- Source: List of United States tornadoes from January to February 2012
In January and February 2012, the local weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service confirmed 134 tornadoes in the United States, indicating an above-average period of tornadic activity. On average, 64 tornadoes occur in the first two months of the year, with 35 occurring in January and 29 in February. However, in 2012, the count for the two months was 79 and 55, respectively. The first confirmed tornado in January (and 2012) was an EF0 tornado which struck Fort Bend County in Texas at 1445 UTC on January 9. The last tornado of February was an EF0 that affected Blount County in Tennessee at 0030 UTC on March 1, though in terms of Central Time Zone, where the tornado took place, it was still February 29. The period's strongest tornado was ranked as an EF4 and occurred on February 29 in Saline and Gallatin counties in Illinois. Total economic losses in the United States from the first two months of 2012 amounted to over $600 million.
January 2012 was the third-most active January for tornadoes in the United States since 1950, with 79 tornadoes, behind 1999 and 2008. Two deaths occurred in Alabama on January 23. The activity was the result of a strong La Niña, which contributed to the fourth-warmest January in the United States in recorded history. The unseasonal temperatures led to numerous tornadoes throughout the month, primarily in three tornado outbreaks. The month's largest tornado outbreak occurred from January 25–27, when 27 tornadoes formed across the Southern United States. However, none of these tornadoes exceeded EF1 intensity. A similarly widespread tornado outbreak occurred from January 22–23 and featured 25 tornadoes, of which 10 were classified as significant and thus exceeded EF1 intensity. Throughout the month, tornadoes caused at least $150 million of damage.
February 2012 was slightly less active, with 55 tornadoes, but was still above average. Similar to January, temperatures in the United States were anomalously warm, and the month ranked as the fifteenth-warmest February on record. However, tornadic activity was sparse throughout much of the month, before a large multi-day tornado outbreak took place across the Great Plains and the Ohio River Valley towards the end of the month. The strongest tornado, ranked as an EF4, struck Harrisburg, Illinois on February 29, killing eight. Overall, 15 people were killed during the outbreak, and tornadoes caused $450 million in damages.
United States yearly total
January
= January 9 event
== January 11 event
== January 17 event
== January 21 event
== January 22 event
== January 23 event
== January 24 event
== January 25 event
== January 26 event
== January 27 event
=February
= February 1 event
== February 3 event
== February 4 event
== February 18 event
== February 22 event
== February 24 event
== February 28 event
== February 29 event
=See also
Tornadoes of 2012
List of United States tornadoes in March 2012
Notes
References
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- List of United States tornadoes from January to February 2012
- List of United States tornadoes from January to February 2013
- Tornadoes in the United States
- Outline of tornadoes
- List of United States tornadoes from October to December 2012
- List of F5, EF5, and IF5 tornadoes
- Tornadoes of 2012
- Tornadoes of 2011
- List of United States tornado emergencies
- List of California tornadoes
