OCTOBER 2001 VOLUME 43 NUMBER 10 STORM DATA 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: Seventeen tornadoes touchdown in Texas on October 12, 2001. The second story of the two- story home was destroyed by an F3 tornado near Stonewall, Texas. Refer to the "Outstanding Storms of the Month" section for further details. (Photo courtesy: Larry Eblen, WCM, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX.) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storm of the Month ..……..…………………..……………..……………..……………..…. 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena ....………..…………..…..……………..……………..…. 9 Reference Notes ..……..………..……………..……………..……………..…………..………………… 168 STORM DATA (ISSN 0039-1972) National Climatic Data Center Editor: William Angel 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 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 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 28801-2733. Thomas R. Karl Director, National Climatic Data Center 2 October 2001 Confirmed Tornadoes 3 F Scale F 0 F 1 F 2 F 3 F 4 F 5 F Scale F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total N um ber 58 42 13 8 0 0 121 OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH Tornadoes in October 2001 Several tornadic outbreaks occurred during the month of October 2001. Most notable are the nineteen tornadoes that occurred in western Oklahoma on October 9. These tornadoes caused an estimated $100 million dollars in damage. On October 12, seventeen tornadoes touchdown in Texas causing approximately $23 million dollars in damage. October 9 A major tornado outbreak occurred in western Oklahoma on October 9. Nineteen tornadoes were confirmed with three tornadoes rated F3 (wind speeds of 158 to 206 mph) on the Fujita Tornado Scale. The first F3 tornado touchdown near Elk City and traveled northeastward for eleven miles. The second F3 tornado touchdown near Cordell where nine injuries were reported as it traveled northeast for 6 miles. The last F3 tornado occurred 5 miles southeast of Cowden. Extensive tree and structural damage occurred along the 8-mile path. Overall, numerous houses and buildings were damaged or destroyed. Above: Map of western Oklahoma showing damage paths of the 19 tornadoes with the Fujita Tornado Scale (F-Scale) rating. The letters represent which supercell thunderstorm produced the tornado, as shown on the radar image on page 5. (Map courtesy: Kenneth James, NWS Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.) 4 Right: A residence near Elk City, Oklahoma received F3 damage. (Photo courtesy: David Floyd, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS Norman, Oklahoma.) Left: A NEXRAD WSR- 88D radar image at 22:20 UTC on October 9, 2001 as seen from the Frederick, Oklahoma radar. (Radar image courtesy: National Weather Service, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.) 5 October 12 A vigorous upper-level low in west Texas moved toward south-central Texas with a cold front headed southeastward from north Texas. This combination of weather systems produced a strong severe weather event. Residents reported that the tornadoes were proceeded by damaging winds, heavy rain and large hail. Above: A private jet was destroyed when its hanger collapsed in Hondo, Texas. (Photo courtesy: Larry Eblen, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS Austin/San Antonio, Texas.) Right: Map shows damage analysis of F2 Hondo tornado. (Map courtesy: Larry Eblen, Warning Coordination Meteorologist,NWS Austin/San Antonio, Texas.) Left: The F3 tornado uprooted an Osage Orange tree with a 20-foot wide root system near Stonewall, Texas. Pictured with the roots is Larry Eblen. (Photo courtesy: Larry Eblen, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS Austin/San Antonio, Texas.) 6 Right: Map shows a damage analysis of the F3 Stonewell tornado. (Map courtesy: Larry Eblen, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS Austin/San Antonio, Texas.) Tropical Storm Podul Tropical Storm Podul moved through parts of Micronesia during October 19 to October 21, 2001. Gusty winds and rain occurred in Pohnpei, Chuuk, and Oroluk. On the southwest side of Pohnpei, trees were blown down. Below:Visible satellite imagery of Tropical Storm Podul on October 20, 2001 at 0502 UTC. (Satellite image courtesy: National Weather Service, Aguana, Guam.) 7 Blizzard in Upper Midwest on October 24/25 A low pressure system rapidly moved from Alberta, Canada along the United States border, then slowed and intensified over northeastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota on October 24 and the early morning hours of October 25, 2001. The storm system brought blizzard conditions and heavy snow to the area. Wind gusts of over 40 mph were reported for several hours at several sites. A broad area of eight to 12 inches of snowfall was observed across eastern North Dakota extending into northwestern Minnesota. The maximum snowfall for the event was 14 inches in western Marshall County in northwestern Minnesota. Snowdrifts of two to four feet were quite common. Above: The snow-filled parking lot at Grand Forks National Weather Service Office around 4:00 P.M. on October 24, 2001. A storm total of 10.9 inches of snowfall was recorded. This was the largest snowfall amount ever recorded at Grand Forks in the month of October. The previous record was 7.5 inches on October 19, 1926. (Photo courtesy: Brad Bramer, Science and Operations Officer and Gregory Gust, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS Grand Forks, North Dakota.) 8 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated October 2001 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, North Central Marengo County 3.6 NNE Dixons Mills to 13 1235CST 7.1 450 0 0 40K 0 Tornado (F1) 5.5 SW Hugo 1247CST A weak tornado first touched down just east of US 43 about 3.6 miles north-northeast of Dixons Mills and traveled north-northeast across mostly rural, wooded areas. The tornado path ended just north of Octagon near the intersection of CR 33 and CR47. Numerous trees were downed along the path. Two parallel power lines owned by Alabama Power Company were damaged near the spot where the power lines crossed CR 30. Several outbuidlings (barns and storage sheds) were destroyed. One brick home in the path of the tornado sustained shingle damage. Beginning: 32 06.556/87 46.522 End: 32 12.650/87 45.350 Perry County .6 SW Uniontown to 13 1338CST 1.5 50 0 0 110K 0 Tornado (F1) 1 NNW Uniontown 1341CST A small tornado touched down just southwest of Uniontown in an open area and traveled north-northeast across the western portions of Uniontown. The tornado ended just north-northwest of Uniontown in an open area. The tornado tore shingles off several houses in the southwest section of Uniontown in addition to downing trees and power lines. The tornado did similar damage to residential structures in the northwest portion of Uniontown. A one-story apartment complex lost a portion of it's roof. Several trees fell on homes and blocked residential streets. Beginning: 32 26.587/87 31.219 End: 32 27.857/87 30.951 Dallas County 3 SE Safford 13 1352CST 0 0 1K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) A few trees were blown down in rural southwest Dallas county. Perry County 5 S Sprott 13 1457CST 0 0 1K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) A few trees were blown down in rural southeast Perry County. Walker County 6 W Jasper 13 1657CST 0 0 2K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees were blown down in two different locations near the Hilliard Community on SR 124. Montgomery County 8 SE Ramer 13 2030CST 0 0 0 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G50) Trees were knocked down near SR 94 and More Road in the Currys Community. ALZ024 Jefferson 17 0600CST 0 0 0 0 Extreme Cold The morning low temperature measured at the Birmingham International Airport was 34 degrees. This temperature tied the previous record low. ALZ006 Madison 18 0600CST 0 0 0 0 Extreme Cold The morning low temperature measured at the Huntsville International Airport was 34 degrees.