February 6th, 2008

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National Weather Service Confirmes 9 Tornadoes In Kentucky

Super Tuesday tornado outbreak surveys are ongoing at this time. In addition to the tornadoes in Arkansas and Tennessee, at least 9 tornadoes swept across Kentucky as well. At this time, the NWS has confirmed through damage surveys at least 9 tornadoes in the state of Kentucky. Here are the stats:

MEADE COUNTY TORNADO
TORNADO RATING: EF-1
MAX WIND SPEED: 100 MPH
PATH LENGTH : 7 MILES
PATH WIDTH : 300-350 YARDS
INJURIES : NONE
FATALITIES : NONE
TIME OF INITIAL TOUCHDOWN: 1154 PM EST
TIME OF FINAL DISSIPATION: 1205 AM EST
SPENCER COUNTY TORNADOES

…FIRST TOUCHDOWN…

TORNADO RATING: EF-0
MAX WIND SPEED: 80 MPH
PATH LENGTH : HALF MILE
PATH WIDTH : EIGHTH OF A MILE
INJURIES : NONE
FATALITIES : NONE
TIME OF INITIAL TOUCHDOWN: 1238 AM EST
TIME OF FINAL DISSIPATION: 1240 AM EST

…SECOND TOUCHDOWN…

TORNADO RATING: EF-0
MAX WIND SPEED: 80 MPH
PATH LENGTH : HALF MILE
PATH WIDTH : EIGHTH OF A MILE
INJURIES : ONE
FATALITIES : NONE
TIME OF INITIAL TOUCHDOWN: 1243 AM EST
TIME OF FINAL DISSIPATION: 1245 AM EST
HARDIN COUNTY TORNADO

TORNADO RATING: EF-2
MAX WIND SPEED: 115 MPH
PATH LENGTH : UNKNOWN
PATH WIDTH : 300 YARDS
INJURIES : NONE
FATALITIES : NONE
TIME OF INITIAL TOUCHDOWN: ROUGHLY 1222 AM EST
TIME OF FINAL DISSIPATION: UNKNOWN
WASHINGTON COUNTY TORNADOES

…FIRST TOUCHDOWN…

TORNADO RATING: EF-1
MAX WIND SPEED: 90 MPH
PATH LENGTH : TWO-THIRDS OF A MILE
PATH WIDTH : 150 YARDS
INJURIES : NONE
FATALITIES : NONE
TIME OF INITIAL TOUCHDOWN: 101 AM EST
TIME OF FINAL DISSIPATION: 103 AM EST

…SECOND TOUCHDOWN…

TORNADO RATING: EF-2
MAX WIND SPEED: 115 MPH
PATH LENGTH : ONE MILE
PATH WIDTH : 250 YARDS
INJURIES : NONE
FATALITIES : NONE
TIME OF INITIAL TOUCHDOWN: 106 AM EST
TIME OF FINAL DISSIPATION: 108 AM EST
MERCER COUNTY TORNADO

TORNADO RATING: EF-1
MAX WIND SPEED: 105 MPH
PATH LENGTH : ONE MILE
PATH WIDTH : 300 FEET
INJURIES : NONE
FATALITIES : NONE
TIME OF INITIAL TOUCHDOWN: 120 AM EST
TIME OF FINAL DISSIPATION: 122 AM EST
MONROE AND ALAN COUNTY TORNADOES

TORNADO RATING: EF-3
MAX WIND SPEED: 160 MPH
PATH LENGTHS : UNKNOWN
PATH WIDTHS : HALF MILE
INJURIES : THREE
FATALITIES : FOUR
TIME OF INITIAL TOUCHDOWN: 120 AM EST
TIME OF FINAL DISSIPATION: 122 AM EST

More details on the survey can be found at the National Weather Service Forecast Office Louisville, KY website.

Written by David on February 6th, 2008 with 2 comments.
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48 Killed in Deadliest Tornado Outbreak since 1985

At least 48 people were killed yesterday across Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama as reported by CNN this morning. This may have been the deadliest single day tornado outbreak since May 31, 1985, when a group of supercell storms barrelled across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario, Canada spawning 43 tornadoes and killing 75 people and did an estimated $450 million in damage. The day included Pennsylvania’s only F5 rated twister in history that cut through 47 miles killing 18 and injuring 310!

The entire area yesterday was justifiably under a High Risk by the Storm Prediction Center early in the day. This combined with excellent tornado warning coverage no doubt was a huge factor that we didn’t have more deaths that we have.

Details of deaths, injuries and damage from yesterdays outbreak, the 3rd already in 2008, will undoubtedly be coming in for days to come as massive cleanup efforts are underway. Below are some of the death statistics I have been able to find so far.

TENNESSEE:

SHELBY COUNTY

One fatality and 5 injured (tornado caused wall of building to collapse).

THP radio tower with THP and TEMA antennas fell in Arlington.

Wall collapse during tornado on Sears Building in Hickory Ridge Mall (Chantex Building) in Rockford Subdivision, Memphis.

120,000 pounds of Anhydrous Ammonia released into the atmosphere at Hardy Bottling Company, 5151 East Rains, Memphis (no impact on public).

Memphis Airport closed Runway 927 and Taxiways 2A and 2B; Gate B39 damaged.

FAYETTE COUNTY

One fatality in Somerville (Fayette County): truck overturned in tornado.

Up to 25 tractor trailer trucks overturned (revised) on I-40 between Mile Markers 60 and 70 between Memphis and Brownsville.

HARDIN COUNTY

3 fatalities (tornado), 3 injured

HICKMAN COUNTY

1 injured (wind)

MADISON COUNTY

Two fatalities in Denmark (tornado).

Union University had 16 students trapped in a dormitory, 3 critical injuries.

Jackson Oaks Retirement Center initially reported 50 persons trapped, but American Red Cross arrived and moved the residents to a shelter.

SUMNER COUNTY

5 fatalities, 15 injuries (tornado)

MACON COUNTY

10 fatalities, 65 injuries (tornado)

TROUSDALE COUNTY

Pipeline fire (now burned out), Columbia Gulf Transmission Company, 5422 Green Grove Road, Hartsville, TN

2 fatalities (tornado), 1 missing.

ARKANSAS:

There are 12 confirmed fatalities in the state of Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management is reporting injuries in Pope, Conway, Baxter, Newton, Stone, and Van Buren counties. Fatalities are coming in from Pope County, Conway County, Baxter County, Van Buren County, Izard County and Stone County.

Finally, a bit of video of yesterdays events is now starting to surface on YouTube.

In the below video, pause it at 0:04. You can see a larger wedge type tornado, as well as a satellite stovepipe tornado. This was in Jackson, TN. Last time I saw something like that was May 3rd, 1999 in OKC.