Hypothetical Tornadoes Wiki

Disclaimer: The content on this wiki is fictional and is NOT a resource for real tornadoes. NONE of the content on this wiki should be believed to be a real forecast of inclement weather.

READ MORE

Hypothetical Tornadoes Wiki
Register
Advertisement
2024 Super Outbreak
Supercell from plane
Tornadic supercell over Lee County, Mississippi on April 12.
Type: Tornado outbreak
Extratropical cyclone
Derecho
Flood
Active: April 10-13, 2024
Duration of tornado outbreak1: 3 days, 2 hours, 18 minutes
Maximum rated tornado2: EF5 tornado
Highest winds Unknown
Tornadoes confirmed: 486 (Record for a continuous outbreak)
Damage: $36.2 billion
Injuries: >5,100
Fatalities: 531 (+29 non-tornadic)
Areas affected: Southern United States, Southeastern United States, Midwestern United States, Eastern United States

1Time from first tornado to last tornado
2Most severe tornado damage; see wikipedia:Enhanced Fujita scale

The 2024 Super Outbreak was the largest, costliest, and third-deadliest tornado outbreak in United States history. The outbreak primarily affected the "Dixie Alley" region of the United States, with additional destructive tornadoes occurring in the Great Lakes region on April 12. The outbreak produced a total of 486 tornadoes in 24 states, with the states of Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee being the most severely affected. April 12 was by far the most active day of the outbreak, producing 312 tornadoes, including eight which were rated EF5, and 22 which were rated EF4.

A total of 531 people were killed by the outbreak, with an additional 29 people killed as a result of powerful straight-line winds, lightning, and flash flooding. 275 of the tornado-related deaths were the result of five violent tornadoes in Alabama, Georgia, and Indiana on April 12. Several other tornadoes caused death tolls well into the double digits, particularly in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.

Due to its extent and severity, the outbreak was compared by both meteorologists and mass media to the 1974 Super Outbreak, which produced a similar number of strong to violent tornadoes across the Midwestern states and into the "Dixie Alley" region. Thirteen years after the 2024 Super Outbreak, another extremely large outbreak of tornadoes would affect the Central Plains states, producing 468 tornadoes and producing $28.5 billion in damage, becoming the second-largest and second-costliest tornado outbreak on record in the United States.

Meteorological synopsis[]

In the early morning of April 10, an intense low-pressure system was observed developing over the Central Plains states. As the system moved eastward over the Midwestern States it was further intensified by a warm and extremely humid mass of air and particularly sharp temperature gradient across the system. As early as April 6, forecast conditions for April 12 were notably analogous to April 3, 1974, and the Storm Prediction Center issued a 30% risk of significant severe weather over much of the Eastern United States.

By the morning of April 12, a large-scale trough extended over nearly two-thirds of the contiguous United States, and a very powerful 80–100 knot mid-level jet stream moved into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys behind the trough and created strong wind shear, along with a low pressure center moving quickly northeastward across those areas on April 12. During the afternoon of April 12, CAPE values were estimated to be in the range of 2000–3000 J/kg across Louisiana and southern Mississippi, with the moderate instability moving northeastward across the southern Tennessee Valley; additionally, temperatures across the southeastern United States ranged from the 70s°F (mid-20s°C) to the lower 90s°F (near 35 °C). Helicity levels ranged from 450–600 m2/s2, which supported some significant tornadic activity and strong to violent long-track tornadoes.

The Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk of severe weather for April 12 in its Day 3 convective outlook on April 10; by the morning of April 11, the moderate risk was extended from the Dixie Alley area north into the Midwestern states, while a high risk of severe weather was issued for central Alabama and western Georgia. By 0600 UTC on April 12, the high risk was expanded to cover most of Alabama and a significant portion of western Georgia and eastern and central Mississippi; while a second high-risk area was issued for southeastern Indiana, western Ohio, and far northern Kentucky. In the 1300 UTC outlook, a 45% hatched risk of tornadoes was issued for a corridor extending from Jackson, Mississippi to Atlanta, Georgia, while a small 60% hatched risk of tornadoes was issued in the 2000 UTC outlook for eastern Alabama and western Georgia.

April 10[]

2024-04-08 D1 Outlook

2000 UTC outlook on April 10.

The National Weather Service had forecast a marginal risk of severe weather for April 10 the previous day, believing that meager instability would hamper the development of any significant severe thunderstorms. On the morning of April 10, when it became clear that CAPE values were somewhat higher than had been expected, a slight risk of severe weather was issued for central and eastern Oklahoma. The slight risk was based primarily on a 15% risk of damaging wind gusts, with a small 5% risk of tornadoes issued for the Tulsa metropolitan area. At 2:16 pm CDT, a tornado watch was issued for eastern Oklahoma, with a 40% probability of two or more tornadoes, and a 20% probability of one or more significant (EF2+) tornadoes.

By 5:00 pm CDT, several supercells had developed in Oklahoma, five of which quickly developed areas of tight and persistent rotation, resulting in the issuance of tornado warnings in several counties in eastern Oklahoma. Several weak and short-lived tornadoes were reported in the late afternoon hours, including an EF1 tornado which caused considerable damage at a mobile home park near Depew, Oklahoma, resulting in one death and around 25 injuries. Most of the other tornadoes in the afternoon hours produced little damage and no fatalities or injuries. Two of the tornadic supercells continued to intensify after sunset and produced more significant tornadoes.

At around 9:30 pm, a large EF3 tornado struck the town of McAlester, Oklahoma, demolishing numerous frame houses, snapping and uprooting trees, tossing parked cars up to 120 yards, and toppling a large metal transmission tower. Three people were killed in McAlester, and an additional 78 were injured. A second strong tornado occurred in an industrial area just outside the Tulsa city limits, causing severe roof damage to several factories and partially demolishing a half-dozen warehouses. The tornado caused one death and 17 injuries, and was rated as a high-end EF2.

A total of 49 tornadoes were reported on April 10, of which 37 were confirmed. Five people were killed on the 10th, and approximately 160 were injured. The McAlester tornado was the first tornado to cause multiple deaths in Oklahoma in five years, and the costliest in the state since the EF5 tornado which struck the city of Moore on May 20, 2013.

April 11[]

2024-04-09 D1 Outlook

2000 UTC outlook on April 11.

The National Weather Service anticipated the development of numerous severe thunderstorms in the Southeastern United States on April 11 in an area extending from central Arkansas south to the Gulf Coast region. A slight risk of severe weather for the area was issued on April 7; by April 10, the slight risk was shifted slightly to the south, while an enhanced risk area was added for far eastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana.

On the morning of April 11, a moderate risk of severe weather was issued for the Ark-La-Tex area, while the enhanced and slight risk areas were expanded eastward to the Mississippi state line. The moderate risk was based on a 15% hatched risk of tornadoes and a 45% hatched risk of damaging wind gusts. At 1:25 pm CDT a tornado watch with a 70% chance of two or more tornadoes and a 40% chance of one or more significant tornadoes was issued for central and southern Arkansas. By 2:10 pm CDT, a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) tornado watch, with an 80% chance of two or more tornadoes and a 60% chance of one or more significant tornadoes, was issued for northern Louisiana and extreme eastern Texas.

An intense squall line developed over eastern Texas in the morning hours and tracked due east across Louisiana and Arkansas, before gradually weakening as it passed over Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. Severe rainfall and damaging wind gusts were reported, along with two unverified tornado reports in southern Arkansas. By the mid-afternoon hours, supercells began to develop, with one long-lived supercell tracking along the triple point and producing several strong tornadoes. The first significant tornado of the day was a large, EF2-rated wedge which struck the small community of Ajax, Louisiana at around 3:45 pm CDT, killing two people and injuring an additional 16. Soon after, another supercell to the northwest produced an intense EF3 tornado which cut through Jonesville, Texas at 3:57 pm, demolishing dozens of houses and injuring 13 people. At 4:26 pm, the same supercell that produced the Ajax tornado spawned another tornado which touched down in rural Jackson Parish. The tornado rapidly intensified and tracked through the town of Chatham, where three fatalities and 36 injuries occurred. The Chatham tornado was rated as a high-end EF3, with estimated winds of 160 miles per hour. The parent supercell produced two weak tornadoes before another large tornado developed over Morehouse Parish at 6:03 pm, and passed near the village of Mer Rouge. The tornado caused considerable damage at several farms and over forested areas, and was rated as an EF2 with estimated winds of 125 miles per hour.

Several supercells continued into Arkansas in the evening hours, producing additional strong tornadoes. A low-end EF2 tornado tracked through Bluff City at 7:12 pm, injuring three people, while another EF2 tornado caused severe damage to homes and businesses in Dierks, resulting in seven injuries. At 9:49 pm, the supercell which produced the Ajax, Chatham, and Mer Rouge tornadoes spawned a final EF3 tornado which tracked through northern Lonoke County and into White County, resulting in one death in the small community of Garner and 33 injuries. The final significant tornado of the day was an EF2-rated multiple-vortex tornado which tracked through rural Yell County before striking the town of Havana at 10:18 pm, resulting in nine injuries.

78 tornadoes were reported on April 11, of which 73 were confirmed. Four of the tornadoes were rated EF3, and seven were rated EF2. Six people were killed during the day, and over 210 were injured. April 11 was the most prolific day for tornadoes in the United States since June 11, 2019. The event was immediately overshadowed by April 12, which produced nearly five times as many tornadoes.

April 12[]

2024-04-10 D1 outlook

2000 UTC outlook on April 12.

April 12 was by far the most prolific day of the outbreak sequence as well as the most active 24-hour period ever recorded in the United States. The 316 tornadoes in 16 states that occurred eclipsed even the 237 tornadoes confirmed on April 27, 2011, the previous record-holding day. Tornadoes were confirmed across much of the Eastern United States, from the Gulf Coast north to the Great Lakes region. A large outbreak of tornadic supercells occurred over Indiana, Ohio, and northern Kentucky in the early to mid-afternoon hours; while an even more intense wave of supercells tracked through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas in the late afternoon and into the overnight hours.

