FEBRUARY 1998 VOLUME 40 NUMBER 2 STORMSTORM DATADATA 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: The frame of a Recreational Vehicle in the Ponderosa RV Park was blown into a tree by the tornadic wind speed of an F3 category (wind speeds 158-206 mph on the Fujita Scale) tornado. The tornado struck late at night, severely damaging a mobile home park and an RV park, killing 42 people and injuring another 206. See page 5 for details. (Photograph courtesy of The National Weather Service, Melbourne, Florida) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storms of the Month ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena ………………………………………………………………………….. 7 Reference Notes …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 179 STORM DATA (ISSN 0039-1972) National Climatic Data Center Editor: Stephen Del Greco Assistant Editor: Stuart Hinson STORM DATA is prepared, funded, and distributed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Outstanding Storms of the Month section is prepared by the Data Operations Branch of the National Climatic Data Center. 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 cooperative efforts between the National Climatic Data Center and the Storm Prediction Center. STORM DATA contains all confirmed information on storms available to our staff at the time of publication. However, due to difficulties inherent in the collection of this type of data, it is not all-inclusive. Late reports and corrections are printed in each edition. Maps of the National Weather Service County Warning Areas which are used in the Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena section will be printed in all editions. Except for limited editing to correct grammatical errors, materials submitted are generally 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: National Climatic Data Center 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 (828)271-4800 or (828) CLIMATE The editors of STORM DATA solicits your help in acquiring photographs (prints or slides; black and white, or color), maps, clippings, etc. of significant or unusual weather events (past or present). These could be for use in the "Outstanding Storms of the Month'' or "Et Cetera'' sections of STORM DATA. We request our subscribers or other interested persons to mail such items to: Stuart Hinson National Climatic Data Center 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 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 submitted will be returned if requested in the original submission. "I certify that 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 February 1998 Confirmed Tornadoes 4 F Scale F 0 F 1 F 2 F 3 F 4 F Scale F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total Number 37 26 3 3 0 0 69 F 5 OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH 1. F3 TORNADOES CAUSE 42 FATALITIES IN EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA On February 22 - 23, 1998, seven tornadoes touched down in East Central Florida, causing 42 deaths and 206 injuries. Conditions were favorable for the development of severe weather and the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma issued two tornado watches. Severe thunderstorms formed as a cold front collided with an outflow boundary from a previous thunderstorm. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Melbourne, Florida issued a tornado warning at 10:22 PM when a tornado was indicated on Doppler Radar. The first tornado touched down at 10:55 PM EST in Volusia County, 33 minutes after the warning. A total of 7 tornadoes touched down between 10:55 PM and 2:30 AM on the 23rd. Unfortunately, the Morningside Acres Mobile Home Park and the Ponderosa Recreation Vehicle Park received a direct hit from a strong tornado. Although the SPC issued tornado watches and the NWS issued tornado warnings, many people were unaware of the approaching tornadoes. Since the tornadoes struck late at night, most residents were asleep and therefore unable to receive the warnings. Because strong tornadoes (F3 - F5) are rare in Florida, there are very few tornado warning sirens. Since the tornado outbreak, there has been a substantial increase in the sales of NOAA Weather Radios. More than 106 Million dollars in property damage was reported. This is due to the tornadoes striking a rather densely populated area. Left: This home was located in a subdivision directly across the Florida Turnpike from the Ponderosa RV Park that received substantial damage. Two walls are all that remain of a brand-new concrete-block and stucco home. The seven tornadoes damaged hundreds of permanent homes, including hundreds of mobile homes and recreational vehicles. (All photographs of the Florida tornado outbreak are courtesy of the National Weather Service, Melbourne, Florida) Right: A pile of rubble is all that remains of two homes in this Kissimmee neighborhood. Most of damage and fatalities occurred in Seminole and Osceola Counties. There were 12 fatalities in Seminole County near Sanford and 25 fatalities in Osceola County near Kissimmee. (Special Thanks to Dennis Decker, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service, Melbourne, FL., for contributing to this story) 5 Above Left: The frame of a recreational vehicle (RV) was blown by the tornadic winds around a tree. Above Right: Another photograph of the damaged RV park. 2. PACIFIC STORM POUNDS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA On February 2nd and 3rd, a powerful Pacific storm with winds gusting to 90 mph moved across Central and Southern California. Hundreds of trees and power lines were damaged or destroyed by the high winds. Many communities experienced power outages and school closures due to the weather. Heavy rainfall produced flooding and mudslides which closed sections of major roadways. In Santa Maria, flooding of agricultural areas occurred when a section of a levee was washed away. One to three feet of snow was reported in the mountains by ski resorts. Another storm occurred on February 23rd and 24th, producing more heavy rain across the area including fourteen inches of precipitation reported in the mountains. The city of Ojai, in Ventura County, was closed when all three major roadways into the community became flooded. Most other major roadways throughout the area experienced closures. The storm was responsible for five deaths, including two California Highway Patrol officers who died when they drove onto a washed-out section of Highway 166. Below: Two photographs demonstrating the power of moving water. The flood waters destroyed the sections of these rural California roadways. Much of the damage caused by rural flooding is to roads and highways such as these. Repair costs can be in the millions. (Photographs courtesy of Rich Thompson, Meteorologist, National Weather Service, Oxnard, CA) 6 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated February 1998 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, North Central ALZ006>010-018>021 Madison - Morgan - Marshall - Jackson - Dekalb - Etowah - Calhoun - Cherokee - Cleburne 04 0130CST 0 0 27K 0 Winter Storm 0600CST A winter snow storm moved over the northeast part of the state early Wednesday morning. Snowfall totals ranged from 2-6 inches over the region. There were a few accidents due to slick roads. There were some power lines down due to the heavy wet snow in the Anniston and Huntsville area. ALZ012 Lamar 16 0245CST 0 0 6K 0 High Wind (G40) High wind knocked down several large trees in the Millport area. A few trees fell on homes and one fell on two cars. ALZ006 Madison 16 0304CST 0 0 4K 0 High Wind (G42) Strong gradient wind knocked down several power lines, leaving several thousand people without power. ALZ014 Winston 16 0330CST 0 0 2K 0 High Wind (G35) Strong gradient wind knocked down a few trees and signs in Haleyville. ALZ008 Marshall 16 0330CST 0 0 3K 0 High Wind (G39) High wind knocked down large limbs and power lines, leaving about 1000 people without power. ALZ002 Colbert 16 0451CST 0 0 2K 0 High Wind (G36) Strong gradient wind knocked down several large signs and a few trees. Coosa County 9 SW Stewartsville 16 1230CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.75) Dime size hail was reported in Unity community, in the northwest part of the county. Dallas County Summerfield 17 0125CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.88) Nickel size hail was reported near Summerfield. Chilton County Clanton 17 0200CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.75) Dime size hail was reported near Hill Trinity Church west of Clanton. Shelby County Shelby 17 0235CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.75) Dime size hail was reported in Shelby. Chilton County Thorsby 17 0300CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.88) Nickel size hail was reported just south of Thorsby. Talladega County Talladega 17 0312CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.75) Dime size hail was reported in downtown Talladega. Calhoun County Jacksonville 17 0355CST 0 0 3K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Wind damaged several large signs and knocked over a few old trees. Coosa County 4 SW Weogufka 17 0400CST 0 0 2K 0 Hail (1.00) Hail the size of quarters was reported in Unity.