Southeast/Ohio Valley Tornadoes
One of the severe storm disasters on NOAA’s billion-dollar list: $4.3 billion in losses at 2024 prices ($3.1 billion at the time) and 42 deaths.
What the offices filed during it
The 60 most significant severe storm episodes filed in these dates, colored by kind.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Losses, 2024 dollars
- $4.3 billion
- Losses at the time
- $3.1 billion
- Deaths
- 42
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.
By state, as filed
| State | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 254 | 23 | 208 | $154 million |
| Tennessee | 156 | 0 | 71 | $70 million |
| Indiana | 95 | 14 | 5 | $63 million |
| Georgia | 99 | 1 | 1 | $17 million |
| Ohio | 26 | 4 | 15 | $8.7 million |
| North Carolina | 24 | 0 | 4 | $5.1 million |
| West Virginia | 17 | 0 | 0 | $2.9 million |
| Virginia | 9 | 0 | 1 | $1.8 million |
| Mississippi | 53 | 0 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| Louisiana | 28 | 0 | 0 | $211,000 |
| South Carolina | 32 | 0 | 0 | $169,000 |
| Alabama | 149 | 1 | 4 | $108,000 |
| Florida | 43 | 0 | 0 | $42,000 |
| Illinois | 65 | 0 | 0 | $35,000 |
| Arkansas | 4 | 0 | 0 | $35,000 |
| Missouri | 34 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
| Hawaii | 23 | 0 | 0 | $10,000 |
| Texas | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| New Jersey | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Episode by episode
- Lightning Strike in Georgia, February 29, 2012An area of low pressure in the Northern Plains moved northeast during the day. The trailing cold front also pushed east, moving across the Tennessee Valley by Wednesday evening.
- Damaging Winds in North Carolina, February 29, 2012A couple supercell thunderstorms weakened as they moved from Tennessee into the mountains of North Carolina. The storms still produced some straight line wind damage as they dissipated over the high terrain.
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Virginia, March 1, 2012A low level jet developed in advance of a cold front moving across the Southern Appalachian Mountains during the early morning hours. Isolated severe convection developed resulting in wind damage.
- Tornado and Damaging Wind in Tennessee, March 1, 2012A low level jet developed in advance of a cold front moving across the Southern Appalachian Mountains during the early morning hours. Isolated severe convection developed resulting in wind damage. In addition, an EF-0 tornado developed in Blount county near Ellejoy.
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Georgia, March 1, 2012The cold front that pushed into the Southeast on February 29 continued to move into Georgia on Thursday, March 1. Showers and thunderstorms across the area in the morning caused one lightning fire, though no severe weather was reported.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Alabama, March 1 to 2, 2012Several subtle upper level shortwaves affected the area during a three day period between March 1-3 as a broad long-wave upper level trough located west of the area slowly progressed eastward.
- Hail in Missouri, March 2, 2012An advancing warm front and a potent upper level storm system moving across the Midwest lead to the development of elevated supercells across central Missouri and the Lake of the Ozarks region. These storms produced large hail up to golf ball size.
- Hail in Missouri, March 2, 2012Elevated convection fired up across the region north of a warm front that was just south of the Missouri/Arkansas border. There were numerous reports of large hail.
- Hail in South Carolina, March 2, 2012A few thunderstorms developed along a warm front as it lifted across the Upstate during the morning hours. One of the storms produced a little large hail.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Tennessee, March 2 to 10, 2012On Friday, March 2nd, as a warm and moist surface based air mass occurred across Middle Tennessee in advance of a strong surface cold front, and a deep upper level trough moved closer to the mid state with strong winds aloft, a significant severe weather outbreak occurred across…
- Tornado and Hail in South Carolina, March 2 to 3, 2012A squll line pushed through the Midlands, CSRA, and Pee Dee region taking down trees and powerlines. An EF0 also occurred in Northern Richland county.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Indiana, March 2, 2012A powerful area of low pressure strengthened as it moved across Indiana into Michigan. Strong winds associated with the system combined with warm and moist air to generate severe thunderstorms across central Indiana.
- Tornado and Hail in Illinois, March 2, 2012Elevated convection fired up across the region north of a warm front that was just south of the Missouri/Arkansas border. There were numerous reports of large hail.
- Hail in Illinois, March 2, 2012A powerful early spring storm system impacted the eastern half of the U.S. on March 2nd, triggering severe thunderstorms from Illinois southward into the Ohio River Valley and Deep South.
