A widespread and deadly
tornado outbreak
A tornado outbreak is the occurrence of multiple tornadoes spawned by the same Synoptic scale meteorology, synoptic scale weather system. The number of tornadoes required to qualify as an outbreak typically are at least six to ten, with at least ...
affected the Southeastern United States on
Easter
Easter, also called Pascha ( Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in t ...
Sunday and Monday, April 12–13, 2020. Several tornadoes were responsible for prompting
tornado emergencies, including the first one to be issued by the
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service (NWS) is an Government agency, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that is tasked with providing weather forecasts, warnings of hazardous weather, and other weathe ...
in
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...
. A large
squall line
A squall line, or quasi-linear convective system (QLCS), is a line of thunderstorms, often forming along or ahead of a cold front. In the early 20th century, the term was used as a synonym for cold front (which often are accompanied by abrupt a ...
formed and tracked through the
mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic or Mid Atlantic can refer to:
*The middle of the Atlantic Ocean
*Mid-Atlantic English, any mix between British and American English
*Mid-Atlantic Region (Little League World Series), one of the United States geographic divisions of the ...
on April 13, prompting more
tornado warning
A tornado warning ( SAME code: TOR) is a public warning that is issued by weather forecasting agencies to an area in the direct path of a tornado, or a severe thunderstorm capable of producing one, and advises individuals in that area to take c ...
s and
watches
A watch is a Clock, timepiece carried or worn by a person. It is designed to maintain a consistent movement despite the motions caused by the person's activities. A wristwatch is worn around the wrist, attached by a watch strap or another typ ...
. A total of 15 watches were produced during the course of the event, two of which were designated
Particularly Dangerous Situation
A PDS tornado watch issued on December 14, 2022.
In weather forecasting in the United States, "particularly dangerous situation" (PDS) is the wording used by the National Weather Service and the Storm Prediction Center to convey special urgency in ...
s.
Throughout the two-day outbreak, a total of 141 tornadoes touched down across 10 states, inflicting widespread and locally catastrophic damage. The outbreak ranks 4th for producing the most tornadoes in a 24-hour period, with 132 tornadoes occurring between 14:40 UTC April 12–13; that tally is surpassed only by the
Tornado outbreak of March 31 – April 1, 2023
A widespread, deadly, and historic tornado outbreak affected large portions of the Midwestern United States, Midwestern, Southern United States, Southern and Eastern United States on March 31 and April 1, 2023, the result of an extratropical cy ...
with 134, the
1974 Super Outbreak
The 1974 Super Outbreak was one of the most intense tornado outbreaks on record, occurring on April 3–4, 1974, across much of the United States. It was one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. It was also the most violent t ...
with 148 and the
2011 Super Outbreak
The 2011 Super Outbreak was the largest, costliest, and one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks ever recorded, taking place in the Southern, Midwestern, and Northeastern United States from April 25 to 28, 2011, leaving catastrophic destruc ...
with 219. The strongest tornado of the outbreak occurred in
Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi (Southern Miss or USM) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bac ...
, and was given a high-end EF4 damage rating after producing estimated winds of , reaching a width of , and causing eight deaths. With a total of 32 tornado-related fatalities, the Easter outbreak was the deadliest tornado outbreak since
April 27–30, 2014. To assist with recovery efforts, governors of five states declared a
state of emergency
A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state before, during, o ...
. Relief efforts were complicated by social distancing requirements amid the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
.
Meteorological synopsis
Background
For weeks throughout March and into April, an expansive
area of high pressure built across the Southeast United States,
contributing to abnormally warm temperatures across much of the country. The United States as a whole experienced its seventeenth warmest March, continuing the pattern that persisted throughout winter. In particular, many locations along the U.S. and Mexican Gulf coasts saw record warmest temperatures for the month. Calm weather associated with the high-pressure area induced rapid warming of the Gulf of Mexico waters to their highest values in the modern record—greater than above the 1971–2010 average—as well as a moistening of the air near the surface.
Increased instability associated with anomalously warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico has been associated with an increased risk of severe weather and tornado activity.
April 12
The first indications of organized severe weather came on April 8, when the
Storm Prediction Center
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is a US government agency that is part of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), operating under the control of the National Weather Service (NWS), which in turn is part of the National Oceani ...
(SPC) outlined 15% probabilities for severe weather within of a point from central Texas eastward into the
Florida Panhandle
The Florida panhandle (also known as West Florida and Northwest Florida) is the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Florida. It is a Salient (geography), salient roughly long, bordered by Alabama on the west and north, Georgia (U.S. state ...
and eastern Georgia valid for April 11–12. These threat areas were later refined with the introduction of a day-3
moderate risk, the fourth of five threat levels, across northeastern Louisiana through central Alabama on April 10. Historically, the SPC issues one day-3 moderate risk every year, and half of those over the previous decade were later upgraded to High risk, the highest threat level. Over subsequent days, a significant mid-level
shortwave trough
A shortwave or shortwave trough is an embedded kink in the trough / ridge pattern. Its length scale is much smaller than that of and is embedded within longwaves, which are responsible for the largest scale (synoptic scale) weather systems. Sho ...
progressed eastward across the United States. By the pre-dawn hours of April 12, mid-level cooling associated with the feature overspread the
Edwards Plateau
The Edwards Plateau is a geographic region forming the crossroads of Central, South and West Texas, United States. It is named in honor of Haden Edwards. It is bounded by the Balcones Fault to the south and east; the Llano Uplift and the Lla ...
,
Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a geographic region of Central and South Texas, forming the southeast part of the Edwards Plateau. Given its location, climate, terrain, and vegetation, the Hill Country can be considered the border between the Ameri ...
, and much of central Texas. Accordingly, an intense line of severe thunderstorms developed along a
dry line
A dry line (also called a dew point line, or Marfa front, after Marfa, Texas) is a line across a continent that separates moist air and dry air. One of the most prominent examples of such a separation occurs in central North America, especially ...
while vigorous
convective
Convection is single or multiphase fluid flow that occurs spontaneously through the combined effects of material property heterogeneity and body forces on a fluid, most commonly density and gravity (see buoyancy). When the cause of the convec ...
development formed farther east. These thunderstorms were initially isolated in nature but soon coalesced into a
mesoscale convective system
A mesoscale convective system (MCS) is a complex of thunderstorms that becomes organized on a scale larger than the individual thunderstorms but smaller than extratropical cyclones, and normally persists for several hours or more. A mesoscale conv ...
as they encountered an enhanced corridor of warm air streaming northward, as well as very strong
wind shear
Wind shear (; also written windshear), sometimes referred to as wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and/or direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere. Atmospheric wind shear is normally described as either vertical ...
. These initial storms produced scattered weak tornadoes in Texas during the early stages of the outbreak. This
storm complex progressed across northern Louisiana through the late morning and early afternoon hours, and embedded circulations within the line began producing strong tornadoes, contributing to multiple
tornado debris signature
A tornadic debris signature (TDS), often colloquially referred to as a debris ball, is an area of high reflectivity on weather radar caused by debris lofting into the air, usually associated with a tornado. A TDS may also be indicated by dual-pola ...
s visible on radar. The first strong tornado as well as the first one to cause casualties was in
Desoto Parish
DeSoto Parish (; French: ''Paroisse DeSoto'') is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish was formed in 1843. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 26,812. Its parish seat and most populous municipality is Mansfield. D ...
, where an EF2 tornado destroyed manufactured homes and damaged trees and homes, injuring two people. The first intense and notable tornado was an EF3 tornado that triggered a
tornado emergency
A tornado emergency is an enhanced version of a tornado warning, which is used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States during imminent, significant tornado occurrences. Although it is not a new warning type from the NWS, issue ...
as it moved through downtown
Monroe
Monroe or Monroes may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Monroe (surname)
* Monroe (given name)
* James Monroe, 5th President of the United States
* Marilyn Monroe, actress and model
Places United States
* Monroe, Arkansas, an unincorp ...
, and damaging or destroying numerous homes, but there were no casualties. To the north, a second EF3 tornado near
Sterlington caused extensive tree damage.
In advance of the line, a lifting
warm front
Warm, WARM, or Warmth may refer to:
* A somewhat high temperature; heat
* Kindness
Music Albums
* ''Warm'' (Herb Alpert album), 1969
* ''Warm'' (Jeff Tweedy album), 2018
* ''Warm'' (Johnny Mathis album), 1958, and the title song
* ''Warm'' ( ...
aided in the formation of a very moist, highly unstable, and highly sheared environment across northeastern Louisiana and much of Mississippi. Accordingly, the SPC issued a
particularly dangerous situation
A PDS tornado watch issued on December 14, 2022.
In weather forecasting in the United States, "particularly dangerous situation" (PDS) is the wording used by the National Weather Service and the Storm Prediction Center to convey special urgency in ...
tornado watch into the late evening hours.
