Tornadoes of 2010
Encyclopedia
This page documents the tornado
es and tornado outbreak
s of 2010. The majority of tornadoes form in the U.S., but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. A lesser number occur outside the U.S., most notably in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season, but are also known in South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
There were 1,531 tornadoes reported in the US in 2010 (of which at least 1,266 were confirmed), with 45 confirmed fatalities. Elsewhere in the world, 5 people were killed in tornadoes, three in the Bahamas, one in Bangladesh
, and one in Germany. The year was near average for tornadoes despite an extremely quiet early spring period, however such changed after a huge upswing starting in late April and a busy late spring and summer period. The autumn months were slightly above average.
Two very large tornado outbreaks in late April ended the slow period, pushing April activity to near normal. May, which is typically the most active month for tornado activity, was somewhat above normal, as several larger outbreaks were spread throughout the month. June was a very active month with at least one isolated tornado activity on most days and two major tornado outbreaks plus several smaller outbreaks resulting in well over 400 tornado reports. The active pattern continued into July, with activity again above normal due to steady activity throughout the month despite no major outbreaks. The active pattern came to a stop by August, with below-normal activity. September was also slightly below to near average, with only modest tropical activity contributing. The fall months were moderately active, although October was one of the most active on record as the result of one single outbreak late in the month. November and December were both above average with most of the activity clustered in two outbreaks, one at the end of each month, with both months generally inactive until those tornado outbreaks.
Unofficial total tornadoes for 2010
on January 19. Damage was reported to the Huntington Beach harbor area in Orange County
, and in Santa Barbara County
a local radio station reported that a sheriff's deputy had sighted a possible tornado, with roof damage near the Ocean Meadow Golf Course. A third tornado was reported by the public in Orange County, with cars overturned on the Pacific Coast Highway and roof damage in the area. More tornadoes were reported from the same system on the 21st, with damage reported in Blythe, California
and Santa Barbara, California
.
from an EF3 tornado where buildings were destroyed and people reported trapped but were not injured. Other tornadoes were reported in East Texas
and Louisiana
. Significant damage also took place in Larue, Texas
and Canton, Texas
, both from EF2 tornadoes. As many as 150 homes were damaged in Van Zandt County, Texas
. Fifty homes in Hopkins County, Texas
has roof damage.
As the cyclone tracked east, additional storms developed on the afternoon of January 21 in central Tennessee
and northern Alabama
, with two tornadoes reported in these areas. Significant damage was reported in the Five Points neighborhood of Huntsville
and in downtown Huntsville from these storms. The tornado in Huntsville was rated an EF2.
damaging about 1,250 homes and several acres of crops. The tornado killed 1 child and injured around 150 other people.
in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma
on the early evening of March 8 and was reported by spotters around 5:29 p.m. CST. The tornado tore roofs off at least four homes and caused damage to other structures in Hammon, according to Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management officials with the Roger Mills County Sheriff's Office reporting the county barn was destroyed, leaving behind significant debris. Another home was destroyed with only the center portion remaining. No injuries were reported with the storm. This tornado was officially rated an EF2 by the NWS. A second tornado was reported just north of Butler
in Dewey County, Oklahoma
at 6:17 p.m. CST, it was rated EF0. The tornadoes formed from a low-top supercell and occurred while temperatures were in the mid-to-upper 50s (near 15°C) in the affected areas, which normally does not favor tornadic development; though the storm was in a narrow instability axis in Western Oklahoma that developed due to clearing from earlier thunderstorms.
up to the Ozarks. The hardest-hit state was Arkansas
, where a long-lived supercell tracked across the state, producing at least three tornadoes with houses destroyed. A 79-year-old man was killed and at least three others were injured from an EF2 tornado in Cleburne County. It was the first killer tornado in the US since October 9, 2009. More tornadoes continued to touchdown throughout the night of March 10. In Independence County an EF1 tornado touched down near the town of Rosie. This tornado was short-lived, but destroyed chicken houses killing or displacing 80,000 chickens. Two tornadoes touched down in White County
both rated EF1. The first touched down around 8:25 (CDT) near Center Hill. This tornado destroyed at least nine houses and injured one person. The second tornado was short lived and touched down near the town of Steprock. The final tornado to touchdown in Arkansas touched down in Saline County near the town of Congo; this tornado was rated EF1.
south to Florida
. The Piedmont Triad
was hardest hit, and a tornado emergency
was declared for parts of Forsyth
, Randolph
, Davidson
, and Guilford
counties. There, a mobile home park was heavily damaged with many injuries reported near High Point
. At least 200 houses were also damaged by that EF3 tornado. Damage was also reported near Charlotte
. An EF2 tornado hit Linwood
in Davidson County.
The same system produced a weak EF0 tornado on the morning of March 29 in South Florida and at least one, possibly two, tornadoes at Freeport
on Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas. The Freeport Container Port was heavily damaged, and three people were killed and several others injured by that tornado. That tornado has not been rated on either the Fujita scale
or the Enhanced Fujita scale
.
occurred across southern Alabama
, southern Georgia
, and northern Florida
during the afternoon and evening of April 8, 2010. The synoptic pattern that led to the convection
, consisted of mid and upper level troughing over much of the eastern United States, and an associated surface cold front advancing eastward along the northern Gulf of Mexico
coast. Shortwave energy
was rounding the base of the longwave trough through the day and was the main trigger for the vigorous convection.
The first tornadic thunderstorms across the forecast area developed early in the afternoon over Coffee County, Alabama. A weak EF0 tornado first touched down just east of Alabama Highway 87. The next area of damage was reported east northeast from this initial touchdown along CR-611, where a barn was destroyed and several trees snapped. The final area of damage was reported north of Alabama Highway 134, where a roof was taken off the porch of a house along with a portion of the roof over the kitchen. Figure 2 shows the 0.5 degree reflectivity and storm relative velocity from the KEOX WSR-88D radar shortly before the tornado. A pronounced rotational couplet (mesocyclone
) is seen in the velocity image near Damascus, Alabama
.
The second tornado
of the day developed from a fast-moving storm that crossed Gadsden County, Florida
during mid-afternoon. This tornado was also brief and rated EF0. The tornado touched down in the vicinity of Quincy, Florida
, just southwest of Florida Highway 267, and tracked northeast onto Holt Lane. Damage southwest of Holt Lane was limited to trees either snapped or uprooted. A few structures were damaged on Holt Lane, primarily due to falling trees. One outbuilding lost its roof as a result of the tornado. The tornado continued northeast, crossing Interstate 10
near exit 181. Trees were reported uprooted or snapped on both sides of the highway. The tornado appears to have lifted shortly after crossing the Interstate.
With the instability and shear ahead of the cold front
, a line of showers and thunderstorms developed, and at 4:50 pm produced an EF1 tornado with winds of 80 to 90 miles an hour. The damage spanned a 2-mile long and up to 50 yard wide path across Morgan County, Georgia
from High Shoals Road to the Apalachee River
.
Five homes and one chicken house were damaged, and five outbuildings were either damaged or destroyed. The most severely damaged house was located approximately in the middle of the two mile path. The front porch of the house was destroyed, a portion of the roof had been blown off, and a tree fell on the back of the house. Other damage included shingles ripped off roofs, a few broken windows, and some tree limbs driven into roofs and outer walls.
and from western Kansas
southward to the Texas Panhandle
. As instability increased, a moderate risk of severe weather - the first such upgrade of 2010 - was issued for the area around Amarillo, Texas
. The largest tornado, rated EF2, was reported near Kendall, Kansas
reported as 1 miles (1.6 km) wide according to KSNG
coverage. Another large wedge tornado was reported near Friend, Kansas
and tracked to Scott City, Kansas
where several farm buildings were destroyed. There were 40 tornadoes that were reported that day.
Another moderate risk of severe weather was issued for April 23 across much of the southern United States
. 18 tornadoes were reported; most of them north of St. Louis, Missouri
outside the moderate risk area.
A high risk of severe weather had been issued for April 24. High risk days are rarely issued. Four "particularly dangerous situation"
tornado watch
es were issued that day for areas of Missouri
, Kentucky
, Illinois
, Arkansas
, Louisiana
, Mississippi
, Tennessee
, and Alabama
. Numerous tornado warnings citing "large and extremely dangerous" tornadoes were issued. A tornado emergency
was issued for central Mississippi for a tornado that reportedly flattened 30 homes near Eagle Bend
in Warren County
, leveled numerous buildings, injured numerous people and destroyed a church with Yazoo City
taking a direct hit from the 1/2 to 3/4 mile-wide tornado which would soon be rated as an EF4. Ten people were killed, including four people in Yazoo County
, one in Holmes County
and five more in Choctaw County
. Significant damage to an industrial plant with injuries, trapped people and destroyed homes have been reported in Madison Parish, Louisiana
near the Louisiana-Mississippi state line. There were 77 tornadoes reported for that day.
Dr. Greg Forbes of the Weather Channel said that the radar was picking up debris on a thunderstorm near Yazoo City, indicating extreme damage. He said he has not seen anything like that since a tornado hit
Greensburg, Kansas
.
The National Weather Service also confirmed two tornado touchdowns in the St. Louis, Missouri
area on April 24, 2010 both were rated as EF0 with the strongest winds recorded at 85 mph. One touchdown was in the Des Peres area while the other touched down in the University City area. No injuries were reported from the twisters. The tornadoes knocked down some power lines and trees and caused mostly minor damages to homes and businesses.
to Iowa
that day, but with little damage.
A moderate risk of severe weather was issued on April 30 for a large swath from northern Illinois
to southern Arkansas
. Late that afternoon, tornadoes began to develop across the Ozarks and multiple tornado warning
s were issued. Also, in less than a week, another PDS Tornado Watch was issued for Arkansas
, Oklahoma
, the Missouri Bootheel, and Texas
. That evening in central Arkansas, the moderate risk was upgraded to a high risk for the second time in less than a week. Significant damage was reported in several areas. KARK coverage reported that an tornado touched down in Scotland, Arkansas
and major damage, at least 25 injuries and at least one fatality were reported there. In East End, Arkansas
, major damage was also reported with several injuries.
Another high risk was issued for May 1 for Arkansas, northern Mississippi
, West Tennessee
, southwestern Kentucky
and southeastern Missouri, the first occurrence of back-to-back high risk days since 2006
. Activity began in the afternoon on the warm front, where a destructive tornado touched down in northeastern Mississippi with severe damage near Ripley
. Yet again, another PDS Tornado watch was issued for Arkansas
, Louisiana
, and Texas
.
municipality, where the tornado is reported to have occurred.
and Kansas
, on May 10. For the fourth time in less than three weeks, a high risk of severe weather was issued. Large tornadoes began developing in the mid-afternoon hours in northern Oklahoma, with significant damage in Medford, Oklahoma
by an EF3. Another tornado touched down near Yukon, Oklahoma
in the western part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area
, followed by numerous others in the area. A trailer park was flattened near Norman, Oklahoma
according to KWTV
coverage, with at least one fatality and many injuries reported. This tornado was soon rated as an EF4. Within three hours, at least 34 reports of tornadoes, including a few "large and extremely dangerous" tornadoes, were reported. A large grocery store along Highway 9 near Norman was flattened by a large tornado. A long-lived supercell tracked parallel to Interstate 40
, and produced one or more large and destructive tornadoes from the Oklahoma City metro area through eastern Oklahoma. Activity slowed down the next day as only 2 tornadoes were reported in Ohio
. However, on May 12, tornado activity increased. A dry line moved through west Texas
, causing multiple tornadoes in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Finally, on May 13, the dry line dissipated, but many tornadoes still formed on that day. One tornado in Missouri
was rated an EF1 after it destroyed a casino park
and a Pizza Hut
location. Activity died down the next day as now flooding was more associated with the storm system than tornadoes.
at the tail end of an occluded front
that had produced tornadoes in Oklahoma earlier in the week. The next day, on May 15, an EF0 tornado touched down SW of Laplace, Louisiana
with an injury reported. 3 possible tornadoes formed in Colorado
and Wyoming
. Another tornado, with some accounts of a waterspout moving onshore, formed near the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
in Mississippi. On May 16, a tornado formed in Nebraska and other reports of tornadoes were located in Missouri and in Kansas.
on May 18. At least 25 tornadoes were reported from Wyoming
to the Texas Panhandle
including just outside the Denver metropolitan area. However, most of the tornadoes were in open country, and damage was generally minimal.
More severe weather was expected on May 19, particularly over Oklahoma
and North Texas
. A high risk of severe weather and a PDS tornado watch was issued for central Oklahoma as a result. Numerous tornadoes were reported across the area, although only a few resulted in significant damage as a forecasted major tornado outbreak did not occur.
that afternoon. The most intense supercell produced a long-lived wedge tornado in and around Bowdle, South Dakota
where numerous houses and farm buildings were destroyed and cars were thrown into the air. It was rated as an EF4, but fortunately remained in rural countryside and no injuries were reported.
and Saxony
on May 24. A wide F2 - F3 tornado moved along ca. 100 km distance between the region of Torgau
in northern Saxony and east of Dresden
near the Czech border. Most damage occurred in the Brandenburg town of Mühlberg and the Saxon town of Großenhain
, as well as in Belgern
and Radeburg
. A six-year-old girl was killed in Großenhain when a tree limb fell on the car she was sitting in. The Mühlberg monastery church was "substantially damaged" by the 300 meter wide tornado there; a "hall" collapsed in Großenhain, along with serious damage to a concrete slab apartment building. Damage in Großenhain alone was estimated at topping 8 million Euro, with over 3000 buildings damaged. 38 people were injured, with schools closed the next day. The bridge at Mühlberg, linking the two states, was also closed temporarily due to damage to its guardrails.
), a cold front
moved through the Oklahoma Panhandle
, causing severe weather in the area. 2 EF2
and 1 EF0 tornadoes touched down in the Prichett, Colorado and Campo, Colorado
areas in Baca County, Colorado
. Luckily, however, damage was limited to a small area and no deaths were reported.
-Nebraska
area, causing severe weather across much of the region. The strongest tornado that day was an EF2 tornado that hit Ringgold County
. 2 other tornadoes, rated EF0 and EF1, were confirmed in eastern Nebraska
.
area on June 2. It was part of a severe weather situation from a squall line
that moved into Ohio
. The tornado damaged some houses and destroyed several trees. Although there were no human fatalities, 2 horses were confirmed killed by flying debris. 2 additional tornadoes formed near the Texas
coastline from another squall line, rated EF0 near the Chapman Ranch, Texas
and EF2 in Refugio, Texas
. And 2 more confirmed tornadoes near Woodsboro, Texas
an EF0 and near Tynan, Texas
an EF1 One more tornado was confirmed near Shin Pond, Maine that damaged many trees.
. At least 40 houses were damaged, but unofficial numbers have risen to 100, and several people were injured by the tornado.
that afternoon, but the most serious activity developed that evening. Several tornadoes took place in Iowa
and more in Illinois
. One especially large tornado resulted in a tornado emergency
being declared that evening for Peoria, Illinois
after causing severe damage in Elmwood, Illinois
. A second strong tornado formed shortly after the Elmwood, Illinois tornado in Putnam County just west of Henry, Illinois
. The tornado tracked through southern La Salle County where it caused significant damage (EF2) in Magnolia, Illinois
. A family of tornadoes (EF0,EF2, and EF3) struck the town of Streator, Illinois
, resulting in widespread destruction throughout the area. Another tornado family (Two EF0's and one EF2) impacted Dwight, Illinois
where 1 person was killed, numerous homes were destroyed, and a train was derailed. Later that night, a pair of twin tornadoes (EF1 and EF3) near St. Anne, Illinois
destroyed many homes and mobile homes, snapped trees, demolished barns and farm equipment, and injured one person. Several more tornado warnings were issued in Southern Michigan that night, and into the early morning. Counties under warnings included Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Hillsdale, Jackson, Branch, Berrien, Van Buren, Saint Joseph, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe counties. An EF1 tornado in Calhoun County touched down just south of Battle Creek, downing trees and tearing the roof off of a church. Other damage reported in Calhoun County included a flagpole bent at a right angle due to extreme winds in Homer. A damaging EF2 tornado struck the town of Dundee, Michigan
where multiple businesses and a water park were damaged and 11 people were injured. Throughout the town, many trees were downed and homes were damaged or destroyed. A state of emergency was also declared for the town of Leamington, Ontario
after extensive damage was reported due to an F1 tornado confirmed by Environment Canada
. Seven people were confirmed dead in Wood County, Ohio
just outside Toledo
after an EF4 tornado hit the town of Millbury, Ohio
in the middle of the night.
and Minnesota
on June 17. Significant damage was reported west of Grand Forks, North Dakota
and in the Wadena, Minnesota
area, and a tornado emergency
was issued for areas north of Wadena and again later for areas near Plummer, Minnesota
where significant damage was reported. Much of Wadena was destroyed by its tornado. Three people were killed; one in Almora, Minnesota, one in Mentor, Minnesota
; and a third in Freeborn County, Minnesota
. At least four of the tornadoes were rated EF4, the most violent tornadoes in a single event since February 5–6, 2008
. This outbreak spawned a record 48 tornadoes in Minnesota on June 17, breaking the state's previous single-day record of 27 tornadoes set during the Mid-June 1992 tornado outbreak
.
at the MetraPark trade facility. Damage was significant there from that EF2 tornado, including a large section of the roof being removed at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.
Another day of scattered tornadoes took place on June 21, both in the northern Plains and in the Midwest. A total of 29 tornadoes were reported, but most were weak and damage was minor. However the village of Eagle, Wisconsin
, sustained serious damage after being hit by an EF2 tornado.
region. Although most of the activity was related to damaging winds, supercells formed ahead of the storm especially in central Ontario. Severe damage took place in and around Midland, Ontario
with a mobile home park severely damaged and many injuries reported from an EF2 tornado. 150 people were displaced and the mayor declared a state of emergency in the town. Another EF1 tornado touched down near Washago, Ontario Shortly after the tornado struck, Emergency Management of Ontario issued a rare Red Alert
in a huge swath of Central Ontario due to tornado threats—urging people in that area to take cover.
Related to the storm system mentioned above that spawned tornadoes in Midland, but a separate group of cells, was a strong line of thunderstorms that quickly fired up during the heat of the afternoon
in northern Missouri
and southern Iowa
. Racing through Chicago towards the evening hours, the storms continued to gather strength, and began spawning tornadoes at roughly 9:00 PM EDT, north of Jackson, Michigan
and near Ann Arbor, Michigan
. One tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service
to have struck the town of Saline, Michigan
, as well as passing just north of nearby Milan
, before travelling parallel to, and just south of, Interstate 94
, where the tornado had passed over Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport without damage. The tornado ultimately faded out near Taylor about 20 minutes after forming.
Several other tornadoes had formed during this period, near Adrian
, tracking south of Tecumseh
, through Britton
, and just north of Dundee, Michigan
, with a waterspout
being reported at Lake Erie Metropark
near Rockwood, Michigan
dissipating before reaching Amherstburg
, Ontario
on the other side (though still prompting a Tornado Warning for Windsor
and Essex County
). One final tornado was reported near Temperance
, tracking towards the east, last seen near Luna Pier
. Damage in the nearby Toledo, Ohio
area was also storm-caused, with the historic 126-year-old town hall (built in 1884) and fire department in Edgarton being severely damaged from high winds and an EF1 tornado, with many trees in the area down. After roughly 11:35 PM EDT, the storms had faded in strength somewhat as they tracked off to the east over Lake Erie
, between Erie, Pennsylvania
and St. Thomas, Ontario
.
Farther south, damaging tornadoes were also reported near Goshen, Indiana
embedded in an intense hybrid derecho
. An EF1 tornado has been confirmed ahead of straight-lined wind damage in Matteson
and Park Forest, Illinois
in suburban Chicago. The wind damage sent out tornado warnings in the Chicago area.
The next day, more severe weather developed in the Northeast
. Most of the damage was due to winds, but a possible tornado slammed into downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut
collapsing a building and damaging others, and knocking down many trees. Much of the damaging was due to straight line winds, but a brief EF1 tornado touched down in the downtown core.
, it was an EF4 that flattened several houses and farm buildings as it remained in rural countryside. Other tornadoes were reported on both days. They included at least four EF2 tornadoes in southern Minnesota that did significant damage.
in the early afternoon of Sunday, June 27, firing up
quickly, spawning several funnel clouds, and at least two touchdowns in Washtenaw
and Wayne
Counties in Michigan
, and in neighbouring Essex County
, Ontario
tracking through rural farmland near Cottam, Ontario
, past the aptly named Windfall, Ontario before lifting near Quinn, Ontario
. Light damage was reported across the Metro Detroit
area from Taylor
, Ann Arbor
, north to Novi
, mostly with downed trees and powerlines, along with minor structural damage. There was also an EF0 tornado that formed near Erie, Pennsylvania
in Presque Isle State Park
at 7:36 PM EST. Its path was 50 yard wide and damage was focused to about 50 trees in the storm's path that were knocked down.
Conneaut, Ohio from 6:54 till 6:59 pm, a EF1 tornado traveled 2.3 miles and had a max width of 100 yards. It touched down near Lake Road and Point Drive in Conneaut. From where it traveled East along lake road lifting up near the intersection of Broad and Russel Street. Main Damage was downed trees and limbs with some roof damage. With one Garage roof being torn off completely. In St. Clair County
, one person was killed and four others were injured in a campground when a confirmed EF1 tornado tossed several trailers into a lake. A tornado also touched down in West Michigan. An EF0 tornado was confirmed to have hit Gobles in Van Buren County early in the afternoon.
starting on June 30. The most significant damage took place in Hebbronville, Texas
on July 2 where several businesses and mobile homes were heavily damaged. Other tornadoes, all weak, were reported in the region.
in Canada at approximately 5 pm CDT, it destroyed at least 13 houses. A state of emergency has been declared for the reserve. It was the strongest tornado in Canada since 2007. Over the previous few days, a related weather system has affected much of Saskatchewan causing severe flooding, including mass evacuations in nearby Yorkton, Saskatchewan
.
across portions of the Upper Midwest
. A moderate risk of severe weather was issued for the region, as tornadoes began to develop in Minnesota
on the afternoon of July 14. Several tornadoes were reported across the region, along with widespread moderate wind damage. The strongest tornado was rated EF2.
trekked through the Philippines, its outer bands
spawned a tornado in Koronadal City
, destroying 13 homes and flattening agricultural land.
On July 16, another tornado struck the country, touching down in South Cotabato
province. The tornado was responsible for at least 3 million pesos (65,000 USD) of agricultural and property losses.
to New England
resulted in an active stretch of weather. In addition to extensive wind damage, numerous tornadoes were reported on both days. The strongest on July 21 were rated EF1. More tornadoes touched down on July 22, with the greatest concentration in southern Wisconsin
. An EF2 tornado was reported in Waukesha County, Wisconsin
with significant damage. There were three confirmed EF1 tornadoes which affected southern Maine. The towns of Alfred, Limerick, Buxton, and Gorham experienced heavy tree damage and some structural collapses. No injuries were reported. The tornadoes ranged from 200-250 yds in width. The Buxton/Gorham tornado traveled around 5 miles, collapsing a barn and killing two cows, before dissipating.
On July 22 tornadoes two tornadoes touched down in Calhoun County, Michigan, both by Battle Creek. Tornado sirens were sounded across the county, and damage included the roof torn off of a mobile home. These storms triggered tornado warning across the southern portions of the state was they moved west. A tornado watch was put in effect for the rest of the evening in southern Michigan, and a tornado warning was issued in the early hours of July 23 for southeast Calhoun County and southwest Jackson County.