The National Weather Service had anticipated the development of numerous long-track and intense tornadoes on April 12; as early as April 4, a 15% risk of severe weather was forecast for the majority of the Eastern United States. By April 6, a 30% risk of severe weather was issued for east-central Mississippi, central Alabama, and Central Georgia. A very large moderate risk area was issued for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana on April 10, with the Storm Prediction Center noting the probability of a Day 2 high risk being issued. The 0700 Day 2 convective outlook on April 11 split the moderate risk area into two separate areas: a roughly circular area covering portions of eastern Indiana and western Ohio, and a larger, egg-shaped area for portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. A high risk area was issued for central Alabama in the afternoon of April 11.

On the morning of April 12, the high risk area was expanded to cover most of the moderate risk area issued the previous day, and a second high risk area was issued for east-central Indiana and west-central Ohio.

Of the 316 tornadoes confirmed on April 12, four were rated EF0, eight were rated EF5; 22 were rated EF4; and 38 were rated EF3. Of the 498 fatalities on April 12, nearly half were the result of four individual tornadoes. Several of the violent tornadoes on April 12 were noted as having exceptionally high fatality rates; in some cases more fatalities than injuries occurred. As a result of the distribution and intensity of the tornadoes on April 12, the National Weather Service and numerous media outlets compared the day's event to the Super Outbreak of 1974.

Indiana and Ohio[]

Sunset GA tornado

EF3 tornado in Hagerstown, Indiana.

Supercells developed rapidly over central and southern Indiana during the late morning hours of the 12th, several of which quickly became tornadic. The first tornadoes of the day developed over central Indiana at around 11:00 am EDT. Several weak and short-lived tornadoes occurred within the hour and caused minor damage. The first intense tornado of the day was an EF3-rated multiple-vortex tornado which struck Quincy, Indiana at 12:17 pm, and was quickly followed by a high-end EF2 tornado which caused considerable damage in the town of Monrovia. The first EF5 tornado of the outbreak struck the town of Medora, Indiana at 12:40 pm, causing five fatalities and 19 injuries over its 25-mile path. The Medora tornado was quickly followed by a devastating EF4 tornado which cut through the city of Seymour at 1:23 pm, severely damaging or destroying nearly a quarter of all buildings in town, resulting in 41 deaths and 371 injuries. Another damaging EF3 tornado impacted the city of Hagerstown at 1:38 pm, causing one death and 11 injuries.

Holly Springs MS Tornado 4

EF4 tornado near Sycamore, Ohio.

By the mid-afternoon hours, most of the supercells had continued into Ohio, with the same supercell that produced the EF3 Quincy, Indiana tornado producing a violent EF5 tornado which impacted Urbana, Ohio at around 2:30 pm, causing 17 deaths and 381 injuries. At around 2:50 pm, a destructive EF3 tornado caused widespread destruction in the Hamilton suburbs of Millville and New Miami, causing one death and 19 injuries. Around the same time, a violent and long-tracked tornado touched down in Ross County, Ohio, reaching EF4 strength as it tracked through the towns of Adelphi and Laurelville at 3:09 pm. The tornado caused three deaths and 22 injuries along its path. Two large tornadoes struck Fredericktown shortly before 3:45 pm, damaging almost every structure in town. These twin tornadoes were rated EF3 and EF2. At 4:14 pm, the same supercell that produced the Adelphi–Laurelville tornado produced another destructive EF4 tornado which tracked through Cumberland, causing catastrophic damage and 26 injuries. The final violent tornado of the Great Lakes event touched down at 5:17 pm and tracked for 51 miles through northern Ohio, reaching high-end EF4 strength near the town of Sycamore. Two people were killed in this tornado, and 31 others were injured.

Continuing into eastern Ohio and Pennsylvania, the supercells began to weaken and dissipate, with the final tornado of the event being an EF0-rated rope tornado which caused minor tree damage in Belmont County, Ohio at around 6:45 pm. 81 tornadoes occurred in the Great Lakes area, causing 79 deaths and 802 injuries

Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia[]

Hattiesburg MS Tornado 2

EF4 tornado in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

The morning hours of April 12 were humid and overcast in the Southeastern states, with temperatures in the 78 to 85 range across much of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. The cloud cover began to break at around 9:30 am CDT, and within two hours, several extremely intense supercells began to develop. At around 2:30 pm CDT, a particularly violent EF5 tornado passed to the southeast of Cleveland, Mississippi, killing six people and causing extreme ground scouring and vegetation damage. At around the same time, a violent EF4 tornado developed in rural areas of Carroll County and tracked through the city of Winona at 2:48 pm, devastating the north side of town and killing seven people. The parent supercell of the EF5 Cleveland tornado produced a very large EF3 tornado just before 3:00 pm, which cut a 1.7-mile wide path through Oakland, killing one person. As the tornadic supercells continued east towards Alabama, another EF4 tornado left a 49-mile track across northeastern Mississippi, causing 11 fatalities in and near the town of Bruce. At 4:03 pm, a long-tracked EF5 tornado touched down in north-central Mississippi, devastating the towns of Taylor, Thaxton, and Cornish, and killing 24 people. The tornado's path was 98 miles long and 1.4 miles wide at its widest point. A final EF4 tornado touched down in eastern Mississippi at 6:27 pm, leaving a 72-mile path and causing very high-end EF4 damage in the town of Aberdeen and surrounding areas of Monroe County. Four fatalities resulted from this tornado. There was 4 EF0s in Southeastern Georgia. Only 1 went into any town well known in the Area, which was St. Mary's, but this wasn't important. 200 Squirrels died, 1 Person injured, trees taken down, is the simple explanation. The Supercell over there was small for its kind and formed at 11:23 AM, kind of just disappearing at 3:12 PM.

Bridgeport AL tornado

EF4 tornado near Piedmont, Alabama.

Tornadic activity was at its most severe in Alabama, where the majority of the 531 fatalities caused by the outbreak occurred. An EF5 tornado tracked directly through the town of Greensboro at around 3:25 pm, killing 19; immediately after the Greensboro tornado dissipated, its parent supercell produced a high-end EF3 tornado which caused seven deaths in the town of Lawley. Shortly after the EF4 Bruce, Mississippi tornado dissipated, the same supercell produced another violent and long-tracked tornado which caused near-EF5 damage in the towns of Sulligent, Beaverton, and Winfield, killing one person and leaving a path 58 miles long. Around an hour later, a damaging EF4 tornado tracked through the town of Hayden, damaging or destroying almost every building in the small community and causing several injuries. Another EF5 tornado touched down in Franklin County at 5:11 pm and tracked for 79 miles into southern Tennessee, reaching peak strength in the towns of Tanner, Capshaw, and Harvest, causing 54 deaths and 841 injuries. Farther to the south at around the same time, an EF4 tornado tracked through Prattville and Millbrook, killing two people and injuring 18. At around 5:30 pm, two violent EF4 tornadoes touched down in eastern Alabama; one tracked through Hollytree and Allison and South Pittsburg, Tennessee, killing 18 people, while the other struck Piedmont and surrounding rural areas of Calhoun County, causing four deaths. The deadliest and longest-tracked tornado of the entire outbreak touched down in rural Tuscaloosa County at 5:41 and tracked for 164 miles into eastern Georgia. The tornado left a 64-mile swath of unbroken EF5 and EF4 damage and caused 87 deaths and 161 injuries, primarily in the city of Fultondale. The final violent tornado in Alabama of the day touched down at 6:12 pm in the far south of the state and tracked through Citronelle, killing 10 people and injuring 63.

By the evening hours, most of the tornadic supercells had tracked out of Alabama into Tennessee and Georgia. While many supercells began to weaken into the evening, many others remained intense and produced additional violent tornadoes in Georgia. At 6:21 pm, the parent supercell of the EF4 Hayden, Alabama tornado produced another violent EF4 tornado which tracked through rural areas near Cassville, causing 26 injuries along its 15-mile path. A high-end EF3 tornado associated with the same supercell touched down later in the evening and devastated the town of Baldwin, causing two deaths and 64 injuries. At 6:23 pm, a large and violent EF4 wedge tornado touched down in rural Lee County and tracked northeast through the cities of Cordele and Seville, resulting in 14 fatalities and 117 injuries before dissipating in northeastern Wilcox County. Another long-tracked and violent tornado touched down near Milner at 6:38 pm and cut through the towns of Flovilla, Shady Dale, and Union Point, killing 25 and injuring over 150 along its 84-mile path. The final EF5 tornado of the outbreak touched down near Corinth at 7:15 pm, struck Peachtree City at peak strength, and tracked for 114 miles to near Crawford, killing 68 people and injuring 124. An associated EF3 satellite tornado to the Peachtree City tornado caused considerable damage and three injuries in the town of Rutledge, while another EF3 tornado caused one fatality and 12 injuries in Danburg after the Peachtree City tornado dissipated. A final EF3 tornado occurred to the north of Blue Ridge shortly after 10:30 pm, tracking into southeast Tennessee and dissipating near Andrews. By 11:00 pm, the supercells had largely organized into a powerful squall line which tracked east over the Carolinas and Virginia, producing widespread wind damage and a few additional weak tornadoes during the overnight hours into the morning of April 13.

Tennessee and Kentucky[]

Murfreesboro TN Tornado 1

EF4 tornado in Powderly, Kentucky.

