Tornado outbreak sequence of March 18–24, 2012 explained
| Tornado outbreak sequence of March 18–24, 2012 |
| Type: | Tornado outbreak |
| Active: | March 18 – March 24, 2012 |
| Tornadoes: | 63 |
| Fujitascale: | EF3 |
| Tornado Duration: | 7 days |
| Total Fatalities: | 1 fatality, 15 injuries |
| Damages: | $325 million[1] (estimated) |
| Enhanced: | yes |
The Tornado outbreak sequence of March 18–24, 2012 was a long lasting tornado outbreak that occurred due to a slow moving, but powerful trough and cutoff low. The outbreak began in the Great Plains, where, over a two-day period, several tornadoes touched down, some of which were significant. The North Platte area was damaged by an EF3 that was produced by a supercell that spawned many tornadoes throughout its lifespan. The tornadic activity then shifted the Southern United States over subsequent days, particularly in Louisiana and Mississippi.[2] These states were struck by a series of tornadoes for 3 days, most of which were relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. However, a few reached EF2 intensity and caused considerable damage. Tornado activity continued across the Ohio Valley on the 23rd, with one confirmed fatality in southern Illinois.
Meteorological synopsis
March 23–24
A slight risk was issued for parts of the Ohio Valley, but notable tornado activity was not expected. However, several tornadoes touched down across Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky. Supercell thunderstorms developed and produced large hail as well. One high-end EF1 tornado caused considerable damage to homes in the Louisville metro area.[3] An EF2 tornado caused one fatality in southern Illinois when a mobile home was thrown and completely destroyed.[4] On the 24th, an isolated EF0 touched down in Florida as the outbreak moved eastward and came to an end.
Confirmed tornadoes
March 18 event
| List of reported tornadoes - Sunday, March 18, 2012 |
|---|
| EF# | Location | County | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Comments/Damage |
| Oklahoma |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | W of Mangum | Greer | | 2350 | 3.85miles | No damage reported with this tornado. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | WSW of Brinkman | Greer | | 0010 | 0.1miles | No damage reported with this tornado. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | WNW of Willow | Greer | | 0027 | 1.4miles | No damage reported with this tornado. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | NW of Willow | Greer | | 0037 | 1miles | No damage reported. This tornado was from the same supercell that produced the other tornadoes in Greer County. |
| Nebraska |
| bgcolor=# | EF3 | SW of North Platte | Lincoln | | 0210 | 6.7miles | Two homes were damaged and a large metal truss tower was destroyed. Outbuildings are garages were destroyed or damaged, two irrigation pivots were overturned, and a wooden transmission tower was destroyed. Extensive tree and power line damage occurred along the path. Two people were injured. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | WSW of North Platte | Lincoln | | 0213 | 1.5miles | A semi-truck and fence line were destroyed. A garage was damaged and an irrigation pivot was destroyed. Extensive tree damage occurred, debris was scattered through fields, and one person was injured. |
| bgcolor=# | EF3 | NW of North Platte (1st tornado) | Lincoln | | 0214 | 1.7miles | Two homes were destroyed and two others suffered significant damage. Debris from impacted structures was scattered up to a mile and a half away. Fifteen train cars and an irrigation pivot were overturned. Two people were injured. |
| bgcolor=# | EF2 | NW of North Platte (2nd tornado) | Lincoln | | 0218 | 1.7miles | Two homes were heavily damaged and a barn was destroyed, with debris from the barn driven into the ground. Garages and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and extensive tree damage occurred. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | SSE of Ringgold | McPherson | | 0239 | 5.3miles | A church and a small storage building were damaged, and a pivot irrigation system was twisted and overturned. Trees were uprooted and limbs were snapped as well. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | NNW of Valentine | Cherry | | 0319 | 100yd | Brief touchdown with no damage. |
| Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/18/12, NWS Norman, OK, NWS North Platte, NE | |
March 19 event
| List of reported tornadoes - Monday, March 19, 2012 |
|---|
| EF# | Location | County | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Comments/Damage |
| Texas |
| bgcolor=# | EF2 | Gardendale | Ector | | 0628 | 1miles | A camper was flipped, a cinder block fence was toppled, and a barn and trailer were destroyed. One house in Gardendale suffered significant roof damage and was shifted off of its foundation, and several power poles were damaged. A horse trailer and a cotton trailer were tossed, and a travel trailer was destroyed. Large amounts of debris was scattered throughout the area, some of which was speared into the walls of adjacent structures. Three people were injured. |
| bgcolor=# | EF2 | WNW of Devine | Medina | | 0106 | 3.5miles | A semi-trailer was overturned and a mobile home was destroyed. Multiple permanent homes had roofs torn off or sustained major structural damage. A metal storage shed was largely destroyed, and trees and power lines were downed. 14 homes were destroyed, 11 sustained major damage, and 7 others sustained minor damage. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | W of Lytle | Medina | | 0120 | 7miles | Power lines were knocked down and an RV was flipped. |
| bgcolor=# | EF2 | ENE of Lytle to E of LaCoste | Bexar | | 0130 | 5miles | This strong tornado destroyed four frame homes and four mobile homes. Five other homes were severely damaged, and two others sustained minor damage. Four people were injured. |
| Kansas |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | ESE of Montrose | Jewell | | 1055 | 0.8miles | A large machine shed was destroyed. |
| Minnesota |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | S of Elysian | Waseca, Le Sueur | | 2325 | 7miles | Numerous trees and several structures were damaged along the path. Homes sustained roof damage, a metal shed was destroyed, and boat docks were lifted and thrown at Lake Francis. |
| Oklahoma |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | NW of Vian | Sequoyah | | 0120 | 0.1miles | Brief tornado remained over open country, causing no damage. |
| Arkansas |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | SW of Uniontown to WSW of Chester | Crawford | | 0252 | 13miles | The roof of a mobile home was damaged, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | Fayetteville | Washington | | 0320 | 1miles | Several homes and a Walmart in town sustained damage, and a few trees and tree limbs were snapped. |
| Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/19/12, NWS Odessa, TX, NWS San Antonio, TX, NWS Tulsa, OK | |
March 20 event
| List of reported tornadoes - Tuesday, March 20, 2012 |
|---|
| EF# | Location | County | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Comments/Damage |
| Texas |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | E of San Antonio International Airport | Bexar | | 0555 | 0.75miles | A post office and 10 homes suffered minor damage, with another home suffering major damage. Fences and vegetation sustained damage as well. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | Kirby | Bexar | | 0559 | 0.25miles | A few homes sustained minor damage, along with fences and vegetation. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | Runge | Karnes | | 0905 | 0.25miles | Houses and outbuildings in Runge suffered minor damage. A few trees were downed as well. |
| Louisiana |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | E of Zwolle | Sabine | | 1636 | 3miles | Several trees were snapped and uprooted and a few power lines were downed. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | SE of Goldonna | Natchitoches, Winn | | 1815 | 2.1miles | Several trees were snapped or blown down, some of which landed on railroad tracks. Power lines were also downed. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | E of Natchitoches | Natchitoches | | 0228 | 1miles | Three mobile homes sustained damage, one with moderate roof damage. One tree was snapped as well. |
| Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/20/12, NWS Shreveport, LA | |
March 21 event
| List of reported tornadoes - Wednesday, March 21, 2012 |
|---|
| EF# | Location | County | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Comments/Damage |
| Louisiana |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | S of Sikes | Winn | | 0814 | 0.4miles | A few trees were snapped. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | Lake Arthur | Jefferson Davis | | 0930 | 2miles | An estimated 30 to 40 homes were damaged, barns were destroyed, trees we’re downed, and an antenna was blown off the top of a water tower in town. |
