NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge -- Christmas Day 2012 Severe Weather

Strong Storm System Brings Heavy Mountain Snow to the Sierra Nevada and Critical Fire Weather Conditions to the Plains

A Pacific storm system will continue to bring low elevation rain and mountain snow to much of the West through Wednesday, with heavy mountain snow expected in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. This system will also bring strong winds to the Intermountain West, Rockies, and Plains, which will create Critical fire weather conditions for the High Plains. Read More >

Severe Weather Event
Christmas Day 2012

A complex weather system involving a warm front lifting from the Gulf, a strong cold front moving west to east through the area and a developing low pressure system impacted the area on Christmas Day (December 25, 2012). Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed in response to the warm front and then a squall line eventually moved through, producing numerous reports of thunderstorm wind damage and a few tornadoes. For the second time in December, our area was hit by three tornadoes. While tornadoes are not common in our area in December, they are also very much a possibility. For more information on December tornadoes in our area, please visit our December Tornado Information Page.

NWS survey teams from WFO New Orleans/Baton Rouge found that three tornadoes touched down in the area. In addition, some straight line winds also caused damage in East Baton Rouge Parish. Individual web pages explaining each event along with survey information is located at the bottom of this page.

Here is a link to the Local Storm Report Summary which was captured after the event.

Survey Information

Location

Start/
End Time

Event Type/
Max Winds

Fatalities/
Injuries

Path Length

Path Width

Pearl River County
2.75 miles SW of McNeil, MS to 12 miles E of Poplarville, MS

Tuesday 12/25
3:10 PM - 3:45 PM CST

EF-3 Tornado
140 mph

0 fatalities
8 injuries

24 miles (in our warning area)

175 yards

Wilkinson and Amite Counties
1 mile S of Centreville, MS to 2.7 miles E of Centreville, MS

Tuesday 12/25
2:31 PM - 2:38 PM CST

EF-1 Tornado
105 mph

0 fatalities
1 injury

3 miles

250 yards

Jefferson Parish
1.9 miles S of Marrero, LA to 1.6 miles SSE of Marrero, LA

Tuesday 12/25
6:20 PM - 6:21 PM CST

EF-0 Tornado
85 mph

None

0.8 miles

30
yards

Strong Storm System Brings Heavy Mountain Snow to the Sierra Nevada and Critical Fire Weather Conditions to the Plains

NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge -- Christmas Day 2012 Severe Weather

Severe Weather Event Christmas Day 2012

Severe Weather Event
Christmas Day 2012