Microburst causes damage in Collierville, TN on April 14, 2014

Strong straight-line thunderstorm wind, the result of a microburst, was the cause of damage observed in Collierville, TN from storms that moved across the area in the early morning hours on April 14, 2014, according to the National Weather Service in Memphis.  The wind was estimated at 70 mph and affected roughly a half-mile path that was about 100 yards wide.  Details from the NWS are below.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
511 PM CDT MON APR 14 2014

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR STORM DAMAGE IN COLLIERVILLE TENNESSEE...

.THUNDERSTORM WIND IN COLLIERVILLE TENNESSEE...

PEAK WIND /ESTIMATED/: 70 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: .5 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 100 YARDS
FATALITIES: NONE
INJURIES: NONE

START DATE:04/14/2014
START TIME:0215 AM
START LOCATION: COLLIERVILLE TENNESSEE
START LAT/LON: 35.0540 -89.6810

END DATE: 04/14/2014
END TIME: 0218 AM
END LOCATION: COLLIERVILLE TENNESSEE
END LAT/LON: 35.0590 -89.6755

SURVEY SUMMARY:
A MICROBURST OCCURRED IN COLLIERVILLE TENNESSEE. SEVERAL HOMES HAD MINOR ROOF DAMAGE AND FENCES WERE BLOWN DOWN. THERE WAS ALSO A NUMBER OF LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN AND FALLEN TREES.

NOTE: INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT AND PUBLICATION IN NWS STORM DATA.
$$

A microburst is a downdraft of cold air descending quickly from a collapsing thunderstorm and is a common phenomena with thunderstorms. The down-rushing air hits the ground and spreads out like a fan and can leave a great deal of destruction in it's wake. This is why we say to take precautions from Severe Thunderstorm Warnings similar to Tornado Warnings. The destroyed property doesn't care whether the wind was straight-line or rotating - objects can be lofted and blown about by either!

Microbursts are perhaps best known for being significant hazards to low-flying aircraft, such as those on approach or departure from airports. Fortunately these days sophisticated detection systems are in place at all major airports that have resulted in no major accidents in a couple of decades.

Photo of damage from MWN followers on social media:

Photo credit Chelsea Fennell

Photo credit Nick Iacobucci

Photo credit Stephanie Soper

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NWS confirms straight-line wind damage to mobile home park in Millington

Following severe storms that raked the Memphis metro on Wednesday night, October 18, officials from NWS-Memphis conducted storms surveys in several areas within their area of responsibility.

In Shelby County, the NWS determined that damage in Millington, TN adjacent to the Wal-Mart in the West Side Mobile Home Park was due to straight-line wind of 75-80 mph that struck at about 8:15pm.  The damage occurred over an area about 50 yards wide and about 1/3 of a mile long.

Damage path from storm that struck the West Side Mobile Home Park in Millington, TN.  Click for larger image.

From the NWS storm survey:

"TWO MOBILE HOMES SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE FROM FALLING TREES. SEVERAL OTHER MOBILE HOMES SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THE ROOF WAS LIFTED OFF OF A BASEBALL FIELD DUGOUT ADJACENT TO AND WEST OF THE MOBILE HOME PARK AND TOSSED 20 FT. A FEW TREES WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED ON THE WEST END OF THE MOBILE HOME PARK AND A PRIVACY FENCE WAS BLOWN DOWN."

Severe damage to mobile home from a fallen tree.
Photo credit: Ashli Blow, WMC-TV Community Blogger

A Tornado Warning was in effect until 8:30pm for areas of northwest Shelby County just to the west of the damage location at the time the storm struck and sirens were sounding in Millington.  A follow up Tornado Warning was issued at 8:05pm that included all of Millington.  In addition, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was also in effect until 8:15pm.  Graphics of all warnings are shown below.

MemphisWeather.net strongly advises those living in mobile homes or travel trailers to evacuate to sturdier shelter when either Tornado OR Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are issued for their location.  As evidenced, major damage to trailers can occur from 75 mph straight line wind.

Tornado Warning area that was in effect at the time of the damage in Millington.
A subsequent warning covered the damage area (shown below).

Additional tornado warning that was in effect for the mobile home park at the time of the damage 

Severe Thunderstorm Warning that expired at about the time the damage occurred.
The Tornado Warning was still in effect after the Severe Thunderstorm Warning expired.

