| Tornado outbreak of November 29–30, 2022 | |
| Active: | November 29–30, 2022 |
| Tornadoes: | 27 |
| Fujitascale: | EF3 |
| Tornado Duration: | 14 hours, 19 minutes |
| Highest Winds: | Tornadic – 140mph (Clarks, Louisiana EF3 and Tibbie, Alabama EF3) Non-tornadic – 90mph (Magnolia, Mississippi)[1] |
| Hail: | 2inches (WNW of Vaiden, Mississippi) |
| Maximum Snow: | 8.5inches in Saint Peter, Minnesota[2] |
| Power Outages: | 55,000[3] |
| Casualties: | 2 fatalities, 3 injuries |
| Damages: | $115 million [4] |
| Enhanced: | yes |
| Partof: | the tornado outbreaks of 2022 |
A late-season tornado outbreak in the Southern United States affected the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, from the afternoon of November 29 into the morning of November 30, 2022. The outbreak was the result of an intense upper-level trough that materialized over the aforementioned states where increased moisture, atmospheric instability, and elevated wind shear were present, creating conditions highly conducive to supercell thunderstorms. Multiple tornadic storms developed in the risk area, producing numerous tornadoes. Several of these tornadoes were strong and destructive, prompting the issuance of multiple PDS tornado warnings. Two low-end EF3 tornadoes caused severe damage near Clarks, Louisiana and Tibbie, Alabama respectively while the Flatwood and Willow Springs communities north of Montgomery, Alabama was struck by an EF2 tornado, which caused two fatalities. Numerous weaker tornadoes also touched down, including a high-end EF1 tornado that caused considerable damage in Eutaw, Alabama. In all, 27 tornadoes were confirmed.
A significant severe weather event was forecast multiple days in advance of the outbreak, as early models suggested the presence of multiple thunderstorm-enhancing atmospheric conditions over the northeast Ark-La-Tex regions, northwest Mississippi, and extreme southwestern Tennessee. On November 24, the Storm Prediction Center identified a "severe" threat for the aforementioned regions, although most of the highest risk was positioned over northern Louisiana.[5]
As the days passed, and computer weather prediction models identified multiple thunderstorm-enhancing elements over the area, confidence grew in the probability of a severe weather outbreak occurring. On November 27, the SPC issued a Day 3 level 3/enhanced risk for the area, extending all the way through eastern Arkansas, and into western Tennessee. The outlook suggested that a progressive upper-level trough would pass over elevated instability in the area, which coupled with a strong 50-70 kt low-level jet, and 400–500 m2/s2 helicity values, would create conditions conductive to supercell thunderstorm development. An additional damaging wind and hail threat was mentioned.[6]
The threat level was upped to a level 4/moderate risk by the SPC on November 28. The main area of risk was shifted mainly to western Mississippi, extreme southeastern Arkansas, and northeastern Louisiana, where a 15% hatched risk for tornadoes was introduced, indicating the elevated probabilities for strong, long-tracked tornadoes to develop. There was even consideration for a level 5/high risk upgrade, but due to uncertainty in where the highest risk would be, it was maintained at a moderate risk. The outlook highlighted the presence of greater instability than expected, aided by strong wind shear, and steep mid-level lapse rates, which would help in the sustainment of supercell structures, enhancing the tornado risk.[7]
The next day, at 1300 UTC (8:00 am CDT), the SPC maintained the risk level, with some minor corrections to its coverage and 15% tornado risk placement. This outlook presented the presence of convective available potential energy (CAPE) values of 1000-2000 J/kg in the area, and with the previously stated rich moisture, shear, and helicity present in the area, conditions were primed for a tornado outbreak.[8]
As the afternoon advanced, the SPC issued two rare PDS tornado watches encompassing large regions of Louisiana, southeastern Arkansas, and central Mississippi, as atmospheric conditions were very favorable for strong, long-track tornadoes.[9] [10] As the first storm popped up in central Mississippi, a powerful supercell developed in the outskirts of the main risk area, in Covington and Jefferson Davis counties, producing a damaging, multi-vortex tornado that tracked near the town of Bassfield, which was devastated by an EF4 tornado on April 12, 2020. Multiple other tornadoes were reported from this long-tracked supercell. As the afternoon progressed, multiple supercells developed in the main risk area, entering a highly favorable environment for maturing. A storm that developed in the southern edge of the main risk area produced multiple tornadoes, one of which was a large wedge tornado that injured several people in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, resulting in a PDS tornado warning, only the second ever issued for the month of November. After the event, Andrew Lyons, a forecaster at the Storm Prediction Center, posted a tweet showing how the forecast verified on the Tornado Modified Practically Perfect Probs.[11] [12] [13]
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF1 | SW of Tilton | Lawrence | MS | 22:24–22:28 | 2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A house and a metal shed were damaged, and numerous trees were either snapped or uprooted.[14] | |
| EF0 | SW of Bassfield | Jefferson Davis, Marion | MS | 23:02–23:10 | 3.4abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 70abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A weak, intermittent tornado uprooted and damaged several trees. | |
| EF1 | N of Bywy to S of Mathiston | Choctaw | MS | 23:11–23:21 | 6.8abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 330abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado touched down along MS 9 before moving across the Natchez Trace Parkway. An RV was rolled, the roof of a barn was torn off, and numerous trees were downed before the tornado dissipated after crossing MS 15. | |
