| December 2015 North American storm complex | |
| Lowest Pressure: | 989 |
| Tornadoes: | 32 confirmed |
| Fujitascale: | EF4 |
| Tornado Duration: | 2 days, 2 hours, 4 minutes |
| Highest Winds: | 180mph (Garland, Texas EF4 tornado on December 26) |
| Power Outages: | > 65,000 |
| Total Fatalities: | 59 fatalities |
| Damages: | ≥ $3 billion[1] |
| Affected: | Southwestern, Central, and New England regions in the United States (particularly Texas); Northern Mexico; Southeastern Canada. |
| Enhanced: | yes |
| Season: | 2015–16 North American winter and tornado outbreaks of 2015 |
The December 2015 North American storm complex, also known as Winter Storm Goliath,[2] was a major storm complex that produced a tornado outbreak, a winter storm, a blizzard and an ice storm in areas ranging from the Southwestern United States to New England.[3] Tornadoes struck the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in Texas[4] while several other states, especially Missouri, were affected by heavy rain and snow causing severe floods. As the system moved through the Great Lakes, heavy rain, ice pellets and heavy snow fell in the entire region. Wintry mix moved through southern Ontario and Quebec had significant snowfall on December 29. Almost 60 people were killed during the storm system's progression and aftermath, making it one of the deadliest such systems of 2015 in the United States.
The outbreak was caused by a vigorous upper-level trough that moved into the Central and Southern Plains states on December 25. An extratropical cyclone developed ahead of this upper-level trough over the West Coast, which moved southeast into the Southwestern United States early on December 26. Continuing to move east, snow began to fall in the Upper Midwest, dropping up to NaNinches, before rapidly dissipating.[5] As the initial low-pressure area moved over the United States–Mexico border, a southwards dip in the jet stream to the west had formed. In response to this, an upper-level low developed by evening on December 26. This upper-level low began to track to the north, drawing moisture from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. As it did so, a long cluster of heavy showers and thunderstorms fired up from eastern Oklahoma to southwestern Missouri, which set up a severe flooding event. Some areas picked up to over 1inches of rainfall, triggering several floods.[6]
At the same time, discrete tornadic supercells developed in Texas. One of the cells produced a violent EF4 wedge tornado, which ripped through parts of Garland and Rowlett, Texas, causing major damage and killing 10 people.[4] As the storm complex began to move to the north, more supercells formed, and several more tornadoes were reported. By the early morning of December 27, the supercells had merged into a squall line, which produced a few more isolated tornadoes.
While generating severe weather in the Deep South, the storm complex brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions in the southwestern parts of Texas through December 26–27, as frigid temperatures had spilled south into the area just the previous day before. Strong winds contributed to power outages and blowing and drifting snow. Snowfall continued throughout December 27 before tapering off near midnight as the storm system began to pull out of the region. In total, the storm complex dumped up to 2feet of snow in the western parts of Texas, a very rare and historic occurrence in the affected areas.[5] The storm had also produced a small but significant ice storm in the central parts of Texas, with ice accumulations ranging up to 1inches in some areas, leading to thousands of power outages.[5]
By December 28, the storm complex had moved into the Central United States, producing more snow, ice, heavy rain, and severe weather in an area stretching from the Midwest into Louisiana. The upper-level low eventually began to take over as the dominant low, and had begun to make a more east-northeastwards turn. Spreading a swath of NaNinches from Missouri to Maine, the storm complex continued to accelerate into southern Canada while producing more ice, rain and severe weather as the southern quadrant approached the East Coast.[5] Rain eventually reached areas like Philadelphia and New York City late on December 28, and persisted somewhat into the early morning hours of December 29. At this point, the storm system had already entered Canada, and its circulation was beginning to become elongated. The remnants of the storm eventually dissipated, early on December 30.[7]
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Damage | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | NE of Byars | McClain | OK | 1957 | 0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A storm chaser reported a brief tornado.[8] | ||
| EF0 | N of Hubbard | Hill | TX | 2003–2007 | 2.76abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A local fire department reported a tornado that damaged crops.[9] | ||
