The Tornado outbreak of November 23–24, 2001 was a fall tornado outbreak which affected portions of the southern United States from Arkansas to Alabama on November 23–24, 2001, with additional tornadoes recorded in Louisiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana and Georgia. Recorded as one of the most intense November outbreaks ever across that area, tornadoes from the event killed at least 13 across three states including 4 in Alabama, four in Arkansas and five in Mississippi.
 F4 damage to a subdivision of Madison, Mississippi, on November 24, 2001 (courtesy of NWS Jackson, Mississippi) | |
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | November 23–24, 2001 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 69 |
| Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | ~26 hours |
| Fatalities | 13 deaths, 219 injuries |
| Damage | $53.3 million (2001 USD)[1] |
| Areas affected | Eastern United States (especially the Southeastern states) |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
Meteorological synopsis
editA low-pressure system was situated, just after 5 AM on November 24, near Kansas City, Missouri. Its associated cold front traversed much of the outbreak-affected area with several supercells forming ahead of the front.[2] Rich moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cold air aloft and wind shear provided the ingredients from a significant severe weather outbreak.
Supercells formed late across much of Arkansas and Mississippi during the evening hours of November 23 up into the early morning hours of November 24 produced several tornadoes including two F4 Mississippi tornadoes across Washington and Bolivar Counties at around 2 AM[3] and in Madison County near the city of Madison at around 5 AM. The second tornado killed at least 2 (including a newborn baby) and injured 21. Another tornado in Mississippi, an F2, struck Quitman, Panola and Tate Counties just after 3 AM and killed at least three.[4] In Arkansas, four people were killed by two separate tornadoes including three in Ashley County from a single tornado that moved from Louisiana.
| State | Total | County | County total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4 | Cherokee | 2 |
| Lamar | 2 | ||
| Arkansas | 4 | Ashley | 3 |
| Johnson | 1 | ||
| Mississippi | 5 | Madison | 2 |
| Panola | 1 | ||
| Quitman | 2 | ||
| Totals | 13 | ||
| All deaths were tornado-related | |||
Activity shifted into Alabama during midday on November 24 where numerous supercells traveled across the Birmingham coverage area. There were at least, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, 13 supercells that produced tornadoes including an F4 tornado that traversed Blount and Etowah Counties just after 1:00 PM. Activity ceased just after midnight with the final tornadoes touching down across Alabama in Dale County. In Alabama alone, 4 people were killed by two separate tornadoes including 2 from an F3 that moved from Pickens County northeastward and north of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa towards Walker County. Another tornado killed 2 in Cherokee County in the northeastern part of the state.[5]
Confirmed tornadoes
edit| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 69 |
November 23 event
edit| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | ||||||
| F1 | SW of Greenwood | Franklin, Logan | 0125 | 8 miles (12.8 km) |
Several barns and one house was damaged. | |
| F2 | NW of Altus to N of Salus | Franklin, Johnson, Newton | 0136 | 31.5 miles (50.4 km) |
1 death – Fatality was inside a mobile home and 4 others were injured. Several homes were damaged, some of them heavily. Several mobile homes, barns, outbuildings, six chicken houses and two turkey houses were destroyed. Numerous chickens that were inside chicken houses were killed. Numerous trees at a national forest were downed, and several vehicles were damaged as well. | |
| F1 | NE of Altus | Franklin, Johnson | 0140 | 8.8 miles (14.1 km) |
Damage to barns, homes and power lines. | |
| F2 | NW of Limestone | Newton | 0224 | 18.5 miles (29.6 km) |
Major damage to an Inn and a restaurant. Several homes were damaged and outbuildings were destroyed. | |
| F1 | SW of Pyatt | Boone, Marion | 0303 | 8 miles (12.8 km) |
Three barns, a house and garage were heavily or destroyed with several other homes receiving minor damage. | |
| F2 | SW of Searcy | White | 0725 | 5.5 miles (8.8 km) |
A small house and trailer was destroyed, and one house was shifted from its foundation. Dozens of other structures were damaged. 3 people were injured. | |
| F1 | SW of Fairview | Chicot | 0731 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Four houses and a mobile home were damaged. | |
| Missouri | ||||||
| F2 | N of Exeter | Barry | 0228 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
Significant damage to several residences. Two storage buildings were swept from their foundations. Damage also to chicken houses and grain bins and outbuildings were destroyed. 3 people were injured. | |
| F1 | NE of Opal | Lawrence | 0320 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
Roof damage to a firehouse and several homes. A steeple from a church was also toppled. Poultry houses were destroyed as well. | |
| Louisiana | ||||||
| F1 | W of Eros | Jackson, Ouachita | 0539 | 9 miles (14.4 km) |
Damage to a carport, a chicken house, and a mobile home. | |
| F3 | NE of Bastrop to NE of Parkdale, Arkansas | Morehouse, Ashley (AR) | 0640 | 30 miles (48 km) |
