April 2007 nor'easter

Spring Nor'easter of 2007
Category 1 "Notable" (RSI: 1.167)
Type Extratropical cyclone
Nor'easter
Formed April 13, 2007
Dissipated April 17, 2007
Lowest pressure 969 mbar (hPa)[1]
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion 23.0 inches (58.42 centimeters)
Damage $264 million (2007 USD)
Areas affected East Coast of the United States, Eastern Canada
Part of the Winter storms of 2006–07

The April or Spring Nor’easter of 2007 was a nor'easter that affected mainly the eastern parts of North America during its four-day course, from April 14 to April 17, 2007. The combined effects of high winds, heavy rainfall, and high tides led to flooding, storm damages, power outages, and evacuations, and disrupted traffic and commerce. In the north, heavy wet snow caused the loss of power for several thousands of homes in Ontario and Quebec. The storm caused at least 18 fatalities.

Meteorological synopsis

The storm that would become the April 2007 Nor'easter started out in the Southwestern United States, as an upper-level disturbance in the jet stream, on April 13.[1] It brought high wind and fire danger to California, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona. The storm then moved out into the southern Plains States, bringing heavy snow to Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms, with hail, wind, and tornadoes, affected parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. The storm then moved across the Mid-Atlantic States, and into the Atlantic Ocean, following the East Coast. The storm then rapidly intensified into a major nor'easter, with the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The storm stalled just offshore from New York City and continued to strengthen. The lowest barometric pressure recorded was 968 millibars (28.58 in Hg), equivalent to that of a moderate category 2 hurricane.[1]

Impact

Water levels of the Pompton River, New Jersey by April 16, 2007

The National Weather Service reported 7.57 inches (192 mm) of rain in Central Park by midnight of April 15, the second heaviest rainfall in 24 hours on record, and indicated that this storm caused the worst flooding since Hurricane Floyd in 1999.[2] Major airports in the New York area resumed flights on April 16, after having had to cancel over 500 flights before. Local rail and transit lines reported delays and cancellations affecting the MTA, NJ Transit, LIRR, and Metro-North Railroad. Power failures affected several thousand people.[2]

On April 16, 2007, the storm caused sustained winds of nearly 100 mph (87 knots) on, and near New Hampshire's Mount Washington, with gusts topping out at 156 mph (136 knots).[3]

Nor'easter April 16, 2007

While areas closer to the shore received heavy rainfall, higher regions inland received unseasonal snow.[4] Several towns suffered from flooding including Mamaroneck in New York, and Bound Brook and Manville in New Jersey, while coastal towns had to deal with damage from high tides. Most major highways in Westchester County, New York were closed on April 15 and April 16 due to extreme flooding. In Quebec, several regions including the Laurentides and Charlevoix regions received in excess of 6 inches (15 cm) of snow with areas exceeding well above 1 foot (30 cm) of snow. In the city of Ottawa, 17 cm (5 in) of heavy wet snow fell in just a few hours causing power lines and trees to fall down causing scattered blackouts in several parts of the city.[5] Similar damage was reported in the higher elevations north of Montreal and Ottawa.

In total, more than 175,000 homes in Canada suffered a power outage, including 160,000 Hydro-Québec customers mainly in areas from Gatineau towards Quebec City including Montreal, Lanaudière and the Laurentians with an additional 15,000 Hydro One and Hydro Ottawa customers.[6] In the US over a quarter million homes lost power with New York and Pennsylvania being the hardest hit states due to the strong winds.

Governor Eliot Spitzer of New York activated 3,200 members of the National Guard on alert. Richard Codey, acting governor of New Jersey, declared a state of emergency.[7]

Downtown Bound Brook, New Jersey, April 16, 2007

The storm was blamed for several fatalities, including one person in a tornado in South Carolina, two people in storm-related traffic accidents in New York and Connecticut,[8] two people in West Virginia, three people in New Jersey,[9] and prior to its arrival in the East, five deaths in Kansas and Texas.[2] In Quebec, an accident between a van and a tractor trailer killed five occupants of the van in a highway north of Montreal.[10] Numerous other accidents were reported by OPP and the Sûreté du Québec during the storm.

The Boston Marathon took place in what many considered to be the worst weather in its 110-year history. Race officials held serious talks about whether or not to cancel the race.[11] The men's race had the slowest winning time in thirty years (1977). In the women's race, "[t]he rainy and windy conditions led to the slowest winning time since 1985".[12]

High winds during the storm prevented emergency medical services from using helicopters for evacuation of the injured at the Virginia Tech massacre.[13]

The Internal Revenue Service delayed by two days the deadline for tax filing for victims of the nor'easter.[14]

While filing for federal disaster relief, acting governor Codey of New Jersey indicated that the storm caused $180 million in property damage in New Jersey, making it the second-worst rain storm in its history, after Hurricane Floyd.[9]

Tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total
0 15 16 4 1 0 0 36

April 13 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Texas
EF0 NE of Rule Haskell 1845 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Brief tornado crossed Highway 6 and caused no damage.[15]
EF0 S of Seymour Baylor 1938 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 This large wedge tornado remained over open country, though it was likely capable of causing major damage.[16]
EF0 S of Benbrook Tarrant 2255 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Tornado damaged fences, trees, and street signs. The facade of a business was also slightly damaged.[17]
EF1 Fort Worth/Haltom City Tarrant 2309 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 1 death - Substantial roof damage was done to a grocery store, several homes, and a church. Another church suffered steeple damage, and commercial buildings were also damaged, including one that sustained total collapse of an east-facing wall. Tractor-trailers were damaged or destroyed, and numerous trees and power lines were downed as well.[18]
EF0 Dallas Dallas 0000 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Several trees, tree limbs, and fences were downed in a residential area, and apartment buildings sustained roof damage.[19]
EF0 S of Royse City Rockwall 0045 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Two barns were destroyed and fences were downed.[20]
EF0 SW of Greenville Hunt 0053 unknown Brief tornado caused damage to trees.[21]
Source: NCDC Storm Data

April 14 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Mississippi
EF0 N of Pinebur Marion 1510 unknown Trees were snapped and large limbs were blown down.[22]
EF0 SE of Oak Bowery Jones 1535 unknown Brief tornado remained in rural areas with no damage.[23]
EF1 SE of Petal Forrest 1641 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 One home had significant damage with the carport being destroyed and other damage to sidings, roof and windows. Trees were snapped or uprooted and a power pole also snapped.[24]
Alabama
EF1 S of Vredenburgh Monroe 1833 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Two churches were damaged, and an old home was pushed off of its blocks and lost its roof. Trees were downed in a convergent pattern. A microburst in the area preceded the tornado.[25]
EF0 NW of Saville Crenshaw 2100 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Rope tornado damaged the tin roofs of three buildings on a poultry farm. A church had shingles taken off and a tree fell onto the roof.[26]
EF1 NW of Castleberry Conecuh 2212 unknown One residence was damaged and trees were blown down.
EF1 W of Tanyard Bullock 2311 3 miles
(4.8 km)		 One barn was destroyed and several homes had minor roof damage. Trees were snapped and uprooted as well.[27]
EF1 N of Ozark Dale 0005 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 A carport, two sheds, a barn and a greenhouse were destroyed. A residential gable collapsed, and several homes sustained moderate damage in the community of Post Oak. Trees were downed as well, including one that landed on a house.[28]
Georgia
EF0 N of Morgan Calhoun 0145 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 One structure was damaged and numerous trees were knocked down.[29]
EF1 NW of Leesburg Lee 0230 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Fifteen structures were damaged, including a mobile home and a frame home being destroyed. Numerous trees and power lines were downed as well.
EF1 Eastman Dodge 0523 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 A greenhouse, an announcers booth at a football field and two mobile homes were destroyed. Several retain buildings sustained minor damage as well. One home was destroyed by a fallen tree, injuring both occupants. Numerous trees and power lines were downed, some of which landed on homes and caused damage.[30]
EF2 S of Dublin Laurens 0545 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 Two mobile homes and a greenhouse were destroyed. The carport of a site-built home was removed as well as a portion of the roof. Several other mobile homes and site-built homes sustained minor damage from wind and fallen trees. 3 people were injured.[31]
EF0 NE of Cedar Grove Laurens 0550 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 Outbuildings were damaged and numerous trees were downed.[32]
EF1 SE of Orland to NW of Norristown Junction Treutlen, Emanuel, Johnson 0604 14 miles
(22.4 km)		 One mobile home was rolled over and a utility building lost portions of its roof. About a dozen homes in Adrian were damaged. Two homes at a campground were also damaged due to fallen trees. In Orianna, two homes were heavily damaged and outbuildings were destroyed. A mobile home was also destroyed in Emanuel County near the end of the path.[33]
EF1 SE of Dublin to SW of Kite Laurens, Johnson 0605 19 miles
(30.4 km)		 Outbuildings were destroyed and numerous trees and power lines were downed. Several homes and a church sustained minor damage, and a family life center was shifted off of its foundation.[34]
EF2 E of Twin City Emanuel 0656 5 miles
(8 km)		 Two homes lost a significant portion of their roofs and outer walls. A mobile home was also damaged and some nearby outbuildings were destroyed.[35]
EF1 S of Warwick to NE of Arabi Worth, Crisp 0723 15 miles
(24 km)		 A home and several silos were damaged while trees and power lines were downed. A mobile home was also pushed off its foundation while a car was thrown into a guard rail on Interstate 75.[36]
Source: NCDC Storm Data