A
weather balloon
A weather balloon, also known as a sounding balloon, is a balloon (specifically a type of high-altitude balloon) that carries instruments to the stratosphere to send back information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity and wind spe ...
launch from
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Mississippi, most populous city of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The city sits on the Pearl River (Mississippi–Louisiana), Pearl River and is locate ...
, at 18:00 UTC revealed the presence of a
capping inversion
A capping inversion is an elevated inversion layer that caps a convective planetary boundary layer.
The boundary layer is the part of the atmosphere which is closest to the ground. Normally, the sun heats the ground, which in turn heats the ...
across the region. This cap was expected to weaken across central Mississippi, while forecasters expressed more uncertainty about its longevity across southern Mississippi and Louisiana. As a small
area of low pressure
In meteorology, a low-pressure area (LPA), low area or low is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of surrounding locations. It is the opposite of a high-pressure area. Low-pressure areas are commonly associated with inclem ...
progressed across northwestern Mississippi, it caused surface winds to turn out of the east-southeast, enhancing the potential for tornadoes. As a cluster of storms across central Mississippi progressed toward the northeast, it began to reintensify and develop embedded
supercell
A supercell is a thunderstorm characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone, a deep, persistently rotating updraft. Due to this, these storms are sometimes referred to as rotating thunderstorms. Of the four classifications of thunderstorms (su ...
characteristics with an attendant threat of strong tornadoes. Farther south, two distinct supercells developed within an environment where long-tracked, significant tornadoes were favored, both exhibiting extremely strong rotation and distinct debris signatures. Based on previous storm structures in similar environments, the SPC remarked that "this is an exceptionally rare event" and estimated tornadic winds of on the first supercell, consistent with a tornado of
EF4 or EF5 intensity.
After conducting damage surveys, meteorologists identified two violent tornadoes with the first supercell, one that killed four people and injured three others near
Sartinville to southwest of
Bassfield, and a second that killed eight people and injured 95 others from south of Bassfield to
Pachuta
Pachuta is a town in Clarke County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 261 at the 2010 census.
History
Pachuta was founded in the 1880s, and named after Pachuta Creek.
Geography
Pachuta is located in western Clarke County at (32.0 ...
, both of EF4 intensity. A long-tracked EF3 tornado was identified with the second supercell that tracked behind the first one, producing significant damage near
Oak Vale and
Carson, injuring two people. The first supercell also produced two other tornadoes after the second EF4 tornado dissipated, including an EF2 tornado that passed near
Stonewall and
Enterprise
Enterprise (or the archaic spelling Enterprize) may refer to:
Business and economics
Brands and enterprises
* Enterprise GP Holdings, an energy holding company
* Enterprise plc, a UK civil engineering and maintenance company
* Enterpris ...
that destroyed a mobile home and heavily damaged a home and a church, and snapped numerous trees. The second supercell also produced a tornado, which was rated EF1, as it passed Enterprise. Both supercells then weakened and merged with a squall line after that.
Throughout the evening hours, the severe weather and tornado risk shifted eastward into Alabama, as the initial cluster of severe storms with numerous embedded semi-discrete supercells and comma-head circulation moved across north-central Alabama, contributing to multiple strong tornadoes. This included a damaging rain wrapped EF2 tornado that struck a residential area at the southwestern outskirts of
Boaz
Boaz (; Hebrew: בֹּעַז ''Bōʿaz''; ) is a biblical figure appearing in the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible and in the genealogies of Jesus in the New Testament and also the name of a pillar in the portico of the historic Temple in Jeru ...
, injuring three people. Later, a high-end EF1 tornado caused major damage and three injuries in
Carbon Hill. This feature continued into northwestern Georgia, maintaining its well-defined structure in spite of a marginally unstable environment. In the end, this complex produced 43 tornadoes alone, including nine rated EF2 and two rated EF3. A high-end EF2 tornado spawned by an isolated supercell thunderstorm ahead of the main complex carved a path northwest of
Chatsworth, Georgia
Chatsworth is a city in and the county seat of Murray County, Georgia, Murray County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Dalton metropolitan area, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its populati ...
and through the small community of
Sumac
Sumac or sumach ( , )—not to be confused with poison sumac—is any of the roughly 35 species of flowering plants in the genus ''Rhus'' (and related genera) of the cashew and mango tree family, Anacardiaceae. However, it is '' Rhus coriaria ...
, killing eight people and injuring 24 others. While local enhancement of storm activity occurred within an extensive line of convection in central Alabama, dewpoints rose in the wake of the earlier storm complex across northern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee, further boosting instability values in the presence of extremely strong wind shear. An EF3 tornado embedded within the main line of storms killed two people and injured 18 others in the eastern suburbs and neighborhoods of
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga ( ) is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Tennessee River and borders Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the south. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, it is Tennessee ...
. The same storm also produced an EF2 tornado that damaged or destroyed numerous homes and mobile homes in eastern
Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is the county seat of, and largest city in, Bradley County, Tennessee. The population was 47,356 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Cleveland metropolitan area, Tennessee (consisting of Bradle ...
, injuring six people.
April 13
During the early-morning hours of April 13, the pre-frontal squall line shifted eastward into eastern
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States
Georgia may also refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
and the
Carolinas
The Carolinas, also known simply as Carolina, are the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina considered collectively. They are bordered by Virginia to the north, Tennessee to the west, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the southwes ...
, with numerous well-organized embedded supercells forming within the line, producing numerous tornadoes across the region in an event known as the Central Savannah River outbreak. An EF1 tornado passed through
Cartersville, Georgia
Cartersville is a city in and the county seat of Bartow County, Georgia, Bartow County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States; it is located within the northwest edge of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, ...
, killing one person when a tree fell on a house while causing two additional injuries elsewhere. An EF3 tornado that damaged or destroyed multiple homes was confirmed south of
Thomaston to northwest of
Redbone, Georgia, with one home being pushed off its foundation and into the middle of a road. The same circulation produced another EF3 tornado near
Forsyth Forsyth may refer to:
Places Oceania
* Forsyth Island, Queensland, Australia, one of the West Wellesley Islands (aka Forsyth Islands)
* Forsyth Island, Tasmania, Australia
* Forsyth Island (New Zealand), in the outer Marlborough Sounds of South Is ...
, injuring one person and damaging or destroying numerous structures and vehicles, including aircraft.
A third EF3 tornado from south-southeast of
Westminster
Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...
to west of
Central, South Carolina
Central is a town in Pickens County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,159. Contrary to its name, it is not near South Carolina's center. It received its name from being halfway or the central point betw ...
in South Carolina killed one person and caused major damage in
Seneca
Seneca may refer to:
People, fictional characters and language
* Seneca (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname
:
:* Seneca the Elder (c. 54 BC – c. AD 39), a Roman rhetorician, writer and father ...
.
Yet another EF3 tornado tracked from east-northeast of
Elko to west-southwest of
St. Matthews in South Carolina and caused two more fatalities.
The most significant tornado to occur on April 13 was a multiple-vortex EF4 tornado that killed five people near the South Carolina towns of
Estill and
Nixville. This tornado was part of a
tornado family
A tornado family is a series of tornadoes spawned by the same supercell thunderstorm. These families form a line of successive or parallel tornado paths and can cover a short span or a vast distance. Tornado families are sometimes mistaken as a si ...
that produced 12 tornadoes, including an EF1 tornado that killed one person in
Walterboro. A total of eight separate EF3 tornadoes were confirmed across Georgia and South Carolina during this portion of the outbreak. Through the late morning hours of April 13, the line of intense thunderstorms continued eastward and intensified given marginal daytime heating, a steady stream of rich moisture, and intense low-level wind shear. The SPC had already outlined an Enhanced risk of severe weather along the U.S. East Coast from southeastern Georgia northward into northern Virginia and damaging winds and tornadoes were reported until the storms moved offshore. Later, more severe storms formed over the
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a mountain range in eastern to northeastern North America. The term "Appalachian" refers to several different regions associated with the mountain range, and its surrounding terrain ...
and moved into the
Northeast megalopolis
The Northeast megalopolis, also known as the Northeast Corridor, Acela Corridor, Boston–Washington corridor, BosWash, or BosNYWash, is the most populous megalopolis exclusively within the United States, with slightly over 50 million resident ...
, where a Slight risk had been issued. These storms produced large swaths of damaging winds and two weak tornadoes throughout this area for the rest of day until the outbreak came to an end.
Confirmed tornadoes
Monroe, Louisiana
The first notable tornado of the outbreak touched down south-southwest of
Brownsville-Bawcomville, Louisiana
Brownsville-Bawcomville is a former census-designated place (CDP) in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,616 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area. For the 2010 census, the U.S. C ...
at 11:36 a.m.
CDT (16:36 UTC). It moved northeast at EF1 strength, snapping or uprooting numerous trees at the intersection of Brown Street and Evergreen Street and in neighborhoods to the northeast as the tornado moved toward
Monroe
Monroe or Monroes may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Monroe (surname)
* Monroe (given name)
* James Monroe, 5th President of the United States
* Marilyn Monroe, actress and model
Places United States
* Monroe, Arkansas, an unincorp ...
