A multi-day period of significant tornado and severe weather activity occurred across the Southern United States, Ohio Valley, and southern High Plains in mid-June 2023. Starting on June 14, tornadoes occurred in Texas, Alabama, and Georgia, where they caused large-scale damage to trees and structures. The tornado outbreak continued on June 15, where tornadoes occurred in five states, including one EF3 tornado which moved directly through the center of Perryton, Texas, causing major damage and three fatalities. More tornadoes touched down on June 16 in the southern and northeastern United States, including an unusual anticyclonic tornado in Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama, where the tornado itself was associated with the anticyclonic bookend vortex of a powerful mesoscale convective system. More tornadoes occurred on June 17 and 18, including another EF3 tornado near Louin, Mississippi that destroyed numerous homes and other buildings, killed one person, and injured twenty-five others. This outbreak sequence was unusual in the sense that it produced strong tornadoes in the Deep South in June, despite the region's peak tornado season being March through mid-May, along with the autumn months.
Meteorological synopsis
On June 12, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a level 3/enhanced risk of severe weather for June 14 across the Mid-South and eastern Gulf Coast states, and also highlighted the threat for significant severe weather across the risk area. Mid-level atmospheric flow was beginning to become broadly confluent, while a low pressure system situated north of the Great Lakes began to weaken and move east. Higher moisture content was confined to the south of a remnant surface front, and convective instability increased in the risk area due to the eastward advection of warm elevated mixed-layer air across the Mississippi River Valley. A 5 percent tornado risk was introduced in the SPC's Day 2 outlook for June 14 across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and also included a 30 percent risk for wind and hail, which the latter included a significant threat. In the morning hours of June 14, the SPC upgraded the enhanced risk to a moderate risk, and included a significant 10 percent risk for tornadoes across southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, as well as a significant 45 percent risk for wind and a significant 30 percent risk for hail across the southern United States. A few hours later, tornado watches were issued for Alabama and Georgia, and a Particularly dangerous situation severe thunderstorm watch was issued for northeastern Louisiana, southeastern Arkansas, and Mississippi.
On June 15, the SPC released an outlook with a moderate risk of severe weather for portions of the High Plains. This outlook included a 10 percent risk for tornadoes along the panhandles of both Texas and Oklahoma. A shortwave trough began to move into the central U.S. Concurrently, an associated 80 kt upper-level jet moved into the southern plains. At the surface, a low area also deepened across the southern High Plains, the same area a prominent cold front was headed. Ahead of the front, surface heating and increasing low-level convergence promoted significant convection.
From June 16–19, the same mid-level trough associated with previous storms continued to rotate around the Mid-Atlantic. Short-wave perturbations related to convergent air movement between a 50kt jet and the strong trough displayed signs of strong storms across the deep south, from Arkansas to Alabama. 3000 J/kg of CAPE was also present, promoting rapid intensification of storms in evening hours. Extreme instability led to unexpected and explosive storm development on almost all dates of the outbreak sequence, sometimes resulting in tornadoes, hail, and wind damage well outside of areas outlined by the Storm Prediction Center. This included 12 tornadoes that occurred in a 0% risk area in Ohio on June 15, three of which were strong.
Confirmed tornadoes
June 14 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, June 14, 2023EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF1SW of MorrisClay, QuitmanGA15:37–15:44Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado continued through areas that were inaccessible to the damage survey team. EF1AbbevilleHenryAL15:40–15:55 A tornado struck the northwest side of Abbeville where an office building and two homes had substantial roof damage, one of which had siding torn off and sustained damage to its porch. Numerous trees were either snapped or uprooted, concrete memorial monuments were knocked over, and multiple outbuildings were destroyed as well. EF1Southern EufaulaBarbourAL17:09–17:20This high-end EF1 tornado impacted the south edge of Eufaula where the side of a metal building was ripped off, a church was damaged, and buildings at an apartment complex had roofing material torn off. A log cabin style home was unroofed, other homes sustained less severe roof damage, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, one of which landed on and damaged a home. The tornado dissipated over Walter F. George Lake. EF2E of Wright Patman Lake to NNE of BloomburgCassTX17:43–17:54This strong tornado first touched down on the eastern banks of Wright Patman Lake. A home had part of its roof blown off and an industrial building was heavily damaged with its roof and multiple walls being destroyed. Hundreds of large trees were snapped or uprooted and multiple vehicles were flipped on US 59 before the tornado dissipated near the Arkansas state line. EF2SSW of Blakely to NE of NicholasvilleEarly, BakerGA18:04–18:41Two homes sustained major roof damage, several large metal-framed sheds were destroyed, a barn collapsed, and a double-wide manufactured home lost its roof and some exterior walls. A few other homes and mobile homes were damaged to a lesser degree. A chain-link fence was damaged, a wooden fence was blown down, and many large trees were snapped or uprooted along the path. The tornado dissipated immediately after crossing into Baker County. EF1NNW of NewtonBakerGA18:54–19:15A pivot irrigation system was flipped and numerous trees were downed. EF0NNW of AshburnTurnerGA19:45–19:46A storm spotter reported a brief tornado touchdown in a rural area. No damage was reported. EF1N of Pachitla (2nd tornado)RandolphGA21:40–21:43A grain silo was partially destroyed, several houses and manufactured homes were damaged, and trees were damaged as well. EF1N of Pachitla (1st tornado)RandolphGA21:40–21:43A brief tornado damaged a church, a manufactured home, and the roof of a house. Several stands of trees were also damaged. EF0ENE of Nashville BerrienGA22:35–22:36A brief tornado was spotted. No damage was reported. EF0NE of BrookletBullochGA23:08–23:09Several trees were snapped or uprooted by this brief tornado. EF1Northern Guyton to S of SpringfieldEffinghamGA23:27–23:35A tornado snapped or uprooted numerous trees and removed small amounts of roof fascia and shingles from a few homes.
June 15 event