A powerful storm system that moved across the country during the weekend brought a significant impact, generating over 50 tornadoes, fueling wildfires, and resulting in the tragic loss of at least 42 lives. It is often said that March “comes in like a lion,” signaling the transition from winter to spring, a period known for severe weather events. However, the recent storm and tornado outbreak had a more pronounced effect than usual, according to Evan Bentley, a forecaster at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center. The intense system that developed in the Central Plains caused dust storms in the Southern Plains, extreme fire behavior in Oklahoma, blizzard conditions in the Northern Plains, and severe weather across the Midwest to the East Coast during Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The National Weather Service deployed survey teams throughout the weekend and into Monday to assess the storm damage and determine the total count of tornadoes, but final numbers will take some time to compile, Bentley explained. Over the three-day period from Friday to Sunday, the storm prediction center received over 1,000 severe weather reports, including tornadoes, high winds, and hail, a figure close to the usual count for the entire month of March. High winds of 70-80 mph were recorded in numerous areas.
By Monday noon, the weather service had confirmed more than 50 tornadoes, including seven rated as EF3 and two as EF4 in strength, with the likelihood of that number increasing. Notably, two separate tornado tracks in Arkansas were identified as EF4 from March 14. An EF3 tornado in Bakersfield, Missouri, with winds reaching 140 mph, caused significant damage and casualties.
The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF) categorizes tornadoes on a scale from zero to five, with five being the most severe. Tornado strength is determined based on the observed damage along its path. The conditions leading to this March tornado outbreak resulted from a convergence of atmospheric factors, with meteorologists and scientists anticipating the event days in advance as a large system over the Pacific Ocean moved closer.
When Pacific Coast weather systems move across the Rockies and reach the Great Plains and Central U.S., it often leads to the development of low-pressure areas due to the convergence of dry air from the Desert Southwest and moist air from the Gulf. This unique geography is why the larger region is known as the tornado capital of the world. During this event, strong winds from a powerful jet stream encountered dry air from the Desert Southwest while warm air from the Gulf brought in extra moisture, resulting in barometric pressure readings below 980 millibars typically associated with a Category 1 hurricane. Sometimes, the necessary conditions for tornado formation are not fully met, such as insufficient moisture from the Gulf or overly dry conditions. Warmer Gulf temperatures lead to higher moisture content and increase the probability of moisture moving inland. Sea surface temperatures in certain areas of the Gulf have been notably warmer than average.
The tornado deaths reported as of Monday afternoon occurred in eight states due to multi-vehicle accidents during dust storms, wildfires exacerbated by strong winds, and tornado destruction. The confirmed death toll by state is as follows:
– Missouri: 12
– Kansas: 8
– Mississippi: 6
– Texas: 4
– Oklahoma: 4
– Alabama: 3
– Arkansas: 3
– North Carolina: 2
For more climate change and environmental coverage, contact Dinah Voyles Pulver at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X. This article was originally published on USA TODAY: How a massive storm system produced violent and deadly tornadoes over the weekend.
