May 1-2, 2008 tornado outbreak

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May 2008 tornado outbreak

Tornado damage in Damascus, Arkansas on May 2, 2008
Date of tornado outbreak:	May 1—May 2, 2008
Duration1:	29 hours, 51 minutes
Maximum rated tornado2:	EF3 tornado
Tornadoes caused:	50 confirmed
Damages:	unknown
Fatalities:	6 + 1 non–tornadic
Areas affected:	Most of the Central and Southern United States
1Time from first tornado to last tornado 2Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita Scale

The May 1–2, 2008 tornado outbreak was a tornado outbreak that took place across the Southern and Central United States on May 1 and May 2, 2008. The outbreak was responsible for at least seven fatalities (six from tornadoes^[1]) and 23 injuries in Arkansas.^[2] There were at least 29 tornado reports from Iowa to Oklahoma on May 1 and 67 more in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas on May 2.^[3][4] At least 50 tornadoes were confirmed by weather authorities.

Contents 1 Meteorological synopsis 2 Reported tornadoes 2.1 May 1 event 2.2 May 2 event 3 Kansas City area derecho/tornadoes 4 Arkansas tornadoes 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Meteorological synopsis

On May 1, 2008, a large low pressure system developed over Nebraska, with a long warm front stretching east towards the Great Lakes. A cold front and dry line were situated across Oklahoma and Kansas during the late afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a moderate risk of severe weather for eastern Kansas and a small part of Missouri, which included Kansas City.^[5] On May 2 another moderate risk of severe weather was issued by the SPC from Central Illinois to northern Louisiana.^[6] The risk area was later revised southward to only include eastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, and northwestern Mississippi.^[7] Most of the severe weather shifted into Arkansas where dewpoints were near 70 °F (21 °C) with CAPE values over 2000 j/kg (in some places up to 3000 j/kg) and helicity values (potential for rotating winds) were exceeding 200 m2/s2.^[8]

While most of the severe activity was situated across the southern states, tornado watches were also issued for portions of southern Wisconsin, southern Michigan and northern Indiana as activity developed near the center of the low.^[9][10] No tornadoes were reported in this watch area.^[4]

On the northern fringes of the storm system heavy snow fell across northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. The town of Lead, South Dakota received a total of 54.5 inches, or about 4.5 feet (1.4 m) of snow from April 30 to May 2. Several other areas received one – four feet (30 – 120 cm) of snow.^[11]

[edit] Reported tornadoes

Confirmed Total	Confirmed EF0	Confirmed EF1	Confirmed EF2	Confirmed EF3	Confirmed EF4	Confirmed EF5
50	17	19	10	3	0	0

• Note: One tornado in Oklahoma has not been given a rating yet.

[edit] May 1 event

List of reported tornadoes - Thursday, May 1, 2008
EF#	Location	County/Parish	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Iowa
EF0	SW of Sioux Center	Sioux		2359	unknown
EF2	S of Rock Valley	Lyon, Sioux		0007	13 miles (21 km)	Tornado on the west side of the town with power lines down. 8 farmsteads sustained varying amounts of damage. Tornado was estimated at 300-500 feet wide.
EF0	E of Doon	Lyon		0030	unknown
EF0	W of George	Lyon		0044	unknown
EF0	S of Sheldon	Sioux		unknown	unknown
Missouri
EF0	E of Plattsburg	Clinton		0026	unknown	Reported tornado briefly touched down.
EF0	SW of Belton	Cass		0208	unknown	Brief tornado touchdown.
EF2	Gladstone	Clay		0656	unknown	200 homes were damaged including 20 destroyed according to Mayor Mark Revenaugh.[12]
EF3	NW of Liberty	Clay		0703	unknown
Oklahoma
EF?	NE of Glencoe	Payne		0043		Confirmed but unrated tornado
EF0	NE of Pawnee	Pawnee		0118	unknown	Tornado confirmed by storm spotters, but remained in open country.
EF1	W of Blackburn	Pawnee		0125	3 miles (4.8 km)	Large cone tornado with structural damage to one house and trees and power poles snapped.
EF1	SE of Ralston	Osage		0138	17 miles (28 km)	Two houses were damaged and widespread tree and power line damage was reported.
EF0	SW of Pawhuska	Osage		0207	5 miles (8 km)	Damage limited to trees.
EF0	SE of Bristow	Creek		0645	7 miles (11 km)	Barns and outbuildings were destroyed along the path. Tree damage was also reported.
EF1	NW of Pryor	Rogers, Mayes		0703	9 miles (15 km)	Several roofs were blown off houses, and mobile homes were heavily damaged. Extensive tree damage also reproted.
EF1	W of Pryor Creek	Mayes		0703	0.5 miles (0.8 km)
Kansas
EF0	NE of Lyndon	Osage		0543	1.5 miles (2.4 km)	Significant damage to trees and the roof of a home was lifted. An antenna and garage were also damaged.
EF2	NW of Clinton	Douglas		0604	2 miles (3.2 km)	Significant damage to an unoccupied home with two thirds of it removed from its foundation. Damage also reported to a garage and an outbuilding.
Sources: Storms Reports for May 1, 2008, NWS Kansas City, NWS Tulsa, 2008 Oklahoma tornadoes NWS Tulsa PNS NWS Sioux Falls, SD, NWS Topeka

[edit] May 2 event

List of reported tornadoes - Friday, May 2, 2008
EF#	Location	County/Parish	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Missouri
EF0	SW of Ava	Douglas		1058	7 miles (11 km)	Intermittent tornado touchdown with damage to trees.
EF0	Ava	Douglas		1105	0.25 mile (400 m)	Brief tornado in the northeast part of town, amidst widespread derecho damage.
Arkansas
EF3	Damascus area	Conway, Van Buren, Cleburne		1321	unknown	5 deaths - Severe damage reported in the area with houses damaged and destroyed. Two of the fatalities were in a mobile home and three in a permanent home.
EF1	NW of Damascus	Van Buren		unknown	unknown	Satellite tornado from the main Damascus storm
EF1	N of Dierks	Howard		1403	4 miles (6.4 km)	2 barns were destroyed and a mobile home was damaged due to a tree
EF2	E of Tull to S of Lonoke	Grant, Saline, Pulaski, Lonoke		1642	40.5 miles (64.8 km)	1 death - Reported by law enforcement. Survey not completed. Several manufactured homes, outbuildings and barns were destroyed. Other homes and structures were damaged. Communities affected included Palestine, Belfast, Ico, Hensley, Woodson and Keo
EF2	N of Carthage to Sheridan	Dallas, Grant		1708	22 miles (35.2 km)	Ham radio operator reporting a wall cloud rotation with possible debris. Manufactured homes were damaged. Minor damage to well-built homes.
EF1	Carlisle area	Lonoke		1721	2.6 miles (4.2 km)	Some homes had roof damage with more seriously damaged due to fallen trees. Vehicles flipped over on Interstate 40
EF1	NW of Hazen	Prairie		1815	2.6 miles (4.2 km)	Tornado reported near Hazen. Damage to trees and power lines
EF2	Etowah area	Mississippi		1954	4 miles (6.4 km)	Reported of significant damage in the town of Etowah, Arkansas according to a KAIT-TV spotter. A metal building and trailers were destroyed, roofs were removed from homes and a Winnebago was blown off. Trees were snapped with vinyl sidings hanging into some trees.
EF3	Earle/Heaver area	Cross, Crittenden		2020	12 miles (19.2 km)	Preliminary rating subject to change and possibly multiple tornadoes. Spotters reported reported a large and extremely dangerous tornado on the ground. There were reports according to WMC-TV of multiple houses destroyed in the Earle area and ambulances have been dispatched. Cars were overturned and the Earle High School, a Baptist Church, a warehouse and businesses were damaged. Several people are missing/unaccounted for in Earle. Reports of two tornadoes on the ground near Turrell. Four people were injured.
EF2	N of Lake Village	Chicot		2352	10 miles (16 km)	Large and dangerous tornado reported. A mobile home, sheds, barns, outbuildings and carports were damaged or destroyed. Two boats, fences and a house were also damaged and a trampoline was blown for a certain distance. Initially rated an EF1 it was later upgraded in an EF2.
EF0	NW of Brinkley	Monroe		unknown	0.5 miles (0.8 km)	One tree was uprooted and tin was removed from barns
EF0	NW of Cotton Plant	Woodruff		unknown	3 miles (4.8 km)	Damaged to timber and some metal-roofed structures
EF0	S of Tyronza	Poinsett		unknown	3.2 miles (5.1 km)
Texas
EF1	Canton	Van Zandt		1330	1 mile (1.6 km)	Survey confirmed a tornado in the area with damage reported. Two people were injured. This storm affected the first day of the popular First Monday Trade Days flea market; however, the damage was quickly cleaned up and the event continued without further interruption.
EF1	NE of Henderson	Rusk		1621	5.5 miles (8.8 km)	A metal building was completely destroyed and minor damage to one home
EF1	Beckville area	Panola		1655	5 miles (8 km)	Reported by sheriff. A manufactured home lost its roof and other homes were damaged due to fallen trees
Tennessee
EF2	W of Dyersburg	Dyer		2125	1.5 miles (2.4 km)	Spotted by trained spotter. Mobile home was destroyed and power lines were downed
EF1	SW of Clarksville (1st tornado)	Montgomery		0457	0.8 mile (1.3 km)	First of several tornadoes damaged several trees.
EF1	SW of Clarksville (2nd tornado)	Montgomery		0500	0.2 mile (320 m)	Brief tornado tore a mobile home from its foundation.
EF1	SW of Clarksville (3rd tornado)	Montgomery		0505	0.5 mile (800 m)	A mobile home rolled over, injuring three occupants. Trees were also snapped.
EF1	SW of Clarksville (4th tornado)	Montgomery		0510	0.3 mile (480 m)	Tornado struck the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, destroying a pavilion.
Mississippi
EF2	New Albany area (1st tornado)	Union		2241	3 miles (4.8 km)	Large and dangerous tornado reported. Numerous houses were damaged, along with a church and several large buildings.
EF2	New Albany area (2nd tornado)	Union		2256	1 mile (1.6 km)	10 houses were damaged, including two houses that completely lost their roofs.
EF1	S of Jumpertown	Prentiss		2341	14 miles (22.4 km)	Numerous trees snapped or uprooted
EF1	SE of Keownville	Union		0011	1.5 miles (2.4 km)	Several houses were damaged, primarily to their roofs.
EF0	SW of Benoit	Bolivar		0033	1.5 miles (2.4 km)	Damage limited to trees
EF1	NE of Benoit	Bolivar		0102	8 miles (12.8 km)	Trees and power lines snapped
EF1	SE of Morgan City	Leflore		0550	1.3 miles (2.2 km)	Numerous trees snapped. One tree fell on a house causing significant damage
Louisiana
EF0	NW of Mer Rouge	Morehouse		0101	3.5 miles (5.6 km)	Trees damaged and grass flattened
Sources: Storms Reports for May 2, 2008, NWS Springfield NWS Little Rock NWS Shreveport, LA, NWS Memphis, NWS Nashville, NWS Jackson, MS, NWS Jackson, MS (LSR)

[edit] Kansas City area derecho/tornadoes

Thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and early evening of May 1 near Oklahoma City and Kansas City, and produced large hail of up to 3 inches (76 mm) near Midwest City, Oklahoma.^[3] There was extensive hail damage throughout Oklahoma County.^[13] Ten tornadoes also touched down from these storms in Kansas and Oklahoma.

In the overnight hours of May 2, the supercells re-organized into a squall line/serial derecho that moved across the eastern Great Plains. Significant damage was reported across the Kansas City area, particularly in the Gladstone area near 77th Street and Euclid and northwest of Liberty near 108th Street and Cookingham were several homes and businesses were severely damaged or destroyed, including an Arby's restaurant. Several other commercial structures and homes sustained significant damage and railway cars were also overturned. Forty-thousand KCP&L customers were left without power. At least three people were injured by the storms in the Kansas City Metro Area. St. Pius X High School and Oak Hill Day School were closed on Friday as a result of the storm.^[14]

It was later confirmed that much of the damage was caused by two strong tornadoes that were embedded inside the derecho; an EF2 in Gladston and an EF3 in Brookridge. According to Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser, over 300 structures were damaged. In Gladstone over 200 buildings were damaged and several destroyed according to the mayor. Tornadoes also hit Douglas County, Kansas causing locally significant damage. There no reports of fatalities with these storms. It was later reported that despite tornado warnings, many tornado sirens were not sounded in Douglas County and in other parts of the Kansas City Metro.^[15][16][17]

Five years prior to these tornadoes, areas near Gladstone were hit by an F4 tornado that caused extensive damage while a strong tornado also hit near Liberty during the same outbreak.^[18][19]

[edit] Arkansas tornadoes

At around 8:30 am CDT on May 2, a tornado north of Little Rock caused extensive damage to the Damascus area and killed three people in Van Buren County.^[20] The tornado then proceeded into Conway County and killed more people.^[21] One person was also killed in Benton by straight-line winds when a tree fell onto the mobile home where she was sleeping.^[22] In Pulaski County, another person was killed by a tornado. Some damage was reported to several structures south and east of Little Rock including near Hensley were the fatality was reported.^[23][24]

At around 3:30 pm CDT, a large F3 tornado hit the town of Earle, Arkansas west of Memphis causing major damage to homes, businesses and the high school, and several people were injured.^[25] A supercell to its north also produced a significant tornado in the Etowah area causing extensive damage to several structures including destroyed trailers.^[26]

Governor of Arkansas Mike Beebe stated that in Arkansas alone about 350 homes were damaged or destroyed. Seven counties were declared disaster areas including Van Buren, Saline, Pulaski, Cleburne, Conway, Grant and Benton. National Guard were deployed to assist in the cleanup and relief efforts. About 6,000 homes lost power across much of north Arkansas.^[27]

[edit] See also

• Tornadoes of 2008
• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• Mid-May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence
• Late-May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• NWS Little Rock, Arkansas summary page
• NWS Memphis, Tenneesee summary page
• NWS Kansas City, Kansas summary page
• NWS Springfield, MO summary page
• Multimedia Review from the Severe weather event from the NWS Tulsa
• Severe weather outbreak gallery from WMC-TV
• Severe weather outbreak gallery from KAIT-TV
• FEMA analysis