2012 Hurricane Isaac tornado outbreak

2012 Hurricane Isaac tornado outbreak

Remnants of Isaac moving into the Midwestern United States
Date(s) August 27–September 4, 2012
Duration 8 days, 15 hours, 22 minutes
Confirmed tornadoes 32
Maximum rated tornado EF2 (Enhanced Fujita Scale)
Damages $6.38 million (2012 USD)
Casualties 0
Areas affected Central United States, Eastern United States

The 2012 Hurricane Isaac tornado outbreak was a tropical cyclone-produced severe-weather event that affected the U.S. states of Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, and Illinois from August 27 to September 4, 2012. Hurricane Isaac produced a total of 34 tornadoes, with the strongest being two EF2s in Mississippi and Arkansas. 19 tornado watches were issued for Isaac over eight days. 171 tornado warnings covered 12 states, with Mississippi being issued the most at 77.[1]

Event summary

A tropical wave emerged off the western coast of Africa into the Atlantic Ocean on August 16. After acquiring a well-defined center of circulation and deep atmospheric convection, the disturbance was deemed organized enough to be declared a tropical depression by 06:00 UTC on August 21 while located about 720 mi (1,160 km) east of the Lesser Antilles. Twelve hours later, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Isaac. Steered swiftly westward across the eastern Caribbean Sea by a subtropical ridge, the cyclone steadily intensified prior to making landfall near Jacmel, Haiti with winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) by 06:00 UTC on August 25; a few hours later, Isaac moved ashore near Cajobabo, Guantánamo, Cuba with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). After moving through the Straits of Florida and into the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the system initially struggled to organize as its wind field expanded. By 12:00 UTC on August 28, however, data from an aircraft reconnaissance flight supported designating Isaac as a Category 1 hurricane. The cyclone attained peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) prior to making two landfalls, one at the Southwest Pass over the Mississippi River and the second near Port Fourchon, Louisiana. Once inland, Isaac steadily weakened and dissipated over Missouri early on September 1.[2]

On August 22, the Storm Prediction Center noted the potential for severe weather to evolve in association with Isaac; however, considerable model uncertainty precluded the addition of a threat area.[3] Three days later, a severe threat area was outlined across southern Georgia, southeastern Alabama, and northern Florida as the outer bands of the hurricane were forecast to rotate into the region.[4]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating
EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total
24 6 2 0 0 0 32

August 27 event

List of confirmed tornadoes - Monday, August 27, 2012[nb 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[nb 2] Summary Refs
EF0 S of Narcoossee Osceola FL 28°16′N 81°13′W / 28.27°N 81.22°W 0709 – 0710 0.83 mi (1.34 km) 30 yd (27 m) $15,000 An abandoned mobile home was destroyed and singles were removed from a mobile home. Another home had a broken window and shrub and fence damage on the property. The tornado also passed through citrus groves, knocking down several trees. [5]
EF0 W of Vero Beach Indian River FL 27°38′N 80°30′W / 27.63°N 80.5°W 1603 – 1605 1.61 mi (2.59 km) 180 yd (160 m) $500,000 A weak tornado on a discontinuous path caused damage to 95 structures, most of which were mobile homes. Approximately 62 received minor damage with an additional 33 sustaining major damage. Carports and awnings were damaged as well. [6]
EF0 ESE of Tampa Hillsborough FL 27°56′N 82°26′W / 27.94°N 82.43°W 2044 – 2045 0.04 mi (0.064 km) 20 yd (18 m) $2,000 A waterspout moved ashore and damaged fences, trees, and roofs at six residences. [7]

August 29 event

List of confirmed tornadoes - Wednesday, August 29, 2012[nb 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[nb 2] Summary Refs
EF0 NE of Greenwood Jackson FL 30°53′N 85°09′W / 30.88°N 85.15°W 2212 – 2214 0.37 mi (0.60 km) 25 yd (23 m) $0 Brief tornado in an open area as documented on video; no damage. [8]
EF1 SSW of Gulfport Harrison MS 30°22′N 89°05′W / 30.37°N 89.08°W 2218 – 2221 0.5 mi (0.80 km) 25 yd (23 m) $25,000 A tornado destroyed a home that was under construction and collapsed the roof of a front porch to a separate house. Several trees were downed. [9]
EF0 N of Graceville Holmes FL 30°59′N 85°31′W / 30.99°N 85.51°W 2224 – 2225 0.27 mi (0.43 km) 25 yd (23 m) $10,000 The front porch was torn away from a mobile home and numerous trees were downed. [10]
EF1 S of Ocean Springs Jackson MS 30°22′N 88°45′W / 30.36°N 88.75°W 0014 – 0016 0.43 mi (0.69 km) 40 yd (37 m) $40,000 Several roofs were damaged and windows were blown out. A few trees were downed as well. [11]