April 15 event

F# Location County Time (UTC) Path length Damage
Georgia
EF2 SE of Eastman Dodge 0825 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 Two mobile homes, a barn and a garage were destroyed while several homes sustained minor to heavy damage.[37]
Florida
EF2 NW of Baxter Baker 1115 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 A house sustained minor damage and an outbuilding was destroyed. Widespread tree damage occurred as well.[38]
EF1 NW of Summer Haven St. Johns 1410 unknown Boat house roofs were blown off, and trees were snapped. Buildings had windows blown out and pieces of lumber embedded into them. Signs were bent over at 45-degree angles.[39]
EF0 Dundee Polk 1600 2 miles
(3.2 km)		 Several manufactured homes were damaged to various degrees, and some were left uninhabitable.[40]
South Carolina
EF0 E of Springton Bamberg 1147 8 miles
(12.8 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines occurred.[41]
EF0 E of Ehrhardt Bamberg 1211 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 Damage was limited to trees.[42]
EF3 NW of Pinewood to NW of Mayesville Sumter 1220 19 miles
(30.4 km)		 1 death - Seven mobile homes were destroyed, nine frame homes were severely damaged while 62 mobile and frame homes were damaged at varying degrees. 5 other people were injured.[43]
EF1 E of St. Charles Lee 1250 4 miles
(6.4 km)		 Tornado downed numerous trees, a few powerlines, and did minor damage to a church and a mobile home.[44]
EF0 N of Bowman Orangeburg 1337 6 miles
(9.6 km)		 Damage to trees and power lines occurred.[45]
EF1 S of Islandton Colleton 1338 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Hundreds of trees and power lines were downed, and a large barn was destroyed with debris scattered up to a half-mile away. A house sustained window, brick veneer, and siding damage. A large 8000 pound horse trailer was lifted up and carried 500 feet, and an 800-pound grain wagon was lifted and carried 400 feet. A bass boat was flipped over and a 4-wheeler was damaged along with other farm equipment. A tree also fell on a mobile home as well.[46]
EF1 SE of Islandton Colleton 1341 1 miles
(1.6 km)		 Tornado carried two empty grain silos about 100 feet, snapped off or uprooted dozens of trees, destroyed a large portion of an outbuilding, and severely injured a dog.[47]
EF1 SW of Ruffin Colleton 1344 8 miles
(12.8 km)		 Tornado overturned 3 mobile homes and shifted another 7 mobile homes off of their foundations. It tore the skirting away from another mobile home, destroyed a storage shed, and snapped off or uprooted dozens of trees. A couple of trees fell on a house. A vehicle and an outbuilding were also damaged. 9 people were injured.[48]
Source: NCDC Storm Data

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 NWC (2007). "Spring 2007 Nor'easter". NOAA. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  2. 1 2 3 Robert McFadden (2007-04-16). "East Coast Storm Breaks Rainfall Records". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  3. ↑ Patriot's Day Storm Packs a 156-mph Punch. Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine. Mount Washington Observatory. Retrieved on 2007-04-26
  4. ↑ A spring to remember Rutland Herald (April 17, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-30
  5. ↑ Heavy snow brings cancellations, frustration. Archived 2012-10-25 at the Wayback Machine. Ottawa Citizen (April 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-26
  6. ↑ More than 100,000 without power as storm hits Ontario, Quebec. CBC News (April 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-26
  7. ↑ "Storm brings evacuations, road closings in New Jersey". Associated Press. Home News Tribune. 2007-04-16. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  8. ↑ Karen Matthews (2007-04-16). "3 Deaths blamed on East Coast Storm". abcnews.go.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  9. 1 2 Lorin, Janet Frankston (AP writer) (2007-04-26). "Storm damage pegged at $180M". Home News Tribune.
  10. ↑ Le tragique accident a fait cinq victimes. LCN Quebecor media, April 17, 2007. (in French) Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  11. ↑ Marcus, Jon (April 13, 2008). "The Marathon They Almost Canceled". The Boston Globe.
  12. ↑ 111th Boston Marathon Race Day Commentary. Archived 2007-05-18 at the Wayback Machine. Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved on 2007-05-02
  13. ↑ Holley, Joe (2007-04-16). "Students Recount Shootings". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-05-02.
  14. ↑ "IRS Gives April 16 Storm Victims Additional 48 Hours to File Income Tax Returns" (Press release). Internal Revenue Service. 2007-04-16. Archived from the original on 19 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  15. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=15726
  16. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=30545
  17. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=24684
  18. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=24686
  19. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=24688
  20. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=24691
  21. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=30124
  22. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=23096
  23. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=23103
  24. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=23429
  25. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=25619
  26. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=25638
  27. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=30021
  28. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=28703
  29. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=28758
  30. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=27815
  31. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=28054
  32. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=28056
  33. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=28230
  34. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=28432
  35. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=28430
  36. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=28433
  37. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=28447
  38. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=22128
  39. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=22131
  40. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=17578
  41. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=16378
  42. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=16379
  43. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=16380
  44. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=16381
  45. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=16387
  46. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=27994
  47. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=27995
  48. ↑ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=27996
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