A record-breaking large and destructive tornado outbreak impacted the Southern United States at the end of November 2004. The outbreak started with numerous weak tornadoes from Central Texas through Louisiana from November 22 through the afternoon of November 23 before more significant tornadoes occurred through November 24. Over a dozen intense tornadoes touched down, including four deadly tornadoes in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Overall, 104 tornadoes were confirmed, tying the 1981 United Kingdom tornado outbreak record for largest tornado outbreak in November.

Meteorological synopsis In November and December 2004, the prevailing pattern was conducive for severe weather across the Southern United States, with a large ridge over the northern Pacific Ocean supporting a southerly storm track toward the Gulf Coast. The fall season contributed to an already active year, solidifying 2004 as the busiest year for tornadoes on record in the United States.

This particular tornado outbreak began on November 22 as a potent cold-core low over Southern California began to move eastward toward Texas, where the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a Slight risk of severe weather. At the surface, a warm front became increasingly defined stretching from Central Louisiana westward through Central Texas. To the south of this boundary, a weakening capping inversion, dewpoints reaching the lower 70s °F, and mixed layer convective available potential energy upwards of 1,500 J/kg indicated an environment supportive of damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Series of strong to severe thunderstorms developed along this boundary, including a persistent supercell near the Houston metropolitan area. Low-level wind shear was locally enhanced along this front, allowing the storms to produce brief tornadoes as they interacted with it throughout the afternoon.

On November 23, the cold-core low and associated mid- to upper-level winds of shifted eastward from the Texas Panhandle toward the Mississippi River Valley. With a low-pressure area forming over North Texas and advancing toward Arkansas, the warm front began the day just inland from the northwestern Gulf Coast but soon began to lift northward. South of this boundary, MLCAPE values of 2,000-2,500 J/kg were prevalent, while initially weak shear profiles improved as the upper-level disturbance approached from the west. By the afternoon hours, tornadic supercells developed north of I-10 before spreading eastward into Louisiana and Mississippi with time. Trailing this activity, an intense squall line developed across coastal sections of Texas and progressed eastward with increasing damaging wind potential. Even as this line overtook previously discrete supercells, additional ones developed across Mississippi and Alabama through the morning hours. Finally, as convection spread eastward into Georgia and the Carolinas, the combination of continued strong shear but marginal instability caused the event to transition to more of a damaging wind episode.

Complimenting the Moderate risk that shifted eastward into Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle early on November 24, the SPC issued another Moderate risk for a secondary threat of severe weather farther north. Here, the deepening surface low supported an arced warm front across Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. In the presence of strong wind shear and MLCAPE values of 500-800 J/kg, bands of convection developed across the region, particularly focused along a pre-frontal trough. Tornadic supercells tracked across southeastern Indiana toward the Ohio border over ensuing hours. By the evening, these storms were undercut by a surging cold front, and loss of daytime heating eroded the instability necessary for severe storms to continue.

Confirmed tornadoes

November 22 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, November 22, 2004F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary F0PasadenaHarrisTX18:30A power pole was downed. F0IowaCalcasieuLA19:30–19:35A small, narrow tornado touched down briefly, destroying a brick dugout, damaging a shed, a porch, and a trampoline at nearby buildings. F0SW of FentonJefferson DavisLA20:05Two doors and a roof were ripped off a home near Woodlawn. F0Jersey VillageHarrisTX20:42A trained storm spotter reported a brief tornado. F0HoustonHarrisTX21:53Local residents reported a tornado. F0NW of IotaAcadiaLA22:42A roof was blown off of a tin building.

November 23 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, November 23, 2004F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary F0NW of TaylorWilliamsonTX16:40–16:41A member of the public reported a brief tornado; it did not cause damage. F0NW of Round RockWilliamsonTX16:51–16:52Members of the publics reported another brief tornado; it did not cause damage. F0SSW of JonahWilliamsonTX17:05–17:06An amateur radio spotter reported a small tornado. F0E of Cut and ShootMontgomeryTX19:10Roof damage occurred to a flea market and several nearby homes. F0La GrangeFayetteTX19:34–19:36A small structure was knocked over, and several cars and buildings sustained damage. F0Lake LivingstonPolkTX19:49A waterspout came ashore from Lake Livingston, crossing over the Lake Livingston Dam. F0S of West LivingstonSan JacintoTX19:55A tornado was spotted north of Lake Livingston Dam. F0BrenhamWashingtonTX20:20A tornado downed trees, along with residential and vehicle damage. F0ESE of StilsonLibertyTX20:52The public reported a brief tornado over open land; it did not cause damage. F0Todd MissionGrimesTX21:25Law enforcement reported a brief tornado over open land; it did not cause damage. F0N of MontgomeryMontgomeryTX21:30A couple of trees were downed. F0N of Elm CreekMaverickTX21:35–21:36Deputies with the Maverick County Sheriff's Department reported a small and brief tornado in open country. F0WillisMontgomeryTX21:50A tree was downed onto a road. F1NE of Honey Island to SSE of FredHardinTX22:08–22:28Many trees were downed, of which several fell on homes. F0W of PortlandChicotAR22:10–22:12A tornado downed power lines. F0S of StartRichlandLA22:24–22:25A trained spotter spotted a weak tornado as it moved briefly across an open field. F2S of FredHardin, Tyler, JasperTX22:27–22:501 death – A 75-year-old woman was killed when several trees smashed a mobile home. Between 10 and 20 homes were also damaged or destroyed. F0WNW of La PryorZavalaTX22:38–22:39Deputies from the Zavala County Sheriff's Department observed a brief, small tornado over open country; it did not cause damage. F0NE of Elm Creek (1st tornado)MaverickTX22:40–22:41Deputies from the Maverick County Sheriff's Department observed a brief, small tornado over open country; it did not cause damage. F2W of Kirbyville to SSE of NewtonJasper, NewtonTX22:55–23:15A tornado damaged or destroyed 10-15 homes in Bon Ami and another 5-10 homes in Pine Grove. Many trees were downed. F0NE of Elm Creek (2nd tornado)MaverickTX23:12–23:14A second tornado was spotted near Elm Creek. F1NE of Bon WierNewtonTX23:12–23:20A tornado damaged several homes before dissipating near a high school. F1SE of Burkeville, TX to Evans, LANewton (TX), Vernon (LA)TX, LA23:40–23:50A tornado damaged or destroyed several homes near Evans. Trees and power lines were knocked down. F0WSW of NatchezNatchitochesLA00:00–00:05A weak tornado caused some isolated, minimal damage to structures in Natchez. F0SE of BertramBurnetTX00:08–00:09Deputies from the Burnet County Sheriff's Department reported a brief tornado; it did not cause damage. F1LeesvilleVernonLA00:08–00:09A tornado touched down in a subdivision in Leesville, damaging several homes. F0W of JarrellWilliamsonTX00:08–00:10Minor vegetation damage occurred. F1WSW of JamestownJasper, NewtonTX00:10–00:13Trees and power lines were reportedly blown down. F1BurkevilleNewtonTX00:30–00:43Between 5-10 homes were destroyed. Many trees and power lines were downed. F2NW of SimpsonVernonLA00:35–00:42A tornado struck the town of Hutton, damaging about 15 houses and injuring 3 people. F2S of Mora to SW of ChopinNatchitochesLA00:49–01:20Extensive tree damage occurred, along with minor damage to farm outbuildings. Many other trees were either snapped or uprooted on a stretch of over two miles. Several homes sustained moderate to major damage, including two frame homes were destroyed. Two mobile homes were also destroyed, and one woman suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung. F1Burr Ferry to SW of LeesvilleVernonLA00:50–01:05A tornado tore down many trees, power lines, and damaged several homes near the southwestern side of Anacoco Lake. F1Fort Polk SouthVernonLA01:20–01:25A small tornado downed trees. F0N of Colfax to WillianaGrantLA01:20–02:00A small tornado downed trees. F0NW of DavillaBellTX01:32A house and a building were damaged. F0KenedyKarnesTX01:46–01:47The Karnes County Sheriff's Department reported a brief tornado in an open area; it did not cause damage. F0YorktownDe WittTX02:00–02:01Amateur radio operators reported a brief tornado in open country; it did not cause damage. F3SW of Olla to E of CopenhagenLa Salle, CaldwellLA02:05–02:301 death – A high school sustained significant roof damage consistent with an F2 tornado. The damage path extended into the middle of Olla where numerous homes sustained severe damage. Some homes lost the roof, exterior walls, and a few interior walls. Across the northeast part of town, five mobile homes were completely destroyed and a pickup was launched and smashed upside down. In the community of Standard, four homes and a store were destroyed. Total damage consisted of minor to major damage to 106 homes and the high school. The tornado continued into Caldwell Parish, where numerous trees were blown over and snapped off at the parish line. The tornado then tracked northeast to the community of Spaulding where a few homes sustained roof damage. Three miles northeast of Spaulding, hundreds of trees were snapped off in a ravine. In Holum, several homes were heavily damaged, including a home that was unroofed, warranting an F2 rating. Before lifting, numerous trees were snapped and a home sustained roof damage near Copenhagen. Twenty people were injured. F1N of CueroDe WittTX02:13–02:15Two mobile homes were destroyed. F0NNE of RapidesGrantLA02:30–02:50Damage occurred to trees and a home that was still under construction, which collapsed. F0SublimeLavacaTX02:58–02:59The Lavaca County Sheriff's Department reported a brief tornado over open country; it did not cause damage. F0NE of Glen FloraWhartonTX03:20Four homes were damaged. F1SE of Detroit to SE of HamiltonLamar, MarionAL03:38–04:02Numerous outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and three grain silos were damaged. One of the silos was tossed over from where it was anchored. Several manufactured homes and residential houses sustained varying levels of damage, some of which were rendered uninhabitable. Hundreds of trees and power lines were snapped or downed. F2SE of Apple SpringsTrinityTX04:00A strong tornado occurred in Davy Crockett National Forest, stranding seven hunters and severely damaging their vehicles. Along its path, 70-90 percent of trees were downed or damaged. F0W of Pecan GroveFort BendTX04:05A tree was downed. F0SSE of BeechwoodWarrenMS05:31–05:33A few large trees were downed, and branches were snapped off about a dozen more. F3E of Church Hill to WSW of PattisonJefferson, ClaiborneMS05:40–06:05A large and intense tornado caused damage to countless trees. At one point, it snapped or uprooted every tree in a forest, consistent with F3 damage. A large tractor shed, with a frame made of large I-beams, was completely destroyed; the beams were snapped from their base as the structure blew away. One residential house lost nearly its entire roof and had every window blown out. One mobile home and two sheds sustained minor damage. A string of seven power poles were snapped.

November 24 event