Between November and December 2009, 51 tornadoes touched down across eight states. Collectively, the tornadoes injured nine people and wrought $20.36 million, much of which resulted from an EF3—the strongest tornado during the two-month period—that struck Lufkin, Texas, on December 23. 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. The opposite is true for December, during which 45 tornadoes touched down; at the time, this was the second highest since 2000 and the sixth highest since reliable records began.

The month of November featured no tornado outbreaks 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. 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. 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.

Daily statistics

+ Daily statistics of days with confirmed tornadoes in November and December 2009 DateTotalEnhanced Fujita scale ratingDeathsInjuriesDamageRef. EF0  EF1  EF2  EF3  EF4  EF5  110000000 211000000 742100002 110000000 211000001 220000000 110000000 440000000 933210002 19124300004 Monthly aggregates November total321000000 December total452810610009

November

November 6 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, November 9, 2009EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamageSummary EF0WNW of NeotsuLincolnOR05:30–05:40$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 by the tornado.

November 29 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, November 29, 2009EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamageSummary EF0NW of DouglasCochiseAZ17:57$A trained spotter confirmed that a funnel cloud briefly touched down before dissipating. EF1NNW of New BostonBowieTX23:57–23:58$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.

December

December 2 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, December 2, 2009EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamageSummary EF0SE of CrestviewOkaloosaFL13:32$A brief tornado was reported by the Duke Field Fire Department at Eglin Air Force Base but no damage took place. EF0E of JulietteJonesGA18:30-18:33$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 $15,000. EF0W of EatontonPutnamGA18:55-18:58$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 $100,000 in the national forest. EF1NE of EatontonPutnamGA19:02-19:08$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 $120,000. EF0E of DouglasCoffeeGA19:15-19:21Intermittent tornado touchdown snapped some trees, a few landing on weak buildings. EF1NW of AlmaBaconGA19:45-19:48$Three chicken houses were destroyed. EF2NNW of BristolPierce, ApplingGA20:15-20:30A 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 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, December 8, 2009EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamageSummary EF0NNW of CarthageLeakeMS02:35–02:40$A weak tornado downed numerous tree limbs along its path.

December 9 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, December 9, 2009EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamageSummary EF0NE of Lake JacksonLeonFL17:05–17:06$A tornado touched down near Lake Jackson and traveled east-northeast. One home lost a large portion of its shingles with debris carried away. The tornado also snapped three large trees in the home's backyard. EF1ESE of JesupWayneGA19:15–19:25A mobile home and shed were destroyed, with debris thrown 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.

December 14 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, December 14, 2009EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamageSummary EF0ESE of JavaCoffeeAL22:20-22:21$Brief tornado touchdown in an open field. EF0NW of Rocky HeadCoffeeAL22:25-22:26$Brief tornado downed a few trees.

December 15 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, December 15, 2009EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamageSummary EF0WestwegoJeffersonLA11:20-11:23$Brief tornado snapped large tree limbs and power lines along the Westbank Expressway.

December 18 event

+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, December 18, 2009EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamageSummary EF0E of HomesteadMiami-DadeFL16:00-16:05$Tornado touched down in an unpopulated area. EF0Key WestMonroeFL19:35-19:40$Several trees were snapped, with debris downing a few power lines. EF0E of VandolahHardeeFL20:58-20:59$Brief narrow tornado damaged a few buildings and vehicles at the Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation. EF0Key LargoMonroeFL22:55-22:56$Brief tornado at mile 104 on the Overseas Highway with minor damage.

December 23 event

December 24 event

See also Tornadoes of 2009 List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks List of United States tornadoes from September to October 2009 List of United States tornadoes from January to March 2010

Notes

References

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