, with several trees landing on homes. A metal building had its overhead door blown out, several manufactured homes along Sandal Street were damaged, and a trailer was tipped over along
LA 34. The tornado then reached EF2 strength as it moved into
West Monroe
West Monroe is the second largest city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 13,103. It is situated on the Ouachita River, across from the neighboring city of Monroe. The two cit ...
, snapping power poles in this area, breaking metal trusses at a paper mill, and blowing over a wood chip conveyor belt.
Maintaining EF2 intensity, the tornado crossed the
Ouachita River
The Ouachita River ( ) is a river that runs south and east through the United States, U.S. U.S. state, states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River (Louisiana), Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana. It i ...
two times, and impacted Riverbend Drive. In this area, many trees were snapped, a home lost its roof, and another home sustained partial wall collapse. The tornado then crossed the Ouachita River a third time and impacted neighborhoods along
Business US 165 and
LA 15 to the south of downtown Monroe, where a
tornado emergency
A tornado emergency is an enhanced version of a tornado warning, which is used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States during imminent, significant tornado occurrences. Although it is not a new warning type from the NWS, issue ...
was issued due to a large debris ball showing up on radar. Multiple homes in this area had roofs torn off and a few of them also sustained some collapse of exterior walls. A large two-story home lost all of its roof, and an art museum also had severe roof damage. Numerous other homes in this area sustained roofing and window damage, and many trees and power poles were downed. Continuing northeast of Railroad Avenue, the tornado momentarily weakened to EF1 intensity as moved through additional residential areas, downing more trees and damaging the roofs of homes. Regaining EF2 strength, the tornado crossed
I-20 I20, I 20 or I-20 may refer to:
* Interstate 20, a highway in the southeastern United States
* I-20 (form), a United States government document that provides supporting information for the issuance of a student visa or change of status
* I-20 (rap ...
at
US 165
U.S. Route 165 is a north–south United States highway spur of U.S. Highway 65. It currently runs for 412 miles (663 km) from U.S. Route 90 in Iowa, Louisiana north to U.S. Highway 70 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The route passes throu ...
, heavily damaging a metal building and snapping several power poles along
LA 594.
The tornado then reached its peak intensity as several well-built homes in a subdivision along Orchid Drive had roofs ripped off and multiple exterior walls collapsed, and numerous other homes sustained varying degrees of damage. Peak damage in this subdivision ranged from high-end EF2 to low-end EF3. Sporadic EF1 damage was observed as the tornado proceeded to cross Powell Avenue, where homes sustained partial roof loss and trees were damaged. Northeast of this area, the tornado strengthened back to EF2 intensity as it completely destroyed a metal
hangar
A hangar is a building or structure designed to hold aircraft or spacecraft. Hangars are built of metal, wood, or concrete. The word ''hangar'' comes from Middle French ''hanghart'' ("enclosure near a house"), of Germanic origin, from Frankish ...
at
Monroe Regional Airport. A large metal building was also heavily damaged in this area before the tornado abruptly lifted and dissipated as it crossed an airport runway at 11:45 a.m. CDT (16:45 UTC).
The tornado lasted for nine minutes, traveled , and was given a rating of low-end EF3. Throughout Ouachita Parish, a total of 458 homes were impacted; 23 were destroyed, 108 had major damage, and 243 had minor damage. Losses totaled $250 million with the damage to the airport estimated at $25–30 million of that total. Despite the extensive damage, there were no casualties from the tornado.
Hope–Sartinville–Bassfield, Mississippi
This large and violent wedge tornado touched down just southwest of the rural
Walthall County, Mississippi
Walthall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,884. Its county seat is Tylertown. The county is named after Civil War Confederate general and Mississippi Senator Edward C. ...
community of
Hope
Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's own life, or the world at large.
As a verb, Merriam-Webster defines ''hope'' as "to expect with confid ...
, near Jefferson Road and to the east of the intersection with Jack Foil Road at 3:39 p.m.
CDT (20:39 UTC). The tornado quickly became strong as it moved northeastward through Hope, producing low-end EF2 damage. Rapid strengthening and widening continued as the tornado inflicted more significant damage while crossing
MS 27. As it passed to the east of
Sartinville, the tornado reached its peak intensity as it completely swept away a house near James Ratcliff Road, leaving only a bare foundation slab behind. This house was secured to its foundation with anchor bolts, which were found bent, though nearby trees did not sustain damage consistent with a tornado stronger than low-end EF4 strength. One tree on the property was ripped out the ground and thrown several feet. A nearby brick house was leveled with only a pile of debris remaining, though it was not well-anchored, and a high-end EF3 rating was applied at that location.
Northeast of this area, the tornado weakened back to EF2 strength as it snapped numerous trees, damaged several small cinder-block buildings, tore the roof off a home, and rolled a tied-down mobile home as it crossed East Sartinville Road. Crossing into the southern part of
Lawrence County, the tornado reintensified to EF3 strength, denuding and partially debarking numerous trees. A double-wide mobile home was obliterated along Tynes Ainsworth Road, with the metal frame lofted and thrown . A large storage garage was completely swept away in this area as well. The tornado then weakened back to EF2 intensity as it crossed Felix Road and Holmes Road, as several power poles were snapped, and a large swath of trees was flattened. A one-story house at the edge of the damage path had shingles ripped off as well. EF2 damage to trees and power poles continued through unpopulated areas of northwestern
Marion County until the tornado crossed River Road and Cooper Road, where EF1 tree damage occurred. Continuing into the southwestern corner of
Jefferson Davis County, the weakening tornado produced EF0 to EF1 tree and tree limb damage before dissipating at Joe Dyess Road, several miles to the southwest of
Bassfield, Mississippi
Bassfield is a town in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 192 at the 2020 census, down from 254 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Bassfield is located in southeastern Jefferson Davis County at (31.497090, -89.74 ...
at 4:06 p.m. CDT (21:06 UTC).
This tornado was on the ground for and reached a peak width of , killing four people and injuring at least three others. It was rated as a low-end EF4, with winds estimated at .
Bassfield–Seminary–Soso–Moss–Pachuta, Mississippi
Six minutes after the first EF4 tornado lifted far southwest of Bassfield, the same parent supercell thunderstorm produced another violent, long-tracked wedge tornado that touched down just south-southwest of the town in
Jefferson Davis County at 4:12 p.m.
CDT (21:12 UTC).
A
tornado emergency
A tornado emergency is an enhanced version of a tornado warning, which is used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States during imminent, significant tornado occurrences. Although it is not a new warning type from the NWS, issue ...
remained in effect for Bassfield due to the first tornado, giving substantial warning as the second developed.
The first area of damage occurred along Bassfield Cemetery Road and Bass Road, where trees and tree limbs were downed at EF0 to EF1 intensity.
The tornado quickly intensified as it continued to the northeast and crossed Ray Hathorn Road and South Williamsburg Road, reaching EF2 strength as it snapped and uprooted numerous large trees. Mainly EF2 damage continued within the vicinity of
MS 42 just southeast of Bassfield as multiple homes sustained partial to total roof loss, and a mobile home was rolled. A small area of low-end EF3 damage along Hosey Mikel Road, where a mobile home was obliterated and swept away, with little debris recovered. Northeast of this point, the tornado became violent and expanded to wide, as EF4-level tree damage began to occur along Pitts Lane and Reese Road. Every tree in this area was snapped or sustained severe debarking, and another mobile home was obliterated, with the damage to that structure rated EF3. A house farther away from the center of the path sustained severe roof damage as well. EF4 tree damage continued to the northeast through the intersection of Graves Key Road and Harper Road, and one tree was found with a metal mobile home frame wrapped around it. Four people were killed in this area as Mama D's, a small restaurant housed in a cinder-block building, was leveled and swept away, with the concrete slab foundation largely swept clean of debris. This structure was not well-anchored, and a high-end EF3 rating was applied to the restaurant. Cars in this area were thrown and mangled, and several homes sustained EF2 to EF3 damage, sustaining roof and exterior wall loss.
The tornado then reached its peak strength as it tore through the rural community of
Cantwell Mill, where a large, anchor-bolted cabin was completely swept away and reduced to a bare slab, with little debris recovered. While this structure was well-anchored, surveyors noted some minor structural defects including lack of external sheathing and flawed stud-to-sill plate nailing, while trees in the immediate vicinity sustained only partial debarking and no significant ground scouring occurred. It was also noted that a vehicle likely impacted the structure as the tornado struck. Due to these limiting factors, a high-end EF4 rating was applied as a result. A truck was lofted from this location and thrown into a field as well, leaving it mangled beyond recognition. Extreme EF4-level tree damage continued to the northeast, along Willie Fortenberry Road, Davis Road, and Kings Road as entire groves of large trees were mowed down and completely stripped clean of all bark, livestock was killed, and vehicles were thrown hundreds of yards and destroyed. A few homes farther away from the center of the path sustained EF2 to EF3 damage, with their roofs ripped off and exterior walls collapsed.
