Tornado outbreak of November 1992


The Tornado outbreak of November 1992, sometimes referred to as The Widespread Outbreak, was a devastating, three-day outbreak that struck the Eastern and Midwestern United States on November 21-23. This exceptionally long-lived and geographically large outbreak produced 95 tornadoes over a 41 hour period, making it one of the longest-lasting and largest outbreaks ever recorded in the US, and published studies of the outbreak have indicated the possiblity of even more tornadoes. There were 26 fatalities, 641 injuries, and over $300 million in damage.

Meteorlogical synopsis

The outbreak began on November 21 with a cluster of six tornadoes, ranging from F1 to F4 intensities, that struck parts of the Houston metropolitan area. Later on the same day, the deadliest tornado of the outbreak, a long-tracked F4 tornado, struck Brandon, Mississippi, causing 10 deaths, 98 injuries and over $25 million in damage. Other F4 tornadoes struck Cobb County, GA, in the Atlanta suburbs, and Switzerland County, Indiana, just southwest of Cincinnati. Of the five tornadoes reported in North Carolina on November 22–23, the last left a damage path over in length, the longest tornado damage track to have ever been recorded in the state, producing damage in Wilson and Elizabeth City. The last tornado of the outbreak, a short-lived F1, touched down in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Confirmed tornadoes

November 21 event

November 22 event

November 23 event

Hopewell–Florence–Pine Tree–Weir, Mississippi

This devastating, long-tracked, violent tornado began near Hopewell and moved northeast across Copiah and Simpson Counties, downing numerous trees as it moved toward the Jackson area. The tornado entered Rankin County and struck the south side of Florence as it moved through a mobile home park at that location. Several homes and mobile homes were destroyed in Florence, and two people were killed. The tornado exited Florence and struck another mobile home park, killing four more people. The tornado then tore directly through the Jackson suburb of Brandon, where numerous homes and 30 mobile homes were destroyed. Large and well-built brick homes were destroyed in the Easthaven Subdivision of Brandon, including a massive, well-constructed, brick mansion that was completely leveled, killing four people, one of whom was found from the foundation. In Rankin County alone, a total of 60 homes were destroyed, over 500 homes were damaged. 10 people died in Rankin County, where the tornado attained its peak intensity. The tornado moved into Scott County, downing numerous trees and power lines. The tornado also damaged several homes in the town of Ludlow. The tornado then crossed into Leake County and struck the community of Pine Tree, where one person was killed in a mobile home. Three homes were destroyed and nine others were damaged in Leake County, and 26 chicken houses and several outbuildings were also destroyed. In neighboring Attala County, 36 homes were severely damaged or destroyed. The tornado then crossed into Choctaw County and struck Weir, where one person was killed in a mobile home. A total of 101 homes were damaged or destroyed in Choctaw County before the tornado dissipated. Extensive tree damage occurred along the entire path length—including thousands of uprooted trees—and 122 people were injured. Eight of the 12 deaths were in mobile homes.