List of United States tornadoes from November to December 2018
This page documents all tornadoes confirmed by various weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service in the United States during November to December 2018. Based on the 1991–2010 averaging period, 58 tornadoes occur across the United States throughout November while 24 more occur in December.[1]
November saw multiple large outbreaks, the first of which was an extension of an outbreak that began at the end of October while the last one extended into December. December also featured an unusually strong tornado in the state of Washington. November and December finished significantly above average with 88 and 66 tornadoes respectively. However, both months did not have any violent tornadoes, leaving the United States without any tornadoes of such intensity for all of 2018.
Several power poles were snapped, many trees and power lines were downed, and several homes sustained damage to their roofs. One home in particular was severely damaged, with many steel beams bent, a large roll-up door blown in, and its outside AC unit tossed into the garage.[10][11] [12]
Numerous trees and a couple of wooden power poles were snapped. Two mobile homes suffered significant damage, with one being shifted off its foundation and the other being lifted up and rolled onto its side. One person was injured as a result. Other houses suffered minor roof damage, and sheds were severely damaged.[15][16] [17]
One home lost over half its roof and several others suffered more minor damage. Power lines were downed, power poles were snapped, and trees were damaged.[21]
Minor to moderate structural damage was observed at the north edge of Port Gibson, including an abandoned drive-in restaurant that sustained damage. Otherwise, damage was limited to snapped trees, one of which fell onto a metal carport.[22]
Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado resulted in one indirect death: a motorist was killed when their vehicle ran into a falling tree.[23]
Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. A single-family home had a large portion of its roof ripped off and one of its exterior walls blown in. Several mobile homes were heavily damaged, one of which was rolled, injuring two occupants.[30]
Numerous tree limbs were snapped and several trees were uprooted, including one that fell onto and destroyed a mobile home. A few residences had their shingles ripped off.[31]
A metal outbuilding was obliterated, with debris left scattered in nearby trees. Several camper trailers were rolled, a single-family home lost a portion of its roof and suffered damage to its porch, and many trees were snapped or uprooted.[33]
Minor damage occurred to a hotel and small office building, including a few windows that were blown out of the former structure. A small professional building had some of its roof decking ripped off and multiple dormers ripped or damaged. Multiple trees were snapped.[34]
Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted in Polkville. One tree limb fell on and damaged the roof of a mobile home. A metal shed had its roof ripped off as well.[38][39]
Two wooden power poles and three small traffic warning lights were downed. Several cars were damaged, seven windows were broken at a Wal-Mart, and trees were snapped or uprooted. Homes suffered minor damage to their shingles and fascia.[45]
In Escatawpa, a church and several homes sustained considerable roof, siding, and fascia damage. Additional minor damage to homes occurred in Helena before the tornado dissipated. Numerous trees and tree limbs were snapped along the path[46]
Five houses, three barns, and numerous trees were damaged, although a majority of this damage was due to straight-line winds.[47] In November 2023, this tornado was reanalyzed and was upgraded from an EF0 to an EF1 based on numerous snapped and uprooted trees noted on Planet satellite imagery. The tornado had its path length extended from 0.14 mi (0.23 km) to 0.83 mi (1.34 km).[48]
A manufacturing plant sustained minor damage to its roof and rooftop air conditioning unit, and loose lightweight debris was scattered at another plant nearby. A fireworks store sustained facade damage, and a tin overhang attached to a mobile home was completely removed and blown downwind. A few trees were downed as well.[49][50] [51]
Two homes sustained considerable roof damage, and numerous trees and tree limbs were downed. One tree fell through a house, splitting the structure in half.[57]
A house had its roof torn off, and two other homes sustained significant roof damage. Large hay bales were thrown up to 100 ft (30 m) from where they originated, and the roof was blown off of a barn. Large trees were uprooted, snapped, or completely denuded along the path.[58]
A tornado began in Howard County, snapping several wooden power poles. It progressed into Carroll County, mainly downing numerous trees until it entered the eastern sections of Mt. Airy. There, a gas station canopy was uplifted and partially removed, several outbuildings were severely damaged or destroyed, and several power poles were snapped. Some trees showed indications of being debarked, consistent with an EF2 tornado. Several homes suffered roof and shingle damage or removal. Several greenhouses were destroyed and water was completely removed from a nearby pond. A home weather station recorded a maximum wind gust of 112 mph (180 km/h).[59][60]
