# Tornado outbreak of March 10–12, 1986

The tornado outbreak of March 10–12, 1986 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. One tornado rated F4 in Meridian, Mississippi resulted in no fatalities.

## Confirmed tornadoes
### March 10 event

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating :
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
| 0 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 41 |
List of confirmed tornadoes – March 10–12, 1986 :
| 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. |
| 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. |
| F2 | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |