APRIL 2010 VOLUME 52 NUMBER 4 STORM DATA 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 th Cover: On April 24 an EF-4 tornado killed 10 people in 3 Mississippi counties. It injured 146 along its 149 mile track in the space of 2 ¾ hours. This was the widest tornado in the state’s recorded history (1.75 miles). The widespread destruction included this church. (Photo courtesy: NWS Jackson, Mississippi) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storm of the Month…....………………..........……..…………..…….……...….............4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena......…….…....…………...…...........….........................7 Reference Notes.............……...........................……….........…..….….............................................376 STORM DATA (ISSN 0039-1972) National Climatic Data Center Editor: Joseph E. Kraft Assistant Editor: Rhonda Herndon 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 28801-5001. Thomas R. Karl Director, National Climatic Data Center 2 April 2010 - Confirmed Tornadoes ® EF SCALE EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 Number of Tornadoes EF4 EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total EF5 77 32 13 4 1 0 127 Miles 0100 200 400 600 800 1,000 OUTSTANDING STORM OF THE MONTH April 24th LA, MS Long Track EF-4 Tornado During the midday hours of April 24th, a violent long track tornado ripped a 149 mile path across the center of the NWS Jackson, MS forecast area. This tornado was responsible for 10 fatalities along with 146 injuries as it impacted 1 parish and 8 counties. The environment that day was very favorable for severe storms with high levels of instability and extreme wind shear. The weather pattern exhibited a classic setup for a outbreak of severe storms that included a deepening surface low centered over northeast Oklahoma, and rich Gulf moisture located between a warm front lying across northern Mississippi and a modified dry line moving east across Louisiana. Several significant severe weather parameters were peaking at levels rarely seen leading into a severe weather event. The potential for severe weather was outlooked several days in advance with the possibility for this event to produce significant severe weather. Before the long track tornado touched down, severe weather was ongoing across eastern and south-eastern Mississippi. This tornado was spawned from a quickly evolving supercell thunderstorm tracking across north-central Louisiana. It touched down just south of Interstate 20, roughly 5 miles west of Tallulah, in Madison Parish Louisiana. Then it intensified quickly and became large as it tracked at a fast pace to the northeast. The tornado dissipated about 5 miles north of Sturgis Mississippi, in Oktibbeha County. The tornado moved at an average speed of 55 mph during its life cycle, and was on the ground for 149 miles. The actual time on the ground was 2 hours and 44 minutes. Right: Vehicle and mobile home under carriage wrapped in a tree near Weir, MS. (Photo courtesy: NWS Jackson MS) 4 Left: Destroyed chemical plant in Omega, LA. (Photo courtesy: NWS Jackson MS) The most significant damage occurred in Madison Parish, Warren, Yazoo, Holmes, Attala and Choctaw Counties. Across Madison Parish, several structures were damaged or destroyed along Willow Bayou Road and a chemical plant was destroyed in the Omega Community just north of Tallulah. The tornado tracked across the Mississippi River and ripped through the Eagle Lake Community and destroyed or damaged nearly 30 homes. The tornado then tracked across rural areas of Issaquena and Sharkey Counties where large amounts of timber were destroyed. As the tornado entered Yazoo County, it grew larger and tracked toward Yazoo City. The tornado reached its widest and most intense point as it tracked across the southern and southeastern portion of Yazoo City. Numerous structures were damaged and several leveled. Tree damage was extensive as the tornado reached a width of 1.75 miles. Dozens of structures were damaged as the tornado tracked into Holmes County and crossed Interstate 55. After this point, the tornado weakened some but continued its steady course into and across Attala County. The tornado moved across the Natchez Trace Parkway just south of French Camp and then entered Choctaw County. Here, the tornado intensified once more, just a few miles east of French Camp in the community of Weir. Dozens of structures were damaged or destroyed between this point and the Chester Community. The tornado then slowly weakened, but continued to down thousands of trees and numerous power lines as it tracked across eastern Choctaw County, eventually dissipating 5 miles north of Sturgis in west-central Oktibbeha County. A great deal of damage along the path was in the EF- 2 to EF-3 range, with a couple areas in Yazoo and Holmes Counties receiving EF-4 damage. Maximum winds peaked around 170 mph. Of the 10 fatalities, 5 occurred in Choctaw County, 4 in Yazoo County, and 1 in Holmes County. Right: Destroyed brick home in Weir, MS. (Photo courtesy: NWS Jackson, MS) 5 As we try and put this tornado into perspective for the state of Mississippi, this long track tornado ranks as the 4th longest in Mississippi history at 149 miles. It is the widest known tornado with a maximum width of 1.75 miles. It also ranks as the 9th deadliest tornado with 10 fatalities, making it the most deadly since November 21st 1992. Lastly, this was the first violent tornado (F4 or greater) in the month of April since April 18th, 1978. Above: Areal image, looking east, where the tornado crossed US Highway 49 on the south side of Yazoo City. (Photo courtesy: Allen Lieberman) Left: Image of the tornado to the southwest of Yazoo City. (Photo courtesy: Reed Timmer and Tornadovideos.net) Left: False color image of the large wedge tornado on the southwest side of Yazoo City. (Photo courtesy: WAPT) 6 Time Path Path Number of Estimated April 2010 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central Blount County 1 NW Blountsville 08 0342CST 0343CST 0.2 50 0 0 15.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF0) The short-lived tornado touched down on the northernmost ball field in Blountsville Park, where it ripped the tin roofing off the dugouts and carried them to a tree line approximately 300 to 400 yards down the path. It then continued to the north-northeast for less than a quater mile and crossed Park Drive, where it damaged a portion of the roof of a house. One large oak tree with a poor root system was also uprooted. Jefferson County 2 WSW Rocky Ridge 08 0406CST 0 0 200.00K 0.00K Lightning A house sustained significant damage from fire after being struck by lightning, in the Altadena Bend neighborhood near the Jefferson and Shelby County line. The residents heard the loud boom of thunder, and then had only a few minutes to get out of the house before it became engulfed. The fire destroyed the attic and upper floor of the two-story home. Three firefighters were injured (indirect) when the back deck on which they were standing collapsed, as they were dousing hot spots. Etowah County 3 ENE Walnut Grove 08 0420CST 0 0 10.00K 0.00K Lightning A house fire, with unspecified damages, was caused by a lightning strike in the New Union community. Etowah County 1 WNW Attalla 08 0428CST Reeseville 0429CST 0 0 20.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Numerous trees were blown down in a swath from Attalla to the north side of Gadsden. Some trees were blown down and blocked a portion of Interstate 59, north of exit 183, and both lanes of the highway had to be closed for a short time to clear them. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph.