Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes

Losses, 2024 dollars

$2.4 billion

Losses at the time

$1.6 billion

Deaths

0

The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.

• Hail in Missouri, March 23 to 24, 20091.25 in hail · 11 eventsA large area of severe thunderstorms, rumbled across the area during the evening hours into the early morning hours, of March 23rd through 24th, 2009. There were numerous reports of hail.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, March 23, 2009$384,000 · EF0 · 9 eventsA strong upper level trough lifted northeast from the southwest U.S. with the surface moving from central Nebraska at mid afternoon, and into eastern South Dakota by the early morning hours of the 24th.
• Tornado and Hail in Oklahoma, March 23 to 24, 2009$115,000 · EF0 · 17 eventsSeveral severe thunderstorms occurred from overnight on the 23rd to the morning hours of the 24th.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Missouri, March 24, 2009$110,000 · 60 kt wind · 13 eventsA line of thunderstorms impacted portions of the Missouri Ozarks during the morning of 24 March. A few of these storms became marginally severe producing large hail and damaging winds. Heavy rain caused flash flooding to occur in several areas.
• Hail in Missouri, March 24, 20092.75 in hail · 9 eventsSevere thunderstorms were observed across central portions of the area, during the morning hours of March 24, 2009. There were numerous reports of hail. Heavy rains associated with these storms, also caused flooding on area rivers and creeks.
• Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, March 24, 200952 kt wind · 1 eventA cold front moved through Oklahoma during the morning hours. Showers and thunderstorms developed along the front and pushed east. One thunderstorm briefly became severe producing winds of at least 60 mph south of Calvin in Hughes county. No damage was reported.
• Flash Flood in Minnesota, March 24 to 25, 2009$1,000 · 1 eventAs the Red Lake River in Crookston was nearing its late March crest, an ice jam formed. This caused the Red Lake River to back up in town, inundating lower areas along the river. Local law enforcement initiated a voluntary evacuation in several neighborhoods along the river.
• Damaging Winds in Arkansas, March 24, 2009$5,000 · 55 kt wind · 3 eventsSevere thunderstorms moved into the northwest corner of Arkansas from eastern Oklahoma during the late morning hours of the 24th.
• Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Missouri, March 24, 200952 kt wind · 4 eventsA strong cold front moved through the region triggering showers and thunderstorms. Flash flooding and damaging winds were reported with some of the storms.
• Damaging Winds in Arkansas, March 24, 2009$1,000 · 50 kt wind · 3 eventsA cold front headed into the region on the 24th. This system brought isolated severe weather to the state.
• Damaging Winds in Illinois, March 24, 200962 kt wind · 4 eventsAn intense low pressure system in eastern South Dakota brought warm, moist and unstable air into portions of western Illinois during the afternoon of March 24, 2009. A line of thunderstorms in McDonough County briefly became severe producing damaging winds.
• Damaging Winds in Illinois, March 24, 2009$143,000 · 65 kt wind · 9 eventsStrong to severe storms moved across north central Illinois during the late evening hours of March 24th into the early morning hours of March 25th.
• Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, March 24, 2009$27,000 · 56 kt wind · 3 eventsA narrow band of intense rain showers with isolated thunderstorms ahead of a cold front moved rapidly from west to east across Southern Wisconsin during the late evening hours of March 24th.
• Damaging Wind and Heavy Rain in Mississippi, March 24 to 25, 20091 death · $27,000 · 65 kt wind · 2 eventsA strong cold front moved through the Midsouth during the late afternoon hours of March 24th, 2009 and continued moving south through the early morning hours of March 25th, 2009. A squall line developed along the front producing damaging winds.
• Tornado in Louisiana, March 24, 2009$500,000 · EF1 · 1 eventStrong thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a frontal boundary across portions of north central Louisiana during the late night hours of March 24th. The storms developed in a strongly sheared environment both in the lower and mid levels of the atmosphere.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Mississippi, March 25 to 26, 200927 injured · $11 million · EF3 · 34 eventsA round of severe thunderstorms, containing tornadoes and damaging straight line winds, occurred Wednesday night, March 25, into early Thursday morning, March 26.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, March 25, 20092 injured · $44,000 · 60 kt wind · 7 eventsIsolated elevated severe thunderstorms developed in association with an approaching shortwave. Hail up to the size of nickels was reported with these storms.
• Flash Flood in South Dakota, March 25, 20091 eventIce, logs, and debris were preventing the already flooded Elm River waters from flowing downstream. This resulted in a rapid rise in the river, leading to flash flood conditions in and around Westport.
