In 2020, several distinct severe weather events contributed to above-average activity. The first outbreak came from April 7–9, when 31 generally weak tornadoes were recorded across the Midwestern United States and Northeast, especially in Ohio. On Easter weekend, a widespread tornado outbreak featuring several significant to violent tornadoes occurred across much of the Southeast, with 141 tornado confirmations. Tornadoes inflicted 12 deaths in Mississippi, 3 deaths in Tennessee, 8 deaths in Georgia, and 9 deaths in South Carolina. The outbreak prompted 141 tornado warnings in a 24-hour period, the most in one day since the tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012.[4] It registered as the sixth-largest tornado event on record in North Carolina,[5] ranked as the second deadliest outbreak on record in South Carolina, and had the highest number of strong (EF2+) tornadoes in a single day on record in South Carolina.[6] From April 21–23, another outbreak of 52 tornadoes across the Southeast caused six deaths. Total tornado activity in the United States caused 40 deaths in April 2020.
EF#! scope="col" style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
|---|
| EF0 | W of Massillon to SSE of Sandy Valley | Stark, Tuscarawas | OH | | 04:10–04:31 | 15.74abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A few houses and other structures sustained minor to moderate damage and several trees were uprooted, some of which fell on homes.[10] [11] |
| EF1 | NE of East Fairfield to WNW of Achor | Columbiana | OH | | 04:33–04:38 | 5.48abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 250abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Metal roof panels and shingles were ripped off, and many trees were snapped or uprooted.[12] |
| EF0 | Union Ridge, OH to NW of Blackhawk, PA | Columbiana (OH), Beaver (PA) | OH, PA | | 04:37–04:41 | 3.82abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Trees were snapped or uprooted.[13] [14] |
| EF1 | NW of Tarentum to New Kensington | Allegheny, Westmoreland | PA | | 05:11–05:18 | 3.83abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Buildings and carports were damaged in Tarentum, as well as numerous trees.[15] [16] |
| EF0 | Braeburn to Lower Burrell | Westmoreland | PA | | 05:17–05:18 | 0.15abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Shingles and fences were damaged, and lawn furniture was tossed. Trees and tree limbs were snapped and uprooted.[17] |
| EF0 | Ray City to NW of Lakeland | Berrien, Lanier | GA | | 00:22–00:30 | 4.41abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Trees and buildings sustained minor damage in Ray City.[18] [19] |
| EF1 | Mooresville | Morgan | IN | | 00:43–00:46 | 0.97abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 35abbr=onNaNabbr=on | The roof of a brick building was lifted off in downtown Mooresville, collapsing a brick wall into the street. Other buildings and trees were damaged as well.[20] |
| EF0 | SW of Cash | Craighead | AR | | 00:47–00:50 | 0.89abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A short-lived tornado damaged a farm building.[21] |
| EF2 | NE of Weiner to Harrisburg | Poinsett | AR | | 01:05–01:26 | 9.33abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado initially tracked mainly over open fields, completely destroying a mobile home before entering Harrisburg, where multiple homes were either heavily damaged or destroyed. One frail home was leveled, and trees in town were damaged. Two people were injured.[22] |
| EF1 | Southwestern Versailles | Ripley | IN | | 01:59–02:01 | 2.49abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 450abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Homes, trees, and the roof of a shopping center sustained some damage. Power lines were knocked down.[23] |
| EF0 | Cross Plains | Ripley | IN | | 02:06–02:07 | 0.18abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A weak tornado caused damage to trees and the roofs of homes and businesses in town.[24] |
| EF1 | SE of Versailles | Ripley | IN | | 02:08–02:11 | 2.6abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 220abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Roof and siding damage was inflicted to homes and barns. Silos were destroyed and trees were damaged.[25] |
| EF0 | SW of Dillsboro | Dearborn | IN | | 02:10–02:12 | 0.96abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Barns were destroyed, and roofs and trees were damaged.[26] |
| EF0 | SE of Cross Plains | Ohio | IN | | 02:11–02:12 | 0.15abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 60abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado destroyed a barn, caused roof and siding damage to homes, toppled trees, and rolled two recreational vehicles.[27] |
| EF0 | SE of Dillsboro | Ohio | IN | | 02:13–02:17 | 5.73abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 450abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado caused widespread damage to roofs, siding, barns, and trees.[28] |
| EF0 | W of Rising Sun | Ohio | IN | | 02:18–02:22 | 5.25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado caused widespread damage to roofs, siding, barns, and trees.[29] [30] |
| EF0 | Mount Healthy | Hamilton | OH | | 02:22–02:29 | 6.2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several buildings and a YMCA suffered minor damage. Numerous trees were downed and transmission poles were leaning or broken.[31] |
| EF0 | E of Warsaw | Gallatin | KY | | 02:27–02:28 | 0.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several homes sustained roof, siding, and porch damage. Additional damage was inflicted to barns and outbuildings. Lastly, numerous trees were downed or damaged.[32] |
| EF0 | Indian Hill | Hamilton | OH | | 02:37–02:40 | 3.3abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 350abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Power poles and numerous trees were downed in Indian Hill. Some barns were also damaged.[33] |
| EF1 | NW of Dry Ridge | Grant | KY | | 02:40–02:43 | 2.4abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 500abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous homes, trees, and large, mature trees were damaged.[34] |
| EF0 | N of Bracht | Kenton | KY | | 02:42–02:43 | 1.2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Barn, siding, tree, and power pole damage was observed.[35] |
| EF1 | E of Mount Zion to SE of Falmouth | Grant, Pendleton | KY | | 02:47–03:07 | 19.2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 400abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several barns were destroyed in southern Pendleton County. Other outbuildings, barns, and homes sustained some roof damage. Numerous trees and power poles were downed as well.[36] [37] |
| EF0 | Newtonsville | Clermont, Brown | OH | | 02:50–03:00 | 8.8abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado caused minor damage to trees and structures in and around Newtonsville.[38] [39] |
| EF0 | Northern Edenton | Clermont | OH | | 02:53–02:55 | 0.8abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Trees and the roofs of homes were damaged in the northern part of Edenton.[40] |
| EF0 | SW of Fayetteville | Brown | OH | | 02:56–02:59 | 2.4abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado damaged trees and one property.[41] |
| EF0 | SE of Blanchester | Clinton, Brown | OH | | 03:01–03:03 | 0.88abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous trees were downed, and pole barns were damaged.[42] [43] |
| EF0 | N of Mount Olivet | Robertson | KY | | 03:16–03:17 | 1.03abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Structures and trees were damaged.[44] |
| EF1 | S of Fairfield | Nelson | KY | | 03:20–03:25 | 4abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 45abbr=onNaNabbr=on | An EF1 tornado ripped portions of roofing from two homes, blew out the back of a well-built barn, and demolished an old barn and small shed. A wagon trailer was thrown through the barn. Pieces of lumber from these various structures were impaled into the ground. Trees were snapped, twisted, and uprooted along the path.[45] |
| EF0 | SW of Mays Lick | Mason | KY | | 03:25–03:26 | 1.2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado damaged structures and trees.[46] |
|
EF#! scope="col" style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
|---|
| EF1 | NNE of Dry Prong to SW of Georgetown | Grant | LA | | 19:17–19:21 | 2.21abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 500abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.[50] |
| EF1 | N of Leesville | Vernon | LA | | 21:50–21:57 | 5.34abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 500abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado snapped, uprooted, or downed numerous trees and power lines. Some of the trees fell on homes and vehicles.[51] |
| EF4 | ESE of Tylertown to Sandy Hook to NW of New Augusta | Walthall, Marion, Lamar, Forrest, Perry | MS | | 00:09–01:19 | 53.76abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 2275abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1 death – A large, violent tornado produced significant damage across several counties, passing near or through the rural communities of Hurricane Creek, Sandy Hook, and Pine Burr. It first touched down along MS 48 in Walthall County and quickly strengthened to high-end EF1 intensity. Significant tree damage and minor damage to a few homes was observed in this area. After crossing into Marion County, the tornado reached EF3 intensity, partially debarking trees and obliterating a mobile home. A small area of low-end EF4 damage occurred nearby as an anchor-bolted home was completely leveled, leaving behind a mostly bare foundation slab and bent anchor bolts. A higher rating was not assigned because a considerable amount of debris remained piled on a portion of the home's foundation. Many other homes throughout this segment of the path sustained varying degrees of roof and structural damage, and a few sustained roof and exterior wall loss. Several mobile homes, barns, and sheds were heavily damaged or destroyed as well. The tornado maintained EF2 strength across Marion County, with a church and the nearby pastor's home sustaining major roof damage. Behind this house, a 40feet shed was blown a few feet off its foundation and destroyed. Several headstones in a cemetery were knocked over in this area, a metal fire department building was destroyed, and the one fatality occurred in a nearby mobile home. The tornado continued producing EF0 and EF1 damage along the remainder of the path, passing just north of Purvis and continuing to the southeast of Hattiesburg.[52] most of which was minor to moderate roof damage from wind or fallen trees. A camping area on the north side of Glenn Walker Lake was impacted, and one person was injured by a tree falling on a truck. The tornado continued producing minor damage into Perry County before dissipating. Numerous wooden power poles were snapped, and thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted along the path, including some that were partially debarked. The tornado became the third violent tornado in the area in one week, as two EF4 tornadoes struck near Bassfield in the 2020 Easter tornado outbreak.[53] |
| EF1 | E of McNeil | Pearl River | MS | | 02:51–02:58 | 3.12abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. A chicken coop was damaged and a house had a portion of its roof torn off.[54] |
| EF1 | Mandeville | St. Tammany | LA | | 03:13–03:17 | 3.05abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted in town, some of which fell on homes and vehicles. A small building at Mandeville Elementary School had its tin roof peeled off.[55] |
| EF2 | NE of Andalusia to NW of Babbie | Covington | AL | | 03:49–03:52 | 4.88abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 740abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A poorly-anchored duplex was pushed off its foundation and largely destroyed, with debris strewn 75yd away. A nearby concrete block workshop and storage unit were also destroyed. A house had large portions of its roof ripped off and partial exterior wall failure, and also had its doors and windows blown in. A metal garage building was heavily damaged, and had a large storage trailer thrown into it. Four large chicken houses were completely destroyed, and some semi-trailers were overturned. Numerous large trees were snapped along the path, some of which landed on a house. One person was injured.[56] In November 2023, this tornado was reanalyzed and had its starting point adjusted further northwest based on widespread tree deforestation noted on Planet satellite imagery. The ending point was also extended further east due to tree damage.[57] |
| EF1 | W of Mobile Regional Airport | Mobile | AL | | 03:55–04:06 | 8.9abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Many homes sustained damage to their roofs, siding, gutters, chimneys, and porches. Numerous fences were blown down, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.[58] |
| EF0 | NE of Elba | Coffee | AL | | 04:03–04:07 | 4.4abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous trees were snapped, and roofs were damaged.[59] |
| EF1 | W of Dees | Mobile | AL | | 04:05–04:07 | 1.3abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Four barns were destroyed, three empty semi trailers and an irrigation watering system were overturned, and numerous trees were snapped. A large metal building had one door blown in while a second door was blown out.[60] |
| EF1 | SE of Mobile Regional Airport to N of Tillmans Corner | Mobile | AL | | 04:06–04:12 | 3.17abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several trees were snapped or uprooted, with some homes damaged by fallen trees and limbs, and fences were blown down as this tornado moved through Western Mobile.[61] |
| EF1 | Ozark to NW of Haleburg | Dale, Henry | AL | | 04:20–04:45 | 24.37abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado mainly snapped and uprooted trees along its path. In Ozark, it ripped the brick facade from the side of a doctor's office, and it also tore siding from a business. The tornado crossed from Dale County into Henry County, severely damaging several small barns, farm buildings, and silos. Minor roof damage was inflicted to several homes. The tornado dissipated as two other nearby tornadoes became the dominant circulations within the storm.[62] |
| EF0 | NE of Oak Grove | Geneva | AL | | 04:32–04:35 | 1.82abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Some trees were damaged.[63] |
| EF2 | Tumbleton | Henry | AL | | 04:40–04:47 | 5.18abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1 death – This strong tornado occurred simultaneously with the Ozark and Balkum EF1 tornadoes. It damaged several homes in and around Tumbleton, including a few that had their roofs torn off. One of these homes sustained collapse of an exterior wall, and a business also had its roof removed. An irrigation sprinkler was overturned, trees were snapped or uprooted, and multiple outbuildings were damaged. A double-wide mobile home was completely destroyed, resulting in one fatality.[64] |
| EF1 | Southwestern Dothan | Houston | AL | | 04:42–04:44 | 0.71abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado struck the southwestern outskirts of Dothan, causing roof damage to nine homes and a storage facility. Trees were downed as well.[65] |
| EF1 | E of Balkum | Henry | AL | | 04:45–04:48 | 1.49abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 500abbr=onNaNabbr=on | An automotive shop was destroyed, and a home had an exterior wall ripped off by this high-end EF1 tornado. Another home and a mobile home sustained roof damage, and several trees were downed. The tornado occurred simultaneously with the three other Henry County tornadoes.[66] |
| EF1 | NE of Robertsdale | Baldwin | AL | | 04:46–04:47 | 0.47abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous large trees were snapped. A couple of mobile homes sustained roof, siding, and skirting damage, and an RV camper was lifted and demolished. One person was injured.[67] |
| EF1 | NW of Haleburg | Henry | AL | | 04:46–04:50 | 6.45abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | The roof of a double-wide manufactured home was damaged; otherwise, damage was limited to snapped or uprooted trees. This tornado occurred simultaneously with the Tumbleton EF2 and Balkum EF1 tornadoes.[68] |
|
EF#! scope="col" style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
|---|
| EF0 | WNW of Pace | Santa Rosa | FL | | 05:07–05:08 | 0.19abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado embedded within straight line winds downed several trees.[69] |
| EF2 | NW of Bridgeboro to SE of Gordy | Mitchell, Worth | GA | | 06:10–06:14 | 8.72abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 500abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Two homes suffered extensive roof and siding damage, and a third sustained roof loss and some collapse of exterior walls. A mobile home also sustained roof damage, and an outbuilding was destroyed.[70] [71] |
| EF0 | W of Homosassa to Homosassa Springs | Citrus | FL | | 13:39–13:48 | 7.25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 35abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A waterspout moved onshore, inflicting major damage to two mobile homes and minor damage to seven others. Several trees were downed in the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, power poles were snapped, and a billboard was toppled. The canopy of a gas station was blown off, while one business sustained considerable damage.[72] |
| EF1 | SE of Ocala | Marion | FL | | 13:40–13:55 | 12.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 500abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado tossed a stationary construction trailer across Interstate 75 and caused severe damage to two homes just northeast of the interstate. It then snapped numerous trees, and caused mainly minor roof and window damage along an intermittent path.[73] |
| EF0 | Lake Jesup | Seminole | FL | | 15:45–15:48 | 2.74abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornadic waterspout moved across Lake Jesup to the east of Winter Springs. No damage occurred.[74] |
|
EF#! scope="col" style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
|---|
| EF0 | Dawson | Sangamon | IL | | 23:56–00:01 | 2.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Twelve homes sustained shingle, siding, or gutter damage.[88] |
| EF0 | Oakville to Greenwood | Plaquemines | LA | | 01:52–01:55 | 1.4abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A restaurant had some of its awning damaged, and an attached metal and tin structure was completely destroyed after being thrown 50yd into power lines, breaking a power pole as a result. Minor siding and fascia damage was inflicted to a two-story house, and a metal sign was twisted and bent. A double-wide manufactured home had some fascia removed and suffered minor damage to its screened-in porch. The bed of a pickup truck was impaled by a piece of wood, and a single-wide manufactured home had its metal roof and most of its siding removed. Other damage was inflicted to a carport, some sheds, and trees.[89] |
| EF1 | S of Sardis Lake | Pushmataha | OK | | 02:02–02:19 | 5.2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 550abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Trees were snapped or uprooted, and power poles were blown down.[90] |
| EF1 | N of Hochatown | McCurtain | OK | | 03:05–03:10 | 3.23abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, causing severe damage to several RVs and vehicles.[91] |
| EF2 | E of Hochatown, OK to NW of Lockesburg, AR | McCurtain (OK), Sevier (AR) | OK, AR | | 03:20–03:40 | 19.38abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 350abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado touched down twice. Along its first path, two barges were tossed over 100yd, a home's roof deck was collapsed, and a single-wide manufactured home was destroyed, with its base frame twisted and tossed 100yd to the east. A second house suffered significant roof and structural damage after large gas tanks were tossed into it. A third house had roofing material removed, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado touched down again in Sevier County, Arkansas, causing roof damage to a home's garage, two chicken houses, and a farm building. A single-wide manufactured home was rolled and destroyed. About 160 more trees were snapped or uprooted.[92] [93] |
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