SEPTEMBER 2001 VOLUME 43 NUMBER 09 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: Several tornadoes moved through the Virginia and Maryland area on September 24, 2001. A tornado in Beltsville, Maryland damaged the side of a brick building. Estimated total damage is in excess of $100 million dollars. (Photo courtesy: Kay Grahm, Prince Georges County Office of Emergency Preparedness.) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Outstanding Storm of the Month ..……..…………………..……………..……………..……………..…. 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena ....………..…………..…..……………..……………..…. 5 Additions/Corrections ..………….……………………………………………………………………….. 155 Reference Notes ..……..………..……………..……………..……………..…………..………………… 167 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 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 September 2001 Confirmed Tornadoes 3 F Scale F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F Scale F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total N um ber 59 20 3 2 1 0 85 OUTSTANDING STORMS OF THE MONTH Tornadoes in Virginia and Maryland Severe thunderstorms ahead of a strong cold front moved through Virginia and Maryland during the early evening hours on September 24, 2001. These storms brought heavy rains, winds, flash flooding and tornadoes over the two-state area. One of the hardest hit areas was around College Park, Maryland. An F3 tornado, as defined by the Fujita Tornado Scale with winds from 158 to 206 mph, was on the ground for 17.5 miles from College Park to Columbia. The damage path ranged from 100 to 200 yards in width. A total of 861 homes, 561 vehicles, and 23 businesses were damaged alone in Prince Georges County, totaling $100 million dollars! Two deaths and 55 injuries resulted from the tornado. A more detailed description appears in the Maryland and Virginia’s “Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena” section that follows. Left: The tornado removed the roof from the classroom at Laural High School and three people were injured due to flying debris. (Photo courtesy and copyright 2001: The Baltimore Sun, photo by Kenneth Lam.) Right: The large wedge-shaped tornado crossed over the University of Maryland creating havoc on September 24, 2001. (Photo courtesy: Langston Majette.) 4 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated September 2001 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, North Central Barbour County Eufaula 02 2015CST 0 0 5K 0 Tstm Wind/Hail One large pine tree fell on a carport in Eufaula. The tree destroyed the carport and much of its contents. Blount County Countywide 03 0900CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood 1200CST Heavy rain falling on saturated ground caused widespread flooding across the county. Local residents estimated rainfall of four inches in a short period of time. Many roads were damaged, culverts were washed out, and several trees fell over due to the high water and saturated conditions. Several roads were impassable and closed. The most concentrated flooding occurred in the Remlap and Pine Mountain areas. Jefferson County Palmerdale 03 1030CST 1 1 18K 0 Heavy Rain Heavy rain weakened the root system of a large oak tree that toppled onto a passing truck killing a 15-year old male passenger and injuring the driver. Three to five inches of rain fell in the area, and the Sheriffs Department investigator believed that standing water surrouding the tree weakened the root system allowing the tree to fall. M15VE Lamar County Vernon 06 1515CST 1 6 0 0 Lightning A Lamar County High School student, a ninth grader, was killed when he was hit by lightning during football practice according to newspaper reports. A Sheriff's dispatcher said the sky was overcast when the bolt hit the student. He was taken to the hospital immediately and later transferred to Children's Hospital in Birmingham where he died three days later. Several other students including football players and band members were also injured, none seriously. M14BF Bibb County Brierfield 10 1730CST 0 0 3K 0 Flash Flood 1900CST Heavy rainfall in a short period of time caused flooding in and around Brierfield. A local fire station reported five inches of rain in a few hours. Several roads were temporarily closed due to high water. Colbert County Cherokee 18 1700CST 0 0 0 0 Hail (1.00) 1704CST Colbert County Cherokee 18 1700CST 0 0 25K 0 Lightning Colbert County Cherokee 18 1700CST 0 0 8K 0 Thunderstorm Wind (G55) 1710CST A thunderstorm became severe moving across the city of Cherokee in western Colbert County. The thunderstorm produced 1 inch hail and downed a number of trees across the town. Lightning also struck at least two houses causing fires that did damage to two houses. ALZ006 Madison 26 0600CST 0 0 0 0 Extreme Cold The morning low temperature measured at the Huntsville International Airport was 38 degrees. This temperature established a new record low. ALZ024 Jefferson 26 0600CST 0 0 0 0 Extreme Cold The morning low temperature measured at the Birmingham International Airport was 41 degrees. This temperature established a new record low. ALZ044 Montgomery 26 0600CST 0 0 0 0 Extreme Cold The morning low temperature observed at Dannelly Field was 43 degrees. This temperature established a new record low. 1 5 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Time Path Path Number of Estimated September 2001 Local/ Length Width Persons Damage Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm ALABAMA, North Central ALZ006 Madison 27 0600CST 0 0 0 0 Extreme Cold The morning low temperature observed at the Huntsville International Airport was 42 degrees. This temperature tied the previous record low. ALZ044 Montgomery 27 0600CST 0 0 0 0 Extreme Cold The morning low temperature measured at Dannelly Field was 43 degrees. This temperature established a new record low. ALZ044 Montgomery 28 0600CST 0 0 0 0 Extreme Cold The morning low temperature observed at Dannelly Field was 44 degrees. This temperature established a new record low. ALABAMA, Southeast NONE REPORTED. ALABAMA, Southwest Baldwin County Ft Morgan 08 0630CST 0 0 20K Lightning A West Beach home, near Fort Morgan, was struck by lightning. Baldwin County Orange Beach 13 1400CST 1 0 Rip Currents A 67-year-old Florida man drowned while swimming in the western beach area of Orange Beach. The man was swimming approximately 50 feet offshore, between the first and second sandbars, when he was apparently pulled under by rough surf and strong rip currents. A person swimming nearby tried to rescue the man, but the currents were too strong for the individual to save the drowning man. Red Flags, which are used to alert swimmers to dangerous swimming and water conditions, were flying along area beaches. The rough surf and dangerous rip currents were the result, in part, to Tropical Storm Gabrielle, which was moving east across the far southeastern Gulf of Mexico. M67IW Mobile County Mobile 23 1630CST 0 1 Lightning A 14 year old male was struck by lighting when he took refuge from a thunderstorm under a large tree. The lighting strike knocked the boy to the ground and rendered him unconscious for a short time. When the boy became conscious again, he complained of numbness along his left side. The numbness was only temporary, and after being briefly taken to a hospital for treatment, the boy made a full recovery. ALASKA, Northern AKZ223 Deltana And Tanana 04 1753AST 0 0 High Wind (G48) M 1953AST In advance of an occlusion moving over the western Alaska Range, south winds gusted through Isabel Pass resulting in strong winds at Delta Junction. Highest reported wind at the Delta Junction ASOS was 37 mph sustained, 53 mph gust, and a peak gust of 55 mph.