The March 2009 tornado outbreak sequence was a series of tornado outbreaks which affected large portions of the Central, Southern, and Eastern United States from March 23 to March 29. A total of 56 tornadoes touched down during the event, two of which were rated as EF3.

Meteorological synopsis

An upper trough moved from the Four Corners region into the southern Great Plains and lower Missouri Valley during the day on March 23. During this, a surface low in western portions of Nebraska pushed into eastern South Dakota. A cold front combined with the low moved across the central and southern Great Plains and was the main area where thunderstorm development would occur. Although moisture was limited, strong wind shear created favorable conditions for supercells to develop and rotate. As a result, the supercells had the potential to produce tornadoes. A moderate risk of severe weather was issued for portions of central and eastern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. During the day, a fast-moving supercell produced several tornadoes in eastern Nebraska and across the state line into the west central portion of Iowa. Five tornadoes occurred in eastern Nebraska, with eight people injured in Eagle. In Iowa, an EF2 tornado destroyed one home, damaged another home, a barn and seven outbuildings and derailed 54 empty grain rail cars in Harrison County. The supercell then moved into Montgomery County, where it produced two EF0 tornadoes. Accessed through WebCite.

Several days of severe weather began with an EF1 tornado near Meridian, Mississippi on March 25. During the early morning hours of March 26, severe thunderstorms produced six tornadoes in central sections of Mississippi. The most powerful tornado spawned was an EF3 that struck Magee. Sixty homes were either damaged or destroyed with 25 people injured from the tornado. A church was destroyed and a warehouse was severely damaged. An EF2 tornado, three EF1, and an EF0 also occurred as the severe weather moved through the area. A state of emergency was declared for 12 counties by the Governor of Mississippi Haley Barbour. The thunderstorms also produced three tornadoes, one rated EF1 and the other two rated EF0, in southeastern Louisiana and coastal regions of Mississippi. The EF1 tornado damaged seven homes, extensively damaged one trailer and injured one person in Tangipahoa Parish.

Another round of severe weather developed late that evening, producing another intense squall line with embedded tornadoes across the northern Gulf Coast region early on March 27, where several tornadoes were reported. Later during the afternoon, various tornadoes developed in North Carolina, causing structural damage in eastern North Carolina. Accessed through WebCite. Accessed through WebCite. Accessed through WebCite. The tornadoes formed after a disturbance moved into the area from Alabama. One of the tornadoes near Parkton was rated as an EF2 and injured one person.

On March 28, a strong 997 millibar upper-level low pressure area located over Oklahoma was forecast to produce widespread thunderstorms, with a moderate risk of severe weather in most of northern Louisiana, much of Mississippi, and southern Arkansas. A warm front was likely to develop along the leading edge of the system, allowing for atmospheric instability, a necessary component of severe thunderstorms. In areas farther north, relatively cool temperatures were anticipated to limit convective activity but very strong dynamics in the area would allow storms to develop. This would allow a thunderstorm which became separated from the main squall line to become severe and possibly tornadic. Later in the day, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a slight risk for a large area which encompassed much of the Southeast United States. Tornadic activity was less imminent due to lower dew points but strong wind shear was able to provide fuel for severe storms.

More tornadoes occurred on March 28, as they affected Tennessee and Kentucky during the afternoon. A supercell that tracked through three different counties in western areas of Kentucky produced two tornadoes. One of them was an EF3 tornado that destroyed six homes, caused major damage to 10 homes and minor damage to 60 homes and businesses in Corydon. Accessed through WebCite. In Tennessee, an EF1 tornado caused damage to several businesses in Murfreesboro, including the local Boys and Girls Club and a shopping plaza, which was heavily damaged. Another EF1 tornado destroyed a modular home and damaged three other homes in Ashland City. Accessed through WebCite.

Severe thunderstorms caused widespread damage throughout Pennsylvania on March 29. An EF1 tornado was produced in Lancaster County, damaging 238 structures across a path of from Lititz to Denver, most of which were 200 homes that were damaged by hail. Thirty barns suffered moderate damage, one barn sustained major damage, six trailer homes were destroyed with two others suffering major damage. Three people were injured by the tornado, which altogether cost an estimated $3 million in damage.

Confirmed tornadoes

March 23 event List of reported tornadoes - Monday, March 23, 2009 EF# Location County Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageSouth Dakota EF1SW of SpringfieldBon Homme2115unknownA machine shed was heavily damaged.Nebraska EF1S of EagleLancaster, Otoe, Cass2145Tornado hit a garage and sent a car rolling, injuring five people. EF1NE of EagleCass2150A tree fell on a truck, injuring three people. EF1NE of AlvoCass2200 EF1SE of HickmanLancasterunknown EF2NE of HickmanLancasterunknownIowa EF2Missouri Valley areaHarrison2305A farm house was heavily damaged and seven outbuildings were destroyed. 54 rail cars were also overturned. EF0W of VilliscaMontgomery0100A grain bin was overturned and an outbuilding was damaged. EF0ESE of LymanCass0110Narrow tornado path with damage to silos and outbuildings. EF0S of WiotaCass0120Narrow tornado path with minor damage. EF0SciolaMontgomeryunknownA weak outbuilding was destroyed and some trees were damaged.Kansas EF1E of BernNemaha2333Numerous buildings and power poles were damaged. Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/23/09, NWS Des Moines, NWS Omaha, NWS Topeka