August 30 event

List of confirmed tornadoes - Thursday, August 30, 2012[nb 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[nb 2] Summary Refs
EF1 N of Lowery Geneva, Coffee AL 31°11′N 86°08′W / 31.19°N 86.14°W 0744 – 0748 2.97 mi (4.78 km) 35 yd (32 m) $25,000 Several large trees were knocked down and the roof was torn from a mobile home. Several sheds and a barn were damaged. [12][13]
EF2 SW of Pascagoula Jackson MS 30°20′N 88°33′W / 30.34°N 88.55°W 1210 – 1212 0.77 mi (1.24 km) 40 yd (37 m) $75,000 Impact to homes was largely confined to minor structural damage, with the exception of one home that lost the entirety of its roof. Trees were downed. [14]
EF1 WSW of Creek Clarke MS 31°59′N 88°30′W / 31.99°N 88.5°W 1449 – 1456 6.1 mi (9.8 km) 100 yd (91 m) $100,000 Several structures were either damaged or destroyed, including numerous outbuildings and two mobile homes. Light poles, trees, and a fence were downed as well. [15]
EF1 E of Increase Lauderdale MS 32°14′N 88°32′W / 32.24°N 88.53°W 1518 – 1521 1.4 mi (2.3 km) 100 yd (91 m) $70,000 Two barns were damaged, two sheds were blown into a pond, and a tree fell on another shed. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. [16]
EF0 E of Toxey Choctaw AL 31°54′N 88°17′W / 31.9°N 88.28°W 1558 – 1600 0.01 mi (0.016 km) 50 yd (46 m) $5,000 A few trees were downed. [17]

August 31 event

List of confirmed tornadoes - Friday, August 31, 2012[nb 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[nb 2] Summary Refs
EF0 ENE of Fieldon Jersey IL 39°07′N 90°28′W / 39.11°N 90.47°W 1936 – 1937 0.18 mi (0.29 km) 40 yd (37 m) Unknown Minor damage was inflicted to crops and a residence. Trees surrounding the house were snapped off. [18]
EF0 NW of Saint Thomas Madison IL 38°47′N 90°08′W / 38.78°N 90.13°W 1950 – 1951 0.2 mi (0.32 km) 50 yd (46 m) $0 A brief tornado touchdown; no reported damage. [19]
EF0 Carrollton area Greene IL 39°17′N 90°25′W / 39.28°N 90.41°W 2027 – 2030 1.44 mi (2.32 km) 60 yd (55 m) Unknown A garage and a storage shed sustained major damage. A home sustained minor roof damage and many trees and power poles were downed. [20]
EF1 Franklin area Morgan IL 39°37′N 90°02′W / 39.61°N 90.04°W 2027 – 2030 0.25 mi (0.40 km) 75 yd (69 m) $230,000 A brief tornado destroyed a repair shop, damaged the roof of a house, and rolled a mobile home off its foundation. Several trees were downed. [21]
EF0 NW of Franklin Morgan IL 39°38′N 90°05′W / 39.64°N 90.09°W 2232 – 2233 0.16 mi (0.26 km) 10 yd (9.1 m) $0 A brief tornado touchdown in an open field; no reported damage. [22]
EF0 NNE of O'Fallon St. Charles MO 38°49′N 90°40′W / 38.82°N 90.67°W 2234 – 2235 0.4 mi (0.64 km) 120 yd (110 m) Unknown A tornado struck Fort Zumwalt North High School where it downed several trees, blew debris onto the tennis court, broke the window out of a nearby truck, knocked over a set of standalone aluminum bleachers at the football field, and blew soccer goals against a line of trees. It then left the high school property and knocked down several more trees, blew playground equipment from a preschool into a parking lot, and knocked over a small set of bleachers and a portion of a 4-foot high chain-link fence that surrounded a nearby baseball diamond. [23]

