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Lowered number of US tornado fatalities to reflect totals shown here (this map should probably be included somewhere in this article). http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/torn/2012-Preliminary-Fatalities.png
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Forgot to lower numbers in lead section.
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This page documents the [[tornado]]es and [[tornado outbreak]]s of '''2012'''. Extremely destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the U.S., [[Bangladesh]] and [[India|Eastern India]], but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also appear regularly in neighboring southern [[Canada]] during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season, and somewhat regularly in Europe, Asia, and Australia.
This page documents the [[tornado]]es and [[tornado outbreak]]s of '''2012'''. Extremely destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the U.S., [[Bangladesh]] and [[India|Eastern India]], but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also appear regularly in neighboring southern [[Canada]] during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season, and somewhat regularly in Europe, Asia, and Australia.


There have been 361 tornadoes reported in the U.S. in 2012, of which at least 189 have been confirmed. There have been 62 confirmed fatalities worldwide: 5 in [[Indonesia]] and 57 in the [[United States]].
There have been 361 tornadoes reported in the U.S. in 2012, of which at least 189 have been confirmed. There have been 59 confirmed fatalities worldwide: 5 in [[Indonesia]] and 54 in the [[United States]].


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==

Revision as of 06:31, 11 March 2012

Tornadoes of 2012
A graph of the 2012 United States tornado count
TimespanJanuary - December 2012
Maximum rated tornadoEF4 tornado
Tornadoes in U.S.189
Damage (U.S.)>$31.5 million (estimated)
Fatalities (U.S.)≥54
Fatalities (worldwide)≥59
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  • {{{year}}}
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This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2012. Extremely destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the U.S., Bangladesh and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also appear regularly in neighboring southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season, and somewhat regularly in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

There have been 361 tornadoes reported in the U.S. in 2012, of which at least 189 have been confirmed. There have been 59 confirmed fatalities worldwide: 5 in Indonesia and 54 in the United States.

Synopsis

After a slow finish to 2011, a significant contrast in activity took shape to start 2012. January was an unusually active month. The first major tornado outbreak/event happened on January 22 and 23, when a spring like storm system came into the southern Mississippi Valley and several tornadoes were confirmed in Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama. This event produced at least 23 tornadoes. Tornado activity in January was well above average, with the third highest number for the month in recorded history, behind 1999 and 2008. This pattern did not continue into February, however, with only five tornadoes occurring in the United States in the first half of the month. Activity picked up toward the end of the month, though, with a significant tornado outbreak on the 28th and 29th. An EF4 tornado was confirmed with this outbreak. This active period continued into early March, as a major outbreak (one of the largest ever recorded in March) occurred on the 2nd, primarily in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Events

See also: List of United States tornadoes from January to February 2012, List of United States tornadoes in March 2012, and List of European tornadoes in 2012

United States yearly total

Unofficial totals through March 10

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total
0 66 61 47 11 3 0 189*
  • Note: One tornado was confirmed by the NWS office in Wichita, Kansas on February 28 and has yet to be rated.

January

See also: List of United States tornadoes from January to February 2012

There were 110 tornadoes reported in the U.S. in January, of which at least 79 were confirmed.

January 9–11

Radar image of the severe thunderstorm that spawned an EF1 tornado near Mission Bend, Texas on January 9
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 5 1 2 0 0 0

On the morning of January 9, a mid-level area of low pressure moved east-northeast across the Big Bend of Texas and triggered the development of a surface low in southeastern Texas before noon local time. Along the eastern side of this system, warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico was drawn northward and created an environment favoring supercell thunderstorms, though widespread clouds limited the extent of activity.[1] A line of strong thunderstorms developed in southeastern Texas around 9:00 a.m. CST moved slowly eastward. Only isolated reports of damaging winds and a few tornadoes accompanied this line and no tornado or severe thunderstorm watches were issued.[2] Five tornadoes touched down in association with this line of storms, one of which was an EF1 that caused significant damage to a home near Mission Bend, Texas.[3]

