Jump to content

2007 Groundhog Day tornado outbreak: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Richard (talk | contribs)
872 edits
edits
BOT Adding link to WebCite archive for recently added reference(s)
Line 7: Line 7:
|fujitascale=EF3
|fujitascale=EF3
|tornadoes=Three confirmed
|tornadoes=Three confirmed
|total damages (USD)=$218 million (2007 [[United States dollar|USD]])<ref>{{cite web| title =Storm Event database| publisher =[[National Climatic Data Center]]| url =http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms| accessdate =2009-07-10 }}
|total damages (USD)=$218 million (2007 [[United States dollar|USD]])<ref>{{cite web| title =Storm Event database| publisher =[[National Climatic Data Center]]| url =http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms| accessdate =2009-07-10 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5iTTlR1gB|archivedate=2009-07-23|deadurl=no}}
</ref>
</ref>
|total fatalities=21 (76&nbsp;injuries)
|total fatalities=21 (76&nbsp;injuries)
Line 41: Line 41:
[[Image:LakeMack 10.jpg|left|thumb|Aerial view of damage caused by a tornado in Lake Mack.]]
[[Image:LakeMack 10.jpg|left|thumb|Aerial view of damage caused by a tornado in Lake Mack.]]
An intermittent path of damage was detected for a distance of {{convert|70|mi|km}} by the supercell.<ref name="MEL"/> A total of 1,145&nbsp;homes were damaged in Sumter County with 200&nbsp;destroyed during the six minute duration of the tornado in the county. Fifteen people were injured in Sumter County.<ref name="tornado1">{{cite web| title =February 2, Weather Event #649925 (Tornado)| publisher =National Climatic Data Center| url =http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~649925| accessdate =2009-07-05 }}
An intermittent path of damage was detected for a distance of {{convert|70|mi|km}} by the supercell.<ref name="MEL"/> A total of 1,145&nbsp;homes were damaged in Sumter County with 200&nbsp;destroyed during the six minute duration of the tornado in the county. Fifteen people were injured in Sumter County.<ref name="tornado1">{{cite web| title =February 2, Weather Event #649925 (Tornado)| publisher =National Climatic Data Center| url =http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~649925| accessdate =2009-07-05 }}
</ref> The tornado moved across the Lady Lake area where it killed eight people, all of which took place in [[mobile home]]s, and injured 10 others. It damaged 180&nbsp;residences and destroyed 101 in Lake County before dissipating near Emerald Marsh Lake at 3:25&nbsp;am EST (0825 UTC).<ref name="LM">{{cite web| title =February 2, Weather Event #650106 (Tornado)| publisher =National Climatic Data Center| url =http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~650106| accessdate =2009-07-08 }}
</ref> The tornado moved across the Lady Lake area where it killed eight people, all of which took place in [[mobile home]]s, and injured 10 others. It damaged 180&nbsp;residences and destroyed 101 in Lake County before dissipating near Emerald Marsh Lake at 3:25&nbsp;am EST (0825 UTC).<ref name="LM">{{cite web| title =February 2, Weather Event #650106 (Tornado)| publisher =National Climatic Data Center| url =http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~650106| accessdate =2009-07-08 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5iTTkcTh1|archivedate=2009-07-23|deadurl=no}}
</ref>
</ref>


Line 50: Line 50:
| date =2007-02-02
| date =2007-02-02
| url =http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/2/worldupdates/2007-02-02T205358Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-286166-2&sec=Worldupdates
| url =http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/2/worldupdates/2007-02-02T205358Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-286166-2&sec=Worldupdates
| accessdate =2009-07-07 }}
| accessdate =2009-07-07 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5iTTjy1CH|archivedate=2009-07-23|deadurl=no}}
</ref>
</ref>