3 deaths – In Arkansas, a tractor shed, a church, 14 mobile homes and homes were destroyed and five other homes were severely damaged in Wilmot, where three people were killed. In Louisiana, there was extensive damage to a potato plant, farm buildings and one house. | |
| F1 | S of Faircloth | Grant | 0643 | 11.5 miles (18.4 km) |
Damage was limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SE of Curry | Winn | 0714 | 2.9 miles (4.6 km) |
Damage to trees and street signs. | |
| F1 | W of Grayson | Caldwell | 0735 | 5 miles (8 km) |
Damage was limited to trees. | |
| Mississippi | ||||||
| F4 | SW of Winterville to S of Mound Bayou | Washington, Bolivar | 0755 | 30.3 miles (48.5 km) |
Worst damage was in the Winterville area. A total of 48 people were injured by the storm. 16 homes, seven mobile homes, six businesses and a power substation were destroyed. A few of the destroyed homes were swept away. Numerous other structures including homes and mobile homes sustained minor to severe damage. | |
November 24 event
edit| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | ||||||
| F2 | S of Big Bend | Avoyelles | 0805 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
One mobile home was destroyed, with its three occupants being injured. | |
| F0 | NW of Afton | Madison | 1210 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
A shed was blown away. | |
| Mississippi | ||||||
| F1 | SW of Baltzer | Sunflower, Coahoma | 0842 | 6 miles (9.6 km) |
One mobile home was destroyed, and several homes had major damage or were destroyed. | |
| F2 | W of Walnut to SE of Arkabutla | Quitman, Panola, Tate | 0910 | 43.5 miles (69.6 km) |
3 deaths – 135 homes, a cotton plant, a mobile home, a church and other structures were damaged or destroyed. Deaths were inside destroyed structures including one girl who was inside a mobile home. 33 others were injured. | |
| F2 | E of Lewisburg | DeSoto | 1010 | 6 miles (9.6 km) |
19 homes were destroyed and 119 were others damaged. 9 people were injured | |
| F3 | Isola area | Humphreys | 1015 | 6 miles (9.6 km) |
23 homes, 10 businesses and two churches were severely damaged or destroyed with minor damage to other structures. Several grain silos and a farm headquarters were also destroyed. There were 5 minor injuries. | |
| F0 | SE of Bolton | Hinds | 1051 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
Damage was limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SE of Pocahontas | Hinds | 1118 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F4 | SW of Madison to S of Canton | Madison | 1125 | 11.5 miles (18.4 km) |
2 deaths – 84 homes and 10 mobile homes were severely damaged or destroyed with minor damage to 67 other homes and three mobile homes. One of the fatalities was a baby, who died shortly after birth following the tornado. The mother had been critically injured. Worst of the damage occurred in the Fairfield subdivision of the Madison area, where homes were leveled or swept away. | |
| F1 | S of Bolatusha | Leake | 1225 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
Damage was limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SW of Starkville | Oktibbeha | 1530 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F1 | NW of Aubrey | Noxubee | 1610 | 8 miles (12.8 km) |
11 barns, 3 homes and a grain silo were damaged, while three sheds and a small airplane hangar were destroyed. | |
| F0 | NE of Middleton | Clarke | 1715 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Minor damage occurred to one home. | |
| F0 | SW of Stonewall | Clarke | 1802 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
Damage to trees and power lines. | |
| Kentucky | ||||||
| F2 | W of Murray | Calloway | 1247 | 11.5 miles (18.4 km) |
45 to 50 structures were damaged or destroyed including homes, barns, and mobile homes. 4 people were injured. | |
| Alabama | ||||||
| F3 | SE of Millport to NE of Howard | Pickens, Lamar, Fayette, Walker | 1655 | 38.9 miles (62.2 km) |
2 deaths – Worst damage occurred in the community of Kennedy. Numerous structures were damaged or destroyed. Two occupants of a mobile home in Lamar County were killed and another person was injured. | |
| F0 | NE of Moundville | Hale | 1702 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
Minor damage occurred to a nursery and mobile home. | |
| F2 | Haleyville area | Marion, Winston | 1721 | 1.9 miles (3 km) |
Downtown Haleyville was severely damaged by this tornado. Several buildings including a shopping mall were badly damaged. There were 13 injuries. | |
| F1 | SW of Samantha | Tuscaloosa | 1739 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
A few outbuildings were destroyed and one home sustained roof damage. | |
| F0 | S of Butler | Choctaw | 1745 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Damage to trees and power lines. | |
| F2 | Caddo area | Lawrence | 1810 | 3.1 miles (5 km) |
25 homes sustained varying degrees of damage, including 3 homes that were totally destroyed. One mobile home was demolished, and 2 homes received significant damage. Additional damage was reported to several businesses and one church. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted and numerous outbuildings were destroyed. 2 people were injured. | |
| F2 | NW of Trinity | Morgan | 1813 | 1.8 miles (2.9 km) |
This tornado damaged several structures on a brief 1 mile path. | |
| F0 | Cedarville area | Hale | 1834 | 2.9 miles (4.6 km) |
