Tornadoes of 2014

Early 2014 featured several strong cold waves that settled across the United States and kept severe weather suppressed. However, severe weather did develop on January 11 after temperatures moderated, and four EF0 tornadoes were confirmed–three in Virginia and one in Georgia. The rest of the month, along with the first half of February, were very quiet in terms of severe weather. Another intrusion of warm air allowed instability to develop in mid-February, and 41 tornadoes touched down across the lower Midwest and the Southeast U.S. on February 21 and 22. Four of these were strong enough to be rated EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The rest of February and most of March was quiet, with only weak tornadoes touching down in Arizona, Florida, and California. However, activity picked up on March 27, with several tornadoes touching down across Missouri and Iowa in association with a cold front. The general trend of low activity continued through most of April with only a few small outbreaks occurring. This trend ended with a major outbreak that started on April 27 producing multiple strong tornadoes across the Great Plains and the South, and killing 35 people.

United States yearly total

Official totals through December 31

January

There were 4 tornadoes reported in the United States in January, of which all 4 were confirmed.

January 11

A line of severe thunderstorms swept across the Southern United States, with four EF0 tornadoes touching down in association with these thunderstorms. The first of these touched down in rural Cherokee County, Georgia, downing trees and damaging a fence. The other three tornadoes occurred over southeastern Virginia, downing trees and causing minimal damage to houses. However, one tornado in the Fox Hill area caused roof damage to a church and numerous houses, ripped the roof off of a school maintenance compound, and destroyed the Fox Hill Athletic Association building.

January 25 (Europe)

A tornado outbreak produced 12 tornadoes across England, France and Belgium, 11 of which were F1 (T2/T3) and one an F2 (T4). The strongest tornado was an F2 (T4) that traveled 12.8 km on the border between France and Belgium, damaging the town of Halluin. 3 people were injured.

February

There were 45 tornadoes reported in the United States in February, of which 44 were confirmed.

February 20–21

A large shortwave trough progressed across the northern Plains on February 20, with an associated surface low-pressure area contributing to a blizzard across Michigan and Wisconsin. Within the warm sector of the cyclone, modest instability and moisture, as well as sufficient forcing along a cold front, initiated the development of a squall line across the Ohio River Valley and Mississippi River Valley by the afternoon. Strong wind shear led to widespread damaging wind reports in addition to over two dozen tornadoes across the Midwestern and Southern United States, four of which were rated EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The first two EF2s affected rural areas in Illinois near the towns of Martinsburg and Pana, damaging several farms.

The squall line continued to push eastward into the Mid-Atlantic states on February 21, leading to numerous damaging wind reports and several tornadoes from Georgia to Maryland. A brief but strong EF2 clipped the northeast side of Fort Payne, Alabama, causing significant damage to a factory, an apartment complex, and some homes. Another EF2 struck Dublin, Georgia, and destroyed one home, damaged 59 others, and downed numerous trees. Overall, this moderate outbreak produced 46 tornadoes and no fatalities.

March

There were 25 tornadoes reported in the United States in March, of which 20 were confirmed.

March 16 (Brazil)

The cities of São Gabriel and Cacequi, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, were struck by a small tornado which destroyed a few roofs.

March 25–29

A low pressure system tracked across the United States, producing tornadoes across California, Missouri, and across southern portions of the Eastern Seaboard. In Northern California, several brief tornadoes touched down, uprooting trees and causing minor damage. In Northern Missouri, a supercell thunderstorm produced a strong EF2 tornado, which caused heavy roof and wall damage to a farmstead near Jameson, Missouri. Another EF2 occurred in Grundy County which heavily damaged several residences near Tindall. The storm system continued east over the next few days, producing several weak and short-lived tornadoes in Florida and North Carolina.

April

There have been 250 tornadoes reported in the United States in April, of which 128 were confirmed.

April 6–7

Severe thunderstorms moved across portions of the Southern United States, producing at least eight confirmed tornadoes. An EF2 tornado destroyed mobile homes and damaged other structures in and around Hot Coffee, Mississippi. Another EF2 tornado caused significant damage in the area of Pantego, North Carolina, where homes were damaged and destroyed. Two people were injured when the truck they were in was thrown 50 yards (46 m).