While the brunt of the outbreak was focused to the north and south, several intense to violent tornadoes also occurred in Kentucky during the afternoon, most of which were associated with the Great Lakes area supercell cluster. At around 2:50 pm CDT, Union Star was struck by a damaging EF3 tornado which caused 13 injuries and severe damage to most of the buildings in the tiny community. To the southwest, a powerful EF4 tornado touched down in Muhlenburg County at 3:21 pm, devastating the city of Powderly and causing three fatalities and 61 injuries. The Powderly tornado was the first violent tornado, as well as the deadliest tornado, in the state of Kentucky since March 2, 2012. After the Powderly tornado dissipated, its parent supercell produced another intense tornado, rated EF3, which destroyed numerous homes and businesses in Beaver Dam, causing one fatality and 27 injuries. Another EF4 tornado tracked through southeastern Mason County at 4:36 pm, largely destroying the small communities of Orangeburg and Plumville, killing one person and injuring 16. The parent supercell of the Powderly and Beaver Dam tornadoes produced an exceptionally large EF3 tornado near Flaherty at 5:12 pm, which reached a peak width of 1.8 miles and caused 11 injuries along its path. Just before 5:30 pm, a long-tracked EF3 tornado touched down and left an 83-mile path across the south-central and southeastern areas of the state, reaching peak intensity near the town of Exie, where two fatalities and 31 injuries occurred. At 5:44 pm, a third EF4 tornado touched down to the east of Richmond and left a 57-mile path before dissipating to the west of Sandy Hook. No fatalities occurred in this tornado, although 41 people were injured.

Vilonia AR Tornado 2

EF4 tornado near Beech Grove, Tennessee.

Significant tornadic activity also took place in Tennessee, mainly during the evening hours as supercells tracked north from Alabama and Georgia. At 6:10 pm CDT, an EF4 tornado touched down and tracked to the west of Georgetown, reaching a peak width of 2.3 miles and causing extreme vegetation damage in rural areas. The Georgetown tornado was the fourth-widest ever recorded, behind the 2013 El Reno, Oklahoma tornado, the 2037 Talihina, Oklahoma tornado, and the 2004 Hallam, Nebraska tornado. Another violent EF4 tornado tracked directly through the town of Beech Grove just after 9:00 pm, causing 9 fatalities and 116 injuries. Almost immediately after the Beech Grove tornado dissipated, its parent supercell produced another deadly tornado which caused two deaths and 59 injuries in Centertown, earning a rating of EF3. A long-tracked EF4 tornado touched down to the north at 9:52 pm and tracked through Cookeville at EF4 strength, causing 7 fatalities and 36 injuries along its path; shortly afterward, another long-tracked, high-end EF4 tornado struck the city of Crossville, killing 11 people and injuring 93. The final intense tornado of the day touched down at 11:21 pm in the Nantahala National Forest, causing severe tree and vegetation damage and earning a rating of EF3, although no fatalities or injuries were reported from this tornado.

April 13[]

Tornado table[]

Confirmed
Total
Confirmed
EF0
Confirmed
EF1
Confirmed
EF2
Confirmed
EF3
Confirmed
EF4
Confirmed
EF5
486 144 208 57 45 24 8



April 10 event[]

List of confirmed tornadoes - Wednesday, April 10, 2024
EF#
Location
County
State
Time (UTC)
Path length
Max. width
Summary
EF3 NNW of Savanna to E of Richville Pittsburg OK 0219-0254 14.20 miles 1,520 yards 3 deaths - The tornado touched down to the north-northwest of Savanna and tracked through mostly rural areas, toppling numerous trees and damaging the roofs of farmhouses, barns, and outbuildings before intensifying to EF3 strength as it moved through McAlester. Numerous well-constructed frame houses had their roofs and exterior walls removed, a few manufactured homes were completely leveled, several cars were thrown up to 120 yards, and a large steel transmission tower was toppled. The tornado weakened to EF2 strength as it continued through Krebs, removing the roofs from several frame houses and destroying additional manufactured homes. Hundreds more trees were snapped or toppled as the tornado moved through wooded areas, gradually weakening and dissipating to the east of Richville.
EF2 E of Owasso Tulsa, Rogers OK 0310-0322 6.55 miles 380 yards 1 death - High-end EF2 tornado touched down near Owasso and tracked east-northeast through an industrial area, where three factories sustained severe roofing damage; one had all but one corner of its roof removed and the upper portion of one exterior wall destroyed. Six warehouses were severely damaged or partially demolished in this area as well. The tornado weakened to EF1 strength as it struck a mobile home park, damaging around 20 mobile homes and partially demolishing four. One person was killed at the mobile home park, and seven others were injured along the path.

April 11 event[]

List of confirmed tornadoes - Thursday, April 11, 2024
EF#
Location
County
State
Time (UTC)
Path length
Max. width
Summary
EF2 Ajax area Natchitoches LA 2043-2048 4.45 miles 1,760 yards 2 deaths - Large multiple-vortex wedge tornado moved through forests and caused mainly EF1-level damage along its path, toppling numerous trees and snapping branches. The tornado reached EF2 strength as it struck Ajax, removing the roof and wall paneling from a steel-framed barn, completely removing the roof of a farmhouse, demolishing several trailer homes and outbuildings, and flipping two parked cars. Weakening to EF1 strength, the tornado continued through forested areas and downed hundreds more trees before dissipating. Two people in Ajax were killed, and an additional 16 were injured.
EF3 Jonesville area Harrison TX 2055-2059 3.65 miles 170 yards Brief but intense rain-wrapped tornado toppled and uprooted several trees before crossing Interstate 20, tossing a moving car 90 yards from the highway and critically injuring the driver. A few small shops on the north side of the highway were severely damaged, and additional trees were snapped and toppled before the tornado moved through Jonesville, where three barns, a warehouse, several frame houses and a convenience store were demolished, with one newly built house being completely leveled. A propane tank was tossed and several trees were snapped and uprooted in town. The tornado weakened rapidly as it continued to the northeast and dissipated soon afterwards. 13 people were injured.
EF3 SW of Chatham to SE of Cheniere Jackson, Ouachita LA 2126-2150 22.40 miles 485 yards 3 deaths - Intense stovepipe tornado touched down in rural Jackson Parish and rapidly intensified, snapping and uprooting numerous trees before tracking directly through Chatham. Several houses in town were severely damaged or demolished, with two poorly-anchored houses being leveled with debris pushed off of their foundations. A dollar store and a daycare center were heavily damaged as well. As the tornado continued to the northeast, numerous trees in forested areas were debarked and denuded, suggesting borderline EF4 strength. The tornado maintained EF3 strength as it struck and demolished a large warehouse near Wood Junction, and continued to snap and uproot trees for an additional two miles before weakening to EF2 strength shortly after crossing the Ouachita Parish line. Several mobile homes were destroyed to the west of Okaloosa, and a convenience store had its roof torn away. The tornado continued through rural areas before tracking to the east of Cadeville, where additional mobile homes were destroyed at EF2 strength. The remainder of the tornado's path was over forested areas, and damage was limited to trees which were toppled. The tornado abruptly dissipated to the southeast of Cheniere. In addition to the fatalities, 36 people were injured.
EF2 N of Collinston to SW of Concord Morehouse LA 2204-2231 27.70 miles 1,250 yards High-end EF2 wedge tornado tracked mainly through farmers' fields, pushing over several small trees and shrubs in orchards at EF1 strength during the first four miles of its path. The tornado quickly gained strength as it passed to the east of Mer Rouge, removing the roof and most of the upper floor walls from a two-story farmhouse, demolishing several tool sheds and three barns, and flipping several parked vehicles including a 1.5-ton tractor. Trees in a small wood lot near Oak Grove Highway were snapped and toppled, and additional farmhouses to the north of the highway were severely damaged, with one having all four exterior walls knocked down. As the tornado continued northeast, several manufactured homes were completely leveled and nearby parked cars were flipped or tossed short distances. The tornado weakened to EF1 strength to the northeast of Bonita, severely damaging several more mobile homes and toppling trees and power poles before moving over forested areas for the last two miles of its path, where tree branches were snapped at EF0 strength before the tornado dissipated.
EF2 NE of Willisville to ESE of Reader Nevada, Ouachita AR 2357-0014 15.35 miles 195 yards Elephant trunk tornado moved mainly through dense forests, toppling numerous trees in its path at EF1 strength. Several rural houses sustained moderate roofing damage and power poles were pushed over before the tornado reached low-end EF2 strength to the southeast of Bluff City, completely removing the roofs from frame houses, snapping numerous hardwood trees, and flipping several parked cars before again weakening to EF1 strength as it continued to the northeast, toppling more trees in forested areas before dissipating to the east-southeast of Reader. Three people were injured.
EF2 Dierks area Howard AR 0006-0018 9.30 miles 805 yards
EF3 N of Lisbon, LA to ENE of Lawson, AR Claiborne, Union, Union (AR) LA, AR 0112-0153 37.95 miles 720 yards 2 deaths -
EF2 Mayflower area Howard AR 0147-0200 9.75 miles 1,925 yards
EF3 SSW of Cabot to SW of Searcy Lonoke, White AR 0249-0313 19.10 miles 475 yards 1 death -
EF2 Havana area Yell AR 0311-0319 7.85 miles 620 yards

April 12 event[]