The massive tornado continued to grow in size as it entered
Covington County, reaching its peak width of west of
Seminary
A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...
. An entire forest was leveled with significant debarking to some trees, while thousands to millions of other trees were damaged.
Multiple vortices and an intense core were evident in the damage path, approximately 23–30 chicken houses were completely destroyed, and farmers reported that 60 cattle were killed. A manufactured home was obliterated, frame homes had roofs ripped off and exterior walls collapsed, and multiple vehicles were thrown and rolled along this segment of the path, and most of the damage was rated EF3. However, one small pocket of low-end EF4 damage occurred along Cold Springs Road, where a well-built brick house was almost entirely leveled.
A
tornado emergency
A tornado emergency is an enhanced version of a tornado warning, which is used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States during imminent, significant tornado occurrences. Although it is not a new warning type from the NWS, issue ...
was extended east-northeast downwind of the storm for Seminary and
Collins, Mississippi
Collins is a city in Covington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,586 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Covington County.
History
From Williamsburg Depot to Collins
Collins was originally incorporated as Willi ...
; one of several issued for the storm.
The
Storm Prediction Center
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is a US government agency that is part of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), operating under the control of the National Weather Service (NWS), which in turn is part of the National Oceani ...
issued a mesoscale discussion stating that a tornado with winds of was likely ongoing, and that it was an 'exceptionally rare event'. The tornado then narrowed to , but continued to produce EF3 damage as it crossed
US 49
U.S. Route 49 (US 49) is a north–south United States highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Piggott, Arkansas, at an intersection with U.S. Route 62 (US 62). Its southern terminus is in Gulfport, Mississippi, at an intersection w ...
to the north-northwest of Seminary. Numerous trees were snapped and partially debarked, and two homes sustained collapse of their exterior walls in this area, while two others had much of their roofs ripped off. EF2 to EF3 damage continued as the tornado moved through rural areas to the northeast of Seminary, moving into
Jones County and crossing
US 84
U.S. Route 84 (US 84) is an east–westUS 84 was signed north-south in parts of Colorado and New Mexico. United States Numbered Highway that started as a short Georgia–Alabama route in the original 1926 scheme. Later, in 1941, it ha ...
. Damage along this portion of the path consisted of mobile homes, metal buildings, outbuildings, and poultry barns destroyed, along with frame homes sustaining roof and exterior wall loss. Massive tree damage continued to occur, with large swaths of trees snapped, denuded, and partially debarked.
The tornado then moved through the small town of
Soso
Soso, So-so, or So so may refer to:
* Boris Michel Soso (1917-2002), American actor and film producer better known as Brad Dexter
* Soso, Mississippi, town in the United States
* Soso (search engine)
Soso () was a Chinese search engine owned by ...
, damaging or destroying multiple homes, some churches, and the local fire department building. Numerous trees were snapped throughout town, and several mobile homes were destroyed. Most of the damage in Soso was rated EF3, though a small area of low-end EF4 damage occurred along
MS 28, where a well-built concrete block convenience store was completely leveled.
The tornado weakened to EF2 intensity as it continued to the northeast of Soso, where more trees were downed, and numerous mobile homes were destroyed. Metal buildings were damaged, and outbuildings were destroyed as well. A house along Matthews Road had much of its roof torn off, and a nearby vehicle was rolled down a hill and badly mangled. After crossing
MS 15 and entering
Jasper County, the tornado intensified back to low-end EF4 intensity as it struck the community of
Moss
Mosses are small, non-vascular plant, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic phylum, division Bryophyta (, ) ''sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Wilhelm Philippe Schimper, Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryo ...
, where nearly every structure in town was damaged and numerous homes were destroyed. Several of these homes were flattened with only piles of rubble remaining, and one was left with only a single concrete closet standing. Half of the First Baptist Church was leveled, and a pickup truck was thrown hundreds of yards and completely destroyed. Continuing northeast of Moss, the tornado began to weaken, producing EF1 to EF2 damage. Several homes and mobile homes had metal roofing peeled back or decking exposed. Large swaths of trees were snapped for several miles, including some along
I-59 between the
Heidelberg
Heidelberg (; ; ) is the List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, fifth-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, and with a population of about 163,000, of which roughly a quarter consists of studen ...
and
Vossburg exits. Barns and outbuildings were destroyed along this segment of the path, and some power poles were snapped. Northeast of Vossburg, the tornado weakened further, inflicting EF1 damage to trees and a mobile home. EF1 damage continued as the tornado crossed into
Clarke County, where the tornadic circulation began to occlude as a new circulation produced an EF2 tornado to its east. This tornado then struck the town of
Pachuta
Pachuta is a town in Clarke County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 261 at the 2010 census.
History
Pachuta was founded in the 1880s, and named after Pachuta Creek.
Geography
Pachuta is located in western Clarke County at (32.0 ...
. Damage in Pachuta consisted of trees downed and minor roof damage. After causing some additional minor EF0 tree limb damage north-northeast of Pachuta, the tornado finally dissipated at County Road 320 at 5:28 p.m. CDT (22:28 UTC).
The tornado was estimated by the NWS to have been or wide, making it the widest tornado in Mississippi state history, and the fourth-widest in recorded history, surpassing the
May 4, 2007, EF3 tornado associated with the Greensburg tornado family and just behind the
2004 Hallam tornado
The 2004 Hallam tornado was a long-tracked and extremely large F4 tornado that tore through multiple counties in southeast Nebraska during the evening hours of May 22, 2004. The tornado part of a Tornado outbreak sequence of May 2004, tornado outb ...
, the
2016 Jiangsu tornado, and the
2013 El Reno tornado
The 2013 El Reno tornado was an extremely large, powerful, and erratic tornado that occurred over rural areas of Central Oklahoma during the early evening hours of Friday, May 31, 2013. This rain-wrapped, multiple-vortex tornado was the wide ...
. A total of eight fatalities and at least 95 injuries occurred along the path. The tornado was also long-tracked, with a path length of . Damage was severe to the point the path of the tornado could be seen from satellite imagery. The tornado was given a high-end EF4 rating with estimated winds of .
Debris from the tornado was carried considerable distances, with a photo from a destroyed home in Moss being found away in
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal Plain, Gulf Coastal and Piedmont (United States), Piedm ...
, while another one was lofted and carried from south of Collins, Mississippi to
Randolph, Alabama
Randolph is an unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Bibb County, Alabama, Bibb County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census, the population was 1,169.
History
Randolph is likely named for Randolph County, North Carolina, where ...
. The path of the tornado also mirrored that of a long-tracked F3 tornado that killed two and injured 19 on
April 21, 1951.
In 2023, tornado expert
Thomas P. Grazulis published that this tornado was a "minimal EF4, based on tree damage...millions of trees were destroyed".
Grazulis also published that the width of the tornado was , not close to the National Weather Service width of .
Topeka–Oak Vale–Carson–Rose Hill, Mississippi
This strong, long-tracked wedge tornado was spawned by a supercell thunderstorm that tracked closely behind, and just north of the supercell that produced the previous two EF4 tornadoes. It first touched down along Price Road in
Lawrence County, Mississippi
Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,016. Its county seat is Monticello. The county is named for the naval hero James Lawrence.
Geography
According to the U.S. ...
, east-southeast of the small community of
Topeka
Topeka ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeaste ...
at 4:36 p.m.
CDT (21:36 UTC). Damage at the beginning of the path consisted of a few trees uprooted at EF0 strength. The tornado continued to the northeast, quickly reaching EF2 intensity as it crossed Given Road, where a large swath of trees was flattened. EF2 damage continued to the northeast, with many large trees being snapped and uprooted. A house along Rayborn Lane sustained EF1 roof damage, and two nearby sheds were damaged as well. The tornado strengthened further and reached EF3 strength as it moved through a wooded area near the
Pearl River
The Pearl River (, or ) is an extensive river system in southern China. "Pearl River" is often also used as a catch-all for the watersheds of the Pearl tributaries within Guangdong, specifically the Xi ('west'), Bei ('north'), and Dong ( ...
, where a log cabin was destroyed, and numerous trees were snapped and partially debarked. After crossing the Pearl River, the tornado passed near
Oak Vale where some homes sustained roof and exterior wall loss, numerous trees were snapped, a metal building was destroyed, and damage was rated EF2 to EF3. Crossing into
Jefferson Davis County, EF2 damage occurred in areas to the northeast of Oak Vale, where numerous trees and power poles were snapped, outbuildings were destroyed, homes sustained severe roof damage, and a mobile home was destroyed. A small area of EF3 damage occurred along Kirkley Lane, where some trees were denuded and partially debarked. A home and an outbuilding farther away from the center of the damage path sustained EF1 damage as well. Additional EF2 damage occurred to the west and north of
Carson, where a small business housed in a manufactured structure was completely destroyed, many trees were downed, and two well-built homes had their roofs torn off. EF2 damage continued to the northeast of Carson, where several mobile homes were destroyed, another house had its roof ripped off, and multiple other homes sustained less severe roof damage.
