Arkansas-Mississippi-Alabama tornado outbreak

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Arkansas-Mississippi-Alabama tornado outbreak
Major damage to a subdivision of Madison, Mississippi on November 24, 2001 (courtesy of NWS Jackson, Mississippi)
Major damage to a subdivision of Madison, Mississippi on November 24, 2001 (courtesy of NWS Jackson, Mississippi)
Date of tornado outbreak: November 23-24, 2001
Duration1: 30 hours
Maximum rated tornado2: F4 tornado
Tornadoes caused: 69
Damages: >unknown
Fatalities: 13
Areas affected: Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia, Indiana

1Time from first tornado to last tornado
2Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita Scale

The Arkansas-Mississippi-Alabama tornado outbreak is a fall tornado outbreak which affected portions of the southern United States from Arkansas to Alabama on November 23-November 24, 2001 with additional tornadoes recorded in Louisiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana and Georgia. Recorded as one of the most intense November outbreaks ever across that area, tornadoes from that event have killed at least 13 across three states including 4 in Alabama, four in Arkansas and five in Mississippi.

Contents

[edit] The event

A low pressure system was situated, just after 5 AM on November 24, near Kansas City, Missouri. Its associated cold front traversed much of the outbreak affected area with several supercells forming ahead of front.[1] Rich moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cold air aloft and wind shear provided the ingredients from a significant severe weather outbreak.

Radar shot of the Madison supercell just before 5:00 AM CDT (NWS Jackson)
Radar shot of the Madison supercell just before 5:00 AM CDT (NWS Jackson)

Supercells formed late across much of Arkansas and Mississippi during the evening hours of November 23 up into the early morning hours of November 24 produced several tornadoes including two F4 Mississippi tornadoes across Washington and Bolivar Counties at around 2 AM[2] and in Madison County near the city of Madison at around 5 AM. The second tornado killed at least 2 (including a newborn baby) and injured 21. Another tornado in Mississippi, an F2, struck Quitman, Panola and Tate Counties just after 3 AM and killed at least three.[3] In Arkansas, four people were killed by two separate tornadoes including three in Ashley County from a single tornado that moved from Louisiana.

Outbreak death toll
State Total County County
total
Alabama 4 Cherokee 2
Lamar 2
Arkansas 4 Ashley 3
Johnson 1
Mississippi 5 Madison 2
Panola 1
Quitman 2
Totals 13
All deaths were tornado-related

Activity shifted into Alabama during midday on November 24 where numerous supercells traveled across the Birmingham coverage area. There were at least, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, 13 supercells that produced tornadoes including an F4 tornadoes that traversed Blount and Etowah Counties just after 1:00 PM. Activity ceased just after midnight with the final tornadoes touching down across Alabama in Dale County. In Alabama alone, 4 people were killed by two separate tornadoes including 2 from an F3 that moved from Pickens County northeastward and north of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa towards Walker County. Another tornado killed 2 in Cherokee County in the northeastern part of the state.[4]

[edit] Tornado table

Confirmed
Total		 Confirmed
F0		 Confirmed
F1		 Confirmed
F2		 Confirmed
F3		 Confirmed
F4		 Confirmed
F5
69 22 22 19 3 3 0

[edit] Confirmed tornadoes

[edit] November 23 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Arkansas
F1 SW of Greenwood Franklin, Logan 0125 8 miles
(12.8 km)		 Several barns and one house were damaged
F2 NW of Altus to N of Salus Franklin, Johnson, Newton 0136 31.5 miles
(50.4 km)		 1 death Fatality was inside a mobile home and 4 others were injured. Several homes were damaged some of them heavily. Several mobile homes, barns, outbuildings, six chicken houses and two turkey houses were destroyed. Numerous chickens that were inside chicken houses were killed. Numerous trees at a national forest were downed.
F1 NE of Altus Franklin, Johnson 0140 8.8 miles
(14.1 km)		 Damage to barns, homes and power lines.
F2 NW of Limestone Newton 0224 18.5 miles
(29.6 km)		 Major damage to an Inn and a restaurant. Several homes were damaged and outbuildings were destroyed.
F1 SW of Pyatt Boone, Marion 0303 8 miles
(12.8 km)		 Three barns, a house and garage were heavily or destroyed with several other homes receiving minor damage
F2 SW of Searcy White 0725 5.5 miles
(8.8 km)		 A small house and trailer was destroyed and one house was shifted from its foundation. Dozen of other structures were damaged and there were 3 injuries.
F1 SW of Fairview Chicot 0731 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Four house and a mobile home were damaged
Missouri
F2 N of Exeter Barry 0228 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 Significant damage to several residences. Two storage buildings were swept from their foundation. Damage also to chicken houses and grain bins and outbuildings were destroyed. 3 people were injured.
F1 NE of Opal Lawrence 0320 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Roof damage to a firehouse and several homes. A steeple from a church was also toppled. Poultry houses were destroyed.
Louisiana
F1 W of Eros Jackson, Ouachita 0539 9 miles
(14.4 km)		 Damage to a carport, chicken house and mobile home.
F3 NE of Bastrop, LA to NE of Parkdale, AR Morehouse, LA, Ashley, AR 0640 30 miles
(48 km)		 3 deaths In Arkansas, a tractor shed, a church, 14 mobile homes and homes were destroyed and five other homes were severely damaged in Wilmot where three people were killed. In Louisiana, there was extensive damage to a potato plant, farm buildings and one house.
F1 S of Faircloth Grant 0643 11.5 miles
(18.4 km)		 Damage limited to trees
F0 SE of Curry Winn 0714 2.9 miles
(4.6 km)		 Damage to trees and street signs
F1 W of Grayson Caldwell 0735 5 miles
(8 km)		 Damage limited to trees
Mississippi
F4 SW of Winterville to S of Mound Bayou Washington, Bolivar 0755 30.3 miles
(48.5 km)		 A total of 48 people were injured by the storm. 16 homes, seven mobile homes, six businesses and a power substation were destroyed. Numerous other structures including homes and mobile homes sustained minor to severe damage.
Source: Tornado History Project Storm Data - November 23, 2001