| bgcolor=# | EF2 | Gueydan | Vermilion | | 0945 | 2.5miles | A tied-down mobile home in Gueydan was rolled upside down and completely destroyed. Five homes and city hall sustained significant roof damage. About 20 more homes received minor damage, and grave stones were blown over at a local cemetery. Several outbuildings were destroyed and numerous trees were downed. One minor injury occurred. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | W of Henry | Vermilion | | 1035 | 1miles | Damage consisted of a roof blown off of a barn, several outbuildings damaged, and several trees snapped. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | E of Abbeville | Vermilion | | 1045 | 1.5miles | A garage and a portable building were destroyed, and trees and telephone poles were snapped. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | Patterson | St. Mary | | 1257 | 1miles | A large industrial building had its garage doors blown in, and sheet metal was removed from other buildings and scattered throughout the area. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | N of Clarks | Caldwell | | 1330 | 4.1miles | Twenty homes were damaged, while one mobile home and several outbuildings were destroyed. Many trees were snapped or uprooted. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | Prairieville | Ascension | | 1434 | 3miles | Several homes in town sustained significant roof damage, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted by this high-end EF1 tornado. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | E of Kleinpeter | East Baton Rouge | | 1443 | 0.6miles | Several homes suffered roof damage and numerous trees were downed. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | NE of Corbin | Livingston | | 1505 | 0.6miles | Several trees were downed, and a house lost part of its roof. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | NE of Madisonville | St. Tammany | | 1716 | 0.5miles | Brief tornado caused minor damage to two homes and downed trees. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | NE of Abita Springs | St. Tammany | | 1735 | 1.4miles | Several trees were downed, one of which fell through the roof of a house. |
| North Carolina |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | ENE of Wenona | Washington | | 1500 | 100yd | Brief tornado remained over an open field and caused no damage. |
| Mississippi |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | E of McNair | Jefferson | | 1523 | 3miles | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along the path. |
| bgcolor=# | EF2 | NNE of Port Gibson | Claiborne, Warren | | 1551 | 10miles | Two mobile homes were destroyed and four power poles were snapped. A brick home sustained major roof damage, and three large outbuildings were destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, one of which landed on a house and caused significant damage. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | SE of Vicksburg | Warren | | 1611 | 1.75miles | A building had its metal roof peeled back, while a trailer and a mobile home were overturned. Many trees were downed, some of which landed on homes. |
| bgcolor=# | EF2 | WSW of Pelahatchie | Rankin | | 1904 | 6.3miles | Narrow but strong tornado tore much of the roof from a large home and partially collapsed the back exterior wall. Many large trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | SE of Eastabuchie | Forrest | | 2100 | 0.3miles | Brief tornado snapped several trees, one of which fell on and destroyed a fence. Shingles were torn off of a home. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | SW of Soso | Jones | | 2231 | 0.2miles | Brief tornado heavily damaged the roof of a chicken house and uprooted a tree. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | NW of Long Beach | Harrison | | 0132 | 0.25miles | Brief tornado damaged a trailer. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | ESE of Paulding | Jasper | | 0203 | 0.5miles | Brief tornado uprooted several trees. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | NNE of Gulfport | Harrison | | 0535 | 1miles | A trailer was flipped and several homes lost part of their roofs. Trees were damaged as well. |
| Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/20/12, SPC Storm Reports for 03/21/12, NWS Shreveport, LA, NWS Lake Charles, LA, NWS Newport / Morehead City, NC, NWS Jackson, MS | |
March 22 event
| List of reported tornadoes - Thursday, March 22, 2012 |
|---|
| EF# | Location | County | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Comments/Damage |
| Mississippi |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | N of Biloxi | Harrison | | 1010 | 4.1miles | A large shed had its door blown in and sustained roof damage. Several residences sustained fence and shingle damage, and a patio roof was lifted off. |
| Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/21/12 | |
March 23 event
| List of reported tornadoes - Friday, March 23, 2012 |
|---|
| EF# | Location | County | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Comments/Damage |
| Alabama |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | NNW of Troy | Pike | | 1426 | 1.7miles | Several trees and tree limbs were snapped or uprooted. Two houses, three chicken barns, and a single-wide manufactured home also sustained damage. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | NW of Malvern | Geneva | | 1748 | 1.7miles | A few houses suffered minor roof damage and several trees were downed. |
| Missouri |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | Cape Girardeau | Cape Girardeau | | 1633 | 0.25miles | Brief tornado caused roof damage to several homes in a neighborhood and downed a few small trees. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | NW of Neely's Landing | Cape Girardeau | | 1638 | 0.6miles | Trees and power lines were downed by this brief tornado. |
| Illinois |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | E of Murphysboro | Jackson | | 1714 | 1.8miles | A few trees and tree limbs were downed along the path. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | NW of Desoto | Jackson | | 1724 | 7.5miles | Dozens of trees were uprooted or snapped, and homes sustained roof and siding damage. Several sheds, barns, and carports were damaged, and a flag pole was blown down. |
| bgcolor=# | EF2 | NW of Opdyke | Jefferson | | 1826 | 2.5miles | 1 death – A tied-down double-wide mobile home was thrown 100feet and obliterated by this high-end EF2 tornado, killing one person inside and injuring two others. The metal undercarriage was found 200yd away from where it originated. A house had its windows blown out, and trees were snapped and uprooted. Three barns were also damaged, one heavily. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | NNE of Kell | Marion | | 1857 | 100yd | Brief touchdown caused no damage. |
| Kentucky |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | Heritage Creek | Jefferson | | 1807 | 2.5miles | This high-end EF1 tornado caused considerable damage in suburban areas of southeastern Louisville. A frail modular home sustained collapse of its first floor, causing it to pancake underneath the second floor. Another home had its roof blown off, while numerous other homes sustained roof, window, and siding damage. |
| bgcolor=# | EF1 | E of Finchville | Shelby | | 1828 | 2.25miles | Two barns were destroyed and a trailer was overturned. Two more barns lost their roofs, with metal debris from one of them scattered through fields and into trees. Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted as well. |
| Georgia |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | S of Kolomoki Mounds State Park | Early | | 2020 | 3.6miles | Several trees were downed and a few structures sustained minor roof damage. |
| Indiana |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | WNW of Center Square | Switzerland | | 2039 | unknown | Brief tornado remained over open country and caused no damage. |
| Ohio |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | NE of Butlerville | Warren | | 2330 | 0.5miles | A pole barn sustained severe damage, with debris scattered up to a quarter-mile away. Debris from the pole barn was driven into the roof of a house, a second barn also sustained damage, and trees were snapped or uprooted. |
| bgcolor=# | EF0 | Clarksville | Clinton | | 2350 | 0.3miles | Brief tornado touched down in Clarksville, where homes sustained roof damage and had windows blown out. Fences and play sets were blown over, and trees were snapped or uprooted. |
| Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/23/12, NWS Louisville, NWS Birmingham, NWS Paducah, KY, NWS Wilmington, OH |
| Sources:[5] | |
March 24 event
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Jeff Masters. Weather Underground. May 11, 2012. May 12, 2012. 2nd billion-dollar weather disaster of 2012: April 3 severe weather in Texas.
- News: Forsyth . Jim . At least one Texas tornado damages homes, storms cause flooding . 20 March 2012 . Reuters . 2012-03-28.
- Web site: Tornado damages about 7 houses in southeastern Louisville | The Courier-Journal . courier-journal.com . 2012-03-23 . 2012-03-28.
- Web site: WJBD Radio . WJBD Radio . 2012-03-28.
- http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/westmoreland/tornado-damage-in-westmoreland-county-reaches-4-million-289783/ Tornado damage in Westmoreland County reaches $4 million
