Tornado outbreak of November 15, 2005

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Tornado outbreak of November 15, 2005
FEMA - 20668 - Photograph by Win Henderson taken on 12-07-2005 in Kentucky.jpg
A house destroyed by an F4 tornado in Kentucky
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationNovember 15, 2005
Tornadoes
confirmed		49 confirmed
Max. rating1 F4 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2		6 hours, 5 minutes
Fatalities1 fatality, 108 injuries
Damage$68 million [1]
Areas affected Midwestern United States, Tennessee River Valley

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

A destructive tornado outbreak impacted the Midwestern United States and Tennessee River Valley on November 15, 2005. It occurred along a cold front separating warm, humid air from the southeast from cold Arctic air to the north and northwest. 49 tornadoes were confirmed in the central United States in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee over that afternoon and evening. Strong winds and large hail caused additional damage throughout the region. [2]

Contents

The strongest tornado was an F4 tornado on the Fujita scale; it occurred in the vicinity of Earlington and Madisonville, Kentucky. It was also the only violent tornado documented in 2005.

Meteorological synopsis

The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma had issued a "high risk" for severe weather over an area from northern Mississippi to central Indiana. [3] Such a declaration is unusual (particularly for November) and means that there is a significant threat for severe thunderstorms with widespread tornadic activity. When the first tornado watches of the afternoon were issued, the SPC had declared a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) for destructive tornadoes in several of the tornado watches, a highly unusual alert which notifies that frequent and dangerous tornadoes are possible, and by late that evening, no less than 49 tornadoes (including ten strong tornadoes and one violent tornado) were confirmed, and several more unconfirmed tornadoes were reported (and later confirmed as microbursts). [4] [5] [6] [7] Fortunately, the tornadoes were centered over more rural areas and damage was scattered but severe over many communities. There were numerous injuries, but remarkably, only one person was killed. The low casualty toll was likely due to the fact the outbreak was well-predicted and primarily occurred in the afternoon when people are most aware of the situation.

This was the third major tornado outbreak of November 2005, the other two being in Evansville, Indiana on November 6 (killing 25 people) and in much of Iowa on November 12 (killing one person). There was another major outbreak in the same general area on November 27 and 28, killing two people.

