Tornado outbreak sequence of February 19 - 22, 2018

Synopsis
An extratropical cyclone formed over the midwestern states on February 17, before hitting a capping inversion over the central US the following day, allowing for the development of a severe weather setup. Following the collision of the storm system with a another frontal zone, widespread severe thunderstorms began forming on the morning of February 19,and the NWS SPC issued an Enhanced Risk of severe weather for the central US, calling for a widespread tornado outbreak. The following day, there was another Enhanced Risk issued, with strong to violent tornadoes expected. In addition to this,a large wedge tornado, later rated an EF4, struck Carrollton and Carroll in Missouri,causing widespread devastating damage in the process. An EF3 was also reported in Kansas, but thankfully had less substantial impacts. The outlook for February 21 called for a Moderate Risk for the northwestern states bordering the Canadian border, and another EF3 stuck, this time in Chicago, Illinois, causing substantial damage in the process. On the last day of the sequence, there were a few tornadoes near the border, but most of the activity was focused in the southern Canadian states. In total, 9 people lost their lives in the outbreak, 6 of which occurred in the US, and $400 million was done in damages.