Tornado outbreak of November 16–18, 2015

The Tornado outbreak of November 16–18, 2015 was a highly unusual nocturnal late-season tornado outbreak that significantly impacted the lower Great Plains on November 16 before producing additional weaker tornadoes across parts of the Southern United States the following two days. The first day of the outbreak spawned multiple strong, long-track tornadoes, including two consecutive EF3 tornadoes that caused major damage near Pampa, Texas. Overall, the outbreak produced 61 tornadoes in all, and was described as by the National Weather Service office in Dodge City, Kansas as being "unprecedented in recorded history for southwest Kansas" given the magnitude and the late season. In addition, the tornado outbreak brought the first November tornadoes into northwest Kansas, and the first strong tornadoes in the Texas Panhandle in November, as well as the further west any F3/EF3 tornadoes touched down this late in the calendar year. Despite spawning multiple strong tornadoes after dark, no fatalities and only one minor injury occurred as a result of the outbreak.

Meteorological synopsis
An intense mid-level trough moved from the desert Southwest United States into the south-central High Plains, and low-level flow brought moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the region, allowing dew points to reach the 50s and low 60s. Strong wind shear supported supercell thunderstorm development.

Non-tornadic effects
A significant winter storm occurred on the backend of the tornado outbreak. On November 17, whiteout conditions forced 174 mi of I-70 to close, from the intersection with E-470 to Goodland, Kansas. A 55 mi stretch of I-25 was also closed across southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The storm also brought flight cancellations at Denver International Airport, where 4 in of snow fell. Up to 6 in of snow fell in western Oklahoma on November 18 after the tornado outbreak. The storm was unofficially named Winter Storm Ajax by The Weather Channel.