Crossing
MS 35, the tornado again attained EF3 strength as the James Hill Church was completely leveled, a nearby home sustained collapse of its exterior walls, and trees were denuded and partially debarked. Multiple mobile homes were also destroyed in this area, and power poles were snapped. Additional EF3 tree damage occurred along Terrell Road before the tornado crossed into
Covington County. EF3 tree damage continued along Three Notch Road, while a mobile home and two frame homes were destroyed nearby. The tornado weakened back to EF2 intensity as it approached and crossed
US 84
U.S. Route 84 (US 84) is an east–westUS 84 was signed north-south in parts of Colorado and New Mexico. United States Numbered Highway that started as a short Georgia–Alabama route in the original 1926 scheme. Later, in 1941, it ha ...
, snapping and uprooting numerous trees and destroying numerous chicken houses. As the tornado continued to the northeast, it produced EF1 to EF2 damage as it approached and crossed
US 49
U.S. Route 49 (US 49) is a north–south United States highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Piggott, Arkansas, at an intersection with U.S. Route 62 (US 62). Its southern terminus is in Gulfport, Mississippi, at an intersection w ...
to the northwest of
Collins, downing many trees, some of which landed on homes and mobile homes. A small silo was blown over, outbuildings were destroyed, a mobile home was blown away and destroyed, and some houses sustained roof damage. Crossing Jones Chapel Road to the northeast, the tornado weakened to EF1 strength, with damage limited to downed trees. EF1 tree and outbuilding damage continued through the northwestern corner of
Jones County and the southeastern corner of
Smith County, and a church sustained some damage along this segment of the path as well. EF1 damage continued into
Jasper County, where a house and a chicken farm were damaged, and many trees were downed in and around the small community of
Stringer
Stringer may refer to:
Structural elements
* Stringer (aircraft), or longeron, a strip of wood or metal to which the skin of an aircraft is fastened
* Stringer (slag), an inclusion, possibly leading to a defect, in cast metal
* Stringer (stairs), ...
. EF1 tree and outbuilding damage continued along the remainder of the path and through the rural community of
Paulding until the tornado dissipated along County Road 31 to the south of
Rose Hill Rose Hill may refer to:
People
* Rose Hill (actress) (1914–2003), British actress
* Rose Hill (athlete) (born 1956), British wheelchair athlete
Film
* ''Rose Hill'' (film), a 1997 movie
Places Australia
* Rose Hill, New South Wales
* Rose ...
at 6:07 p.m.
CDT (23:07 UTC).
Remaining on the ground for , this was the longest-tracked tornado of the outbreak. It reached a peak width of (or ), and resulted in at least two injuries, but no fatalities. It was rated mid-range EF3.
Fashion–Sumac, Georgia
This strong, high-end EF2 tornado first touched down along Mitchell Bridge Road, just northwest of
Chatsworth near the Indian Trace Golf Course at 8:45 p.m.
EDT (01:45 UTC). It headed north-northeast, snapping or uprooting some trees and causing minor roof and siding damage to several homes at EF0 strength. The tornado began to grow in size and reached EF1 intensity after crossing
SR 286 and moving into a neighborhood just southwest of
Fashion
Fashion is a term used interchangeably to describe the creation of clothing, footwear, Fashion accessory, accessories, cosmetics, and jewellery of different cultural aesthetics and their mix and match into Clothing, outfits that depict distinct ...
. Exterior damage to homes became more severe, and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. One home in this area had a large portion of its roof torn off. The tornado then downed a large swath of trees before crossing Norton Bridge Road and reaching EF2 strength. It then moved through the west side of Fashion, obliterating at least eight double-wide manufactured homes along Deer Park Drive while damaging several others. Continuing north-northeast, additional manufactured homes were destroyed as the tornado paralleled
SR 225 and crossed Ridgeview Lane and Fieldview Court. The tornado then reached its peak intensity as a recently built cell tower was blown over and crumpled at high-end EF2 intensity. The tornado maintained EF2 intensity as it moved into the southern part of the rural community of
Sumac
Sumac or sumach ( , )—not to be confused with poison sumac—is any of the roughly 35 species of flowering plants in the genus ''Rhus'' (and related genera) of the cashew and mango tree family, Anacardiaceae. However, it is '' Rhus coriaria ...
and crossed Zion Hill Church Road. A mobile home was destroyed in this area, a small frame home had its roof torn off and sustained partial exterior wall collapse, and numerous trees were snapped. A few other nearby homes sustained roof damage as well. The tornado then weakened slightly but maintained EF2 intensity as it crossed SR 255 and through the central part of Sumac, where a house was destroyed, and a few others sustained minor damage. It also heavily damaged a large metal chicken house in this area. The tornado then began to weaken and narrow as it continued north, where it destroyed or damaged multiple chicken houses along Jim Petty Road. Debris from these structures was scattered hundreds of yards away, and damage in this area was rated high-end EF1 to EF2. The tornado weakened further as it continued to the north-northeast at EF0 strength, downing a few trees and causing minor damage to an outbuilding. EF0 damage continued as the tornado downed a few tree limbs along Halls Chapel Road before it dissipated just before reaching
Sumac Ridge to the southwest of
Cisco
Cisco Systems, Inc. (using the trademark Cisco) is an American multinational digital communications technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California. Cisco develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, s ...
at 8:55 p.m. EDT (01:55 UTC).
The tornado was on the ground for 10 minutes, traveled , had a maximum width of , and was given a rating of high-end EF2. Eight people were killed by the tornado, all of which occurred in mobile or trailer homes including one person who died of his injuries the following month. A total of 24 other people were injured.
A
tornado warning
A tornado warning ( SAME code: TOR) is a public warning that is issued by weather forecasting agencies to an area in the direct path of a tornado, or a severe thunderstorm capable of producing one, and advises individuals in that area to take c ...
was not issued for the storm until the tornado had already been on the ground for eight minutes.
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia/Chattanooga–Ooltewah, Tennessee
This large intense tornado embedded within a strong
QLCS first touched down near the
Chickamauga Battlefield
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, located in northern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee, preserves the sites of two major battles of the American Civil War: the Battle of Chickamauga and the Siege of Chattanooga. A detailed hi ...
in
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
Fort Oglethorpe is a city predominantly in Catoosa County, Georgia, Catoosa County with some portions in Walker County, Georgia, Walker County in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...
around 11:15 p.m.
EDT on April 12 (03:15 UTC, April 13). Initially causing EF0 damage, it moved northeast and quickly strengthened, impacting an industrial area on the south side of town at high-end EF1 strength. Multiple businesses and metal buildings along
SR 2 were damaged and a weather station at the Public Works Department measured a wind gust of in this area. As the tornado tracked through Fort Oglethorpe, EF1 damage continued as a car wash was destroyed, a
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation, doing business as McDonald's, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain. As of 2024, it is the second largest by number of locations in the world, behind only the Chinese ch ...
was damaged, light poles were downed, and the front wall of a
Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams is an American paints and coatings company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is primarily engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of paints, coatings, floorcoverings, and related products with operations in over 120 coun ...
paint store was blown in. Several other businesses were also damaged. Trees and tree limbs in Fort Oglethorpe were downed, and some homes and apartment buildings sustained roof damage. Thereafter, the tornado exited Fort Oglethorpe and continued to the northeast, weakening to EF0 intensity as it produced minor tree and roof damage intermittently. It then crossed
I-75
Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major north–south Interstate Highway System, Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes and Southeastern United States, Southeastern regions of the United States. As with most Interstates that end ...
before moving into
Tennessee
Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
, entering the eastern neighborhoods and suburbs of
Chattanooga
Chattanooga ( ) is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Tennessee River and borders Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the south. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, it is Tennessee ...
.
The tornado then strengthened to EF1 intensity again as it impacted the Harris Hills neighborhood, snapping and uprooting numerous trees in residential areas. It then entered the
East Brainerd
East Brainerd is an unincorporated community and former census-designated place (CDP) in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 14,132 at the 2000 census and was not recorded at the 2010 census. It is part of the Chattano ...
area and crossed
SR 320, rapidly becoming strong and producing EF3 damage. An auto-parts store in this area was almost entirely leveled, with only part of one exterior wall left standing. A strip mall was severely damaged, and a
barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque (often shortened to BBQ worldwide; barbie or barby in Australia and New Zealand) is a term used with significant regional and national variations to describe various cooking methods that employ live fire and smoke to coo ...
restaurant on the east side of the building was completely destroyed. A nearby doctor's office building was heavily damaged as well, and East Brainerd Elementary School had its roof torn off. Dozens of homes in residential areas along this segment of the path also sustained major structural damage, some of which were large and well-built. As the tornado continued northeast, a
tornado emergency
A tornado emergency is an enhanced version of a tornado warning, which is used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States during imminent, significant tornado occurrences. Although it is not a new warning type from the NWS, issue ...
was issued for
Collegedale and
Ooltewah. The tornado then reached its peak width as it entered the Drake Forest neighborhood of Chattanooga while still at EF3 intensity. Numerous well-built homes in this area had their roofs torn off and sustained collapse of their exterior walls, and numerous trees were snapped or denuded. EF2 to EF3 damage continued through the Holly Hills neighborhood where additional trees were snapped, power poles were downed, and many homes and apartment buildings sustained roof and exterior wall loss. Multiple buildings were severely damaged at the Grace Baptist Church and Academy as well. The tornado then abruptly narrowed and weakened back to EF1 strength as it passed just northwest of Collegedale and moved directly into Ooltewah. Many trees were downed along this portion of the path, and multiple apartment buildings sustained roof damage as the tornado hit the Integra Hills Preserve Apartments. The tornado then weakened further and caused EF0 strength tree damage as it crossed into
Bradley County and over
White Oak Mountain
White Oak Mountain is a ridge located in northwestern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee. The ridge is part of the Ridge and Valley Appalachians.