[edit] November 24 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Louisiana
F2 S of Big Bend Avoyelles 0805 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 One mobile home was destroyed, its three occupants being injured
F0 NW of Afton Madison 1210 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 A shed was blown away
Mississippi
F1 SW of Baltzer Sunflower, Coahoma 0842 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 One mobile home was destroyed, several homes had major damage or were destroyed.
F2 W of Walnut to SE of Arkabutla Quitman, Panola, Tate 0910 43.5 miles
(69.6 km)		 3 deaths 135 homes, a cotton plant, a mobile home, a church and other structures were damaged or destroyed. Deaths were inside destroyed structures including one girl who was inside a mobile home. 33 others were injured.
F2 E of Lewisburg DeSoto 1010 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 19 homes were destroyed and 119 others damaged. 9 people were injured
F3 Isola area Humphreys 1015 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 23 homes, 10 businesses and two churches were severely damaged or destroyed with minor damage to other structures. Several grain silos and a farm headquarters were also destroyed. There were 5 minor injuries.
F0 SE of Bolton Hinds 1051 0.2 miles
(0.32 km)		 Damage limited to trees
F0 SE of Pocahontas Hinds 1118 0.3 miles
(0.5 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F4 SW of Madison to S of Canton Madison 1125 11.5 miles
(18.4 km)		 2 deaths 84 homes and 10 mobile homes were severely damaged or destroyed with minor damage to 67 other homes and three mobile homes. One of the fatalities was a baby from a critically injured pregnant woman that was born just after the tornado and died shortly after birth. Worst of the damage occurred in the Fairfield subdivision of the Madison area.
F1 S of Bolatusha Leake 1225 0.2 miles
(0.32 km)		 Damage limited to trees
F0 SW of Starkville Oktibbeha 1530 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F1 NW of Aubrey Noxubee 1610 8 miles
(12.8 km)		 11 barns, 3 homes and a grain silo were damaged while three sheds and a small airplane hangar were destroyed
F0 NE of Middleton Clarke 1715 0.5 miles
(0.8 km)		 Minor damage to one home
F0 SW of Stonewall Clarke 1802 0.3 miles
(0.5 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines
Kentucky
F2 W of Murray Calloway 1247 11.5 miles
(18.4 km)		 45 to 50 structures were damaged or destroyed including homes, barns and mobile homes. 4 people were injured
Alabama
F3 SE of Millport to NE of Howard Pickens, Lamar, Fayette, Walker 1655 38.9 miles
(62.2 km)		 2 deaths Numerous structures were damaged or destroyed. Two occupants of a mobile home in Lamar County were killed and another person was injured
F0 NE of Moundville Hale 1702 0.2 miles
(0.32 km)		 Minor damage to a nursery and mobile home
F2 Haleyville area Marion, Winston 1721 1.9 miles
(3 km)		 Several buildings including a shopping mall were severely damaged. There were 13 injuries.
F1 SW of Samantha Tuscaloosa 1739 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 A few outbuildings were destroyed and one home sustained roof damage.
F0 S of Butler Choctaw 1745 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines
F2 Decatur area Lawrence 1810 3.1 miles
(5 km)		 Damage to several structures. 2 people were injured
F2 NW of Trinity Morgan 1813 1.8 miles
(2.9 km)		 Damage to several structures
F0 Cedarville area Hale 1834 2.9 miles
(4.6 km)		 A few structures were damaged
F0 S of Gilbertown Choctaw 1835 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Damage to a few trees
F0 NW of Bucksville Tuscaloosa 1837 0.2 miles
(0.32 km)		 Brief touchdown with no damage
F0 W of Rembert Marengo 1856 0.6 miles
(1 km)		 Trees and power lines were blown down
F1 W of Vinemount Cullman 1859 2.1 miles
(3.4 km)		 3 chicken barns were damaged or destroyed and a frame garage collapsed
F0 SE of Toxey Choctaw 1900 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Minor roof damage to some structures
F0 SW of Good Hope Cullman 1902 0.2 miles
(0.32 km)		 A few trees were blown down
F4 SE of Oneonta to SE of Altoona Blount, Etowah 1919 10.1 miles
