Type Tornado outbreak Max rating | Tornadoes confirmed 63 confirmed Duration of tornado outbreak seven days | |
Duration March 18 – March 24, 2012 Damage $325 million (estimated) | ||
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. 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.
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March 18 – 19
As a powerful trough ejected into the Central Plains on March 18, the Storm Prediction Center issued a Slight risk for Severe Weather stretching from southern Nebraska to western Texas. That evening, many supercells evolved across the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma, producing large hail and damaging wind gusts. As the supercells moved towards the northeast, four tornadoes were produced across western Oklahoma, all rated an EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Early that night, a tornado-producing supercell moved across southwestern Nebraska, where four tornadoes were confirmed. The first was an EF3, the second was an EF1, the third was an EF3, and the fourth was an EF2. Severe damage was noted just to the west of the city of North Platte, Nebraska.
The following day, the Storm Prediction Center issued a Moderate risk of Severe Weather, encompassing much of central and eastern Texas, into southeastern Oklahoma and extreme western Arkansas. Although this event was not as severe as initially anticipated, an EF1 tornado was confirmed in Arkansas, as well as an EF0 in Minnesota, and an EF2 in central Texas, where extensive damage was noted near the city of Devine.
March 20 – 22
The slow moving system produced a series of tornadoes across the South for 3 days. Most of the damage occurred in Mississippi and Louisiana. An EF2 caused significant damage near Port Gibson, Mississippi, and another EF2 badly damaged a home near Pelahatchie. A tornado also damaged at least 20 homes in Lake Arthur, Louisiana. Other tornadoes occurred along the Gulf Coast, and one touched down in North Carolina as well.
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 EF1 tornado caused damage to homes in the Louisville metro area. Another EF2 tornado caused one fatality in southern Illinois. On the 24th, an isolated EF0 touched down in Florida as the outbreak moved eastward.