Southeast and Eastern Tornadoes

Losses, 2024 dollars

$1.4 billion

Losses at the time

$1.0 billion

Deaths

10

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, February 20, 20160.88 in hail · 4 eventsIsolated severe storms developed across the area with some producing large hail.
• Hail in Illinois, February 20, 20160.88 in hail · 1 eventIsolated severe storms developed across the area with some producing large hail.
• Flash Flood and Flooding in Iowa, February 20 to 26, 2016$400,000 · 8 eventsA few rivers went into flood across portions of central and southern Iowa as the snow melted across the area.
• Hail in Kentucky, February 21, 20160.75 in hail · 1 eventAn area of showers and scattered thunderstorms developed ahead of a weak surface low which traveled eastward along a frontal boundary.
• Hail in Missouri, February 21, 20160.88 in hail · 1 eventAn isolated strong thunderstorm produced sub severe hail.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Arkansas, February 21, 201650 kt wind · 2 eventsAn isolated severe storm developed over Randolph County ahead of an approaching cold front producing damaging winds and small hail.
• Lightning Strike in South Carolina, February 22, 2016$50,000 · 1 eventA stationary front produced a thunderstorm which caused damaging lightning.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, February 22, 20161 in hail · 3 eventsAn upper trough was approaching the area with strong winds aloft. These strong winds higher up in the atmosphere allowed for wind shear and instability to increase across West Texas. Easterly surface winds contributed to an increase in low level moisture.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, February 22 to 23, 20161.75 in hail · 12 eventsAn upper level trough brought a strong jet streak across Texas which produced thunderstorms in an unstable airmass. Some storms produced large hail and damaging winds. Overall damage estimates were not available at the time of this writing.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, February 23, 2016$430,000 · 1.75 in hail · 6 eventsA strong upper level disturbance moving across south-central Texas interacted with moisture over south Texas to produce scattered severe thunderstorms over northern portions of the Brush Country during the early morning hours of the 23rd.
• Tornado and Damaging Wind in Texas, February 23, 2016$15,000 · EF0 · 2 eventsA late night through early morning storm system moved eastward out of south central Texas and across southeast Texas. The southern edge of the storms produced a weak a severe thunderstorm and a weak tornado.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, February 23, 20162 deaths · 92 injured · EF3 · 14 eventsA strong cold front moved through the lower Mississippi Valley. Ahead of the front, widespread severe weather moved through Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi during the morning and afternoon hours of February 23rd.
• Tornado and Hail in Louisiana, February 23 to 26, 2016$42,000 · EF1 · 6 eventsA cold front move across Louisiana and a few severe storms occurred ahead of the boundary.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Mississippi, February 23, 20161 death · $316,000 · EF2 · 30 eventsShowers and thunderstorms occurred across the region in association with a potent low pressure system. Some of these storms produced tornadoes, strong damaging wind gusts, and hail.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Mississippi, February 23, 2016EF1 · 6 eventsA strong cold front moved through the lower Mississippi Valley. Ahead of the front, widespread severe weather moved through Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi during the morning and afternoon hours of February 23rd.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Alabama, February 23 to 24, 2016EF1 · 6 eventsA trough of low pressure at 500 milibars was analyzed near the New Mexico and Texas border. A weak shortwave trough was also analyzed across northwest Mississippi.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Mississippi, February 23, 2016$449,000 · EF1 · 13 eventsA strong storm system brought produced numerous thunderstorms across southeast Mississippi. Damaging winds and tornadoes were observed along with very heavy rain.
• Hail in Louisiana, February 23, 20161.25 in hail · 8 eventsA warm front lifted north across Southeast Texas and the Toledo Bend Reservoir into the southern sections of Northcentral Louisiana during the afternoon hours of February 23rd, ahead of a strong upper level trough that traversed east across Northcentral Texas into Northern…
• Flash Flood and Flood in Alabama, February 23, 2016$39,000 · 52 kt wind · 7 eventsA strong storm system brought produced numerous thunderstorms across southwest Alabama. The thunderstorms produced high winds which caused damage.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Louisiana, February 23, 2016$3,000 · 1 in hail · 5 eventsShowers and thunderstorms occurred across the region in association with a potent low pressure system. Some of these storms produced strong damaging wind gusts and hail.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Florida, February 23, 20163 injured · $22 million · EF3 · 3 eventsA unusually strong storm system produced a highly favorable setup for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. The highest impact across the Florida Panhandle was from a strong tornado that impacted the Pensacola metro. Some flooding was also experienced.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, February 23 to 24, 2016$33,000 · 63 kt wind · 26 eventsAn unusually strong upper level trough and area of low pressure moved across the southeast states during the Feb 23-24 period, bringing with it numerous reports of wind damage. The low level jet was particularly strong with very strong 0-1 km shear values in excess of 60 knots.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Alabama, February 23, 2016$300,000 · EF1 · 19 eventsAn unusually strong upper level trough and area of low pressure moved across the southeast states during the Feb 23-24 period, bringing with it numerous reports of wind damage and tornadoes.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Georgia, February 24, 2016$122,000 · EF1 · 20 eventsAn unusually strong upper level trough and area of low pressure moved across the southeast states during the Feb 23-24 period, bringing with it numerous reports of wind damage and tornadoes.
