• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

JANUARY 2006 VOLUME 48 NUMBER 1 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: An 1,800 acre wildfi re burns out of control near Mineral Wells, Texas, at sunset on New Year’s Day. The fi re destroyed thirteen structures, including fi ve homes. and injured two fi refi ghters. (Photo courtesy: Texas Forest Service.) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storm of the Month …..…………….….........……..…………..…….…..…..... 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena ....…….…....……………...........…............ 8 Additiona/Corrections.......................................................................................................................... 148 Reference Notes .............……...........................……….........…..……........................................... 173 STORM DATA (ISSN 0039-1972) National Climatic Data Center Editor: William Angel Assistant Editors: Stuart Hinson and 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 re- sulting 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 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 re- ceived 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 permis- sion 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 January 2006 Confirmed Tornadoes 3 F Scale F 0 F 1 F 2 F 3 F Scale F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total F 4 Number 22 20 5 1 0 0 48 F 5 OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH New Year’s Day Wind-Driven Wildfires in the Southern Plains Intense drought conditions across much of the Southern Plains contributed to devastating wildfires in Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico during late December 2005 and January 2006. During these two months more than 4,000 fires, the most extensive wildfires to affect the region since 1950, charred more than 1.1 million acres of prairie, burned 470 homes, and claimed five lives. A particularly intense outbreak of widespread and damaging wind-driven wildfires affected the region on New Year’s Day. These holiday weekend fires ignited as strong to severe westerly winds accompanied an intense mid-latitude cyclone over the Southern Plains. By the evening hours on January 1st, more than thirty large wildfires had scorched the region’s landscape and destroyed structures from southeastern New Mexico to central Oklahoma. The effects of severe winds, blinding dust, smoke, and wildfires accounted for 2 deaths and at least 19 injuries. Two communities in Texas were virtually destroyed, and property losses likely exceeded $25 million. Above: An initial air attack works to contain a wildfire near Cross Cut, Texas. (Photo courtesy: Texas Forest Service.) 4 Significant public impacts of the New Year’s Day winds and fires are described below by the six National Weather Service Forecast Offices in the affected region. Texas Panhandle: (WFO Amarillo) Sustained winds of 45 mph with gusts to 65 mph resulted in blowing dust and smoke that reduced visibility to near zero as several large wind-driven grass fires wreaked havoc with motorists on Texas Panhandle interstates and highways. The fires spread rapidly in the high winds, complicating fire fighting efforts. A wildfire in Donley County burned between Interstate 40 and Clarendon. This fire charred 7,000 acres by late New Years Day. The fire was extinguished on January 4th, but not before it burned nearly 23,000 acres and threatened several homes outside of Clarendon. Another grass fire burned nearly 3,100 acres northeast of Shamrock in Wheeler County. One hundred people were evacuated when ten structures, including a motel, were threatened. One person was killed two miles south of Dumas in Moore County when a tractor-trailer was rolled by the winds on U.S. Highway 287. Another person was killed when blinding dust and smoke contributed to a seven-vehicle accident seven miles south of Canyon on Interstate 27 in Randall County. The reduced visibilities led the Texas Department of Public Safety to close portions of Interstate 27 and U.S. Highway 60. North Texas: (WFO Fort Worth) Several devastating wildfires erupted across portions of drought-stricken north Texas as low humidities and strong winds spread across the region. In Montague County, a fire burned seventeen miles between Ringgold and Nocona, destroying forty homes. Two firefighters and two residents were injured. A grass fire (cover) which began in Palo Pinto County near the Mineral Wells Airport burned thirteen structures, including five homes. The fire grew to cover 1,800 acres. One firefighter suffered second-degree burns and another suffered smoke inhalation injuries. A major wildfire burned more than 35,000 acres in the southeastern part of Eastland County and forced evacuations of three nearby towns. The community of Kokomo was essentially burned to the ground. Thirty- six buildings, including homes, were destroyed in that blaze. Numerous livestock were killed in the thirty- five mile long fire. Southeastern New Mexico and the West Texas Permian Basin: (WFO Midland) Five wildfires were reported across southeastern New Mexico and the Permian Basin of west Texas. Three separate fires threatened populated areas in Lea County (New Mexico). The West Hobbs fire destroyed eleven residences, two businesses, and ten vehicles. Three firefighters sustained minor injuries while fighting the 50,000 acre fire. Two other fires threatened the town of Tatum (Lea County). An evacuation order was given after one fire was ignited by an auto accident, and fireworks sparked another. One of the Tatum fires eventually spread across the Texas state line into Yoakum County where a residence was threatened. Officials were forced to close U.S. Highway 380 east of New Mexico State Route 125 to the Texas border due to the fires. 5 Around 10:45 am CST, a fire began after sparks from a transformer hit dry grass in Reagan County (Texas). The Reagan County fire burned 40,000 acres in Reagan and Irion Counties, where a firefighter was injured. Oklahoma and Western North Texas: (WFO Norman) The winter of 2005 and 2006 will be considered the worst wildfire season in Oklahoma’s recent history, with the New Year’s Day fires being some of the most volatile. Severe to exceptional drought conditions exacerbated critical fire weather conditions, and resulted in numerous wildfires across western and central Oklahoma and western north Texas. Fire fighting efforts were hampered by strong southerly and westerly winds that occasionally gusted over 50 mph. The strong winds grounded fire suppression aircraft, and this made controlling the fires difficult. The largest fire occurred in Kingfisher County, where 31,360 acres of land were scorched. Another large fire burned 18,000 acres in the Arbuckle Mountains of Murray County. Many federal, state, tribal, and local assets along with assistance from other states were used to fight the fires. The metropolitan area of Oklahoma City was not immune to the wildfires. Several fires ignited across the city. The largest urban wildfire affected the northeastern parts of the metro, where several neighborhoods were threatened and many residents were evacuated. Numerous structures were burned, but no injuries occurred. Wildfires across the western half of Oklahoma injured several firefighters due to smoke inhalation and minor burns, but no fatalities were reported. In all, over 55,000 acres were scorched across western and central Oklahoma and western north Texas on New Year’s Day. Numerous structures, including many homes, were burned along with many large round hay bales which were desperately needed to sustain livestock through the drought. A Federal Emergency Declaration was declared for many of the affected counties. West Central Texas: (WFO San Angelo) A wildfire ignited on the Reagan and Irion County line, and burned 40,000 acres. The fire impacted the Rocker B Ranch, where firefighters from area volunteer departments battling the blaze were joined by officials from the Texas Forest Service, as well as crews from Georgia and North Carolina. The fire started when a large bird landed on a well site causing a short circuit. High winds and very low humidities coupled with dry fuels allowed the fire to spread into Irion County. A volunteer fire fighter suffered second-degree burns on the face and neck while battling the blaze.

Load more

  182

Copy Link