April 25

In advance of a compact shortwave trough and associated cold front, numerous severe thunderstorms developed across central and eastern North Carolina into southern Virginia. An EF3 tornado tracked near Washington, North Carolina, through the Whichards Beach area, across the Pamlico River from Washington, then crossing the Pamlico River and hitting Washington Park, then hitting the intersection of US 264 and NC 32, then leaving the area, damaging or destroying 200 homes and injuring 16 people. This event marks the latest time of formation of the first EF3+ tornado in any year on record. An EF2 in Edenton resulted in a fatality, the first of the year.

April 27–30

Numerous tornadoes ripped across parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Florida. A large, violent tornado struck Mayflower and Vilonia, Arkansas, on April 27 causing severe damage and killing 16 people. The tornado was rated a high-end EF4, the first violent tornado of the year. Another death was confirmed earlier that evening with an EF2 tornado that moved through Quapaw, Oklahoma, and Baxter Springs, Kansas. Ten people were killed on the 28th when an EF4 tornado struck Louisville, Mississippi. EF3s caused major damage and fatalities in Coxey, Alabama and Tupelo, Mississippi, as well. Overall, this outbreak produced 84 tornadoes and killed 35 people. The city of Joplin, Missouri was under a tornado watch on April 27.

May

There have been 156 tornadoes reported in the United States in May, of which 130 were confirmed.

May 10–12

A moderate outbreak of 44 tornadoes impacted the central United States in early May 2014. On May 10, numerous supercell thunderstorms developed across Missouri in advance of an intensifying upper-level low over the Great Basin. One supercell spawned a damaging EF2 tornado that moved through downtown Orrick, Missouri, causing significant damage but no fatalities. 80% of the structures in Orrick were damaged, and the school sustained major damage and lost much of its roof. On May 11, the upper-level low continued eastward into the Plains, providing ample wind shear for tornadoes; in preparation for the event, the Storm Prediction Center issued a Moderate risk for severe weather. Numerous thunderstorms developed across the Midwest – particularly Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa – spawning many tornadoes. A large multiple-vortex EF3 tornado passed near the town of Sutton, Nebraska, causing considerable damage to farm properties and flattening an unanchored farmhouse. Powerful rear flank downdraft winds spawned by the parent supercell severely damaged downtown Sutton. Another very large rain-wrapped EF3 wedge tornado passed near the town of Cordova, Nebraska, destroying multiple homes nearby, spawning multiple satellite tornadoes, and growing to well over a mile wide at times. The Cordova tornado eventually struck the town of Beaver Crossing before dissipating, damaging virtually every structure in town, with a few destroyed. Two separate tornadoes (rated EF2 and EF1) also caused severe damage near the town of Raymond. Numerous other less significant tornadoes touched down in Nebraska and other states that evening as well. Later that night, an EF2 tornado largely destroyed a lakeside condominium building near Yale, Iowa. Two weak EF0 tornadoes touched down in northern Ohio on May 12 before the outbreak came to an end.

May 14–16

Severe thunderstorms moved across portions of the eastern United States with multiple reports of tornadoes. Two significant tornadoes touched down on May 14. The first, rated EF2, damaged several homes and destroyed two barns northeast of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. An EF3 tornado caused substantial damage near Cedarville, Ohio, destroying several barns and a farmhouse.

May 22

An EF3 tornado moved across portions of Schenectady and Albany counties in New York. The worst damage occurred in Duanesburg, where one house was almost completely destroyed. This marks the strongest tornado in the state of New York since May 31, 1998. Another tornado, rated EF1, touched down near Marydel, Delaware.

June

There have were 326 tornadoes reported in the United States in June, of which 283 were confirmed.

June 3–4

On June 3, the Storm Prediction Center issued a high risk outlook for parts of the Great Plains, mainly due to a significant risk of damaging winds and large hail. A few tornadoes occurred as well, including an EF3 that leveled a poorly constructed home near Bern, KS. An EF2 caused damage to farm structures near Oakland, Iowa, as well. On the 4th, the system produced seven additional weak tornadoes across the Midwest, resulting in minor damage.

June 16–18

A tornado outbreak occurred with destructive tornadoes touching down across parts of Nebraska, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Montana, and Ontario. The town of Pilger, Nebraska, was catastrophically damaged by an EF4 tornado, with one death and sixteen critical injuries. An identical EF4 tornado paralleled the path of the main Pilger tornado and caused a fatality in a vehicle. The Pilger tornadoes were two of four EF4 tornadoes produced by the same parent supercell. The towns of Platteville, Wisconsin; Verona, Wisconsin; Coleridge, Nebraska; Angus, Ontario; and Wessington Springs, South Dakota, all sustained major impacts from strong tornadoes as well due to this outbreak.

