MARCH 2016 VOLUME 58 NUMBER 3 STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA WITH LATE REPORTS AND CORRECTIONS NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE NCEI NATIONAL CENTERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION Cover: This cover represents a few weather conditions such as snow, hurricanes, tornadoes, heavy rain and flooding that may occur in any given location any month of the year. (Photos courtesy of NCEI) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Storm Data and Unusual Weather……………………………………………………………………..3 Additions....................………………………………...…………………………………………….300 Corrections........…………………………………….……………………………………………....310 STORM DATA (ISSN 0039-1972) National Centers For Environmental Information Editor: Sherri Nave STORM DATA is prepared, and distributed by the National Centers For Environmental Information (NCEI), 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 Centers For Environmental Information (NCEI) 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: NOAA \ National Centers For Environmental Information Attn: Customer Engagement Branch 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-5001 (828) 271-4800, option 2 (Customer Services) Storm Data National Centers For Environmental Information 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-5001 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 Centers for Environmental Information Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5001. Thomas R. Karl Director, National Centers For Environmental Information 2 Time Path Path Number of Estimated March 2016 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central Jefferson County 1 NW Mc Calla 01 1742CST 1743CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Hail (1.75) Jefferson County 1 ESE Mc Calla 01 1743CST 1 E Bessemer Arpt 1750CST 5.59 465 0 4 0.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF2) National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Western Jefferson County just east of McCalla and south of Bessemer and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF-2 tornado. Maximum winds were estimated to be around 120-125 mph. The tornado touched down just east of McAdory High School on the west side of Overlook Circle with some damage to a roof. There were 12 homes and 1 church that suffered minor damage up to this point as the tornado proceeded east crossing Harper's Dairy Loop. From here it strengthened to an EF-2 as it crossed the Bent Brook neighborhood where it destroyed 6 homes and caused significant damage to 6 other homes. The pro shop at Bent Brook Golf Course also sustained minor damage along with a vehicle overturned. The tornado weakened to an EF-1 as it moved east of the golf course and caused minor damage to 2 more homes and destroyed a free standing garage. The tornado finally lifted just east of Morgan Road on Rice Circle. In total, 14 homes sustained minor damage, 6 sustained substantial damage, and 6 homes were destroyed. An additional 3 buildings sustained damage, along with several hundred trees snapped or uprooted along the path. Shelby County 1 SE Helena 01 1752CST 1753CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees uprooted near Helena City Hall. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Talladega County 3 SSE Gantt Jct 01 1842CST 1845CST 2.99 80 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF0) National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in extreme southeastern Talladega County just southeast of Sylacauga and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF-0 tornado. Maximum winds were estimated to be around 80 mph. The tornado touched down along Settlement Road just west of Old Rockhouse Road. A few homes sustained shingle damage, and one outbuilding was destroyed, along with several uprooted trees at this location. The tornado continued northeast and knocked down trees and damaged several additional homes near Cherry and Heflin Lanes. The tornado turned to the east and tracked parallel to County Road 511. The most concentrated damaged occurred in the valley just west of the community of Overbrook, where numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado continued eastward and produced minor tree damage and lifted along County Road 511, just before the Clay County line. Six homes suffered damage and four outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Lee County 2 WNW Roanoke Jct 01 2027CST 2031CST 3.08 100 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF0) National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in north central Lee County just north of the city of Opelika and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF-0 tornado. Maximum winds were estimated to be around 70-75 mph. The tornado touched down just north of downtown Opelika, west of Oak Bowery Road where numerous trees were uprooted. The tornado traveled east-southeast crossing Morris Avenue where additional small pine trees were uprooted. Farther to the east, the tornado crossed U.S. 431 and Industrial Blvd. where minimal damage was observed. The tornado lifted near the Opelika Sports Complex on Andrews Road where several more soft and hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted. Along the path, 20 to 30 trees sustained damage. However, little to no structure damage was observed. A highly amplified upper-level trough approached the central Gulf Coast Region during the afternoon hours. A deepening surface low over the Ohio Valley Region pushed a strong cold southeast towards Alabama. By the middle of the afternoon, deep layer shear had increased to 60 knots with 0-3 km storm-relative helicity values between 200 and 300 m2/s2. Destabilization and shear profiles favored severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes and large hail. 3 Time Path Path Number of Estimated March 2016 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central Pike County 2 SE Goshen 03 1730CST 1731CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Hail (1.75) Pike County 3 WSW Henderson 03 1730CST 1731CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Numerous trees uprooted and several power lines downed on County Road 2227. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Pike County 1 SW Henderson 03 1731CST 1732CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Numerous trees uprooted along County Road 21 near the town of Henderson. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Pike County 2 SSE Henderson 03 1732CST 1733CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Barn roof torn off and mobile home damaged on County Road 2287. An upper level short-wave trough passed through Alabama during the afternoon and evening hours on March 3. A strong thermal gradient developed over southeast Alabama due to rain cooled air to the north and mostly skies to the south. As a line of thunderstorms moved south of Interstate 85, a bow echo developed and produced damaging winds and isolated large hail. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Marion County 6 S Hamilton 14 0515CST 0516CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees uprooted and power lines downed. A compact short-wave trough passed across north Alabama during the early morning hours on March 14. A cluster of thunderstorms produced a brief downburst as it crossed Marion County. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. ALZ041 Autauga 24 1357CST 1359CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K High Wind Pike County 1 E Henderson 24 1423CST 1424CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Hail (1.00) Large hail reported at Scotts Farm Supply Store. A QLCS moved rapidly eastward across south Alabama during afternoon hours of March 24. The system produced large hail near the northern apex of the bow and high winds were reported on the back side of the system due to a wake low. Pickens County 2 WNW Stafford 31 1732CST 1737CST 2.08 500 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF1) National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northwest Pickens County near Stafford and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF-1 tornado. Maximum winds were estimated to be around 100 mph. The tornado started in Mississippi and crossed the state line into Pickens County about 2.3 miles south of Highway 82. The tornado tracked northeast and crossed Eagle Road and County Road 30 before dissipating just north of Highway 82. The damage along the path consisted mainly of snapped and uprooted trees. There was some minor damage to a mobile home as the tornado approached County Road 30. 4 Time Path Path Number of Estimated March 2016 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central Pickens County 4 NNE Ethelsville 31 1743CST 5 NNW Melrose 1748CST 2.88 350 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF1) National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northwest Pickens County just north of Ethelsville and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF-1 tornado.