(16.2 km)		 22 people were injured. One frame house was completely destroyed while several heavy vehicles or equipment such as bulldozers, dump trunks and storage containers were rolled over or moved a certain distance. Several other homes, one church, one pole-barn building and trailers were damaged or destroyed
F2 NE of Trussville to E of Springville Jefferson, St. Clair 1931 13.4 miles
(21.4 km)		 Damage to a sports complex, several homes and mobile homes. One person was injured.
F2 SE of Morgan City Marshall 1941 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 10 to 15 mobile homes, a hangar, two hunting cabins and several outbuildings and barns were destroyed while a few homes also sustained damage. 7 people were injured
F2 W of New Hope Madison 1950 2.6 miles
(4.2 km)		 Several mobile homes were demolished while several businesses and 21 were damaged or destroyed.
F2 SW of Pine Ridge DeKalb 2025 7.1 miles
(11.4 km)		 Several chickens barns, a cinder-block building were damaged and a trailer home was destroyed
F2 NE of Sand Rock Cherokee 2101 8.2 miles
(13.1 km)		 2 deaths The fatalities were from a demolished mobile home. Several other structures were damaged and 4 people were injured.
F2 N of Pell City St. Clair 2110 4.5 miles
(7.2 km)		 The tornado did damage to an EMA/911 office building as well as its communication tower. Several structures in downtown Pell City and its industrial park suffered minor to moderate damage. A few homes also sustained damaged and two people were injured.
F2 Sylacauga area Talladega 2142 3.1 miles
(5 km)		 40 to 50 homes were damaged while 10 mobile homes and several outbuildings and sheds were destroyed. 15 people were injured.
F1 SW of Marbury Autauga 2154 9.8 miles
(15.7 km)		 A trailer home, two trailers and a shed were destroyed while several homes and mobile homes were damaged
F2 SE of Sycamore Talladega 2159 9.1 miles
(14.6 km)		 Several homes were damaged while 6 mobile homes, several outbuildings and barns were destroyed
F1 SW of Jacksonville Calhoun 2203 7.7 miles
(12.3 km)		 10 to 20 homes were damaged while several barns and outbuildings were destroyed. 5 people were injured due to flying debris.
F0 W of Evergreen Conecuh 2242 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines
F0 SW of Georgiana Butler 2308 3 miles
(4.8 km)		 Minor structural damage to a church
F1 NE of Barfield Clay, Randolph 2310 6.1 miles
(9.8 km)		 A chapel and several barns suffered extensive damage with some barns being destroyed
F1 S of McKenzie Butler 2342 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 A mobile home was destroyed, its three occupants being injured.
F0 SW of Garland Butler 0030 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Damage limited to trees
F0 Brewton area Escambia 0110 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Minor roof damage to a few homes
F0 NW of River Falls Covington 0128 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines
F0 E of Rose Hill Covington 0230 0.2 miles
(0.32 km)		 Damage limited to trees
F0 SW of Ansley Pike 0242 0.2 miles
(0.32 km)		 Damage limited to trees
F1 N of Tarentum Pike 0327 11.8 miles
(18.9 km)		 Moderate to significant roof damage to a few homes
F1 Daleville area Dale 0612 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Two restaurants and two industrial buildings were destroyed. An Inn and Loundge, maintenance buildings, one aircraft, 25 businesses, a church, a gas station, two supermarkets, a bank and several homes. 25 people inside the Lounge were injured.
F1 S of Ewell Dale 0630 0.1 miles
(0.16 km)		 A double mobile home was destroyed injuring its two occupants
Georgia
F1 E of Head River Dade 2106 1.5 miles
(2.4 km)		 A concrete block garage and a barn were destroyed with other structures with some damage.
Indiana
F1 SE of Fenns to Gwynneville Shelby 0108 16 miles
(25.6 km)		 Damage to 23 homes, an auto shop and 7 other businesses.
Source: Tornado History Project Storm Data - November 24, 2001

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Composite Weather Map 11-24-01
  2. ^ Bolivar County MS - Washington County MS Tornado
  3. ^ Madison County MS Tornado
  4. ^ NOAA's National Weather Service - Birmingham, Alabama

[edit] External links

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Tornado events in Alabama