Description
White Oak Mountain is one of a series of paralleling ridges running approximately nort ...
before dissipating south of
McDonald around 11:33 p.m. EDT (03:33 UTC).
The tornado was on the ground for 18 minutes, traveled , was wide, and was rated EF3.
Throughout the Chattanooga metropolitan area, 2,718 properties sustained damage, of which 254 were destroyed and 259 had major damage. Total damages were reported as reaching $225 million and two people were killed, while an additional 18 were injured.
Retreat–Seneca–Clemson, South Carolina
This high–end EF3 tornado initially touched down near Stonewall Drive to the south-southeast of
Westminster
Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...
around 3:21 a.m.
EDT (07:21 UTC) on April 13. It inflicted EF0 damage to homes and trees as it moved to the northeast along the north side of South Retreat Road before striking
Retreat. Trees and homes in this area suffered EF0 to EF1 damage as the tornado crossed over
SC 11 and
SC 24
South Carolina Highway 24 (SC 24) is a state highway in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The highway connects Westminster and Anderson.
Route description
SC 24 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 76 (US 76) and US& ...
. EF1 damage continued as the tornado approached and crossed Brown Farm Road and Radisson Road. Damage rapidly became more severe and widespread as the tornado continued to the northeast and moved into more populated areas in the southwestern part of
Seneca
Seneca may refer to:
People, fictional characters and language
* Seneca (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname
:
:* Seneca the Elder (c. 54 BC – c. AD 39), a Roman rhetorician, writer and father ...
. Reaching EF3 strength, the tornado first struck a
BorgWarner
BorgWarner Inc. is an American automotive and Electric vehicle, e-mobility supplier headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. As of 2023, the company maintains production facilities and sites at 92 locations in 24 countries, and generates revenu ...
plant at the end of Evalona Drive, inflicting major structural damage to the facility and scattering large amounts of debris throughout the area. A security guard on the property was killed when the concrete-block guard shack he was in was obliterated. A block-foundation house in this area was also swept away at high-end EF3 strength, and a vehicle parked at this residence was blown into the basement. Other vehicles were flipped or damaged at the plant, and the large letter "B" from the BorgWarner sign was found in the yard of a residence in
Liberty
Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. The concept of liberty can vary depending on perspective and context. In the Constitutional ...
, away. The large tornado then approached and crossed the Wells Highway, where a small office building was destroyed (it was not rebuilt), and the Destiny Christian Center and International Church was shifted off its foundation and partially collapsed. The tornado then moved through residential areas of Seneca, where many homes sustained EF2 to EF3 damage, with roofs ripped off and exterior walls collapsed. Multiple detached garages were destroyed, a gas station awning was shredded, and numerous trees and power lines were downed throughout this part of the path. The tornado had grown to a half–mile wide at this point, and various degrees of damage was inflicted to numerous other homes in Seneca. Damage severity then began to quickly lessen, and the damage path narrowed as the tornado passed through the north edge of
Utica and through the
Jordania
The longfin sculpin (''Jordania zonope'') is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Jordaniidae, a small family of sculpins. This species is found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. This species is the only known member of ...
community. Mainly EF1 damage was noted as dozens of homes were damaged along this segment of the path, and many large trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which landed on structures. The tornado maintained EF1 strength as it crossed
US 123 and continued to the northeast, where EF1 damage was inflicted to numerous trees just north of
Keowee
Keowee () was a Cherokee town in the far northwest corner of present-day South Carolina. It was the principal town of what were called the seven Lower Towns, located along the Keowee River (Colonists referred to the lower reaches of the river as ...
. The tornado than crossed
Lake Hartwell
Lake Hartwell is a man-made reservoir bordering Georgia and South Carolina and encompassing parts of the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers. Lake Hartwell is one of the largest recreation lakes in the Southeastern United States. It was creat ...
northwest of
Clemson and produced some EF0 tree damage before lifting due-west of
Central after crossing
SC 133 at 3:36 a.m. EDT (07:36 UTC).
The tornado was on the ground for 15 minutes, traveled , and reached a maximum width of . There was one fatality and five injuries. Damages in Seneca alone were reported as being in excess of $100 million. This was the strongest tornado to strike
Upstate South Carolina
The Upstate, historically known as the Upcountry, is a region of the U.S. state of South Carolina, comprising the northwesternmost area of the state. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the ...
in over 25 years.
Estill–Scotia–Nixville–Fechtig, South Carolina
This large, violent multiple-vortex tornado first touched down in
Hampton County, South Carolina
Hampton County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,561. Its county seat is Hampton. It was named for Confederate Civil War general Wade Hampton, who in the late 1870s, ...
at 6:10 a.m.
EDT (10:10 UTC) west-northwest of
Scotia
Scotia is a Latin placename derived from ''Scoti'', a Latin name for the Gaels, first attested in the late 3rd century.Duffy, Seán. ''Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia''. Routledge, 2005. p. 698. The Romans referred to Ireland as "Scotia" aro ...
, producing EF1-strength tree damage along Collie Road. It quickly became strong as it moved northeast, crossed Old Orangeburg Road, and impacted
Federal Correctional Institution, Estill, which was significantly damaged. The damage to the medium-security prison was so severe that occupying inmates were relocated to
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
.
The tornado then destroyed multiple structures at Canfor Southern Pine before strengthening further shortly after crossing over Steep Bottom Road and
US 321
U.S. Route 321 (US 321) is a spur of U.S. Route 21. It runs for from Hardeeville, South Carolina to Lenoir City, Tennessee; with both serving as southern termini. It reaches its northernmost point at Elizabethton, Tennessee, just no ...
south of
Estill, as EF2 to EF3 damage was inflicted to homes and mobile homes along Sprayfield Road. The tornado then crossed over the Lena Expressway and destroyed another residence at EF3 intensity, which had most of its exterior walls knocked down. The tornado then reached its maximum width of ~, mowing down a large swath of trees and destroying a cell tower. Some trees in this area were denuded and partially debarked, and vehicles were thrown/rolled and mangled. The tornado then turned deadly as it crossed over
SC 3
South Carolina's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in western South Carolina bordering both Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and North Carolina. It includes all of Abbeville County, South Carolina, Abbeville, Anderson County, ...
and
US 601
U.S. Route 601 (US 601) is a north–south United States highway that runs for from U.S. Route 321, near Tarboro, South Carolina, to U.S. Route 52, in Mount Airy, North Carolina. In North Carolina, it is one of the main north-south c ...
to the northwest of the small community of
Nixville, killing two people in an obliterated mobile home. It then impacted another group of homes to the north of the town on the Turner Expressway, heavily damaging or destroying them and killing three in the area. The tornado then moved directly through
Speaks Mill, crossing over 2 Sisters Ferry Road before reaching its peak intensity along Lento Road. Here, a well-built two-story home was leveled with only a pile of debris remaining, and some of its debris scattered into the yard. Damage to the residence was rated EF4. Another home across the street sustained EF3 damage as well, sustaining roof and exterior wall loss. The tornado then began a weakening trend as it continued to move northeastward toward
US 278
U.S. Route 278 (US 278) is a parallel route of US 78. It currently runs for from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to Wickes, Arkansas at US 71/ US 59, passing through five states in the process. Landmarks along its route incl ...
. Damage was mainly limited to trees and outbuildings in this area, and the scope of the damage began to narrow and become less severe as the tornado crossed US 278 and the
Coosawhatchie River
The Coosawhatchie River (koos-uh-HATCH-ee) is a river in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It rises in Allendale County
Allendale County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,0 ...
before paralleling Camp Branch. It then moved away from the tributary and tracked through rural areas to the south of
Varnville, producing only minor damage to trees and residences as it crossed Miles Road and
SC 68. The tornado continued to inflict minor tree damage to the northeast of here before dissipating at 6:37 a.m. EDT (10:37 UTC), to the north-northeast of
Fechtig near the Hampton-
Colleton County line at 6:37 a.m. EDT (10:37 UTC).
