On March 2 and 3, 2012, a large and deadly tornado outbreak occurred over a large section of the Southern United States into the Ohio Valley region, spawning up to 70 tornadoes in its wake. 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, and intense tornadoes were possible. 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.
The outbreak began fairly early in the morning, with an initial round of storms and tornadoes associated with the incoming warm front attached to a rapidly deepening low-pressure area over the central Great Lakes. One of these early day storms produced a damaging EF3 tornado that impacted Harvest, Alabama. Discrete supercells developed in the afternoon along a corridor from the South to the Ohio Valley, producing multiple intense to violent tornadoes as a result. This included a long-lived EF4 that formed just north of the Ohio River, resulting in extreme damage to numerous communities in southern Indiana, including Marysville and Henryville. Another EF4 wedge tornado killed four people and obliterated homes near Crittenden, Kentucky, while a large EF3 killed three people and destroyed most of Moscow, Ohio. At around 6:00 pm EST, an EF3 tornado impacted downtown West Liberty, Kentucky, resulting in major damage and 10 deaths. A high-end EF3 tornado also caused major damage to many homes in businesses in Salyersville, Kentucky, killing two people along its path. Another high-end EF3 tornado touched down at 8:03 pm. This storm tracked into Haralson County, Georgia, and Paulding County, Georgia, where it caused major damage in the Dallas area before dissipating. Some scattered activity occurred the following day, though an EF3 tornado caused damge in Georgia before the outbreak came to an end and the associated system moved offshore.
The storms resulted in 41 tornado-related fatalities, 22 of which occurred in Kentucky. Tornado-related deaths also occurred in Alabama, Indiana, and Ohio. The outbreak was the second deadliest in early March for the U.S. since official records began in 1950; only the 1966 Candlestick Park tornado had a higher death toll for a tornadic system in early March.
Meteorological synopsis
March 2
One day prior on March 1, 2012, at approximately 12:30 PM EST (17:30 UTC), the NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a large, 45% hatched and level 4/5 moderate risk area for severe weather across the eastern United States. This large risk spanned across northern Mississippi and Alabama, into central Tennessee and Kentucky, towards southern Indiana and Ohio the following day on the 2nd. A very large mid- and upper level trough was stationed in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, towards the Columbus, Ohio area. The trough moved slowly eastward from its position in the Ozark mountains, transporting a belt of fast southwesterly winds to the southeastern side of the storm system. This overlapped with a highly sheared region, resulting in a possibility of tornadic supercells forming and tornadoes in general, some strong per the SPC.
The following day on March 2 at around 8:00 PM EST (13:00 UTC), the SPC issued a Public Severe Weather Outlook (PWO), concerning a more hazardous risk for significant (EF2+) tornadoes than what was expected the day prior. A level 5/5 high risk, which corresponded to a 30% hatched tornado risk, was put in place over central Kentucky and north-central Tennessee. The moderate risk area widened to include portions of southeastern Illinois, northwestern Georgia and the western Virginias. Alongside the main tornado risk, 45% hatched hail and damaging wind risks were issued over parts of the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys. At 11:30 PM EST (16:30 UTC), the SPC adjusted the outlooks to include southern Indiana and Ohio in the high risk. At the same time, the moderate risk extended more westward, with most of northern Mississippi encompassed by it but also a small portion in eastern Missouri. The 45% hatched wind risk extended south to northern Alabama and Georgia, where as the 45% hatched hail risk moved westward, with northern Mississippi included. The strong upper-level trough with a vorticity center moved from northern Missouri to the Ohio River Valley area. Strong wind shear with the trough created a large, unstable air mass (warm sector) that overlapped a massive region, conducive for a widespread and potentially destructive tornado outbreak.