• Hail in Texas, March 25, 20092.75 in hail · 8 eventsThe combination of an unstable airmass and a fast moving upper level disturbance brought severe thunderstorms to the southern half of West Central Texas. Also, a supercell produced golfball to baseball size hail across Mason County.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, March 25, 2009$160 million · 3.5 in hail · 39 eventsA cold front stalled across South Central Texas on the morning of March 25th. The subtropical jet and a mid/upper-level short wave trough pushed into the region. Convection initiated across San Angelo's county warning area in the morning and spread to the southwest.
• Damaging Wind in Kansas, March 25, 200950 kt wind · 1 eventAn isolated thunderstorm produced high wind in Liberal.
• Damaging Winds in Texas, March 25, 2009$50,000 · 55 kt wind · 6 eventsA weak cold front moved through the region during the overnight hours of March 24th and had stalled across southeast Texas into southwest and south central Louisiana.
• Tornado and Hail in Louisiana, March 25, 2009$416,000 · EF0 · 18 eventsA weak cold front moved through the region during the overnight hours of March 24th and had stalled across southeast Texas into southwest and south central Louisiana.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, March 25, 2009$8,000 · 61 kt wind · 6 eventsA retreating warm front in combination, with an approaching upper level disturbance, generated severe thunderstorms.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, March 25, 2009$5,000 · 50 kt wind · 3 eventsThe first day in a three-day series of severe weather across southeast Texas began when a squall line of severe thunderstorms developed across central Texas during the evening hours on 3/25/09, and moved rapidly eastward across Southeast Texas.
• Damaging Winds in Louisiana, March 25, 2009$375,000 · 78 kt wind · 4 eventsA round of severe thunderstorms, containing tornadoes and damaging straight line winds, occurred Wednesday night, March 25, into early Thursday morning, March 26.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, March 25 to 26, 2009$626,000 · 1.75 in hail · 31 eventsThe first day in a three-day series of widespread severe weather across southwest Louisiana began when a squall line of severe thunderstorms developed across central Texas during the evening hours on 3/25/09.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Louisiana, March 25 to 27, 2009$4.8 million · EF1 · 27 eventsSeveral episodes of widespread severe weather and heavy rainfall occurred from March 26th through the 28th as a series of strong upper air disturbances impacted the central gulf region as a meandering and nearly stationary frontal boundary drifted back and forth across the area.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Mississippi, March 25 to 28, 20091 death · $814,000 · EF1 · 20 eventsSeveral episodes of widespread severe weather and heavy rainfall occurred from March 26th through the 28th as a series of strong upper air disturbances impacted the central gulf region as a meandering and nearly stationary frontal boundary drifted back and forth across the area.
• Flash Flood in Tennessee, March 26, 2009$1,000 · 1 eventRainfall occurred over a two hour period resulting in flash flooding in Bedford County.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Alabama, March 26, 2009$156,000 · EF1 · 14 eventsA cold front pushing through the area brought a line of thunderstorms that caused high winds and two tornadoes.
• Damaging Wind in Mississippi, March 26, 2009$12,000 · 50 kt wind · 1 eventA line of slow moving thunderstorms moved across southeast Mississippi and produced wind damage along with very heavy rain that caused flash flooding.
• Tornado and Damaging Winds in Alabama, March 26, 2009$107,000 · EF1 · 4 eventsA line of slow moving thunderstorms moved across southwest Alabama and produced a tornado and wind damage along with very heavy rain that caused flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Alabama, March 26, 200912 eventsHeavy rainfall pushed into northwestern Alabama on the morning of the 26th. This front later pushed northward and stalled across northwestern Alabama during the day.
• Damaging Winds in Alabama, March 26, 2009$135,000 · 60 kt wind · 2 eventsA line of severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds in Houston and Coffee counties on the 26th.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, March 26, 20091.75 in hail · 23 eventsA stalled boundary stretched from west to east along US Highway 90 and I-10 and combined with a subtle jet streak and weak short wave trough to cause severe thunderstorms (including some supercells) across western and southern portions of South Central Texas.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, March 26, 2009$40,000 · 1.75 in hail · 14 eventsSeveral severe thunderstorms occurred across eastern Oklahoma during the afternoon hours of the 26th.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, March 26, 2009$120,000 · 1.75 in hail · 10 eventsScattered thunderstorms affected portions of South Texas Thursday March 26th 2009. A few of the storms became severe and produced damaging winds, large hail, and frequent lightning.