List of confirmed tornadoes - Friday, April 12, 2024
EF#
Location
County
State
Time (UTC)
Path length
Max. width
Summary
EF3 ENE of Atkinsonville to NE of Quincy Owen IN 1617-1631 9.45 miles 160 yards
EF5 NE of Pinhook to NNE of Retreat Lawrence, Jackson IN 1625-1655 25.60 miles 1,760 yards 5 deaths -
EF4 SW of Hangman Crossing to S of Napoleon Jackson, Jennings, Ripley IN 1716-1758 34.25 miles 465 yards 41 deaths -
EF3 Hagerstown area Wayne IN 1735-1640 3.60 miles 345 yards 1 death -
EF5 NNE of New Carlisle to S of North Lewisburg Clark, Champaign OH 1813-1849 29.80 miles 1,240 yards 17 deaths -
EF3 E of Okeana to E of Five Points Butler, Warren IN 1831-1906 31.05 miles 710 yards 1 death -
EF4 SE of Andersonville to SW of Hemlock Ross, Hocking, Perry OH 1854-1948 46.25 miles 260 yards 3 deaths -
EF3 NNE of Rolling Fork area Issaquena, Sharkey MS 1906-1919 12.15 miles 135 yards
EF5 NNE of Grapeland to WSW of Glendora Bolivar, Sunflower, Leflore MS 1923-1959 34.70 miles 715 yards 6 deaths -
EF4 NE of Coila to NNW of Mathiston Carroll, Montgomery, Webster MS 1925-2012 46.10 miles 515 yards 7 deaths -
EF3 SW of Rolling Fork to W of Newton Copiah, Simpson, Rankin, Scott, Newton MS 1926-2042 77.20 miles 1,235 yards
EF4 W of Skuna to S of Verona Yalobusha, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lee MS 1927-2018 1,080 yards 49.35 miles 11 deaths -
EF3 SE of Fredericktown Butler, Warren OH 1937-1947 8.95 miles 670 yards
EF3 SW of Morganfield to NE of Waverly Union KY 1942-1958 9.60 miles 515 yards
EF3 E of Charleston to SW of Water Valley Tallahatchie, Yalobusha MS 1953-2007 14.70 miles 2,990 yards
EF4 SW of Cumberland to NW of Pleasant City Muskingum, Guernsey OH 2014-2028 9.90 miles 935 yards
EF4 NW of Greenville to NE of Cleaton Muhlenburg KY 2021-2037 8.40 miles 260 yards 3 deaths -
EF5 NW of Belmont to NE of Heiberger Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry AL 2019-2113 47.80 miles 1,105 yards 19 deaths -
EF4 WSW of Sulligent to NE of Houston Lamar, Marion, Winston AL 2024-2121 58.75 miles 1,550 yards 1 death -
EF4 SW of of Orangeburg to SW of Concord Mason, Lewis KY 2036-2108 27.20 miles 1,320 yards 1 death -
EF5 SE of Courtland, MS to S of Red Bay, AL Panola, Lafayette, Pontotoc,Lee, Itawamba, Franklin (AL) MS, AL 2103-2227 98.60 miles 1,480 yards 24 deaths -
EF4 NW of Kenton to SW of Attica Hardin, Wyandot, Seneca OH 2117-2209 51.35 miles 2,125 yards 2 deaths -
EF4 N of of Warrior to SE of Rosa Blount AL 2128-2151 19.55 miles 1,760 yards
EF4 ENE of of Waco to SSW of Blaze Estill, Powell, Menifee, Morgan KY 2144-2251 41.88 miles 625 yards
EF5 NE of of Phil Campbell, AL to SE of Kelso, TN Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Lincoln (TN) AL, TN 2211-2353 79.35 miles 590 yards 54 deaths -
EF4 S of of Autaugaville to E of Coosada Autauga, Elmore AL 2222-2248 22.05 miles 265 yards 2 deaths -
EF4 E of of Brownsboro, AL to E of Jasper Madison, Jackson, Marion (TN) AL, TN 2230-2326 52.30 miles 1,560 yards 18 deaths -
EF4 NW of of Alexandria to S of Rock Run Calhoun, Cherokee AL 2233-2303 52.30 miles 860 yards 4 deaths -
EF5 NE of of Alexandria to NW of Cartersville Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, St. Clair, Calhoun, Cherokee, Polk (GA), Floyd (GA), Bartow (GA) AL, GA 2241-0152 164.85 miles 1,865 yards 87 deaths -
EF4 W of of Georgetown to S of Allen Hamilton, Meigs TN 2310-2329 13.85 miles 4,045 yards
EF4 NW of of Alexandria to S of Rock Run Mobile, Washington, Baldwin AL 2312-2354 37.70 miles 1,030 yards 10 deaths -
EF4 SW of of Cassville to ESE of Rydal Bartow GA 2321-2334 15.10 miles 980 yards
EF4 S of of Cobb to NNE of Abbeville Lee, Crisp, Wilcox GA 2323-0019 45.35 miles 595 yards 14 deaths -
EF4 NE of Montpelier, MS to SE of Detroit, AL Clay, Monroe, Lamar (AL) MS, AL 2327-0021 1,320 yards 48.20 miles 4 deaths -
EF4 ENE of Milner to WSW of Washington Lamar, Butts, Jasper, Putnam, Morgan, Greene, Taliaferro, Wilkes GA 2338-0116 84.75 miles 600 yards 28 deaths -
EF5 ENE of Corinth to NW of Crawford Cowetta, Fayette, Clayton, Henry, Rockdale, Newton, Morgan, Oconee, Clarke, Olgethorpe GA 0015-0238 114.85 miles 1,425 yards 68 deaths -
EF4 NNW of of Shelbyville to SW of Centertown Bedford, Coffee, Cannon TN 0148-0221 27.65 miles 965 yards 9 deaths -
EF4 SW of of Silver Point to SW of Grimsley DeKalb, Putnam, Overton, Fentress TN 0245-0317 42.90 miles 610 yards 7 deaths -
EF3 S of Kingston to W of Dandridge Roane, Lenore, Knox, Jefferson TN 0310-0358 61.30 miles 1,120 yards 32 deaths -
EF4 NE of Spencer to NW of Clinton White, Cumberland, Morgan, Scott TN 0310-0358 61.30 miles 1,120 yards 11 deaths -

April 13 event[]

List of confirmed tornadoes - Saturday, April 13, 2024
EF#
Location
County
State
Time (UTC)
Path length
Max. width
Summary
EF3 WNW of Raoul to SSW of Tallulah Falls Habersham GA 0539-0554 18.85 miles 505 yards
EF2 NE of Meeting Street Saluda SC 0611-0614 3.15 miles 810 yards
EF2 SW of West Jefferson to S of Nathans Creek Ashe NC 0658-0709 10.40 miles 175 yards
EF3 SW of Tigerville to W of Campobello Saluda SC 0730-0743 12.75 miles 690 yards
EF2 NE of Lost Creek to W of Auxier Breathitt, Magoffin, Floyd KY 0736-0755 19.15 miles 1,570 yards
EF4 W of Johnsonville Harnett VA 0829-0832 3.25 miles 800 yards
EF2 NE of Hopkins to NE of Bunn Franklin NC 0858-0908 10.05 miles 225 yards
EF3 S of Portland Summer TN 1322-1329 6.40 miles 440 yards
EF4 NW of Lightfoot to SE of Gwynn Island James, York, Gloucester, Mathews VA 1509-1542 30.45 miles 965 yards

Notable tornadoes[]

Medora, Indiana[]

EF5 tornado (NWS)
Century FL tornado 3
Duration 1225 EDT – 1255 EDT
Intensity 340 km/h (210 mph) (1-min)

The first EF5 tornado of the tornado outbreak developed over southern Indiana in the early afternoon hours of April 12 and tracked through the town of Medora before dissipating in rural Jackson County. The tornado touched down at 12:25 pm EDT over a forested area near the community of Pinhook, initially toppling trees in its path at EF1 strength. The tornado gradually intensified as it tracked east-northeast, snapping several trees at EF2 strength minutes after touching down. After crossing Guthrie Creek, the tornado struck a farmhouse, completely removing its roof and collapsing a portion of one of its second-floor walls. A nearby shed was mostly demolished at mid-range EF2 strength, and several more trees were snapped and toppled. The tornado weakened to EF1 strength as it continued over another forest, toppling trees and snapping branches in its path. A small cottage sustained minor roofing damage in this area as well.

Moving over a series of farmers' fields, the tornado reintensified to high-end EF2 strength, mostly demolishing a barn and a steel garage. A man who attempted to shelter in the garage was crushed to death as the tornado struck. The tornado then cut through a rural subdivision while continuing to intensify. Several frame houses were destroyed with only interior walls left standing, while numerous others had their roofs removed. A brick Methodist church lost the majority of its roof and half of one exterior wall. Several parked cars in this area were tossed up to 95 yards, and trees were snapped and uprooted. Surveys determined that a mixture of EF2 and EF3-level damage occurred in the area. Moving over a large forested area, the tornado maintained EF3 strength, snapping and uprooting thousands of trees in its path. Numerous trees were partially debarked, and a few trees near a hiking trail were stripped of their branches and reduced to featureless trunks; tree damage at this location was severe enough that damage surveyors assigned an EF4 rating.

Immediately after exiting the forest, the violent and intensifying tornado cut directly through the town of Medora. Numerous well-constructed frame houses in the tornado's path were competely leveled, and several were entirely swept away. Some of these houses were found to have been newly built and well-anchored to their foundations; at least seven houses were determined to have sustained EF5 damage. The western half of Medora High School was torn away with debris scattered more than 150 yards downwind, while the eastern half was almost entirely leveled. A neighboring brick church was flattened, while a steel warehouse was reduced to an empty foundation. Several parked cars near the church were tossed as far as 700 yards and mangled beyond recognition while a tractor-trailer was thrown 400 yards into a bank. Further to the east, brick businesses including a tavern and a post office were swept away; a few anchor bolts at the post office were snapped off of the foundation. Trees in a small wood lot were completely debarked and denuded before the tornado moved over more rural areas. Four people were killed in town, and an additional 60 were injured.

The tornado maintained EF4 strength for a half-mile to the east of Medora, sweeping away barns and outbuildings on a farm and debarking additional trees. Past this point, the tornado rapidly weakened to low-end EF3 strength, partially demolishing a rural warehouse before crossing the East Fork White River, snapping and uprooting dozens of trees along its banks. The tornado then moved over a vineyard, flattening crops and partially demolishing a wooden barn. EF2 damage was observed as far east as Highway 39, beyond which the tornado weakened to EF0 strength. Minor roofing damage was observed to several barns before the tornado dissipated to the north-northeast of Retreat at 12:55 pm.