Developing into an upper-level system over the Ark-La-Tex region on January 10, the risk for more widespread severe weather was evident; however, only isolated reports were received that day.[4][5] Continuing eastward, additional severe weather was expected along coastal North Carolina on January 11 before the system moved into the Atlantic Ocean.[6] However, a severe storm developed in South Carolina and moved into western North Carolina, outside the area anticipated to support tornadoes, and soon spawned a tornado around 5:22 p.m. EST. Rated as a low-end EF2, the tornado tracked for 2.5 mi (4.0 km) and damaged or destroyed dozens of structures near Ellenboro. Ten people were injured by the storm. Continuing northeast, the thunderstorm spawned another, more intense EF2 tornado around 6:04 p.m. that caused extensive damage in the South Fork community. There, several mobile homes were completely destroyed and a few homes sustained significant damage. Eight people in the community were injured by the tornado. Another EF0 tornado touched down less than 20 minutes later before the event ended.[7]

January 17

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 4 5 2 0 0 0

As a line of intense thunderstorms moved southward throughout much of the Ohio River Valley and Southeast, many tornadoes were reported. The first tornado of the day occurred near Madison, Indiana, and was rated an EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale; only minor damage was reported. The second tornado occurred in Floyd County, Indiana, which destroyed portions of homes and trees; it was later rated an EF1. The third tornado touched down near Clarksville, Indiana, and was rated an EF0 due to the minor damage it caused. One of the first confirmed tornadoes on January 17 was an EF1 near St. Matthews, Kentucky, which injured a truck driver on I-265. The most significant tornado was an EF2 southwest of Scottsville, Kentucky that tore the roof from one home and destroyed numerous weaker structures. Another EF2 tornado destroyed a mobile home and badly damaged several permanent homes near Sandy Hook, Mississippi. A total of 14 tornado reports were called in this day.

January 22–23

A home in Center Point, Alabama mostly destroyed by an EF3 tornado
Main article: January 22–23, 2012 tornado outbreak
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 5 10 9 1 0 0

During the late afternoon of January 22, a Particularly dangerous situation tornado watch was issued for much of Arkansas and parts of Tennessee and Mississippi. At roughly sunset, severe storms developed along a pronounced line in central Arkansas with the southern cells prompting tornado warnings. An intense cell developed near Fordyce, Arkansas early that evening with severe damage reported according to KATV coverage. A tornado emergency was issued downstream for Rison. An inspection conducted by the National Weather Service in Little Rock, Arkansas reveals that the tornado was rated an EF2. Several more tornadoes touched down before the storms reformed into a squall line near midnight.

Overnight, another round of tornadoes developed in Alabama ahead of the squall line. Early that morning, more very severe tornadoes hit the western and northeast parts of Birmingham. Severe damage was reported in those areas, as well as in Chilton County, some of the same places hit extremely hard by the catastrophic April 27, 2011 outbreak. At least 2 people were killed.[8] After an inspection conducted by the National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama, the tornado was rated an EF3, the strongest so far in 2012.[9] Across Alabama, insurers estimated damage from the tornadoes to have been at least $30 million.[10]

January 25–27

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 22 7 0 0 0 0

On January 25, several tornadoes were reported in Texas and Louisiana with a strong storm system that dumped heavy rain across Texas. One of these tornadoes, rated EF1, struck Austin, Texas and caused significant damage to homes and businesses.[11] Losses throughout the city amounted to $1.5 million.[12] A day later on January 26, four more tornadoes were confirmed and on January 27, one tornado was confirmed. Throughout the entire outbreak, 29 tornadoes were confirmed, however, all were weak.

February

See also: List of United States tornadoes from January to February 2012

There were 72 tornadoes reported in the U.S. in February, of which at least 48 were confirmed.

February 24 (Indonesia)

On February 24, a strong tornado struck South Sulawesi province in Indonesia, killing five people and damaging 98 structures.[13]

February 28–29

Main article: 2012 Leap Day tornado outbreak
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 5 13 16 1 1 0

A severe weather system that started in Central Nebraska and Central Kansas brought straight-line winds, golfball-size hail, torrential rain, and significant tornadoes to Kansas' mid-section. There was a small confirmed tornado touchdown near North Platte, Nebraska. Late on February 28, an EF2 tornado struck the small town of Harveyville, Kansas near Topeka, killing one person and injuring 11 others.[14] The town's only church was completely destroyed, several homes received moderate to severe damage, and every building in the small community received a form of damage. Other tornado touchdowns were reported near Hutchinson, Kansas earlier in the day. As the storms moved into Missouri and Arkansas overnight, the threat grew stronger. At 3:00 am CST on February 29, Branson, Missouri was reporting severe damage to the town from an EF2 tornado with homes destroyed and several houses sustaining severe damage as the storms rocketed through the Missouri/Arkansas border corridor at more than 60 mph (95 km/h). Many people were injured there.[15] Three other deaths occurred in southern Missouri.[16]

The storms continued to grow stronger as they progressed eastward, and they impacted Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio on February 29. A moderate risk of severe weather was issued, with strong tornadoes possible. One was quickly reported south of Evansville, Indiana. An EF4 tornado slammed into Harrisburg, Illinois early that morning. The southern part of the city was heavily damaged with houses and businesses destroyed. Seven people were killed by that tornado.[16] Other severe damage, due to two tornadoes, was reported in Middle Tennessee east of Nashville that afternoon, where three people were killed.