June 30–July 1

Early in the afternoon of June 30, a complex of thunderstorms developed over Iowa and evolved into a derecho that swept east-northeast to Lake Michigan. Later that evening a second derecho developed over eastern and central Iowa and moved eastward, moving through Indiana and into western Ohio in the early morning hours of July 1. These two events produced straight-line wind damage and multiple tornadoes from Iowa to portions of Michigan and Ohio. Most of the tornadoes were rated EF1, however, one tornado was determined to have caused low-end EF2 damage to a home in Traer, Iowa.

July

There have been 56 tornadoes reported in the United States in July; however, at least 90 were confirmed.

July 8

Severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds and several tornadoes across portions of the northeastern United States. An EF2 tornado struck the town of Smithfield, New York, destroying several homes and killing four people. A three-story house in Smithfield was knocked off of its foundation and tumbled 150 yards (140 m) down a hillside. Another EF2 tornado caused significant damage in and near New Albany, Pennsylvania.

July 15 (Australia)

Two people were killed when a tornado struck the western suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. The men, who suffered from pre-existing medical conditions, were killed in the suburb of Beaconsfield when the storm cut power to homes, and subsequently their electronic medical equipment. The tornado was confirmed by the Bureau of Meteorology.

July 24

An EF1 tornado started as a waterspout on Chesapeake Bay and struck a campground in Cherrystone, Virginia, damaging and destroying campers and cabins. A couple were killed when a tree fell on their tent. Their son suffered life-threatening injuries and died on August 9. Thirty-five others were injured as well.

July 27–28

A moderate severe weather outbreak occurred across the Eastern United States from July 27 to July 28. On the 27th, the weather system produced a low-end EF3 tornado that struck the small community of Speedwell, Tennessee, where several homes were destroyed and numerous trees were downed. This tornado was unusual due to the fact that most strong tornadoes that occur in July are confined to the northernmost states. A few other weak tornadoes were confirmed in other areas that day as well. The system produced one additional tornado on the 28th, a damaging EF2 that ripped through the Boston suburb of Revere, Massachusetts, severely damaging numerous homes and businesses in town and causing major tree damage in the area.

August

There were 33 tornadoes reported in the United States in August; however, 71 were confirmed.

August 29 (Europe)

A small tornado outbreak struck France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and England. Twelve tornadoes were reported, two of which were rated F2 in Germany and Netherlands. A strong long-lived F1 tornado traveled for 41 km causing severe damage and an F1 in Belgium injured 4 people.

August 29 (Russia)

A large EF3 tornado struck the small village of Kariyevo in the Russian Republic of Bashkortostan on the evening of August 29, 2014. Numerous homes and farm structures were heavily damaged or destroyed, vehicles were flipped and tossed, and trees were snapped throughout the town. Two people were killed and at least 50 others were injured.

September

There were 41 tornadoes reported in the United States in September; however, 42 were confirmed.

September 9–10

Over the course of two days, a storm system spawned twelve weak tornadoes between the lower Missouri River Valley and Ohio Valley. The event started on the 9th, when a supercell thunderstorm developed over far southeastern Nebraska. As the supercell moved into northwestern Missouri, it dropped four EF0 tornadoes from the late afternoon to early evening hours. Another EF0 was reported further east in Missouri that evening. On the 10th, four additional EF0 tornadoes were confirmed in northeastern Ohio.

September 24 (Brazil)

A tornado capsized a boat in the Paraguay River near the city of Porto Murtinho, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul; 3 people died and 11 went missing.

October

There were 73 tornadoes reported in the United States in October, all of which were confirmed.

October 13

A moderate severe weather outbreak occurred across the South, including 44 tornadoes. Most of these tornadoes were weak, though an EF2 tornado struck near the small community of Ashdown, Arkansas, tossing vehicles, injuring several people, and killing one when a mobile home was completely destroyed. Another EF2 tornado caused considerable damage in West Monroe, Louisiana.

October 23

An EF1 tornado passed through downtown Longview, Washington, on a Thursday afternoon. A survey team from NWS Portland reported the damage was more than 1 mile (1.6 km) long and 200 feet (61 m) wide. The tornado caused roof and automobile damage, downed or snapped trees, and felled power poles.