Over the following days, more tornadoes touched down, including two EF2 tornadoes in western New York and another EF2 tornado in Honesdale, Pennsylvania
. Several people were injured by those tornadoes. In addition, on July 23, the largest hail
stone ever recorded in the US fell in Vivian, South Dakota
alongside a weak tornado. The hailstone measured 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter.
There were unconfirmed reports of at least two tornadoes, reported in Sussex
, Bergen
, Essex
and Union
counties in northern New Jersey
. Also unconfirmed, tornadoes were reported in Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic and Burlington counties in southern portions of New Jersey.
into the Canadian Prairies
. An EF3 tornado killed two people near Reserve, Montana
as a ranch was destroyed. The same tornado also injured an elderly woman. Separately, another tornado hit the northern sections of Nashville, Tennessee
damaging over a dozen homes and other structures.
where 32 homes were damaged. The second F2 Tornado hit by Annosław and damaged 6 houses
In addition to the events listed below, there were two tornadoes in the Philippines, one on August 10 and the other on August 19. Collectively, the two storms injured three people and destroyed 18 homes.
. While overall damage was fairly limited, there was one very intense tornado that remained in rural areas near Tyler, North Dakota. Farm buildings were obliterated and fields scoured by that tornado, which was rated as an EF4.
, which was an EF3. One person was killed and one was injured when a vehicle was thrown and destroyed.
in Victoria
. The tornado had a damage path around 100 metres (109.4 yd) wide and 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long, with numerous trees damaged and damage to a home's roof.
and in southern Oklahoma
on both September 7 and 8 as a result of Tropical Storm Hermine
and its remnants. Most of them were minor, however, one touched down in Dallas on the afternoon of September 8. At least one building was heavily damaged near downtown
by an EF2 tornado.
on September 3, 1970.
and Brooklyn
. One tornado touched down in Park Slope and remained on the ground for 2 miles. The other touched down in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and remained on the ground for four miles dissipating near Bayside, Queens
. There were reports of downed trees and power lines along with roofs torn off of buildings. One tornado blew down the spire of a 300 year old church on Main Street in Flushing
. The Brooklyn tornado was rated an EF0 and the Queens tornado was rated an EF1. One person is known to have been killed as a result of the storm.
In addition, at least one person was confirmed dead in Belleville
, Wood County, West Virginia
by an EF3 tornado where 15 structures where heavily damaged including camping trailers. Other tornadoes, including several rated EF2, were also confirmed in southeastern Ohio
as a result of a supercell that developed that afternoon.
was affected by Tropical Storm Nicole. In Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, the storm spawned a very rare tornado accompanied by heavy rains. Although short lived, two homes were destroyed and 12 others were damaged by the tornado, recording a very unlikely occurrence of a tornado in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica.
and southern Utah
, beginning early on October 6. The most significant damage was in Bellemont, Arizona
where houses and businesses were significantly damaged, a train was derailed and Camp Navajo
was heavily damaged. Other tornadoes touched down but primarily remained over the open mountainous terrain in the very sparsely populated area. Tornado outbreaks are extremely rare west of the Rocky Mountains
. The strongest tornado was rated EF3 on the Navajo Nation
where metal transmission towers were heavily damaged, one of the strongest tornadoes ever recorded west of the Rockies.
on October 24. The most intense tornado hit Rice, Texas
where a high school was heavily damaged and several people were reported to be injured. That tornado was rated as an EF2. Another notable tornado, an EF1, hit Mobile, Alabama
early on October 25.
As the low explosively deepened to become the most intense extratropical low of non-tropical origins ever recorded in the continental United States, reaching as low as 955 mbar (28.20 inHg) over northern Minnesota
(as low as a medium-sized Category 3
hurricane), storms developed on the associated cold front
late on October 25. A high risk of severe storms, the first to be issued in October since October 24, 2001 and the first in any fall month since November 15, 2005, was issued for parts of the Midwest including most of Indiana
early on October 26, with both a tornado outbreak ahead of the front and a major serial derecho expected from the Gulf Coast
to the upper Great Lakes
. The high risk was later extended northward in the mid morning. That morning, a few tornadoes struck, primarily around Lake Michigan
, including a confirmed EF2 tornado four miles east of Peotone, Illinois, and another EF2 in Cridersville, Ohio, with more tornadoes reported near the Ohio River
. Almost every county in southern Michigan was placed under a tornado warning as the storm tracked eastward. Later that day, a confirmed EF1 tornado struck Middlesboro, Kentucky. In addition, widespread intense wind damage was also reported from Mississippi
northward to Michigan
.
The cold front tracked eastward on October 27 as the storm weakened. Additional tornadoes developed across the Mid-Atlantic states
as the atmosphere remained unstable. In the end, with 87 tornadoes confirmed, it was the largest October tornado outbreak ever recorded, even though none of the tornadoes were stronger than EF2 and there were no fatalities.
and northeastern Missouri
. At 3:04 PM, a tornado touched down just east of Rockford, Illinois
. This tornado produced major damage in the area. On November 23, the National Weather Service in Chicago went to survey the damage, and estimated that the tornado was 200 yards wide, and traveled 16.4 miles. The tornado reached gusts in excess of 135 MPH, which is converted to the Enhanced Fujita Scale as an EF2 Tornado. Other tornadoes occurred on this day including an EF1 tornado in Union Grove, Wisconsin
, and in Walworth County, Wisconsin
(EF1). As the storms moved east into Indiana
and Michigan
, tornado watches were put out, but no tornado or severe thunderstorm warnings were issued. On November 24, The National Weather Service in Chicago surveyed damage in extreme northern McHenry County in Illinois. It was determined that an EF0 tornado struck there. An EF-1 tornado touched down in El Dorado County, California
on November 22 damaging a commercial structure, power lines, and trees.
on November 29. A few supercells developed in the warm sector, with some producing tornadoes. Severe damage was reported to several houses in Winn Parish, Louisiana
including a large mansion which was destroyed from the EF4 tornado, the strongest tornado in the US so late in the year since the December 2000 Tuscaloosa tornado on December 16, 2000. Damage was also reported in Yazoo City, Mississippi
(which had been devastated on April 24
as well). In east-central Mississippi
, additional tornadoes - including an EF3 in Attala County, Mississippi
- touched down that evening and into the morning of November 30, destroying houses and resulting in numerous injuries. Other tornadoes touched down later that day, with the most severe damage in Buford, Georgia
where houses were destroyed by an EF2 tornado.
The tornado was later rated as an F3 and left 90 million euro
s (US$120 million) in damage.
off the Pacific Ocean
. An EF2 tornado in the town of Aumsville, Oregon
causing significant damage and two injuries in the community. Several houses and businesses were nearly destroyed as well as a result. Strong tornadoes are rare west of the Rocky Mountains, and especially in the Pacific Northwest
.
, destroying houses and killing at least four people. In nearby Benton County, Arkansas
, another tornado caused significant damage and injuries.
More damaging tornadoes touched down late that morning across much of Missouri
and into west-central Illinois
. In Rolla, Missouri
, at least four people were killed and several others were injured. It is the deadliest December tornado outbreak in the US since December 16, 2000 and they were the first killer US tornadoes since September 16. Numerous tornadoes also touched down in the St. Louis metropolitan area which were embedded in a squall line
, including reports in the city of St. Louis
itself. The most significant damage was in Sunset Hills
and injuries were reported there.
Another round of storms developed in the Deep South that afternoon. The worst storms developed in Mississippi
and a tornado emergency
was issued late that afternoon in the Jackson, Mississippi
area. That activity continued into the wee hours of January 1 (see Tornadoes of 2011
).
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es and tornado outbreak
Tornado outbreak
While there is no single agreed upon definition, generally at least 6-10 tornadoes produced by the same synoptic scale weather system is considered a tornado outbreak. The tornadoes usually occur within the same day, or continue into the early morning hours of the succeeding day, and within the...
s of 2010. The majority of tornadoes form in the U.S., but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. A lesser number occur outside the U.S., most notably in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season, but are also known in South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
There were 1,531 tornadoes reported in the US in 2010 (of which at least 1,266 were confirmed), with 45 confirmed fatalities. Elsewhere in the world, 5 people were killed in tornadoes, three in the Bahamas, one in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, and one in Germany. The year was near average for tornadoes despite an extremely quiet early spring period, however such changed after a huge upswing starting in late April and a busy late spring and summer period. The autumn months were slightly above average.
Synopsis
The year started with above-normal activity in January, primarily as a result of a single moderate outbreak late in the month. After that, arctic air settled in across the central and southern United States, suppressing warm air to the Caribbean, and as a result, February saw only one isolated tornado as the air mass throughout the month was highly unfavorable for any severe weather development. In early March, predictions for an active tornado season were voiced by meteorologists should the pattern continue as it had during January and February, with El Nino also cited as possibly bringing an above average season. However, March and the first half of April also had well below normal activity, and overall the early spring period was among the least active in recent years. Through mid-April, the season had been one of the least active in the historical record (see graphic above right).Two very large tornado outbreaks in late April ended the slow period, pushing April activity to near normal. May, which is typically the most active month for tornado activity, was somewhat above normal, as several larger outbreaks were spread throughout the month. June was a very active month with at least one isolated tornado activity on most days and two major tornado outbreaks plus several smaller outbreaks resulting in well over 400 tornado reports. The active pattern continued into July, with activity again above normal due to steady activity throughout the month despite no major outbreaks. The active pattern came to a stop by August, with below-normal activity. September was also slightly below to near average, with only modest tropical activity contributing. The fall months were moderately active, although October was one of the most active on record as the result of one single outbreak late in the month. November and December were both above average with most of the activity clustered in two outbreaks, one at the end of each month, with both months generally inactive until those tornado outbreaks.
Events
United States yearly total
January 19–21 (Southern California)
Tornadoes were reported in southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
on January 19. Damage was reported to the Huntington Beach harbor area in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, and in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
a local radio station reported that a sheriff's deputy had sighted a possible tornado, with roof damage near the Ocean Meadow Golf Course. A third tornado was reported by the public in Orange County, with cars overturned on the Pacific Coast Highway and roof damage in the area. More tornadoes were reported from the same system on the 21st, with damage reported in Blythe, California
Blythe, California
Blythe is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the "Palo Verde Valley" of the Lower Colorado River Valley region, an agricultural area and part of the Colorado Desert along the Colorado River. Blythe was named after Thomas Blythe, a gold prospector who established primary...
and Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
.
January 20–22 (Southeast US)
A separate system developed in the south-central US on January 20 in an unstable air mass. Numerous tornadoes were reported, with severe damage particularly around Waskom, TexasWaskom, Texas
Waskom is a city in Harrison County, Texas, United States. It lies about east of the county seat, Marshall, on U.S. Route 80. To the east is Shreveport, Louisiana...
from an EF3 tornado where buildings were destroyed and people reported trapped but were not injured. Other tornadoes were reported in East Texas
East Texas
East Texas is a distinct geographic and ecological area in the U.S. state of Texas.According to the Handbook of Texas, the East Texas area "may be separated from the rest of Texas roughly by a line extending from the Red River in north central Lamar County southwestward to east central Limestone...
and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. Significant damage also took place in Larue, Texas
Larue, Texas
LaRue is an unincorporated community located in Henderson County, Texas, United States. At the time of the 2000 census the population was estimated at 160.The La Poynor Independent School District serves area students....
and Canton, Texas
Canton, Texas
Canton is a city in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 5,142. It is the county seat of Van Zandt County.- History :...
, both from EF2 tornadoes. As many as 150 homes were damaged in Van Zandt County, Texas
Van Zandt County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,140 people, 18,195 households, and 13,664 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile . There were 20,896 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
. Fifty homes in Hopkins County, Texas
Hopkins County, Texas
*Brashear*Dike*Como*Cumby*Gafford*Pickton*Saltillo*Sulphur Bluff*Sulphur Springs*Tira-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Hopkins County, Texas-External links:*...
has roof damage.
As the cyclone tracked east, additional storms developed on the afternoon of January 21 in central Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and northern Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, with two tornadoes reported in these areas. Significant damage was reported in the Five Points neighborhood of Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
and in downtown Huntsville from these storms. The tornado in Huntsville was rated an EF2.
February
There was 1 confirmed tornado reported in the US in February. This set a new monthly record low for February.February 17 (Bangladesh)
A tornado tore through 22 villages in Maheshpur, BangladeshMaheshpur Upazila
Last Update 16.10.2011Maheshpur Upazila is a part of the Khulna Division. It is one of the Upazila in Jhenaidah District of Khulna divisions...
damaging about 1,250 homes and several acres of crops. The tornado killed 1 child and injured around 150 other people.
March 8
A tornado touched down near the town of HammonHammon, Oklahoma
Hammon is a town in Custer and Roger Mills counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located at the junction of Oklahoma Highways 33 & 34, the majority of the town is in Roger Mills County, but some of the town limits extend into Custer County. The population was 568 at the 2010...
in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma
Roger Mills County, Oklahoma
Roger Mills County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 3,436. Its county seat is Cheyenne.-History:Roger Mills County takes its name from Roger Q. Mills, a prominent American politician from Texas...
on the early evening of March 8 and was reported by spotters around 5:29 p.m. CST. The tornado tore roofs off at least four homes and caused damage to other structures in Hammon, according to Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management officials with the Roger Mills County Sheriff's Office reporting the county barn was destroyed, leaving behind significant debris. Another home was destroyed with only the center portion remaining. No injuries were reported with the storm. This tornado was officially rated an EF2 by the NWS. A second tornado was reported just north of Butler
Butler, Oklahoma
Butler is a town in Custer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 287 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Butler has a total area of , all of it land.-Climate:-Demographics:...
in Dewey County, Oklahoma
Dewey County, Oklahoma
Dewey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 4,743. Its county seat is Taloga.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
at 6:17 p.m. CST, it was rated EF0. The tornadoes formed from a low-top supercell and occurred while temperatures were in the mid-to-upper 50s (near 15°C) in the affected areas, which normally does not favor tornadic development; though the storm was in a narrow instability axis in Western Oklahoma that developed due to clearing from earlier thunderstorms.
March 10–11
Severe weather developed from the northern Gulf CoastGulf Coast of the United States
The Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
up to the Ozarks. The hardest-hit state was Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, where a long-lived supercell tracked across the state, producing at least three tornadoes with houses destroyed. A 79-year-old man was killed and at least three others were injured from an EF2 tornado in Cleburne County. It was the first killer tornado in the US since October 9, 2009. More tornadoes continued to touchdown throughout the night of March 10. In Independence County an EF1 tornado touched down near the town of Rosie. This tornado was short-lived, but destroyed chicken houses killing or displacing 80,000 chickens. Two tornadoes touched down in White County
White County, Arkansas
White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 77,076. The county seat is Searcy. White County is Arkansas's 31st county, formed on October 23, 1835, from portions of Independence, Jackson, and Pulaski counties and named for Hugh Lawson White, a...
both rated EF1. The first touched down around 8:25 (CDT) near Center Hill. This tornado destroyed at least nine houses and injured one person. The second tornado was short lived and touched down near the town of Steprock. The final tornado to touchdown in Arkansas touched down in Saline County near the town of Congo; this tornado was rated EF1.
March 28–29
A low pressure system pushed northward through the Ohio Valley on March 28. Several tornadoes were reported in the warm sector stretching from North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
south to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
was hardest hit, and a tornado emergency
Tornado emergency
A Tornado Emergency is enhanced wording of tornado warnings used by the National Weather Service in the United States during significant tornado occurrences in highly populated areas...
was declared for parts of Forsyth
Forsyth County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile . There were 133,093 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile...
, Randolph
Randolph County, North Carolina
-Notable people:*Naomi Wise, murder victim*Richard Petty - Nascar driver.*Lee Petty - Nascar pioneer. Richard Petty's father.*Kyle Petty - Nascar driver. Son of Richard Petty*Adam Petty - Nascar driver. Kyle Petty's son...
, Davidson
Davidson County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 149,331 people, 58,156 households, and 42,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 267 people per square mile . There were 62,432 housing units at an average density of 113 per square mile...
, and Guilford
Guilford County, North Carolina
Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2010, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 491,230. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful...
counties. There, a mobile home park was heavily damaged with many injuries reported near High Point
High Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
. At least 200 houses were also damaged by that EF3 tornado. Damage was also reported near Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. An EF2 tornado hit Linwood
Linwood, North Carolina
Linwood is a small unincorporated community just south of Lexington in Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. The area contains operations of several important companies in Davidson County, including Keply Hardwood, Legget-Platt, PPG Industries, and Kimberly Clark...
in Davidson County.
The same system produced a weak EF0 tornado on the morning of March 29 in South Florida and at least one, possibly two, tornadoes at Freeport
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
on Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas. The Freeport Container Port was heavily damaged, and three people were killed and several others injured by that tornado. That tornado has not been rated on either the Fujita scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
or the Enhanced Fujita scale
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
.
April 8
Isolated severe weatherSevere weather
Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous to human life and property.- Examples Include :Severe weather can occur under a variety of situations, but three characteristics are generally needed: a temperature or moisture boundary, moisture, and , instability in the...
occurred across southern Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, southern Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and northern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
during the afternoon and evening of April 8, 2010. The synoptic pattern that led to the convection
Convection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
, consisted of mid and upper level troughing over much of the eastern United States, and an associated surface cold front advancing eastward along the northern Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
coast. Shortwave energy
Shortwave (meteorology)
A shortwave or shortwave trough is an embedded kink in the trough / ridge pattern. This is the opposite of longwaves, which are responsible for synoptic scale systems, although shortwaves may be contained within or found ahead of longwaves and range from the mesocale to the synoptic scale...
was rounding the base of the longwave trough through the day and was the main trigger for the vigorous convection.
The first tornadic thunderstorms across the forecast area developed early in the afternoon over Coffee County, Alabama. A weak EF0 tornado first touched down just east of Alabama Highway 87. The next area of damage was reported east northeast from this initial touchdown along CR-611, where a barn was destroyed and several trees snapped. The final area of damage was reported north of Alabama Highway 134, where a roof was taken off the porch of a house along with a portion of the roof over the kitchen. Figure 2 shows the 0.5 degree reflectivity and storm relative velocity from the KEOX WSR-88D radar shortly before the tornado. A pronounced rotational couplet (mesocyclone
Mesocyclone
A mesocyclone is a vortex of air, approximately 2 to 10 miles in diameter , within a convective storm....
) is seen in the velocity image near Damascus, Alabama
Damascus, Alabama
Damascus is a city in Escambia County, Alabama, United States....
.
The second tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
of the day developed from a fast-moving storm that crossed Gadsden County, Florida
Gadsden County, Florida
Gadsden County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2000 census, the population was 45,087. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 46,428 . Its county seat is Quincy, Florida. Gadsden County is the only predominantly African-American...
during mid-afternoon. This tornado was also brief and rated EF0. The tornado touched down in the vicinity of Quincy, Florida
Quincy, Florida
Quincy is a city in Gadsden County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,982 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,975...
, just southwest of Florida Highway 267, and tracked northeast onto Holt Lane. Damage southwest of Holt Lane was limited to trees either snapped or uprooted. A few structures were damaged on Holt Lane, primarily due to falling trees. One outbuilding lost its roof as a result of the tornado. The tornado continued northeast, crossing Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
near exit 181. Trees were reported uprooted or snapped on both sides of the highway. The tornado appears to have lifted shortly after crossing the Interstate.
With the instability and shear ahead of the cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
, a line of showers and thunderstorms developed, and at 4:50 pm produced an EF1 tornado with winds of 80 to 90 miles an hour. The damage spanned a 2-mile long and up to 50 yard wide path across Morgan County, Georgia
Morgan County, Georgia
Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,457. The 2005 Census Estimate shows a population of 17,492. The county seat is Madison, Georgia.-Geography:...
from High Shoals Road to the Apalachee River
Apalachee River
The Apalachee River is a tributary of the Oconee River in the U.S. state of Georgia. It rises north of Lawrenceville in eastern Gwinnett County and flows southeast to join the Oconee River in Lake Oconee west of Greensboro.- References :...
.
Five homes and one chicken house were damaged, and five outbuildings were either damaged or destroyed. The most severely damaged house was located approximately in the middle of the two mile path. The front porch of the house was destroyed, a portion of the roof had been blown off, and a tree fell on the back of the house. Other damage included shingles ripped off roofs, a few broken windows, and some tree limbs driven into roofs and outer walls.
April 22–25
A complex weather system began to track across the central and southern United States beginning on April 22. That afternoon, tornadoes developed across eastern ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and from western Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
southward to the Texas Panhandle
Texas Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east...
. As instability increased, a moderate risk of severe weather - the first such upgrade of 2010 - was issued for the area around Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
. The largest tornado, rated EF2, was reported near Kendall, Kansas
Kendall, Kansas
Kendall is an unincorporated community in Hamilton County, Kansas, United States. Kendall is located near U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 400 southeast of Syracuse. Kendall has a post office with ZIP code 67857...
reported as 1 miles (1.6 km) wide according to KSNG
KSNG
KSNG channel 11 is an NBC affiliate based in Garden City, Kansas. It is owned by New Vision Television, Inc.KSNG is part of the Kansas State Network network of NBC affiliates, repeating the signal of KSNW in Wichita, Kansas, with local advertising and news inserts.-History:It signed on the air on...
coverage. Another large wedge tornado was reported near Friend, Kansas
Friend, Kansas
Friend is an unincorporated community in Finney County, Kansas, United States. The town is located next to U.S. Route 83 and the North Line of the Garden City Western Railway, south to the county line of Scott County. Other nearby communities include Shallow Water to the north and Tennis to the...
and tracked to Scott City, Kansas
Scott City, Kansas
Scott City is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,816.-Geography:Scott City is located at...
where several farm buildings were destroyed. There were 40 tornadoes that were reported that day.
Another moderate risk of severe weather was issued for April 23 across much of the southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. 18 tornadoes were reported; most of them north of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
outside the moderate risk area.
A high risk of severe weather had been issued for April 24. High risk days are rarely issued. Four "particularly dangerous situation"
Particularly dangerous situation
A particularly dangerous situation is a type of enhanced wording first used by the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma on certain severe weather watches...
tornado watch
Tornado watch
A tornado watch is issued when conditions are right for a tornado to form. Since any thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is defined as severe, a tornado watch is also automatically a severe thunderstorm watch...
es were issued that day for areas of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. Numerous tornado warnings citing "large and extremely dangerous" tornadoes were issued. A tornado emergency
Tornado emergency
A Tornado Emergency is enhanced wording of tornado warnings used by the National Weather Service in the United States during significant tornado occurrences in highly populated areas...
was issued for central Mississippi for a tornado that reportedly flattened 30 homes near Eagle Bend
Eagle Bend, Mississippi
Eagle Bend is an unincorporated community in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is approximately 15 miles northwest of downtown Vicksburg and is situated on Eagle Lake, an oxbow lake popular for fishing and water sports....
in Warren County
Warren County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:* Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge * Vicksburg National Military Park -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 49,644 people, 18,756 households, and 13,222 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile...