| EF1 | SSW of Bassfield | Jefferson Davis | MS | 23:14–23:21 | 3.9abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 400abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Some tin roofing was torn off a large shed, a brick home sustained minor roof damage, and an awning was blown down. The tornado reached its peak intensity of high-end EF1 as it crossed MS 42 shortly before dissipating, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted in this area. A metal shed had most of its roof removed as well. | |
| EF3 | SE of Clarks | Caldwell | LA | 00:03–00:13 | 7.96abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado reached its peak intensity of low-end EF3 immediately after it touched down along LA 126. Trees were partially debarked, outbuildings and mobile homes were destroyed, and the ground was deeply scoured in open fields, with clumps of dirt and grass pulled up. Elsewhere along the path, another mobile home was destroyed, a home suffered roof damage, a power pole was snapped, and many trees were snapped or uprooted. One person was injured.[15] | |
| EF2 | WSW of Wells to ESE of Woodlawn | Lowndes | MS | 00:26–00:40 | 8.4abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 375abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This strong tornado first struck the Wells community, where trees were snapped, and a church steeple was blown over. The tornado reached high-end EF2 intensity just south of Woodlawn near MS 12, where a metal fire department building was significantly damaged, two homes had roof and exterior wall loss, other homes had severe roof damage and broken windows, and outbuildings were destroyed. The tornado caused additional tree damage before dissipating. | |
| EF2 | E of Stringer to S of Paulding | Jasper | MS | 00:30–00:51 | 11.8abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A shed was completely destroyed, with its debris scattered across a sizeable area. A well-built brick home was completely unroofed and had an exterior wall knocked down, with sections of the roof thrown and deposited a considerable distance away. An older wood-frame home lost a substantial part of its roof, and also sustained window and wall damage. Other homes were damaged to a lesser degree, and many trees were snapped or uprooted. | |
| EF1 | W of Louisville to S of Tollison | Winston, Choctaw | MS | 00:49–00:55 | 5.2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This low-end EF1 tornado snapped and uprooted numerous softwood trees northwest of Louisville. | |
| EFU | SW of Richmond | Madison | LA | 01:06–01:07 | 1.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Unknown | A storm chaser observed a tornado near the Tensas River, though a National Weather Service survey team was unable to find evidence of damage due to inaccessible roads. The tornado came from the same storm that produced the Clarks EF3 tornado. | |
| EFU | N of Thomastown | Madison | LA | 01:32–01:34 | 0.4abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Unknown | This tornado, which came from the same storm that produced the Clarks EF3 tornado and the Richmond EFU tornado, was photographed and caught on video by several storm chasers. No damage was found. | |
| EF1 | SE of Penns | Lowndes | MS | 01:34–01:41 | 2.48abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 250abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A low-end EF1 tornado damaged or uprooted several trees. | |
| EF1 | W of Eutaw to S of Moundville | Greene, Hale | AL | 03:44–04:13 | 19.49abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A large, high-end EF1 tornado first moved through the north side of Eutaw, causing roof damage to some homes, snapping and uprooting numerous trees, and downing power lines. An apartment building had its entire roof torn off, and other nearby apartment buildings sustained less severe roof damage. It continued northeast and impacted the Oak Village community, where a mobile home sustained significant damage, outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and trees were downed. The tornado continued farther to the northeast, producing more damage to trees and the roofs of homes in Stewart before dissipating south of Moundville.[16] This tornado moved over the same path as a low-end EF3 tornado that struck on March 25, 2021. A high-end EF2 tornado would then move over the entire tracks of both tornadoes just 44 days later on January 12, 2023.[17] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | WNW of Fairview | Walker | AL | 06:28–06:30 | 1.99abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A few trees were downed along SR 69. Part of the track was in an inaccessible area and was unable to be surveyed. | |
| EF1 | SW of Magnolia | Amite, Pike | MS | 06:42–06:59 | 9.77abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 250abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Numerous large trees were either snapped or uprooted, a house had part of its roof removed, and a barn was destroyed. A mobile home was pushed off its foundation and rolled over, while another mobile home had total roof loss and sustained collapse of a wall. A campground sustained damage near the end of the path.[18] | |
| EF0 | Locust Fork | Blount | AL | 06:57–07:02 | 3.46abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 500abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A weak tornado embedded in a squall line caused roof damage to two barns, rolled and destroyed a camper trailer, and caused minor roof damage to homes and other structures in Locust Fork. Several trees and tree branches were downed as well, some of which landed on structures and caused damage. | |
