Tornado outbreak of February 23–24, 2016
| Type | Tornado outbreak Extratropical cyclone Winter storm |
|---|---|
| Duration | February 23, 2016 – February 24, 2016 |
| Highest winds |
|
| Tornadoes confirmed | 61 |
| Max. rating1 | EF3 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 1 day, 13 hours, 48 minutes |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | Snowfall – 17.0 in (43 cm) near La Porte, Indiana Ice – 0.7 in (18 mm) in East Sangerville, Maine |
| Fatalities | 7 fatalities, 136 injuries |
| Damage | $1.0 billion (2016 USD) |
| Areas affected | Southern United States, Eastern United States, Upper Midwest, Canada |
Part of the 2015–16 North American winter and tornado outbreaks of 2016 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
An unusually prolific and very destructive late-winter tornado outbreak resulted in significant damage and numerous casualties across the southern and eastern half of the United States between February 23–24, 2016. Lasting over a day and a half, the outbreak produced a total of 61 tornadoes across eleven states, which ranked it as one of the largest February tornado outbreaks in the United States on record, with only the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak having recorded more. In addition, it was also one of the largest winter tornado outbreaks overall as well. The most significant and intense tornadoes of the event were four EF3 tornadoes that struck southeastern Louisiana, Pensacola, Florida, Evergreen, Virginia, and Tappahannock, Virginia. Tornadoes were also reported in other places like Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Severe thunderstorms, hail and gusty winds were also felt in the Northeastern United States and Mid-Atlantic states on February 24 as well.
In addition to the outbreak, non-tornadic impacts were felt in the Midwest, where the storm system produced blizzard conditions and cold temperatures in places including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and even parts of southern Ontario in Canada. Snowfall totals of up to 17 inches (43 cm) were recorded in parts of the hardest hit areas by the snowstorm.