On the morning of March 2, 2012, around 10:30 AM EST (15:30 UTC) a tornado watch was issued by the National Weather Service across east-central Tennessee, northern Alabama and northwestern Georgia. An initial squall line that formed along the Kansas–Missouri border moved eastward across the state and towards the Tennessee/Ohio River Valley area. Some of these storms within the line showed signs of rotation. These morning storms, including one that was responsible for a damaging EF3 tornado that impacted the northern Huntsville, Alabama metropolitan area, were associated with an incoming warm front that was linked to a low pressure area, located north at the Great Lakes. After many strong tornadoes occurred throughout the warm sector, the latest and final PDS tornado watch was issued at approximately 4:20 PM EST (21:20 UTC) that covered parts of Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia. Many of these supercells that had a history of producing destructive tornadoes, moved towards the Appalachian Mountains later into the evening. High vertical wind shear values were present within the warm sector of the expanding extratropical cyclone, giving way for storms to produce strong tornadoes.
The initial round of storms allowed for a strong warm air mass to enter the region, with temperatures rising to near-record levels for early March and instability combining with extreme wind shear, resulting in a highly volatile air mass. As a result, a second, much larger broken line of discrete supercells developed and followed the Ohio River, with additional storms developing farther south. During the afternoon, those cells tracked eastward across the Ohio Valley, passing north of Louisville, Kentucky and south of Cincinnati, Ohio with devastating results. One long-tracked EF4 tornado ripped through the Indiana towns of New Pekin, Henryville, Marysville, and Chelsea, killing 11 people. As isolated activity developed farther south, intense supercells also formed in central Kentucky in the late afternoon hours and tracked east into the Eastern Mountain Coal Fields region before weakening as they reached West Virginia later that evening. The town of West Liberty, Kentucky was devastated by a mile-wide EF3 tornado that killed 10 people.
March 3
The next day, on March 3, the cold front continued to push eastwards toward the United States East Coast, although the most severe activity took place near the Georgia-Florida state border. A slight risk of severe weather was issued for a small area extending from Cape Hatteras to the Mississippi Delta. A mesoscale convective system in South Carolina was responsible for hail reports in the area, although the threat for tornadoes was reduced with lower instability levels. Most tornado activity for the day was associated with an upper-level system in Florida, and mainly consisted of isolated, weak tornadoes touching down across the Southeastern United States. However, an EF3 wedge tornado caused significant damage near Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. On March 4, most of the cold front responsible for the outbreak had already moved into the Atlantic Ocean with only a small portion of thunderstorms extending into Florida. A slight risk was issued for a section of Florida. Some scattered activity lingered around the East Coast for the duration of the day, but no additional tornadoes were reported.
Confirmed tornadoes
Athens–Harvest–Meridianville–New Market, Alabama
This intense tornado was the first significant tornado of the outbreak, receiving a rating of EF3 with winds up to 140 miles per hour (230 km/h), had a path length that extended out 33.99 miles (54.70 km) across north Alabama, and a maximum width of 250 yards (230 m).
This tornado first developed near Athens Country Club and Golf Course along Hatfield Lake Road near U.S. Highway 31, and south of Strain Road. The tornado moved towards the northeast, crossing Strain Road and Interstate 65, where it would snap and uproot several trees. The tornado would continue its track 1 mile (1.6 km) south of U.S. Highway 72, and would approach and hit the Canebrake neighborhood. In this neighborhood, numerous homes sustained major roof damage, and some homes would have their garage doors blown out, along with exterior walls sustaining major damage. Minor structural damage would also occur in The Indian Trace Community off Woodland Road. The tornado then crossed Highway 72 near Piney Creek and continued tracking towards the northeast. The tornado would hit numerous homes along Mooresville Road, and Pepper Road, where homes would sustain major damage, including major roof loss. A brick garage was collapsed, and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. As the tornado continued its track, approaching and crossing McCulley Mill Road, multiple more homes would sustain significant damage. Homes along Nick Davis Road would also sustain major roof loss. Damage continued across Eagle Point Drive and Freedom Drive where a home had its roof completely ripped away. Other nearby homes sustained major roof loss, shattered windows, and collapsed garages.
After causing significant damage in Athens, the tornado continued its track into Madison County, and would quickly move towards Harvest. A single wide modular home lost much of its roof just north of Orville Smith Road. Major structural damage occurred at the intersection of Yarbrough Road across Bridges Drive and Bedford Lane. The tornado also snapped power poles near the base in this area. Damage continued across State Highway 53 just south of Jeff Road. The tornado snapped and uprooted trees along Quarter Mountain Road, Carters Gin Road, and Beaver Dam Road. More significant damage occurred along Patterson Lane, between Mount Lebanon Road, and Harwell Lane where wood power poles were snapped, numerous trees were uprooted, and numerous homes sustained roof loss. A large metal barn/shed lost its roof and some of its walls were collapsed inward. Damage continued along U.S. Highway 231 at Meridianville Middle School where a concrete power pole was snapped and minor roof damage occurred to nearby buildings. The tornado then began to strengthen as it approached and hit Hubert Road and Walker Lane along Mitzi Drive. In this area, High End EF2 to Low End EF3 damage occurred as several single story homes were destroyed with all of their walls completely destroyed. Other homes sustained significant damage with complete roof loss and exterior wall failure. The estimated maximum path width in this area was 200–250 yards (180–230 m) wide. Just to the northeast along Charley Patterson Road, multiple structures would sustain EF3 damage, with 3 brick veneer and cinder block foundation homes reduced to rubble. The tornado continued to produce significant damage along Butler Road just south of Walker Lane where additional concrete poles were snapped, and large hardwood oak trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado continued to track to the northeast, just north of New Market and near Hillsboro, where it began to weaken, but continued to snap and uproot trees. The tornado also ripped away roof shingles from homes in this area. Along Davis Road, just south of Moe Road, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted with severe shingle loss to a house about 200 yards (180 m) away from the road. Beyond this, the tornado appeared to weaken and lift as it moved across the higher plateau region of extreme northeast Madison County.
Harrison–Cleveland–Carlock, Tennessee
This tornado was the strongest and longest track tornado to occur in the Southeastern U.S. during this outbreak, with a maximum windspeed estimate of 165 miles per hour (266 km/h), and a path length of 41 miles. The tornado had a maximum width estimate of 400 yards (370 m). The tornado injured 44 people across southeastern portions of eastern Tennessee, but killed nobody.
The tornado first touched down on a northward-extending peninsula in Lake Chickamauga, just north of the Booker T. Washington State Park. The tornado downed a few trees and caused light structural damage in this area. The tornado then moved East-Northeast and crossed Waconga Bay. On the east side of the bay the tornado smashed a very large marina—Island Cove Marina—causing $6,000,000 in damage. The tornado was at EF1 intensity at this time, and had winds up to 110 miles per hour (180 km/h). The tornado so far had a track extending out 2 miles (3.2 km). The tornado continued to strengthen as it went on land, crossed State Highway 58 and quickly strengthened to EF2 intensity. Over the next 2 miles (3.2 km), the tornado consistently caused EF2 to EF3 damage through several neighborhoods. The worst damage was found along Short Tail Springs Road, Woodland Bay Drive, and Davis Mill Circle, where many residents suffered from EF3 damage with one residence completely wiped away, and an entire forest of trees south of Short Tail Springs Road was completely downed. After leaving the neighborhood, the tornado continued to primarily maintain EF2 intensity, went across another couple of inlets of the lake, and emerged as an EF1 by the time it crossed Ooltewah-Georgetown Rd.
The tornado continued into Bradley County where it would continue into the northern side of Cleveland. In Bradley County, it was most intense on the western side of the county, where vast swaths of trees were downed along a highway at EF2 intensity. Overall, 46 homes were hit by the tornado, with including 5 that were completely destroyed, and another 11 that sustained major damage. Two businesses and three barns were destroyed. In total, 7 people were injured in Bradley County.