Southern Severe Weather

Losses, 2024 dollars

$1.4 billion

Losses at the time

$1.3 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 and Damaging Wind in Florida, April 24, 2023$10,000 · 3 in hail · 4 eventsAfternoon storms produce severe hail in Hillsborough and Polk counties, the largest up to 3 inches in diameter in Hillsborough County, and winds downing a tree onto a structure in Sumter County.
• Damaging Wind in Utah, April 24, 202352 kt wind · 1 eventGusty winds were measured from thunderstorms in northern Utah.
• Hail in Florida, April 24, 20231 in hail · 1 eventA strong thunderstorm pushing offshore of the St Lucie County coast produced severe hail.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, April 25, 2023$6,000 · 2.75 in hail · 10 eventsSevere thunderstorms produced hail up to baseball size in Lake County. Quarter size hail was also reported in Osceola County. Tree damage also occurred due to severe wind gusts.
• Hail in Florida, April 25, 20231 in hail · 1 eventAfternoon storms produce severe hail in Polk County.
• Hail in Texas, April 25, 20231 in hail · 3 eventsA few isolated storms formed during the evening of the 25th across the Texas Panhandle. One of these storms dropped hail up to one inch in diameter over Stratford and Fritch, TX. Another storm further south dropped up to nickel size hail over Umbarger, TX.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Georgia, April 25, 202350 kt wind · 2 eventsStrong diurnal heating along with a weak sea breeze circulation led to a few strong to severe thunderstorms during late afternoon hours.
• Hail in Texas, April 25 to 26, 20233.5 in hail · 28 eventsThe combination of an upper level disturbance and a dryline resulted in scattered severe thunderstorms across much of west central Texas. Also, a few of the severe thunderstorms were supercells due to the moderate instability and strong vertical wind shear across the area.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, April 25, 20231 in hail · 3 eventsA stationary front was stretched across Central Texas and deep southeasterly flow south of the boundary forced warm, moist air over it. A few thunderstorms formed and one of these produced large hail and damaging wind gusts.
• Tornado and Hail in Texas, April 25, 2023$3,000 · 4.5 in hail · 6 eventsThe approach of an upper level storm system through the Four Corners, in combination with a gradual return of Gulf of Mexico moisture, a tightening dryline, and lifting warm front triggered scattered thunderstorms on the afternoon and evening of the 25th.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Florida, April 25 to 27, 20232 injured · $1.3 million · EF2 · 37 eventsA strong spring storm system moved through the area with ample instability and shear for severe weather. Numerous reports of severe weather were received across the tri-state area.
• Hail in Texas, April 25, 20231.75 in hail · 1 eventAn upper-low over Colorado helped initiate thunderstorms off the higher terrain of eastern Nex Mexico and far West Texas. Several long-track thunderstorms resulted in large hail across portions of the region, including one across the northeastern Permian Basin.
• Hail in Texas, April 25, 20231 in hail · 1 eventA mid-evening storm produced some hail.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Georgia, April 25 to 27, 2023$6.9 million · EF1 · 17 eventsA strong spring storm system moved through the area with ample instability and shear for severe weather. Numerous reports of severe weather were received across the tri-state area.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, April 25 to 26, 20232 injured · $8.9 million · 4.5 in hail · 45 eventsAn upper level trough, surface low pressure center, stationary front, and a Pacific cold front all aided in the development of thunderstorms on Wednesday April 26 across much of the region. Several storms became severe with mainly large hail.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 26 to 27, 20231 injured · $2,000 · 2.75 in hail · 28 eventsA strong upper level trough shifted east across Northern New Mexico into West Texas during the daytime hours of April 26th, which enhanced surface low development along the dryline in West Texas.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, April 26, 20232.5 in hail · 13 eventsWeak low pressure passing inland along with modest instability developing ahead of an inland moving sea breeze led to strong/severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and hail across southeast Georgia.
• Hail in Georgia, April 26, 20231.75 in hail · 5 eventsA quasi-stationary frontal zone was meandering near the I-10 corridor in the afternoon under zonal flow aloft and passing weak short wave PVA.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, April 26, 2023$2,000 · 1.75 in hail · 15 eventsSevere storms moving offshore from the Brevard and Treasure Coasts produced large hail and caused wind damage.
• Hail in Florida, April 26, 20231.75 in hail · 2 eventsShortwave troughs crossing the region, and cooler temperatures aloft, led to the ideal environment for an active afternoon and evening on April 26th with widespread showers and thunderstorms.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, April 26, 20233 in hail · 17 eventsA quasi-stationary frontal zone was meandering near the I-10 corridor in the afternoon under zonal flow aloft and passing weak short wave PVA.
• Hail in South Carolina, April 26, 2023$800 · 0.25 in hail · 4 eventsDiurnal heating, convergence along surface boundaries, and some upper energy, contributed to scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms, some of which produced small hail.
• Damaging Winds in Alabama, April 26, 202352 kt wind · 3 eventsThunderstorms developed across portions of south central Alabama and produced damaging wind gusts.
• Damaging Winds in Alabama, April 26, 202350 kt wind · 2 eventsAn east to west band of thunderstorms moved across southern Alabama ahead of a warm front. A severe thunderstorm developed over Pike County in the late afternoon and produced wind damage.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Florida, April 26, 2023$10,000 · 1.75 in hail · 5 eventsStorms produce severe hail in Levy and Polk counties and wind damage in Polk County.
• Hail in Louisiana, April 26, 20232.75 in hail · 7 eventsA strong upper level trough shifted east across Northern New Mexico into West Texas during the daytime hours of April 26th, which enhanced surface low development along the dryline in West Texas.
• Hail in Texas, April 26, 20231.75 in hail · 5 eventsA mid to upper level trough moved into West Texas over a surface front that stretched across Central Texas early in the day. A weak shortwave trough moved over deep southeasterly flow in the warm sector south of the front.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 26 to 27, 2023$60,000 · 2.75 in hail · 13 eventsEvening through overnight severe thunderstorms produced hail and wind damage.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 26 to 27, 2023$13,000 · 1.25 in hail · 8 eventsA cold front stalled across Southeast Texas during the 27th while an upper disturbance moved across the region. This resulted in severe storms developing near the boundary.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, April 27, 2023$274,000 · 1.75 in hail · 10 eventsStorms developed and produced large hail and damaging wind gusts.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Mississippi, April 27, 2023$8,000 · 2 in hail · 7 eventsA stalled frontal boundary had been place across the northern Gulf Coast for a couple days. A weakening upper low currently moving through the Central Plains moved east across the lower/mid Mississippi Valley on the 27th.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Mississippi, April 27, 20231.75 in hail · 7 eventsA strong cold front moved across the area and brought severe storms to the area. The thunderstorms produced numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds.
• Hail in Texas, April 27, 20231.75 in hail · 2 eventsIsolated thunderstorms formed near a weak boundary in the morning. A storm produced quarter to ping pong ball sized hail near Woodsboro. Another storm produced golf ball sized hail south of Benavides.
• Hail in Texas, April 27, 20231 in hail · 1 eventThe third in a series of cold fronts dropped into Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley during the day on April 27th. The strongest storm was in the morning as it moved over northern Jim Hogg County.
• Damaging Winds and High Wind in Wyoming, April 27, 202361 kt wind · 6 eventsA strong cold front moved across Wyoming and brought showers and thunderstorms to Wyoming. Large dew point depressions and strong mid level winds mixing to the surface brought very strong wind gusts to portions of central Wyoming.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Alabama, April 27, 20231 in hail · 2 eventsA strong cold front moved across the area and brought severe storms to the area. The thunderstorms produced numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Florida, April 27, 20231.25 in hail · 6 eventsA strong cold front moved across the area and brought severe storms to the area. The thunderstorms produced numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds.
• Damaging Wind in Georgia, April 27, 202355 kt wind · 1 eventAn upper level disturbance shifting across the region and encountering modest instability and downdraft CAPE led to thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts across southeast Georgia.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, April 27, 2023$35,000 · 1.75 in hail · 13 eventsA pre-frontal through over a moist and unstable airmass formed across NE FL during the afternoon and evening which triggered scattered strong to severe storms as mesoscale boundaries collided.
• Damaging Wind in Wyoming, April 27, 202350 kt wind · 1 eventScattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms impacted a large portion of southeast Wyoming during the afternoon and evening hours on 4/27. Isolated storms occasionally produced wind gusts in excess of 50 MPH.
• Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain in Georgia, April 27, 202350 kt wind · 4 eventsA pre-frontal through over a moist and unstable airmass formed across NE FL during the afternoon and evening which triggered scattered strong to severe storms as mesoscale boundaries collided.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Georgia, April 27, 2023$400 · 0.25 in hail · 2 eventsDiurnal heating contributed to scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms, one of which produced small hail and sub-severe wind gusts.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Nebraska, April 27, 20231 in hail · 2 eventsShowers and thunderstorms developed along a cold front during the early afternoon hours of April 27th. This activity intensified during the late afternoon hours producing quarter sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 MPH.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Arkansas, April 27, 20231.25 in hail · 5 eventsWhile cool temperatures and rainy conditions were in place for the last several days of the month, there was one more round of strong to severe thunderstorms to move across the state on April 27th. A few storms produced hail from central into eastern Arkansas.
• Damaging Winds in Colorado, April 27, 2023$100 · 59 kt wind · 5 eventsScattered storms developed over Northeast Colorado, moving southeast across Yuma County. As the storms matured over the county they produced thunderstorm wind gusts up to 68 mph and localized areas of blowing dust.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, April 27, 20231 in hail · 7 eventsStrong thunderstorms produced severe hail, a funnel cloud, and severe wind gusts in Brevard County. A funnel cloud was also reported in Seminole County.
• Hail in Florida, April 27, 20231.25 in hail · 1 eventA series of mid-level shortwave troughs moved through the Florida peninsula, acting along with daytime heating and instability to trigger strong thunderstorms across portion of southern Florida.
• Hail in Tennessee, April 27, 20231.5 in hail · 4 eventsA stationary front was draped across the Mid-South on April 27, 2023. A mid-level shortwave trough interacted with the front to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms. Steep mid-level lapse rates aided large hail development across the area.
• Damaging Winds in Kansas, April 27, 202354 kt wind · 6 eventsScattered storms moved southeast across the Colorado state line into Northwest Kansas where they eventually formed a broken line of storms over Logan and Thomas counties. These storms produced severe wind gusts up to 62 mph, which was observed in Western Logan County.
• Damaging Winds in Florida, April 27, 2023$25,000 · 58 kt wind · 2 eventsA squall line associated with a MCS moving across the Eastern Gulf of Mexico produced a severe wind gust in Hernando County and wind damage in Sumter County, along with numerous 50+ mph sub-severe wind gusts across the Tampa Bay area after pushing ashore across the Florida west…
• Hail in Alabama, April 27, 20230.88 in hail · 1 eventA weak surface low moving northward across eastern Mississippi produced a few thunderstorms across west Alabama during the evening hours on Thursday, April 27th.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Mississippi, April 27, 2023$15,000 · 1.5 in hail · 4 eventsA stationary front was draped across the Mid-South on April 27, 2023. A mid-level shortwave trough interacted with the front to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms. Steep mid-level lapse rates aided large hail development across the area.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Alabama, April 28, 20232 in hail · 4 eventsAn isolated supercell produced large hail and damaging winds in Cullman County during the early morning hours.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, April 28 to 29, 2023$74,000 · 16 eventsA weak trough near the Leeward islands was maintaining a weak steering flow over the local islands. Instability aloft was increasing as mid level temperatures cool down.
• Hail and Lightning Strikes in Tennessee, April 28, 2023$5.1 million · 1 in hail · 3 eventsA couple thunderstorms turned severe during the very early morning hours of April 28, 2023. The strongest of these thunderstorms was near Columbia where one inch hail was reported. The most significant damage, however, was from lightning.
• Tornado and Flash Flood in Texas, April 28, 20232 injured · $2.8 million · EF1 · 34 eventsAnother complex surface pattern unfolded on Friday April 28, comprising of a low pressure center, warm front, dryline, and Pacific cold front.
• Hail in Ohio, April 28, 20231 in hail · 2 eventsA weak low pressure system moved through the Ohio Valley with a few storms producing hail.
• Tornado and Hail in North Carolina, April 28, 20231 injured · $305,000 · EF0 · 11 eventsA retreating area of high pressure over Virginia, and a northward advancing warm front moving into Virginia, set the stage for an unstable atmosphere prone for rotation over the Piedmont and Foothill region of North Carolina.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, April 28, 20232 in hail · 55 eventsThunderstorms developed ahead of and along a cold front as it moved through South Central Texas. These storms produced large hail.
• Damaging Wind in West Virginia, April 28, 2023$500 · 1 eventA round of afternoon thunderstorms blossomed in West Virginia on April 28th as a weak surface low was centered over the state. Instability was just enough to allow a few storms to reach strong thresholds.
• Damaging Winds in Texas, April 28, 2023$3,000 · 65 kt wind · 12 eventsOn the evening of April 28, a line of strong thunderstorms developed ahead of an advancing cold front. This line of storm produced many instances of wind damage as well as some hail across SE TX, mainly to the north of the I-10 corridor.
• Hail in Georgia, April 28, 20230.88 in hail · 1 eventSouthwest steering flow over a moist and unstable airmass produced a few strong to pulse severe storms during the afternoon.
• Tornado in Florida, April 28, 2023$50,000 · EF0 · 1 eventWith the influence of a mid-level disturbance to the north, a surface frontal boundary sagged into South-Central Florida which put South Florida near a source of lift, combined with surface instability from diurnal heating.
• Hail in Texas, April 28, 20231 in hail · 1 eventScattered showers and thunderstorms developed and spread northeast along a cold front that bisected Northeast Texas, ahead of an upper trough that moved into the Southern Plains during the afternoon of April 28th.

Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2023Tornadoes in 2023

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.