Line 60: Line 60:
| date =2007-02-03
| date =2007-02-03
| url =http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/02/03/florida-storm.html?ref=rss
| url =http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/02/03/florida-storm.html?ref=rss
| accessdate =2009-07-10 }}</ref> A [[state of emergency]] was declared by [[Governor of Florida|Governor]] [[Charlie Crist]] for the same counties.<ref>{{cite web
| accessdate =2009-07-10 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5iTTlrLnd|archivedate=2009-07-23|deadurl=no}}</ref> A [[state of emergency]] was declared by [[Governor of Florida|Governor]] [[Charlie Crist]] for the same counties.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Sepulvado
| last =Sepulvado
| first =John
| first =John
Line 67: Line 67:
| date =2007-02-02
| date =2007-02-02
| url =http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7138282
| url =http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7138282
| accessdate =2009-07-08 }}</ref> More than 400&nbsp;[[American Red Cross]] volunteers from across several states went to help in central Florida. The [[Tampa Bay]] chapter of the American Red Cross sent six volunteers with emergency response vehicles to the main area of damage.<ref>{{cite web
| accessdate =2009-07-08 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5iTTl2cNK|archivedate=2009-07-23|deadurl=no}}</ref> More than 400&nbsp;[[American Red Cross]] volunteers from across several states went to help in central Florida. The [[Tampa Bay]] chapter of the American Red Cross sent six volunteers with emergency response vehicles to the main area of damage.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Hackett
| last =Hackett
| first =Alexandra
| first =Alexandra
Line 74: Line 74:
| date =2007
| date =2007
| url =http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=48717
| url =http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=48717
| accessdate =2009-07-10 }}</ref> [[The Walt Disney Company]] donated $50,000&nbsp;to the American Red Cross to help aid victims and [[Feed The Children]] sent two truckloads of relief supplies to the central Florida area. The [[Salvation Army]] brought several mobile kitchens to offer relief to victims and [[Verizon Wireless]] helped by offering citizens to the wireless emergency communication center and clean and repair cellular phones damaged by the storms.<ref>{{cite web
| accessdate =2009-07-10 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5iTTmFVVp|archivedate=2009-07-23|deadurl=no}}</ref> [[The Walt Disney Company]] donated $50,000&nbsp;to the American Red Cross to help aid victims and [[Feed The Children]] sent two truckloads of relief supplies to the central Florida area. The [[Salvation Army]] brought several mobile kitchens to offer relief to victims and [[Verizon Wireless]] helped by offering citizens to the wireless emergency communication center and clean and repair cellular phones damaged by the storms.<ref>{{cite web
| title =People, Corporations Across Nation Pledge Help
| title =People, Corporations Across Nation Pledge Help
| publisher =[[WESH]]
| publisher =[[WESH]]
| date =2007-02-05
| date =2007-02-05
| url =http://www.wesh.com/news/10922016/detail.html
| url =http://www.wesh.com/news/10922016/detail.html
| accessdate =2009-07-10 }}</ref> A [[moment of silence]] was held before [[Super Bowl XLI]] in [[Miami]] to honor the victims of the tornadoes.<ref>{{cite web
| accessdate =2009-07-10 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5iTTmcx1o|archivedate=2009-07-23|deadurl=no}}</ref> A [[moment of silence]] was held before [[Super Bowl XLI]] in [[Miami]] to honor the victims of the tornadoes.<ref>{{cite web
| author =[[Associated Press]]
| author =[[Associated Press]]
| title =Victims of central Florida storms remembered before Super Bowl
| title =Victims of central Florida storms remembered before Super Bowl
Line 91: Line 91:
| date =2007-02-02
| date =2007-02-02
| url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/02/AR2007020201570.html
| url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/02/AR2007020201570.html
| accessdate =2009-07-11 }}</ref> The outbreak was the second-deadliest on record for Florida, only behind one that killed 42&nbsp;people in [[1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak|February 1998]].<ref name="DFTO">{{cite web
| accessdate =2009-07-11 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5iTTn0gDq|archivedate=2009-07-23|deadurl=no}}</ref> The outbreak was the second-deadliest on record for Florida, only behind one that killed 42&nbsp;people in [[1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak|February 1998]].<ref name="DFTO">{{cite web
| last =Forbes
| last =Forbes
| first =Greg
| first =Greg
Line 99: Line 99:
| date =2007-02-03
| date =2007-02-03
| url =http://www.weather.com/blog/weather/8_11687.html
| url =http://www.weather.com/blog/weather/8_11687.html
| accessdate =2009-07-11 }}</ref>
| accessdate =2009-07-11 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5iTTnK6QN|archivedate=2009-07-23|deadurl=no}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 21:42, 23 July 2009

