Tornado outbreak of March 31 – April 1, 2023 facts for kids
Satellite image of the storm system responsible for the tornado outbreak that occurred on March 31 through April 1, 2023.
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| Type | Extratropical cyclone Tornado outbreak Winter storm |
|---|---|
| Duration | March 31 – April 1, 2023 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 73+ |
| Max rating1 | EF4 tornado |
| Highest winds |
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| Largest hail | 3.5 in (8.9 cm) Beverly, Illinois |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 22 in (55.9 cm) near Caspian, Michigan |
| Power outages | >766,000 customers |
| Total fatalities | 26 fatalities (+6 non-tornadic), >126 injuries |
| Areas affected | Midwestern, Southern and Eastern United States |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale | |
A very large and serious tornado outbreak hit many parts of the Midwest, South, and Eastern United States. This happened because of a huge weather system called an extratropical cyclone. This same system also brought heavy snowstorms, known as blizzard conditions, to the Upper Midwest.
On the evening of March 31, 2023, about 28 million people were under tornado watches. This included big cities like Little Rock, St. Louis, Chicago, and Memphis metropolitan area. The National Weather Service sent out many special "Particularly Dangerous Situation" (PDS) tornado watches. These warnings meant that strong and dangerous tornadoes were very likely.
The Big Tornado Outbreak of March 2023
What Happened?
Many powerful supercell thunderstorms formed during this event. A supercell is a type of thunderstorm that has a deep, rotating updraft. This rotation can lead to tornadoes. Many of these storms created tornadoes, and some were so severe that they led to "tornado emergencies." A tornado emergency is an even higher level of warning than a tornado warning. It means a large, damaging tornado is happening or about to happen in a populated area.
At times, more than 20 tornado warnings were active all at once across different areas. This shows how widespread and intense the weather was. The severe weather and tornadoes also moved into the Northeastern United States on the afternoon and evening of April 1. Sadly, a powerful tornado in Sussex County, Delaware caused one person to lose their life.
Understanding Tornadoes
Tornadoes are powerful, rotating columns of air that stretch from a thunderstorm down to the ground. They can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. The strength of a tornado is measured on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). The tornadoes in this outbreak included some very strong ones, like an EF4 tornado in Martinsburg, Iowa.
Weather experts use special tools like radar to track storms and issue warnings. When a tornado watch is issued, it means conditions are right for tornadoes to form in the area. A tornado warning means a tornado has been seen or is about to hit. It's important to know what to do when these warnings are issued to stay safe.
