Storm Datadata
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MARCH 1998 VOLUME 40 NUMBER 3 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: An aerial view of the town of Comfrey, in South Central Minnesota after being decimated by an F4 tornado. The F4 (wind speeds between 157-206 mph) tornado damaged 75% of the town, destroying much of the downtown section. The total path length of the tornado was 73 miles with a maximum path width of 1.25 miles. A total of 7 tornadoes killed two people, injured 21 and caused nearly 250 million dollars in property damage. (Photograph courtesy of The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1998 All rights reserved.) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storms of the Month ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena ………………………………………………………………………….. 7 Reference Notes …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 182 STORM DATA (ISSN 0039-1972) National Climatic Data Center Editor: Stephen Del Greco Assistant Editor: Stuart Hinson The STORM DATA Publication can be accessed in PDF format via the WWW at: www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/climate/climateproductsstormdata.html 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 March 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 31 23 13 5 4 0 76 F 5 OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH 1. TORNADO CAUSES DAMAGE IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA Early on the morning of March 20, 1998, a surface low pressure system was located in central Kentucky with it’s associated cold front draped southward through Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Alabama. Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of the cold front and a tornado spawned from one of the cells. The funnel touched down at 6:25 AM LST in Hall County near the town of Murrayville, Georgia (About 10 miles NNE of Gainesville, GA). The tornado track was 13 miles long and up to 200 yards wide at some points. Several permanent homes, mobile homes, automobiles and poultry farms were damaged or destroyed. The tornado also severely damaged an elementary school and a high school in Hall County. The tornado caused 12 fatalities (11 occurred in mobile homes), 171 injuries and 20 million dollars in property damage. Below: Neighborhood residents search through the rubble for personal belongings. (Hall and White County Photographs courtesy of Jim Cook Jr., The Times, Gainesville, Georgia) Above: The twisted remains of the North Hall High School auditorium. If the tornado struck an hour later, the classrooms would have been full of students and the death toll could have been much higher. Below: One of the destroyed permanent homes along with two severely damaged automobiles. 5 2. F4 TORNADO TOUCHES DOWN IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA In an area not known for early spring tornadoes, seven tornadoes including a powerful F4 tornado, (wind speed of 207 - 260 mph on the Fujita Scale) struck the northern plains. On March 29, 1998, a surface low pressure area was located in eastern South Dakota with an associated warm front extending eastward into Wisconsin. A thunderstorm complex developed near Sioux Falls, SD during the early afternoon hours and moved east into Minnesota, producing large hail. The thunderstorm cells produced a series of small tornadoes prior to producing an F3 tornado at 3:50 PM CST, 7 miles east of Avoca, MN. The tornado moved east-northeast through Cottonwood County, damaging rural farms, small towns and devastating much of the town of Comfrey, MN. The tornado reached F4 strength before dissipating at 5:15 PM CST. Another tornado touched down at 5:18 PM CST, producing F3 damage to the city of St. Peter and Gustavius Adolphus College. There were 2 fatalities and 21 injuries. Left: This radar image shows a perfect example of a well defined “hook echo”. The WSR-88D Doppler Radar identifies the heaviest or most dense rainfall with darker shades. The “hook” is a signature used by the NWS to identify possible tornadic thunderstorm cells. Tornado warnings are issued based on the hook echo signature. The NWS recorded this image of the hook echo on March 29 at 5:22 PM CST (22:42 UTC). (Radar image courtesy of the NWS, Chanhassan, MN) Below Left: Volunteer rescue workers and residents of the town of Comfrey, MN inspect the tornado damage, shortly after the tornado passed. Below Right: A resident of the town of St. Peter, MN sifts through the debris for personal belongings. Ninety percent of the towns homes were damaged and 25% were destroyed. (All southern Minnesota tornado photographs are courtesy of the Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, MN. ©1998 Special Thanks to Todd Krause, NWS, Chanhassen, MN for contributing to this story) 6 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated March 1998 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, North Central Lamar County Millport 06 0105CST 0 0 3K 0 Hail (1.75) Golf ball size hail was reported in Millport. Tuscaloosa County Moores Bridge 06 0135CST 0 0 3K 0 Hail (1.75) Golf ball size hail was at Mayfield, near Moores Bridge. Winston County Double Spgs 06 0345CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.75) Dime size hail was reported by the EMA. Talladega County Sylacauga 06 0420CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.75) Talladega County Fayetteville 06 0427CST 0 0 3K 0 Hail (1.75) Dime size hail was reported in Sylacauga and golf ball size hail was reported in Fayetteville. Randolph County Countywide 08 0800CST 0 0 500K 30K Flash Flood 1100CST After a very heavy rain event, several creeks, including Wedowee and Wehadkee Creeks, overflowed their banks. This washed out 15 to 20 roads and bridges across the county. Barbour County Countywide 08 0900CST 0 0 75K 10K Flash Flood 1500CST After heavy rains over south Alabama, several roads were washed out in the southern part of the county. Schools were closed for a day due to the flooding. Pike County Countywide 08 0915CST 0 0 75K 10K Flash Flood 1500CST Several county roads were washed out after more than five inches of rain fell over the southern part of the county. Several school s were also closed due to the flooding. Russell County Countywide 08 0930CST 0 0 75K 10K Flash Flood 1500CST Some schools were closed after heavy rains moved over the county. Holland Creek flooded and washed out a few roads. Lowndes County Lowndesboro 08 1507CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (1.00) Hail the size of quarters fell in Lowndesboro. Autauga County Prattville 08 1521CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.75) Dime size hail was reported in Prattville. Jackson County Bridgeport 08 1631CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.75) Dime size hail was reported in Bridgeport by the police. Madison County Meridianville 08 1655CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (0.75) Madison County Meridianville 08 1655CST 0 0 2K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Some tin was blown off a roof at Meridian Street and Alabama A & M University. Dime size hail was also reported in Meridianville. ALZ044 Montgomery 08 1700CST 0 0 35K 0 Flood 13 1500CST Flooding around Montgomery occurred as the Alabama River crested at 42.3 feet, with considerable overflow of lowlands in th e area. Some roads in the area became flooded as well as the golf course at Maxwell AFB.