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JANUARY 2002 VOLUME 44 NUMBER 1 STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA WITH LATE REPORTS AND CORRECTIONS NATIONAL OCEANIC AND NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER noaa ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE ASHEVILLE, NC Cover: A major ice storm occurred in Oklahoma during the last few days of January 2002. Ice accumulations of one to two inches were common. Thousands of trees and utility poles were downed. Pictured is a power pole and line damage near Highway 51, east of Hennessey, Oklahoma. (Photo courtesy: Mike Branick, WFO Norman, Oklahoma.) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storm of the Month ..……..…………………..……………..……………..……………..…. 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena ....………..…………..…..……………..……………..…. 5 Reference Notes ..……..………..……………..……………..……………..…………..………………… 126 STORM DATA (ISSN 0039-1972) National Climatic Data Center Editor: William Angel Assistant Editors: Stuart Hinson and Rhonda Mooring STORM DATA is prepared, and distributed by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena narratives and Hurricane/Tropical Storm summaries are prepared by the National Weather Service. Monthly and annual statistics and summaries of tornado and lightning events resulting in deaths, injuries, and damage are compiled by the National Climatic Data Center and the National Weather Service's (NWS) Storm Prediction Center. STORM DATA contains all confirmed information on storms available to our staff at the time of publication. Late reports and corrections will be printed in each edition. Except for limited editing to correct grammatical errors, the data in Storm Data are published as received. Note: "None Reported" means that no severe weather occurred and "Not Received" means that no reports were received for this region at the time of printing. Subscription, pricing, and ordering information is available from: NCDC Subscription Services 310 State Route 956 Building 300 Rocket Center, WV 26726 (866) 742-3322 Toll Free The editor of STORM DATA solicit your help in acquiring photographs (prints or slides; black and white, or color), maps, clippings, etc. of significant or severe weather events (past or present) for use in the "Outstanding Storms of the Month'' section of STORM DATA. We request our subscribers or other interested persons to mail such items to: Storm Data National Climatic Data Center 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 e-mail: [email protected] Any such items received by the editor will be for use in STORM DATA only. Any other use will be with the permission of the owner of said items. Materials will be returned if requested. This is an official publication of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is compiled from information received at the National Climatic Data Center Asheville, North Carolina 28801-2733. Thomas R. Karl Director, National Climatic Data Center 2 January 2002 Confirmed Tornadoes 3 F Scale F 0 F 1 F 2 F 3 F 4 F 5 F Scale F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total Number 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH Ice Storm in Oklahoma A combination of an upper-level storm system and a shallow cold air mass over most of Oklahoma resulted in a major ice event from January 29 through January 31, 2002. Since soil temperatures remained above freezing, only exposed objects collected ice. Ice accumulations of one to two inches were commonly observed as rainfall amounts ranged from two to three inches. The heaviest ice accumulations developed in a 50 to 60 mile wide band from near Ponca City, Oklahoma southwestward to Cordell, Oklahoma. Thousands of trees and utility poles were downed. At one point, nearly 250,000 residents were without power. Damage estimates are in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Left: Tree damage was extensive in Okarche, Oklahoma from the heavy ice accumulations on January 31, 2002. (Photo courtesy: © 2002 Dave Ewoldt.) Right: Ice hangs on power lines in Kingfisher, Oklahoma on January 30, 2002. (Photo courtesy:© 2002 Dave Ewoldt.) Left: Heavy ice accumulation on a wire fence near Highway 51, east of Hennessey, Oklahoma. (Photo courtesy: Mike Branick, WFO Norman, Oklahoma.) 