In November and December 2004, the prevailing pattern was conducive for severe weather across the Southern United States, with a large ridge over the northern Pacific Ocean supporting a southerly storm track toward the Gulf Coast.
To the south of this boundary, a weakening capping inversion, dewpoints reaching the lower 70s °F, and mixed layer convective available potential energy upwards of 1,500 J/kg indicated an environment supportive of damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.
[5] On November 23, the cold-core low and associated mid- to upper-level winds of 90 kn (105 mph; 165 km/h) shifted eastward from the Texas Panhandle toward the Mississippi River Valley.
[9][10] Trailing this activity, an intense squall line developed across coastal sections of Texas and progressed eastward with increasing damaging wind potential.
[13] Finally, as convection spread eastward into Georgia and the Carolinas, the combination of continued strong shear but marginal instability caused the event to transition to more of a damaging wind episode.