November 17

A small severe weather outbreak took place across the Deep South during the morning hours, mainly across the Florida Panhandle and Southwest Georgia. An EF2 tornado tore through Blountstown, Florida, damaging a correctional institute as well as flipping vehicles and damaging buildings around the area. This tornado tracked 22 miles through Calhoun and Gadsden counties in Florida, making it the longest track of a tornado in the area since the EF4 tornado that hit Enterprise, AL on March 1, 2007. The system also caused numerous tornado warnings to be issued across Southwest Georgia and Southeast Alabama, although there were no tornadoes in those areas. Other weak tornadoes hit Grand Ridge, Florida, and Laird, Florida that morning. Damaging winds would also cause damage across Jacksonville, Florida, and adjacent areas of Northern and Central Florida that afternoon.

November 23

A moderate severe weather outbreak took place across the Deep South, particularly across portions of Alabama and Georgia. An EF0 tornado tore through Forkland in Greene County, Alabama, snapping and uprooting trees along its path. A long track tornado began in Barbour County, Alabama, crossing into Stewart County, Georgia, snapping or uprooting hundreds of trees near Lakepoint Resort State Park. This tornado continued through the counties of Stewart, Chattahoochee, Talbot, Upson, Lamar, Butts, and Newton counties in Georgia, damaging numerous buildings in portions of Upson, Lamar, and Butts counties, and snapping and uprooting trees elsewhere. This tornado, tracking along the ground for 121 miles from Barbour County, Alabama to Newton County, Georgia was rated an EF2 with winds of 130 mph. Other tornadoes impacted Juliette, Georgia (EF1), Klondike, Georgia (EF1), and Lumpkin, Georgia (EF1). The storm system also caused major power outages across Western Georgia and Eastern Alabama.

December 12

On December 12, 2014, a small EF0 tornado hit South Los Angeles, the first one to strike in the city in a decade, during a powerful storm complex. It damaged at least five homes, and cut the power to over 1,000 homes.

December 23–24

A small but damaging outbreak of tornadoes occurred mainly across the Deep South on December 23 and 24, producing 10 tornadoes, killing five people, and leaving at least fifty others injured. It was the deadliest US tornado outbreak in the month of December since 2010. On the 23rd, an EF2 tornado touched down to the east of Amite, Louisiana, damaging multiple homes, destroying two outbuildings and two travel trailers, and downing numerous trees. A large, rain-wrapped, EF3 wedge tornado struck Columbia, Mississippi, at around 2:30pm later that day. The tornado began to the southwest of Columbia, moving northeast and snapping numerous trees. As the tornado entered town and crossed Marion School Rd, two well-built brick homes were mostly destroyed, one of which was nearly reduced to its foundation slab (however a sofa and a pickup truck at the residence remained on the foundation). Damage in this area was rated very high-end EF3, with winds up to 165 mph. The tornado maintained its strength as it crossed Mississippi Highway 13, heavily damaging several businesses and destroying homes. A brick house was reduced to a pile of rubble and a small wood-frame home was swept away nearby. Numerous trees were snapped and sheared off in this area (though no debarking was observed). Further to the northeast, numerous metal-frame warehouse structures and storage units were destroyed as the tornado paralleled and eventually crossed Highway 98 in southern Columbia. Continuing into the east side of town, a National Guard armory sustained low-end EF3 damage. Numerous trees and were blown over onto homes in residential areas, a few of which sustained EF2 damage. Several power poles were snapped, and a strip mall, home health center, and a large industrial building were heavily damaged at EF2 intensity as well in this area. Several mobile homes were destroyed at a mobile home park before the tornado continued through rural areas northeast of town, snapping numerous trees and destroying an outbuilding at EF1 strength before dissipating. Three people were killed in Columbia and 20 others were injured. Another tornado passed to the northwest of Laurel, Mississippi, causing mainly minor tree and roof damage, though a small area of EF2 damage was noted as a small, unanchored wood-frame home was swept away and a nearby mobile home was completely destroyed, killing the two occupants. A few other weak tornadoes occurred across the Deep South that afternoon and evening. Three other weak tornadoes occurred the following day before the outbreak came to an end, including an EF1 that damaged 7 homes near Bristol, Georgia.