Finally, the NWS also determined that 60 mph wind struck Coldwater, MS (Tate County in the MWN coverage area) around 9:25pm, causing some tree damage.

Related stories:
Millington residents displaced by severe storm - WMC-TV 5 (Story/video)
Damage photos at West Side Mobile Home Park - WMC-TV 5 (Photos)
Millington Storm Cleanup Begins - WREG-TV 3 (Story/video)


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More borderline severe weather possible tonight, and results of a Shelby Co. damage survey from last night

More strong thunderstorms will likely affect portions of the Memphis metro area this evening as a disturbance moves east across AR along a stationary front to our south.  The front is the remnants of the cold front that moved through overnight, bringing severe straight-line wind, some hail, and tornado warnings to the area. The primary threat with tonight's storms will be large (possibly very large) hail.  A Slight Risk of severe weather is posted for north MS, where the majority of the storms are expected. However, storms could also move through the Bluff City this evening and into the early nighttime hours.

Below is a statement released by the NWS regarding damage and survey results from last night's storm that left over 50,000 customers without power in Shelby County alone.


...PRELIMINARY DAMAGE SURVEY OF SHELBY COUNTY TENNESSEE...

A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THAT VARIOUS AREAS OF SHELBY COUNTY TENNESSEE HAD STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THAT MOVED ACROSS THE COUNTY BETWEEN 1030 PM AND 1115 PM ON TUEDAY APRIL 19, 2011.

DAMAGE IN THE FRAYSER AND RALEIGH AREAS CONSISTED OF DAMAGE TO SHINGLES ON HOMES, FENCES AND DOWNED TREES. WIND ESTIMATES IN THAT AREA ARE FROM 60 TO 70 MILES AN HOUR.

DAMAGE IN THE BOLTON AREA, NEAR THE HIGH SCHOOL, CONSISTED OF DAMAGE TO ROOFS, BUILDINGS, AND DOWNED TREES. THE WIND WAS  ESTIMATED AROUND 75 MILES AN HOUR.

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Damage Survey Information for St. Francis and DeSoto Counties - April 15, 2011

...APRIL 15, 2011 DAMAGE SURVEY INFORMATION FOR ST. FRANCIS COUNTY, AR AND DESOTO COUNTY, MS...

...PRELIMINARY STORM DAMAGE REPORT FOR ST FRANCIS COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...

* COUNTY/COUNTIES: ST FRANCIS.

* LOCATION/TIME OF EVENT: 3 MILES WEST OF CALDWELL AT 345 AM APR 15 2011 ON COUNTY ROAD 267.

* FATALITIES: ONE.

* INJURIES: ONE.

* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: A VIOLENT THUNDERSTORM WITH DOWNBURST WINDS ESTIMATED AT 70 TO 80 MILES PER HOUR LIFTED AND ROLLED A DOUBLE WIDE HOME. THE MOBILE HOME TRAVELED 70 FEET WHERE IT FINALLY LANDED ON ITS ROOF. THE MOBILE HOME WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE ABOVE DAMAGE AT THE I-40 AND HIGHWAY 1 INTERCHANGE AT FORREST CITY A LARGE PART OF THE ROOFING MATERIAL WAS TORN OFF THE COUNTRY HEARTH INN.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SHANE DALLAS AND WILLIAM SIMMERING OF THE ST. FRANCIS COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN CONDUCTING THE DAMAGE SURVEY.

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...PRELIMINARY STORM DAMAGE REPORT FOR DESOTO COUNTY IN NORTHWEST
MISSISSIPPI...

* COUNTY/COUNTIES: DESOTO

* LOCATION/TIME OF EVENT: APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BYHALIA AT THE INTERSECTION OF WILLIAM AND FRENCH ROADS OR JUST SOUTH OF HOLLY SPRINGS ROAD AROUND 500 AM APRIL 15 2011.

* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 60 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR.

* FATALITIES: NONE.

* INJURIES: NONE.

* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: STRAIGHT LINE THUNDERSTORM WINDS UPROOTED NUMEROUS LARGE TREES AND TORE AWAY METAL ROOF PARTS FROM SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS. A LARGE METAL CARPORT AWNING WAS PICKED UP AND CARRIED 25 TO 30 YARDS. DAMAGE WAS MOSTLY IN AN AREA ABOUT ONE HALF MILE LONG AND UP TO 100 YARDS WIDE. ISOLATED TREES WERE ALSO DOWNED TO THE EAST FOR ANOTHER ONE HALF MILE.