The tornado remained on the ground for 30 minutes over a 25.60-mile path. The tornado was given a rating of EF5, with estimated peak winds of 210 miles per hour based on the damage in Medora. A total of five people were killed, and 78 others were injured. The National Weather Service office in Indianapolis expressed that the tornado's low death toll was "remarkable" considering the tornado's occurrence in the early afternoon. The lack of a much higher death toll was attributed to considerable lead time, with the town of Medora having been under a tornado warning for more than 20 minutes before the tornado struck.

Seymour, Indiana[]

EF4 tornado (NWS)
Washington IL Tornado 3
Duration 1316 EDT – 1358 EDT
Intensity 280 km/h (175 mph) (1-min)
Main article: 2024 Seymour, Indiana tornado

In the early afternoon hours of April 12, a violent and deadly tornado cut through the city of Seymour and surrounding areas of southeastern Indiana, earning a rating of EF4. The tornado touched down at 1:16 pm EDT in rural Jackson County roughly two miles to the southwest of Hangman Crossing and was initially weak, but rapidly intensified to EF3 strength as it tracked through Hangman Crossing, destroying numerous houses, debarking trees, and causing one fatality.

The tornado further intensified to EF4 strength as it continued into Seymour, destroying several businesses before devastating residential areas, where hundreds of houses in its path were destroyed and the majority of Seymour High School was demolished. Moving into the downtown area, the tornado destroyed numerous brick buildings including the Seymour Police Station. A total of 62 businesses were damaged or destroyed in the downtown area before the tornado moved over an industrial area on the eastern side of the town, severely damaging a large trucking plant. Several barns and a farmhouse were swept away to the northeast of Seymour, and hundreds of trees in a forested area were debarked and denuded. 36 people were killed in the Seymour city limits, and 297 were injured.

The tornado weakened to EF3 strength as it continued northeast, destroying a large farmhouse and several barns and outbuildings. A second area of EF4 damage occurred as the tornado crossed over a rural subdivision, leveling four frame houses. Again weakening to EF3 strength, the tornado passed to the south of Queensville, destroying additional houses and severely damaging two churches and two factories. EF2 damage was observed as the tornado moved over an orchard and struck a mushroom barn. Several mobile homes near the North Vernon Municipal Airport were destroyed, resulting in another fatality. EF2 damage was observed for an additional two miles as the tornado continued through forested areas before dissipating to the south of Napoleon at 1:58 pm.

The tornado remained on the ground for 42 minutes and left a path 34.25 miles long, reaching a peak width of 410 yards near Queensville. A state of emergency was issued for Jackson County at 12:16 pm EDT and federal aid was soon dispatched to Seymour, as well as the nearby city of Medora, which had previously been struck by an EF5 tornado produced by the same supercell that produced the Seymour tornado. The parent supercell produced a final significant tornado, rated EF2, near the unincorporated community of Cedar Grove at 2:32 pm, which resulted in six injuries.

Urbana, Ohio[]

EF5 tornado (NWS)
South Nashville TN EF3
Duration 1413 EDT – 1449 EDT
Intensity 350 km/h (220 mph) (1-min)

Produced by a powerful cyclic supercell, this EF5-rated tornado tracked through rural areas of western Ohio and passed near the city of Urbana while near peak strength. The tornado touched down at 2:13 pm EDT near the community of Dawnview Acres and tracked northeast at more than 50 miles per hour. The tornado initially damaged the roofs of several frame houses and snapped numerous tree branches before moving over farmland. A few barns and outbuildings sustained moderate roofing damage over the next two miles of the tornado's path, while farmhouses had shingles removed from their roofs. The tornado strengthened to EF2 intensity as it grazed past the tiny unincorporated community of North Hampton, where mobile homes were demolished, frame houses had their roofs completely removed, the Pike Township Fire Station lost all but one corner of its roof, and a brick courthouse sustained minor damage.

Past North Hampton, the tornado moved over empty fields and caused minimal damage over the next mile of its path. Video evidence suggest the tornado nearly doubled its width in a period of 30 seconds, expanding to 800 yards. The tornado passed over a forested area at high-end EF2 strength, toppling and snapping hundreds of trees before cutting through the Pinewood Estates subdivision, where a steel warehouse was mostly demolished, a few permanent houses had their roofs and exterior walls removed, and mobile homes were leveled. Damage in Pinewood Estates was initially rated high-end EF2 before being upgraded to low-end EF3 in a secondary damage survey. The Drake Acres subdivision was struck next, where several more houses were demolished, trees were partially debarked, and several cars were thrown up to 160 yards.

The tornado weakened to EF0 and low-end EF1 strength as it passed through another forested area and to the northwest of Tremont City due to the fluctuating intensity of its parent supercell. Minimal damage occurred over the next five miles of the tornado's path. An industrial area near Storms Creek was struck at EF1 strength, where several factories and warehouses sustained minor roofing damage, and outbuildings were heavily damaged. The tornado rapidly regained intensity as it neared Highway 55, debarking trees in a wood lot at high-end EF3 strength. Further to the northeast, a farmhouse was completely leveled, three barns were swept away, and additional trees were debarked. Two people were killed in this area, and three people were injured. As the tornado neared Highway 55, a rare tornado emergency was issued for the city of Urbana.

The tornado reached EF5 intensity as it cut through the southeastern fringe of Urbana. An industrial area was struck first, where a large manufacturing plant was leveled and partially swept away, with debris scattered across the eastern half of the town, and a furniture warehouse and a packaging company building were completely flattened. Several trucks in the area were thrown more than 500 yards, and a forklift was found nearly a full mile to the north. As the tornado continued into residential areas, numerous well-constructed split-level houses were swept away, many of which were found to have been well-anchored with nut and washer-secured bolts. Surveys reported that at least 30 houses were reduced to bare foundations, 12 of which were found to have sustained EF5 damage. Two houses had their basement walls cleanly sheared off inches above ground level. Additionally, several trees were completely debarked and denuded, and cars were tossed up to 750 yards and mangled beyond recognition. The tornado moved over a track and field stadium, leaving a swath of pronounced grass scouring before moving over Highway 36, leveling a Kroger grocery store, a bank, and a Walmart, then exiting the city limits and moving over more rural areas. A total of 13 people were killed in Urbana, and 141 were injured.

Past Urbana, a large farm was struck at EF5 strength. The large and well-constructed farmhouse was cleanly swept away with a portion of its ground floor collapsed into the basement, and debris scattered a quarter-mile to the east. Two cars parked nearby were tossed 600 yards, with one found crumpled and wrapped around the trunk of a tree. Corn stalks in fields were shredded down to stubble, and widespread soil scouring occurred. EF4 damage continued as the tornado crossed Highway 36 a second time, tossing a truck two-thirds of a mile from the highway and killing the driver. Nearby trees were completely debarked, and an unanchored farmhouse further to the northeast was swept away, with a large tractor nearby being tossed 500 yards. An auto repair shop near Highway 36 was completely leveled, leading to one final fatality. The tornado weakened further to EF3 strength as it passed over another wood lot, snapping and uprooting dozens more trees.

Moving over empty fields, the tornado narrowed to 300 yards in width and took on a typical stovepipe appearance. EF1 to EF2-level damage was observed to a subdivision near Woodstock, where several houses had their roofing severely stripped, and the Triad High School had its roof completely removed and one exterior wall knocked down. Another subdivision of small, wooden frame houses to the north was struck as the tornado continued to weaken and narrow. EF1-level roofing damage was observed to several houses in this area, and several trees and power poles were downed. The tornado roped out and dissipated over a forest to the south of North Lewisburg at 2:49 pm.

The tornado caused 17 fatalities and 208 injuries over its 29.80-mile path, and remained on the ground for 36 minutes. The tornado was rated as an EF5, with estimated peak winds of 220 miles per hour (350 km/h) based on damage in residential areas of Urbana. The National Weather Service office in Wilmington, Ohio later stated that, despite the devastation, the death toll may have been several times higher if the tornado had tracked slightly to the north and struck the central business district of Urbana, or struck an hour earlier, when more commuters were on the roads. The tornado was the first to be rated F5 or EF5 in Ohio since May 31, 1985, and the first violent tornado in the state since June 5, 2010. Urbana was the first of five cities visited by the President of the United States in the days following the outbreak and the first to receive federal aid.

Adelphi–Laurelville, Ohio[]

EF4 tornado (NWS)
Henryville IN Tornado
Duration 1454 EDT – 1548 EDT
Intensity 285 km/h (180 mph) (1-min)

This violent and long-lived tornado cut a path through south-central Ohio in the mid-afternoon hours of April 12, reaching mid-range EF4 strength as it struck the neighboring towns of Adelphi and Laurelville, causing several fatalities and hundreds of injuries. The tornado touched down at 2:54 pm EDT near Andersonville and was initially weak, inflicting EF1-level damage to the roof of a small church. A few houses, two metal storage buildings, and a farmhouse sustained EF1-level damage to their roofs and siding shortly after the tornado touched down. As the tornado moved over empty fields, it expanded from 35 to 70 yards in width and took on a long "elephant trunk" appearance. A barn to the east lost half of its roof, and nearby grain bins were damaged before the tornado moved over a forested area, where hundreds of trees were toppled. EF0-level damage was observed to sheds and outbuildings on the far side of the forest, and a rural frame house sustained low-end EF1 roofing damage. Additional trees in a wood lot were downed before the tornado reached EF2 strength as it struck the Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center, causing severe roofing damage to the complex and flipping or tossing several vehicles in the parking lot. Three people were injured in this area.

