2020 Easter tornado outbreak

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2020 Easter tornado outbreak
Map plotting locations of tornado touchdowns and tornado warning polygons across the Southeastern United States
Map of tornado warnings and confirmed tornadoes from the outbreak received by the Storm Prediction Center
Meteorological history
DateApril 12–13, 2020
Duration37 hours, 24 minutes
Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes141
Maximum ratingEF4 tornado
Highest winds190 mph (310 km/h) near Bassfield, Mississippi (EF4 on April 12)[1]
Extratropical cyclone
Highest winds110 mph (180 km/h) at Wallace, South Carolina, on April 13 (non-tornadic)[2]
Largest hail4 in (10 cm) in diameter – Del Rio and Brackettville, Texas, on April 11[3]
Winter storm
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion24 inches (61 cm)[4]
Flood
Maximum rainfall6 inches (150 mm)[5]
Overall effects
Casualties32 fatalities (+6 non-tornadic), 257 injuries
Damage$3 billion (2020 USD)[6]
Areas affectedSoutheastern United States, Mid-Atlantic
Power outages1.44 million customers at one time; over 4.3 million in total
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2020

A widespread and deadly tornado outbreak affected the Southeastern United States on Easter Sunday and Monday, April 12–13, 2020. Several tornadoes were responsible for prompting tornado emergencies, including the first one to be issued by the National Weather Service in Charleston, South Carolina.[7] A large squall line formed and tracked through the mid-Atlantic on April 13, prompting more tornado warnings and watches. A total of 15 watches were produced during the course of the event, two of which were designated Particularly Dangerous Situations.

Throughout the two-day outbreak, a total of 141 tornadoes touched down across 10 states, inflicting widespread and locally catastrophic damage. The outbreak ranks 4th for producing the most tornadoes in a 24-hour period, with 132 tornadoes occurring between 14:40 UTC April 12–13; that tally is surpassed only by the Tornado outbreak of March 31 – April 1, 2023 with 134, the 1974 Super Outbreak with 148 and the 2011 Super Outbreak with 219. The strongest tornado of the outbreak occurred in Southern Mississippi, and was given a high-end EF4 damage rating after producing estimated winds of 190 mph (310 km/h), reaching a width of 2.25 mi (3.62 km), and causing eight deaths. With a total of 32 tornado-related fatalities, the Easter outbreak was the deadliest tornado outbreak since April 27–30, 2014. To assist with recovery efforts, governors of five states declared a state of emergency. Relief efforts were complicated by social distancing requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

  1. ^ Nick Nauslar; John Hart. "Storm Prediction Center Mesoscale Discussion 360". Storm Prediction Center. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  2. ^ "Wallace SC Microbursts". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. National Weather Service Forecast Office in Wilmington, North Carolina. April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "20200411's Storm Reports (20200411 1200 UTC - 20200412 1159 UTC)". Storm Prediction Center. April 15, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference snow was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference rain was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters: Events | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  7. ^ "This was the first one issued by our office". Twitter. Retrieved August 9, 2020.