The tornado was on the ground for 27 minutes, reached a maximum width of , traveled , and was rated EF4. The tornado killed five people in the hardest hit areas just south of Estill and in Nixville. A total of 65 others were injured, including several individuals that were thrown from mobile homes as well as in homes that received EF3-EF4 damage. This was the first F4 or EF4 in the state
since 1995 and the first in the
South Carolina Lowcountry
The Lowcountry (sometimes Low Country or just low country) is a geographic and cultural region along South Carolina's coast, including the Sea Islands. The region includes significant salt marshes and other coastal waterways, making it an impor ...
on record. The
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service (NWS) is an Government agency, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that is tasked with providing weather forecasts, warnings of hazardous weather, and other weathe ...
Forecast Office in
Charleston referred to it as an "unusually long track and wide tornado." The tornado was associated with a
tornado family
A tornado family is a series of tornadoes spawned by the same supercell thunderstorm. These families form a line of successive or parallel tornado paths and can cover a short span or a vast distance. Tornado families are sometimes mistaken as a si ...
that began in
Screven County, Georgia
Screven County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,067.US 2020 Census Bureau report, Screven County, Georgia The county seat is Sylvania.
History
The county ...
and traveled northeast for over before shifting offshore in
Georgetown County, South Carolina
Georgetown County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 63,404. Its county seat is Georgetown, South Carolina, Georgetown. The count ...
.
Non-tornadic impacts
Flooding
Heavy rainfall across eastern Texas led to flash flooding and multiple road closures throughout many communities. Downed trees and powerlines caused additional road closures. Gusty winds in
Upshur County, Texas
Upshur County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,892. The county seat is Gilmer. The county is named for Abel P. Upshur, who was U.S. Secretary of State during P ...
killed one man after a tree fell on him in his driveway.
As the storms progressed into Arkansas, widespread damaging winds were observed, causing the collapse of old buildings and the historic
Centennial Baptist Church in downtown
Helena
Helena may refer to:
People
*Helena (given name), a given name (including a list of people and characters with the name)
*Katri Helena (born 1945), Finnish singer
* Saint Helena (disambiguation), this includes places
Places
Greece
* Helena ...
-
West Helena. The
9-1-1
911, sometimes written , is an emergency telephone number for Argentina, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Jordan, Mexico, Pakistan, Maldives, Palau, Panama, Iraq, the Philippines, Sint Maarten, the United States, and Uruguay, as well as ...
and emergency dispatch were disrupted throughout the city, and scattered debris obstructed ambulances from reaching hospitals. The strong winds toppled numerous trees, powerlines, and fences throughout the southern portions of the state. Additional damage was inflicted to structures such as greenhouses, poultry farms, sheds, barns, and docks. The downed trees blocked numerous highways. In
White Hall, one downed tree fell onto a home and killed an occupant. More than 143,000 customers were left without power in Arkansas in the storms' wake.
In Mississippi, heavy rainfall overspread
Panola County, where Mississippi Emergency Management Personnel donated sandbags to prevent flooding. Widespread rainfall amount of , locally exceeded , across northern Alabama prompted significant flooding across
DeKalb County DeKalb County may refer to one of several counties in the United States, all of which were named for Baron Johann de Kalb:
* DeKalb County, Alabama
DeKalb County is a County (United States), county in the Northeast Alabama, northeastern part ...
. There, about 50 roadways were temporarily closed. Floodwaters inundated some businesses in
Collinsville. In nearby
Fort Payne, waters inundated several businesses, forcing about 35 people from the flooded areas. Multiple roads were reportedly washed out.
Significant flooding was likewise reported across
Madison Madison may refer to:
People
* Madison (name), a given name and a surname
* James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States
* Madison (footballer), Brazilian footballer
Places in the United States
Populated places
* Madi ...
,
Morgan
Morgan may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment'', also called ''Morgan!'', a 1966 comedy film
* ''Morgan'' (2012 film), an American drama
* ''Morgan'' (2016 film), an American science fiction thriller
* ...
, and
Jackson
Jackson may refer to:
Places Australia
* Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson North, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson South, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson oil field in Durham, ...
counties.
Farther north in Tennessee, a 33-year-old woman was swept away and drowned by rushing water at a bridge in
Kimball.
Four bridges in total were damaged by the flooding, including three in
South Pittsburg.
Nashville
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
recorded a daily rainfall record of .
Heavy rainfall fell throughout the Tennessee Valley in the wake of the wettest first three months of any year on record, causing the
Chickamauga Dam
The Chickamauga Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. The dam is owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the late 1930s as part of a New Deal era initiat ...
and
Watts Bar Lake
Watts Bar Lake is a reservoir on the Tennessee River created by Watts Bar Dam as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority system.
Geography
Located in the U.S. state of Tennessee about midway between the cities of Chattanooga and Knoxville, the ...
to climb about above normal summertime pool levels. Numerous roads were blocked in
Rutherford,
Williamson, and
Washington
Washington most commonly refers to:
* George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States
* Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A ...
counties. The McFarland Park in Florence was submerged as the Tennessee River spilled its banks. Across
Unicoi County
Unicoi County () is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,928. Its county seat is Erwin. ''Unicoi'' is a Cherokee word meaning "white," "hazy," "fog-like," or "fog draped," and refers to ...
, multiple roads were washed out. The rising waters prompted an evacuation order for the Temple Hill community. High waters flowed through homes around Hampton and Valley Forge in
Carter County. The Beaver Creek in
Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
overflowed its banks, flooding intersections. The
Kingsport
Kingsport is a city in Sullivan and Hawkins counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It lies along the Holston River and had a population of 55,442 at the 2020 census. It is the largest city in the Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area, w ...
Fire Department rescued 21 people as the city was threatened by rising waters. A total of 27 roads were closed throughout
Sullivan County. In northeastern Tennessee, flooding damaged two bridges in the Johnson City area. Some residents in the community of Sinking Creek were cut off as several low-level areas were inundated. In
Carter County, the Gap Creek overflowed its banks and closed roadways.
Wind damage
Widespread damaging winds rolled across North Carolina, leaving behind extensive damage. Approximately 200,000 people lost power state-wide. A person was killed by a fallen tree in Davidson County.
A
microburst near
Wallace
Wallace may refer to:
People
* Clan Wallace in Scotland
* Wallace (given name)
* Wallace (surname)
* Wallace (footballer, born 1986), full name Wallace Fernando Pereira, Brazilian football left-back
* Wallace (footballer, born 1987), full name Wa ...
in
Marlboro County, South Carolina
Marlboro County is a county located in the Pee Dee region on the northern border of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 26,667. Its county seat is Bennettsville. The Great Pee Dee River runs through it ...
, produced winds of over an area wide and long. Several homes had their roof blown off and an unanchored mobile home was flipped off its foundation. Hundreds of hardwood and softwood trees were snapped throughout the area.
Statewide, approximately 300,000 people lost power.
Powerful winds associated with the parent storm system impacted much of the
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States (also referred to as the Northeast, the East Coast, or the American Northeast) is List of regions of the United States, census regions United States Census Bureau. Located on the East Coast of the United States, ...
on April 13. In preparation of the severe storms,
Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park ( ) is a List of Pennsylvania state parks, Pennsylvania State Park on an arching, sandy peninsula jutting into Lake Erie, west of the city of Erie, Pennsylvania, Erie, in Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania ...
in
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
closed on April 13. Hurricane-force wind gusts were observed in
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
and
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
, reaching in
Island Beach State Park
Island Beach State Park is a New Jersey state park located just south of Seaside Park on the Barnegat Peninsula in Berkeley Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of ...
, New Jersey, and in
Sussex County, Delaware
Sussex County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of Delaware, on the Delmarva Peninsula. As of the 2020 census, the population was 237,378, making it the state's second most populated county behind New Castle and ahead of Ke ...
. More than 56,000 customers were left without power in New Jersey. In
Cresskill
Cresskill is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 9,155, an increase of 582 (+6.8%) from the 2010 census count of 8,573, which in turn reflected an incre ...
, a tree fell onto a home. In
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city located on the Hudson River in Dutchess County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city's population was 13,769. Beacon is part of the Kiryas ...
, many street lights lost power due to the wind, resulting in many roads, including
New York State Route 9D
New York State Route 9D (NY 9D) is a north–south state highway in the Hudson Valley region of New York in the United States. It starts at the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge at an intersection with U.S. Route 6 (US& ...
being blocked off. 130,000 customers lost power in
Massachusetts
Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
,
[ where wind gusts maxed out at in Milton. Meanwhile, in ]Connecticut
Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...
, parts of Route 17, Route 434, Route 107 and Route 100 were closed due to the storm.[Wind Gusts Over 70 MPH Leave Damage in New York City, Northeast as Powerful Storm Sweeps Through Great Lakes]
The Weather Channel, April 13, 2020
Winter storm
Outside the warm sector of the broad system, an unseasonable snowstorm and gale
A gale is a strong wind; the word is typically used as a descriptor in nautical contexts. The U.S. National Weather Service defines a gale as sustained surface wind moving at a speed between . -force winds affected regions from the northern Plains into the Midwestern United States. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls ( ) is the List of cities in South Dakota, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the List of United States cities by population, 117th-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha Coun ...
