NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
This analysis is based on preliminary data available from the Storm Prediction Center. Final tornado counts published by the Storm Prediction Center and NCEI's Storm Events Database might differ from this report. For a more detailed climatology, please visit our tornado climatology page.
According to data from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, during September,there were 111 preliminary tornado reports. This is above the 1991-2010 average of 74 for the month. The majority of the tornadoes during the month occurred during two separate events. There were at least 34 confirmed tornadoes in the Mid-Atlantic associated with Hurricane Florence. A large tornado outbreak also impacted the Upper Midwest on September 20th, with 22 preliminary tornado reports. For the year-to-date, there have been 876 preliminary tornado reports, below the average of 1,106.
Before and after Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina, the large size of the storm and its slow motion caused at least 34 confirmed tornadoes across the Carolinas and Virginia between September 14th and 18th. There was one reported EF-2, 17 EF-1 tornadoes, and 16 EF-0 tornadoes. The EF-2 impacted a suburb of Richmond, Virginia causing significant damage to structures. At least one fatality was blamed on the EF-2 tornado.
On September 20th a potent storm system moved through the Upper Midwest, one that is more typical of early summer. There were 16 confirmed tornadoes across southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Overall there were six EF-0 tornadoes, nine EF-1 tornadoes, and one EF-2 tornado. The EF-2 tornado hit Morristown, MN destroying several homes and part of the regional airport. Fortunately there were zero fatalities and few injuries during the outbreak.