| EF1 | SW of Sweet Water to N of Magnolia | Marengo | AL | 07:11–07:30 | 15.49abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 525abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A mobile home lost its roof, a couple of outbuildings lost portions of their roofs, and a home lost a patio overhang. Another home sustained roof and shingle damage, and a camper was moved a few feet. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped, and one tree was blown into a mobile home in the rural community of Wayne, damaging a wall. | |
| EF0 | S of Macon | Calhoun | AL | 07:37–07:38 | 0.79abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado caused minor roof damage to two homes and snapped or uprooted several trees. | |
| EF2 | N of Cheraw | Marion | MS | 07:50–07:59 | 6abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A cellular tower was knocked over, outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, a home had its roof damaged, a flag pole and a power pole were downed, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. | |
| EF3 | S of State Line, MS to E of Tibbie, AL | Greene (MS), Washington (AL) | MS, AL | 08:27–08:56 | 20.14abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 700abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado began near MS 57 in Greene County, where several softwood trees were snapped. The tornado crossed the state line into Washington County and struck Fruitdale, where Fruitdale High School had damage to its roof, windows, and side paneling, and a metal building sustained considerable damage as well. Widespread tree and power line damage was observed throughout Fruitdale before the tornado continued northeastward, strengthening to low-end EF3 intensity as it impacted a wooded area. Numerous large trees were completely mowed down along a nearly 500yd swath, some debarking was observed, and a small farm outbuilding was obliterated. The tornado then weakened to low-end EF2 strength, snapping many additional trees and damaging the roofs of a few homes and a church before dissipating near the small community of Tibbie.[19] In November 2023, this tornado was reanalyzed and had its track receive cosmetic updates based on Planet satellite imagery. The maximum width was also increased from 500abbr=onNaNabbr=on to 700abbr=onNaNabbr=on.[20] | |
| EF2 | NW of Boylston to SSE of Wetumpka | Elmore, Montgomery | AL | 09:14–09:28 | 9.85abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 700abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 2 deaths – A strong tornado struck the Flatwood and Willow Springs communities north of Montgomery. Several mobile homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, and multiple frame homes suffered moderate to severe structural damage. A cinderblock building that housed the community center in Flatwood was destroyed, with only interior walls left standing. Power poles were downed, and many large trees were snapped or uprooted as well. Two fatalities and a serious injury occurred when an uprooted tree fell on a mobile home;[21] and an additional minor injury was also confirmed when an unanchored mobile home was rolled.[22] | |
| EF2 | SW of Tallassee to N of Tukabatchee | Elmore | AL | 09:38–09:49 | 6.26abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 400abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A low-end EF2 tornado touched down shortly after the previous tornado dissipated. A home lost part of its roof and had an exterior wall knocked down, an outbuilding was damaged, and many trees were snapped or uprooted.[23] | |
| EF0 | E of Buckhorn | Pike | AL | 11:42–11:44 | 1.42abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A weak tornado embedded in a squall line uprooted several trees and broke tree branches. | |
| EF0 | SE of Brundidge | Pike | AL | 11:45–11:46 | 0.79abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief, weak tornado embedded in a squall line downed a few trees. | |
| EF0 | N of Texasville | Barbour | AL | 12:06–12:17 | 6.6abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Four chicken houses at a chicken farm were significantly damaged, with metal roofing torn off and scattered downwind. A riding arena and a farmhouse on the property sustained minor damage. Many trees were snapped or uprooted, one of which caused a car accident on SR 131. | |
| EF1 | N of Slocomb to WSW of Malvern | Geneva | AL | 12:42–12:44 | 1.8abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A house sustained significant roof damage, a carport was damaged, and the rear window was blown out of an SUV. Trees were snapped, and a pole was bent as well. | |
| EFU | W of Hartsfield | Colquitt | GA | 14:26–? | 0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A barn was damaged.[24] [25] | |
| EFU | NNW of Funston | Colquitt | GA | 14:38–? | 0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado was videoed in a field doing no damage.[26] [27] | |
Schools in each affected state canceled/postponed classes or closed early. Northwestern State University campuses in Louisiana also closed early and postponed or canceled classes.[28] Multiple Mississippi school districts closed early on November 29 in anticipation of the inclement weather, including those of Claiborne, Copiah, Lawrence, and Madison counties.[29] Shelton State Community College in Alabama closed its campus at 4:00 p.m. CST.[30] The storm brought 18,000 power outages to Austin.[31] Alabama recorded 35,000 power outages while Mississippi saw 6,800 power outages. Close to 5inches of rain fell.[32] Minneapolis recorded their largest November snowstorm since 1991, with 8.4inches of snow falling in the city.[33] In New York City, heavy rain and strong wind resulted in the Marine Park Bridge and Cross Bay Bridge being closed to pedestrians,[34] and the FAA temporarily stopping all flights into and out of LaGuardia Airport.[35] Wind gusts reached 63mph at Albany International Airport.[36] Almost 73,000 customers lost power due to the storm in Maine.[37]