, recorded on April 12, a daily record and the second snowiest Easter Sunday on record. The Twin Cities recorded of snow, setting a new Easter Sunday record going back to 1891. Accumulations totaling to nearly a foot across portions of southern Minnesota caused multiple spinouts and crashes, principally along I-35
Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexico–Uni ...
south of the Twin Cities, I-90
Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain states, Mountain West, Great Pla ...
between Albert Lea and Rochester, and US 52
U.S. Route 52 (US 52) is a major United States Numbered Highway System, U.S. Highway in the central United States, Central United States that extends from the northern to southeastern region of the United States. Contrary to most other even ...
between Rochester and the Twin Cities. Traffic, though, was lighter than usual given the stay-at-home order for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. State patrol reported 140 crashes, 126 vehicle that spun out, and six semi-trucks that jackknifed on slippery roads. Fourteen people were injured. In Wisconsin, a band of accumulations fell north of a Marshfield to Wausaukee line. Daily snowfall records were set in Rochester and Eau Claire. Winds exceeding gale threshold backed up waters on the Fox and East rivers, causing minor flooding in Green Bay. In Michigan, areas of the Upper Peninsula between Marquette and Munising recorded of snow. Wave heights of were estimated on Lake Michigan.
Aftermath and records
More than 1.44 million customers from Texas into Pennsylvania lost power at one time during the storm, and more than 4.3 million customers in total were impacted. In the wake of the outbreak, recovery efforts were hampered by the ongoing pandemic and the American Red Cross resorted to readying hotel rooms, not mass shelters, for affected residents. States of emergency
A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state before, during, o ...
were declared in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Southern Baptist disaster relief agencies established relief operations centered in Soso, Mississippi, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Assisting members were provided personal protective equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, elect ...
to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
In heavy-hit Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is the ninth-largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and is the parish seat and largest city of Ouachita Parish. With a 2020 census-tabulated population of 47,702, it is the principal city of the Monroe metropolitan statistical ...
, the National Guard was deployed to assist in debris removal. Drax Biomass, headquartered in the city, donated $10,000 to tornado relief. At emergency shelters, masks and gloves were provided to residents. The city sought to acquire 200 hotel rooms to house victims as a countermeasure to mass gatherings.
Of Mississippi's 82 counties, 33 reported damage from the tornado and severe weather event. At least 1,200 homes and 75 businesses were damaged or destroyed and losses exceeded $10 million. On April 16, President Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
approved federal disaster declarations for Covington, Jefferson Davis, and Jones counties in Mississippi. With a declaration already in effect for COVID-19, this is believed to be the first instance of concurrent federal disaster declarations in state history. Collectively, 333 homes were damaged or destroyed in the counties. Jones County established a base of operations in Bassfield to coordinate relief efforts. Tarps and water were supplied to affected persons. The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Protestantism, Protestant Christian church and an international charitable organisation headquartered in London, England. It is aligned with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. The organisation reports a worldwide m ...
assisted in providing food to displaced residents and the Sartinville United Methodist Church coordinated relief with nonprofit agencies. Power was restored to all homes capable of receiving power in Jones, Walthall, and Yazoo counties by April 18. Local news agencies under the Mississippi Gray Television network—WLBT
WLBT (channel 3) is a television station in Jackson, Mississippi, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Gray Media, which also operates American Spirit Media–owned Fox affiliate WDBD (channel 40) and Vicksburg-licensed MyNet ...
, WDAM
WDAM-TV (channel 7) is a television station licensed to Laurel, Mississippi, United States, serving the Hattiesburg area as an affiliate of NBC and ABC. It is owned by Gray Media alongside low-power Telemundo affiliate WLHA-LD (channel 18). The ...
, WLOX
WLOX (channel 13) is a television station licensed to Biloxi, Mississippi, United States, serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast as an affiliate of ABC and CBS. It is owned by Gray Media alongside low-power MeTV affiliate WTBL-LD (channel 51) ...
, WMC, and WTOK—established a fundraiser with the Red Cross. Gray Television itself donated $10,000.
On April 14, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga ( ) is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Tennessee River and borders Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the south. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, it is Tennessee ...
, was toured by the state's governor, Bill Lee; it marked the second time the governor had surveyed tornado damage in a little over a month following the deadly tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2020
A small but deadly tornado outbreak affected West and Middle Tennessee on the night of March 2 and into the morning of March 3, 2020, including a high-end EF3 tornado that hit Nashville and Mount Juliet, becoming the 6th cos ...
. More than 500 emergency responders were deployed city-wide for search and rescue. Sixty-five residents of an Alzheimer's living facility were relocated to a hotel due to structural damage. Through April 20, Chattanooga public works removed 3,890 tons of debris from the city. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is an agency of Tennessee government tasked with coordinating the state government's preparation for, response to, and recovery from natural and man-made disasters across the state of Tennessee. The ...
officials applied for a federal disaster assistance.
After what was the deadliest day for tornadoes in South Carolina since the March 1984 outbreak, the Red Cross sheltered 236 displaced residents in hotels. Widespread damage in Seneca
Seneca may refer to:
People, fictional characters and language
* Seneca (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname
:
:* Seneca the Elder (c. 54 BC – c. AD 39), a Roman rhetorician, writer and father ...
, prompted a curfew for the city. A medium-security prison in Hampton County, South Carolina
Hampton County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,561. Its county seat is Hampton. It was named for Confederate Civil War general Wade Hampton, who in the late 1870s, ...
, was directly impacted by an EF4 tornado, with resultant damage so severe that occupying inmates were relocated to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
. The state's governor, Henry McMaster
Henry Dargan McMaster (born May 27, 1947) is an American politician and attorney serving since 2017 as the 117th governor of South Carolina. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he was the 50th List of Attorneys Ge ...
, toured the damage on April 14.[ By April 16, 600 people utilized housing and meals from the Red Cross. Throughout Orangeburg County, 54 single-family homes, 27 mobile homes, and 10 businesses suffered damage from tornadoes; total losses reached $2.98 million. Pickens County reported $1 million in damage.
For the 24-hour period ending 12:00 UTC April 13, the National Weather Service issued 141 tornado warnings, the most in one day since the ]tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012
On March 2 and 3, 2012, a large and deadly tornado outbreak occurred over a large section of the Southern United States into the Ohio Valley region. The storms resulted in 41 tornado-related fatalities, 22 of which occurred in Kentucky. Torn ...
. 12 tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down in North Carolina, making it the sixth largest one-day outbreak on record in the state going back to 1950. With 12 significant (EF2+) tornadoes recorded statewide—eight of which were rated at EF3 or stronger—the outbreak set records for the greatest number of EF2+ tornadoes registered in a single day in South Carolina. With nine fatalities, the outbreak was also the second deadliest on record in the state since 1950, behind only the outbreak of March 28, 1984.
See also
*List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America.
#''The listing is U.S.-centric, with greater and more consistent information available for U.S. tornadoes. Some North America ...
** List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes (2020–present)
*List of case studies on tornadoes (2020–present)
This is a list of government or academic case studies on individual tornadoes or tornado outbreaks which occurred during the 2020s. A case study is an in-depth analysis which focuses on a single event, several events, and/or a specific aspect of ...
*Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913
On March 23, 1913—Easter Sunday—a devastating tornado outbreak affected the northern Great Plains and sections of the Upper Midwest, lasting approximately 3 hours. It was the most violent tornado outbreak to affect the northern G ...
– Another very deadly outbreak during Easter weekend in 1913
*1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
The 1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak was the third notable US tornado outbreak to occur on Palm Sunday and the second to take place in the Southeastern United States. The outbreak produced 29 tornadoes from Texas to North Carolina, killing 40 ...
– A similar deadly tornado outbreak in the same regions
*Tornado outbreak of April 23, 2000
The Tornado outbreak of April 23, 2000, also known as the 2000 Easter Sunday tornado outbreak, occurred in the states of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana on Easter Sunday, April 23, 2000. This severe weather occurrence was the result of ...
– Another tornado outbreak that occurred on Easter Sunday in 2000
References
External links
ABC 33/40 Severe Weather Coverage (Part 1) April 12, 2020
ABC 33/40 Severe Weather Coverage (Part 2) - April 12, 2020
Easter 2020 Tornado Outbreak Coverage (The Weather Channel)
Intense EF-3 Tornado Hits Monroe, Louisiana - Apr. 12, 2020
Easter Tornado Outbreak 2020: Major Tornadoes Tear Through Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, & More
{{Maryland tornado events
Easter tornado outbreak
Easter tornado outbreak
Easter tornado outbreak
Tornadoes in North Carolina
Tornadoes in South Carolina
Tornadoes in Georgia (U.S. state)
Tornadoes in Tennessee
Tornadoes in Alabama
Tornadoes in Mississippi
Tornadoes in Louisiana
Tornadoes in Texas
Tornadoes in Maryland
Tornado outbreaks in the United States