The tornado then continued over empty fields, flattening corn stalks and damaging the roofs of sheds. EF2 damage was observed as the tornado moved over residential areas to the south of Kingston, completely removing the roofs from several well-constructed homes, partially demolishing a convenience store, leveling two small sheds, and toppling or snapping several trees. As the tornado continued over another wood lot, numerous trees were snapped and uprooted at high-end EF2 strength. The nearby Kingston Church had its roof removed and one exterior wall collapsed, and barns and farmhouses further to the east were partially or mostly demolished. One poorly-anchored farmhouse in the area was leveled and partially swept away at low-end EF3 strength. Consistent EF2 damage was observed as the tornado passed through another forest, toppling or snapping trees in its path.

Around this time, the tornado expanded to around 120 yards in width, with the funnel becoming roughly V-shaped. Two other farmhouses had their roofs completely removed, and several barns were demolished, before the tornado regained EF3 intensity to the east of Whisler. Several well-constructed houses were completely demolished in the Whisler area, barns and a vehicle shed were leveled, several grain silos were destroyed, and trees were snapped and uprooted, with a few being partially debarked. The tornado became violent as it approached Adelphi, scouring sections of pavement from Highway 280 and debarking several more trees around Bull Creek. A cluster of houses to the east of Bull Creek was struck at EF4 strength; four well-constructed split-level homes were completely flattened, and two others were demolished. Additional trees were uprooted and debarked, and two more rural frame houses were leveled before the tornado struck Adelphi directly.

The tornado roughly followed Main Street through Adelphi, where 11 frame and split-level houses were completely leveled, most of which were found to have been well-constructed. An additional 29 houses were severely damaged or destroyed, and 16 others sustained minor damage. A large pub, a post office, and the Kingston National Bank were demolished as well. Several cars in Adelphi were thrown long distances and heavily mangled, with one originating near the post office being found 800 yards to the east and wrapped around a power pole. Several trees in Adelphi were completely debarked and denuded as well. The tornado then crossed Salt Creek into Laurelville, striking another residential area. Nearly two dozen houses in Laurelville were leveled, the Laurelville Church of God was almost entirely demolished, the large, brick Wellman Funeral Home was flattened and partially swept away, and several more trees were debarked. Damage in both Adelphi and Laurelville was rated mid-range EF4, with estimated wind speeds of 180 miles per hour. A 37-year old woman in Adelphi was killed as her car was tossed from a parking lot, and a 29-year old man in Laurelville was killed in the destruction of his home. An additional 46 people in the area were injured.

Past Laurelville, the tornado weakened to EF3 strength; snapping, uprooting, and debarking hundreds of trees in a large forest before passing over a rural subdivision, demolishing the upper floor of a large two-story house and completely destroying a few sheds and outbuildings. After crossing through a series of farmers' fields, the tornado struck a larger subdivision to the northwest of Gibsonville, destroying six houses, thirteen barns, a Methodist Church, and a lodge. A picket fence around an orchard was blown down in this area, several more trees were debarked, and cars were tossed up to 150 yards. Seven people were injured in the area; two critically, but no fatalities occurred.

Another cluster of rural houses was struck at high-end EF2 strength to the northeast of Gibsonville, where several mobile homes were completely destroyed, frame houses had their roofing completely removed, sheds and outbuildings were demolished, and several parked cars were flipped or tossed short distances. One man in this area was killed in the destruction of his mobile home, and four others were injured. The tornado continued over a subdivision to the south of Logan, removing the roofs from several more houses and tearing away half of the roofing from the Logan High School. Shortly after crossing a canal, the tornado weakened to EF1 strength and moved over another forested area for the remainder of its path. Numerous trees in the final 10 miles of the tornado's path were toppled, and many more had their branches snapped. The tornado ultimately dissipated around three miles to the southwest of Hemlock at 3:48 pm EDT.

The tornado left a path 46.25 miles long and remained on the ground for 54 minutes, making it the longest-tracked tornado in the state of Ohio since November 10, 2002. Three people were killed along the tornado's path, and 82 were injured. After the Adelphi–Laurelville tornado dissipated, its produced two more violent tornadoes in Ohio; one which struck Cumberland, and another which cut through Sycamore. Both tornadoes were also rated EF4.

Cleveland, Mississippi[]

EF5 tornado (NWS)
Philadelphia MS Tornado 3
Duration 1423 CDT – 1459 CDT
Intensity 405 km/h (255 mph) (1-min)

This destructive and particularly violent tornado, rated EF5, tracked through northwestern Mississippi in the afternoon of April 12, destroying numerous buildings and causing extreme vegetation damage in rural areas to the southeast of the city of Cleveland. The tornado touched down at 2:23 pm CDT to the north-northeast of Grapeland, causing roof damage to a small church at EF1 strength shortly after touching down. Several farmhouses, barns, and outbuildings sustained minor to moderate roof damage further along the path before the tornado crossed over a forested area, toppling hundreds of trees. Two double-wide mobile homes were demolished along Palmer-Satterfield Road at EF2 strength, and a parked SUV was rolled into a ditch. As the tornado crossed Litton Road, it narrowed from 120 yards to roughly 90 yards wide but continued to gain intensity, demolishing a farmhouse and two nearby barns at low-end EF3 strength. Nearby trees were snapped and denuded as well.

The tornado weakened to EF1 strength as it struck the community of Longshot, where additional trees were toppled and several large and well-built houses sustained severe roofing damage. Several outbuildings including a large tool shed were damaged as well, and one man was injured. Tree branches were snapped at EF0 strength in a small wood lot to the northeast of Longshot, and a moving car was pushed off of Litton Road. The tornado then moved over empty fields for two miles before striking a farm to the west of O'Reilly, removing the roofs from several farm buildings, damaging two grain silos, and demolishing the garage of the farmhouse; damage in this area was rated high-end EF1.

Approaching the community of Skene, the tornado intensified to EF3 strength, demolishing three well-constructed farmhouses before striking a mobile home park. Several mobile homes were cleanly swept away with debris scattered hundreds of yards downwind, and eleven people were injured in this area. As the tornado moved through Skene, the Skene Baptist Church and several houses suffered total roof loss; two houses had their exterior walls collapsed, and several trees were toppled or snapped. Most of the damage in Skene was rated EF2; however, one frame house was determined to have suffered low-end EF3 damage. Continuing to the northeast of Skene, the tornado rapidly grew and intensified, and at 2:38 pm a PDS tornado warning was issued for the city of Cleveland. The tornado struck another mobile home park outside the Cleveland city limits, obliterating several more mobile homes at EF4 strength. The steel undercarriage of one mobile home was tossed a half mile and found wrapped around the trunk of a tree, and several cars were tossed hundreds of yards and heavily damaged. One person was killed in this area, and six others were injured.

Consistent EF3 to EF4 damage was observed as the tornado tracked through the southern outskirts of Cleveland, where numerous houses were entirely leveled, with four being cleanly swept away, additional cars were tossed up to 210 yards, and trees were completely debarked and denuded. A steel plant on Laughlin Road was leveled with debris pushed off of its foundation, resulting in one death and six injuries; damage surveys determined that the plant sustained high-end EF4 damage. Shortly after cutting through Cleveland, the tornado reached EF5 strength in rural areas. Extreme vegetation damage was observed as the tornado passed over a series of fields, shredding wheat and corn stalks down to half-inch stubble and tearing roots from the ground in clumps. Numerous ears of corn were husked in this area as well. A swath of ground scouring around 3/4 of a mile in length, 200 yards in width and up to 16 inches deep occurred through adjacent fields along Old Ruleville Road, and a stretch of asphalt nearly 200 feet long was scoured from the road itself. Trees in a small grove along White Street were completely debarked and denuded, with many being reduced to featureless trunks or small stubs. A moving van was tossed nearly a full mile from Old Ruleville Road and found stripped down to its frame and wrapped around the trunk of a tree. The bodies of the three occupants were found ejected up to 600 yards from the van.

The tornado weakened to EF4 strength shortly after passing to the north of Dockery, leveling three frame homes in a rural subdivision. Moving over another stretch of fields, the tornado caused some additional ground scouring and uprooting of crops, before crossing through a series of wood lots, snapping and debarking numerous more trees. EF3 damage occurred to the east of this point as a well-built two-story farmhouse was mostly demolished, with only interior walls on its first floor still standing, and a few outbuildings were flattened. Another farmhouse had most of its top floor removed, and nearby trees were uprooted and denuded. The tornado again reached EF4 strength as it cut through a forested area to the east of Drew, completely debarking additional trees before weakening to EF3 strength. Over the next mile of the tornado's path, several barns and outbuildings were struck and severely damaged or demolished; one steel cattle barn was completely leveled and partially swept away, killing around 200 head of cattle. The tornado weakened to low-end EF2 strength shortly after crossing into Leflore County, destroying several mobile homes and removing the roof and cornice from the East Mt. Olive Church. Several more grain bins, an abandoned farmhouse, and a few outbuildings were severely damaged near the tiny community of Brooks; two people were injured in this area. Past Brooks, EF0 damage to trees and the roofs of outbuildings was observed before the tornado gradually roped out and dissipated to the west-southwest of Glendora at 2:59 pm.

With estimated peak winds of 255 mph, the Cleveland tornado was the first tornado to be rated EF5 in the state of Mississippi since the Smithville tornado on April 27, 2011, and the first violent tornado in the state since April 3, 2020. The tornado left behind a 34.70-mile path and remained on the ground for a total of 36 minutes, causing six fatalities and 28 injuries. The ground scouring and vegetation damage to the east of Cleveland was described as "among the worst ever documented" by the National Weather Service office in Jackson, and some meteorologists questioned the official estimates of the tornado's peak winds as being overly conservative, with one unofficial survey cautiously applying a peak wind estimate of 290 mph.

Winona–Eupora, Mississippi[]

EF4 tornado (NWS)
Cullman AL Tornado 4
Duration 1425 CDT – 1512 CDT
Intensity 295 km/h (185 mph) (1-min)

This long-lived, violent EF4 tornado tracked through the towns of Winona and Eupora in the afternoon of April 12, devastating both towns and causing several deaths. The tornado was associated with a particularly intense and long-lived tornadic supercell which tracked from Arkansas to North Carolina and produced several violent tornadoes. The tornado touched down to the northeast of Coila at 2:25 pm CDT, and moved through highly rural forested areas for the first six miles of its path, producing EF0 to EF1-level damage to trees, many of which were toppled or had branches snapped. A few mobile homes to the west of Highway 35 sustained moderate damage with roofs removed and a few walls blown down; shortly afterwards, the tornado intensified to EF2 strength as it struck a campsite, rolling two tent trailers, removing the roof from the campsite visitor's center, which was housed in a large log cabin, and toppling and uprooting numerous trees.

Further to the northeast, the tornado demolished several more mobile homes and flipped a few parked cars. Video captured by storm chasers revealed that the tornado narrowed as it crossed Highway 62 but continued to intensify, demolishing two nearby farmhouses and leveling several barns. Another park was struck past this point, where several small outbuildings were destroyed at low-end EF3 strength and trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado intensified to EF4 strength shortly before crossing Interstate 55, sweeping away a poorly-anchored farmhouse and scattering debris for hundreds of yards downwind. A parked car was thrown 210 yards and heavily mangled at this location, and a few trees were debarked. The tornado then crossed Interstate 55, tossing two moving cars from the highway. One of the cars was thrown 300 yards and bounced several times, killing the driver; the other was thrown 180 yards into a forested area; the driver was critically injured, but survived. As the tornado moved through the Winona city limits, an auto parts shop housed in a large two-story steel building was demolished with the second story collapsed into the first, an El Cabrito restaurant, a dollar store, and a book rental store were leveled, and the Winona Elementary School had its western wing flattened and its southern wing heavily damaged, with the roof and exterior walls removed. A gas station had its canopy torn away and thrown over 200 yards, with the canopy's pillars collapsed or ripped from the ground. Past this point, the tornado moved through residential areas, leveling numerous houses in its path. Several well-constructed frame and split-level houses were completely flattened, with debris pushed off of their foundations, while a few poorly-anchored houses were cleanly swept away. Parked cars were thrown in excess of 250 yards, and several trees were completely debarked and denuded. After cutting through the residential district, the tornado moved over rural areas to the east. Three people were killed in Winona, and 22 were injured. Damage within the city limits was rated EF4, with estimated peak winds of 185 mph.

Shortly after passing through Winona, the tornado weakened to EF2 strength, removing a large section of roofing from a Jehovah's Witness church, partially demolishing a steel shed, and collapsing a portion of the second floor of a two-story farmhouse. Several businesses along Highway 82 sustained significant damage, including a lumber company housed in a wooden lodge which had its roof removed and one exterior wall knocked down. The tornado then cut through the tiny community of Hendrix, where two mobile homes were partially demolished and numerous trees were toppled; damage in the area was rated EF1. The tornado re-intensified to EF3 strength as it crossed Highway 82 to the north of Kilmichael and continued over forested areas, snapping thousands of trees in its path, including many fully-grown hardwood trees. A frame house along Minerva Road was destroyed with only a few interior walls still standing, and a nearby manufactured home was swept away. Numerous additional trees were snapped, with a few being debarked, along the next four miles of the path.

As the tornado passed to the northwest of Stewart, several trees were toppled and a large grocery store had the majority of its roof removed at high-end EF2 strength. Moving through a mobile home park, the tornado swept away six mobile homes at EF3 strength and demolished five others. The steel undercarriage of one home was tossed 320 yards, and nearby trees were debarked and denuded, suggesting borderline EF4 strength in the area. One person was killed in this area, and three others were injured. Continuing to the northeast, the tornado moved over another forested area, snapping and uprooting numerous additional trees while maintaining EF3 strength. Several power poles were snapped as well, and a few steel transmission towers near Yates Creek were downed. A restaurant at the edge of Highway 82 was leveled as the tornado passed just to the east of Tomnolen, and several cars and a pickup truck parked nearby were tossed up to 190 yards.

The tornado attained EF4 strength a second time as it struck an industrial area to the southwest of Eupora, completely flattening a large steel-framed factory and tossing dozens of truck trailers in the factory's parking lot. The tornado then cut through a series of farmers' fields, causing pronounced cycloidal ground scouring and completely debarking and denuding several trees along the edges of the fields. A beef jerky plant housed in a small warehouse and wooden lodge was struck next and completely swept away with debris strewn throughout a nearby tree line, and a neighboring water tower was toppled and burst, creating a tidal wave of water which pushed a nearby house off of its foundation. The tornado moved through a small wood lot, debarking additional trees, before moving through central Eupora. Around 30 well-constructed split-level brick houses were struck and demolished, nine of which were completely flattened, a Walgreen's pharmacy and a daycare center were leveled, a large warehouse had its southern half swept away and its northern half demolished, and the Webster County Sheriff's Office was demolished with only portions of interior walls still standing. Two people were killed in Eupora, and 63 were injured. Damage in Eupora was rated EF4, with estimated wind speeds of 180 mph.

Additional ground scouring and debarking of trees was observed for two miles as the tornado continued to the northeast of Eupora, after which it weakened rapidly. Low-end EF3 damage was observed as the Eupora Country Club was struck and demolished, nearby outbuildings were swept away, and a boardwalk was collapsed. For the remaining five miles of the tornado's path, damage was limited to trees and power poles, which were toppled at EF1 strength before the tornado dissipated to the north-northwest of Mathiston at 3:12 pm.

Remaining on the ground for 47 minutes and leaving a path 46.10 miles long, the Winona–Eupora tornado caused a total of 7 deaths and 102 injuries. It was rated as a mid-range EF4, with estimated peak winds of 185 mph based on damage in the Winona city limits. An additional indirect fatality occurred on April 13 when spilled gasoline from a ruptured line in the downtown area ignited. The parent supercell of the tornado would later produce another violent EF4 tornado which struck the towns of Sulligent, Beaverton, and Winfield in Alabama, and a third EF4 tornado which cut through the tiny community of Cassville, Georgia.

Bruce, Mississippi[]

EF4 tornado (NWS)
Cordova AL Tornado 3
Duration 1437 CDT – 1528 CDT
Intensity 280 km/h (175 mph) (1-min)

Minutes after the Winona–Eupora tornado touched down, another violent, deadly and long-tracked tornado developed roughly 45 miles to the northeast and struck the town of Bruce, as well as surrounding rural areas of Yalobusha, Calhoun, Chickasaw, and Lee Counties. The tornado touched down at 2:37 pm CDT over an empty field to the west of Skuna and tracked to the east-northeast, toppling a few trees as it crossed Dog Creek at EF1 strength. EF0-level roofing damage was observed to a few mobile homes near the fringe of the path as the tornado roughly followed the Skuna River. The tornado expanded from a blocky stovepipe into a large wedge shortly after touching down, and toppled or snapped dozens of trees in a wood lot before passing through Skuna directly. Six mobile homes were severely damaged or partially demolished, and two farmhouses had their roofs completely removed, with one sustaining collapse of one of its second-floor exterior walls. Damage in Skuna was rated low-end EF2.

The tornado continued to the northeast, crossing through a series of orchards and vineyards where crops were flattened, power poles near the edges of the fields were downed, and a tractor was rolled 45 yards. Consistent EF2-level damage was observed as the tornado tracked to the northwest of Shepherd, demolishing several wooden barns and small outbuildings, flipping a trailer home twice, and removing the roof from frame houses. A large, three-story rural house had its entire top floor collapsed and partially swept away, while a nearby pickup truck was rolled 65 yards and trees in the area were uprooted.

Continuing through the town of Bruce, the tornado rapidly gained strength, becoming violent. Many well-constructed frame houses and larger brick split-level houses in the tornado's path were completely demolished, with several having only portions of interior walls or staircases left standing. The tornado's most severe damage occurred near the high school, where three large and well-built frame houses were completely leveled, along with the majority of the high school itself and an attached administrative building. Additionally, trees were snapped, uprooted, and debarked throughout much of the northern third of town, parked cars were thrown up to 340 yards, and a school bus was thrown 180 yards into a ravine. Damage surveyors applied an EF4 rating to the damage in Bruce, estimating the tornado's wind speeds to have reached 175 mph. Eight people were killed in the Bruce city limits, and at least 96 others were injured. The tornado maintained EF3 strength as it continued to the northeast of Bruce, uprooting and debarking numerous additional trees in rows along Highway 32 and destroying several houses and barns. One poorly-anchored older farmhouse was swept away at EF3 strength, killing one person inside, while several steel-framed barns nearby were leveled.

After crossing Rocky Mountain Road, the tornado weakened to EF2 strength. Hundreds more trees were toppled, but considerably fewer to the north of the road were snapped or uprooted. As the tornado exited the forest, it crossed over another series of farms for the next several miles of its path. Several farmhouses between Bruce and New Houlka had their roofs removed, and barns and outbuildings were demolished. One older farmhouse had two exterior walls collapsed, and a few wooden barns were entirely leveled. Additional trees were toppled or snapped, and a few cars were tossed or rolled short distances. Another area of EF3 damage occurred to the northwest of New Houlka, where a Presbyterian church had its roof and all but one of its exterior walls knocked down, and a roadside diner restaurant was demolished with only portions of interior walls still standing. A few trees in this area were partially debarked, and a minivan was thrown 225 yards. Directly to the north of New Houlka, trees in a wood lot were snapped and uprooted, and a large two-story farmhouse just to the east was severely damaged, with its entire second floor removed and several first-floor walls collapsed.

As the tornado continued east, it again weakened to EF2 strength, tossing and destroying 15 RVs at a mobile home park and flipping nearby parked cars. Three people were killed at this location, and an additional 22 were injured. Moving over the Davis Lake campground, the tornado snapped and toppled hundreds of trees in its path at high-end EF2 intensity, then struck a rural subdivision near Mill Creek, where two frame houses had their roofs completely removed, and a few small outbuildings were destroyed. A pickup truck and an SUV were tossed short distances at this location as well. The tornado continued over forested areas for the next four miles of its path. Over 300 trees along this stretch of the path were snapped at EF2 strength, and thousands more were toppled.

The tornado cut through Troy while maintaining EF2 strength. Three frame houses had their roofs removed, and two manufactured homes were demolished, along with a convenience store and the wooden canopy to a small storage building. A lumber warehouse had a large portion of its roof removed, and several more trees were snapped in town. Past Troy, the tornado weakened to EF1 strength for most of the final 10 miles of its path. Numerous trees were toppled in forested areas before the tornado passed to the south of Verona while weakening to EF0 strength as it struck a ranch, causing minor roof damage to several barns and outbuildings before dissipating at 3:28 pm.

The tornado caused 11 fatalities and 213 injuries over the course of its path, eight of which occurred within the Bruce city limits. The tornado was on the ground for a total of 51 minutes and left a path 49.35 miles long and 1.3 miles wide at its peak, making it the second-widest tornado of the day and third-widest of the outbreak overall. Damage surveys rated the tornado as a low-end EF4, with estimated peak winds of 175 mph based on damage to Bruce High School and neighboring buildings. Initial reports suggested that 16 people were killed in the Bruce tornado; however, further investigation determined that five of the fatalities reported were in fact a result of significant flash flooding that occurred in Calhoun County following the tornado.

Greensboro, Alabama[]

EF5 tornado (NWS)
4-27-11 Rainsville tornado
Duration 1519 CDT – 1613 CDT
Intensity 380 km/h (235 mph) (1-min)

Alabama experienced both the greatest number of tornadoes overall and the greatest number of violent tornadoes of any state on April 12. One of the first significant tornadoes of the day in Alabama was a destructive and violent EF5 wedge tornado which tracked through the west-central portion of the state and passed near the city of Greensboro at peak strength. The tornado touched down at 3:19 pm CDT to the northwest of Belmont, initially appearing as a series of transient suction vortices beneath a rotating cloud base. Damage near the beginning of the path was light, with a few tree branches near Belmont being snapped at EF0 strength. As the tornado tracked northeast it passed over a series of farms while developing a prominent stovepipe-shaped funnel. Several farmhouses near the Tombigbee River sustained minor to moderate roofing damage before the tornado intensified to EF1 strength as it crossed the river. Numerous trees in a forested area were downed, and a small inn sustained severe roofing damage as the tornado crossed the river a second time. More trees were toppled before the tornado reached EF2 strength as it passed to the south of Forkland, completely removing the roof and all but one of the second-floor walls of a large wooden farmhouse. Further to the east, several mobile homes were destroyed in a small park, leading to the first fatality from the tornado. As the tornado crossed Demopolis Highway, a volunteer fire department building was severely damaged, with its roof removed, two exterior walls knocked down, and the northwest corner completely collapsed.

Continuing to the east of Forkland, the tornado briefly intensified to EF4 strength, completely debarking and denuding trees in a small grove before moving over more densely forested areas and weakening to EF2 intensity. The tornado crossed a series of ponds, tossing a motorboat and demolishing two small tool sheds along the edges of the ponds before reaching EF3 strength as it moved over another forested area, snapping and uprooting dozens of mature hardwood trees. The tornado continued to intensify as it crossed the Black Warrior River into Hale County, snapping and uprooting numerous additional trees at high-end EF3 intensity before moving over farmland. To the southwest of Greensboro, the tornado demolished several well-constructed farmhouses, a few of which were almost entirely leveled, flattened numerous barns and outbuildings, tossed farm equipment over 150 yards, and partially debarked several trees. Some ground scouring occurred in the area, but structural damage in western Hale County was not severe enough for a rating higher than EF3 to be applied.

The tornado regained EF4 strength just to the west of Greensboro, near Highway 69. Several trees in a row to the west of the highway were completely debarked and denuded and had most of their branches removed. As the tornado crossed Highway 69, a portion of guardrail was torn from the ground, and additional trees were debarked and denuded before the tornado crossed over a meadow, causing a pronounced swath of ground scouring and shredding low-growing plants down to inch-high stubble. A parked SUV near this location was tossed 3/4 of a mile and mangled beyond recognition. Damage to vegetation and vehicles in the area was severe enough that surveyors applied an EF5 rating. Several frame houses were cleanly swept away before the tornado entered the Greensboro city limits.

The tornado maintained EF5 strength as it tracked through Greensboro,

Sulligent–Beaverton–Winfield, Alabama[]

EF4 tornado (NWS)
Mayfield KY EF3
Duration 1524 CDT – 1621 CDT
Intensity 305 km/h (190 mph) (1-min)

After the Winona–Eupora, Mississippi tornado dissipated, its parent supercell produced another EF4 tornado which went on to devastate the towns of Sulligent, Beaverton, and Winfield in western Alabama. Touching down at 3:24 pm CDT, the tornado initially inflicted EF0-level damage to

Taylor–Thaxton–Blue Springs, Mississippi[]

EF5 tornado (NWS)
Smithville Tornado from Dam
Duration 1603 CDT – 1727 CDT
Intensity 455 km/h (280 mph) (1-min)
Main article: 2024 Thaxton, Mississippi tornado

This deadly, long-tracked and extremely violent tornado, rated EF5, tracked through northern Mississippi in the late afternoon

Tanner–Capshaw–Harvest, Alabama/Kirkland–Kelso, Tennessee[]

EF5 tornado (NWS)
Tornado 340
Duration 1711 CDT – 1853 CDT
Intensity 415 km/h (260 mph) (1-min)
Main article: 2024 Tanner–Capshaw, Alabama tornado

Hollytree—Allison, Alabama/South Pittsburg, Tennessee[]

EF4 tornado (NWS)
Flat Rock AL EF4
Duration 1730 CDT – 1826 CDT
Intensity 285 km/h (180 mph) (1-min)

Adamsville–Fultondale–Springville–Ashville–Southside, Alabama/Cedartown, Georgia[]

EF5 tornado (NWS)
Hackleburg
Duration 1741 CDT – 2032 CDT
Intensity 500 km/h (310 mph) (1-min)
Main article: 2024 Fultondale–Springville, Alabama tornado

Citronelle, Alabama[]

EF4 tornado (NWS)
Holly Springs MS Tornado 2
Duration 1812 CDT – 1854 CDT
Intensity 295 km/h (185 mph) (1-min)

Cordele—Seville, Georgia[]

EF4 tornado (NWS)
Rainsville AL EF5
Duration 1823 CDT – 1919 CDT
Intensity 305 km/h (190 mph) (1-min)

Flovilla—Shady Dale—Union Point, Georgia[]

EF4 tornado (NWS)
Shoal Creek Valley
Duration 1849 CDT – 2004 CDT
Intensity 315 km/h (195 mph) (1-min)
Main article: 2024 Shady Dale, Georgia tornado

Peachtree City–Fayetteville–Stockton–Covington–Rutledge, Georgia[]

EF5 tornado (NWS)
Ringgold GA EF4
Duration 1936 CDT – 2144 CDT
Intensity 455 km/h (280 mph) (1-min)
Main article: 2024 Peachtree City, Georgia tornado

Crossville, Tennessee[]

EF4 tornado (NWS)
Tornado 588
Duration 2301 CDT – 2342 CDT
Intensity 305 km/h (190 mph) (1-min)

Aftermath[]

In the immediate aftermath of the outbreak, at least 400 fatalities were confirmed, with approximately 300 others missing, presumed dead or otherwise unaccounted for. Initial reports suggested the death toll from the outbreak may have been at least 650; however, many of the missing persons were found alive, having been transferred to various hospitals across the affected regions when local hospitals exceeded capacity. At least 90 patients died in hospitals in the days and weeks following the outbreak; while around 15 people who remained missing in the following months were declared dead in absentia. At least 5,100 people were hospitalized with severe or life-threatening injuries, with the United States Department of Health and Human Services estimating the total number of minor injuries resulting from the tornadoes to be at least 10,000.

States of emergency were declared in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana on April 12 because of the tornadoes and flash flooding, with states of emergency having been declared the day before in Arkansas and Louisiana. On the evening of April 12, President Joe Biden granted a federal emergency declaration for the states of Alabama and Georgia, giving federal assistance, including search and rescue assets, to the affected region.

The deadliest tornadoes of the outbreak affected Fultondale, Alabama, Peachtree City, Georgia, Tanner, Alabama, Seymour, Indiana, and Shady Dale, Georgia. These five tornadoes resulted in 278 fatalities; more than half of the 531 deaths caused by the outbreak, with several other tornadoes on April 12 producing death tolls well into the double digits. The tornado that struck Tanner, Alabama was the costliest in world history, causing $3.2 billion USD in damage, with six other tornadoes on April 12 also causing more than $1 billion in damage. With a confirmed death toll of 531, the 2024 outbreak was the third-deadliest in United States history, behind the 1925 Tri-State outbreak and the 1936 Tupelo–Gainesville outbreak. Additionally, it was the costliest tornado outbreak in world history, causing $36.2 billion USD in total damage, far surpassing the $12.2 billion in damage caused by the 2011 Super Outbreak.

See also[]

  • 2037 Super Outbreak - A similarly prolific, but less deadly tornado outbreak that affected the Great Plains states thirteen years later
  • Tornado outbreak sequence of June 2034 - Another extremely violent tornado outbreak that primarily affected the Midwestern states ten years later
  • 2023 Dallas, Texas tornado - An extremely deadly EF5 tornado which struck Dallas, Texas one year earlier
  • 2029 Knoxville, Tennessee tornado - A deadly EF4 tornado which struck Knoxville, Tennessee five years later
Advertisement