• Hail in Texas, March 26, 20090.88 in hail · 1 eventA stationary front, in combination with an upper level disturbance, generated clusters of severe thunderstorms that produced locally heavy rainfall and hail.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, March 26, 200952 kt wind · 2 eventsThe second day in a row of severe weather affected southeast Texas, with one report of severe winds and one report of large hail received.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, March 26, 2009$382,000 · 1.75 in hail · 16 eventsThe second day in a row of widespread severe weather affected southwest Louisiana, with numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds. The damage in St. Mary Parish from these severe thunderstorms was considered worse than the damage from Hurricane Gustav in September 2008.
• Hail in Texas, March 26, 20091 in hail · 2 eventsDense fog around during the morning gave way to a very unstable atmosphere across northwest and north central Louisiana. A stalled frontal boundary was located across deep east Texas into central Louisiana.
• Hail in Arkansas, March 26, 20091 in hail · 10 eventsSevere thunderstorms occurred across northwest Arkansas during the late afternoon and early evening hours of the 26th.
• Hail in Louisiana, March 26, 20091 in hail · 3 eventsDense fog around during the morning gave way to a very unstable atmosphere across northwest and north central Louisiana. A stalled frontal boundary was located across deep east Texas into central Louisiana.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, March 26, 2009$139,000 · EF0 · 17 eventsTwo supercell thunderstorms formed over Montague County and moved east through Cooke and Grayson County. These storms produced hail up to the size of baseballs and produced 2 tornadoes.
• Lightning Strike in Arkansas, March 26, 20091 injured · 2 eventsOn the afternoon of the 26th, thunderstorms developed in eastern Oklahoma and moved into western Arkansas during the overnight hours of the 26th.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Arkansas, March 26, 200953 kt wind · 2 eventsDense fog around during the morning gave way to a very unstable atmosphere across northwest and north central Louisiana. A stalled frontal boundary was located across deep east Texas into central Louisiana.
• Flash Flood in North Dakota, March 27, 2009$1,000 · 1 eventIn the early morning hours of the 27th, seepage was reported in a dike at Linden Avenue, east of Fourth Street South in Fargo. This initiated a mandatory evacuation of all residences east of Fourth Street South between South River Road and Lindenwood Drive.
• Flash Flooding in Alabama, March 27, 20092 eventsA line of thunderstorms ahead of a cold front produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding across portions of southwest Alabama.
• Flash Flooding in Mississippi, March 27, 20094 eventsA line of thunderstorms ahead of a cold front produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding across portions of southeast Mississippi.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, March 27, 2009$292,000 · 1.75 in hail · 9 eventsA line of thunderstorms moved across southwest Alabama and produced numerous reports of wind damage and hail.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Florida, March 27, 200961 kt wind · 2 eventsThunderstorms moved across the Florida panhandle and produced wind damage and hail.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, March 27, 20091 in hail · 5 eventsA cold front moved into northwest Oklahoma during the early morning hours. A large area of thunderstorms developed across northern and central Oklahoma, with a few becoming severe. Hail up to quarter-size was reported, along with a few wind gusts near 60 mph.
• Damaging Winds in Alabama, March 27, 2009$13,000 · 60 kt wind · 5 eventsA line of severe thunderstorms moved east across southeast Alabama during the morning of the 27th and produced scattered reports of wind damage.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Florida, March 27, 2009$145,000 · EF0 · 11 eventsA line of severe thunderstorms produced numerous reports of damaging winds and a few weak tornadoes across the Panhandle during the morning of the 27th.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Alabama, March 27 to 28, 2009$155,000 · 1.75 in hail · 16 eventsAn intense low pressure system and associated cold front brought high winds, scattered strong to severe thunderstorms, and locally heavy rain to central Alabama.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, March 27, 2009$10,000 · 1.75 in hail · 21 eventsSevere thunderstorms occurred across eastern Oklahoma from the morning hours into the evening hours of the 27th.
• Damaging Winds in Georgia, March 27, 2009$195,000 · 60 kt wind · 4 eventsA line of severe thunderstorms moved east into extreme southwest Georgia on the morning of the 27th and produced wind damage in Seminole County.
• Hail in Texas, March 27, 20090.75 in hail · 1 eventAn isolated severe thunderstorm developed over Lee County and produced a small amount of hail.
• Hail in Arkansas, March 27, 20091 in hail · 1 eventSevere thunderstorms occurred across eastern Oklahoma during the day of the 27th. One of those storms moved into west central Arkansas.
• Tornado and Hail in Texas, March 27, 2009$201,000 · EF0 · 35 eventsScattered thunderstorms developed ahead of an approaching dry line and cold front ushered into the area by a strong upper level low pressure system moving across the Texas/Oklahoma border.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, March 27, 20091 injured · 1 eventA lifeguard was struck in his tower by lightning. It burned his jacket and set the tower on fire. He was transported to the hospital and the beaches were closed.
