MARCH 2009 VOLUME 51 NUMBER 3 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 Cover: Thunderstorms and high winds moved through Central and South Central Texas producing tennis ball size hail (2.5") on March 25, 2009. Travis county reported the largest hailstone at 3.5 inches. (Photo courtesy: Troy M. Kimmel, Jr., Meteorologist - Austin, Texas) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storm of the Month ........................................................................................................... 4 Storm D ata a nd Unusual Weather Phenomena ................................................................................ 5 Reference Notes ................................................................................................................................... 304 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 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 signi ficant 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 per- mission 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 March 2009 - Confirmed Tornadoes ® EF SCALE EF0 EF1 EF2 Number of Tornadoes EF3 EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total (! EF4 54 48 8 3 0 0 113 Miles (! EF5 0100 200 400 600 800 1,000 OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH THERE IS NO “OUTSTANDING STORM OF THE MONTH” FOR THE MONTH OF . MARCH 2009 4 Time Path Path Number of Estimated March 2009 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central ALZ011>013-022> Autauga - Bibb - Chambers - Chilton - Clay - Coosa - Elmore - Fayette - Jefferson - Lamar - Lee - Marion 025-027>028-034> - Pickens - Russell - Shelby - Talladega - Tallapoosa - Tuscaloosa 038-041-043-047> 048 01 0000CST 1530CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Heavy Snow A late winter storm system, that had caused some severe thunderstorms the previous day, ended with a heavy snow event for portions of central Alabama. The snow began during the early morning hours on March 1, and lasted until the afternoon on the same day, with the most significant accumulations occurring from around 3 am to 3 pm. The heaviest snow, generally from 3 to 5 inches, was in a swath across the middle of the state, from near Tuscaloosa to Auburn. Thundersnow was reported in several counties near the Georgia state line. The vast majority of the snow melted before the sun set that evening, which minimized the total impact of the event. ALZ037 Tallapoosa 15 1000CST 0 0 100.0K 0.00K Landslide Repeated rainfall during the spring months led to a mudslide. Lamar County 3 SSE Kennedy 26 0220CST 0221CST 0.59 25 0 0 10.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF1) The tornado touched down near the intersection of Junkins Road and Holliman Road, in the southeastern portion of Lamar County. From there, it moved northeastward into Fayette County. In Lamar County, damage was confined to numerous trees that snapped and uprooted. Fayette County 7 S Belk 26 0221CST 0228CST 3.02 100 0 0 50.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF1) The tornado that touched down in southeastern Lamar County moved into southwestern Fayette County. It continued to travel northeastward, across Junkins Drive, Brazeal Road, Wesley Chapel Road, and Howard Drive. It lifted just north of the intersection of Summers Road and AL-159. In addition to numerous trees that were snapped and uprooted, the tornado also damaged two homes, one business shop, and at least 5 outbuildings. A 17 foot camper was pushed 3 feet sideways in the mud due to the force of the wind. A family that was in one of the homes at the time heard the warning via NOAA Weather Radio and went to their storm cellar. They then heard the roar of a jet as the tornado passed overhead, but they made it through the event without any injuries. Sumter County 3 S Siloam 26 0245CST 0 0 0.50K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (43EG) Trees were blown down by winds estimated around 50 mph, on CR-9 near the Mission Community. Note: The estimated wind gust of 43 knots is equivalent to 49 mph. Walker County 2 SSE Marietta 26 0307CST 0 0 2.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down on AL-69, near Blue Water Trace Road. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Tuscaloosa County Tuscaloosa 26 0310CST 0 0 10.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Trees and power lines were blown down at several locations around the city of Tuscaloosa. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Walker County Bradleytown 26 0315CST 0 0 5.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down onto power lines, which subsequently caused power outages in the city of Parrish. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. 5 Time Path Path Number of Estimated March 2009 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central Hale County Greensboro 26 0325CST 0 0 20.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) A tree was blown down and heavily damaged an outbuilding and crushed a vehicle. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Jefferson County 1 SE Fairview 26 0330CST 0 0 20.00K 0.00K Lightning An apparent lightning strike caused a tree to fall onto and damage portions of a house, a studio building, a garage, and a car. Time estimated. Jefferson County 1 S Acipco 26 0345CST 0 0 15.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (43EG) An 18-wheeler was overturned by winds estimated around 50 mph on Interstate 65 in downtown Birmingham. Single trees and tree branches were blown down at several locations around the city of Birmingham. Note: The estimated wind gust of 43 knots is equivalent to 49 mph. Shelby County 1 NNE Maylene 26 0404CST 1 ENE Alabaster 0408CST 3.71 35 0 0 15.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF0) The tornado touched down near the intersection of Kent Dairy Road and CR-17, near Maylene. It then moved east-northeast through the old Siluria section of Alabaster, causing sporadic damage, and lifted on the east side of Interstate 65 near exit 238. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, and three homes were damaged along the path due to falling trees. Shelby County 1 W Pelham 26 0405CST 0 0 2.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down on Roy Drive, and blocked the roadway. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Dallas County 4 SSW Plantersville 26 0425CST 0 0 1.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (43EG) Single trees were blown down at two locations near Plantersville, in the northern portion of the county. Note: The estimated wind gust of 43 knots is equivalent to 49 mph. Etowah County 2 E Rainbow City 26 0448CST 0 0 5.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down in the area around Garmon Road, Whorton Bend Road, and River Cliff Drive. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Etowah County 1 NE East Gasden 26 0448CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Trees and power lines were blown down on East Cherry Street. A cold front pushing through the area brought a line of thunderstorms that caused high winds and two tornadoes. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Barbour County 3 ENE Akinsville 27 0610CST 0 0 20.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Two empty chicken houses were damaged near the Teals Crossroads community. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. 6 Time Path Path Number of Estimated March 2009 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central Autauga County 2 NW Forester 27 0800CST 1 NNW Prattville Arpt 1800CST 0 0 50.00K 0.00K Flash Flood A large section of the southern portion of Autauga County, from Autaugaville eastward to near Prattville, experienced flash flooding due to several days of excessive rainfall.