A destructive tornado outbreak struck a wide swath of the Southern and Eastern United States as well as Canada on November 15 and 16, 1989. It produced at least 40 tornadoes and caused 30 deaths as a result of two deadly tornadoes. The most devastating event was the Huntsville, Alabama F4 tornado, which killed 21 on the afternoon of November 15. Nine more fatalities occurred at a single elementary school by an F1 tornado on November 16 in Newburgh, New York, although further survey revealed that this might have been a downburst instead. This outbreak also produced the most tornadoes in a single day in New Jersey, later tied on April 1, 2023. Several other significant tornadoes were reported across 15 states.

Meteorological synopsis Historically, tornadoes are relatively common in north Alabama, where Huntsville and Madison County are located. The region was affected by the 1974 Super Outbreak, and records show that Madison County has had 25 tornadoes from 1950 through October 1989.

The Zone and Local Forecasts issued during the early morning, Tuesday, November 14, mentioned the possibility of severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. Subsequent forecasts and statements marked with increasing certainty the ominous nature of the events to come.

The National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) issued a Public Severe Weather Outlook at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and highlighted the unusually strong potential for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the Tennessee Valley. The Birmingham Forecast Office followed with a Special Weather Statement at 10:50 a.m. with the headline, "MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER THREAT POISED FOR ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA!".

A Tornado Watch was in effect for Madison and adjacent counties from 12:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Soon after the issuance of the watch, emergency management officials, storm spotters and the NWS staff at Huntsville placed into effect a coordinated plan of action in accordance with established procedures. Beginning at 12:45 p.m., WSO Huntsville issued warnings for the west part of its county warning area as an intense squall line moved into northwest Alabama. Storm spotters reported large hail and intense straight-line wind associated with this squall line.

At the time the tornado struck Huntsville, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect for Madison County. That warning, issued at 4:13 p.m., was changed to a Tornado Warning at 4:35 p.m. based on a report relayed through the amateur radio spotter network of a tornado touchdown in the city. Critical weather information was disseminated over the NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) and NWR and by many media outlets in Huntsville and adjacent areas providing the public with frequent weather updates on radio and "crawls" and live "cut-ins" on television. Links with spotter groups and emergency management and law enforcement officials worked well.

Confirmed tornadoes

November 15 event + List of reported tornadoes – Wednesday, November 15, 1989F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary F0LepantoPoinsettAR1730Most of the roof was removed from the gymnasium at Lepanto High School, and several homes sustained minor roof damage. F1NW of HenningLauderdaleTN1830–1835Two homes were damaged and numerous sheds and outbuildings were destroyed. F2TrentonGibsonTN1855–1901A few homes sustained roof damage, a patio was torn up, and numerous trees and several power lines were downed. F1SE of AshlandClayAL2020One house was destroyed in the Mellow Valley area, and the three occupants were injured. F2NE of GreenwoodGreenwoodSC203447 homes were damaged in a subdivision, four of which were unroofed. One person was injured. F2NNE of Ashley to S of LexingtonMorrow, RichlandOH2100–2127Many homes and barns were damaged, and numerous trees were downed in Morrow County. The tornado crossed into Richland County east of Shauck, taking a roof off a home and destroying a second home and a mobile home south of Lexington. F1SW of FalmouthPendletonKY2109Two mobile homes were destroyed, and the roof of an old school was ripped off in the community of Morgan. Two people were injured in one of the mobile homes. F1OliverScrevenGA2145A mobile home was carried about from its foundation, with parts of it being blown up to away. Three houses sustained roof damage, and numerous trees were downed. The five occupants of the mobile home were injured. F0De KalbKemperMS2150Two homes were destroyed. 15 other homes or barns were damaged. Several trees were downed. Listed as F2 by Grazulis. F4Huntsville to NE of BrownsboroMadisonAL2230–225021 deaths – See article on this tornado – 463 people were injured. F0E of RoanokeRandolphAL2243Several mobile homes were damaged. F1StevensonJacksonAL2355Several mobile homes and vehicles were destroyed, a school roof was damaged, and large steel utility towers were twisted. F2NW of RomeFloydGA0005The tornado touched down near Coosa before moving across Simms Mountain and into Big Texas Valley. Many homes were damaged along the path, and numerous barns and outbuildings were either damaged or destroyed, along with multiple vehicles. In Big Texas Valley, one mobile home was overturned and another was heavily damaged. A large house about away from the second mobile home was demolished and six vehicles were destroyed. Many trees were downed along the path. One person sustained minor injuries. Caused $2,000,000 in damage. F2SE of PalmettoCoweta, FultonGA0025Several homes were damaged and a poolhouse sustained significant damage south of Palmetto. Two mobile home parks were damaged near the Coweta–Fulton county line. F3W of Clarkesville to WSW of Tallulah FallsHabershamGA0030Six homes were destroyed, and six others were heavily damaged. Businesses were destroyed, and three mobile homes were flattened. Seventeen large chicken houses were destroyed at a poultry farm, killing 250,000 birds. Considerable damage occurred in the communities of Stonepile and New Liberty. Three people were injured. The tornado was up to wide and caused $1,000,000 in damage. F2E of PalmettoCoweta, FultonGA0045This tornado struck the same mobile home parks just impacted by the first Palmetto tornado, resulting in several injuries. In total, 72 trailers were either damaged or destroyed, and 50 site-built homes were damaged. Numerous vehicles were either damaged or destroyed, and a few businesses were damaged as well. Four tractor-trailers were flipped on Interstate 85, injuring the drivers. Another injury occurred when a car was rolled for . A mobile news van was thrown by the tornado as well. At a truck stop, gas pumps were uprooted, spilling gas on the lots. Numerous trees were downed along the path. Fourteen people were injured in total. Caused $1,200,000 in damage. F1S of ClevelandBradleyTN0045–0051An older unoccupied building was levelled, several outbuildings were destroyed, and a brick chimney on a house was destroyed. Numerous trees were downed.