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FUF0F1F2F3F4F5Total
02117731049
List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, November 15, 2005
F# LocationCountyTime (UTC)Path lengthDamage
Missouri
F0E of Matthews New Madrid 18370.2 mileThe first tornado of the outbreak was confirmed by the local sheriff, and no damage was reported. [8] [9]
F0NNW of East Prairie to NW of Whiting Mississippi 18440.2 mileTornado sighted and reported by a local radio station. No damage was reported. [8] [9]
F0WSW of Lilbourn New Madrid 20440.2 mileAn old equipment shed was destroyed, and a couple of power lines were downed near that shed. A large, partially rotten tree was snapped off about halfway up. [8] [9]
F1SW of Lilbourn to North Lilbourn New Madrid 20551 mile
(1.6 km)		Moderate damage occurred on the western side of Lilbourn. A couple of mobile homes were pushed several feet off of their foundations. Several projectiles were embedded into one of the mobile homes. A considerable amount of debris was stuck in the trees in the area. Numerous trees were either sheared off or blown down. A minivan was turned slightly, and a couple of small outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Near the end of the tornado track in North Lilbourne, a couple of farm trailers and a couple of empty semi trailers were overturned. Two people were injured. [8] [9]
Illinois
F0 Eastern Norris City White 19100.2 mileBrief tornado occurred near a reservoir and caused no damage. [8] [9]
F0NW of Metropolis Massac 19340.1 mile
(200 m)		A weak, short-lived tornado was reported crossing the Ohio River just east of the Kentucky state line. No damage was observed. [8] [9]
F1NW of Omega to SSE of Farina Marion 20355 milesMuch of the path was through Stephen A. Forbes State Park, where extensive tree damage occurred. Some machine sheds, outbuildings, and a 32-foot travel trailer were all destroyed. Three farms were also damaged, and one house lost its entire roof. [8] [9]
F1W of Bogota to Newton to Sam Parr State Park Jasper 211510 miles
(16 km)		Tornado downed numerous trees and power lines as it moved directly through Newton. The majority of the structural damage impacted outbuildings, barns, and grain bins. Eleven outbuildings were severely damaged or destroyed. Three houses sustained minor damage. One attached garage was destroyed, and the debris was carried 150 yards downwind. [8] [9]
F0S of Harco Saline 21320.2 mileBrief touchdown. No damage was reported. [8] [9]
Tennessee
F1W of Eaton to Dyer Crockett, Gibson 192015 miles
(24 km)		In Crockett County, one house was shifted off its foundation, and others sustained shingle damage; in Dyer, the tornado damaged 25 houses as well as several businesses. Mobile homes and some utility sheds were also damaged in multiple locations. [8] [9]
F1N of Rutherford to Sidonia Weakley 19552 milesOne house was significantly damaged. Two mobile homes and several other houses were damaged to a lesser extent. Many trees were blown down or uprooted as well. [8] [9]
F2 Palestine to Paris to NE of Buchanan Henry 203520 miles
(32 km)		A strong tornado destroyed several manufacturing facilities and about 30 houses, with another 70 houses sustaining damage of some degree. The Henry County emergency management center took a direct hit from the tornado and was forced to relocate. The tornado briefly displayed a twin funnel and injured 13 people. [8] [9]
F1ENE of Vale Benton 21351 mile
(1.6 km)		A house lost part of its roof. [8] [9]
F2N of Camden Benton 21381.2 milesA house had its roof torn off. [8] [9]
F2S of Tennessee Ridge Houston 22040.5 mile
(800 m)		A modular home was destroyed, and other houses were damaged. [8] [9]
F0SE of Erin (1st tornado) Houston 22100.2 mileTrees were snapped along Bateman Branch Road. [8] [9]
F1SE of Erin (2nd tornado) Houston 22100.3 mileMetal sheds and outbuildings sustained roof damage. [8] [9]
F1 Shiloh Montgomery 22350.2 mileA mobile home was overturned and destroyed. [8] [9]
F1SW of Cunningham Montgomery 22360.2 mileA mobile home was damaged, and the roof was blown off of a market. [8] [9]
F0N of Cunningham Montgomery 22370.1 mile
(200 m)		Damage was limited to trees. [8] [9]
F2S of Clarksville Montgomery 22441 mile
(1.6 km)		A well-built brick house had its roof torn off, and large trees were snapped. [8] [9]
F0NE of Holladay Benton 22500.1 mile
(200 m)		Trees were snapped. [8] [9]
F1S of New Johnsonville Humphreys 22552 milesA mobile home and a house were destroyed, and several other houses sustained roof damage. One barn also lost its roof. [8] [9]
F2N of Sylvia Dickson 23331 mile
(1.6 km)		Multiple houses sustained extensive damage. [8] [9]
F0N of Charlotte Dickson 23400.1 mile
(200 m)		Damage was limited to trees. [8] [9]
F2N of Collinwood Wayne 00026 miles
(10 km)		This strong tornado snapped numerous large trees and damaged multiple houses, nearly destroying one of them. Two trailer homes were pushed off their foundations, and a barn was destroyed. One person was injured. [8] [9]
F0E of Pleasant View Robertson 00050.1 mile
(200 m)		Trees were snapped and large branches were downed. [8] [9]
F0NW of Nashville Davidson 00150.1 mile
(200 m)		Utility poles were broken near Whites Creek Pike. [8] [9]
F0SW of Burwood (1st tornado) Maury 00250.1 mile
(200 m)		Brief tornado with no damage. [8] [9]
F0SW of Burwood (2nd tornado) Williamson 00320.1 mile
(200 m)		Brief tornado with no damage. [8] [9]
F0SE of Hendersonville Sumner 00420.1 mile
(200 m)		Several trees were blown down. [8] [9]
Kentucky
F0 Rossington McCracken 19300.2 mileBrief tornado with no damage. [8] [9]
F3S of Mayfield to Benton to SW of Princeton Graves, Calloway, Marshall, Lyon 194544 miles
