The tornado outbreak of February 28 – March 2, 2007 was a deadly tornado outbreak across the southern United States that began in Kansas on February 28, 2007. The severe weather spread eastward on March 1 and left a deadly mark across the southern US, particularly in Alabama and Georgia. Twenty deaths were reported; one in Missouri, nine in Georgia, and 10 in Alabama. Scattered severe weather was also reported in North Carolina on March 2, producing the final tornado of the outbreak before the storms moved offshore into the Atlantic Ocean.
In the end, there were 57 tornadoes confirmed during the outbreak, including three EF3 tornadoes reported across three states, as well as three EF4 tornadoes; two in Alabama and one in Kansas, the first such tornadoes since the introduction of the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Total damages were estimated at over $580 million from tornadoes alone, making it the fourth-costliest tornado outbreak in US history (the figure not including damage from other thunderstorm impacts including hail and straight-line winds). Insured losses in the state of Georgia topped $210 million, making this outbreak the costliest in that state's history. Enterprise, Alabama, which was hit the hardest, sustained damages in excess of $307 million.
Meteorological synopsis The tornado outbreak was caused by a large low-pressure system across the central United States that intensified on February 28 over Kansas, and a cold front moved across the region, providing the lift needed to develop storms. Additionally, a strong low-level jet caused a surge of very moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and warm temperatures across the south side of the storm expanded these developments. Temperatures were in the 70s °F (low 20s °C) in some areas to the south, while the mercury was below freezing on the north side. The dewpoints were in the range as far north as southeastern Kansas, which provided extra fuel.
The Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk of severe storms for February 28 across parts of the central Great Plains. The first tornadoes developed early in the evening that day in Kansas as the dry line pushed eastward and was lifted by the cold front. In total, 12 tornadoes formed that evening across Kansas and Missouri, 11 of which were weak; however, one of these tornadoes was rated an EF4, the first such tornado recorded and the first violent tornado since September 22 of the previous year. No one was injured by that storm. Farther south, expected activity in Oklahoma and Arkansas didn't take place as the atmospheric cap held up.
A high risk of severe storms — the first such issuance since April 7, 2006 — was issued for a large part of the Deep South for March 1 as the cold front moved eastward. The activity began almost immediately, with several isolated tornadoes taking place that morning across the Mississippi Valley, one of which caused the outbreak's first death. Isolated tornadoes were also reported as far north as Illinois, near the center of the low; however, the most intense activity began around noon and continued throughout the afternoon and evening, with southern Alabama and southern Georgia being hit the hardest. Nearly continuous supercells formed north of the Gulf of Mexico and produced many tornadoes, some of which hit large population centers with devastating effects. Those tornadoes killed twenty people.
The squall line finally overtook the supercells just after midnight on March 2, after putting down 37 tornadoes that day. As the squall line overtook the cells, a few tornadoes — all EF0 — took place overnight in Florida and extreme southern Georgia within the squall line, before the severe weather emerged in the Atlantic Ocean that morning. The final tornado was a landfalling waterspout in the Outer Banks of North Carolina late that morning. In addition to the tornadoes, widespread straight-line wind damage from microbursts were also reported, along with scattered large hail, the largest of which were the size of baseballs.
Confirmed tornadoes
February 28 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, February 28, 2007EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary EF0Tamarac to LauderhillBrowardFL18:55–19:00A roof and a porch screen were damaged, and tree branches were broken. EF0W of Neosho Falls (1st tornado)WoodsonKS00:33–00:36This was the first of two simultaneous, short-lived, rope tornadoes that did not cause damage. EF0W of Neosho Falls (2nd tornado)WoodsonKS00:33–00:36This was the second of two simultaneous, short-lived, rope tornadoes that did not cause damage. EF0WSW of ColonyAndersonKS00:53–00:54This tornado remained over open country and did not cause damage. EF0N of Carlyle (1st tornado)AllenKS01:01–01:03A brief rope tornado touched down in an open field and did not cause damage. EF1E of Colony to E of WeldaAndersonKS01:05–01:22Greater than 40 structures were damaged, mostly minor. Many trees and power lines were downed, and numerous outbuildings were destroyed. A barn was also destroyed, and a few houses suffered major structural damage. Windows were blown out of numerous homes and vehicles, and a large metal horse arena with steel girders and concrete footings was lifted out of the ground and destroyed. A horse and rider were thrown about but were uninjured. Another horse was injured when it had a steel pipe driven through its head. An old railroad car - being used as a shed at that time - was rolled three times and smashed multiple fences. EF0N of Carlyle (2nd tornado)AllenKS01:07–01:09Three tornadoes combined into a larger tornado that remained over open country and did not cause damage. EF4E of Selma to Trading PostAnderson, LinnKS01:24–02:10A large wedge tornado touched down in Anderson County, downing trees and flattening grasses with weak EF0 intensity. It moved into Linn County where a farmhouse was swept away, with only the basement remaining. Several other houses and farm buildings were damaged or destroyed as it passed well north of Blue Mound and Mound City. The occupants of the house that sustained EF4 damage were in a storm cellar at the time and were not injured. Extensive tree and power line damage was reported in Linn County before the tornado lifted north-northeast of Pleasanton. This was the first tornado to be rated EF4 on the newly implemented Enhanced Fujita Scale. EF1ESE of Amsterdam to BurdettBatesMO02:27–02:37The same storm that produced the EF4 tornado in Linn County, Kansas later produced this tornado. Major damage was reported to one house and minor damage to several other structures. Trees and power lines were downed. EF1E of Gunn City/Hadsell to SW of KingsvilleCass, JohnsonMO04:05–04:14A mobile home was destroyed, and two houses and a garage were damaged.
March 1 event