Rare November Severe Weather

 

November 4, 2022 Severe Weather Reports (Source: NOAA)

Some notable November severe weather outbreaks have occurred in recent years, including earlier this month.  The National Weather Service changed the criteria for severe hail in 2010.  Prior to this, hail 0.75"/+ (penny-sized) in diameter was considered severe.  However, in order to reduce confusion and the number of severe thunderstorm warnings, the criteria for severe hail was raised to 1”/+ (quarter-sized). 

November 4-5, 2022:

Over 60 tornadoes occurred over a two-day stretch from Texas to Illinois, along with a slew of severe wind and hail reports.  This event was unusual for the sheer number of intense tornadoes that occurred relatively late in the season with multiple EF-3 and EF-4 tornadoes.  Six confirmed fatalities were reported by NOAA, along with dozens of injuries. 

November 12-13, 2021:

What stands out about this severe weather outbreak aside from occurring in mid-November is where it occurred.  An eye-popping total of 16 tornadoes developed over a two-day period in New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island.  Long Island, N.Y. was particularly hard hit with tornado damage and severe wind gusts.  A wind gust of 79 mph was observed in Suffolk County on November 13.  Despite occurring in densely populated areas, no injuries or fatalities were reported during this outbreak.

November 10, 2020:

Numerous severe weather reports were observed over a relatively concentrated area in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.  Over a dozen confirmed tornadoes occurred in Illinois alone, with multiple severe wind gusts.  Most notable were wind gusts of 78 mph at Chicago’s Navy Pier, as well as 79 mph in Sugar Grove, IL.  Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.

November 16, 2010:

This event was concentrated on the east coast from South Carolina to New York.  The dominant type of severe weather on this day was severe wind gusts.  There was, however, a confirmed EF-1 tornado in Baltimore, Maryland.  Three injuries were reported from the tornado, which had wind speeds between 86-110 mph.  The Fujita Scale, originally created in the 1970s, was updated and became the "Enhanced Fujita Scale" or “EF Scale” in 2007.

November 5-6, 2005:

Similar to the November 2010 outbreak, the overwhelming majority of severe weather reports during this outbreak were for high winds.  This event covered a large area from Arkansas to New York.  On November 5, a deadly tornado claimed 22 lives and caused over 200 injuries in the town of Evansville, Indiana.  It was rated an F3 tornado on the original Fujita Scale with estimated wind speeds of 158-206 mph.