March 24 event List of reported tornadoes - Tuesday, March 24, 2009 EF# Location County/Parish Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageLouisiana EF1WNW of JonesboroJackson0410Oklahoma EF0SE of PawneePawnee0629A mobile home was damaged and a storage barn was destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped. Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/24/09, NWS Tulsa

March 25–26 event This event covers through the morning of March 26, which was due to a continuous bow echo/line.

List of reported tornadoes - Wednesday, March 25, 2009 EF# Location County/Parish Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageMississippi EF1S of MeridianLauderdale1559Many trees were knocked down, damaging a church. A house also lost its roof. EF0S of EdwardsHinds0444A house lost its roof and several other houses sustained minor damage.Louisiana EF0E of Pleasant HillNatchitoches0050unknownBrief tornado in a wooded area with damage limited to trees. Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/25/09, List of reported tornadoes - Thursday, March 26, 2009 EF# Location County/Parish Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageMississippi EF1N of ClintonHinds, Madison0500Hundreds of trees were uprooted along its track. EF1NW of Madison (1st tornado)Madison0517Several houses sustained damage, mostly to their roofs. Many trees were snapped. EF0NW of Madison (2nd tornado)Madison0520Minor shingle damage to several houses and minor tree damage. EF3Magee areaSimpson, Smith0637Severe damage to 60 houses, many of which were destroyed. A large well-built church was also destroyed. A warehouse and a radio tower also sustained major damage and extensive tree damage was reported. 25 people were injured. EF1E of MontroseJasper, Newton0731Several houses were damaged, at least four of which were heavily damaged. An old church building was destroyed. EF2N of SosoJones0743Numerous houses were damaged, with a well-built house heavily damaged. Several warehouses were destroyed. Several mobile homes were damaged, one of which was destroyed. One person were injured. EF0PascagoulaJackson1033Brief tornado touched down at Pascagoula High School with minor damage at its fields. Several traffic lights were damaged.Louisiana EF1E of IndependenceTangipahoa0658Seven houses were damaged and two mobile homes were heavily damaged, one of which was destroyed. One person was injured. EF0SSE of SlidellSt. Tammany0843Brief tornado in a residential subdivision with minor tree damage but no building damage.Alabama EF1WNW of Ashcraft CornerLamar, Fayette0820Two homes, one business and five outbuildings were damaged. EF0AlabasterShelby0950Brief tornado damaged three houses near exit 238 on Interstate 65. EF1E of AppletonEscambia1155Several houses and outbuildings were damaged and a barn was destroyed. Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/25/09, NWS Jackson, NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge, , NWS Birmingham

March 26–27 event This event covers through the morning of March 27, which was due to a continuous bow echo/line.

List of reported tornadoes - Thursday, March 26, 2009 EF# Location County/Parish Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageLouisiana EF1E of GonzalesAscension0412Tornado embedded in an evening line of activity. One structure was destroyed and 30 others were damaged, 10 of them heavily including a large commercial building. EF1N of Pearl RiverSt. Tammany0630Brief tornado with heavy roof damage to three houses.Mississippi EF1N of DiamondheadHancock0645A church sustained significant roof damage and an outbuilding was destroyed. Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/26/09, NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge

March 27 event This event covers activity in the afternoon and evening of March 27.

List of reported tornadoes - Friday, March 27, 2009 EF# Location County/Parish Coord. Time (UTC) Path length DamageNorth Carolina EF0SE of LumbertonRobeson2032Narrow tornado track with a shed destroyed and a mobile home damaged. EF2E of ParktonRobeson2102Narrow but strong tornado roughly paralleled Interstate 95. An empty house was destroyed and a mobile home was also destroyed, injuring an occupant. EF1SE of Hope MillsCumberland2113Several houses and businesses - including a large research building - sustained damage, mostly to roofs. A tractor-trailer was overturned on Interstate 95. EF1GreenvillePitt2205Brief tornado with minor damage to about 40 houses. EF1W of HookertonGreene2205 EF0N of SalemburgSampsonunknownunknownConfirmed tornado according to NWS Raleigh tornado summary EF0S of Four OaksSampson, JohnstonunknownunknownConfirmed tornado according to NWS Raleigh tornado summary Louisiana EF0W of GardnerRapides2110Damaging limited to trees with two of trees falling on houses while some vehicles were trapped EF0SSW of Brownsville-BawconOuachita0357unknownDamage to trees and a fence Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 03/27/09, NWS Wilmington (NC), , NWS Newport/Morehead City, NWS Lake Charles, LA, NWS Raleigh (Event Summary)

March 28 event