March

See also: List of United States tornadoes in March 2012

As of March 5, there were 179 tornadoes reported in the U.S. in March, of which at least 65 were confirmed.

March 2–3

Main article: Early March 2012 tornado outbreak
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 18 16 16 9 2 0

A moderate risk of severe weather was issued for March 2 a day in advance for a large area from near Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Dayton, Ohio as an intense storm system tracked across the region in a very high shear environment. Intense tornadoes are possible.[17] On the morning of March 2, it was upgraded and a high risk of severe weather was issued for Middle Tennessee and central Kentucky, later extended into central and southern Indiana and southern Ohio. The Storm Prediction Center mentioned the potential for significant tornadoes. Multiple PDS tornado watches were issued shortly thereafter. For only the second time in history (the first being April 27, 2011), Dr. Greg Forbes, severe weather expert for The Weather Channel, issued a TOR:CON (short for "tornado condition index", a scale to rate the risk of tornadic activity over a given region based on atmospheric conditions) rating of 10; this time for the Louisville, Kentucky region.

Tornadoes began early; shortly after 9:00 am CST, an intense tornado north of Huntsville, Alabama resulted in severe damage to houses and heavily damaged a high school. A long-lived tornadic supercell also formed just north of the Ohio River that afternoon, resulting in extreme damage to numerous communities in southern Indiana, including Marysville and Henryville.[18] At around 6:00 pm EST, an EF3 tornado affected the West Liberty, Kentucky with extensive damage to its downtown area. By 8:20 pm EST, the Weather Channel was posting that 76 tornadoes had been reported, and the outbreak was not yet over. As of 1:57 pm EST on March 5, Reuters reported a death toll of 41 people -- 25 in Kentucky, 13 in Indiana, and one in Ohio, Alabama and Georgia.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ Thompson and Cohen (January 9, 2012). "Jan 9, 2012 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  2. ^ Broyles (January 9, 2012). "Mesoscale Discussion 10". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  3. ^ "January 9, 2012 Severe Weather". National Weather Service Office in Galveston, Texas. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. January 17, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  4. ^ Jewell and Leitman (January 10, 2012). "Jan 10, 2012 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  5. ^ "January 10, 2012 Storm Reports (1200 - 1159 UTC)". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. January 20, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  6. ^ Thompson and Cohen (January 11, 2012). "Jan 11, 2012 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  7. ^ "Tornadoes Confirmed in Rutherford, Burke, and Caldwell Counties in North Carolina". National Weather Service Office in Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. January 20, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  8. ^ http://www.ksro.com/news/article.aspx?id=1558404
  9. ^ http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BMX&product=PNS&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1
  10. ^ "Alabama falls victim to yet another outbreak of tornados this week – estimated cost of disaster at $30 million". Live Insurance News. January 27, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Text "Colleen Jeremy" ignored (help)
  11. ^ "Thunderstorms pound Texas; tornado hits Austin". Reuters. Retrieved 25 January 2012. {{cite web}}: Text "publisherYahoo! News" ignored (help)
  12. ^ "Storm produces tornado in Northeast Austin, damage from flooding across region". Statesman. January 27, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  13. ^ "Tornado hits Indonesia, kills five". Xinhua News. New Straits Times. February 25, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  14. ^ "Harveyville Tornado Claims 1 Life". Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  15. ^ http://southernillinois.14wfie.com/news/news/56022-kfvs-3-killed-southern-illinois-tornado
  16. ^ a b "13 killed as tornadoes rake Midwest states". NBC News. February 29, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  17. ^ http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2012/day2otlk_20120301_1730.html
  18. ^ Tornado wrecks Indiana town as Midwest is slammed with severe storms, Fox News, March 2, 2012.
  19. ^ "Tornado-ravaged areas hit by snowstorm". Reuters. Retrieved 5 March 2012. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help); |first= missing |last= (help)

External links

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