Tornado outbreak of November 23–24, 2001

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.

Tornado outbreak of November 23–24, 2001
F4 damage to a subdivision of Madison, Mississippi, on November 24, 2001 (courtesy of NWS Jackson, Mississippi)
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationNovember 23–24, 2001
Tornadoes confirmed69
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak2~26 hours
Damage$53.3 million (2001 USD)[1]
Casualties13 deaths, 219 injuries
Areas affectedEastern United States (especially the Southeastern states)
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Event summary

A 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 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.

Radar shot of the Madison supercell just before 5:00 AM CDT (NWS Jackson)

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.

Outbreak death toll
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
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 22 22 19 3 3 0 69

November 23 event
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. Dozen of other structures were damaged and there were 3 injuries.
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. 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.
Source: Tornado History Project Storm Data - November 23, 2001

November 24 event
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 from a critically injured pregnant woman that was born just after the tornado and died shortly after birth. 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 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)		 Damage to several structures.
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 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.
Source: Tornado History Project Storm Data - November 24, 2001

See also

References
  1. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=-999%2CALL
  2. Composite Weather Map 11-24-01
  3. Bolivar County MS - Washington County MS Tornado
  4. Madison County MS Tornado
  5. NOAA's National Weather Service - Birmingham, Alabama
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