, leveled numerous buildings, injured numerous people and destroyed a church with Yazoo City
Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City is a city in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle. It is the county seat of Yazoo County and the principal city of the Yazoo City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the...
taking a direct hit from the 1/2 to 3/4 mile-wide tornado which would soon be rated as an EF4. Ten people were killed, including four people in Yazoo County
Yazoo County, Mississippi
-National protected area:*Hillside National Wildlife Refuge *Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge-History:The area which is now Yazoo County was acquired by the State of Mississippi from the Choctaw Indians in 1820. Yazoo County was established on January 21, 1823. It was the 19th county...
, one in Holmes County
Holmes County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:*Hillside National Wildlife Refuge *Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge *Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge*Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:...
and five more in Choctaw County
Choctaw County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:* Natchez Trace Parkway * Tombigbee National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,758 people, 3,686 households, and 2,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile . There were 4,249 housing units at an...
. Significant damage to an industrial plant with injuries, trapped people and destroyed homes have been reported in Madison Parish, Louisiana
Madison Parish, Louisiana
-National protected areas:* Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge * Vicksburg National Military Park -Demographics:-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S...
near the Louisiana-Mississippi state line. There were 77 tornadoes reported for that day.
Dr. Greg Forbes of the Weather Channel said that the radar was picking up debris on a thunderstorm near Yazoo City, indicating extreme damage. He said he has not seen anything like that since a tornado hit
May 2007 Tornado Outbreak
The May 2007 Tornado Outbreak was an extended tornado outbreak that started on May 4, 2007, affecting portions of the Central United States. The most destructive tornado in the outbreak occurred on the evening of May 4 in western Kansas, where about 95% of the city of Greensburg in Kiowa County was...
Greensburg, Kansas
Greensburg, Kansas
Greensburg is a city in and the county seat of Kiowa County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 777. Greensburg is also home to the world's largest hand-dug well....
.
The National Weather Service also confirmed two tornado touchdowns in the St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
area on April 24, 2010 both were rated as EF0 with the strongest winds recorded at 85 mph. One touchdown was in the Des Peres area while the other touched down in the University City area. No injuries were reported from the twisters. The tornadoes knocked down some power lines and trees and caused mostly minor damages to homes and businesses.
April 29–May 2
A strong low pressure system tracked across the Midwest beginning on April 29. A few tornadoes were reported from KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
that day, but with little damage.
A moderate risk of severe weather was issued on April 30 for a large swath from northern Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
to southern Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. Late that afternoon, tornadoes began to develop across the Ozarks and multiple tornado warning
Tornado warning
A tornado warning is an alert issued by government weather services to warn that severe thunderstorms with tornadoes may be imminent. It can be issued after a tornado or funnel cloud has been spotted by eye, or more commonly if there are radar indications of tornado formation...
s were issued. Also, in less than a week, another PDS Tornado Watch was issued for Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, the Missouri Bootheel, and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. That evening in central Arkansas, the moderate risk was upgraded to a high risk for the second time in less than a week. Significant damage was reported in several areas. KARK coverage reported that an tornado touched down in Scotland, Arkansas
Scotland, Arkansas
Scotland is an unincorporated community in southwestern Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States, near the head of the South Fork of the Little Red River. In April 2010, a tornado struck this community which resulted in extreme damage to just one street. Dancing was outlawed in Scotland, after a...
and major damage, at least 25 injuries and at least one fatality were reported there. In East End, Arkansas
East End, Arkansas
East End is a census-designated place in Saline County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,998 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, major damage was also reported with several injuries.
Another high risk was issued for May 1 for Arkansas, northern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, West Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, southwestern Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and southeastern Missouri, the first occurrence of back-to-back high risk days since 2006
Tornadoes of 2006
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2006. Since the greatest coverage is in the United States, most of these events listed were primarily in the US...
. Activity began in the afternoon on the warm front, where a destructive tornado touched down in northeastern Mississippi with severe damage near Ripley
Ripley, Mississippi
Ripley is a city in Tippah County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 5,478 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Tippah County....
. Yet again, another PDS Tornado watch was issued for Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
May
There were 290 tornadoes reported in the US in May, of which 304 were confirmed. The higher final total is due to a large number of late reports.May 6
At least 51 people were killed after a tornado, hail storms, gale-force winds and torrential rains causing mudslides hit southern China, damaging thousands of homes and destroying crops. The number of people killed by the tornado itself is unknown. Twenty-nine people were killed in ChongqingChongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
municipality, where the tornado is reported to have occurred.
May 10–13
An intense trough with dry line activity moved across the southern plains, especially OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, on May 10. For the fourth time in less than three weeks, a high risk of severe weather was issued. Large tornadoes began developing in the mid-afternoon hours in northern Oklahoma, with significant damage in Medford, Oklahoma
Medford, Oklahoma
Medford is a city in and the county seat of Grant County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,172 at the 2000 census.-History:Medford was founded by Hobart Johnstone Whitley, a land developer, banker, farmer and Rock Island Railroad executive....
by an EF3. Another tornado touched down near Yukon, Oklahoma
Yukon, Oklahoma
Yukon is a city in Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. The population was 22,709 at the 2010 census....
in the western part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area
Oklahoma City metropolitan area
-Metro-area suburbs and exurbs:The following communities are suburbs and exurbs of Oklahoma City with populations of at least 1,000 found within the bounds of State Highway 33 to the north, State Highway 18 and US-177 to the east, State Highway 39 and State Highway 9 to the south, and US-81 to the...
, followed by numerous others in the area. A trailer park was flattened near Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
according to KWTV
KWTV
KWTV-DT, virtual channel 9 , is the CBS-affiliated television station in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; it is owned by Griffin Communications of Oklahoma City...
coverage, with at least one fatality and many injuries reported. This tornado was soon rated as an EF4. Within three hours, at least 34 reports of tornadoes, including a few "large and extremely dangerous" tornadoes, were reported. A large grocery store along Highway 9 near Norman was flattened by a large tornado. A long-lived supercell tracked parallel to Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
, and produced one or more large and destructive tornadoes from the Oklahoma City metro area through eastern Oklahoma. Activity slowed down the next day as only 2 tornadoes were reported in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. However, on May 12, tornado activity increased. A dry line moved through west Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, causing multiple tornadoes in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Finally, on May 13, the dry line dissipated, but many tornadoes still formed on that day. One tornado in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
was rated an EF1 after it destroyed a casino park
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
and a Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
location. Activity died down the next day as now flooding was more associated with the storm system than tornadoes.
May 14–16
On May 14, a tornado formed in New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
at the tail end of an occluded front
Occluded front
An occluded front is formed during the process of cyclogenesis when a cold front overtakes a warm front. When this occurs, the warm air is separated from the cyclone center at the Earth's surface...
that had produced tornadoes in Oklahoma earlier in the week. The next day, on May 15, an EF0 tornado touched down SW of Laplace, Louisiana
Laplace, Louisiana
LaPlace is a census-designated place in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, United States, along the east bank of the Mississippi River in the New Orleans metropolitan area. The population is 32,134 at the 2010 census....
with an injury reported. 3 possible tornadoes formed in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. Another tornado, with some accounts of a waterspout moving onshore, formed near the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
-Hurricane Katrina:The airport was closed for repairs following severe damage by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. On September 8, 2005, the airport reopened for commercial flights on Northwest Airlines to Memphis and other airlines quickly followed suit. On February 1, 2006, Gulfport-Biloxi...
in Mississippi. On May 16, a tornado formed in Nebraska and other reports of tornadoes were located in Missouri and in Kansas.
May 18–19
Another round of severe weather developed across the High PlainsHigh Plains (United States)
The High Plains are a subregion of the Great Plains mostly in the Western United States, but also partly in the Midwest states of Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota, generally encompassing the western part of the Great Plains before the region reaches the Rocky Mountains...
on May 18. At least 25 tornadoes were reported from Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
to the Texas Panhandle
Texas Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east...
including just outside the Denver metropolitan area. However, most of the tornadoes were in open country, and damage was generally minimal.
More severe weather was expected on May 19, particularly over Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and North Texas
North Texas
North Texas is a distinct cultural and geographic area forming the central-northeastern section of the U.S. state of Texas. North Texas is generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, and north of Waco...
. A high risk of severe weather and a PDS tornado watch was issued for central Oklahoma as a result. Numerous tornadoes were reported across the area, although only a few resulted in significant damage as a forecasted major tornado outbreak did not occur.
May 22–25
The severe weather shifted north as a new low pressure system tracked across the northern Plains states on May 22. Isolated tornadoes were reported across portions of central South DakotaSouth Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
that afternoon. The most intense supercell produced a long-lived wedge tornado in and around Bowdle, South Dakota
Bowdle, South Dakota
Bowdle is a city in Edmunds County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 502 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bowdle is located at ....
where numerous houses and farm buildings were destroyed and cars were thrown into the air. It was rated as an EF4, but fortunately remained in rural countryside and no injuries were reported.
May 24 (Germany)
A tornado outbreak struck the eastern German states of BrandenburgBrandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
and Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
on May 24. A wide F2 - F3 tornado moved along ca. 100 km distance between the region of Torgau
Torgau
Torgau is a town on the banks of the Elbe in northwestern Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district Nordsachsen.Outside Germany, the town is most well known as the place where during the Second World War, United States Army forces coming from the west met with forces of the Soviet Union...
in northern Saxony and east of Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
near the Czech border. Most damage occurred in the Brandenburg town of Mühlberg and the Saxon town of Großenhain
Großenhain
Großenhain is a Große Kreisstadt in the district of Meißen, Saxony, Germany.-History:...
, as well as in Belgern
Belgern
Belgern is a town in the district Nordsachsen, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is located on the left bank of the Elbe, 12 km southeast of Torgau and 55 km east of Leipzig....
and Radeburg
Radeburg
Radeburg is a town in the district of Meißen, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated 19 km east of Meißen, and 18 km north of Dresden. The main tourist attraction is the narrow-gauge Radebeul-Radeburg railway line that connects Radeburg and Radebeul via Moritzburg. The...
. A six-year-old girl was killed in Großenhain when a tree limb fell on the car she was sitting in. The Mühlberg monastery church was "substantially damaged" by the 300 meter wide tornado there; a "hall" collapsed in Großenhain, along with serious damage to a concrete slab apartment building. Damage in Großenhain alone was estimated at topping 8 million Euro, with over 3000 buildings damaged. 38 people were injured, with schools closed the next day. The bridge at Mühlberg, linking the two states, was also closed temporarily due to damage to its guardrails.
May 31
On May 31 (Memorial DayMemorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
), a cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
moved through the Oklahoma Panhandle
Oklahoma Panhandle
The Oklahoma Panhandle is the extreme western region of the state of Oklahoma, comprising Cimarron County, Texas County, and Beaver County. Its name comes from the similarity of shape to the handle of a cooking pan....
, causing severe weather in the area. 2 EF2
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
and 1 EF0 tornadoes touched down in the Prichett, Colorado and Campo, Colorado
Campo, Colorado
The town of Campo is a Statutory Town located in Baca County, Colorado, United States. The population was 150 at the 2000 census. The town is situated on the Great Plains, straddling U.S...
areas in Baca County, Colorado
Baca County, Colorado
Baca County is the southeasternmost of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 4,517 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Springfield.- History :...
. Luckily, however, damage was limited to a small area and no deaths were reported.
June 1
On June 1, a cold front moved into the IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
-Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
area, causing severe weather across much of the region. The strongest tornado that day was an EF2 tornado that hit Ringgold County
Ringgold County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,131 in the county, with a population density of . There were 2,613 housing units, of which 2,047 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. 2 other tornadoes, rated EF0 and EF1, were confirmed in eastern Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
.