2007 Groundhog Day tornado outbreak
Tracks of the three tornadoes in Florida
Duration1 hour 17 minutes - 3:10 am EST to 4:27 am EST
Tornadoes
confirmed		Three confirmed
Max. rating1EF3 tornado
Fatalities21 (76 injuries)
Damage$218 million (2007 USD)[1]
Areas affectedCentral Florida
1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale

The 2007 Groundhog Day tornado outbreak was a localized, but devastating tornado event that took place in central Florida early on February 2, 2007. Early morning temperatures had risen well above average for the season and increased moisture along with a powerful jet stream created enough instability and wind shear for thunderstorms to rotate and spawn tornadoes. Due to the conditions, a long-tracked supercell formed and produced three tornadoes during a one hour and 17 minute time frame. The supercell resulted in a 70 mile (110 km) trail of damage.

Twenty-one people were killed and 76 others were injured in the outbreak. The first tornado damaged 1,145 homes and destroyed 200 others in Sumter County before hitting the Lady Lake area where it killed eight people and damaged 180 residences and destroyed 101 in Lake County. The second tornado killed 13 people in the Lake Mack area and damaged and destroyed over 500 residences during its existence. The final tornado damaged roofs, car ports and garage doors along its path through New Smyrna Beach. The tornadoes were the first to be rated on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which replaced the original Fujita Scale. The outbreak was the second-deadliest on record for Florida, only behind one that killed 42 people in February 1998. Damages from the tornado outbreak totaled $218 million (2007 USD).

Synopsis

Radar animation of the line of thunderstorms that produced the tornado

In east central Florida, a warm sector, a region of warm surface air between a cold front and a warm front,[2] was positioned ahead of a progressing cold front. Large scale lift was supported by a very strong jet stream aloft, with strong vertical shear evident from the surface to aloft, conducive for rotating thunderstorms and tornadoes. Instability increased overnight with temperatures and dew points increasing through the pre-dawn hours.[3] For example, northwest of Orlando temperatures were still at 75 °F (24 °C), which was about three degrees warmer than the average high for the day and 14 degrees warmer than the average low.[4] The conditions helped to form a long-tracked supercell thunderstorm that traveled from Sumter County to the coastal waters of Volusia County during the early morning hours of February 2, 2007, producing three tornadoes along its track.[3]

At 3:06 am EST (0806 UTC) the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a tornado warning for northern Lake County until 4:00 am EST (0900 UTC).[5] At 3:10 am EST (0810 UTC), the first tornado touched down near The Villages and traveled at 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) into Lake County.[6] Five minutes after the tornado touched down, a severe weather update bulletin was issued by the NWS stating that there was a high likely hood of an extremely dangerous tornado and people in the path were in a life-threatening situation.[7] The tornado received an EF3 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale and had a track length of 16.5 miles (26.6 km).[3] Initially, the tornado was thought to have still been on the ground and a third bulletin on the tornado was released at 3:34 am EST (0834 UTC). At this time, doppler radar indicated that a tornado was forming or on the ground roughly 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Umatilla.[8]

A doppler weather radar image indicating the likely presence of a tornado over Deland, Florida.

The mesocyclone that produced the first tornado restrengthened and formed another tornado near Paisley at 3:37 am EST (0837 UTC) in Lake County.[3] A second tornado warning was issued at 3:52 am EST (0852 UTC) for Volusia County as the tornado was tracking towards the area.[9] It went east northeast exceeding 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) towards the Lake Mack area.[10] The tornado received an EF3 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale and traveled a total of 26 miles (42 km).[3] A third tornado warning was issued in Volusia County at 4:13 am EST (0913 UTC), nearly ten minutes before the third tornado touched down.[11] The supercell produced its last tornado east of Interstate 95 at 4:22 am EST (0922 UTC) and dissipated five minutes later at the Intracoastal Waterway, 3 miles (4.8 km) from where it touched down.[12] The tornado had a maximum width of 100 yards (91 m) around the time it reached peak intensity.[13] The tornado was rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale and traveled for 3 miles (4.8 km).[3]

Impact

Aerial view of damage caused by a tornado in Lake Mack.