2 deaths – A tornado touched down on the southeast side of Baltimore near Canton, overturning a tractor trailer, flattening a fence, and blowing in the large garage doors on both sides of a van leasing facility. At an Amazon sorting facility, a portion of the building lost its roof, resulting in the concrete wall panels being pushed in and collapsed into the building. Two deaths occurred as a result of the collapsed walls. About a dozen truck trailers were overturned or rolled, and several light stanchions and signs were blown over. Several cars had their windows blown out by flying debris. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted as well.[61][62]
November 5 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, November 5, 2018[note 1]
This tornado caused considerable roof damage to homes, snapped numerous trees, destroyed a small boathouse, and damaged two others. A mobile home sustained minor damage, and a detached garage had its metal garage door blown in as well.[63]
A house had much of its roof torn off, another home lost a large section of its metal roof, and many trees and power poles were snapped. Several other homes sustained minor damage, and a camping trailer was pushed 5 feet off its foundation.[65][66]
Numerous trees and two power poles were snapped, a large vehicle trailer was flipped, and a travel trailer was thrown 30 yd (27 m). A manufactured home sustained damage to its roof, partially from trees that landed on the structure. Tree limbs were snapped just outside of Calvin before the tornado dissipated.[69][70]
Several barns and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and a 1,500-pound (680.4 kg) hay roll was tossed over a fence. Debris from affected structures was scattered up to a quarter-mile away, some of which damaged other buildings and vehicles. Two small grain hoppers were destroyed, and a house had its porch columns blown off.[76]
This strong tornado caused significant structural damage in Tupelo, where two homes had their roofs torn off, one of which sustained collapse of exterior walls. Several other homes and an assisted living facility had large sections of their roofs ripped off. A business sustained partial roof removal, and several hotels, restaurants, and homes sustained minor damage. Many trees were snapped or uprooted along the path, and power poles were damaged. One person was injured.[77][78]
Large trees were damaged or uprooted along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Additionally, several 2,000 lb (910 kg) hay bales were rolled into a fence line and tin roofing was peeled from the front porch of a house.[80][81] [82]
A house had an exterior wall blown off, and numerous other homes sustained roof damage and broken windows. A barn, brick carport, and an outbuilding were destroyed, and many trees were snapped or uprooted. Several large bales of hay were rolled through a field, and RV campers were overturned as well.[83][84]
Near St. Joseph, three homes sustained minor damage, two hay barns were destroyed, and a mobile home was rolled over. In Loretto, a sports complex at South Lawrence Elementary School sustained considerable damage, where three cinder block dugouts were destroyed, two large sections of bleachers were tossed 30 yd (27 m), and there was minor roof damage to the concession stand and an outbuilding. Several homes in town were damaged by falling trees, a large outbuilding had minor roof damage, and power lines were downed as well.[86]
1 death – Several homes sustained roof and exterior wall loss, with a new but poorly-anchored 3,000 sq ft (280 m2) home being flipped completely upside-down, killing an occupant. Another home, a three-story Antebellum-style home built in the 1800s, had its roof and third floor removed. Multiple other homes sustained minor to moderate damage. Two 70 ft (21 m) silos were completely destroyed, and numerous outbuildings, sheds, barns, and garages were damaged or destroyed, with a few being completely swept away. The tornado caused minor tree and roof damage at the south edge of Christiana before dissipating. Numerous trees were snapped, denuded, and uprooted, and power lines were downed. Two people were injured in a mobile home that was completely destroyed near the end of the path, and a third injury occurred in a small brick house that lost its roof and several walls.[88][89]
A house sustained considerable roof and siding damage, and a barn was destroyed with debris scattered 200 yd (180 m) across a hillside. A carport, garage, and outbuilding were destroyed, and a few other outbuildings were damaged. A church had part of its steeple blown off, and many trees were downed sporadically along the path.[91][92]
This long-tracked, high-end EF2 tornado touched down on the south side of Tims Ford Lake, knocking down trees as it crossed the lake into the Eastbrook community. As the tornado crossed Highway 127 east of Estill Springs, numerous homes, mobile homes, barns, silos, and grain bins were either heavily damaged or completely destroyed, and large trees were snapped and denuded. One small brick home sustained collapse of its exterior walls, other homes had their roofs torn off, and numerous well-built metal buildings were destroyed at a nursery business. A small and unanchored home was swept clean from its cinder-block foundation in this area as well. Crossing into Coffee County, a manufactured home was damaged and a house had its porch torn off, barns and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and tractor-trailers were blown over on Interstate 24, causing an accident. In Grundy County, the tornado passed north of Pelham, where the roof was ripped completely off of a brick home along Highway 50, and a house under construction was left with only interior rooms standing. Power poles were snapped, and many outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Possibly as many as 2,000 trees were either snapped or uprooted across Grundy County across hills and hollows before the tornado dissipated just before crossing into Sequatchie County.[93][94] [95]
A few trees were downed, and tree limbs were snapped. In the Mayhew area, highway signs were damaged on U.S. Route 82, and a few structures sustained shingle damage as well.[96][97]
A barn was destroyed, containers and a trailer were overturned at Upper Cumberland Regional Airport, the metal roof of an outbuilding sustained damage, and many trees were downed, one of which fell on a barn.[98]
Several large trees were snapped, one of which struck a home. A church saw a portion of its metal roof blown off and tossed over 100 yd (91 m) while a covered walkway anchored in the ground with concrete footings was pulled from the ground.[102]
November 12 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, November 12, 2018[note 1]
A strong tornado damaged numerous homes, with the most heavily damaged structure losing most of its roof. A large work trailer was overturned, some trampolines were blown into trees, and a boat dock was damaged.[106]
A waterspout moved onshore at an oyster farm, tossing crab pots, damaging trees, and disturbing light outdoor materials such as gas cans and furniture.[107]
This strong, long-tracked wedge tornado touched down in Blackgum, where homes were heavily damaged, a mobile home was overturned, outbuildings and a boat storage business were destroyed, and sheet metal was wrapped around trees. The tornado then moved along the eastern shore of Tenkiller Ferry Lake and through the western part of Cookson, where it damaged or destroyed numerous homes, mobile homes, boats, boat docks, outbuildings, and airplane hangars. Multiple frame homes had their roofs torn off, a few of which lost exterior walls. Near Welling, homes sustained roof damage, outbuildings were damaged, and mobile homes were flipped or destroyed. It continued just east of Proctor, completely destroying large barns, tearing the roof off of a house, and damaging several other homes. Damage was limited to downed trees further along the path before the tornado dissipated near Colcord. Countless trees and power poles were snapped along the path. Five people were injured.[112][113] [114][115] [116][117]
This strong tornado touched down in residential areas of Van Buren and damaged numerous homes, a few of which had their roofs torn off and sustained loss of some exterior walls. Pieces of lumber were speared through the exterior walls of neighboring homes. Multiple wooden double-pole utility structures were snapped off at the base, many trees were snapped or uprooted, and a pickup truck was overturned. Several apartment complexes also sustained roof damage. Additional trees were downed just north of Rena and further along the path before the tornado dissipated.[118]
1 death – A tornado impacted the south side of Aurora, where the Aurora Inn Motel sustained heavy roof damage and collapse of several exterior walls on the second floor. A man was killed at this location after being thrown from his second floor room. A car dealership sustained collapse of an exterior wall, and vehicles had their windows blown out. A large home improvement store suffered significant roof, window, and exterior door damage, and outbuildings were damaged. Power lines were downed, and a large business sign was twisted as well.[122]
Trees and tree limbs were snapped in the western part of Republic, and several homes sustained minor roof damage. Two large barns were destroyed outside of town as well.[125]
Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, a shed was shifted off its foundation, and homes sustained shingle and window damage. One home sustained roof and siding damage, and also had its carport ripped off. A heavy machinery shelter had its tin metal roof torn off, leading to column anchorage failure, and a power pole was snapped. A barn sustained removal of its tin roof as well.[127]
A grain bin was tossed 15 ft (4.6 m), a barn had most of its metal roof removed, another barn was rolled 20 yd (18 m) off its foundation, and a few other outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Tree limbs were snapped as well.[130]
Several trees were snapped or uprooted, two mobile homes suffered minor roof and siding damage, and vehicles were damaged as well. Roofing material and a trampoline were lofted into trees.[132]
A mobile home lost its roof and an exterior wall, and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. A trailer was rolled 25 yd (23 m), and a house sustained minor damage. Many trees were snapped or uprooted.[133]
Trees and power poles were snapped, and a water treatment plant in Beardstown was damaged, including three of four wells that serve the city. Several vehicles had their windows shattered, and a few other structures in town had roof and window damage. Outside of town, a machine shed was destroyed, a house sustained roof and siding damage, an irrigation system was flipped, and additional trees were snapped before the tornado dissipated.[138]
This large tornado passed near Havana, pushing a home off its foundation, and blowing out the exterior wall of an attached garage at another home. Other homes sustained damage to roofs, windows, and siding. Outbuildings were destroyed, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. Power lines were damaged, along with several buildings at a winery.[142][143]
A high-end EF1 tornado began at an antique car business, damaging that structure, flipping a car, and destroying a large storage shed. A house, two farm buildings, another structure, and trees were also damaged. A piece of farming equipment was overturned as well.[144]
A brick house had its roof ripped off and sustained partial collapse of its front exterior wall. Barns and outbuildings were destroyed, and trees were snapped or uprooted as well.[146]
A farm storage building was damaged and some trees were snapped. An outbuilding was moved off its foundation and had one of its walls knocked out, while other outbuildings sustained roof and wall damage as well.[149][150]
This strong wedge tornado began south of Taylorville, where barns, outbuildings, and silos were destroyed, a house was damaged, and trees were snapped. The tornado moved directly into town, damaging or destroying numerous homes and a few businesses. Many homes lost their roofs and exterior walls, and a few poorly-anchored homes were shifted off of their foundations or completely flattened. Several large industrial buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed, large trees throughout town were snapped or completely denuded, and mobile homes were obliterated. In Taylorville, the tornado caused some damage to 406 homes, major damage to 66 homes, and severe damage or total destruction to 34 homes before dissipating at the north edge of town. Twenty-two people were injured.[152]
This tornado touched down in Stonington, where trees and power poles were snapped, homes sustained roof damage, and garages and sheds were destroyed. The tornado reached its maximum intensity north of town, where well-built barns were completely destroyed. A few additional outbuildings were damaged near Blue Mound before the tornado dissipated.[154]
Multiple homes sustained considerable damage to their roofs, siding, and garages. Trees were downed and power poles were damaged, and a large metal garage was damaged by a falling tree.[157]
Several dozen trees were snapped or uprooted. Fences were damaged, a power pole was snapped, a couple of homes suffered roof damage, and a car was flipped over.[164]
A large, strong tornado struck the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, throwing and damaging heavy metal brows, vehicles, metal storage containers, and utility trailers. Metal railings were twisted, power poles were downed, and a large crane on a barge was torn loose from its moorings. Numerous trees were snapped on Cumberland Island before the tornado exited into the Atlantic Ocean. A wind gust of 144 mph (232 km/h) was measured by a docked Coast Guard vessel as the tornado struck the base. Four people were injured, including two sailors that were thrown from a boat into the water.[169]
One mobile home was shifted entirely off its blocks while a second was moved less severely, a small outbuilding was swept off its foundation and rolled, and considerable tree damage occurred.[171]
December 9 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, December 9, 2018[note 1]
See article on this tornado – A large tornado caused significant damage to numerous homes and several businesses in Port Orchard. Hundreds of trees and power lines were downed, with many trees landing on homes and vehicles. A few homes had partial to total roof loss, and a strip mall sustained heavy roof and siding damage. A dry storage facility was largely destroyed, sustaining roof loss and collapse of numerous walls. A total of 250 homes were damaged.[175]
December 20 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, December 20, 2018[note 1]
The southeastern unit of a four-unit duplex sustained partial roof uplift, the eastern unit suffered broken windows, and the northeast unit suffered some roof damage as well. One person was injured.[178]
A business sustained roof damage while trees were downed. A weather station on a public building recorded a maximum wind gust of 75 mph (121 km/h).[179]
Numerous trees were damaged, including some that were uprooted onto at least three homes. A large wooden shed was flipped over, and a small boat was knocked onto its side.[180]
December 26 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, December 26, 2018[note 1]
A brief tornado initially touched down on Lake Barkley and damaged six homes, most of which lost shingles and vinyl siding. Three garage doors were blown inward and one garage lost shingles. A couple dozen trees were snapped or uprooted[186]
A brief tornado caused roof and fascia damage. A garage door was blown in and a detached garage was destroyed with debris carried 300 yd (270 m). A storage shed was pushed several feet from its foundation and three metal farm buildings suffered minor roof damage. At least two dozen trees and tree limbs were snapped or uprooted.[187]
Near where the tornado touched down, a house had shingles torn off and sustained considerable damage from a heavy chain link fence that was thrown into it. A swing set was thrown, a birdhouse post was bent over at a 60-degree angle, and a chicken house was rolled over nearby. Farther along the path, trees were twisted and snapped, and hundreds of corn stalks were picked up and thrown. One barn was destroyed and another barn and a mobile home suffered damage to their side panels.[188]