This page documents all tornadoes confirmed by various weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service in the United States in December 2021. In December, tornadoes are most likely in the southern states due to their proximity to the unstable airmass and warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, with only occasional incursions farther north.[1] The average number of tornadoes in December is 28.[2]
After a small outbreak along with some isolated tornadoes at the beginning of the month, December unexpectedly produced two large, record-breaking tornado outbreaks during the middle of the month. The first one spawned 71 tornadoes, the most tornadoes ever recorded in a single outbreak in December. One supercell tracked over 250miles throughout the states of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, spawning a family of 11 tornadoes, including two violent EF4 tornadoes. The first one killed eight people across three states while the second one killed 57 people in Kentucky along a track of over 160miles. The outbreak killed 89 people, making it the deadliest outbreak ever recorded in December. However, the record number of tornadoes set by the first outbreak was shattered just four days later by a historic derecho that produced 120 tornadoes across the Midwestern United States. The outbreak was unprecedented since tornadoes in that region during the Winter are rare, but tornadoes were confirmed as far north as southwestern Wisconsin. The derecho produced 61 tornadoes in Iowa, including 21 EF2 tornadoes, which set the record for the most tornadoes and the most EF2+ tornadoes ever recorded in the state during a single day. It also spawned tornadoes in Minnesota, marking the first time that December tornadoes had ever been recorded in the state. Some additional isolated activity and another small outbreak at the end of the month occurred before the month ended.
In all, 227 tornadoes were confirmed during December, making it by far the most active December on record as it more than doubled the previous record of 99 set in 2002. It also set the record for the most active month for tornado activity in meteorological winter, surpassing the previous record of 216 set in January 1999.
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | WNW of Ledbetter | Livingston | KY | 02:24–02:25 | 0.29abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado crossed the Ohio River, ripping the flag off a flagpole attached to the bow of a vessel.[3] | |
| EF1 | E of Highlandville | Christian | MO | 04:02–04:07 | 3.43abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado touched down west of U.S. 65, where trees were uprooted and a pool house was pushed off of its foundation. More tree damage occurred after it crossed U.S. 65, and an outbuilding was destroyed before it lifted.[4] | |
| EF1 | West Frankfort | Franklin | IL | 04:21–04:28 | 3.88abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 175abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Homes, businesses, and trees were damaged.[5] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF1 | N of Frankfort | Franklin | KY | 09:10–09:11 | 1.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado with an intermittent path caused significant roof and structural damage to two well-built barns and a two-story house, with a Ring doorbell camera catching the tornado on video. One of the barns was large tool chests and other heavy items scattered around and its concrete foundation shifted about an inch; a house next to the barn was undamaged. Numerous trees were twisted or uprooted along the path.[6] | |
| EF1 | Stamping Ground | Scott | KY | 09:22–09:23 | 0.25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 60abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several trailers at a mobile home park were lifted off of their foundations and flipped or turned. Siding and insulation were thrown into nearby trees. Deck pieces were impaled into the ground. Outbuildings were lofted and thrown, and trees were snapped. Two people were injured.[7] | |
| EF0 | SE of Wingo to N of Cuba | Graves | KY | 09:23–09:29 | 5.92abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A few barns and a chicken house were damaged, and trees and large branches were downed.[8] | |
| EF1 | NE of Lynnville to SW of Murray | Graves, Calloway | KY | 09:34–09:43 | 9.57abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 500abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Three large pole barns were destroyed, homes sustained roof damage, and trees were snapped or uprooted.[9] [10] | |
| EF1 | Northern Elkton | Todd | KY | 10:33–10:42 | 8.58abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado began northwest of Elkton and skirted the northern edge of town, where several older barns were heavily damaged or destroyed, and two semi-trailers were flipped over.[11] | |
| EF0 | S of Elkton | Todd | KY | 10:40–10:45 | 4.43abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several sheds sustained roof damage and/or wall collapse.[12] | |
| EF0 | Hartsville | Trousdale | TN | 11:59–12:05 | 4.77abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A couple barns and outbuildings were destroyed, and an RV was blown on top of a flipped school bus; the bus driver was uninjured. Numerous trees were downed along the path as well. This was the first recorded tornado to strike Trousdale County in the month of December.[13] | |
| EF0 | W of Lawrenceburg | Lawrence | TN | 12:34–12:35 | 0.27abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Trees were uprooted.[14] | |
| EF0 | Slagle | Vernon | LA | 12:55–12:56 | 0.24abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Multiple trees were damaged or downed.[15] | |
| EF0 | N of Livingston | Overton | TN | 12:56–12:59 | 2.64abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | The metal roof of a home was blown off, and outbuildings and the roofs of several barns were damaged. Trees were downed along the path. This was the first recorded tornado to strike Overton County in the month of December.[16] | |
| EF0 | S of Midway | Overton, Pickett | TN | 13:04–13:07 | 3.02abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several outbuildings were destroyed, and fencing around a recycling plant was damaged. Trees were downed along the path.[17] [18] | |
| EF1 | SW of Normandy to NE of Tullahoma | Bedford, Moore, Coffee | TN | 13:40–13:48 | 7.97abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A wall was blown down at a community center in Raus. A large barn lost part of its roof. Signs and outbuildings were damaged on the northern side of Tullahoma. Trees were uprooted or snapped. This was the first tornado ever recorded in Coffee County in the month of December.[19] [20] [21] | |
| EF0 | NW of Falkville | Morgan | AL | 15:05–15:10 | 1.33abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A few large tree branches were downed.[22] | |
| EF0 | SE of Covington to Abita Springs | St. Tammany | LA | 20:56–21:00 | 2.13abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | The tornado damaged the Hollycrest Plaza Mall in Covington, collapsing an exterior wall. Minor roof and tree damage also occurred.[23] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | W of Freeport | Walton | FL | 06:07–06:13 | 1.74abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado downed a few trees and blew out windows of a house. A tornado debris signature was observed on radar.[24] | |
| EF1 | Starke | Bradford | FL | 22:20–22:22 | 0.54abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | One home was shifted off its foundation due to a fallen tree. Several other homes were damaged by fallen trees. Metal roof panels were torn off a canopy.[25] | |
See main article: Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021.
