Near the end of 2012, a massive storm complex developed that produced both a tornado outbreak and a blizzard across the southern and eastern United States.

It occurred in conjunction with a much larger winter storm event that brought blizzard conditions to much of the interior United States.

The system was able to pull in cold arctic air, causing snow and freezing rain in the south, leading to a rare "White Christmas" event for that portion of the country.

[18] As the day progressed, the system brought snow into the Great Lakes region, and a new low pressure center began to develop in North Carolina.

[19] Environment Canada also reported that the system began impacting Ontario that day, bringing heavy snow to the province.

It then rapidly intensified to high-end EF2 strength as it impacted the western edge of McNeill, where many trees were snapped and multiple houses were heavily damaged or destroyed.

A small house along Joe Smith Road was left with only a few walls standing, and an elderly woman was critically injured inside.

The tornado reached its peak strength of EF3 as it crossed Stones Chapel Road at the north edge of town, where it destroyed a single-story brick triplex, with only two interior walls left standing.

The tornado weakened further and crossed I-59, moving through unpopulated rural areas southeast of Poplarville, causing EF0 to EF1 tree and outbuilding damage.

[65][66] The tornado strengthened to EF2 intensity again as it entered Stone County west of Texas, and caused significant damage to a few houses.

[67] The tornado then moved into Forrest County and produced high-end EF2 damage as it passed near the small community of Maxie, where numerous trees and power lines were downed, two double-wide mobile homes were completely destroyed, a pickup truck was rolled, and a camper was thrown about 50 yards (46 m).

[68] The tornado momentarily weakened to EF1 intensity as it crossed into Perry County and moved through portions of the DeSoto National Forest, downing many trees.

A house sustained considerable roof and window damage, outbuildings were destroyed, and two cars were moved along this segment of the path.

[67] The tornado then crossed into Greene County and made a direct hit on the small town of McLain as an EF1, causing roof damage to an elementary school and a few houses.

[68] This large, wedge-shaped EF2 tornado was broadcast live on local television news tower cameras as it moved through Mobile.

The tornado initially touched down at 2254 UTC (4:54 p.m. CST) in the northern part of the Mertz neighborhood of Mobile, just northwest of I-10.

The tornado began to strengthen and grow in size as it approached and moved through the intersection of Government Street and the Dauphin Island Parkway.

The tornado then reached EF2 strength as it crossed Clearmont Street and struck Murphy High School, which sustained significant damage.

Homes in surrounding neighborhoods had their roofs torn off, large trees were snapped and uprooted, and gas leaks were reported in the area.

The tornado then weakened slightly to high-end EF1 strength, damaged several more homes, and blew out windows at Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, a hospital of more than 500 beds.

On Wednesday evening, an American Airlines flight that had safely landed at Pittsburgh International Airport ran over a patch of snow on the tarmac and got stuck for approximately two hours.

[86] In Alexandria, after a relatively short-lived EF2, utility/public works crews and police and fire personnel were dispatched around the city to aid in the cleanup.

[88] A Cenla man partnered with the American Red Cross in an effort to raise at least $10,000 for storm victims across the area.

[66] Many donations were brought to the McNeill, Mississippi VFD building for victims of the EF3 tornado in Pearl River County.

[91] In Mobile and Prichard, volunteers distributed bottled water, yard supplies, and clean-up kits to people who were affected by the EF2 tornado in that area.

All proceeds went to local Catholic Social Services and the American Red Cross to be distributed to Mobile families to help rebuild after the tornado.