November 16 event + List of reported tornadoes – Thursday, November 16, 1989F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary F2Summit Point to Charles TownJeffersonWV1000A house and several buildings at Summit Point sustained structural damage. A diameter tree limb was driven through a shingle roof with half-inch-thick plywood. Further along the path, outbuildings were demolished, roofs were torn off, a cinder-block garage sustained roof loss and collapsed walls, and a mobile home was rolled several times. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted as well. Three people were injured inside the mobile home. F0NW of Amelia Court HouseAmeliaVA1315A brief tornado moved along Route 616 in Amelia County. A country store sustained a blown out window and partial loss of its tin roof. A tin structure about away was leveled. A house sustained shingle loss, and a vehicle sustained minor cosmetic damage from flying debris. Several small trees were downed. An eyewitness reported seeing a funnel cloud. F0SE of GeorgetownMadisonNY1515Damage details unavailable. F1E of MillingtonKentMD1520An intermittent tornado destroyed a cinder-block church building, damaged other buildings, and snapped power poles. The tornado may have continued into northwestern Kent County, Delaware. F0RomansvilleChesterPA1524A brief tornado damaged buildings and downed trees. F1WilmingtonNew CastleDE1530This tornado moved through the southern part of downtown Wilmington, blowing off part of a warehouse roof, ripping up part of a chain link fence, and damaging several vehicles. The tornado became a waterspout after moving over the Christina River. It then destroyed a boat shed, ripped two large boats from their moorings, and moved/overturned boats that were in storage. The door of a restaurant was ripped off before the tornado dissipated. One person was injured, the owner of the boat shed. F1King of PrussiaMontgomeryPA1545Numerous homes and offices were damaged, with one office building being damaged severely. Three mobile homes were overturned, and hundreds of trees and several power lines were downed. Three people were injured by flying glass. F0SW of Telford to NE of PerkasieMontgomery, BucksPA1600More than 55 homes sustained mainly roof damage. Numerous trees were downed. F1Yardley, PA to W of Lawrenceville, NJBucks (PA), Mercer (NJ)PA, NJ1615In Yardley, a school sustained roof and window damage. One person sustained serious injuries when a tree fell on a vehicle. The tornado crossed the Delaware River near the northwestern part of Trenton, New Jersey, blowing the windows out of a school and collapsing a wall of an apartment complex, causing damage to 36 apartment units. Hundreds of trees were downed along the path. At least four people were injured in total. F0PeekskillWestchesterNY1615Damage details unavailable. F0WilliamstownGloucesterNJ1620A supermarket sustained partial roof loss, where one person was injured by a falling brick. A steel building was damaged, two semi trailers were blown over, and several trees were downed. F0SE of BranchvilleSussexNJ1630The tornado occurred in Augusta. Damage details unavailable. F1Barryville to GrahamsvilleSullivanNY1640–1658The official path length is , but the distance from Barryville to Grahamsville is much farther. F0RoselandEssexNJ1700Damage details unavailable. F0PiscatawayMiddlesexNJ1704Damage details unavailable. F1Monroe to ColdenhamOrangeNY1705–17319 deaths – See article on this tornado – 18 people were injured. Likely a downburst, rather than a tornado according to Grazulis and Fujita. F1Lyndhurst/RutherfordBergenNJ1720Damage details unavailable. F0LindenUnionNJ1725Damage details unavailable. F0W of Long LakeHamiltonNY1730Damage details unavailable. F1Porter CornersSaratogaNY1820Damage details unavailable. One person was injured. F1S of CorinthSaratogaNY1850Damage details unavailable. F0BuskirkRensselaerNY1930Damage details unavailable. F2Mont-Saint-HilaireLa Vallée-du-RichelieuQCUnknownUnknownUnknownOne of the latest season tornadoes ever reported in Canada. Caused $2,000,000 in damage to the community.

Huntsville, Alabama

On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 15, at 4:35 p.m. CST (21:35 UTC), this violent and deadly tornado struck the southern portion of the city of Huntsville, cutting a swath of destruction from southwest toward the northeast through a business section and a heavily populated residential area. Also known as the Airport Road tornado, it took a total of 21 lives as a result of the tornado and 463 were injured. Eighteen people died in the immediate aftermath of the tornado, with two other people dying in early December and another passing away in January from injuries sustained in the tornado. Total damage estimates were placed around $100 million.