See main article: Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021.
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF1 | NE of Cut and Shoot | Montgomery | TX | 16:47–16:52 | 1.57abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous large trees were uprooted and smaller trees were snapped.[26] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF1 | S of Fort Myers | Lee | FL | 11:25–11:27 | 1.29abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous trees were downed, and dozens of houses sustained roof damage. Vehicles and swimming pool enclosures were damaged as well. One person was injured by broken glass. Damaging winds caused additional damage to the northeast after the tornado dissipated.[27] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | Bainbridge | Decatur | GA | 20:07–20:08 | 0.95abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A small apartment building sustained minor damage, the roof of a store was peeled back, a home sustained minor roof damage, and a metal carport was damaged. A few trees and tree branches were knocked down, and a road sign was downed as well.[28] | |
| EF1 | NE of Sulligent to E of Winfield | Lamar, Marion | AL | 00:27–00:47 | 17.53abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | The tornado touched down southwest of Beaverton and moved almost due east into Marion County. It downed trees sporadically and damaged a small barn in Lamar County before exiting. It straddled the Marion–Fayette county line, although the tornado never entirely entered Fayette County. More trees were downed as the tornado approached Winfield, where it strengthened to high-end EF1 intensity. In downtown Winfield, numerous homes and businesses were damaged. Several businesses sustained roof and structural damage, with windows being blown out of others, and a strip mall lost a large section of its roof. East of downtown, the tornado narrowed and weakened, with several homes sustaining minor roof damage and more trees being downed before it dissipated.[29] [30] | |
| EF1 | SW of Powell to NNE of Rainsville | DeKalb | AL | 02:21–02:29 | 6.03abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 285abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several houses sustained minor roof damage, the BlueScope Steel building in Rainsville sustained roof damage, and a small outbuilding and a couple carports were destroyed. Numerous trees and several power lines were downed as well.[31] | |
| EF0 | N of Glencoe | Etowah | AL | 03:02–03:04 | 1.2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | The roof of a barn was peeled back, a shed was destroyed, and a travel trailer was moved. A house sustained minor roof damage, and trees were downed.[32] | |
| EF0 | S of Folsom | Bartow | GA | 03:52–03:55 | 1.93abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.[33] | |
| EF1 | NNW of Jemison to SSE of Shelby | Chilton, Shelby | AL | 04:01–04:19 | 10.93abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 400abbr=onNaNabbr=on | At least four structures were damaged, and many trees were downed by this high-end EF1 tornado. The tornado just crossed into Shelby County before lifting.[34] [35] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | SW of Flowery Branch | Hall | GA | 05:03–05:07 | 2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This weak tornado downed numerous trees along its path, with one falling on a two-car garage.[36] | |
| EF1 | N of Canton | Cherokee | GA | 05:19–05:21 | 0.48abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A large bedroom window was blown in on a home, a large fence on a tennis court was blown down, and a large trampoline was thrown approximately 150yd into a neighboring house. Hundreds of trees were downed in a wooded area; a small barn and an RV were destroyed by numerous falling trees, and a nearby house had a tree fall on it as well.[37] | |
| EF1 | SE of Moultrie | Colquitt | GA | 20:16–20:24 | 3.82abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several homes and other buildings sustained roof and siding damage south of Spence Airport. Several small outbuildings were destroyed, a camper was rolled over, and several trees were downed as well.[38] | |
| EF1 | E of Sparks | Cook | GA | 21:03–21:15 | 2.19abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several outbuildings were destroyed, several homes and other outbuildings sustained roof damage, and numerous trees were downed.[39] | |
| EF1 | SSW of Denton to SSW of Graham | Jeff Davis, Appling | GA | 21:33–21:55 | 11.89abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | The roof of a farmhouse was lifted off, several other homes sustained roof damage, and large trees were snapped or uprooted.[40] | |
| EF0 | S of Hawkinsville | Pulaski | GA | 23:09–23:32 | 10.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | An open barn was destroyed, as was a covered awning. Several homes sustained minor damage, including to roofs, gutters, siding, and a front porch awning. Several trees were downed along the path.[41] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF1 | SSW of Loveless | DeKalb | AL | 20:49–20:52 | 0.95abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado impacted a mobile home park, flipping one structure and damaging the roofs of several others. The roof of a chicken house was damaged as well. Trees were snapped and uprooted.[42] | |
| EF1 | ENE of Temple | Carroll | GA | 22:32–22:45 | 2.75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A barn was destroyed, a carport was detached from a manufactured home, and a shed was rolled about 20feet against the side of a house. Numerous trees were downed, one of which fell on a house and damaged the roof.[43] | |
| EF1 | WSW of Covington | Newton | GA | 22:39–22:46 | 2.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A middle school sustained significant loss of siding and roofing from the main building and the gymnasium, and at least twelve homes sustained mostly minor roof damage. A Chick-fil-A was damaged, a Publix sustained minor roof damage, and vehicles were tossed and flipped. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. Six people suffered minor injuries near the Chick-fil-A.[44] | |