 GOES 13 image of the storm system on December 26 | |
| Type | Extratropical cyclone Nor'easter Blizzard Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Formed | December 17, 2012[1] |
| Dissipated | December 31, 2012[2] |
| Highest winds |
|
| Highest gust | 74 mph (119 km/h) (excluding tornadoes) |
| Lowest pressure | 968[3] mb (28.59 inHg) |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 31 confirmed |
| Max. rating1 | EF3 tornado |
| Largest hail | 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter (Three locations in Texas on December 25) |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 27 in (69 cm), Woodford, Vermont |
| Fatalities | 16 fatalities, at least 24 injured |
| Damage | >$150 million |
| Areas affected | Alaska, Contiguous United States Western Canada Eastern Canada Bermuda Ireland United Kingdom |
Part of the 2012–13 North American winter and tornado outbreaks of 2012 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale | |
Near the end of 2012, a massive storm complex developed that produced both a tornado outbreak and a blizzard across the southern and eastern United States. On Christmas Day 2012 (December 25), a tornado outbreak occurred across the Southern United States. This severe weather/tornado event affected the United States Gulf Coast and southern East Coast over a two-day span. It occurred in conjunction with a much larger winter storm event that brought blizzard conditions to much of the interior United States. In total, 31 tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service in five states from Texas to North Carolina. All but one of the tornadoes that occurred during the outbreak touched down on December 25, with the other occurring the following day in North Carolina. Two of the tornadoes were destructive enough to be rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. At least 16 people died as a result of the related blizzard, and thousands were without power.
There were 63 preliminary local storm reports received for tornadoes, including 60 in four states on December 25 alone.[4][5] Significant tornadoes included a long–tracked EF3 that moved across areas of Mississippi and an EF2 that moved through Mobile, Alabama. The Mobile tornado damaged many homes, businesses, a hospital, and a high school, with estimated damages totaling $1.35 million.
- ^ Service, NOAA's National Weather. "WPC Surface Analysis Archive". www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov.
- ^ "(Weather map)". met.fu-berlin.de.
- ^ Service, NOAA's National Weather. "WPC Surface Analysis Archive". www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov.
- ^ "121225's Storm Reports (1200 UTC − 1159 UTC)". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. December 25, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ^ "121226's Storm Reports (1200 UTC − 1159 UTC)". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. December 26, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2013.