Tornado outbreak of March 21–23, 2022

Tornado outbreak of March 21–23, 2022
Confirmed tornadoes and tornado warnings from March 21–23
Meteorological history
DurationMarch 21–23, 2022
Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes86
Maximum ratingEF3 tornado
Duration2 days, 5 hours, 35 minutes
Highest windsTornadic – 160 mph (260 km/h) (Arabi, Louisiana EF3 on March 22)
Highest gustsNon-tornadic – 76 mph (122 km/h) (Moundville, Alabama straight-line winds on March 22)
Extratropical cyclone
Maximum rainfall5.27 in (13.4 cm) in Thorsby, Alabama
Overall effects
Fatalities2 fatalities (+1 indirect; +4 non-tornadic),
Injuries68+ injuries
Damage$48.943 million (2022 USD)
Areas affectedSouthern United States, Eastern United States

Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2022

A large tornado outbreak struck the Southern region of the United States on March 21–22, 2022, before transitioning to the Eastern United States on March 23. The outbreak started with numerous supercell thunderstorms and severe squall lines developing in central Texas and southern Oklahoma, prompting the issuance of numerous tornado warnings, including multiple PDS tornado warnings. An EF3 tornado caused considerable damage in Jacksboro, Texas, while an EF2 tornado from the same storm caused a fatality in Sherwood Shores. Other strong tornadoes caused damage near College Station and in the Austin and Houston metropolitan areas. Severe and tornadic activity continued into the next day as the system moved eastward with numerous tornadoes reported in Mississippi and Alabama. On the evening of March 22, a supercell moved through the New Orleans metropolitan area, with an EF3 tornado producing severe damage in Arabi, resulting in one death and at least two injuries. Widespread flooding also accompanied the decaying squall line in Alabama. Tornadoes occurred on March 23 over the Eastern United States, associated with the same system, including EF2 tornadoes near Pickens, South Carolina, and Gladesboro, Virginia. In all, 86 tornadoes were confirmed.