Information courtesy NWS-Memphis
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Recap of severe weather outbreak on 4/24/10, including Yazoo City tornado

(updated 4/27/10)

A day of violent weather across the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, including the Mid-South, brought many reports of tornadoes, high wind, and large hail on Saturday, April 24, 2010. This followed an afternoon and evening of severe, but not as intense, storms the previous day. Locally, the National Weather Service in Memphis issued dozens of severe thunderstorm warnings, several tornado warnings, and several flash flood warnings.

The graphic above recaps the severe weather reports for the nation on 2/24/10. Most reports from the immediate area were of the high wind and hail variety, but a few weak tornadoes also touched down in the Mid-South. A report issued by NWS-Memphis highlights three of the tornadoes (two EF-1's and an EF-0), as well as lists all storm reports received on the 24th. The list is lengthy.

To our south, the story is much worse. Information that is currently available (as of 4/26/10) on the devastating storm that struck Yazoo City and many other locations across central Mississippi around mid-day on Saturday. Several facts are known:

* A single supercell was responsible for multiple tornadoes that left damage across the state of Mississippi from west to east, from Louisiana to Alabama.
* Preliminary storm reports (as of 4/27/10) indicate that there were 76 tornadoes, 157 wind reports, and 67 hail reports on April 24. A full 50%, or 38, of the tornado reports come from MS (see graphic at top - note the line of red dots across MS indicating tornado reports from the single supercell).
* The initial damage survey from Yazoo City by the NWS in Jackson indicates a monster storm: an EF-4 with 170 mph wind, 1.75 miles in width at its maximum, and a path length of at least 149 miles across central Mississippi!
* 10 dead in Mississippi and dozens injured

Embedded below is video of some of the damage near Yazoo City. You will also find a link to video of the tornado, as captured by storm chasers, near the end of this article.

Next is an image of the Doppler velocity (or wind) data from the Jackson/Brandon, MS radar as the storm tore through the southeast side of Yazoo City. The very bright blues (inbound wind towards the radar at lower left) and browns (outbound wind away from the radar) right next to each other indicate very tight circulation and the position of the huge tornado. More Doppler radar imagery, including loops, can be found here.

Finally, the satellite image below shows the damage path (yes, it can be seen from space) of the storm. You have to look closely (here is a full-resolution unaltered version or click the image below to enlarge), but you will see a "scar" mark extending from left to right (west-southwest to east-northeast) just below Yazoo City and to the right (east) of Yazoo City, marked by white arrows. Amazing!

Other links of note:

* NWS-Jackson, MS's event summary of the severe weather in central Mississippi
* Weather Underground's Jeff Masters' blog on the storm
* TornadoVideos.net had chasers on the storm and captured this amazing footage from near Yazoo City
* The AP has first-person video of the tornado from a resident of Yazoo City
* Check out damage photos from ChaserTV as well as NWS-Jackson

Certainly, MemphisWeather.net will keep the people of central Mississippi and all other locations affected by severe weather the past couple of days, in our thoughts and prayers and asks you to do the same. It is a miracle that the Mississippi supercell did not do more damage and that there were not more fatalities. It could have been so much worse and is definitely a storm that will live on in Mississippi weather lore.

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December 2009 Nor'Easter storm totals

Extracted from:
Storm Summary Number 9 for Eastern U.S. Winter Storm
NWS/HPC Camp Springs, MD

EASTERN U.S. WINTER STORM SUMMARY
MEMPHISWEATHER.NET...MEMPHIS TN
1050 AM CST MON DEC 21 2009

...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL IN INCHES THROUGH 300 PM EST SUN DEC 20...

