February 5-6: Super Tuesday Outbreak... 57 dead

[CrazyC83]

Chalk up another EF4:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
941 PM CST THU FEB 7 2008

...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAMAGE SURVEY DETERMINES EF-4 TORNADO IN
HARDIN COUNTY...

THE INITIAL TORNADO TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED WEST OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER
NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF COFFEE LANDING ROAD AND TOWBOAT LANE ABOUT
740 PM CST. THE TORNADO THEN QUICKLY RACED NORTHEAST CAUSING
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO HOMES AND TREES JUST EAST OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER
NEAR THE OAK GROVE AND SWIFT COMMUNITIES. NEARLY 35 TO 50 HOMES
WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED ALONG THIS PATH.

THREE DEATHS OCCURRED IN MOBILE HOMES ONCE THE TORNADO REACHED NEAR
THE SWIFT COMMUNITY.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED MOVING NORTHEAST BEFORE LIFTING NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 114 AND 128 AROUND 757 PM CST.

THE PATH LENGTH OF THIS TORNADO WAS 15 MILES. THE MAXIMUM WIDTH WAS
ONE HALF MILE. THE HIGHEST ESTIMATED WINDS WERE AROUND 170 MPH.

A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 655 TO 730 PM CST AND 725 TO
800 PM CST FOR HARDIN COUNTY. A TORNADO WATCH WAS IN EFFECT AS WELL.

SPECIAL THANKS TO LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND FIRE
DEPARTMENTS FOR PINPOINTING THE LOCATIONS OF DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

$$

TAB/ARS/JCL

[simplykristi]

Nice find, Kristi. If thisn't EF-5, I don't know what is. Of course, it's not building damage.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lzk/html/imgvie ... orm020508c

LR NWS office just posted those pics tonight of Mountain View AR.

Kristi

[simplykristi]

EF? on the Wikipedia article means that the area has not been surveyed yet, hence no rating. Only ratings from NWS offices (or local offices in other countries outside the US) are listed.

Also, if a range of possible ratings is listed (i.e. "EF3 or higher"), the policy is to go with the lowest rating in the range as an initial rating. That is why the killer supercell NE of Nashville is listed as EF2, even though it almost certainly was much stronger (my guess is EF3 or EF4). (A disclaimer below says "likely stronger".)

I know that... I am saying that the page needs to be set up city by city with correct information. The info regarding Mountain View was incorrect and incomplete. If no one wants to delve deeper, I would be more than happy to since I have the time right now.

Another idea just occurred to me... Why not set it by path once the NWS comes out with its official paths? List the EF, the city and county and the damage.

Kristi

[simplykristi]

EF? on the Wikipedia article means that the area has not been surveyed yet, hence no rating. Only ratings from NWS offices (or local offices in other countries outside the US) are listed.

I know there's no final rating (prelim EF3). Pic shows pickup truck with entire body removed wrapped, or as it looks in the photo somehow "around the tree". The photo is from NWS Little Rock.[color=#808000]

again: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lzk/html/imgvie ... orm020508c

WOW.

..TORNADO SURVEYS IN VAN BUREN...STONE...IZARD AND SHARP COUNTIES...
TWO TEAMS FROM THE THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK SURVEYED EXTENSIVE TORNADO DAMAGE IN PORTIONS OF VAN BUREN... STONE...IZARD AND SHARP COUNTIES. ..VAN BUREN...STONE...AND IZARD COUNTIES ONE TEAM WORKED FROM AROUND THE SHIRLEY AREA OF VAN BUREN COUNTY NORTHEAST THROUGH PORTIONS OF STONE COUNTY AND MUCH OF IZARD COUNTY TO AROUND ZION. THE WORST DAMAGE WAS FOUND AROUND THE ZION AREA...WITH THE TORNADO RATED AS AT LEAST EF3. SEVERAL NEWER HOUSES WERE DESTROYED...WITH A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE THROWN SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS. A JEEP WAS FOUND IN A TREE. THERE WAS A SPOT IN STONE COUNTY AROUND TURKEY CREEK WHERE DAMAGE WAS VERY MINIMAL. HOWEVER...THE DAMAGE PATH WAS CONTINUOUS...WITH NO GAPS NOTED.

..STONE AND SHARP COUNTIES
THE OTHER TEAM VIEWED DAMAGE AROUND MOUNTAIN VIEW IN STONE COUNTY...AND THEN HEADED TO ASH FLAT AND HIGHLAND IN SHARP COUNTY. DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE IN BOTH AREAS...WITH A CAR DEALERSHIP HEAVILY DAMAGED IN MOUNTAIN VIEW AND A STRIP SHOPPING CENTER AND A CHURCH FLATTENED IN HIGHLAND. HOMES AND BUSINESSES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED AS WELL. IN SOME SPOTS...AT LEAST EF3 DAMAGE WAS FOUND. AGAIN...DAMAGE FOUND BY THE TEAM WAS IN A CONTINUOUS PATH.

..QUICK RESPONSE TEAM AND FLIGHT A QUICK RESPONSE TEAM WILL BE IN ARKANSAS ON FRIDAY TO VIEW SOME OF THE WORST DAMAGE FROM ATKINS IN POPE COUNTY TO CLINTON IN VAN BUREN COUNTY TO MOUNTAIN VIEW IN STONE COUNTY TO ZION IN IZARD COUNTY TO HIGHLAND IN SHARP COUNTY. THIS TEAM WILL DETERMINE IF MORE THAN AN EF3 RATING WAS ACHIEVED AT ONE OR MORE LOCATIONS. IN ADDITION...A FLIGHT WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE ENTIRE DAMAGE PATH TO DETERMINE IF A SINGLE TORNADO WAS RESPONSIBLE...OR IF SEVERAL TORNADOES WERE SPAWNED. IT IS HOPED THAT FINAL DAMAGE RATINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

Looks to be over a 100-mile path using my map software.

