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APRIL 1997 VOLUME 30 NUMBER 4 SSTTOORRMM DDAATTAA 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, N.C. Cover:TheRedRiverfloodedandthenfrozewhentemperaturesdroppedbelowfreezing.Thetopofastopsignandone-waysignindicatetheheight oftheicecoveredfloodwater.Theicebrokeupafewdayslaterandcausedicejamsatbridgesandculverts.TheNPAvnenuebridgecrossestheRed RiverbetweenFargo,NDandMoorhead,MN.ThephotographwastakenontheMoorhead,MNsidewhereitcrossestheThirdAvenueBridgeonApril 7,1997.(PhotocourtesyofAndyBlenkush,TheForum,Fargo) TABLEOF CONTENTS Page OutstandingStormsoftheMonth.................................................5 StormDataandUnusualWeatherPhenomena..........................................7 ReferenceNotes..........................................................206 STORMDATA (ISSN0039-1972) NationalClimaticDataCenter Editor:StephenDelGreco AssistantEditor:StuartHinson STORMDATAisprepared,funded,anddistributedbytheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA).The OutstandingStormsoftheMonthsectionispreparedbytheDataOperationsBranchoftheNationalClimaticDataCenter. TheStormDataandUnusualWeatherPhenomenanarrativesandHurricane/TropicalStormsummariesarepreparedbytheNational WeatherService.Monthlyandannualstatisticsandsummariesoftornadoandlightningeventsresultingindeaths,injuries,anddamage arecompiledbycooperativeeffortsbetweentheNationalClimaticDataCenterandtheStormPredictionCenter. STORMDATAcontainsallconfirmedinformationonstormsavailabletoourstaffatthetimeofpublication.However,dueto difficultiesinherentinthecollectionofthistypeofdata,itisnotall-inclusive.Latereportsandcorrectionsareprintedineachedition. MapsoftheNationalWeatherServiceCountyWarningAreaswhichareusedintheStormDataandUnusualWeatherPhenomena sectionwillbeprintedinalleditions. Exceptforlimitededitingtocorrectgrammaticalerrors,materialssubmittedaregenerallypublishedasreceived. Note:"NotReported"meansthatnosevereweatheroccurredand"NotReceived"meansnoreportsweresubmittedforthisregionatthe timeofprinting. Subscription,pricing,andorderinginformationisavailablefrom: NationalClimaticDataCenter 151PattonAvenue Asheville,NC28801-5001 (704)271-4800or(704)CLIMATE TheeditorofSTORMDATAsolicitsyourhelpinacquiringphotographs(printsorslides;blackandwhite,orcolor),maps,clippings, etc.ofsignificantorunusualweatherevents(pastorpresent).Thesecouldbeforuseinthe"OutstandingStormsoftheMonth''or"Et Cetera''sectionsofSTORMDATA.Werequestoursubscribersorotherinterestedpersonstomailsuchitemsto: StuartHinson NationalClimaticDataCenter 151PattonAvenue Asheville,NC28801-5001 AnysuchitemsreceivedbytheeditorwillbeforuseinSTORMDATAonly.Anyotherusewillbewiththepermissionoftheowner ofsaiditems.Materialssubmittedwillbereturnedifrequestedintheoriginalsubmission. "Icertifythatthisisanofficialpublicationofthe NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration andiscompiledfrominformationreceivedatthe NationalClimaticDataCenter Asheville,NorthCarolina28801-2733." KennethD.Davidson ActingDirector, NationalClimaticDataCenter 2 April 1997 Confirmed Tornadoes 4 F Scale F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F Scale F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total Num ber 74 22 2 0 0 0 98 OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH MELTED SNOWPACK FLOODS RED RIVER VALLEY IN NORTHERN PLAINS The snowpack mostly caused by the many blizzards during the winter of 1996 and 1997 began to melt in early spring as a southerly wind flow brought milder temperatures to the region. Temperatures rose into the upper 60's and low 70's in the Dakotas on April 1 and 2. A strong storm with a minimum central pressure of 28.8 inches of mercury (980 mb) pushed into the area on April 5, bringing colder temperatures and heavy amounts of precipitation. In Fargo, 1.39 inches of rain was reported on the 5th and a mixture of freezing rain and snow was reported on the 6th with 1.30 inches of total water equivalent. The ice storm caused almost $100 million in damage to the eastern Dakotas when 2 inches of ice accumulated within the region. Some areas in the western Dakotas reported as much as 24 inches of snow. Arctic air moved into the northern plains behind the storm, which dropped low temperatures below freezing. Much of the flooded area froze, hampering rescue and flood fighting activities. Only a few deaths and minor injuries were attributed to the flood. The Red River reached it’s highest level of 54 feet (26 feet above flood stage), on the 21st. Left: These utility poles were collapsed by high winds and the weight of 2 inches of ice. The Red River Basin was hit by more than 10 snowstorms during early 1996 and early 1997. These snowstorms increased the amount of available meltwater which contributed to the spring flood. The