The December 2015 North American storm complex, also known as Winter Storm Goliath, was a major storm complex that produced a tornado outbreak, a winter storm, a blizzard and an ice storm in areas ranging from the Southwestern United States to New England. Tornadoes struck the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in Texas, including a deadly EF4 tornado that struck Garland and Rowlett, while several other states, especially Missouri, were affected by heavy rain and snow causing severe floods. As the system moved through the Great Lakes, heavy rain, ice pellets and heavy snow fell in the entire region. Wintry mix moved through southern Ontario and Quebec had significant snowfall on December 29. Almost 60 people were killed during the storm system's progression and aftermath, making it one of the deadliest such systems of 2015 in the United States.
Meteorological history The outbreak was caused by a vigorous upper-level trough that moved into the Central and Southern Plains states on December 25. An extratropical cyclone developed ahead of this upper-level trough over the West Coast, which moved southeast into the Southwestern United States early on December 26. Continuing to move east, snow began to fall in the Upper Midwest, dropping up to , before rapidly dissipating. As the initial low-pressure area moved over the United States–Mexico border, a southwards dip in the jet stream to the west had formed. In response to this, an upper-level low developed by evening on December 26. This upper-level low began to track to the north, drawing moisture from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. As it did so, a long cluster of heavy showers and thunderstorms fired up from eastern Oklahoma to southwestern Missouri, which set up a severe flooding event. Some areas picked up to over of rainfall, triggering several floods.
At the same time, discrete tornadic supercells developed in Texas. One of the cells produced a violent EF4 wedge tornado, which ripped through parts of Garland and Rowlett, Texas, causing major damage and killing 10 people. As the storm complex began to move to the north, more supercells formed, and several more tornadoes were reported. By the early morning of December 27, the supercells had merged into a squall line, which produced a few more isolated tornadoes.
While generating severe weather in the Deep South, the storm complex brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions in the southwestern parts of Texas through December 26–27, as frigid temperatures had spilled south into the area just the previous day before. Strong winds contributed to power outages and blowing and drifting snow. Snowfall continued throughout December 27 before tapering off near midnight as the storm system began to pull out of the region. In total, the storm complex dumped up to of snow in the western parts of Texas, a very rare and historic occurrence in the affected areas. The storm had also produced a small but significant ice storm in the central parts of Texas, with ice accumulations ranging up to in some areas, leading to thousands of power outages.
By December 28, the storm complex had moved into the Central United States, producing more snow, ice, heavy rain, and severe weather in an area stretching from the Midwest into Louisiana. The upper-level low eventually began to take over as the dominant low, and had begun to make a more east-northeastwards turn. Spreading a swath of from Missouri to Maine, the storm complex continued to accelerate into southern Canada while producing more ice, rain and severe weather as the southern quadrant approached the East Coast. Rain eventually reached areas like Philadelphia and New York City late on December 28, and persisted somewhat into the early morning hours of December 29. At this point, the storm system had already entered Canada, and its circulation was beginning to become elongated. The remnants of the storm eventually dissipated, early on December 30.
Confirmed tornadoes
December 26 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, December 26, 2015EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamage(2015 USD) EF0NE of ByarsMcClainOK1957A storm chaser reported a brief tornado. EF0N of HubbardHillTX2003–2007A local fire department reported a tornado that damaged crops. EF0NE of EustaceHendersonTX2044–2046Trained storm spotters observed a tornado that damaged crops over open land. EF0NNE of EmoryRainsTX2126–2127Trained storm spotters reported a brief tornado. EF0NNW of HillsboroHillTX2310–2312Trained storm spotters reported a brief tornado. It remained over open country and caused no damage. EF0S of Sulphur SpringsHopkinsTX2333–2334A storm chaser observed a brief tornado. EF0NE of MaypearlEllisTX2343–2344A local fire department reported a brief tornado. EF3E of Midlothian to Glenn HeightsEllis, DallasTX0001–0013See Section on this tornado – 46 people were injured. EF4Sunnyvale to Garland to RowlettDallas, RockwallTX0046–010210 deaths – See article on this tornado – This was the second tornado produced by the Garland supercell. 468 people were injured. EF0NE of EnnisEllisTX0100–0102A few barns were damaged. EF2N of Lavon to N of CopevilleCollinTX0109–01152 deaths – See section on this tornado – This was the last intense tornado produced by the Garland supercell. 119 people were injured. EF1W of FarmersvilleCollinTX0117–0123Several homes, including six mobile homes, were damaged or destroyed. This was the fourth tornado produced by the Garland supercell. EF1SE of Blue RidgeCollinTX0133–01381 death – A log-construction frame home was damaged, and a metal high-tension truss tower was blown over. Multiple mobile homes sustained major damage, with a two-day old infant being killed in one of them. Fence posts were pulled out of the ground and trees were downed as well. Two people were injured. This was the fifth and final tornado produced by the Garland supercell.
