A series of troughs tracked eastward across the United States, providing strong wind shear, while anomalously warm and unstable air surged northward into the Ohio River Valley.

[6][7] On that day, a powerful and negatively-tilted upper-level trough upwards of 150 kn (175 mph; 280 km/h) was observed driving east-southeastward toward the U.S. Central and Southern Plains.

While a shortwave trough at the leading edge of this feature progressed across the Texas Panhandle, a surface area of low pressure resided across the Central and Northern Plains.

[10] Clusters of supercells tracked from Arkansas into Tennessee over ensuing hours, and in fact, the persistence of these storms resulted in the formation of a weak outflow boundary that further enhanced the tornado threat.

[12] On November 10, the SPC warned of the potential for a significant tornado outbreak and/or widespread damaging wind episode across northeastern Mississippi, much of Tennessee, northwestern Alabama, and much of Kentucky, where the organization issued a High risk of severe weather.

Morning upper-air analyses showed mid- to upper-level winds of 100–150 kn (115–175 mph; 185–280 km/h) across the southern Rocky Mountains, as well as an embedded shortwave trough moving east toward the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys.

In addition, significant pressure falls in the region contributed to backed surface winds, aiding in favorable low-level shear profiles.

[1] The event evolved into more of a significant damaging wind episode as storms progressed farther east into Pennsylvania by the evening hours.

[21] Surface observations and atmospheric soundings across the High and Moderate risk areas showed a very unstable environment with surface-based CAPE values in the 2,000–3,000 J/kg range.

Though shear profiles were largely unidirectional initially, low-level winds were expected to become more conducive for discrete supercells and tornadoes.

[25] Fatal tornadoes occurred near Shelbyville,[26] Joyner,[27] and Crossville in Tennessee;[28] Carbon Hill,[29] Saragossa,[30] and Centre in Alabama;[31] and Crawford in Mississippi.

[132][133] Right after touching down, the tornado rapidly intensified to F4 intensity as it crossed Zook Road approximately five miles (8.0 km) southwest of Van Wert.

[133] Every structure in Roselms sustained up to F3 damage, and the entire nine-mile (14 km) track of the tornado through Paulding County was rated F3 by the National Weather Service.

[133] In Henry County, the tornado continued to skip and caused F0 damage to outbuildings and trees along a path of 12 miles (19 km).