A few structures were damaged. | |
| F0 | S of Gilbertown | Choctaw | 1835 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Damage occurred to a few trees. | |
| F0 | NW of Bucksville | Tuscaloosa | 1837 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | W of Rembert | Marengo | 1856 | 0.6 miles (1 km) |
Trees and power lines were blown down. | |
| F1 | W of Vinemount | Cullman | 1859 | 2.1 miles (3.4 km) |
3 chicken barns were damaged or destroyed and a frame garage collapsed. | |
| F0 | SE of Toxey | Choctaw | 1900 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Minor roof damage to some structures. | |
| F0 | SW of Good Hope | Cullman | 1902 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
A few trees were blown down. | |
| F4 | SE of Oneonta to SE of Altoona | Blount, Etowah | 1919 | 10.1 miles (16.2 km) |
22 people were injured. Numerous homes destroyed, some of which were completely leveled. Several heavy vehicles or equipment such as bulldozers, dump trunks and storage containers were rolled over or moved a certain distance. Several other homes, one church, one pole-barn building and trailers were damaged or destroyed. | |
| F2 | NE of Trussville to E of Springville | Jefferson, St. Clair | 1931 | 13.4 miles (21.4 km) |
Damage to a sports complex, several homes and mobile homes. One person was injured. | |
| F2 | SE of Morgan City | Marshall | 1941 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
10 to 15 mobile homes, a hangar, two hunting cabins and several outbuildings and barns were destroyed while a few homes also sustained damage. 7 people were injured | |
| F2 | W of New Hope | Madison | 1950 | 2.6 miles (4.2 km) |
Several mobile homes were demolished while several businesses and 21 homes were damaged or destroyed. | |
| F2 | SW of Pine Ridge | DeKalb | 2025 | 7.1 miles (11.4 km) |
Several chickens barns, and a cinder-block building were damaged, and a trailer home was destroyed. | |
| F2 | NE of Sand Rock | Cherokee | 2101 | 8.2 miles (13.1 km) |
2 deaths – The fatalities were from a demolished mobile home. Several other structures were damaged and 4 people were injured. | |
| F2 | N of Pell City | St. Clair | 2110 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
The tornado did damage to an EMA/911 office building as well as its communication tower. Several structures in downtown Pell City and its industrial park suffered minor to moderate damage. A few homes also sustained damaged and two people were injured. | |
| F2 | Sylacauga area | Talladega | 2142 | 3.1 miles (5 km) |
40 to 50 homes were damaged while 10 mobile homes and several outbuildings and sheds were destroyed. 15 people were injured. | |
| F1 | SW of Marbury | Autauga | 2154 | 9.8 miles (15.7 km) |
A trailer home, two trailers, and a shed were destroyed. Several homes and mobile homes were damaged as well. | |
| F2 | SE of Sycamore | Talladega | 2159 | 9.1 miles (14.6 km) |
Several homes were damaged while 6 mobile homes, several outbuildings, and barns were destroyed. | |
| F1 | SW of Jacksonville | Calhoun | 2203 | 7.7 miles (12.3 km) |
10 to 20 homes were damaged while several barns and outbuildings were destroyed. 5 people were injured due to flying debris. | |
| F0 | W of Evergreen | Conecuh | 2242 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Damage to trees and power lines. | |
| F0 | SW of Georgiana | Butler | 2308 | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
Minor structural damage to a church. | |
| F1 | NE of Barfield | Clay, Randolph | 2310 | 6.1 miles (9.8 km) |
A chapel and several barns suffered extensive damage. with some barns being destroyed. | |
| F1 | S of McKenzie | Butler | 2342 | 6 miles (9.6 km) |
A mobile home was destroyed, with its three occupants being injured. | |
| F0 | SW of Garland | Butler | 0030 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Damage was limited to trees. | |
| F0 | Brewton area | Escambia | 0110 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Minor roof damage to a few homes. | |
| F0 | NW of River Falls | Covington | 0128 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Damage to trees and power lines. | |
| F0 | E of Rose Hill | Covington | 0230 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
Damage was limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SW of Ansley | Pike | 0242 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F1 | N of Tarentum | Pike | 0327 | 11.8 miles (18.9 km) |
Moderate to significant roof damage to a few homes. | |
| F1 | Daleville area | Dale | 0612 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
Two restaurants and two industrial buildings were destroyed. An Inn and Lounge, maintenance buildings, one aircraft, 25 businesses, a church, a gas station, two supermarkets, a bank and several homes were damaged. 25 people inside the Lounge were injured. | |
| F1 | S of Ewell | Dale | 0630 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
A double mobile home was destroyed, injuring its two occupants. | |
| Georgia | ||||||
| F1 | E of Head River | Dade | 2106 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
A concrete block garage and a barn were destroyed, with other structures sustaining some damage. | |
| Indiana | ||||||
| F1 | SE of Fenns to Gwynneville | Shelby | 0108 | 16 miles (25.6 km) |
Damage to 23 homes, an auto shop, and 7 other businesses. | |
See also
edit
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