Hard to fathom that it’s been a whole year since one of the worst tornado outbreaks in modern history put our nation’s resilience to the ultimate test. 89 lives lost 672 injured $3.9 billion in damages 12/10/21, a day we will never forget…💔

I’m going to leave April 27, 2011 out of the equation here, because really that should be everyone’s answer on a meteorological level. Here’s my list: November 17, 2013 December 10, 2021 March 2, 2012 Cold season Ohio River Valley outbreaks >>

Comparing the 2013 Moore EF5 to the 2011 Joplin EF5 is particularly striking. Despite both receiving EF5 ratings, there is a clear difference in the severity of damage between the two tornadoes. It is very possible that Moore 2013 is the strongest tornado of the 21st century.

The 2013 Moore, OK EF5 remained violent for the entirety of its lifespan, producing numerous incidences of catastrophic, high-end EF5 damage suggestive of winds potentially near or in excess of 300 mph.

The May 20, 2013 Moore, Oklahoma EF5, akin to its 1999 predecessor, stands out as the strongest tornado to strike a major population center in US history. The damage produced by this tornado is the most vast, complete and impressive of the 21st century.

Even in extreme environments (i.e. 4/27/2011) supercells are much more proficient at producing violent tornadoes with convection closely trailing the hook. Exhibit A would be 4/2/25, where we had numerous mega-discrete supercells in a potent environment, yet nudgers were needed.

A nightmarish photo of the Rainsville, Alabama EF5 tornado as it passes by the town of Henagar during the evening of April 27th 2011. #wxtwitter 📸Unknown

Can’t wait to be doing this again…

Less than 2 days after Joplin and not yet a month removed from April 27, 2011, the 6th EF5 tornado to strike the United States in 2011 did so in historic fashion. This was arguably the strongest tornado of 2011, and of the decade, which is some feat.

📸 An extremely violent wedge tornado alters the landscape of Piedmont, OK on May 24, 2011 A 45%# risk for tornadoes verified in central Oklahoma, as a devastating tornado outbreak ensued. Numerous violent tornadoes touched down, the strongest being this EF5 near Piedmont (1/2)

It was indeed an interesting night…

However, by the grace of God, Amory was spared. Despite sustaining significant EF3 damage, the town perhaps dodged a major bullet. Though no damage can point to the tornado harboring winds as violent as radar suggested, it was likely stronger prior to reaching Amory.

By all accounts, the velocity signature on the supercell approaching Amory head-on had the makings of an upper-echelon tornado. Everyone held their collective breaths as it appeared Amory was about to be wiped off the map by a tornado of potential EF5 strength.

📸 Amory, MS is hit by an EF3 tornado on 3/24/23, but survives catastrophe A quiet night quickly gained traction in Dixie Alley as a tornado outbreak took shape. Just after a high-end EF4 laid waste to Rolling Fork, radar imagery painted a horrifying picture for Amory, MS (1/3)

touched down and headed towards Rolling Fork. Unfortunately, the impacts were catastrophic, as the town took a direct impact from a tornado of plausible EF5 strength. The tornado claimed 17 lives and left a scar on the community of Rolling Fork that will remain indefinitely.

📸 The town of Rolling Fork, MS is ravaged by a violent, high-end EF4 on 3/24/23 A moderate risk setup nearly failed to materialize until one storm took advantage, at the expense of Rolling Fork. During the evening hours on 3/23, an extremely violent, nocturnal wedge tornado -

March 14th, 2025 is - objectively speaking - nowhere close to the outbreak of the decade. If we’re strictly talking 2020’s, then 4/12/20, 12/10/21, 3/31/23 and 4/26/24 all rank higher (particularly those first three dates).

📸 A powerful EF4 tornado barrels through Henryville, IN on 3/2/2012 The upper Midwest experienced an early taste of severe weather in 2012, as this high risk issuance was validated by 70 tornadoes. The town of Henryville, IN was caught in the crossfire of this EF4, killing 11.

Unlike most high profile tornado outbreaks, numerous tornadoes (including the Washington, IL EF4) touched down in the mid-to-late morning hours. Many residents of Peoria and Washington were finishing Sunday mass when the tornado touched down.

📸 An EF4 tornado wipes a subdivision in Washington, IL off the map on 11/17/2013 An unseasonably warm and moist mid-November day yielded the ingredients for a devastating tornado outbreak across the upper Midwest. Washington, IL was decimated by this high-end EF4, killing 3.

I’m missing tornadoes a lot so here’s Dodgeville, Wisconsin from July 16th.