...MASSACHUSETTS...
BOURNE 21.5
KINGSTON 21.0
NEW BEDFORD 20.0
MIDDLEBORO 18.5
MENDON 17.0
ATTLEBORO 15.8
GLOUCESTER 14.5
FOXBOROUGH 14.0
WAYLAND 14.0
BOSTON LOGAN ARPT 9.0

...MAINE...
HAMPSTEAD 5.4
HAMPTON 5.0
KITTERY POINT 4.5

...RHODE ISLAND...
WEST GREENWICH 22.0
WARREN 21.0
NEWPORT 20.5
SOUTH KINSTOWN 19.9
PORTSMOUTH 19.5
CHARLESTOWN 19.2
WOONSOCKET 19.0
CRANSTON 17.0
WEST WARWICK 17.0
CUMBERLAND 15.9

...CONNECTICUT...
CLINTON 20.0
EAST HADDAM 20.0
NORWICH 20.0
PUTNAM 20.0
GROTON 18.0
EAST KILLINGLY 15.7
MANSFIELD 15.5
EASTFORD 14.5
STERLING 14.5
NORTH BRANFORD 12.0

...WASHINGTON, DC...
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY 16.0
THE MALL 16.0

...DELAWARE...
DOVER 18.0
BEAR 17.0
WILMINGTON 17.0
NEWARK 16.1

...KENTUCKY...
HARLAN 7.0
BEATTYVILLE 6.0
WILLIAMSBURG 1NNW 6.0

...MARYLAND...
OLNEY 23.3
BETHESDA 23.0
COLUMBIA 23.0
DERWOOD 23.0
SIMPSONVILLE 1 SSE 22.9
GAITHERSBURG 1 NW 22.0
GERMANTOWN 22.0
MILLINGTON 22.0
ANNAPOLIS 20.8
FREDERICK 19.0

...NORTH CAROLINA ...
ROBBINSVILLE 12 W 24.0
ASHEVILLE 17.0
BOONE 16.0
EAST MARION 15.0
RUTHERWOOD 15.0
FLEETWOOD 14.0
WAYNESVILLE 13.8
WEST JEFFERSON 13.0
MARSHALL 7 N 12.0
GREENSBORO 4.5

...NEW JERSEY...
FOLSOM 25.7
SWEDESBORO 25.0
TABERNACLE 24.8
ATCO 24.0
MEDFORD 24.0
PITTSGROVE 23.5
BRICKTOWN 22.0
CHERRY HILL 19.5
MOUNT HOLLY NWS 16.6
ATLANTIC CITY 12.1

...NEW YORK...
UPTON 26.3
MOUNT SINAI 24.0
ISLIP 23.9
SAG HARBOR 20.0
MEDFORD 18.0
PLAINVIEW 15.2
NYC/JFK ARPT 14.5
LONG BEACH 12.5
BROOKLYN 11.8
NYC/CENTRAL PARK 10.9

...OHIO...
BRIDGEPORT 5.0

...PENNSYLVANIA...
PHILADELPHIA INTL ARPT 23.2
SHARON HILL 23.0
SOUTH MOUNTAIN 22.0
BROGUE 20.0
QUARRYVILLE 20.0
RAINSBURG 19.5
WEST CALN 19.3
ORRTANNA 17.2
ROCKLEDGE 16.5
WEST CHESTER 15.4

...VIRGINIA...
INDIAN VALLEY 26.0
MUSTOE 25.4
FISHERVILLE 25.0
ROCKY BAR 3 ENE 24.0
CROZET 1SSE 23.0
COVINGTON 22.6
CENTREVILLE 1 SE 22.0
ALEXANDRIA 19.0
DULLES INTERNATIONAL 16.0
REAGAN NATIONAL ARPT 15.4

...WEST VIRGINIA...
MARLINTON 26.0
FRIARS HILL 25.0
HORSE SHOE RUN 25.0
BECKLEY 24.0
HENDRICKS 24.0
JUMPING BRANCH 24.0
CANAAN VALLEY STATE 3SW 22.0
WILLIAMSBURG 22.0
GRANDVIEW 21.0
CHARLES TOWN 18.0

...SELECTED PEAK WIND GUSTS IN MILES PER HOUR...

...MASSACHUSETTS...
PROVINCETOWN 65
NANTUCKET 63
BARNSTABLE 62
HYANNIS 54
FALMOUTH 52

$

HPC/MWN

Recap of Wednesday AM storms (5/6/09)

Storm aftermath

The image above from MWN StormView Radar was snapped during the height of the storms overnight last night (early Wednesday, 3:14am).  The northern end of a line of storms associated with a mesoscale convective complex (MCS) grazed southern Shelby County between 2:30-3:30am.  About 30-40 miles south of the MS-TN line, the NWS was issuing Tornado Warnings for this supercell.  The image shows that StormView Radar picked up on a TVS (Tornado Vortex Signature - inverted magneta triangle above) associated with the tornado warning (box in magenta).  Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were also in effect (red boxes), as well as Flash Flood Warnings (green boxes).  The leading edge of the MCS extended from southern Shelby County westward through central AR at this time and the area was under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and Flash Flood Watch.  Definitely a busy night for the NWS!  Locations across Shelby County reported 1.50-2.00" of rain overnight according to CoCoRaHS observers and NWS climate stations.

Storm Surveys

The TVS was tracked all the way from west of Tunica in east-central AR to north-central MS. According to Local Storm Reports, NWS storm surveys were done earlier today and indicate that the parent storm produced EF-1 tornado damage in Marvell, AR (Phillips County, across the river from Tunica) with trees and power lines down and damage to a retail establishment at about 2am.  Wind was estimated at 95-100 mph and the tornado had a path length of 100 yards and was 25 yards wide.

Further downstream, the storms spawned another brief twister of EF-1 intensity near Clarksdale, MS (Marshall County) at about 3:30am.  The tornado had similar characteristics (105 mph, 25 yards wide, 100 yard path length) to the Phillips County tornado and produced roof damage to some homes and snapped trees.  In addition to the tornado damage, trees and powerlines were downed all across north Mississippi due to the saturated ground and high wind.

What's in store?

So, is more of this violent weather in the offing?  Unfortunately, possibly.  I do believe most areas will get a reprieve through Thursday evening, though the Storm Prediction Center has the area highlighted in a SLIGHT RISK for Thursday.  I am forecasting storms to be few and far-between, though with plenty of moisture and temps soaring into the 80s with some sunshine, any storm that gets going could be strong Thursday afternoon. 

A frontal system that has been lingering around the area will make another push towards the metro Friday into the weekend (we are in a SLIGHT RISK again on Friday).  With upper-level impulses expected to move along that front, and with daytime heating creating instability in the afternoons, I expect thunderstorm chances to increase each day Friday into Sunday.  Another one of these MCS's can not be ruled out either.  If the formation and track of one of them is more certain, and it looks like the Mid-South is in the bulls-eye, obviously thunderstorm chances would increase a great deal.  All in all, I think most of us will get more rain before the end of the weekend.  Stay with MemphisWeather.net and the MWN forecast for the latest on this dynamic scenario.

More on Nashville tornado - April 2, 2009

UPDATE: NWS-Nashville confirms the tornado was an EF-1 with 90-100 mph wind and a path length of 2 miles. Click here for a report from NWS-Nashville, including damage map and photos.

Original post:
Reports are coming in of structural damage in the Nashville area after a severe thunderstorm and possible tornado hit eastern Nashville/Davidson County around 4:00pm. The Nashville NWS office reports major damage to an office complex roof and 20-30 cars on Murfreesboro Road, 2 overturned semi-trucks at I-40 and Briley Parkway near the airport, numerous large trees down in the Donelson area, and flooding in Centennial Park. In addition, the severe weather forced Nashville International Airport's Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower to be evacuated, causing the airport to close for a period of time. Passengers in the terminals were directed away from windows as the storm rolled through. Here are some photos of damage from the Tennesseean and Friday's article from the Tennessean. A Google map shows the area affected, with the airport bounded by Donelson Pike, Murfreesboro Pike, Briley Parkway, and I-40.

Hang on to your hats!

The wind behind this morning's squall line seems to be packing quite the punch. I've received reports of metal facade being ripped off the the roof of a building, a fairly good size tree down (6-8"), and a wooden privacy fence blown over, all in Bartlett, as well as tree "debris" (twigs, small branches, and leaves) strewn everywhere. You can see the latest conditions from Bartlett on my WXLIVE! page, where the max wind gust recorded so far today is 39 mph. A High Wind Warning remains in effect until 3pm with a Wind Advisory after that until 7pm.


Also, interesting to look at from my Davis Vantage Pro2 personal weather station, are graphs of conditions from the frontal passage this morning (see below). The front passed over the sensors just before 7am (the red lines on the graphs). Note especially the substantial drop (and subsequent rise) in barometric pressure, the temperature and dewpoint dropping after it passed, and the wind shift from south to southwest/west. Also, the wind speed peaked at 36 mph when the front passed, then started rising again after 8am behind the front to a max gust of 39 mph a little after 11am. Very nice data signature with this frontal passage!