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated January 2002 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, North Central ALZ037>038-040- Tallapoosa - Chambers - Dallas - Lowndes - Elmore - Montgomery - Macon - Bullock - Lee - Russell - Pike 042>049 02 0616CST 0 0 0 0 Heavy Snow 1300CST A January snow storm brought 2 to 4 inches of snow to an area of Alabama running roughly along a line from Hayneville to Montgomery to Tuskegee to Opelika. The heaviest snow band in these counites reached nearly four inches, and the band was surrounded by snowfall amounts of less than 2 inches. Schools were closed and transportation was disrupted for a time. ALZ021-029-038- Cleburne - Randolph - Chambers - Lee - Russell 047>048 03 0500CST 0 0 0 0 Heavy Snow 1030CST A second round of snow less than 24 hours after a heavy snow affected a number of counties in eastern Alabama with five counties reporting 2 to 3 inches of additional snow. Several other counties to the west and south of these five also received snow with amounts less than 2 inches. Bullock County Midway 19 1415CST 0 0 6K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G55) Trees were blown down and blocking roadways near Midway. One mobile home suffered roof damage. Russell County Countywide 19 1420CST 0 0 5K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) 1430CST Numerous trees and power lines were blown down throughout the county. Several roadways were blocked by the downed trees and power lines. Pike County Troy 19 1500CST 0 0 2K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees and power lines were blown down in Troy. Barbour County Louisville 19 1510CST 0 0 2K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees and power lines were knocked down in and around Louisville. Lauderdale County Countywide 23 0430CST 0 0 400K 0 Flash Flood 1800CST Colbert County Countywide 23 0600CST 0 0 200K 0 Flash Flood 1500CST Limestone County Countywide 23 1500CST 0 0 50K 0 Flash Flood 2000CST A band of significant rainfall repeatedly doused parts of extreme northwest Alabama and southern middle Tennessee. Radar estimated rainfall in isolated locations as high as 6 to 8 inches, but the majority of the area received 2 to 4 inches of rain. The heaviest rain fell across Lauderdale County and into middle Tennessee. Lauderdale County reported that numerous roads were flooded and impassable. Schools were closed for the entire day. Many residents were evacuated along Shoal Creek in the Goose Shoals area and in a few other locations. One woman was stranded in her home. Colbert County also had numerous roads flooded and impassable. Schools closed at noon. Rainfall and runoff from Tennessee caused several creeks to overflow in Limestone and Lauderdale counties. ALZ006 Madison 23 1500CST 0 0 0 0 Excessive Heat The temperature at the Huntsville International Airport topped out at 74 degrees setting a new record high for the date. The previous record was 68 degrees last set in 1972. Colbert County Countywide 24 0600CST 0 0 50K 0 Flash Flood Franklin County Countywide 24 0600CST 0 0 15K 0 Flash Flood Lauderdale County Countywide 24 0600CST 0 0 50K 0 Flash Flood 1 5 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated January 2002 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, North Central Lawrence County Countywide 24 0600CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood Limestone County Countywide 24 0600CST 0 0 30K 0 Flash Flood Rainfall continued across parts of northwest Alabama for a second day in a row. Radar estimated rain amounts as high as 3 inches. Additional rainfall on already saturated ground quickly caused flooding. Numerous roads across all of these counties were flooded and impassable. Many of the roadways received moderate damage which included bridge damage, sinkhole development, and road surface damage. Many cross drains and side drains were damaged by the high, rushing water. Six homes in Lauderdale County were flooded but no injuries were reported. One home in Colbert County was flooded and received driveway damage. ALZ024 Jefferson 29 1500CST 0 0 0 0 Excessive Heat The temperature recorded at the Birmingham International Airport rose to 78 degrees breaking the old record of 77 set in 1975. ALZ006 Madison 29 1600CST 0 0 0 0 Excessive Heat The temperature reached 73 degrees at the Huntsville International Airport tying the old record of 73 set in 1959. ALZ024 Jefferson 29 1600CST 0 0 0 0 Excessive Heat The temperature soared to 80 degrees at Pinson, AL, establishing a new record high for the day and also establishing a new record high for the month of January. The 80 degree reading was also the warmest recorded so early in the year. ALZ006 Madison 30 1600CST 0 0 0 0 Excessive Heat The high temperature reported at the Huntsville International Airport was 77 degrees breaking the old record of 70 degrees set in 1975. ALZ006 Madison 31 1600CST 0 0 0 0 Excessive Heat The afternoon high temperature recorded at the Huntsville International Airport was 76 degrees. This temperature established a new record high temperature. ALABAMA, Southeast Coffee County Northeast Portion 19 1615EST 0 0 1K Thunderstorm Wind A few trees down on County Roads 323 and 606, as well as Highway 125. Reported by the Coffee County Sheriff. Houston County Countywide 19 1630EST 0 0 10K Thunderstorm Wind 1655EST Numerous downed trees and power lines. Reported by the Houston County EMA. ALABAMA, Southwest ALZ051>062 Choctaw - Washington - Clarke - Wilcox - Monroe - Conecuh - Butler - Crenshaw - Escambia - Covington - Upper Mobile - Upper Baldwin 02 0000CST 0 0 Winter Storm 0900CST A band of sleet and snow fell across the region during the early morning hours Wednesday.