• Damaging Wind in Georgia, February 24, 2016$10,000 · 50 kt wind · 1 eventA deep upper-level low and its associated strong surface low pressure system swept through the region during the early morning hours. The atmosphere across central and south Georgia was moderately unstable with strong low and mid-level wind shear.
• Damaging Winds and High Wind in Tennessee, February 24, 201668 kt wind · 18 eventsA strong low pressure system moved northeast out of the Lower Mississippi Valley through the Upper Ohio Valley dragging a cold front through the Southern Appalachians.
• Damaging Wind and Strong Wind in Georgia, February 24, 20164 injured · 55 kt wind · 2 eventsAn intense area of low pressure tracked just west of the CWA producing strong wind gusts and a few scattered strong to severe thunderstorms.
• Damaging Winds and Strong Wind in Florida, February 24, 2016$15,000 · 87 kt wind · 7 eventsA warm front was located north of the Altamaha River with the entire forecast area within the warm sector of the approaching cold front.
• Tornado and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, February 24, 2016$15,000 · EF0 · 5 eventsAn intense area of low pressure tracked just west of the CWA producing strong wind gusts and a few scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. One storm produced a brief EF0 Tornado just south of Cheraw.
• Damaging Wind and Strong Wind in Georgia, February 24, 2016$3,000 · 2 eventsA warm front was located north of the Altamaha River with the entire forecast area within the warm sector of the approaching cold front.
• Damaging Winds in South Carolina, February 24, 2016$5,000 · 50 kt wind · 2 eventsA strong cold front swept across the western Carolinas during the morning and afternoon of the 24th. Showers and thunderstorms developing along the front produced locally damaging winds, especially across the Piedmont and foothills.
• Damaging Wind in Georgia, February 24, 2016$20,000 · 1 eventA strong cold front swept across north Georgia during the morning and afternoon of the 24th. Showers and thunderstorms developing along the front produced locally strong winds, especially across the Piedmont.
• Damaging Wind and Strong Wind in South Carolina, February 24, 2016$16,000 · 50 kt wind · 13 eventsA strong low level jet in advance of an eastward moving cold front helped produce damaging wind conditions during late morning and afternoon hours in southeast South Carolina.
• Damaging Winds in North Carolina, February 24, 2016$65,000 · 55 kt wind · 11 eventsA strong cold front swept across the western Carolinas during the morning and afternoon of the 24th. Showers and thunderstorms developing along the front produced locally damaging winds, especially across the Piedmont.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, February 24, 20162 injured · $123,000 · 3 in hail · 8 eventsDeep low pressure lifting north across the Ohio River Valley brought a warm front through the area during the morning. In the wake of the warm front, the atmosphere destabilized and this helped to bring very strong winds aloft to the surface.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, February 24, 2016$137,000 · 1.75 in hail · 15 eventsA strong surface low was located over Western Tennessee in the morning. A wedge was in place over the region and expected to be eroded by a strong low level jet.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, February 24, 2016$40,000 · 1 in hail · 9 eventsDeep low pressure lifting north across the Ohio River Valley brought a warm front through the area during the morning. In the wake of the warm front, the atmosphere destabilized and this helped to bring very strong winds aloft to the surface.
• Tornadoes in Florida, February 24, 20161 injured · $1.6 million · EF1 · 4 eventsA strong area of low pressure pushing through the Deep South helped guide a cold front through the region on the 24th. The front spawned numerous strong to severe storms across the area some of which produced tornadoes.
• Damaging Wind and High Wind in West Virginia, February 24 to 26, 2016$10,000 · 51 kt wind · 6 eventsAs a strong low pressure system was lifting north through Ohio, gusty showers raced northeast through West Virginia during the daylight hours on the 24th. Temperatures reached near 70 degrees in the Clarksburg vicinity before one batch of showers moved through.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, February 24, 20161 death · 7 injured · $12 million · EF3 · 29 eventsA strong surface low was located over Western TN in the morning. A wedge was in place over the region and expected to be eroded by a strong low level jet.
• Tornadoes and Hail in North Carolina, February 24, 2016$106,000 · EF1 · 9 eventsThe combination of strong wind shear, moderate instability and deep moisture led to several lines of severe thunderstorms and two tornadoes across eastern NC during the early afternoon of February 24, 2016.
• Tornadoes and Hail in North Carolina, February 24, 2016$1.2 million · EF2 · 40 eventsA few rounds of thunderstorms moved through Central North Carolina in association with a strong low pressure system moving northeastward from the Lower Mississippi River Valley into the Tennessee Valley and Ohio Valley.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, February 24, 20163 deaths · 33 injured · $15 million · EF3 · 64 eventsScattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds, large hail, and six tornadoes across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
• Tornado in North Carolina, February 24, 2016$25,000 · EF0 · 1 eventIsolated severe thunderstorm in advance of a cold front produced a weak tornado across portions of northeast North Carolina.
• Tornado and Damaging Winds in Maryland, February 24, 2016EF0 · 22 eventsStrong low pressure moved from the deep south to the Great Lakes, dragging a cold front through the Mid-Atlantic. Strong veering winds as a warm front lifted north ahead of the cold front led to increased sheer across the area.
• Damaging Winds in Virginia, February 24, 201660 kt wind · 12 eventsStrong low pressure moved from the deep south to the Great Lakes, dragging a cold front through the Mid-Atlantic. Strong veering winds as a warm front lifted north ahead of the cold front led to increased sheer across the area.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Virginia, February 24 to 25, 20169 eventsStrong low pressure moved from the deep south to the Great Lakes. Strong warm air advection coupled with moisture led to showers and thunderstorms across the area. Activity strengthened in the afternoon and multiple rounds of heavy rain moved across the area.
• Damaging Winds and Strong Wind in Maryland, February 24, 2016$7,000 · 52 kt wind · 3 eventsA strong low pressure system moving north through the Great Lakes region, combined with its associated warm front and cold front, copious amounts of moisture, and low level jet, produced strong to severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and flash flooding in northeast Maryland late…
• Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, February 24, 2016$21,000 · 56 kt wind · 13 eventsA deep low pressure system tracked northeast through the Ohio Valley and into the eastern Great Lakes on Wednesday, February 24, 2016.
• Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, February 24, 201660 kt wind · 1 eventStrong low pressure moved from the deep south to the Great Lakes, dragging a cold front through the Mid-Atlantic. Strong veering winds as a warm front lifted north ahead of the cold front led to increased sheer across the area.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in New Jersey, February 24 to 25, 2016$60,000 · 52 kt wind · 23 eventsA strong low pressure system moving north through the Great Lakes region, combined with its associated warm front and cold front, copious amounts of moisture, and low level jet, produced strong to severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, flash flooding, and stream flooding in New…
• Flash Flood and Flooding in Maryland, February 24 to 25, 2016$20,000 · 18 eventsStrong low pressure moved from the deep south to the Great Lakes. Strong warm air advection coupled with moisture led to showers and thunderstorms across the area. Activity strengthened in the afternoon and multiple rounds of heavy rain moved across the area.
• Tornado and Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, February 24, 2016$25,000 · EF1 · 2 eventsAn unusually strong upper level trough attendant to a potent surface low pressure system brought showers and thunderstorms to central New York and northeast Pennsylvania on February 24th, 2016.
• Tornado in Pennsylvania, February 24, 2016$8.0 million · EF2 · 1 eventA National Weather Service survey team confirmed an EF2 tornado touched down near the town of White Horse in Salisbury Township on the evening of Wednesday, February 24, 2016.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in Pennsylvania, February 24 to 25, 2016$212,000 · 55 kt wind · 15 eventsA strong low pressure system moving north through the Great Lakes region, combined with its associated warm front and cold front, copious amounts of moisture, and low level jet, produced strong to severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, flash flooding, and stream flooding in Eastern…
• Damaging Wind in New York, February 24, 2016$5,000 · 65 kt wind · 1 eventAn unusually strong upper level trough attendant to a potent surface low pressure system brought showers and thunderstorms to central New York and northeast Pennsylvania on February 24th, 2016.
• Damaging Winds and High Wind in Connecticut, February 24 to 25, 2016$157,000 · 65 kt wind · 21 eventsLow pressure tracked north through New York bringing a warm front through southern New England. Unseasonably deep moisture accompanied this front.
• Damaging Winds in New York, February 24 to 25, 2016$34,000 · 61 kt wind · 8 eventsA passing cold front triggered severe thunderstorms across Southeastern New York.
• Flash Flood in New Jersey, February 24 to 25, 20161 eventA strong area of low pressure passing west of the area produced heavy rain that lead to isolated flash flooding across portions of Union County, New Jersey.
• Damaging Winds in Connecticut, February 24, 201650 kt wind · 2 eventsA strong area of low pressure was located over the Ohio Valley on Wednesday, February 24th and the storm headed northeast towards the region.
• Damaging Winds and High Wind in Rhode Island, February 25, 2016$124,000 · 66 kt wind · 18 eventsLow pressure tracked north through New York bringing a warm front through southern New England. Unseasonably deep moisture accompanied this front.
• Damaging Winds in Connecticut, February 25, 2016$37,000 · 53 kt wind · 6 eventsA passing cold front triggered severe thunderstorms across Southern Connecticut.
• Damaging Winds in Massachusetts, February 25, 201650 kt wind · 3 eventsA strong area of low pressure was located over the Ohio Valley on Wednesday, February 24th and the storm headed northeast towards the region.

Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2016Tornadoes in 2016

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.