An intermittent path of damage was detected for a distance of 70 miles (110 km) by the supercell.[3] A total of 1,145 homes were damaged in Sumter County with 200 destroyed during the six minute duration of the tornado in the county. Fifteen people were injured in Sumter County.[6] The tornado moved across the Lady Lake area where it killed eight people, all of which took place in mobile homes, and injured 10 others. It damaged 180 residences and destroyed 101 in Lake County before dissipating near Emerald Marsh Lake at 3:25 am EST (0825 UTC).[10]

When the second tornado impacted the Lake Mack area, 86 residences were destroyed and 144 were damaged. Thirteen people were killed, all of which happened in mobile homes, and nine others were injured.[14] The tornado moved across the St. Johns River into Volusia County where it damaged 277 residences and destroyed 106 in the Deland area before lifting at 4:10 am EST (0910 UTC). Forty-two people were injured in Volusia County.[15] The third tornado damaged roofs, car ports and garage doors along its path through New Smyrna Beach.[12] Christopher Patton, spokesman for the Lake County emergency operations center, described the damage as "unlike even perhaps the hurricanes of 2004 when we had minor roof damage, screen damage, pool damage. This is way far more devastating".[16]

Aftermath

A severely damaged home in Deland, Florida

U.S. President George W. Bush signed a declaration to designate Sumter, Lake, Volusia and Seminole counties as disaster areas.[17] A state of emergency was declared by Governor Charlie Crist for the same counties.[18] More than 400 American Red Cross volunteers from across several states went to help in central Florida. The Tampa Bay chapter of the American Red Cross sent six volunteers with emergency response vehicles to the main area of damage.[19] The Walt Disney Company donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross to help aid victims and Feed The Children sent two truckloads of relief supplies to the central Florida area. The Salvation Army brought several mobile kitchens to offer relief to victims and Verizon Wireless helped by offering citizens to the wireless emergency communication center and clean and repair cellular phones damaged by the storms.[20] A moment of silence was held before Super Bowl XLI in Miami to honor the victims of the tornadoes.[21] The tornadoes were the first to be rated on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which replaced the original Fujita Scale.[22] The outbreak was the second-deadliest on record for Florida, only behind one that killed 42 people in February 1998.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Storm Event database". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "NOAA's National Weather Service - Glossary". National Weather Service. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "February 2, 2007 Central Florida Tornado Survey". National Weather Service Melbourne Weather Forecast Office. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  4. ^ a b Forbes, Greg (2007-02-03). "Deadly Florida Tornado Outbreak". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-11. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Tornado Warning". National Weather Service. 2007-02-02. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  6. ^ a b "February 2, Weather Event #649925 (Tornado)". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  7. ^ "Severe Weather Statement". National Weather Service. 2007-02-02. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  8. ^ "Severe Weather Statement". National Weather Service. 2007-02-02. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  9. ^ "Tornado Warning". National Weather Service. 2007-02-02. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  10. ^ a b "February 2, Weather Event #650106 (Tornado)". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Tornado Warning". National Weather Service. 2007-02-02. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  12. ^ a b "February 2, Weather Event #650062 (Tornado)". National Climate Data Center. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  13. ^ "February 2, Weather Event #650062 (Tornado)". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
  14. ^ "February 2, Weather Event #650107 (Tornado)". National Climate Data Center. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  15. ^ "February 2, Weather Event #650108 (Tornado)". National Climate Data Center. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  16. ^ Reuters (2007-02-02). "14 killed by tornadoes in central Florida". The Star. Archived from the original on 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-07. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Disaster aid coming for tornado-ravaged central Florida". CBC.ca. 2007-02-03. Archived from the original on 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Sepulvado, John (2007-02-02). "Florida Death Toll Continues to Rise After Storms". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ Hackett, Alexandra (2007). "Volunteers descend on Central Florida". WTSP. Archived from the original on 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "People, Corporations Across Nation Pledge Help". WESH. 2007-02-05. Archived from the original on 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Associated Press (2007-02-04). "Victims of central Florida storms remembered before Super Bowl". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  22. ^ Associated Press (2007-02-02). "Tornado to Be 1st Assessed by New Scale". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2007_Groundhog_Day_tornado_outbreak&oldid=303818295"