MAY 2008 VOLUME 50 NUMBER 5 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: An EF-5 tornado, as defined by the Fujita Tornado Scale, touched down in Iowa on May 25, 2008. The tornado created a 43-mile damage path across Butler and Black Counties and caused several million dollars in damage. The above home was located in New Hartford, Iowa. (Photo courtesy: Jeff Johnson, NWS Des Moines) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storm of the Month …..…………….….........……..…………..…….…..…..... 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena ....…….…....…………...…...........…............ 5 Reference Notes .............……...........................……….........…..….…............................................ 614 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 signifi cant 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 of cial 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 May 2008 Tornado Map 3 EF Scale EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF Scale EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total EF4 Number 247 135 54 19 3 2 459 EF5 OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH EF-5 Tornado in Iowa On May 25, 2008, a rare, large and destructive EF-5 Tornado, based on the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale, created a 43 mile long path across Butler and Black Hawk counties killing eight people, injuring dozens and causing several millions of dollars worth of destruction. The initial touchdown occurred near the Butler and Grundy County line, 2 miles south of Aplington, Iowa at around 4:48 pm CDT. The tornado grew quickly in size and intensity over the next few minutes as it approached Parkersburg. The tornado was nearly three quarters of a mile wide as it moved through the southern end of Parkersburg at 4:56 pm CDT. A third of the town was affected by devastating damage with nearly 200 homes destroyed. The tornado maintained size and intensity as it moved toward New Hartford, Iowa. At 5:09 pm CDT, the storm moved just north of New Hartford causing incredible structural and tree damage. The tornado weakened east of New Hartford with lesser damage as it pushed through portions of northern Black Hawk County, just north of the cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls area. During this relatively weak phase of the tornado, the parent supercell storm began producing significant straight line winds from a large rear flank downdraft (RFD) just south of the tornado track. Wind speeds of up to 100 mph were produced by the RFD with a wind gust to 93 mph at 5:37 pm CDT measured at the Waterloo Airport. The tornado re-intensified and grew to nearly 1.2 miles wide north of Dunkerton, Iowa causing substantial damage to a farmstead. The tornado lifted just before leaving Black Hawk County at 5:50 pm CDT. This was the first EF5 to strike Iowa since June 13, 1976 and only the third EF5 tornado to occur in the United States in the past 10 years. Map courtesy: NWS Des Moines 4 Above: Extreme damage occurred to homes in the Parkersburg, Iowa area. (Photo courtesy: Jeff, Johnson, NWS Des Moines) Below: A picture of the tornado as it tracks across Butler and Black Counties in Iowa. (Photo courtesy: Rod Donavon, NWS Des Moines) 5 Time Path Path Number of Estimated May 2008 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central ALZ011-013>015- Autauga - Bibb - Blount - Calhoun - Chambers - Cherokee - Chilton - Clay - Cleburne - Coosa - Dallas - 017>021-023>029- Elmore - Etowah - Fayette - Hale - Jefferson - Lee - Lowndes - Macon - Marion - Montgomery - Perry - 032>038-040>045- Randolph - Shelby - St. Clair - Talladega - Tallapoosa - Tuscaloosa - Walker - Winston 047 01 0000CST 0 0 0.00K Drought 31 2359CST Several storm systems across Central Alabama brought limited improvement to the ongoing drought that had begun in the Spring of 2007, but also helped keep the drought from getting worse. By the end of the month, less than one quarter of Central Alabama remained in Extreme Drought (D3), although a large portion of the region remained in a Severe Drought (D2) designation. Marion County 1 NNW Hamilton 08 1130CST 0 0 2.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (40EG) Metal siding was pulled off a building in downtown Hamilton. Lamar County 2 NNE Vernon 08 1150CST 0 0 3.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees and power lines were blown down along SR-17, north of Vernon. Fayette County 3 SW Bazemore 08 1206CST 5.68 100 0 0 25.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF1) 1216CST The tornado initially touched down about two and a half miles southwest of the Bazemore Community, one mile north of the intersection of CR-50 and SR-129. The tornado then moved east-northeasward and crossed into Walker County near Barron Creek at State Highway 13. In Fayette County, this tornado destroyed one shed, and damaged another. Other damage in Fayette County was generally light, and confined mostly to snapped off and uprooted trees. Walker County 3 SSW Eldridge 08 1216CST 5.36 50 0 0 20.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF1) Kansas 1225CST The tornado that had previously touched down in Fayette County crossed into Walker County near Barron Creek at SR-13. It then tracked east-northeastward to the Kansas Community, and lifted just before reaching US-78. In Walker County, numerous trees were snapped off and uprooted, including several very large trees in Kansas. Lamar County 2 W Kennedy 08 1220CST 0 0 3.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees and power lines were blown down near the intersection of SR-17 and SR-96, just west of Kennedy. Tuscaloosa County 1 SE New Lexington 08 1259CST 0 0 3.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down on US-43, near the New Lexington Community. Walker County 6 NE Marigold 08 1300CST 2.57 600 0 0 100.00K 0.00K Tornado (EF1) 1305CST This tornado touched down on Blooming Grove Road, about six tenths of a mile south of CR-43 near the Marylee Community. From there, it moved almost due east, crossing CR-43 and Smith Lake. Along its path in Walker County, the tornado blew down or snapped off hundreds of trees, damaged or destroyed at least 6 chicken houses, and destroyed at least 5 boat houses at the Euskin Point Marina on Smith Lake. Walker County 3 WSW Sipsey 08 1317CST 0 0 3.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down on Mountain View Road. Walker County 2 N Dora 08 1317CST 0 0 3.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down on Darty Hollow Road. Tuscaloosa County 8 E Sterling 08 1327CST 0 0 3.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) 6 Time Path Path Number of Estimated May 2008 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, Central Several trees were blown down on SR-69. Jefferson County Short Creek 08 1405CST 0 0 3.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down at the intersection of SR-269 and Short Creek Road. Etowah County 2 NNW Altoona 08 1422CST 0 0 3.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down on CR-39, north of Altoona. Tuscaloosa County 2 WNW Peterson 08 1431CST 0 0 3.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down on Holt Lock and Dam Road. Jefferson County Gate City 08 1435CST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Hail (0.75) Reported near the Eastwood Festival Center. Jefferson County 1 E Patton Chaple 08 1500CST 0 0 3.00K 0.00K Thunderstorm Wind (50EG) Several trees were blown down.