1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado
The Tornado outbreak sequence of March 18–24, 2012 was a long lasting tornado outbreak that occurred due to a slow moving, but powerful trough and cutoff low. The outbreak began in the Great Plains, where, over a two-day period, several tornadoes touched down, some of which were significant. The North Platte area was damaged by an EF3 that was produced by a supercell that spawned many tornadoes throughout its lifespan. The tornadic activity then shifted the Southern United States over subsequent days, particularly in Louisiana and Mississippi.[2] These states were struck by a series of tornadoes for 3 days, most of which were relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. However, a few reached EF2 intensity and caused considerable damage. Tornado activity continued across the Ohio Valley on the 23rd, with one confirmed fatality in southern Illinois.
As a powerful trough ejected into the Central Plains on March 18, the Storm Prediction Center issued a Slight risk for Severe Weather stretching from southern Nebraska to western Texas. That evening, many supercells evolved across the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma, producing large hail and damaging wind gusts. As the supercells moved towards the northeast, four tornadoes were produced across western Oklahoma, all rated an EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Early that night, a tornado-producing supercell moved across southwestern Nebraska, where four tornadoes were confirmed. The first was an EF3, the second was an EF1, the third was an EF3, and the fourth was an EF2. Severe damage was noted just to the west of the city of North Platte, Nebraska. The following day, the Storm Prediction Center issued a Moderate risk of Severe Weather, encompassing much of central and eastern Texas, into southeastern Oklahoma and extreme western Arkansas. Although this event was not as severe as initially anticipated, EF2 tornadoes caused severe damage in Texas as they impacted areas in and around Devine, Gardendale, and Lytle.[citation needed]
A slight risk was issued for parts of the Ohio Valley, but notable tornado activity was not expected. However, several tornadoes touched down across Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky. Supercell thunderstorms developed and produced large hail as well. One high-end EF1 tornado caused considerable damage to homes in the Louisville metro area.[3] An EF2 tornado caused one fatality in southern Illinois when a mobile home was thrown and completely destroyed.[4] On the 24th, an isolated EF0 touched down in Florida as the outbreak moved eastward and came to an end.
Two homes were damaged and a large metal truss tower was destroyed. Outbuildings are garages were destroyed or damaged, two irrigation pivots were overturned, and a wooden transmission tower was destroyed. Extensive tree and power line damage occurred along the path. Two people were injured.
A semi-truck and fence line were destroyed. A garage was damaged and an irrigation pivot was destroyed. Extensive tree damage occurred, debris was scattered through fields, and one person was injured.
Two homes were destroyed and two others suffered significant damage. Debris from impacted structures was scattered up to a mile and a half away. Fifteen train cars and an irrigation pivot were overturned. Two people were injured.
Two homes were heavily damaged and a barn was destroyed, with debris from the barn driven into the ground. Garages and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and extensive tree damage occurred.
A church and a small storage building were damaged, and a pivot irrigation system was twisted and overturned. Trees were uprooted and limbs were snapped as well.
A camper was flipped, a cinder block fence was toppled, and a barn and trailer were destroyed. One house in Gardendale suffered significant roof damage and was shifted off of its foundation, and several power poles were damaged. A horse trailer and a cotton trailer were tossed, and a travel trailer was destroyed. Large amounts of debris was scattered throughout the area, some of which was speared into the walls of adjacent structures. Three people were injured.
A semi-trailer was overturned and a mobile home was destroyed. Multiple permanent homes had roofs torn off or sustained major structural damage. A metal storage shed was largely destroyed, and trees and power lines were downed. 14 homes were destroyed, 11 sustained major damage, and 7 others sustained minor damage.
This strong tornado destroyed four frame homes and four mobile homes. Five other homes were severely damaged, and two others sustained minor damage. Four people were injured.
Numerous trees and several structures were damaged along the path. Homes sustained roof damage, a metal shed was destroyed, and boat docks were lifted and thrown at Lake Francis.
A tied-down mobile home in Gueydan was rolled upside down and completely destroyed. Five homes and city hall sustained significant roof damage. About 20 more homes received minor damage, and grave stones were blown over at a local cemetery. Several outbuildings were destroyed and numerous trees were downed. One minor injury occurred.
Two mobile homes were destroyed and four power poles were snapped. A brick home sustained major roof damage, and three large outbuildings were destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, one of which landed on a house and caused significant damage.
Narrow but strong tornado tore much of the roof from a large home and partially collapsed the back exterior wall. Many large trees were snapped and uprooted along the path.
Dozens of trees were uprooted or snapped, and homes sustained roof and siding damage. Several sheds, barns, and carports were damaged, and a flag pole was blown down.
1 death – A tied-down double-wide mobile home was thrown 100 feet (30 m) and obliterated by this high-end EF2 tornado, killing one person inside and injuring two others. The metal undercarriage was found 200 yards (180 m) away from where it originated. A house had its windows blown out, and trees were snapped and uprooted. Three barns were also damaged, one heavily.
This high-end EF1 tornado caused considerable damage in suburban areas of southeastern Louisville. A frail modular home sustained collapse of its first floor, causing it to pancake underneath the second floor. Another home had its roof blown off, while numerous other homes sustained roof, window, and siding damage.
Two barns were destroyed and a trailer was overturned. Two more barns lost their roofs, with metal debris from one of them scattered through fields and into trees. Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted as well.
A pole barn sustained severe damage, with debris scattered up to a quarter-mile away. Debris from the pole barn was driven into the roof of a house, a second barn also sustained damage, and trees were snapped or uprooted.
Brief tornado touched down in Clarksville, where homes sustained roof damage and had windows blown out. Fences and play sets were blown over, and trees were snapped or uprooted.
