The strong storms that ripped through the Midwest November 16-18 are being called the worst in 100 years and damage is likely to be in the $1 billion range, according to a story on NBC News.

According to the story:

“Primarily in November tornadoes that far north just do not happen,” said Kevin Roth, lead meteorologist at The Weather Channel. “We usually have one outbreak like this every 10 years or so but primarily that is south of the Ohio River.”

Roth said the last time tornadoes that strong had been reported in the area in November was when a cold front hit the Great Lakes on November 11 and 12, 1911. This caused dramatic temperature drops, and one EF4 tornado which killed nine people.

Though the powerful line of thunderstorms and tornadoes howled across 12 states (November 17), flattening neighborhoods in minutes, the death toll stood at just eight.

The preliminary tornado count from the storm system stood at 68 – 55 confirmed – on Tuesday night, said Dr. Greg Forbes, severe weather expert at The Weather Channel.

(The Nov. 17) outbreak was the largest day of tornadoes in 2013, he said.

 To read the complete story, click here.