The strongest tornado of the outbreak occurred in Southern Mississippi, and was given a high-end EF4 damage rating after producing estimated winds of 190 mph (310 km/h), reaching a width of 2.25 mi (3.62 km), and causing eight deaths.

For weeks throughout March and into April, an expansive area of high pressure built across the Southeast United States,[8] contributing to abnormally warm temperatures across much of the country.

[9] Calm weather associated with the high-pressure area induced rapid warming of the Gulf of Mexico waters to their highest values in the modern record—greater than 2 °C (3.6 °F) above the 1971–2010 average—as well as a moistening of the air near the surface.

[15] These thunderstorms were initially isolated in nature but soon coalesced into a mesoscale convective system as they encountered an enhanced corridor of warm air streaming northward, as well as very strong wind shear.

[25] Based on previous storm structures in similar environments, the SPC remarked that "this is an exceptionally rare event" and estimated tornadic winds of 170–205 mph (274–330 km/h) on the first supercell, consistent with a tornado of EF4 or EF5 intensity.

A high-end EF2 tornado spawned by an isolated supercell thunderstorm ahead of the main complex carved a path northwest of Chatsworth, Georgia and through the small community of Sumac, killing eight people and injuring 24 others.

[38] The SPC had already outlined an Enhanced risk of severe weather along the U.S. East Coast from southeastern Georgia northward into northern Virginia and damaging winds and tornadoes were reported until the storms moved offshore.

The tornado then reached EF2 strength as it moved into West Monroe, snapping power poles in this area, breaking metal trusses at a paper mill, and blowing over a wood chip conveyor belt.

Continuing northeast of Railroad Avenue, the tornado momentarily weakened to EF1 intensity as moved through additional residential areas, downing more trees and damaging the roofs of homes.

As it passed to the east of Sartinville, the tornado reached its peak intensity as it completely swept away a house near James Ratcliff Road, leaving only a bare foundation slab behind.

Northeast of this point, the tornado became violent and expanded to one mile (1.6 km) wide, as EF4-level tree damage began to occur along Pitts Lane and Reese Road.

[43] The tornado then reached its peak strength as it tore through the rural community of Cantwell Mill, where a large, anchor-bolted cabin was completely swept away and reduced to a bare slab, with little debris recovered.

[28] Multiple vortices and an intense core were evident in the damage path, approximately 23–30 chicken houses were completely destroyed, and farmers reported that 60 cattle were killed.

After crossing MS 15 and entering Jasper County, the tornado intensified back to low-end EF4 intensity as it struck the community of Moss, where nearly every structure in town was damaged and numerous homes were destroyed.

The tornado strengthened further and reached EF3 strength as it moved through a wooded area near the Pearl River, where a log cabin was destroyed, and numerous trees were snapped and partially debarked.

After crossing the Pearl River, the tornado passed near Oak Vale where some homes sustained roof and exterior wall loss, numerous trees were snapped, a metal building was destroyed, and damage was rated EF2 to EF3.

Additional EF2 damage occurred to the west and north of Carson, where a small business housed in a manufactured structure was completely destroyed, many trees were downed, and two well-built homes had their roofs torn off.

[43] Crossing MS 35, the tornado again attained EF3 strength as the James Hill Church was completely leveled, a nearby home sustained collapse of its exterior walls, and trees were denuded and partially debarked.

EF1 tree and outbuilding damage continued along the remainder of the path and through the rural community of Paulding until the tornado dissipated along County Road 31 to the south of Rose Hill at 6:07 p.m. CDT (23:07 UTC).

EF0 damage continued as the tornado downed a few tree limbs along Halls Chapel Road before it dissipated just before reaching Sumac Ridge to the southwest of Cisco at 8:55 p.m. EDT (01:55 UTC).

EF2 to EF3 damage continued through the Holly Hills neighborhood where additional trees were snapped, power poles were downed, and many homes and apartment buildings sustained roof and exterior wall loss.

The tornado then weakened further and caused EF0 strength tree damage as it crossed into Bradley County and over White Oak Mountain before dissipating south of McDonald around 11:33 p.m. EDT (03:33 UTC).

Reaching EF3 strength, the tornado first struck a BorgWarner plant at the end of Evalona Drive, inflicting major structural damage to the facility and scattering large amounts of debris throughout the area.

[64] The large tornado then approached and crossed the Wells Highway, where a small office building was destroyed (it was not rebuilt), and the Destiny Christian Center and International Church was shifted off its foundation and partially collapsed.

[36] This large, violent multiple-vortex tornado first touched down in Hampton County, South Carolina at 6:10 a.m. EDT (10:10 UTC) west-northwest of Scotia, producing EF1-strength tree damage along Collie Road.

It then moved away from the tributary and tracked through rural areas to the south of Varnville, producing only minor damage to trees and residences as it crossed Miles Road and SC 68.

[70] As the storms progressed into Arkansas, widespread damaging winds were observed, causing the collapse of old buildings and the historic Centennial Baptist Church in downtown Helena-West Helena.

[79] Heavy rainfall fell throughout the Tennessee Valley in the wake of the wettest first three months of any year on record, causing the Chickamauga Dam and Watts Bar Lake to climb about 1.5 ft (0.46 m) above normal summertime pool levels.

[110] In the wake of the outbreak, recovery efforts were hampered by the ongoing pandemic and the American Red Cross resorted to readying hotel rooms, not mass shelters, for affected residents.

[128] A medium-security prison in Hampton County, South Carolina, was directly impacted by an EF4 tornado, with resultant damage so severe that occupying inmates were relocated to Pennsylvania.