June 2
An EF1 tornado was confirmed in the BergholzBergholz, Ohio
Bergholz is a village in Jefferson County, Ohio, United States. The population was 769 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
area on June 2. It was part of a severe weather situation from a squall line
Squall line
A squall line is a line of severe thunderstorms that can form along or ahead of a cold front. In the early 20th century, the term was used as a synonym for cold front. It contains heavy precipitation, hail, frequent lightning, strong straight-line winds, and possibly tornadoes and waterspouts....
that moved into Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The tornado damaged some houses and destroyed several trees. Although there were no human fatalities, 2 horses were confirmed killed by flying debris. 2 additional tornadoes formed near the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
coastline from another squall line, rated EF0 near the Chapman Ranch, Texas
Chapman Ranch, Texas
Chapman Ranch is an unincorporated community in southeastern Nueces County, Texas, United States, seven miles south of Corpus Christi. It is named for a family that purchased of the King Ranch in 1919.-Resources:*...
and EF2 in Refugio, Texas
Refugio, Texas
Refugio is a town in Refugio County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,941 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Refugio County. Although the town's name is derived from Spanish, a vast majority of the town's residents pronounce it re-fury-oh. The Spanish pronunciation is...
. And 2 more confirmed tornadoes near Woodsboro, Texas
Woodsboro, Texas
Woodsboro is a town in Refugio County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,685 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Woodsboro is located at ....
an EF0 and near Tynan, Texas
Tynan, Texas
Tynan is a census-designated place in Bee County, Texas, United States. The population was 301 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tynan is located at ....
an EF1 One more tornado was confirmed near Shin Pond, Maine that damaged many trees.
June 3 (Australia)
A waterspout moved onshore as a tornado at Lennox Head, New South WalesLennox Head, New South Wales
Lennox Head is a seaside village on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia, situated on the stretch of coast between Byron Bay and Ballina in Ballina Shire....
. At least 40 houses were damaged, but unofficial numbers have risen to 100, and several people were injured by the tornado.
June 5–6
More severe weather developed across the Midwest on June 5. A few tornadoes developed primarily in OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
that afternoon, but the most serious activity developed that evening. Several tornadoes took place in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and more in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. One especially large tornado resulted in a tornado emergency
Tornado emergency
A Tornado Emergency is enhanced wording of tornado warnings used by the National Weather Service in the United States during significant tornado occurrences in highly populated areas...
being declared that evening for Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
after causing severe damage in Elmwood, Illinois
Elmwood, Illinois
Elmwood is a city in Peoria County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,945 at the 2000 census. Elmwood is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. A second strong tornado formed shortly after the Elmwood, Illinois tornado in Putnam County just west of Henry, Illinois
Henry, Illinois
Henry is a city in Marshall County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,540 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Henry is located at ....
. The tornado tracked through southern La Salle County where it caused significant damage (EF2) in Magnolia, Illinois
Magnolia, Illinois
Magnolia is a village in Putnam County, Illinois, United States. The population was 279 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Magnolia is located at ....
. A family of tornadoes (EF0,EF2, and EF3) struck the town of Streator, Illinois
Streator, Illinois
Streator is a city in LaSalle and partially in Livingston counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city is situated on the Vermilion River approximately southwest of Chicago, Illinois in the prairie and farm land of north-central Illinois. It is the center of the geographic region known as...
, resulting in widespread destruction throughout the area. Another tornado family (Two EF0's and one EF2) impacted Dwight, Illinois
Dwight, Illinois
Dwight is a village in located mainly in Livingston County, Illinois, with a small portion in Grundy County, Illinois. The population was 4,260 at the 2010 census. Dwight contains an original stretch of the famous U.S. Route 66, and uses a railroad station designed in 1891 by Henry Ives Cobb. It is...
where 1 person was killed, numerous homes were destroyed, and a train was derailed. Later that night, a pair of twin tornadoes (EF1 and EF3) near St. Anne, Illinois
St. Anne, Illinois
St. Anne is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,212 at the 2000 census, and 1,247 in 2009. It is part of the Kankakee–Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Chicago–Naperville–Michigan City, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical...
destroyed many homes and mobile homes, snapped trees, demolished barns and farm equipment, and injured one person. Several more tornado warnings were issued in Southern Michigan that night, and into the early morning. Counties under warnings included Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Hillsdale, Jackson, Branch, Berrien, Van Buren, Saint Joseph, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe counties. An EF1 tornado in Calhoun County touched down just south of Battle Creek, downing trees and tearing the roof off of a church. Other damage reported in Calhoun County included a flagpole bent at a right angle due to extreme winds in Homer. A damaging EF2 tornado struck the town of Dundee, Michigan
Dundee, Michigan
Dundee is a village in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,522 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Dundee Township. Through a series of annexations and land transfers, the village has greatly increased in size over the past several years...
where multiple businesses and a water park were damaged and 11 people were injured. Throughout the town, many trees were downed and homes were damaged or destroyed. A state of emergency was also declared for the town of Leamington, Ontario
Leamington, Ontario
Leamington is a municipality in Essex County, southern Ontario, Canada, and has a population of 31,113. It includes Point Pelee, the southernmost point of mainland Canada. It has a large H. J. Heinz Company factory and is known as the "Tomato Capital of Canada", with 4 km² of this crop in the...
after extensive damage was reported due to an F1 tornado confirmed by Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Environment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
. Seven people were confirmed dead in Wood County, Ohio
Wood County, Ohio
Wood County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 125,488. Its county seat is Bowling Green. The county was named for Captain Eleazer D. Wood, the engineer for General William Henry Harrison's army, who built Fort Meigs in the War of 1812...
just outside Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
after an EF4 tornado hit the town of Millbury, Ohio
Millbury, Ohio
Millbury is a village in Wood County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,161 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Millbury is located at ....
in the middle of the night.
June 16–17
An intense low pressure system developed across the northern Plains states and impacted the region on June 16–17. Eighty-two tornadoes touched down over the two days, primarily across North DakotaNorth Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
on June 17. Significant damage was reported west of Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
and in the Wadena, Minnesota
Wadena, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,294 people, 1,871 households, and 1,062 families residing in the city. The population density was 818.4 people per square mile . There were 1,964 housing units at an average density of 374.3 per square mile...
area, and a tornado emergency
Tornado emergency
A Tornado Emergency is enhanced wording of tornado warnings used by the National Weather Service in the United States during significant tornado occurrences in highly populated areas...
was issued for areas north of Wadena and again later for areas near Plummer, Minnesota
Plummer, Minnesota
Plummer is a city in Red Lake County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 292 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles , all of it land....
where significant damage was reported. Much of Wadena was destroyed by its tornado. Three people were killed; one in Almora, Minnesota, one in Mentor, Minnesota
Mentor, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 150 people, 82 households, and 45 families residing in the city. The population density was 79.3 people per square mile . There were 102 housing units at an average density of 53.9 per square mile...
; and a third in Freeborn County, Minnesota
Freeborn County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,584 people, 13,356 households, and 9,015 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile . There were 13,996 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
. At least four of the tornadoes were rated EF4, the most violent tornadoes in a single event since February 5–6, 2008
2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak
The 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak was a deadly tornado outbreak which affected the Southern United States and the lower Ohio Valley on February 5 and 6, 2008. The event began on Super Tuesday, while 24 U.S. states were holding primary elections and caucuses to select the presidential...
. This outbreak spawned a record 48 tornadoes in Minnesota on June 17, breaking the state's previous single-day record of 27 tornadoes set during the Mid-June 1992 tornado outbreak
Mid-June 1992 Tornado Outbreak
The Mid-June 1992 tornado outbreak was a one of the largest tornado outbreaks on record, affecting portions of the Central United States from June 14 to June 18, 1992. The outbreak began on June 14 when six tornadoes touched down in Colorado and Idaho...
.
June 20–21
An unsettled pattern continued across a large part of the US, with widespread isolated tornadoes across various parts of the Plain states. The most notable tornado touched down in Billings, MontanaBillings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
at the MetraPark trade facility. Damage was significant there from that EF2 tornado, including a large section of the roof being removed at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.
Another day of scattered tornadoes took place on June 21, both in the northern Plains and in the Midwest. A total of 29 tornadoes were reported, but most were weak and damage was minor. However the village of Eagle, Wisconsin
Eagle, Wisconsin
Eagle is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,707 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Eagle.-Museums:...
, sustained serious damage after being hit by an EF2 tornado.
June 23–24
Yet another severe weather event developed on June 23 in the Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
region. Although most of the activity was related to damaging winds, supercells formed ahead of the storm especially in central Ontario. Severe damage took place in and around Midland, Ontario
Midland, Ontario
Midland is a town located on Georgian Bay in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.Situated at the southern end of Georgian Bay's 30,000 Islands, Midland is the economic centre of the region, with a 125-bed hospital and a local airport. It is the main town of the southern Georgian Bay area...
with a mobile home park severely damaged and many injuries reported from an EF2 tornado. 150 people were displaced and the mayor declared a state of emergency in the town. Another EF1 tornado touched down near Washago, Ontario Shortly after the tornado struck, Emergency Management of Ontario issued a rare Red Alert
Red Alert
-Warning systems:Notable warning systems that use red alerts are:* The Homeland Security Advisory System * The BIKINI state * An emergency broadcast bullentin used by the Emergency Management of Ontario, in Ontario, Canada-Music:...
in a huge swath of Central Ontario due to tornado threats—urging people in that area to take cover.
Related to the storm system mentioned above that spawned tornadoes in Midland, but a separate group of cells, was a strong line of thunderstorms that quickly fired up during the heat of the afternoon
Convection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
in northern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and southern Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Racing through Chicago towards the evening hours, the storms continued to gather strength, and began spawning tornadoes at roughly 9:00 PM EDT, north of Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
and near Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. One tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
to have struck the town of Saline, Michigan
Saline, Michigan
Saline is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,810.The city is popular for its annual Celtic Festival, which attracts people from all over the United States and its sister cities Brecon, Wales and Lindenberg, Germany...
, as well as passing just north of nearby Milan
Milan, Michigan
Milan is a city in Monroe and Washtenaw counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,775 at the 2000 census. About 60% of the city's area and 75% of its residents are located on the Washtenaw County side adjacent to York Township in Washtenaw County; while 40% percent of the...
, before travelling parallel to, and just south of, Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
, where the tornado had passed over Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport without damage. The tornado ultimately faded out near Taylor about 20 minutes after forming.
Several other tornadoes had formed during this period, near Adrian
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
, tracking south of Tecumseh
Tecumseh, Michigan
Tecumseh is a small city in Lenawee County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated where M-50 crosses the River Raisin, a few miles east of M-52. Tecumseh is about SW of Detroit, south of Ann Arbor and north of Toledo, OH....
, through Britton
Britton, Michigan
Britton is a village in Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 699 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Ridgeway Township.-History:...
, and just north of Dundee, Michigan
Dundee, Michigan
Dundee is a village in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,522 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Dundee Township. Through a series of annexations and land transfers, the village has greatly increased in size over the past several years...
, with a waterspout
Waterspout
A waterspout is an intense columnar vortex that occurs over a body of water and is connected to a cumuliform cloud. In the common form, it is a non-supercell tornado over water. While it is often weaker than most of its land counterparts, stronger versions spawned by mesocyclones do occur...
being reported at Lake Erie Metropark
Lake Erie Metropark
Lake Erie Metropark is a park in the Huron-Clinton system of metro parks. The park is a recreational facility located at the mouth of the Huron River on Lake Erie and consists of meadows, a marsh and lagoons. It has a three-mile shoreline along the lake and is a popular bird-watching site...
near Rockwood, Michigan
Rockwood, Michigan
Rockwood is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,289 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.- National Register of Historic Places :...
dissipating before reaching Amherstburg
Amherstburg, Ontario
Amherstburg is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario. It is approximately south of the U.S...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
on the other side (though still prompting a Tornado Warning for Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
and Essex County
Essex County, Ontario
Essex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex...
). One final tornado was reported near Temperance
Temperance, Michigan
Temperance is an unincorporated community in Bedford Township, Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes. The population was 7,757 at the 2000 census...
, tracking towards the east, last seen near Luna Pier
Luna Pier, Michigan
Luna Pier is a small city in Monroe County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located from the Ohio border along the coast of Lake Erie. It was established in the early 1900s and incorporated as a city in 1963. It functioned primarily as a resort for people living in the greater Toledo, Ohio and...
. Damage in the nearby Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
area was also storm-caused, with the historic 126-year-old town hall (built in 1884) and fire department in Edgarton being severely damaged from high winds and an EF1 tornado, with many trees in the area down. After roughly 11:35 PM EDT, the storms had faded in strength somewhat as they tracked off to the east over Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
, between Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
and St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
.
Farther south, damaging tornadoes were also reported near Goshen, Indiana
Goshen, Indiana
Goshen is a city in and the county seat of Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. It is the smaller of the two principal cities of the Elkhart-Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the South Bend-Elkhart-Mishawaka Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the northern...
embedded in an intense hybrid derecho
Derecho
A derecho is a widespread and long-lived, violent convectively induced straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms in the form of a squall line usually taking the form of a bow echo...
. An EF1 tornado has been confirmed ahead of straight-lined wind damage in Matteson
Matteson, Illinois
Matteson is a village in Cook and Will Counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,928 at the 2000 census and an estimated 17,080 as of July 2007.-Geography:Matteson is located at ....
and Park Forest, Illinois
Park Forest, Illinois
Park Forest is a village located south of Chicago in Cook County and Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 23,462...
in suburban Chicago. The wind damage sent out tornado warnings in the Chicago area.
The next day, more severe weather developed in the Northeast
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
. Most of the damage was due to winds, but a possible tornado slammed into downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
collapsing a building and damaging others, and knocking down many trees. Much of the damaging was due to straight line winds, but a brief EF1 tornado touched down in the downtown core.
June 25–26
The pattern of strong storms continued into June 25 and 26 with a new storm system. The strongest tornado touched down near Sibley, IowaSibley, Iowa
Sibley is a city in Osceola County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,796 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Osceola County. It is named after Henry Hastings Sibley, a prominent General during the Dakota War of 1862, who eventually became the first territorial governor of...
, it was an EF4 that flattened several houses and farm buildings as it remained in rural countryside. Other tornadoes were reported on both days. They included at least four EF2 tornadoes in southern Minnesota that did significant damage.
June 27
A warm front with a weak line of thunderstorms moved through the central Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
in the early afternoon of Sunday, June 27, firing up
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
quickly, spawning several funnel clouds, and at least two touchdowns in Washtenaw
Washtenaw County, Michigan
Washtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Its county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area...
and Wayne
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
Counties in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and in neighbouring Essex County
Essex County, Ontario
Essex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
tracking through rural farmland near Cottam, Ontario
Cottam, Ontario
Cottam is a small unincorporated community within the town of Kingsville, Ontario in Canada. The community's population is around 300, and has a branch of the Essex County Library and a United Church.- Neighborhoods :...
, past the aptly named Windfall, Ontario before lifting near Quinn, Ontario
Quinn, Ontario
Quinn is a community in Ontario....
. Light damage was reported across the Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
area from Taylor
Taylor, Michigan
Taylor is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 63,131 at the 2010 census. Taylor was originally known as Taylor Township and residents of the township voted to incorporate as the City of Taylor in May 1968...
, Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, north to Novi
Novi, Michigan
Novi is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,224, an increase over the 2000 census count of 47,386. The city is located approximately northwest of the center of Detroit, and northeast of the center of Ann Arbor. The city is located...
, mostly with downed trees and powerlines, along with minor structural damage. There was also an EF0 tornado that formed near Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
in Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on an arching sandy peninsula that juts into Lake Erie, west of the city of Erie, in Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The peninsula sweeps northeastward, surrounding Presque Isle Bay along the park's...
at 7:36 PM EST. Its path was 50 yard wide and damage was focused to about 50 trees in the storm's path that were knocked down.
Conneaut, Ohio from 6:54 till 6:59 pm, a EF1 tornado traveled 2.3 miles and had a max width of 100 yards. It touched down near Lake Road and Point Drive in Conneaut. From where it traveled East along lake road lifting up near the intersection of Broad and Russel Street. Main Damage was downed trees and limbs with some roof damage. With one Garage roof being torn off completely. In St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
, one person was killed and four others were injured in a campground when a confirmed EF1 tornado tossed several trailers into a lake. A tornado also touched down in West Michigan. An EF0 tornado was confirmed to have hit Gobles in Van Buren County early in the afternoon.
June 30–July 2
Moisture and bands associated with Hurricane Alex and its remnants spun off several tornadoes in South TexasSouth Texas
South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of and including San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande River, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 3.7 million. The southern portion of this region is...
starting on June 30. The most significant damage took place in Hebbronville, Texas
Hebbronville, Texas
Hebbronville is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Jim Hogg County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,558 at the 2010 census...
on July 2 where several businesses and mobile homes were heavily damaged. Other tornadoes, all weak, were reported in the region.
July 2
An F3 tornado hit the Kawacatoose First Nations reserve 120 km (74.6 mi) north of Regina, SaskatchewanRegina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
in Canada at approximately 5 pm CDT, it destroyed at least 13 houses. A state of emergency has been declared for the reserve. It was the strongest tornado in Canada since 2007. Over the previous few days, a related weather system has affected much of Saskatchewan causing severe flooding, including mass evacuations in nearby Yorkton, Saskatchewan
Yorkton, Saskatchewan
Yorkton is a city located in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada, near the Manitoba border. Founded and incorporated in 1882 by a group of settlers from Ontario, it has grown to 15,038 residents as of the 2006 census. The city is bordered by the Rural Municipality of Orkney No. 244 and the Rural...
.
July 14
A hot, extremely humid and highly unstable air mass, with dewpoints exceeding 80°F (27°C) in many areas, combined with a cold frontCold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
across portions of the Upper Midwest
Upper Midwest
The Upper Midwest is a region in the northern portion of the U.S. Census Bureau's Midwestern United States. It is largely a sub-region of the midwest. Although there are no uniformly agreed-upon boundaries, the region is most commonly used to refer to the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and...
. A moderate risk of severe weather was issued for the region, as tornadoes began to develop in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
on the afternoon of July 14. Several tornadoes were reported across the region, along with widespread moderate wind damage. The strongest tornado was rated EF2.
July 15–16 (Philippines)
As Tropical Storm ConsonTyphoon Conson (2010)
Typhoon Conson was the second tropical cyclone during the 2010 Pacific typhoon season to impact the Philippines. Developing out of a tropical disturbance east of the Philippines on July 11, 2010, Conson quickly developed as it tracked nearly due west...
trekked through the Philippines, its outer bands
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
spawned a tornado in Koronadal City
Koronadal City
Koronadal, also known as Marbel is a 1st class city in the Philippines. It is the capital of South Cotabato province and regional center of region 12. According to the 2009 census, it had a population of 184,573....
, destroying 13 homes and flattening agricultural land.
On July 16, another tornado struck the country, touching down in South Cotabato
South Cotabato
South Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
province. The tornado was responsible for at least 3 million pesos (65,000 USD) of agricultural and property losses.
July 21–24
Several stalled fronts across a large swath from the Upper MidwestUpper Midwest
The Upper Midwest is a region in the northern portion of the U.S. Census Bureau's Midwestern United States. It is largely a sub-region of the midwest. Although there are no uniformly agreed-upon boundaries, the region is most commonly used to refer to the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and...
to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
resulted in an active stretch of weather. In addition to extensive wind damage, numerous tornadoes were reported on both days. The strongest on July 21 were rated EF1. More tornadoes touched down on July 22, with the greatest concentration in southern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. An EF2 tornado was reported in Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
with significant damage. There were three confirmed EF1 tornadoes which affected southern Maine. The towns of Alfred, Limerick, Buxton, and Gorham experienced heavy tree damage and some structural collapses. No injuries were reported. The tornadoes ranged from 200-250 yds in width. The Buxton/Gorham tornado traveled around 5 miles, collapsing a barn and killing two cows, before dissipating.
On July 22 tornadoes two tornadoes touched down in Calhoun County, Michigan, both by Battle Creek. Tornado sirens were sounded across the county, and damage included the roof torn off of a mobile home. These storms triggered tornado warning across the southern portions of the state was they moved west. A tornado watch was put in effect for the rest of the evening in southern Michigan, and a tornado warning was issued in the early hours of July 23 for southeast Calhoun County and southwest Jackson County.
Over the following days, more tornadoes touched down, including two EF2 tornadoes in western New York and another EF2 tornado in Honesdale, Pennsylvania
Honesdale, Pennsylvania
Honesdale is a borough in and the county seat of Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located northeast of Scranton. The population was 4,874 at the 2000 census....
. Several people were injured by those tornadoes. In addition, on July 23, the largest hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
stone ever recorded in the US fell in Vivian, South Dakota
Vivian, South Dakota
Vivian is a census-designated place in Lyman County, South Dakota. The population was 119 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Vivian is located at ....
alongside a weak tornado. The hailstone measured 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter.
July 25
An EF1 tornado touched down in The Bronx around 2:50PM EDT, the first tornado to touch down in New York City since August 8, 2007, and the first in The Bronx since 1974.There were unconfirmed reports of at least two tornadoes, reported in Sussex
Sussex County, New Jersey
The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
, Bergen
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
, Essex
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
and Union
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
counties in northern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Also unconfirmed, tornadoes were reported in Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic and Burlington counties in southern portions of New Jersey.
July 26
A series of supercells developed on July 26 across the northern RockiesRocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
into the Canadian Prairies
Canadian Prairies
The Canadian Prairies is a region of Canada, specifically in western Canada, which may correspond to several different definitions, natural or political. Notably, the Prairie provinces or simply the Prairies comprise the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as they are largely covered...
. An EF3 tornado killed two people near Reserve, Montana
Reserve, Montana
Reserve is a census-designated place in Sheridan County, Montana, United States. The population was 23 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Reserve is located at ....
as a ranch was destroyed. The same tornado also injured an elderly woman. Separately, another tornado hit the northern sections of Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
damaging over a dozen homes and other structures.
July 27
In Poland an F2 tornado hit Wola RębkowskaWola Rebkowska
Wola Rębkowska is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Garwolin, within Garwolin County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately west of Garwolin and south-east of Warsaw.The village has a population of 1,400....
where 32 homes were damaged. The second F2 Tornado hit by Annosław and damaged 6 houses
August
There were 70 tornadoes reported in the US in August, of which 55 were confirmed.In addition to the events listed below, there were two tornadoes in the Philippines, one on August 10 and the other on August 19. Collectively, the two storms injured three people and destroyed 18 homes.
August 7
Several tornadoes touched down on the afternoon and evening of August 7 over the northern Plains and Upper MidwestUpper Midwest
The Upper Midwest is a region in the northern portion of the U.S. Census Bureau's Midwestern United States. It is largely a sub-region of the midwest. Although there are no uniformly agreed-upon boundaries, the region is most commonly used to refer to the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and...
. While overall damage was fairly limited, there was one very intense tornado that remained in rural areas near Tyler, North Dakota. Farm buildings were obliterated and fields scoured by that tornado, which was rated as an EF4.
August 12
Another round of severe weather took place on August 12 in the northern Plains. The most intense tornado took place near Bowbells, North DakotaBowbells, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 406 people, 174 households, and 116 families residing in the town. The population density was 511.2 people per square mile . There were 214 housing units at an average density of 269.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the town was 98.77% White, 0.74%...
, which was an EF3. One person was killed and one was injured when a vehicle was thrown and destroyed.
August 22–24 (Europe)
A tornado outbreak struck the coast of the Baltic Sea in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania (Northeastern Germany) and parts of the middle Western state Hesse. At least five tornadoes have been confirmed. Two of them had F2 intensity, one in Neppermin on the Island of Usedom and another one in the Hessean village of Lumda near Grünberg.September 4 (Australia)
A tornado was reported just east of BroadfordBroadford, Victoria
Broadford is a small town in central Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Broadford had a population of 3,054. The town is the headquarters of the Shire of Mitchell Local Government Area and is approximately north of the state capital, Melbourne....
