Evolution of the mesoscale environment prior to the 12 March 2006 Missouri Ozarks tornado outbreak

During the evening hours of 12 March, four supercell thunderstorms swept across the Missouri Ozarks. These supercells went on to produce a dozen tornadoes, including five significant tornadoes resulting in F2 or greater damage. The tornadoes destroyed 202 homes, damaged 366 additional structures, resulted in two fatalities and injured thirty-five in the National Weather Service Springfield area of responsibility, making this the most significant outbreak of severe thunderstorms to strike the area since early May 2003.

This presentation will offer an overview of the atmospheric conditions that contributed to this significant severe weather episode. In particular, it will examine how conditions which were initially not favorable for significant tornadoes during the daytime became increasingly favorable for significant tornadoes after sunset.