• Flash Flood in North Dakota, March 27, 2009$500 · 1 eventAn ice jam developed on the Sheyenne River at Lisbon, causing water to back up along the river in town.
• Tornado and Hail in Texas, March 27, 2009EF0 · 9 eventsThe third day in a row of severe weather impacted southeast Texas. Numerous multicell and supercell thunderstorms moving across the area spawned one confirmed tornado and widespread large hail.
• Tornado and Hail in Louisiana, March 27, 2009$35,000 · EF0 · 26 eventsThe third day in a row of severe weather impacted southwest Louisiana. Numerous multicell and supercell thunderstorms moving across the area spawned one confirmed tornado and widespread large hail.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Georgia, March 27 to 30, 2009$2.5 million · EF0 · 33 eventsA deep and intensifying upper trough was moving from the southwest U.S. into the southeast U.S. from March 27th through the 29th. Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms preceded the final passage of the upper low on the 29th.
• Tornadoes in North Carolina, March 27, 20091 injured · $40,000 · EF2 · 2 eventsA stationary boundary was located from GSB to POB southward through the Piedmont of South Carolina at mid-afternoon. A short-wave across the Georgia-South Carolina border was lifting northward across the area during the afternoon. Instability was marginal.
• Tornadoes in North Carolina, March 27, 2009$360,000 · EF1 · 5 eventsLow topped tornadic supercells developed along a stationary front located across the coastal plain region of North Carolina. The storms intensified as a shortwave trough moved northeast across the area, producing EF-1 damage in Cumberland County.
• Tornado and Hail in Louisiana, March 27, 2009$5,000 · EF0 · 8 eventsA stationary frontal boundary was located east to west near the Interstate 20 corridor of northern Louisiana. Low level moisture was rapidly returning to the region with the aid of a low level jet which overran the surface boundary during the late evening hours of March 27th.
• Tornadoes in North Carolina, March 27, 2009$250,000 · EF1 · 2 eventsA slow moving cold front approached eastern North Carolina from the northwest during the afternoon of March 27th 2009.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, March 27, 2009$77,000 · 2 in hail · 6 eventsA powerful storm system brought a round of severe thunderstorms containing damaging straight line winds and two tornadoes which occurred Friday afternoon and night. These storms were associated with a strong upper system moving across the region.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Tennessee, March 27 to 28, 2009$4.5 million · EF1 · 31 eventsAhead of an approaching cold front, severe thunderstorms developed across the western half of middle Tennessee.
• Hail in Tennessee, March 27, 20091.75 in hail · 1 eventA thunderstorm that developed ahead of an approaching cold front produced severe hail in Maury County.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Mississippi, March 27 to 28, 2009$2.4 million · EF1 · 47 eventsFor the third consecutive day a powerful storm system brought a round of severe thunderstorms containing damaging straight line winds and two tornadoes which occurred Friday afternoon and night. These storms were associated with a strong upper system moving across the region.
• Hail in Arkansas, March 27 to 28, 20090.75 in hail · 2 eventsA storm system dragged a cold front into Arkansas from the southern Plains during the evening of 27th and the morning of the 28th.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Alabama, March 27 to 28, 2009$515,000 · 1 in hail · 7 eventsSeveral lines of severe thunderstorms raked southeast Alabama on the 28th and produced reports of large hail, wind damage and flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Florida, March 28, 20091 death · 1.75 in hail · 10 eventsThunderstorms moved across the Florida panhandle producing flooding along with wind damage and large hail.
• Flash Flood in Mississippi, March 28, 20091 eventHeavy rains produced widespread flash flooding in southeast Mississippi.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Alabama, March 28, 2009$54,000 · 2.75 in hail · 10 eventsThunderstorms moved across southwest Alabama and produced several reports of large hail, wind damage and flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Georgia, March 28, 2009$41,000 · 1 in hail · 14 eventsSeveral episodes of severe thunderstorms on the 28th affected southwest Georgia with numerous reports of wind damage, large hail and flooding.
• Flash Flood in Kansas, March 28, 20091 eventExcessive rainfall caused flash floodng across Bourbon County. Numerous roads and low water crossing became flooded and impassable to motorists.
• Damaging Wind in Florida, March 28, 2009$500,000 · 60 kt wind · 1 eventA downburst from a severe thunderstorm on the 28th caused extensive damage to a warehouse, and downed numerous trees and power lines in Marianna.
• Damaging Wind in South Carolina, March 28, 2009$5,000 · 50 kt wind · 1 eventThe combination of a stalled out warm front through the area and the approach of a strong cold front, resulted in numerous strong to severe thunderstorms across southern South Carolina and southeast Georgia.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Kentucky, March 28, 20092 injured · $668,000 · EF3 · 20 eventsA strong low pressure center moved northeast from Oklahoma into south central Missouri by late afternoon, with a warm front extending east from the low across western Kentucky. The warm front served as a focusing mechanism for some of the ingredients needed for tornadogenesis.
