JANUARY 2001 VOLUME 43 NUMBER 01 STSTORMORM DDAATTAA 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, NC Cover: Icicles hang from an orange tree with sprinklers running in an adjacent strawberry field in the background at sunrise on January 1, 2001. The photo was taken at Mike Lott’s Strawberry Farm in rural Eastern Hillsborough County of West- Central, FL. Low temperatures in the area were in the middle 20’s for six to nine hours. (Photograph courtesy of St. Petersburg Times Newspaper Photographer, Fraser Hale) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storm of the Month ..……..…………………..……………..……………..……………..…. 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena ....………..…………..…..……………..……………..…. 5 Additions/Corrections ..………….……………………………………………………………………….. 92 Reference Notes ..……..………..……………..……………..……………..…………..………………… 122 STORM DATA (ISSN 0039-1972) National Climatic Data Center Editor: Stephen Del Greco Assistant Editors: Stuart Hinson and Rhonda Mooring 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 editors 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 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 28801-2733. Thomas R. Karl Director, National Climatic Data Center 2 -DQXDU\&RQILUPHG7RUQDGRHV ) 6FDOH ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 6FDOH ) ) ) ) ) ) 7RWDO 1XPEHU OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH 1. Freezing Temperatures Reach Florida Following a cold frontal passage across the Florida peninsula on December 31, 2000, a large high pressure system moved from Canada southward toward the Southeast U.S. and northern Gulf of Mexico. The surface high pressure system brought widespread sub-freezing temperatures to Florida in early January 2001. Also affected were the West-Central and Southwest portions of the peninsula. Temperatures remained below freezing for six to nine hours. Many locations reported temperature minimums in the middle twenties. Early damage estimates were at nearly five million dollars over West-Central and Southwest Florida. Left: Photo depicts a closeup of oranges encased in icicles shortly after sunrise on January1, 2001. The orange tree was next to a strawberry field being sprayed with water to protect the crop from sub-freezing temperatures. This photo was taken in Dover, Florida. (Photographs courtesy of Fraser Hale, St. Petersburg Times Newspaper photographer.) Right: Photo shows a common scene across the interior portions of Florida in early January as farmers try to protect their crops. 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated January 2001 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, North Central Lowndes County Hayneville 19 0850CST 0 0 3K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) 0905CST Trees and power lines were blown down near Gordonsville and in Hayneville. Montgomery County Maxwell Afb 19 0919CST 0 0 10K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G53)M Wind was measured at 61 mph at Maxwell Air Force Base as a bow echo moved through the area. Montgomery County 2.1 E Montgomery to 19 0922CST 2.3 100 0 4 450K 0 Tornado (F0) 4 ENE Montgomery 0925CST A tornado from a bow echo configuration first touched down just west of Greenwood Cemetery on Three Mile Branch in eastern Montgomery (city). The tornado was moving northeastward at approximately 50 mph and moved through the Forest Hills area downing trees and causing minor structural damage to some homes. The tornado crossed the Atlanta Highway and continued to down trees in the Johnstown area of eastern Montgomery. Much of the damage here occurred when trees fell onto structures. The tornado appeared to end on the south edge of Gunter Industrial Park. Several minor injuries were reported. Montgomery County 3.4 NE Montgomery to 19 0924CST 0 0 150K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G65) 6.4 NE Montgomery 0927CST A second path of damage occurred slightly north of the tornado path. Damage occurred from the north side of Gunter Air Force Station along Congressman Dickinson Drive through the Eastern Boulevard/Congressman Dickinson Interchange and into a residential area of Madison Park. One mobile home was de-roofed and one other house suffered signficant roof damage in this area. Other damage was primarily in the form of downed trees and power lines and minor roof damage (shingles removed). This damage path was about 3 miles long and about 200 yards wide. This event was produced by a strong thunderstorm that exhibited a bowing characteristic which is frequently accompanied by weak tornadoes and strong straight-line wind. Wind gusts with the thunderstorms were measured at 48 mph at 9:15 AM at Dannelly Field and 61 mph at Maxwell Air Force base at 9:19 AM. Elmore County Ware 19 0930CST 0 0 1K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) 0945CST Trees were blown down in Ware and across extreme southeast Elmore County. Elmore County Eclectic 19 0930CST 0 0 3K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees and power lines were knocked down in Eclectic. Macon County Tuskegee 19 1000CST 0 0 2K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G55) Power lines were blown down just north of Tuskegee. The damage occurred on Franklin Road, Oak Street, and School Street. Tallapoosa County Reeltown 19 1015CST 0 0 2K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees were knocked down in Reeltown. Chambers County Lafayette 19 1030CST 0 0 2K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) One large tree was knocked down and blocked CR 289. The tree caused damage to a fence and a pole. Lee County 6 S Opelika 19 1040CST 0 0 2K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees were blown down in the Beauregard area. Tuscaloosa County Tuscaloosa 29 1520CST 0 0 1K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees were blown down in the northern part of Tuscaloosa. Jefferson County Birmingham 29 1644CST 0 0 2K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees and power lines were knocked down on 4th Avenue South. ALABAMA, Southeast Dale County Countywide 19 1040EST 0 0 1K Thunderstorm Wind 1050EST Several trees down across county roads. Reported by the Dale County EMA. Geneva County 1 W Geneva 19 1205EST 0 0 600K Thunderstorm Wind Roof damage to 30 homes and eight mobile homes, 15 cars damaged, a high school's roof and wall toppled, roof damage to a water treatment plant, and numerous trees and power lines down. Reported by the Geneva County EMA. 1 5 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated January 2001 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Southeast Henry County 8 SSE Haleburg 19 1458EST 0 0 1K Thunderstorm Wind Several trees down. Reported by the Henry County EMA. ALABAMA, Southwest ALZ039-051>055 Marengo - Choctaw - Washington - Clarke - Wilcox - Monroe 01 0300CST 0 0 Winter Storm 0900CST A Winter Storm produced a band of snow across portions of Southwest Alabama. One-half to one inch of snowfall accumulated generally along and north of a Chatom to Camden line. Some locations between Butler and Thomasville reported snowfall accumulations of about one inch. The wintery weather resulted in no injuries, and travel across the region was not significantly impacted. Washington County Chatom 19 0710CST 0 0 10K Thunderstorm Wind (G55) 0715CST High thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines in the community. Washington County Mc Intosh 19 0720CST 0 0 8K Thunderstorm Wind (G55) 0725CST Thunderstorm winds blew down trees along Highway 43 near McIntosh. Mobile County Mobile 19 0730CST 0 0 2K Thunderstorm Wind (G55) 0735CST A couple of trees were reported blown down by high thunderstorm winds at locations south and west of the Mobile Regional Airport. Clarke County Thomasville to 19 0745CST 0 0 15K Thunderstorm Wind (G60) Fulton 0750CST Numerous trees and some power lines were blown down, and some minor roof damage also occurred as a line of severe thunderstorms moved across the area. Most of the wind damage occurred just east of Highway 43, along Basset Creek, between Thomasville and Fulton. Wilcox County Pine Hill 19 0805CST 0 0 5K Thunderstorm Wind (G50) 0810CST Trees were reported downed by strong thunderstorm winds just south of the community.