final winter storm of the season was a major ice storm on April 6. Note the ice coated utility wires. Photo by Dave Wallis Right: A burned out section of downtown Grand Forks which caught fire during the height of the flood. Fire fighting vehicles could not reach the burning buildings in time to save them. Attempts were made to put out the fire by helicopter but they were unsuccessful. Photo by Colburn Hvidston III Thanks to Joe Dill & Colburn Hvidston III of The Forum, Fargo, ND for allowing a reprint of their photographs. All photographs copyright 1997 and courtesy of The Forum, Fargo, ND. 5 Below: Residents of Grand Forks and Fargo, North Dakota as well as volunteers from outside the region work together to keep the flood waters from overrunning their homes and property. Left: A sandbag line is formed by local residents to build a barrier from the flood. Center: This North Dakota State University student lends a hand by carrying sandbags. Right: The National Guard was dispatched to the Red River Valley to assist in the evacuation of many sick and elderly citizens of Fargo and Grand Forks. President Bill Clinton and the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared most of the northern plains a disaster area. Photo by Andy Blenkush Photo by Dave Wallis Photo by Colburn Hvidston Below: Many homes were inundated by the flood waters. Some homes were literally lifted off of their foundations and washed away. After the flood receded, many residents returned to their homes to find them in need of cleaning and repair. Damage was estimated over $750 Million. Photo by Colburn Hvidston III Photo by Colburn Hvidston III 6 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated April 1997 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, North Central Dekalb County 3 SW Rainsville to 22 1453CST 5 220 0 10 2.2M 10K Tornado (F2) 2 NE Rainsville 1501CST An F2 tornado tracked from southwest to northeast across the center of Rainsville. The tornado began at 3:53 pm CDT three miles southwest of Rainsville just south of the intersection of County Roads 92 and 72. The tornado moved northeastward directly through the downtown section of Rainsville at the intersection of State Highways 75 and 35. Damage was severe to a number of buildings including the Rainsville police and fire department station and a number of commercial buildings. The tornado continued northeast crossing Dilbeck and Marshall Roads before ending about two miles northeast of Rainsville on the east side of Marshall Road. The tornado severely damaged a large poultry raising facility and debris from the chicken houses was blown over half a mile further to the northeast. The tornado had dissipated by 4:01 pm CDT. At the Rainsville police station, eleven of 12 police cars were either damaged or destroyed and several of the city's fire trucks were damaged. Five of the 10 people injured were hospitalized according to emergency management officials. Damage assessment indicated that 63 homes and/or apartments were damaged or destroyed along with 34 businesses. The tornado path was five miles in length and about 220 yards wide at the widest. Autauga County 6 S Marbury 05 1515CST 0 0 7K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G45) A roof was torn off a pre-fab building in the northeast part of the county. Elmore County 14 NW Wetumpka 05 1525CST 0 0 5K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees were blown down and a trailer was overturned in Titus, in the northwest part of the county. Lauderdale County 8 W Lexington 21 1440CST 0 0 6K 2K Hail (1.25) Half dollar sized hail was covering the ground in Green Hill, in the northern part of the county. Lauderdale County Lexington 21 1445CST 0 0 7K 2K Hail (1.50) Walnut sized hail was covering the ground in Lexington, in the northeast part of the county. Colbert County Tuscumbia 21 1506CST 0 0 5K 2K Hail (0.88) Nickel sized hail was reported in Tuscumbia. Marion County Bear Creek 21 1758CST 0 0 5K 2K Hail (1.00) 1805CST Dime to quarter size hail was reported between Bear Creek and Hackleburg, in the northern part of the county. Winston County 5 NE Haleyville 21 1840CST 0 0 4K 1K Hail (0.88) Nickel size hail was reported at Forkville, in the northwest part of the county. Dekalb County Ft Payne to 21 2000CST 0 1 85K 0 Lightning Fort Payne Lightning struck a hosiery mill and destroyed 15 knitting machines. One employee was injured trying to put out the fire. Greene County Forkland 22 1316CST 0 0 5K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees were blown down along Hwy 43, south of Forkland, in the southern part of the county. Marengo County Demopolis 22 1320CST 0 0 5K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) A few trees were blown down in Demopolis. Tuscaloosa County Northport 22 1320CST