List of United States tornadoes from November to December 2009

Between November and December 2009, 51 tornadoes touched down across eight states.[note 1] Collectively, the tornadoes injured nine people and wrought $20.36 million,[note 2] much of which resulted from an EF3—the strongest tornado during the two-month period—that struck Lufkin, Texas, on December 23.[1] Compared to annual averages, November was one of the quietest on record while December was one of the most active on record for their respective months. With only three confirmed events in November, the month ranks as the third quietest on record since 1950.[note 3][2] The opposite is true for December, during which 48 tornadoes touched down; at the time, this was the second highest since 2000 and the sixth highest since reliable records began.[4]

Reflectivity (left) and relative velocity (right) radar loops of a thunderstorm that spawned an EF2 tornado in Longview, Texas, on December 23

The month of November featured no tornado outbreaks[note 4] while December featured two. The first spawned 7 tornadoes on December 2 and the second, more prolific event, resulted in 28 tornadoes from December 23–24.[4] Twelve tornadoes touched down within the warning area of the National Weather Service office in Lake Charles, Louisiana—the largest such event in their jurisdiction since November 23, 2004.[6] Both outbreaks were the result of strong extratropical cyclones that moved across the Southern United States, with tornadoes primarily developing along a cold front that extended south of the system's center or within supercells ahead of the front.[4]

Daily statistics

A welding shop near Lufkin, Texas, that was severely damaged by an EF3 tornado on December 23

A mobile home that was destroyed by an EF2 tornado in Gueydan, Louisiana, on December 24

Daily statistics of days with confirmed tornadoes in November and December 2009[note 5]

Date	Total	Enhanced Fujita scale rating						Deaths	Injuries	Damage	Ref.
		EF0	EF1	EF2	EF3	EF4	EF5
November 6	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$35,000	[1]
November 29	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	$75,000	[1]
December 2	7	4	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	$3,235,000	[1]
December 8	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$2,000	[1]
December 9	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	$50,000	[1]
December 14	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$0	[1]
December 15	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$3,000	[1]
December 18	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$90,000	[1]
December 23	9	3	3	2	1	0	0	0	2	$11,251,100	[1]
December 24	19	12	4	3	0	0	0	0	4	$5,732,000	[1]
Monthly aggregates
November total	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	$110,000	[1]
December total	48	28	10	6	1	0	0	0	9	$20,363,000	[1]

November

November 6

List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, November 9, 2009[note 5]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage	Summary
EF0	WNW of Neotsu	Lincoln	OR	45.01°N 124.01°W	0530–0540	0.09 miles (0.14 km)	80 yards (73 m)	$35,000	A strong thunderstorm produced a waterspout along the coastline near Lincoln City. Once onshore and classifiable as a tornado, the system tracked through Roads End, damaging eleven homes and three cars. One home had nearly half its roof destroyed. Several trees were also uprooted and/or snapped; one tree was tossed roughly 20 yd (18 m) by the tornado.[7]

November 29

List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, November 29, 2009[note 5]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage	Summary
EF0	NW of Douglas	Cochise	AZ	31.4114°N 109.6219°W	1757	0.1 miles (0.16 km)	50 yards (46 m)	$0	A trained spotter confirmed that a funnel cloud briefly touched down before dissipating.[8]
EF1	NNW of New Boston	Bowie	TX	33.4744°N 94.4295°W	2357–2358	3.32 miles (5.34 km)	75 yards (69 m)	$75,000	A brief tornado touched down just outside the city of New Boston, destroying a mobile home and damaging four other structures. Shortly after crossing Interstate 30, the tornado dissipated.[9]

December

December 2

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, December 2, 2009[note 5]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage	Summary
EF0	SE of Crestview	Okaloosa	FL	30°43′N 86°33′W	1332	unknown			A brief tornado was reported by the Duke Field Fire Department at Eglin Air Force Base but no damage took place.[10]
EF0	E of Juliette	Jones	GA	33°05′N 83°44′W	1830	2 miles (3.2 km)			A short-lived tornado, with winds estimated at 80 mph (130 km/h), tracked through a forested area, damaging 50 to 100 trees worth a total of $15,000.[11]
EF0	W of Eatonton	Putnam	GA	33°19′N 83°27′W	1855	1.5 miles (2.4 km)			Another short-lived tornado touched down in a forested area, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. With winds estimated at 85 mph (140 km/h), this tornado nearly 500 trees were uprooted or damaged. Two hunters in the forest at the time were trapped by the felled trees and required rescue, though they sustained no injuries. Losses were placed at $100,000 in the national forest.[12]
EF1	NE of Eatonton	Putnam	GA	33°26′N 83°19′W	1902	0.8 miles (1.3 km)			A second tornado in Putnam County struck a more populated area; two structures were damaged and another destroyed. A mobile home was rolled on its side by the tornado but the occupant was unharmed. Hundreds of trees and several power lines were also felled by the tornado. Total losses were placed at $120,000.[13]
EF0	E of Douglas	Coffee	GA	31.51°N 82.75°W	1915	3 miles (4.8 km)			Intermittent tornado touchdown snapped some trees, a few landing on weak buildings.
EF1	NW of Alma	Bacon	GA	31.62°N 82.57°W	1945	0.5 miles (0.80 km)			Three chicken houses were destroyed.
EF2	NNW of Bristol	Pierce, Appling	GA	31.50°N 82.24°W	2015	5 miles (8.0 km)			A mobile home and three metal structures were destroyed, one of which was flattened. Five other structures - including three wood frame houses - were also damaged. Two people were injured.

December 8

List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, December 8, 2009[note 5]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage	Summary
EF0	NNW of Carthage	Leake	MS	32.8102°N 89.5695°W	0235–0240	6.54 miles (10.53 km)	75 yards (69 m)	$2,000	A weak tornado downed numerous tree limbs along its path.[14]

December 9

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, December 9, 2009[note 5]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage	Summary
EF0	NE of Lake Jackson	Leon	FL	30.5399°N 84.3207°W	1705–1706	0.64 miles (1.03 km)	50 yards (46 m)	$50,000	A tornado touched down near Lake Jackson and traveled east-northeast. One home lost a large portion of its shingles with debris carried 50 to 100 ft (15 to 30 m) away. The tornado also snapped three large trees in the home's backyard.[15]
EF1	ESE of Jesup	Wayne	GA	31.5872°N 81.8473°W	1915–1925	1.6 miles (2.6 km)	250 yards (230 m)	Unknown	A mobile home and shed were destroyed, with debris thrown 0.25 mi (0.40 km) away; one person inside the mobile home was injured. A school bus was tossed into a ditch; the driver escaped without injury. Numerous trees and power lines were snapped along the tornado's path.[16]

December 14

List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, December 14, 2009[note 5]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage	Summary
EF0	ESE of Java	Coffee	AL	31.53°N 85.79°W	2220	unknown			Brief tornado touchdown in an open field.
EF0	NW of Rocky Head	Coffee	AL	31.56°N 85.77°W	2225	unknown			Brief tornado downed a few trees.

December 15

List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, December 15, 2009[note 5]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage	Summary
EF0	Westwego	Jefferson	LA	29.90°N 90.11°W	1120	unknown			Brief tornado snapped large tree limbs and power lines along the Westbank Expressway.

December 18

List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, December 18, 2009[note 5]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage	Summary
EF0	E of Homestead	Miami-Dade	FL	25.47°N 80.39°W	1600	1 mile (1.6 km)			Tornado touched down in an unpopulated area.
EF0	Key West	Monroe	FL	24.56°N 81.78°W	1935	1 mile (1.6 km)			Several trees were snapped, with debris downing a few power lines.
EF0	E of Vandolah	Hardee	FL	27.53°N 81.92°W	2058	unknown			Brief narrow tornado damaged a few buildings and vehicles at the Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation.
EF0	Key Largo	Monroe	FL	25.13°N 80.40°W	2255	unknown			Brief tornado at mile 104 on the Overseas Highway with minor damage.

December 23

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, December 23, 2009[note 5]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage	Summary
EF0	NE of Jacksonville	Cherokee	TX	32.00°N 95.15°W	2035	2 miles (3.2 km)			Damage limited to a few trees.
EF0	NE of New Summerfield	Cherokee	TX	32.08°N 95.00°W	2104	3 miles (4.8 km)			Damage limited to a few trees.
EF2	Longview area	Gregg	TX	32.52°N 94.67°W	2239	7 miles (11 km)			Numerous industrial buildings, including a FedEx building, were heavily damaged. Several houses were also damaged and significant tree damage along its path.
EF1	SE of Avinger	Cass	TX	32.89°N 94.50°W	2351	50 yards (50 m)			Brief tornado in a wooded area damaged numerous trees and tree branches.
EF0	NNE of Recklaw	Rusk	TX	31.97°N 94.95°W	0116	0.1 miles (0.16 km)			Brief tornado snapped a few trees.
EF3	Lufkin area	Angelina	TX	31.33°N 94.73°W	0356	4 miles (6.4 km)			Three buildings were destroyed, including a welding shop and a funeral home. Many houses sustained significant roof damage and tree damage was widespread, including in a park. Several 18-wheelers were also thrown. Two people were injured.
EF1	SE of Atlanta	Cass (TX), Miller (AR)	TX, AR	33.04°N 94.06°W	0410	5 miles (8.0 km)			One house sustained minor roof damage, and many trees and limbs were damaged.
EF1	SE of Garrison	Nacogdoches	TX	31.80°N 94.47°W	0437	0.5 miles (0.80 km)			Several trees were snapped and a small storage building was destroyed.
EF2	SW of Carthage	Shelby, Panola	TX	31.92°N 94.38°W	0526	11 miles (18 km)			Many houses were damaged, including roof and shingle damage. A barn and two mobile homes were destroyed.

December 24

List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, December 24, 2009[note 5]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage	Summary
EF0	E of Pineland	Sabine	TX	31.29°N 93.93°W	0810	1.5 miles (2.4 km)			Numerous trees and a few power lines were snapped.
EF0	S of Pleasant Hill	Sabine	LA	31.75°N 93.51°W	0924	1.2 miles (1.9 km)			Several pecan trees were uprooted.
EF0	E of Fairmont	Sabine	TX	31.20°N 93.73°W	0928	0.5 miles (0.80 km)			Brief tornado with damage to trees and power lines along Toledo Bend Reservoir.
EF0	N of Many	Sabine	LA	31.58°N 93.50°W	1021	2.6 miles (4.2 km)			Numerous large pine trees were uprooted.
EF0	SW of Martin	Red River	LA	32.02°N 93.21°W	1136	3 miles (4.8 km)			A few large trees were downed.
EF2	Whiteville area	St. Landry, Avoyelles	LA	30.79°N 92.16°W	1325	10 miles (16 km)			A small church on cinder blocks was destroyed. A rice silo was thrown into a bayou and two tractor-trailers were also damaged.
EF2	N of Crowley	Acadia	LA	30.28°N 92.38°W	1327	7 miles (11 km)			At least 30 houses were damaged, primarily in a single subdivision that was especially hard hit where four houses were heavily damaged. The worst damage was a house that completely lost its roof. Four people were injured.
EF0	E of Evergreen	Avoyelles	LA	30.95°N 92.10°W	1337	5 miles (8.0 km)			Several trees were damaged.
EF0	W of Branch	Acadia	LA	30.35°N 92.33°W	1340	2 miles (3.2 km)			A small outbuilding was destroyed and a few trees were blown down.
EF0	Richard area (1st tornado)	Acadia	LA	30.42°N 92.31°W	1346	3 miles (4.8 km)			Several trees were blown down, and a mobile home and barn were damaged.
EF1	Richard area (2nd tornado)	Acadia	LA	30.43°N 92.32°W	1350	2 miles (3.2 km)			A house and a church were damaged in town. Many trees were also damaged.
EF1	N of Iota	Acadia	LA	30.38°N 92.49°W	1350	3 miles (4.8 km)			A barn was destroyed, and two mobile homes lost their roofs.
EF0	W of Savoy	Acadia, St. Landry	LA	30.47°N 92.31°W	1353	3 miles (4.8 km)			A barn was damaged, along with many trees.
EF2	Gueydan area (1st tornado)	Vermilion	LA	29.98°N 92.53°W	1357	6 miles (9.7 km)			Two structures were destroyed - a mobile home which rolled and an outbuilding which was thrown into a water tower, and over 50 others were damaged, some of them heavily.
EF0	S of Chataignier	St. Landry, Evangeline	LA	30.52°N 92.31°W	1358	2 miles (3.2 km)			An outbuilding was damaged by the tornado.
EF0	NW of Long Bridge	Avoyelles	LA	31.03°N 92.03°W	1359	unknown			A mobile home was heavily damaged by the brief tornado.
EF1	Gueydan area (2nd tornado)	Vermilion	LA	30.08°N 92.48°W	1405	3 miles (4.8 km)			Tornado quickly touched down after the first Gueydan tornado dissipated. Three houses and an entire farm were damaged.
EF1	W of Farmerville	Union	LA	32.77°N 92.54°W	1420	6 miles (9.7 km)			Two houses were damaged on the shores of Lake Darbonne. Many trees were snapped or knocked down.
EF0	E of Vancleave	Jackson	MS	31.29°N 93.93°W	2150	unknown			Brief tornado damaged a few trees.

See also

• Tornadoes of 2009
• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

Notes

1. Event listings by the National Climatic Data Center are divided by county. As such, tornadoes that track across multiple counties are split into multiple summaries and the total number of event listings does not represent the actual number of tornadoes.
2. All damage totals are in 2009 USD unless otherwise stated.
3. Extensive tornado records, compiled by the National Climatic Data Center, begin in 1950;[2] however, it is widely known that improving technology and reports from storm chasers have improved the comprehensiveness of data in recent years and countless tornadoes in older years have gone undocumented.[3]
4. Although no official definition of a tornado outbreak exists, Grazulis (1993) describes one as "a group or family of six or more tornadoes spawned by the same general weather system."[3] Galway (1975) described events with 6–9 tornadoes as small, 10–19 as moderate, and ≥20 as large.[3] Furthermore, an outbreak in Florida—south of 30°N—is defined by Hagemeyer and Matney (1994) as "four or more tornadoes in [four] hours or less."[5]
5. All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.

References

1. "United States Tornado Event Reports: November 1 – December 31, 2009". National Climatic Data Center. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
2. "Tornadoes - Autumn (SON) 2009". National Centers for Environmental Information. State of the Climate. National Climatic Data Center. December 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
3. Roger Edwards; Richard L. Thompson; Keith C. Crosbie; John A. Hart & Charles A. Doswell III (2004). Proposals for Modernizing the Definitions of Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Outbreaks (PDF). Storm Prediction Center (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
4. "Tornadoes - December 2009". National Centers for Environmental Information. State of the Climate. National Climatic Data Center. January 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
5. Barlett C. Hagemeyer (September 1997). Peninsular Florida Tornado Outbreaks (PDF). Weather and Forecasting (Report). 12. American Meteorological Society. pp. 399–427. Bibcode:1997WtFor..12..399H. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(1997)012<0399:PFTO>2.0.CO;2.
6. "Christmas Eve 2009 Tornado Outbreak". Significant Weather Events. National Weather Service Office in Lake Charles, Louisiana. April 7, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
7. "Oregon Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Portland, Oregon. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
8. "Arizona Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Tucson, Arizona. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
9. "Texas Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Shreveport, Louisiana. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
10. "Florida Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
11. "Georgia Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
12. "Georgia Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
13. "Georgia Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
14. "Mississippi Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi. 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
15. "Florida Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Tallahassee, Florida. 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
16. "Georgia Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Jacksonville, Florida. 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2010.

External links

• National Climatic Data Center State of the Climate reports
• National Climatic Data Center Storm Events Database