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. The tornado had a damage path around 100 metres (109.4 yd) wide and 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long, with numerous trees damaged and damage to a home's roof.
September 7–8
A few tornadoes were reported across parts of TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and in southern Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
on both September 7 and 8 as a result of Tropical Storm Hermine
Tropical Storm Hermine (2010)
Tropical Storm Hermine , was a rare basin-crossing tropical cyclone that caused widespread damage from Guatemala to Oklahoma in early September 2010. The system was first classified as Tropical Depression Eleven-E on September 3 in the Gulf of Tehuantepec...
and its remnants. Most of them were minor, however, one touched down in Dallas on the afternoon of September 8. At least one building was heavily damaged near downtown
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
by an EF2 tornado.
September 14–15
Tornadoes were reported in northwest Kansas on September 14, causing minimal damage. On September 15, several tornadoes were reported in south central Kansas, again causing minimal damage. However, the tornadoes across south central Kansas were also accompanied by hail up to 7.75 inches (19.7 cm) in diameter (larger than grapefruit size), which caused widespread damage. The hailstone measuring 7.75 inches (19.7 cm) in diameter, 15.5 inches (39.4 cm) in circumference, and weighing 1.1 lbs set a new record for the largest hailstone by diameter in the state of Kansas, breaking the old record of 5.7 inches (14.5 cm) set by a hailstone in Coffeyville, KansasCoffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville is a city situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,295...
on September 3, 1970.
September 16
Two tornadoes touched down in New York City and brought torrential downpours and heavy wind gusts as they struck parts of QueensQueens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
and Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. One tornado touched down in Park Slope and remained on the ground for 2 miles. The other touched down in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and remained on the ground for four miles dissipating near Bayside, Queens
Bayside, Queens
Bayside is a suburban neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York, New York in the United States. Bayside is known as one of the most expensive areas to live in Queens, with well kept homes and landscaping...
. There were reports of downed trees and power lines along with roofs torn off of buildings. One tornado blew down the spire of a 300 year old church on Main Street in Flushing
Flushing, Queens
Flushing, founded in 1645, is a neighborhood in the north central part of the City of New York borough of Queens, east of Manhattan.Flushing was one of the first Dutch settlements on Long Island. Today, it is one of the largest and most diverse neighborhoods in New York City...
. The Brooklyn tornado was rated an EF0 and the Queens tornado was rated an EF1. One person is known to have been killed as a result of the storm.
In addition, at least one person was confirmed dead in Belleville
Belleville, West Virginia
Belleville is an unincorporated community in Wood County, West Virginia, United States. Its elevation is 594 feet .- Belleville HydroElectric :...
, Wood County, West Virginia
Wood County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 87,986 people, 36,275 households, and 24,884 families residing in the county. The population density was 240 people per square mile . There were 39,785 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile...
by an EF3 tornado where 15 structures where heavily damaged including camping trailers. Other tornadoes, including several rated EF2, were also confirmed in southeastern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
as a result of a supercell that developed that afternoon.
September 29 (Jamaica)
The island of JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
was affected by Tropical Storm Nicole. In Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, the storm spawned a very rare tornado accompanied by heavy rains. Although short lived, two homes were destroyed and 12 others were damaged by the tornado, recording a very unlikely occurrence of a tornado in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica.
October 6
An unusually active severe weather event developed across the Four Corners states, particularly northern ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and southern Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, beginning early on October 6. The most significant damage was in Bellemont, Arizona
Bellemont, Arizona
Bellemont is an unincorporated community in Coconino County, Arizona, United States. Bellemont is located along Interstate 40 west-northwest of Flagstaff. Bellemont has a ZIP Code of 86015; in 2000, the population of the 86015 ZCTA was 231....
where houses and businesses were significantly damaged, a train was derailed and Camp Navajo
Camp Navajo
Camp Navajo was originally opened in 1942 in Bellemont, Arizona. It was originallly designated Navajo Ordnance Depot, and its primary use was the storage of ammunition used in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It was renamed Navajo Army Depot in 1965, changed to Navajo Depot Activity in 1982,...
was heavily damaged. Other tornadoes touched down but primarily remained over the open mountainous terrain in the very sparsely populated area. Tornado outbreaks are extremely rare west of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. The strongest tornado was rated EF3 on the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
where metal transmission towers were heavily damaged, one of the strongest tornadoes ever recorded west of the Rockies.
October 24–27
A developing intense low pressure system resulted in an unstable air mass over parts of the Southern United StatesSouthern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
on October 24. The most intense tornado hit Rice, Texas
Rice, Texas
Rice is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. The population was 798 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rice is located at ....
where a high school was heavily damaged and several people were reported to be injured. That tornado was rated as an EF2. Another notable tornado, an EF1, hit Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
early on October 25.
As the low explosively deepened to become the most intense extratropical low of non-tropical origins ever recorded in the continental United States, reaching as low as 955 mbar (28.20 inHg) over northern Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
(as low as a medium-sized Category 3
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
hurricane), storms developed on the associated cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
late on October 25. A high risk of severe storms, the first to be issued in October since October 24, 2001 and the first in any fall month since November 15, 2005, was issued for parts of the Midwest including most of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
early on October 26, with both a tornado outbreak ahead of the front and a major serial derecho expected from the Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast of the United States
The Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
to the upper Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. The high risk was later extended northward in the mid morning. That morning, a few tornadoes struck, primarily around Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
, including a confirmed EF2 tornado four miles east of Peotone, Illinois, and another EF2 in Cridersville, Ohio, with more tornadoes reported near the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. Almost every county in southern Michigan was placed under a tornado warning as the storm tracked eastward. Later that day, a confirmed EF1 tornado struck Middlesboro, Kentucky. In addition, widespread intense wind damage was also reported from Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
northward to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
The cold front tracked eastward on October 27 as the storm weakened. Additional tornadoes developed across the Mid-Atlantic states
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
as the atmosphere remained unstable. In the end, with 87 tornadoes confirmed, it was the largest October tornado outbreak ever recorded, even though none of the tornadoes were stronger than EF2 and there were no fatalities.
November 22–23
On November 22, an unusually warm air mass moved over the Midwest bringing the threat of severe weather to the region. At 11:35 AM, a tornado watch was issued for eastern Iowa, and extending into central IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and northeastern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. At 3:04 PM, a tornado touched down just east of Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
. This tornado produced major damage in the area. On November 23, the National Weather Service in Chicago went to survey the damage, and estimated that the tornado was 200 yards wide, and traveled 16.4 miles. The tornado reached gusts in excess of 135 MPH, which is converted to the Enhanced Fujita Scale as an EF2 Tornado. Other tornadoes occurred on this day including an EF1 tornado in Union Grove, Wisconsin
Union Grove, Wisconsin
Union Grove is a village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,322 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Union Grove is located at ....
, and in Walworth County, Wisconsin
Walworth County, Wisconsin
Walworth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 102,228. Its county seat is Elkhorn.-Geography:According to the U.S...
(EF1). As the storms moved east into Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, tornado watches were put out, but no tornado or severe thunderstorm warnings were issued. On November 24, The National Weather Service in Chicago surveyed damage in extreme northern McHenry County in Illinois. It was determined that an EF0 tornado struck there. An EF-1 tornado touched down in El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County is a county located in the historic Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills of the U.S. state of California. The 2010 population was 181,058. The El Dorado county seat is in Placerville....
on November 22 damaging a commercial structure, power lines, and trees.
November 29–30
An intense storm system impacted the Deep SouthDeep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
on November 29. A few supercells developed in the warm sector, with some producing tornadoes. Severe damage was reported to several houses in Winn Parish, Louisiana
Winn Parish, Louisiana
Winn Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Winnfield. In 2000, its population was 16,894.The parish has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
including a large mansion which was destroyed from the EF4 tornado, the strongest tornado in the US so late in the year since the December 2000 Tuscaloosa tornado on December 16, 2000. Damage was also reported in Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City is a city in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle. It is the county seat of Yazoo County and the principal city of the Yazoo City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the...
(which had been devastated on April 24
April 2010 tornado outbreak
The April 2010 tornado outbreak was a multi-day tornado outbreak across a large portion of the Southern United States, originally starting in the High Plains on April 22, 2010 and continuing through the Southern Plains on April 23, and the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys on April 24. The most...
as well). In east-central Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, additional tornadoes - including an EF3 in Attala County, Mississippi
Attala County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,661 people, 7,567 households, and 5,380 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 8,639 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
- touched down that evening and into the morning of November 30, destroying houses and resulting in numerous injuries. Other tornadoes touched down later that day, with the most severe damage in Buford, Georgia
Buford, Georgia
As of 2010 Buford had a population of 12,225. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 65.8% white, 13.8% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 14.7% reporting some other race and 2.5% reproting two or more races...
where houses were destroyed by an EF2 tornado.
December 7 (Portugal)
A tornado struck Tomar Portugal on December 7 injuring 40 people, 19 of them children at a kindergarten. The tornado was caught on amateur video by a local.The tornado was later rated as an F3 and left 90 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s (US$120 million) in damage.
December 14
Around noon on December 14, severe weather moved into west-central OregonOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
off the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. An EF2 tornado in the town of Aumsville, Oregon
Aumsville, Oregon
Aumsville is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. The population was 3,584 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
causing significant damage and two injuries in the community. Several houses and businesses were nearly destroyed as well as a result. Strong tornadoes are rare west of the Rocky Mountains, and especially in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
.
December 31
After a long lull in activity, a series of intense storms and associated cold fronts tracked across the Midwest starting late on December 30, with most of the activity on December 31. Early that morning, an EF3 tornado touched down in Washington County, ArkansasWashington County, Arkansas
Washington County is a county located in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 203,065. The county seat is Fayetteville. Washington County is Arkansas's 17th county, formed on October 17, 1828, and named for George Washington, the first President of the...
, destroying houses and killing at least four people. In nearby Benton County, Arkansas
Benton County, Arkansas
Benton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, the population was 153,406. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 population is 221,339. The county seat is Bentonville. Benton County was formed on 30 September 1836 and was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S...
, another tornado caused significant damage and injuries.
More damaging tornadoes touched down late that morning across much of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and into west-central Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. In Rolla, Missouri
Rolla, Missouri
Rolla is a city in Phelps County, Missouri, United States, midway between the larger cities of St. Louis and Springfield along I-44. The population in the 2010 United States Census was 19,559.It is the county seat of Phelps County...
, at least four people were killed and several others were injured. It is the deadliest December tornado outbreak in the US since December 16, 2000 and they were the first killer US tornadoes since September 16. Numerous tornadoes also touched down in the St. Louis metropolitan area which were embedded in a squall line
Squall line
A squall line is a line of severe thunderstorms that can form along or ahead of a cold front. In the early 20th century, the term was used as a synonym for cold front. It contains heavy precipitation, hail, frequent lightning, strong straight-line winds, and possibly tornadoes and waterspouts....
, including reports in the city of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
itself. The most significant damage was in Sunset Hills
Sunset Hills, Missouri
Sunset Hills is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,496 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sunset Hills is located at 38°32'8" North, 90°24'14" West ....
and injuries were reported there.
Another round of storms developed in the Deep South that afternoon. The worst storms developed in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and a tornado emergency
Tornado emergency
A Tornado Emergency is enhanced wording of tornado warnings used by the National Weather Service in the United States during significant tornado occurrences in highly populated areas...
was issued late that afternoon in the Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
area. That activity continued into the wee hours of January 1 (see Tornadoes of 2011
Tornadoes of 2011
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2011. Extremely destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the U.S., Bangladesh and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions...
).
See also
- List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of tornadoes striking downtown areas
- Fujita scaleFujita scaleThe Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
- Enhanced Fujita scaleEnhanced Fujita ScaleThe Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
- Enhanced Fujita scale
- List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes