Tornado outbreak of March 10–12, 1986

The tornado outbreak of March 10–12, 1986[1] was a significant and widespread tornado outbreak which produced a high-end F2 tornado which struck Lexington, Kentucky and killing a total of 6 people. Other tornadoes struck in Alabama, Indiana, and Ohio.[2][3][4] One tornado rated F4 in Meridian, Mississippi resulted in no fatalities. [5][6]

Tornado outbreak of March 10–12, 1986
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationMarch 10–12, 1986
Tornadoes
confirmed
41 confirmed
Max. rating1F3 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2
3 days
Fatalities6 fatalities, 122 injuries
Damage≥$25 million (1986 USD)
Areas affectedCentral, Eastern United States and Southern United States
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Confirmed tornadoes edit

March 10 event edit

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41
List of confirmed tornadoes – March 10–12, 1986[nb 1]
F# Location County / Parish State Date Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary
F3 SE of Paragon to SW of Fountaintown Morgan, Johnson, Marion, Shelby IN March 10 39°22′N 86°31′W / 39.37°N 86.52°W / 39.37; -86.52 (Paragon (March. 10, F3)) 18:28 35 mi (56 km) 440 yd (400 m) A large, long-tracked tornado touched down near the town of Paragon, southwest of Indianapolis. 22 people were injured.[7]
F1 SW of Indianapolis Marion IN March 10 39°44′N 86°14′W / 39.73°N 86.23°W / 39.73; -86.23 (Indianapolis (March. 10, F1)) 18:55 2.5 mi (4.0 km) 220 yd (200 m) A weak but destructive tornado touched down in the Indianapolis suburb of Mars Hill, causing $500,000 in damage to houses and roofs before lifting.[7]
F2[a] NW of Boggstown to E of New Palestine Shelby, Hancock IN March 10 39°34′N 85°56′W / 39.57°N 85.93°W / 39.57; -85.93 (Boggstown–New Palestine (March. 10, F2)) 19:10 10 mi (16 km) 300 yd (270 m) This strong tornado caused severe damage to suburbs southeast of Indianapolis. However, there were no casualties, though damage ranges between $500,000 and $5,000,000.[7]
F2 NW of Boggstown to E of Greenfield Shelby, Hancock IN March 10 39°34′N 85°56′W / 39.57°N 85.93°W / 39.57; -85.93 (Boggstown–Greenfield (March. 10, F2)) 19:10 17.8 mi (28.6 km) 150 yd (140 m) 1 death – A strong tornado spawned on nearly the same spot as the previous one, before continuing into Hancock, ultimately dissipating east of Greenfield. Damage estimates of around $500,000 and $5,000,000 occurred, and one additional person was injured.[7]
F1 Greenfield area Hancock IN March 10 39°49′N 85°47′W / 39.81°N 85.78°W / 39.81; -85.78 (Boggstown–Greenfield (March. 10, F2)) 19:10 5 mi (8.0 km) 220 yd (200 m) This short-lived tornado caused some damage in rural areas near Greenfield.[7]
F2 SW of Little York to NE of Austin Washington, Scott IN March 10 39°49′N 85°47′W / 39.81°N 85.78°W / 39.81; -85.78 (Little York (March. 10, F2)) 20:10 12 mi (19 km) 300 yd (270 m) This destructive tornado caused severe damage in and around the towns of Little York and Austin. Nobody was killed, though 25 people were injured.[7]
F2 SE of Maud Butler OH March 10 39°21′N 84°23′W / 39.35°N 84.38°W / 39.35; -84.38 (Maud (March. 10, F2)) 20:20 1 mi (1.6 km) 200 yd (180 m) This short lived but strong tornado caused substantial damage in the outskirt neighborhood of Cincinnati, Maud. However, no injuries or fatalities occurred.[7]
F1 St. Henry to NE of Neptune Mercer OH March 10 40°25′N 84°38′W / 40.42°N 84.63°W / 40.42; -84.63 (St. Henry (March. 10, F1)) 20:20 14 mi (23 km) 73 yd (67 m) Multiple trees were snapped along rural areas in Mercer County.[7]
F2 SSE of Spiceland to S of New Castle Henry IN March 10 39°49′N 85°26′W / 39.82°N 85.43°W / 39.82; -85.43 (Spiceland (March. 10, F2)) 20:40 4 mi (6.4 km) 300 yd (270 m) Multiple homes and trees were severely damages by this large, strong tornado.[7]
F3 SSW of Lynn to NNW of Bartonia Randolph IN March 10 40°02′N 84°59′W / 40.03°N 84.98°W / 40.03; -84.98 (Lynn (March. 10, F3)) 20:55 7.6 mi (12.2 km) 440 yd (400 m) This destructive, intense tornado caused considerable damage to multiple homes in the town of Lynn. Despite the damage, however, no injuries were reported.[7]
F1 NNW of Fredericktown Nelson KY March 10 37°46′N 85°23′E / 37.77°N 85.38°E / 37.77; 85.38 (Fredericktown (March. 10, F1)) 21:00 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) Multiple tree branches were snapped.[7]
F2 Wilmington to SSW of Bloomington Clinton OH March 10 39°27′N 83°50′W / 39.45°N 83.83°W / 39.45; -83.83 (Wilmington (March. 10, F2)) 21:08 6 mi (9.7 km) 73 yd (67 m) A tornado formed directly on the town of Wilmington, causing severe samage, and injuring 10 people.[7]
