The Super Tuesday tornado outbreak of February 5-6, 2008 produced 87 tornadoes across the American Southeast in 24 hours, killing 57 people. Named after the day it began (Super Tuesday primary election day in 2008), it was one of the deadliest February tornado outbreaks in US history.
The outbreak began on the evening of Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - primary election day. Warm Gulf air surged north as a strong cold front pushed east across the Mississippi Valley. Multiple tornadoes touched down through the night and into February 6.
| State | Tornadoes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 23 | 32 |
| Arkansas | 15 | 13 |
| Kentucky | 7 | 7 |
| Mississippi | 6 | 3 |
| Alabama | 18 | 2 |
| Others | ~18 | 0 |
One of the most photographed events of the outbreak: an EF4 tornado struck Union University in Jackson, TN, damaging over 60 dorms and campus buildings. Approximately 1,000 students were on campus. Miraculously no fatalities occurred at the university - all students survived due to advance warning and effective sheltering.
The university lost several buildings but was able to reopen within weeks. Union University became a case study in successful institutional tornado response.
Killed multiple residents in rural Arkansas.
Devastated communities in northern Tennessee. Multiple fatalities.
Several tornadoes traveled 30-40+ miles across the Southeast.
February tornadoes are typically less frequent and less deadly. Why 2008 was different:
NWS warnings were effective, but limitations included:
Super Tuesday 2008 contributed to:
2008 was one of the deadliest US tornado years in the 21st century:
The Super Tuesday outbreak reinforced:
Super Tuesday 2008 is often cited alongside Palm Sunday 1965, February 21, 1971 (Delta outbreak), and other off-season events showing that violent tornadoes can strike outside spring peak season.
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