- Hail and Lightning Strike in North Carolina, March 2, 2012A warm front triggered a few thunderstorms as it lifted across western North Carolina. Large hail accompanied one of the storms over the western piedmont.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, March 2, 2012North Alabama experienced a portion of a much larger outbreak of tornadoes and severe weather from the Ohio Valley south through the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast in advance of a strong cold front. The storms came in two waves.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in West Virginia, March 2 to 3, 2012A deepening low pressure system was lifting northeast out of central Illinois around midday on Friday, the 2nd. It reached southern Michigan by evening. By late afternoon its associated warm front had pulled north into central Ohio and into central West Virginia near Charleston.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, March 2, 2012A deepening low pressure system moved northeast from the Mid Mississippi Valley through the Great Lakes initially driving a warm front northward through the Southern Appalachian region during the afternoon. The associated cold front swept across the area late Friday night.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Tennessee, March 2, 2012Southern middle Tennessee experienced a portion of a much larger outbreak of tornadoes and severe weather from the Ohio Valley south through the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast in advance of a strong cold front.
- Hail in Virginia, March 2, 2012Storms developed ahead of a warm front over the Tennessee Valley with a some cells producing copious amounts of dime to penny-size hail.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Tennessee, March 2, 2012A deepening low pressure system moved northeast from the Mid Mississippi Valley through the Great Lakes initially driving a warm front northward through the Southern Appalachian region during the afternoon. The associated cold front swept across the area late Friday night.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, March 2, 2012Supercells developed and moved across southeast Missouri. The supercells raced east-northeast at 50 to 60 mph as a strong storm system moved northeast from Oklahoma to lower Michigan with it's associated cold front sweeping east across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
- Tornado and Hail in Illinois, March 2, 2012Supercells developed and moved across southern Illinois. The supercells raced east-northeast at 50 to 60 mph as a strong storm system moved northeast from Oklahoma to lower Michigan with it's associated cold front sweeping east across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, March 2 to 3, 2012During the afternoon and evening hours of March 2nd, 2012, an historic tornado outbreak occurred in eastern Kentucky. Tornadoes struck Menifee, Morgan, Bath, Wolfe, Laurel, Johnson and Martin Counties causing a combined 16 deaths in those counties.
- Hail in Indiana, March 2, 2012Unseasonably strong low pressure moved across northern Indiana into southern Lower Michigan during the afternoon and evening hours. A warm front was located south of the area much of the day, with a strong southerly flow over the front, allowing for thunderstorm development.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Indiana, March 2, 2012Supercells developed and moved across southwest Indiana. The supercells raced east-northeast at 50 to 60 mph as a strong storm system moved northeast from Oklahoma to lower Michigan with it's associated cold front sweeping east across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Kentucky, March 2, 2012Supercells developed across western Kentucky. The supercells raced east-northeast at 50 to 60 mph as a strong storm system moved northeast from Oklahoma to lower Michigan with it's associated cold front sweeping east across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Indiana, March 2, 2012A surface Low over Missouri early in the afternoon of March 2nd strengthened to below 990mb as it moved north into Michigan by the evening hours. Around dawn, a warm front moved north of the Ohio River, accompanied by scattered elevated thunderstorms that produced small hail.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, March 2, 2012A warm front surged north during the morning hours of March 2, 2012 ushering in a moist and unstable airmass across the Mid-South.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, March 2, 2012A strong cold front began moving into Northwest and North Central Louisiana during the afternoon hours of March 2nd. The airmass ahead of the cold front was marginally unstable but atmospheric lapse rates were very high.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Mississippi, March 2 to 3, 2012March 2012 came in like a lion as a large severe weather and tornado outbreak occurred on March 2nd. This outbreak covered a large amount of real estate across the Ohio, Tennessee, and Lower Mississippi River Valleys.
- Tornadoes and Hail in North Carolina, March 2 to 3, 2012Two supercell thunderstorms entered the North Carolina mountains during the evening hours. One of the storms produced a strong tornado in the town of Murphy in Cherokee County.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, March 2, 2012A surface Low over Missouri early in the afternoon of March 2nd strengthened to below 990mb as it moved north into Michigan by the evening hours. Around dawn, a warm front moved north of the Ohio River.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, March 2, 2012A warm front surged north during the morning hours of March 2, 2012 ushering in a moist and unstable airmass across the Mid-South.
- Tornadoes and Flood in Kentucky, March 2, 2012Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon in a high wind shear environment ahead of a strengthening low pressure system. Many of these storms became severe, with large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and tornadoes all being the main threats.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, March 2, 2012March 2012 came in like a lion as a large severe weather and tornado outbreak occurred on March 2nd. This outbreak covered a large amount of real estate across the Ohio, Tennessee, and Lower Mississippi River Valleys.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Ohio, March 2, 2012Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon in a high wind shear environment ahead of a strengthening low pressure system. Many of these storms became severe, with large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and tornadoes all being the main threats.
- Tornado and Hail in Indiana, March 2, 2012Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon in a high wind shear environment ahead of a strengthening low pressure system. Many of these storms became severe, with large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and tornadoes all being the main threats.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, March 2, 2012On March 2, 2012, a strong cold front moved through Central Alabama. Severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of this front. Some of these thunderstorms were supercells. These supercells produced damage across southern and eastern sections of the area.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, March 2, 2012March 2012 came in like a lion as a large severe weather and tornado outbreak occurred on March 2nd. This outbreak covered a large amount of real estate across the Ohio, Tennessee, and Lower Mississippi River Valleys.
- Hail in Texas, March 2, 2012A strong cold front began moving into East Central Texas during the afternoon hours of March 2nd. The airmass ahead of the cold front was marginally unstable but atmospheric lapse rates were very high.
- Hail in Alabama, March 2, 2012Severe thunderstorms produced large hail and a funnel cloud across portions of southwest Alabama.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Hawaii, March 2 to 6, 2012An upper trough in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands brought heavy rain and flash flooding to Kauai and Oahu. There were no reports of serious injuries. The cost of damages was not available.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Kentucky, March 2, 2012A deepening low pressure system was lifting northeast out of central Illinois around midday on Friday, the 2nd. It reached southern Michigan by evening. By late afternoon its associated warm front had pulled north into central Ohio and into central West Virginia near Charleston.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, March 2, 2012A deepening low pressure system was lifting northeast out of central Illinois around midday on Friday, the 2nd. It reached southern Michigan by evening. By late afternoon its associated warm front had pulled north into central Ohio and into central West Virginia.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Georgia, March 2 to 3, 2012The cold front that stalled across central Georgia on March 1st began advancing back north as a warm front the morning of March 2nd.
- Tornado in North Carolina, March 2, 2012A deepening low pressure system moved northeast from the Mid Mississippi Valley through the Great Lakes initially driving a warm front northward through the Southern Appalachian region through the afternoon. The associated cold front swept across the area late Friday night.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Georgia, March 2 to 6, 2012Several subtle upper level shortwaves affected the area during a three day period between March 1-3 as a broad long-wave upper level trough located west of the area slowly progressed eastward.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, March 3, 2012A line of thunderstorms organized across Upstate South Carolina in a high shear, low CAPE environment. The northern part of the line crossed the southern North Carolina piedmont where it produced a strong, brief tornado on the northeast side of Charlotte.
- Hail in New Jersey, March 3, 2012A cluster of strong thunderstorms preceding a warm front moved through the central and southern New Jersey coastal waters during the early morning on the 3rd.
- Damaging Winds in North Carolina, March 3, 2012An amplifying northern stream trough resulted in the rapid development of an intense surface low pressure system over the Midwest, which tracked northeastward into the Great Lakes Region, producing widespread damage, including some long tracked, intense tornadoes.
- Damaging Wind in Georgia, March 3, 2012A squall line moved through the CSRA and took down some trees and powerlines.
- Flash Flood in Mississippi, March 3, 2012A frontal system brought some heavy rain to the area. Some flash flooding was reported in Jasper County as a result of this rain.
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Florida, March 3 to 4, 2012Several subtle upper level shortwaves affected the area during a three day period between March 1-3 as a broad long-wave upper level trough located west of the area slowly progressed eastward.
- Damaging Winds in South Carolina, March 3, 2012A nearly solid line of convection moved across the northern Pee Dee Region of South Carolina near sunrise. This activity was occurring well ahead of a cold front and had a history of producing severe weather.
- Damaging Winds in Georgia, March 3, 2012Several pre-frontal lines of severe storms moved across SE Ga under strong shear and marginal surface based instability. Most storms had well defined mesocyclone rotations, however tornado touchdown was not confined in most cells.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, March 3, 2012Marginal instability was in place ahead of a strong cold front that dropped into the area during the afternoon. A wave of low pressure developed along the front, and kept far Southeast Georgia in the warm sector through mid-afternoon.
- Damaging Winds and Strong Wind in Florida, March 4, 2012A cold front moved southeast through the Florida Peninsula on March 4th during the early morning hours through the evening.
- Damaging Wind in Florida, March 4, 2012A cluster of strong pre-frontal storms moved across northeast Florida during the early morning hours. A few strong wind gusts were reported, as well as a lone reported of a possible funnel cloud in St. Johns county.
- Damaging Wind in Florida, March 4, 2012A strong line of thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front moving southeast across the Florida peninsula. One thunderstorm in this line produced isolated severe wind gusts as it passed across the Kennedy Space Center.
More
Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2012Tornadoes in 2012
Sources
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.