September 1 event

List of confirmed tornadoes - Saturday, September 1, 2012[nb 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[nb 2] Summary Refs
EF0 ESE of Benson Woodford IL 40°50′N 89°05′W / 40.84°N 89.09°W 1648 – 1649 0.06 mi (0.097 km) 20 yd (18 m) $0 A brief tornado touchdown in an open field; no reported damage. [24]
EF0 N of Benson Woodford IL 40°53′N 89°07′W / 40.89°N 89.12°W 1703 – 1704 0.69 mi (1.11 km) 20 yd (18 m) $0 A brief tornado touchdown in an open field; no reported damage. [25]
EF0 NNW of Benson Woodford, Marshall IL 40°54′N 89°09′W / 40.9°N 89.15°W 1705 – 1709 2.25 mi (3.62 km) 75 yd (69 m) $5,000 The tornado pulled the tin roof from a shed and damaged a corn field. [26][27]
EF0 S of Sparland Marshall IL 40°58′N 89°27′W / 40.96°N 89.45°W 1732 – 1733 0.09 mi (0.14 km) 20 yd (18 m) $0 A brief tornado touchdown; no reported damage. [28]
EF0 ESE of Wyoming Stark IL 41°03′N 89°41′W / 41.05°N 89.69°W 1808 – 1811 1.3 mi (2.1 km) 50 yd (46 m) $0 A brief tornado touchdown in an open field; no reported damage. [29]
EF0 SE of Castleton Stark IL 41°05′N 89°39′W / 41.08°N 89.65°W 1811 – 1814 1.1 mi (1.8 km) 20 yd (18 m) $0 A brief tornado touchdown; no reported damage. [30]
EF0 W of Modena Stark IL 41°07′N 89°46′W / 41.12°N 89.77°W 1824 – 1826 0.94 mi (1.51 km) 50 yd (46 m) $0 A brief tornado touchdown in an open field; no reported damage. [31]
EF2 N of Corning Clay AR 36°25′N 90°39′W / 36.41°N 90.65°W 2119 – 2121 0.9 mi (1.4 km) 75 yd (69 m) $5,050,000 Two hangars at Corning Municipal Airport sustained extensive damage and a few others sustained minor damage. Several aircraft were damaged severely and several power poles were downed. Two homes had windows blown out and the roof of a shed was blown off. [32]
EF0 N of Corning Clay AR 36°27′N 90°35′W / 36.45°N 90.59°W 2122 – 2123 0.06 mi (0.097 km) 25 yd (23 m) $5,000 A brief tornado touchdown in a farm field. [33]
EF0 NW of Fisk Butler MO 36°48′N 90°17′W / 36.8°N 90.29°W 2132 – 2139 2.95 mi (4.75 km) 20 yd (18 m) $0 A well-documented tornado stayed over open farm country and produced no known damage. [34]
EF0 E of Qulin Butler MO 36°36′N 90°15′W / 36.6°N 90.25°W 2143 – 2148 4.29 mi (6.90 km) 20 yd (18 m) $0 The tornado remained over open farm country; no reported damage. [35]
EF0 SSE of Bucoda Butler MO 36°05′N 90°13′W / 36.09°N 90.21°W 2303 – 2304 0.03 mi (0.048 km) 25 yd (23 m) $100,000 A farm shed and the equipment inside was damaged by the tornado. [36]
EF0 NNE of Flackville Marion IN 39°47′N 86°11′W / 39.79°N 86.18°W 2241 – 2242 0.01 mi (0.016 km) 25 yd (23 m) $0 A downtown tower media camera observed a brief tornado; no reported damage. [37]

September 3 event

List of confirmed tornadoes - Monday, September 3, 2012[nb 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[nb 2] Summary Refs
EF0 S of Wyoming Kent DE 39°06′N 75°34′W / 39.1°N 75.56°W 1920 – 1921 0.21 mi (0.34 km) 35 yd (32 m) $100,000 Several houses were damaged, the roof was torn off of a garage, and two vehicles were damaged. [38]

September 4 event

List of confirmed tornadoes - Tuesday, September 4, 2012[nb 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[nb 2] Summary Refs
EF0 Mount Ephraim area Camden NJ 39°53′N 75°06′W / 39.88°N 75.1°W 2231 – 2232 0.16 mi (0.26 km) 25 yd (23 m) $25,000 Several homes suffered roof damage, mostly from falling trees. One tree severely damaged a sidewalk. [39]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 All monetary values are in 2012 United States dollars unless otherwise stated.

References

  1. ↑ Ian Livingston (September 4, 2012). "Hurricane Isaac's tornado production from late August through early September 2012". USTornadoes.com. USTornadoes.com. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  2. ↑ Robbie J. Berg (January 28, 2013). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Isaac (PDF). National Hurricane Center (Report) (Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  3. ↑ Jeremy Grams (August 22, 2012). "Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Aug 22, 2012". Storm Prediction Center. Norman, Oklahoma: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ Jared Guyer (August 25, 2012). "Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Aug 23, 2012". Storm Prediction Center. Norman, Oklahoma: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Melbourne, Florida (2012). Florida Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  6. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Melbourne, Florida (2012). Florida Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  7. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Tampa, Florida (2012). Florida Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  8. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Tallahassee, Florida (2012). Florida Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  9. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in New Orleans, Louisiana (2012). Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  10. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Tallahassee, Florida (2012). Florida Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  11. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in New Orleans, Mississippi (2012). Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  12. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Tallahassee, Florida (2012). Alabama Event Report: EF1 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  13. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Tallahassee, Florida (2012). Alabama Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  14. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in New Orleans, Louisiana (2012). Mississippi Event Report: EF2 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  15. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Jackson, Mississippi (2012). Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  16. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Jackson, Mississippi (2012). Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  17. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Mobile, Alabama (2012). Alabama Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  18. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  19. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  20. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  21. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Central Illinois (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF1 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  22. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Central Illinois (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  23. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri (2012). Missouri Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  24. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Central Illinois (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  25. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Central Illinois (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  26. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Central Illinois (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  27. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Central Illinois (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  28. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Central Illinois (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  29. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Central Illinois (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  30. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Central Illinois (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  31. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Central Illinois (2012). Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  32. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Memphis, Tennessee (2012). Arkansas Event Report: EF2 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  33. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Memphis, Tennessee (2012). Arkansas Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  34. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky (2012). Missouri Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  35. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky (2012). Missouri Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  36. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky (2012). Missouri Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  37. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana (2012). Indiana Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  38. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Mount Holly, New Jersey (2012). Delaware Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  39. ↑ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Mount Holly, New Jersey (2012). Delaware Event Report: EF0 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved February 2, 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hurricane Isaac (2012).