• Tornado and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, March 28, 2009$9,000 · EF1 · 3 eventsA cold front moved through the area during the evening and produced a few severe thunderstorms in Orangeburg and Clarendon counties. One tornado was confirmed.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Georgia, March 28, 2009$3,000 · 1 in hail · 6 eventsThe combination of a stalled out warm front through the area and the approach of a strong cold front, resulted in numerous strong to severe thunderstorms across southern South Carolina and southeast Georgia.
• Hail in Indiana, March 28, 20090.75 in hail · 2 eventsA strong low pressure center moved northeast from Oklahoma into south central Missouri by late afternoon, with a warm front extending east from the low across western Kentucky. The warm front served as a focusing mechanism for some of the ingredients needed for tornadogenesis.
• Hail in Kentucky, March 28, 20091 in hail · 4 eventsThunderstorms across portions of mainly west-central Kentucky produced mainly marginally severe hail. While a tornado was reported with one storm in Grayson County; after further review and investigation this turned out to be a false report.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, March 28, 2009$41,000 · EF1 · 10 eventsLow-topped supercell thunderstorms developed along a powerful cold front during the late afternoon of the 28th across the eastern half of north Alabama. The storms evolved into a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) with embedded mesocyclones, one of which became tornadic.
• Tornado and Hail in Tennessee, March 28, 2009$37,000 · EF1 · 3 eventsLow-topped supercell thunderstorms developed along a powerful cold front during the late afternoon of the 28th. The storms evolved into a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) with embedded mesocyclones, one of which became tornadic.
• Tornado and Damaging Winds in Florida, March 28 to 31, 20091 injured · $760,000 · EF1 · 11 eventsA series of upper level impulses moved over a stationary frontal boundary across north Florida and southeast Georgia producing severe weather and flooding. This event continued into April 2009.
• Tornadoes in North Carolina, March 28, 2009$201,000 · EF2 · 2 eventsA mesoscale convective vortex moved to the northeast and across the area during the evening. Deep moisture and higher dewpoints were aligned ahead of a pre-frontal trough and surface low pressure in eastern South Carolina.
• Tornado and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, March 28, 2009$44,000 · EF0 · 6 eventsA strong cold front extending south from an Ohio Valley surface low moved through Southeast Tennessee during the evening and produced a line of severe thunderstoms.
• Hail in Florida, March 29, 20090.75 in hail · 1 eventA strong cold front moved through the area preceeded by a line of showers and thunderstorms.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, March 29, 2009$1.1 million · 1.75 in hail · 21 eventsSevere thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds across portions of the Lower Susquehanna Valley during the afternoon and evening hours.
• Hail in Maryland, March 29, 20090.88 in hail · 3 eventsA cold front passed through the Mid-Atlantic on the 29th. A southerly flow ahead of the front ushered in plenty of warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. This air mass was unstable enough to trigger showers and thunderstorms on the 29th as the cold front moved through.
• Tornado in Pennsylvania, March 29, 20093 injured · $1.0 million · EF1 · 1 eventAn EF1 tornado with peak winds of 85 to 95 mph touched down in northern Lancaster County between Lititz and Ephrata. The tornado produced widespread damage and caused three minor injuries.
• Damaging Wind in Maryland, March 29, 200950 kt wind · 1 eventA cold front which followed an unseasonably warm and humid late March afternoon helped trigger a severe thunderstorm in Cecil County.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, March 29, 2009$1.1 million · 1.75 in hail · 20 eventsA cold front which followed an unseasonably warm and humid late March day helped trigger severe thunderstorms across Eastern Pennsylvania during the late afternoon and early evening of the 29th.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Delaware, March 29, 200952 kt wind · 3 eventsA cold front which followed an unseasonably warm and humid late March afternoon helped trigger severe thunderstorms in New Castle County.
• Hail and Lightning Strike in New Jersey, March 29, 2009$1,000 · 1 in hail · 8 eventsA cold front which followed an unseasonably warm and humid late March afternoon helped trigger severe thunderstorms mainly across central New Jersey during the evening of the 29th. All of the severe weather reports were large hail.
• Hail in New Jersey, March 29, 20090.88 in hail · 3 eventsA strong upper level system initiated a line of hail producing thunderstorms across the New York Metropolitan area.

Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2009Tornadoes in 2009

NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.