| EF0 | NE of Eustace | Henderson | TX | 32.33°N -95.99°W | 2044–2046 | 0.9abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 40abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Trained storm spotters observed a tornado that damaged crops over open land.[10] | |
| EF0 | NNE of Emory | Rains | TX | 32.9°N -95.73°W | 2126–2127 | 0.69abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Trained storm spotters reported a brief tornado.[11] | |
| EF0 | NNW of Hillsboro | Hill | TX | 32.039°N -97.157°W | 2310–2312 | 1.6abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 80abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Trained storm spotters reported a brief tornado. It remained over open country and caused no damage.[12] | |
| EF0 | S of Sulphur Springs | Hopkins | TX | 33.023°N -95.63°W | 2333–2334 | 0.36abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A storm chaser observed a brief tornado.[13] | |
| EF0 | NE of Maypearl | Ellis | TX | 32.334°N -97.012°W | 2343–2344 | 1.58abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A local fire department reported a brief tornado.[14] | |
| EF3 | E of Midlothian to Glenn Heights | Ellis, Dallas | TX | 32.4623°N -96.909°W | 0001–0013 | 8.52abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 125abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A significant tornado began in Ellis County, damaging 77 single family homes, 23 of which were completely destroyed. Significant damage occurred as multiple subdivisions were impacted in Ovilla and Red Oak. An elementary school sustained outward collapse of multiple exterior walls, and very poor construction was noted at that location. Two churches were destroyed, and vehicles were thrown and mangled as well. After crossing into Dallas County, the tornado struck Glenn Heights and severely damaged 35 homes and an additional 10 mobile homes before dissipating. There were 46 people injured by this tornado.[15] This was the first tornado produced by the Garland supercell and was also the first December EF3 tornado to impact Ellis County since modern records began in 1950.[16] | |
| EF4 | Sunnyvale to Garland to Rowlett | Dallas, Rockwall | TX | 32.796°N -96.5894°W | 0046–0102 | 13.04abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 550abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 10 deaths – See article on this tornado – This was the second tornado produced by the Garland supercell. 468 people were injured. | |
| EF0 | NE of Ennis | Ellis | TX | 32.3855°N -96.53°W | 0100–0102 | 5.08abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A few barns were damaged.[17] | |
| EF2 | N of Lavon to N of Copeville | Collin | TX | 33.0607°N -96.434°W | 0109–0115 | 5.29abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 2 deaths – A gas station and convenience store in Copeville was completely destroyed, killing two people inside. A large garage structure was destroyed, and over 30 homes and businesses in the area were damaged, some severely. A total of 119 people were injured.[18] This was the second tornado produced by the Garland supercell as well as the first December EF2 tornado to impact Collin County since modern records began in 1950. | |
| EF1 | W of Farmersville | Collin | TX | 33.1587°N -96.3956°W | 0117–0123 | 4.47abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several homes, including six mobile homes, were damaged or destroyed.[19] This was the fourth tornado produced by the Garland supercell. | |
| EF1 | SE of Blue Ridge | Collin | TX | 33.2718°N -96.3546°W | 0133–0138 | 5.21abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1 death – A log-construction frame home was damaged, and a metal high-tension truss tower was blown over. Multiple mobile homes sustained major damage, with a two-day old infant being killed in one of them. Fence posts were pulled out of the ground and trees were downed as well. Two people were injured.[20] This was the fifth and final tornado produced by the Garland supercell. | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Damage | Summary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | WSW of De Kalb | Bowie | TX | 33.4971°N -94.6687°W | 2106–2110 | 2.93abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | The roof of a mobile home was partially removed, and several trees were snapped.[21] | ||
| EF1 | NW of Gilmer | Upshur | TX | 32.732°N -94.9854°W | 2124–2127 | 7.98abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1338abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A few outbuildings lost metal roofing panels, and several trees were downed, with a couple causing damage to two houses.[22] | ||
| EF1 | NW of Hampton to ENE of Bearden | Calhoun, Ouachita | AR | 33.6422°N -92.6514°W | 2132–2146 | 7.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Part of the roof was blown off of a couple industrial buildings at Highland Industrial Park, several empty rail cars were blown over, and in Bearden, roofing material was ripped off several commercial buildings. A small gas station was also damaged. Several trees were downed along the path.[23] [24] | ||
| EF1 | E of Patmos | Hempstead | AR | 33.5127°N -93.5267°W | 2136–2137 | 0.84abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 350abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Pine trees were downed and a mobile home was damaged.[25] | ||
| EF1 | ESE of Camden | Calhoun | AR | 33.4345°N -92.5534°W | 2156–2207 | 7.22abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 400abbr=onNaNabbr=on | An intermittent tornado destroyed two sheds, damaged the roof on a home, and downed several pine trees on a path that passed near Hampton. One pine tree fell on and crushed two cars.[26] | ||
| EF1 | E of Willisville | Nevada | AR | 33.4751°N -93.2818°W | 2236–2244 | 3.85abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 353abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several outbuildings were destroyed and a house sustained roof damage. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path.[27] | ||
| EF2 | NNE of Marshall to SSE of Jefferson | Harrison | TX | 32.6228°N -94.3216°W | 2239–2251 | 7.78abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Two mobile homes and several outbuildings were destroyed, with pieces of tin roofing from one outbuilding being found at least a quarter-mile away. Multiple frame homes were damaged as well, and a pickup truck and storage trailer were tossed. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path.[28] | ||
| EF1 | Hermitage to E of Banks | Bradley | AR | 33.4495°N -92.1725°W | 2306–2318 | 7.11abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | An awning was damaged at Hermitage School, part of the roof was ripped off a chicken house, a shed was destroyed, and a home sustained minor damage. Many trees were downed.[29] | ||
| EF1 | ENE of Lodi | Cass | TX | 32.9046°N -94.2196°W | 2309–2311 | 1.25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several trees were snapped or uprooted.[30] | ||
| EF1 | W of Wilmar | Drew | AR | 33.5843°N -91.9564°W | 0006–0017 | 5.74abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | The roof was ripped off of a house and thrown onto a shed, and several pine trees were downed.[31] | ||
| EF1 | W of Blanchard | Caddo | LA | 32.5989°N -94.0249°W | 0210–0211 | 0.09abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 41abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Trees were snapped and uprooted along the path, and a mobile home sustained damage to its skirting.[32] | ||
| EF1 | NNE of Blanchard | Caddo | LA | 32.6071°N -93.8777°W | 0216–0220 | 2.27abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 144abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado moved through two mobile home parks, damaging numerous mobile homes. One of the mobile homes was blown off its foundation, while another was crushed by a tree. One outbuilding was destroyed and two others were damaged. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path.[33] | ||
| EF1 | SW of Homer | Claiborne | LA | 32.7639°N -93.1255°W | 0510–0511 | 0.17abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 21abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several trees were uprooted.[34] |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Damage | Summary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF1 | ENE of Walker | Livingston | LA | 30.4995°N -90.8292°W | 0853–0856 | 1.94abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A semi-truck was flipped and a trailer was moved. A building has its metal roof ripped off and a door blown inward.[35] | ||
| EF1 | W of Laplace | St. John the Baptist | LA | 30.0775°N -90.5378°W | 0920–0925 | 0.6abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Roof and fence damage occurred, and several power poles were snapped.[36] | ||
| EF2 | SW of Marianna | Lee | AR | 34.702°N -90.9161°W | 1046–1051 | 5.75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 40abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A mobile home was destroyed and homes sustained roof damage.[37] | ||
| EF1 | NW of Seminary | Covington | MS | 31.5405°N -89.5301°W | 1143–1151 | 5.59abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | One barn was destroyed, several homes sustained minor damage, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.[38] | ||
| EF1 | SW of Chumuckla | Santa Rosa | FL | 30.7626°N -87.2375°W | 1430–1432 | 0.78abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado tracked through a heavily forested area, uprooting pecan trees and snapping cedar and pines. The NWS survey team was unable to examine the entire path, and it is possible the tornado path extended further south.[39] | ||
| EF0 | NNE of Trinity | Union | NC | 34.877°N -80.526°W | 2158–2201 | 0.9abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Five sheds and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, the wall of one home sitting on concrete blocks was slightly shifted, a camper was rolled onto its side, and trees were downed.[40] |
See main article: 2015 Garland tornado.
| Sunnyvale–Garland–Rowlett, Texas | |
| Formed: | December 26, 2015, 6:46 pm CST (UTC–06:00) |
| Duration: | 16 minutes |
| Dissipated: | December 26, 2015, 7:02 pm CST (UTC–06:00) |
| Winds: | 180mph |
| Fujita-Scale: | EF4 |
| Fatalities: | 10 |
| Injuries: | 468 |
| Damages: | $26.8 million (2015 USD) |
A violent wedge tornado affected nearly 600 homes in Dallas County, particularly in the cities of Sunnyvale, Garland, and Rowlett. Of these, nearly 400 were destroyed, including a few well-constructed homes that were completely leveled. An additional 22 businesses were impacted, of which one was completely destroyed. Several mobile homes were also destroyed. An apartment complex sustained major structural damage, and multiple self-storage units were destroyed as well. Nine people were killed when their vehicles were lofted and thrown long distances from an elevated highway bridge at the George Bush Turnpike and I-30 interchange, whereas another death occurred after a man sustained injuries in a collapsed home. At the Gale Fields Recreation Center, around 41 people took refuge, including a couple who went there after they lost power and their home was nearly destroyed in the tornado.[41] 468 people were injured.[42] [43] [16] Recovery efforts were hampered by rain, wind and dropping temperatures.[44] In 2023, tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis rated the tornado EF3 and stated the maximum width of the tornado was 400yd.[45]
On December 26, 2015, the tornado outbreak portion of the storm system, with 32 tornadoes total confirmed, began when 12 tornadoes impacted Texas that evening, mostly in and around the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, killing 13 people,[46] [47] [48] which made it the deadliest tornado disaster in the area since the Dallas tornado of 1957, and added to the highest tornado death count in the U.S. for the month of December since 1953.[49] [50] An EF3 tornado moved through multiple subdivisions in Ovilla and Glenn Heights, Texas on the south side of the metroplex, destroying numerous homes and two churches. Ten people in Garland, Texas died as a result of a large and powerful EF4 wedge tornado that also destroyed many homes in the neighboring suburb of Rowlett. An EF2 tornado killed two people in Copeville, while an EF1 caused another fatality near Blue Ridge. Additional tornadoes touched down across the Southern United States on December 27 and 28. Most of these tornadoes were weak, though EF2 tornadoes caused considerable damage near Marianna, Arkansas and Marshall, Texas.[51] More than 65,000 people lost power in the area due to the tornadoes.[52] [53] The Dallas Mavericks had to delay their NBA game against the Chicago Bulls by one hour due to the threat of severe weather.[54]
Damage from tornadoes in Texas alone is estimated at $1.2 billion.[48] There were also 635 injuries.
The storm system was responsible for heavy rain that caused severe flooding in 13 states, with Missouri being especially impacted.[55] [56] Parts of the state were hit with over 10inches of heavy rainfall. At least 14 people died due to the floods in Missouri alone.[57] In Union, Missouri, the Bourbeuse River rose to 34.22feet, above the preceding record of 33.79feet which occurred on December 5, 1982.[56] [58] [59] [60] More than 180 roads, including portions of Interstates 44, 55, and 70, and several bridges were closed.[61] The Meramec River, near St. Louis, crested 2-1NaN-1 above its previous record height, inundating nearby communities. At least 380 homes and 70 businesses were flooded in Franklin County.[62]
Approximately 140,000 sandbags were brought in to protect portions of the Bayshore subdivision in Arnold. At least 150 homes succumbed to flooding in the city.[62] More than 100 boat rescues were conducted in Eureka.
Major flooding also occurred in south Alabama, where the Pea River in Elba, Alabama flooded. Most of the rainfall occurred on Christmas Eve day when training thunderstorms went over the same areas. All in all, a widespread 8- occurred.
Nine levees were topped—five along the Mississippi River, three along the Missouri River, and one along the Kaskaskia River—though the affected areas were predominantly unpopulated.[63] [64] Large stretches of the Mississippi River were placed on alert due to projected major flooding.[65]
Flash flooding also claimed seven lives in Illinois, two in Oklahoma, one in Arkansas, and one in Georgia.[66] [67]
The combination of heavy snow, strong winds, and bitterly cold temperatures resulted in blizzard conditions across most of New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, western Oklahoma and West Texas. Some places in this area had over NaNfeet of snow but also snow drifts up to 12feet high.[68] In the path of this Texas low, a swath of snow and ice impacted the central Plains and Midwest from Oklahoma to Wisconsin as the storm system moved northeastward toward the eastern Great Lakes. The storm system spread a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to New York State and New England, disrupting travel in the region. At least 1 person in New Mexico, and 4 people in Oklahoma died as a direct result of the winter storm system.[69] [70] [71] Interstate 10 in western Texas was shut down due to the storm, while Midland, Texas experienced their 3rd snowiest day on record.[72] US 67 was also shut down in portions of Texas from Marfa to Presidio, while US 62 shut down from Carlsbad, New Mexico to the Texas state line.[73]
More than 750 flights were cancelled at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and hundreds more at Detroit, Toronto and Montreal. Due to a strong Arctic air mass north of the system, parts of northern Michigan, Ontario and all Quebec suffered blizzard conditions, with moderate snow bands and moderate winds as well. 20–30 cm of snow (8–12 in) fell in Ottawa–Gatineau, less than 10cm (00inches) in Toronto, and the greater Montreal region had 30–40 cm of snow (12–16 in).[3] [5] [74] [75] [76] [77]
Four people died in Minnesota in a car accident linked to snow-covered roads.[78] Two people died from overexertion while clearing snow in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[79] Other similar indirect deaths from the winter storm were reported in New Mexico (1 death), Missouri (2), Michigan (1), New York (1), Vermont (3), New Hampshire (1), and Maine (1).[80] [81] [82]
The dairy industry in eastern New Mexico and western Texas lost 30,000 cows to the storm.[83]