December 2015 North American storm complex
The December 2015 North American storm complex, also known as Winter Storm Goliath, was a major storm complex that produced a tornado outbreak, a winter storm, a blizzard and an ice storm in areas ranging from the Southwestern United States to New England. Tornadoes struck the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in Texas while several other states, especially Missouri, were affected by heavy rain and snow causing severe floods. As the system moved through the Great Lakes, heavy rain, ice pellets and heavy snow fell in the entire region. Wintry mix moved through southern Ontario and Quebec had significant snowfall on December 29. Almost 60 people were killed during the storm system's progression and aftermath, making it one of the deadliest such systems of 2015 in the United States.
GOES-13 satellite image of the storm complex over the Southern United States on December 26 | |
| Type | Extratropical storm Winter storm Ice storm Blizzard Tornado outbreak Flood |
|---|---|
| Formed | December 25, 2015 |
| Dissipated | December 30, 2015 |
| Highest winds |
|
| Lowest pressure | 989 mb (29.21 inHg) |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 32 confirmed |
| Max. rating1 | EF4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 2 days, 2 hours, 4 minutes |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 41 in (1.0 m) at Bonito Lake, New Mexico |
| Fatalities | 59 fatalities |
| Damage | ≥ $3 billion |
| Power outages | > 65,000 |
| Areas affected | Southwestern, Central, and New England regions in the United States (particularly Texas); Northern Mexico; Southeastern Canada. |
Part of the 2015–16 North American winter and tornado outbreaks of 2015 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |