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings across those regions during the event. The outbreak first began over portions of the Great Plains and Midwest on April 1, with widespread large hail and damaging winds and a few tornadoes being reported. The outbreak then spread to the Midwest and Ohio Valley on April 2, where the derecho occurred. This was followed by supercell development later in the afternoon. Severe storms also affected parts of the Mid-Atlantic on April 3 as well. A total of 32 million people were estimated to be under watches or warnings, and over 700,000 people were estimated to be without power. Twenty-five people were injured; and five people were killed, all of them by non-tornadic events; three of which happened when downed trees fell onto vehicles in Pennsylvania and New York. The storm system was also responsible for causing flooding in parts of the Northeast, and heavy snow over parts of the Midwest and Northern New England.
From the evening of May 16, 2024, to midday May 17, 2024, a derecho struck the Gulf Coast of the United States from Southeast Texas to Florida, causing widespread damage, particularly in the city of Houston and surrounding metropolitan area. At least seven people were killed by the storms, dubbed the Houston derecho by the National Weather Service, which brought winds up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) along with four tornadoes.
A multi-day period of significant tornado activity along with significant derechos occurred across the Midwestern United States and the Mississippi Valley as well as an additional tornado in the Canadian province of Quebec. From May 19–27, 2024, two derechos occurred and tornadoes were reported across large portions of the Central United States, with multiple Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) watches issued across the sequence. On May 19, strong tornadoes occurred with isolated supercells in Colorado and Oklahoma while a derecho produced widespread wind damage and weak tornadoes across Kansas into the early morning hours of May 20. Limited tornadic activity took place on May 20, but another outbreak along with widespread damage struck mainly Iowa and Wisconsin on May 21. Five fatalities were confirmed with a large, violent, long-tracked EF4 tornado that went through Greenfield, Iowa. Scattered to widespread severe weather and tornadoes occurred over the next two days, including an EF2 tornado that injured 30 people on the west side of Temple, Texas. Another derecho formed in southwestern Nebraska late on May 23 and moved eastward, producing widespread wind damage and weak tornadoes through Nebraska and Iowa and northwestern Illinois before withering away in the northern part of the state during the morning hours of May 24.
↑ National Weather Service in Chanhassen, Minnesota (2024). Minnesota Event Report: EFU Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Grand Forks, North Dakota (2024). North Dakota Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Syracuse, Indiana (2024). Indiana Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Syracuse, Indiana (2024). Indiana Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri (2024). Missouri Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri (2024). Missouri Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Albany, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Albany, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Albany, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Albany, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
National Weather Service in Albany, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
National Weather Service in Albany, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Albany, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Albany, New York (2024). New York Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Gray, Maine (2024). Maine Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in North Platte, Nebraska (2024). Nebraska Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
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