December 27 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, December 27, 2015EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamage(2015 USD) EF0WSW of De KalbBowieTX2106–2110The roof of a mobile home was partially removed, and several trees were snapped. EF1NW of GilmerUpshurTX2124–2127A few outbuildings lost metal roofing panels, and several trees were downed, with a couple causing damage to two houses. EF1NW of Hampton to ENE of BeardenCalhoun, OuachitaAR2132–2146Part of the roof was blown off of a couple industrial buildings at Highland Industrial Park, several empty rail cars were blown over, and in Bearden, roofing material was ripped off several commercial buildings. A small gas station was also damaged. Several trees were downed along the path. EF1E of PatmosHempsteadAR2136–2137Pine trees were downed and a mobile home was damaged. EF1ESE of CamdenCalhounAR2156–2207An intermittent tornado destroyed two sheds, damaged the roof on a home, and downed several pine trees on a path that passed near Hampton. One pine tree fell on and crushed two cars. EF1E of WillisvilleNevadaAR2236–2244Several outbuildings were destroyed and a house sustained roof damage. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. EF2NNE of Marshall to SSE of JeffersonHarrisonTX2239–2251Two mobile homes and several outbuildings were destroyed, with pieces of tin roofing from one outbuilding being found at least a quarter-mile away. Multiple frame homes were damaged as well, and a pickup truck and storage trailer were tossed. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. EF1Hermitage to E of BanksBradleyAR2306–2318An awning was damaged at Hermitage School, part of the roof was ripped off a chicken house, a shed was destroyed, and a home sustained minor damage. Many trees were downed. EF1ENE of LodiCassTX2309–2311Several trees were snapped or uprooted. EF1W of WilmarDrewAR0006–0017The roof was ripped off of a house and thrown onto a shed, and several pine trees were downed. EF1W of BlanchardCaddoLA0210–0211Trees were snapped and uprooted along the path, and a mobile home sustained damage to its skirting. EF1NNE of BlanchardCaddoLA0216–0220Tornado moved through two mobile home parks, damaging numerous mobile homes. One of the mobile homes was blown off its foundation, while another was crushed by a tree. One outbuilding was destroyed and two others were damaged. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. EF1SW of HomerClaiborneLA0510–0511Several trees were uprooted.
December 28 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, December 28, 2015EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamage(2015 USD) EF1ENE of WalkerLivingstonLA0853–0856A semi-truck was flipped and a trailer was moved. A building has its metal roof ripped off and a door blown inward. EF1W of LaplaceSt. John the BaptistLA0920–0925Roof and fence damage occurred, and several power poles were snapped. EF2SW of MariannaLeeAR1046–1051A mobile home was destroyed and homes sustained roof damage. EF1NW of SeminaryCovingtonMS1143–1151One barn was destroyed, several homes sustained minor damage, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. EF1SW of ChumucklaSanta RosaFL1430–1432A tornado tracked through a heavily forested area, uprooting pecan trees and snapping cedar and pines. The NWS survey team was unable to examine the entire path, and it is possible the tornado path extended further south. EF0NNE of TrinityUnionNC2158–2201Five sheds and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, the wall of one home sitting on concrete blocks was slightly shifted, a camper was rolled onto its side, and trees were downed.
Midlothian–Ovilla–Glenn Heights, Texas
This strong and destructive tornado touched down on Palmer Road, moving into Daniel Road and Spring Branch Road at EF0 to EF1 intensity, dealing minor roof damage to multiple homes and rolling a mobile home. The tornado continued to move northeast, dealing minor damage to more homes before rapidly intensifying to EF3 strength as the tornado caused severe damage to multiple homes, some of which had all of their walls collapsed along Walker Court and Faith Lane.
The tornado then quickly weakened to EF1 strength as it crossed Clayton Drive, Loyalty Drive and Faithful Drive before again intensifying to EF2 strength on Meghan Drive, Glenloch Drive, Etta Court and Rex Court as homes had their exterior walls collapsed, roof structures partially or completely removed, with debris being thrown into nearby yards and fields. The tornado then reached EF3 intensity a second time on Billingsley Drive as a large, well-built home was completely destroyed with only interior walls remaining.
The tornado then weakened back to EF1 intensity, briefly reaching EF2 intensity as it ripped roofs and collapsed the walls of one home along the Willow Brook River. The tornado continued to parallel South Hampton Road before impacting Donald T Shields Elementary and the Ovilla Road Church of the Nazarene at EF1 intensity, destroying the school's wall cladding and destroying the roof and wall cladding of the church. The tornado then tracked across South Hampton Road, damaged the wall cladding and roof of the Harvest of Praise Ministry Church at EF1, and rapidly intensified as it crossed Trisha Lane at EF3 intensity, completely collapsing all of the walls of two homes, except for small interior rooms. The tornado then tracked mainly across fields, crossing East Bear Creek Road where two mobile homes were separated and rolled at EF1 intensity before reaching EF2 intensity as it destroyed the roofs of three homes along Mockingbird Lane and Cascade Drive. The tornado dealt no further damage as it tracked through a field before lifting near East Parkerville Road.