November 2002 Storm Data Publication
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NOVEMBER 2002 VOLUME 44 NUMBER 11 SSTORMTORM DDATAATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA WITH LATE REPORTS AND CORRECTIONS NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION noaa NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER, ASHEVILLE, NC Cover: A low pressure system moved along the mid-Atlantic coast and brought a mixture of rain and snow to New Hampshire. With a high astronomical tide and northeasterly winds, tidal fl ooding occurred, particularly in the Hampton Beach area (shown). (Photo courtesy: John Jensenius, WCM, NWS Gray, Maine.) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storm of the Month …..…………….….........……..…………..…….…..…..... 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena ....…….…....………..……...........…............ 5 Additions and Corrections ............................................................................................................. 135 Reference Notes .............……...........................……….........…..……............................................. 160 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 Environ- mental 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 pre- pared 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 Na- tional Weather Service’s (NWS) Storm Prediction Center. Disclosure information and additional details can be found in the Reference Notes section. STORM DATA contains all confi rmed 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 signifi cant 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 offi cial 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 November 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 31 33 21 8 1 0 94 OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH 1. Tidal Flooding in New Hampshire on November 6 A low pressure system that moved along the mid-Atlantic coast brought snow and rain to the state of New Hampshire on November 6, 2002. Around eight inches of snow fell over much of Sullivan County, and two to six inches fell across Merrimack, Belknaw, Grafton, Carroll, and Coos Counties before the precipitation changed to rain. Along the immediate coast, the precipitation fell mostly as rain. A high astronomical tide combined with northeasterly winds caused tidal flooding. The Hampton Beach area was particularly hard hit as many roads were flooded. Above(both): Tidal flooding in the Hampton Beach area caused many roadways to be water-covered. (Photo courtesy: John Jensenius, WCM, NWS Gray, Maine.) Tornadoes in Tennessee on November 10 Numerous tornadoes were reported on November 10 in one of the worst tornadic outbreaks ever in Tennessee in November where 15 deaths and 79 injuries occurred. Damage to houses and cars were the primary losses. Damage estimates were placed at $160 million dollars. More than 900 families across the state applied for storm aid. Below: An F3 tornado struck the Lake Tansi and the southern sections of Crossville, Tennessee at 2143 (9:43 pm) CST. Four people were killed and 18 other were injured. Two people were killed when the mobile home was lifted off the ground and landed nearly on top of a nearby mobile home. (Photo courtesy: William Earl King, HMT, NWS Nashville, Tennessee.) Above: An F2 tornado, as defined by the Fujita Tornado Scale with wind speeds between 113 and 157 mph hit the Bedford County community of Bugscuffle at 1745 (5:45 pm) CST. Several houses were damaged and destroyed. (Photo courtesy: Ralph Troutman, DAPM, NWS Nashville, Tennessee.) 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated November 2002 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central ALZ002-006-019- Colbert - Madison - Calhoun - Tuscaloosa - Jefferson - Montgomery 023>024-044 10 1500CST 0 0 0 0 Excessive Heat Unseasonably warm air surged northward from the Gulf of Mexico and covered most of north and central Alabama. Record high temperatures of 80 to 85 degrees were recorded across the entire area. As a direct result of this very warm air, a large severe weather outbreak occurred where violent tornadoes developed by early evening. Record high temperatures were measured at the following locations; Muscle Shoals Municipal Airport 83 Huntsville International Airport 82 Tuscaloosa Municipal Airport 83 Birmingham International Airport 82 Anniston Municipal Airport 82 Montgomery Dannelly Field 85 Other temperatures measured included: Pryor Field Decatur 83 Shelby County Airport Calera 83 Troy 83 Fayette County 5.6 NNW Fayette to 10 1852CST 16.1 1175 0 3 500K 0 Tornado (F3) 2.3 WNW Howard 1910CST Walker County 4.5 SW Carbon Hill to 10 1910CST 16.9 1175 3 20 2.5M 0 Tornado (F3) 8 E Nauvoo 1931CST M53OU, M61MH, F62MH Winston County 3.7 SE Poplar Spgs to 10 1931CST 11.3 1175 1 15 200K 0 Tornado (F3) 2.5 ESE Arley 1945CST M91PH The Carbon Hill Tornado was the first tornado of the evening. It began in Fayette County at 6:52 pm, about 5.6 miles north-northwest of the city of Fayette, and 2.8 miles west of US Highway 43. The tornado moved on a northeast track crossing US 43, State Route 129, and SR 13, and then moved into Walker County just southwest of Carbon Hill at 7:10 pm. It then crossed the western and northern sections of Carbon Hill, downing trees and power lines and damaging many residential structures. Carbon Hill Elementary School was also heavily damaged. The tornado continued northeast, crossing SR5, and exited the county at SR 195. The two deaths associated with this tornado occurred just south of SR 195. Entering Winston County at 7:31 pm, the tornado continued on a northeast path traveling across mostly sparsely populated areas of Bankhead National Forest and several fingers of Smith Lake. It crossed County Road 41 about 1.8 miles south of Arley and then crossed CR 12, finally lifting at 7:45 pm. This tornado was rated an F3 on the Fujita scale, with winds estimated to be in the 150 to 200 mph range. Much of the damage along the track was lesser intensity (F1 and F2). F3 damage occurred in both Fayette and Walker Counties. Total path length for the Carbon Hill Tornado was 44.3 miles, with a width of 1175 yards. Four deaths were reported with this tornado, three in the Rose Hill community of Walker County and one near Arley in Winston County. Injury figures are approximate with three in Fayette County, 20 in Walker County, and 15 in Winston County. About 40 percent of the injuries were treated at local hospitals while about 60 percent of the injuries were considered minor. Structural damage along the path included approximately 47 in Fayette County, 135 in Walker County, and 35 in Winston County. Numbers are approximate because most reports from Red Cross and EMA were made based on the whole county not by tornado. Beg: 33 45.949/87 51.069 End: 34 03.992/87 10.409 Franklin County Russellville 10 1910CST 0 0 2K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G55) Trees and power lines were blown down along CR 48 in Russellville. Lauderdale County Rogersville 10 1925CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.75) Dime size hail fell in Rogersville. 1 5 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated November 2002 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central Lamar County 7.6 WSW Fernbank to 10 1931CST 7.2 150 0 2 200K 0 Tornado (F2) 1.5 NNW Fernbank 1942CST The Fernbank Tornado was the second tornado of the evening in Alabama, but it actually began in Mississippi. The tornado crossed the Alabama-Mississippi State Line at 7:31 pm, downing trees in Luxapallila Creek. When it reached County Road 12, a well built home was deroofed along with damage to the upper floor of the house and tremendous tree destruction. The tornado continued on a northeast track, damaging mostly trees before knocking over head stones at the Ebenezer Church and flipping automobiles. The tornado weakened fairly quickly after it passed the church and ended about 7:42 pm. This tornado was rated an F2 in Alabama but was rated an F3 in Mississippi.