F1 SW of Kenton to NE of Grant Hardin OH March 10 40°38′N 83°38′W / 40.63°N 83.63°W / 40.63; -83.63 (Kenton (March. 10, F1)) 21:20 6 mi (9.7 km) 73 yd (67 m) This tornado passed directly over Kenton, resulting in damage to roofs and mobile homes.[7]
F2 SSE of Sabina to NE of Mount Sterling Fayette, Madison, Pickaway OH March 10 39°29′N 83°34′W / 39.48°N 83.57°W / 39.48; -83.57 (Sabina (March. 10, F2)) 21:25 28 mi (45 km) 100 yd (91 m) 1 death – A long-tracked, strong tornado touched down over open land near Sabina before progressing into Madison, and Pickaway counties. 10 people were injured.[7]
F1 NW of Wyandot to NE of Nevada Wyandot, Crawford OH March 10 40°45′N 83°08′W / 40.75°N 83.13°W / 40.75; -83.13 (Sabina (March. 10, F2)) 21:45 5 mi (8.0 km) 73 yd (67 m) Multiple outbuildings were destroyed, alongside trees and power lines along the path.[7]
F0 Moss Beach San Mateo CA March 10 37°31′N 122°31′W / 37.52°N 122.52°W / 37.52; -122.52 (San Maeto (March. 10, F0)) 21:45 0.2 mi (0.32 km) 50 yd (46 m) A rare Californian waterspout was spotted over near Moss Beach. No damage occurred.[7]
F2 Lexington Fayette KY March 10 38°02′N 84°31′W / 38.03°N 84.52°W / 38.03; -84.52 (Lexington (March. 10, F2)) 21:50 3.5 mi (5.6 km) 100 yd (91 m) This strong tornado tore directly through the center of Lexington, causing severe damage. After striking the University of Kentucky campus, it passed just south of downtown, before disspiating in neighbourhood of Eastside, near Cramer Ave. 20 people were injured.[7]
F2 Ripley to SE of Russellville Brown OH March 10 38°44′N 83°50′W / 38.73°N 83.83°W / 38.73; -83.83 (Ripley (March. 10, F2)) 21:54 6 mi (9.7 km) 143 yd (131 m) F2 damage occurred directly in Ripley, as this tornado formed close to the Ohio River banks. No injuries were reported.[7]
F2 E of Willard to NW of Olena Huron OH March 10 41°03′N 82°41′W / 41.05°N 82.68°W / 41.05; -82.68 (Willard (March. 10, F2)) 22:03 8 mi (13 km) 200 yd (180 m) 1 death – A strong tornado traversed through Huron. 10 additional people were injured.[7]
F2 SSW of Norwich to SE of Bloomfield Muskingum OH March 10 39°58′N 81°50′W / 39.97°N 81.83°W / 39.97; -81.83 (Norwich (March. 10, F2)) 23:45 5 mi (8.0 km) 100 yd (91 m) 1 death – Severe damage occurred in northwestern portions of Norwich, causing one death and 3 injuries.[7]
F0 S of Morton Valley Eastland TX March 11 32°27′N 98°49′W / 32.45°N 98.82°W / 32.45; -98.82 (Morton Valley (March. 11, F0)) 20:20 0.5 mi (0.80 km) 30 yd (27 m) A brief tornado was observed over a field.[8]
F0 NNW of Breckenridge Stephens TX March 11 32°27′N 98°49′W / 32.45°N 98.82°W / 32.45; -98.82 (Breckenridge (March. 11, F0)) 20:30 1 mi (1.6 km) 30 yd (27 m) A brief tornado touched down east of the Hubbard Creek Reservoir. No known damage occurred.[8]
F1 W of Rubottom Love OK March 11 33°56′N 97°32′W / 33.93°N 97.53°W / 33.93; -97.53 (Rubottom (March. 11, F1)) 21:55 1 mi (1.6 km) 30 yd (27 m) Some tree damage occurred.[8]
F2 SSW of Weatherford to SE of Poolville Parker TX March 11 32°46′N 97°52′W / 32.77°N 97.87°W / 32.77; -97.87 (Weatherford (March. 11, F2)) 22:08 9 mi (14 km) 40 yd (37 m) This strong tornado passed close to the town of Weatherford, causing severe damage to farms near town.[8]
F1 Pineland Sabine TX March 12 32°46′N 97°52′W / 32.77°N 97.87°W / 32.77; -97.87 (Pineland (March. 12, F1)) 05:05 1 mi (1.6 km) 200 yd (180 m) A brief tornado caused some damage in and around the town of Pineland.[9]
F0 S of Cottage Grove Henry TN March 12 36°19′N 88°29′W / 36.32°N 88.48°W / 36.32; -88.48 (Cottage Grove (March. 12, F0)) 06:10 0.3 mi (0.48 km) 17 yd (16 m) Brief tornado caused no damage.[9]
F1 E of Robinsonville DeSoto MS March 12 36°19′N 88°29′W / 36.32°N 88.48°W / 36.32; -88.48 (Robinsonville (March. 12, F0)) 07:30 1 mi (1.6 km) 30 yd (27 m) Brief tornado caused sporadic tree damage.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
  1. ^ It would appear that both this and the next tornado both spawned on the same coordinates, but that makes no sense. It is what appears on the THP table, however.


  1. ^ NCDC Irwin
  2. ^ "Tornado History Project: March 10, 1986". Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  3. ^ "Tornado History Project: March 11, 1986". Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  4. ^ "Tornado History Project: March 12, 1986". Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  5. ^ "The Lexington Tornado of March 10, 1986".
  6. ^ "Tornadoes of March 12, 1986".
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Tornado History Project: March 10, 1986". Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  8. ^ a b c d "Tornado History Project: March 11, 1986". Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  9. ^ a b c "Tornado History Project: March 12, 1986". Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-06-07.