DECEMBER 2012 VOLUME 54 STORM DATA NUMBER 12 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: 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 NCDC) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena......…….…....…………...…...........….........................3 Reference Notes.............……...........................……….........…..….….............................................252 STORM DATA (ISSN 0039-1972) National Climatic Data Center Editor: 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 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: NOAA \ National Climatic Data Center Attn: User Engagement & Services Branch 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-5001 (828) 271-4800, option 2 (Customer Services) The editor 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 28801-5001 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 Climatic Data Center Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5001. Thomas R. Karl Director, National Climatic Data Center 2 Time Path Path Number of Estimated December 2012 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central ALZ019-027>029- Autauga - Barbour - Bullock - Calhoun - Chambers - Chilton - Clay - Coosa - Lee - Macon - Montgomery - 035>038-041-044> Pike - Randolph - Russell - Talladega - Tallapoosa 050 01 0000CST 31 2359CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Drought Most areas across Central Alabama observed above normal rainfall during the month of December. Drought stricken areas saw totals ranging from 4 to 6 inches during the latter part of the month and saw little improvement to drought conditions. Jefferson County 1 NE Thomas Jct 10 0443CST 1 SW North Birmingham 0445CST 1.05 250 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF1) The tornado touched down just west of 3rd Place West or just to the east of the Birmingham Farmers Market. From there, it moved to the northeast across a light industrial warehouse area, striking a large metal building. Several overhead doors at the loading dock were blown in, which then blew off about 25 percent of the roof. Debris from this structure was found up to a mile away. The tornado continued northeastward through a residential area, causing damage to 29 homes, 2 of which had major damage and one of which lost its roof entirely. A church and two other businesses were damaged near the intersection of Finley Blvd and 16th Street. The tornado lifted near the intersection of 24th Court North and 18th Street North, just west of Interstate 65. Randolph County 4 SSW Pine Tuckey 10 1021CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Two trees were reported down near Fosters Cross Roads. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Dallas County 1 E Sadis 10 1030CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were reported down at the intersection of County Road 62 and County Road 30. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Montgomery County 2 NE Devenport 10 1322CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) A tree was reported down blocking Brady Road in Pintlala. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Montgomery County 1 E Mt Meigs Station 10 1331CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (55EG) A few trees were uprooted along Wares Ferry Road. Note: The estimated wind gust of 55 knots is equivalent to 63 mph. Macon County 1 W Shorter 10 1345CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Two trees and one powerline were downed in the town of Shorter. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Macon County 1 S Franklin 10 1356CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) A tree was uprooted and fell across Highway 49, approximately 1 mile south of the Franklin Community. An upper level disturbance developed west of the Rockies and then ejected eastward. At the surface, a surface low developed over the Central Plains, with a cold front trailing southward. As this system moved eastward, showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of the cold front and moved into a slightly unstable air mass across Central Alabama. While the overall system was weakening as it moved across the area, there was enough instability and wind shear to support an isolated tornado and several severe wind reports. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. 3 Time Path Path Number of Estimated December 2012 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central Lamar County 1 N Vernon 20 0705CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (55EG) Several trees were uprooted along Aberdeen Road, just west of Vernon, as well as along Murberry Road in Sulligent. A camper trailer was also overturned in the area. Note: The estimated wind gust of 55 knots is equivalent to 63 mph. Pickens County 3 N Garden 20 0720CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (55EG) Trees were uprooted along Martin Luther King Road northwest of Aliceville, as well as along County Road 9 and County Road 35 just north of Carrollton. Note: The estimated wind gust of 55 knots is equivalent to 63 mph. Fayette County 3 N Fayette R Arthur Arp 20 0733CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Trees were uprooted along Highway 102 and on Highway 18 E, just north of Fayette. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Elmore County 1 SE Sykes Mill 20 1033CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (55EG) Trees were uprooted along Buyck Road, approximately 2 miles north of Highway 231. Note: The estimated wind gust of 55 knots is equivalent to 63 mph. Elmore County 4 N Wetumpka 20 1044CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (55EG) Trees and powerlines were downed across Grier Road, at the intersection of Weoka Road. Note: The estimated wind gust of 55 knots is equivalent to 63 mph. Montgomery County 1 N Pike Road 20 1105CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Trees were uprooted in the Pike Road Community. An upper level shortwave, with a surface low pressure system developed and moved across the Central Plains, with a cold front trailing to the south. As the system progressed eastward, a warm front developed and moved to the north over the southern portions of Central Alabama. This allowed for warm and moist air to surge northward, destabilizing the atmosphere across the area. As showers and thunderstorms associated with the cold front moved into the state, the atmosphere was unstable enough to support several isolated severe wind reports. Note: The estimated wind gust of 50 knots is equivalent to 58 mph. Marengo County 2 S Exmoor 25 1515CST 1 NNW Vangale 1521CST 4.7 100 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF1) An EF-1 tornado touched down southwest of Dixons Mill on Hoboken Road. The tornado tracked north northeastward and crossed County Road 6, County Road 8 and Highway 10. The tornado lifted after it crossed Highway 10 along Southern Pines Drive. Very minimal structural damage was noted along the path. The damage was mainly limited to numerous trees that were either snapped or uprooted. Several people witnessed the tornado. Greene County West Greene 25 1700CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (55EG) A few homes near West Greene reported minor shingle damage. Note: The estimated wind gust of 55 knots is equivalent to 63 mph. Greene County 1 SE Clinton 25 1704CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (55EG) Several trees were uprooted along Highway 39 near Clinton. Note: The estimated wind gust of 55 knots is equivalent to 63 mph. 4 Time Path Path Number of Estimated December 2012 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central Pike County 1 ESE Tennille 25 1730CST 1736CST 3.66 300 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF1) The tornado touched down in far northern Dale County (See Storm Data Tallahassee) along Highway 231 near the Pea River.