National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Strong to Severe Thunderstorms in the East; Heat in the Central and Western U.S.

Strong to potentially severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts are forecast Thursday from parts of New England into the Mid Atlantic and Carolinas. Significant heat will expand across the West and Central Plains through Friday, potentially breaking daily high temperature records. Dangerous heat will then build into the Eastern U.S. this weekend through much of next week. Read More >

Overview

A widespread tornado outbreak occurred Friday, March 31, 2023 involving nearly 150 tornadoes across the country. This included 29 tornadoes in the NWS Quad Cities County Warning Area (CWA), with eleven (11) reported injuries, and no fatalities.  This was one of the nation's largest tornado outbreaks in terms of total number of tornadoes, and was the largest tornado outbreak in the NWS Quad Cities CWA on record (since 1950). The strongest tornado developed southwest of Keota, IA and moved northeast towards Wellman before finally dissipating in far southwestern Johnson county.  It was rated EF4 with maximum sustained winds estimated around 170 mph. This was the strongest tornado in the NWS Quad Cities CWA since 1995.

 

 

March 31, 2023 Story Map
Click for event Story Map. Background photo courtesy of A.Wehrle.