I believe that is a 140-mile path. I can't wait to see what the aerial surveys come up with on the path. It will be interesting.

Kristi

[wbug1]

Some links to good aerial videos, in the Mountain view, AR area : http://www.todaysthv.com/video/news/mos ... w=hi&cat=2
http://www.todaysthv.com/video/news/mos ... w=hi&cat=2
http://www.todaysthv.com/video/news/mos ... w=hi&cat=2

[Dionne]

It's important to note that a lot of these fatalities are not coming from mobile homes, but permanent residences. That's scary..

Don't confuse permanent homes with quality construction. Even a well built home is going to have problems with an EF4.

This is another example of the foolish notion of "run from the water, hide from the wind". With winds between 166-200 mph (EF4).....the chances of any home surviving a direct hit is slim at best.

[CrazyC83]

From the Tennessean - Partial list of storm fatalities

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... /802080427

MACON COUNTY

• Thomas Manier, 90, Green Cove community

• Stanley Francis, 54, Brattontown

• Jimmy Shaw, age unknown

• Mark Aaron Brown, 20

• Dixie Ellis, age unknown

• Carol Irene Boyd, 42

• Johnnie Doolin, 59

SUMNER COUNTY

• Ramona Justice, 52, Castalian Springs

• Kerri Stowell, 23, Castalian Springs

• Ronald Currey, 49, Castalian Springs

• Mable Pryor, 72, Castalian Springs

• Roger Perry, 57, Castalian Springs

• Dallas Warner, 33, Castalian Springs

• Lawrence Lampkin, 63, Castalian Springs

TROUSDALE COUNTY

• Christine Scott, age unknown

• Clarence Scott, 86

SHELBY COUNTY

• Marlys May Peske, 60, Memphis

• Gregory L. Martin, 38, Memphis

• Leon Herbin, 23, Memphis

HARDIN COUNTY

• Gerald Alexander, 55, Cerro Gordo community

• Walter Ables, 75, Cerro Gordo community

• Henry D. Hunsinger, 74, Cerro Gordo community

MADISON COUNTY

• Alta M. Baker, 84, Huntersville community

• William M. Deberry, 75, Huntersville community

FAYETTE COUNTY

• Neal Glover, 70, Somerville

[RL3AO]

A picture is worth a thousand words.

[HURAKAN]

Wow. We're already at April - May levels. That's really impressive.

[Bunkertor]

A relation to average temeratures would be interesting. So monthly activity can be compared. What do you think ?

[JonathanBelles]

We've had 239 tornadoes already!!! WOW!!

[RL3AO]

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1140 AM CST FRI FEB 8 2008

...AERIAL DAMAGE SURVEY FLIGHT HAS BEEN POSTPONED...

THE FLIGHT TO HELP IN THE TORNADO DAMAGE SURVEY HAS BEEN POSTPONED
UNTIL SATURDAY...FEBRUARY 9TH. DUE TO LOW CLOUDS AND ICING FRIDAY
MORNING...THE FLIGHT WAS UNABLE TO BE COMPLETED ON FRIDAY. HOWEVER...
GROUND TEAMS ARE STILL SURVEYING THE STORM DAMAGE.

[Brent]

http://www.maconcountytimes.com/article ... /newsa.txt

Up to 200 unaccounted for!

[HarlequinBoy]

It's important to note that a lot of these fatalities are not coming from mobile homes, but permanent residences. That's scary..

Don't confuse permanent homes with quality construction. Even a well built home is going to have problems with an EF4.

This is another example of the foolish notion of "run from the water, hide from the wind". With winds between 166-200 mph (EF4).....the chances of any home surviving a direct hit is slim at best.

Don't worry, I know that.. my point was a lot of tornado fatalities typically come from mobile homes due to their susceptibility to even moderate winds, but in this outbreak they're coming from stronger structures.

[Sanibel]

I know its mention draws groans -BUT- having freakish tornadoes in both January AND February could be a sign of GW.

[RL3AO]

I know its mention draws groans -BUT- having freakish tornadoes in both January AND February could be a sign of GW.

It can be 120 degrees, but unless there are certain conditions present, a large outbreak won't happen.

I found this interesting.

http://www.earthsky.org/blog/50991/tornadoes%E2%80%93and%E2%80%93global%E2%80%93climate%E2%80%93change

[RL3AO]

Clinton tornado damage

[CrazyC83]

Updates from two major tornadoes:

-The big Middle Tennessee tornado from Sumner County into Kentucky was an EF3 (which I agree with). It continued into Kentucky and was 51 miles long. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/validProds ... &node=KOHX

-The Arkansas monster appears to have indeed been one tornado, although the aerial survey will confirm such. It has been upgraded to at least EF4. (Since they are still surveying, I wouldn't be surprised to see it raised again to EF5) http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/validProds ... &node=KLZK

[CrazyC83]

The five EF4's in this outbreak match the total number of violent tornadoes for ALL of 2007 (5 - 4 EF4's and 1 EF5), and exceeds the COMBINED total for 2005 and 2006 (3)!

[Squarethecircle]

So we may have just witnessed the most insane tornado outbreak in three years?