1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak facts for kids
The 1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak was a series of powerful tornadoes that hit the United States on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1994. This was the third time a major tornado outbreak happened on Palm Sunday in the U.S. Sadly, 40 people died during this event, and 491 people were injured across several states.
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What Happened: The 1994 Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak
This tornado outbreak was a very serious weather event. It affected many parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Weather experts had been watching the skies closely.
Early Warnings and First Tornadoes
On March 26, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) gave a warning. They said there was a risk of strong thunderstorms and tornadoes. This warning covered a large area from the Southeast to the Mid-Atlantic states.
By the morning of March 27, the SPC issued a "moderate risk" for Alabama. This meant there was a good chance of severe weather. Around 9:00 a.m., thunderstorms started to form. At 9:18 a.m., a tornado watch was put in place. This watch covered eastern Mississippi and northern Alabama. A tornado watch means conditions are right for tornadoes to form.
Later, around 11:00 a.m. CST, tornado warnings were issued. A tornado warning means a tornado has been seen or is about to hit. At 11:39 a.m., a tornado struck the Goshen United Methodist Church. This church was in Piedmont, Alabama. Tragically, 22 people lost their lives there.
Tornadoes Spread to Georgia and the Carolinas
At noon EST, a special "PDS tornado watch" was announced. This watch was for northern Georgia. A PDS watch means that very strong, long-track tornadoes are expected.
By 12:42 p.m. EST, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes moved into Georgia. They continued through the afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center also issued a tornado watch for eastern Louisiana and central Mississippi. However, no tornadoes touched down in those areas on March 27.
A tornado watch was also announced for the Carolinas. Tornadoes hit this area during the afternoon. One strong tornado, rated F3, struck parts of Georgia and South Carolina. It caused injuries to 12 people. Another tornado injured 13 people in North and South Carolina.
Later Tornadoes and the End of the Outbreak
Tornadoes continued to hit Alabama between 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. CST. One of these storms damaged a high school. A funnel cloud was seen around 6:00 p.m. CST. This storm had winds up to 60 miles per hour.
The very last tornado of the outbreak struck Greenville County, South Carolina. This happened just after midnight on March 28. Weather offices in Birmingham, Atlanta, and Athens kept issuing warnings. They did not stop until early in the morning on March 28.
