NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
This analysis is based on preliminary data available from the Storm Prediction Center. Final tornado counts published by the Storm Prediction Center and NCEI's Storm Events Database might differ from this report. For a more detailed climatology, please visit our tornado climatology page.
According to data from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, during March, there were 62 preliminary tornado reports. This is below the 1991-2010 average of 80 for the month. Most of the tornadoes occurred across the Southeast and parts of the Southern Plains. The two largest outbreaks during the month occurred on the 19th and the 28th. On the 19th, a strong storm system moving through the Southeast brought tornadoes, hail, and straight-line wind lines from Texas to South Carolina. There were 27 tornadoes reported across the Southeast, with the majority occurring in northern Alabama. Numerous injuries and at least three fatalities were blamed on the storms, but none of the fatalities were tornado-related. The total costs of the severe weather outbreak exceeded $1 billion. Another severe weather outbreak impacted the South on the 28th with 16 tornadoes reported in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Numerous injuries and property damage were reported.