(70 km)		1 death – This strong, long-tracked tornado began near Mayfield, downing trees and damaging garages and outbuildings. In Calloway County, additional tree and outbuilding damage occurred. In Marshall County, the tornado reached F3 intensity as it passed just south of Benton. The tornado then crossed the Kentucky Lake and devastated the Hillman Ferry Campground where 115 RVs were destroyed, along with a dock and several boats, Nineteen houses were destroyed, 36 others sustained major damage, and 65 more received minor damage. A man was killed when his mobile home was thrown 40 feet. The tornado damaged several more houses at F2 intensity near Lake Barkley before dissipating. This tornado was on the ground for 65 minutes, and about 20 people were injured. [8] [9]
F0SE of Princeton Caldwell 21010.2 mileSeveral trees were downed. [8] [9]
F4 Earlington to Southeastern Madisonville to W of Sacramento Hopkins 212715 miles
(24 km)		Violent multi-vortex tornado first struck Earlington where houses were leveled, trees were "reduced to nubs," and the ground was reportedly scoured to bare soil. Windspeeds were estimated at 220 miles per hour here. A steel beam was carried through the air and found wedged against trees and other debris. Damage also occurred along the east side of Madisonville. A total of 151 houses and buildings were destroyed, 67 others sustained major damage, and 303 more showed minor damage. At least 40 people were injured. This was the only violent tornado that occurred in 2005. [8] [9]
F1ENE of Calhoun McLean 22040.2 mileThe front porch of a house was blown off, and an outbuilding behind it was moved slightly. [8] [9]
F0N of Utica Daviess 22120.2 mileBrief tornado touched down over an open field with no damage. [8] [9]
F1NW of Adairville to S of Middleton Logan 23158.4 milesMany homes, trailers, barns, and outbuildings were damaged. [8] [9]
F2NNE of Turnertown Simpson 23521 mile
(1.6 km)		Tornado damaged trailers and downed many trees. [8] [9]
F1 Woodburn Warren 00071 mile
(1.6 km)		Tornado struck the north side of town. Three businesses, six houses, and numerous barns and outbuildings were damaged. Initially thought to have been straight-line winds. [8] [9]
Arkansas
F0SW of Pine Bluff Jefferson 20200.7 mile
(1.1 km)		A number of trees were snapped off along the path of the tornado, and one house sustained chimney damage. [8] [9]
F1NNE of Gillett to SSE of Ethel Arkansas 205216.5 miles
(27 km)		Tornado destroyed a barn and an outbuilding, and damaged several others. A few houses had shingles torn off, and hundreds of trees were knocked down or broken off. A few power poles were also knocked down. [8] [9]
F1 Hyden Arkansas 20553.5 miles
(5.5 km)		The tornado blew down some trees and damaged the roofs of several barns. [8] [9]
Indiana
F3NE of Washington to Burns City Daviess, Martin 204012 miles
(20 km)		In Daviess County, the K&K Industries plant was destroyed, trapping several employees. A total of 123 houses and 20 businesses in the county were damaged or destroyed. In Martin County, F1 intensity damage occurred. 31 people were injured. [8] [9]
F1S of Coveyville Lawrence 21250.2 mileBrief tornado damaged two houses. This tornado came from the same supercell that spawned the F3 tornado in Daviess and Martin Counties. [8] [9]
F3NW of Old St Louis Bartholomew, Shelby 221910 miles
(23 km)		A large hog farm was severely damaged, and an old farmhouse was blown off its foundation. At least 25 properties were damaged in this largely rural area, with six declared total losses. One person was injured. This tornado came from the same supercell that produced the previous F1 and F3 tornadoes. [8] [9]
F1WNW of Friendly Corner to SW of Van Buren Grant 00103 miles
(5 km)		A house sustained roof damage, several trees and power lines were downed, and grain elevator augers were overturned. The tornado crossed Interstate 69, which resulted in a “semi truck” being blown off the highway. [8] [9]
Alabama
F0 Vernon Lamar 00300.1 mile
(200 m)		Tornado partially tore the roof off a building supply company and slightly damaged a few other adjacent smaller buildings in town. [8] [9]
F0NE of Crane Hill Cullman 02300.3 mileA service station received moderate roof damage and had its awning partially torn off. Numerous trees were snapped and twisted in this vicinity. A house sustained shingle damage and had a window blown out. Extensive power line damage occurred, and a pump house was destroyed as well. [8] [9]
Sources: NOAA storm data, Paducah office, Memphis office, Little Rock office, Lincoln office, Louisville office, St. Louis office, Nashville office, Northern Indiana office, WCDQ Radio news, WSMB

See also

References

  1. ↑ NCDC Storm Events-Select State Archived 2009-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ US Severe Weather [ dead link ]
  3. ↑ Thompson; Guyer (November 15, 2005). "Nov 15, 2005 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch 865". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. November 15, 2005. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch 866". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. November 15, 2005. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch 868". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. November 15, 2005. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch 869". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. November 15, 2005. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 "Tornado History Project: November 15, 2005". Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 "Storm Events Database - Search Results | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov.
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