Enigma tornado outbreak
On February 19–20, 1884, one of the largest and most widespread tornado outbreaks in American history occurred over the Southeastern United States, known as the Enigma tornado outbreak due to the uncertain number of total tornadoes and fatalities. Nonetheless, an inspection of newspaper reports and governmental studies published in the aftermath reveals successive, long-tracked tornado families striking Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, with an estimation of at least 51—and possibly 60 or more—tornadoes.
| Tornado outbreak | |
|---|---|
| Tornadoes | ~60± |
| Maximum rating | F4 tornado |
| Duration | February 19–20, 1884 |
| Largest hail | 5 in (13 cm) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | ≥ ~180 (unofficial estimates of 800–1,200) |
| Injuries | ≥ 1,056 |
| Damage | $3–4 million ($97,710,000–130,280,000 in 2024 USD) |
| Areas affected | Southeastern United States |
Part of the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1884 | |
The majority of reported tornado activity was seen across Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, which were all struck severely by multiple waves of tornado families. In the Southeast, the outbreak began during the late morning in Mississippi, preceded by severe thunderstorms in Louisiana. Shortly thereafter, the outbreak widened and intensified, progressing from Alabama to Virginia between noon and midnight. The outbreak also produced the deadliest individual tornado in North Carolina history, an F4 which swept through the Rockingham area, killing 23.