April 6–8, 2006 Tornado Outbreak

Infobox tornado outbreak|name=April 6-8, 2006 Tornado Outbreak
date=April 6–8, 2006
image location=Gallatin before.jpg

Gallatin, Tennessee that killed nine people.
duration=2 days, 2 hours, 6 minutes
fujitascale=F3
tornadoes=73 confirmed
total damages (USD)=$1.5 billioncite news| url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/reports/billion/billionz-2007.pdf |title=Billion Dollar US Weather Disasters|publisher=NOAA |date=2008-01-01 |accessdate=2008-05-08]
total fatalities=13
areas affected= Central United States - Eastern United States region

The April 6-8, 2006 Tornado Outbreak was a major tornado outbreak in the Central and parts of the Southern United States that began on April 6, 2006 in the Great Plains and continued until April 8 in South Carolina, with most of the activity on April 7. The hardest-hit area was Middle Tennessee where several strong tornadoes devastated entire neighborhoods and left nine people dead. The worst damage took place in Gallatin, Tennessee. Other communities north of Nashville were also hard hit.

There were 73 tornadoes confirmed across 13 states, with the bulk of them coming on the afternoon and evening of April 7 across the South, particularly in Tennessee. In total, 13 deaths were reported as a result of the severe weather (12 of them in Tennessee) and over $1.5 billion in damage was reported, of which over $630 million was in Middle Tennessee.cite news| url=http://www.gallatinnewsexaminer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061007/COUNTY08/610070334 |title=Storms' losses linger |publisher=Gallatin News-Examiner |date=2006-10-07 |accessdate=2006-11-11] It was the third major outbreak of 2006, hot on the heels of a major outbreak on April 2. It was also considered to be the worst disaster event in Middle Tennessee since the Nashville tornado outbreak on April 16, 1998.

Meteorological synopsis

date = May 10, 2006 | url = http://www.aos.wisc.edu/uwaosjournal/Volume1/AOS453/FCS_Konop.pdf | format = pdf | accessdate = 2008-03-13]

The Storm Prediction Center issued a high risk for severe weather for both April 6 and April 7 in the areas likely to be affected. Conditions were favorable for an extremely strong tornado outbreak on both days. [cite web | title = Apr 6, 2006 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook | publisher = Storm Prediction Center | date = April 6, 2006 | url = http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2006/day1otlk_20060406_1630.html | accessdate = 2008-03-12] [cite web
title = Apr 7, 2006 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook | publisher = Storm Prediction Center | date = April 7, 2006 | url = http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2006/day1otlk_20060407_1630.html | accessdate = 2008-03-12]

Activity was not as great as expected on April 6, with only 12 tornadoes confirmed, mostly in Kansas. [cite web | title = April 6, 2006 tornadoes | publisher = Tornado History Project | url = http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado.php?p=1&s=4&d=asc&yr=2006&mo=4&day=6&st=%&fu=%&co=Any&l=500&format=basic&submit=Table&dcom=&dpho=&dvid=&ddat=on&dtim=&dsta=on&dfuj=on&dfat=on&dinj=on&dwid=&dlen=&dcou=on&dong=&dare=&dfar=&drot=&ddam=&dpl=&dpw=&dtyp=&drem=&dtlat=&dtlon=&dllat=&dllon=&dstt=&dtor= | accessdate = 2008-03-13] Several of the tornadoes were damaging, but no fatalities and only a few injuries were reported. The reason for the relatively modest activity was due to the more stable than expected air mass that day over the region, with lower dewpoints and less wind shear despite the absence of a cap which would have otherwise allowed a massive outbreak.cite web| url=http://sphs.angeltowns.net/A_R_Wehrle/recenthighrisk2.html|title=SPC High Risk Forecasts May 24, 2004-Present |publisher=Stoughton Piston Head Society |date=2006-04-07|accessdate=2006-11-12]

Conditions changed on April 7 in the South as the system moved eastward, with the cold front entering a more conducive environment. The increased wind shear, combined with the high heat and humidity, allowed tornadoes to begin forming in the late morning, continuing throughout the afternoon, evening, and even into the overnight hours. By the end of the day, a total of 48 tornadoes had been reported, several of which caused significant damage and loss of life. The most violent tornadoes hit in Middle Tennessee, where 12 people were killed.cite news| url=http://www.whnt.com/Global/story.asp?S=4742873 |title=11 People Killed by Storms in Tennessee |publisher=WHNT-TV |date=2006-04-07 |accessdate=2006-11-12] In addition to the tornadoes, there were many reports of hail as large as softballs, powerful microbursts and straight-line winds, as well as local flooding. Extensive damage was also reported in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia as the storms reached that area overnight into the early morning of April 8.

Despite a lower risk of activity on April 8, the severe weather continued in Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia (mostly in the early morning hours) with another 13 tornadoes reported before the outbreak finally ended as the system moved offshore into the Atlantic Ocean. Over the three day period, 73 tornadoes were confirmed.

Confirmed tornadoes

North Nashville area supercell

The most destructive supercell of the outbreak developed just northwest of Nashville at about 1:30 pm CDT (1830 UTC) on April 7 in Dickson County. It would then track across the northern suburbs of Nashville through Cheatham, Davidson, and Sumner counties, killing nine people and damaging or destroying an estimated 1,000 homes. [cite news| first=Blake |last= Farmer| url=http://nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=55543 |title=The cleanup continues 12 months after deadly twister|publisher=Nashville City Paper |date=2007-04-06|accessdate=2007-04-06]

The first tornado touched down near Charlotte at 1:30 pm CDT (1830 UTC). That tornado was a rated as a strong F3. Severe and extensive damage was reported in that area as well as in Greenbrier. At least 12 houses, including several mobile homes, were destroyed. In addition at least 50 other houses were damaged, most of which sustained heavy damage. The tornado tracked towards Ashland City inflicting more significant damage, including numerous houses and businesses. Many trees and power lines were also knocked down. The worst impact was felt at Centennial Medical Center's Ashland City hospital site, which was damaged and lost its heating and air conditioning system, forcing several patients to be transferred to Nashville hospitals. No injuries were reported there.cite news| url=http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060407/MTCN0101/60407025/1292/MTCN01 |title=Strong storms hit Ashland City|publisher=Ashland City Times |date=2006-04-07|accessdate=2006-11-11]

reported that 15 houses and 10 other buildings were destroyed in the area, about convert|5|mi|km|0 north of the urban part of Nashville.cite news| url=http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060408/NEWS01/604080350|title=Davidson County: 15 homes and 10 other buildings destroyed |publisher=Nashville Tennessean |date=2006-04-08|accessdate=2006-11-12] cite news| url=http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/MTCN0401/304100019/1310/MTCN0301 |title=Storm thrashes athletic complex|publisher=Gallatin News-Examiner |date=2006-04-16|accessdate=2006-11-12] However, that tornado was never confirmed; it was likely straight-line wind damage.

The supercell then tracked into Goodlettsville where another tornado touched down, striking the suburban area at around 2:15 pm CDT (1915 UTC) with considerable force. It hit a residential subdivision in the center of town, with considerable damage reported at City Hall, Two local churches(Bakers Chapel CME Church and Metro Baptist Church), and to numerous houses, some of which were demolished. In total, 25 homes were destroyed in Goodlettsville and another 44 homes or businesses were damaged. The tornado then heavily damaged a busy commercial area along Long Hollow Pike, blowing the roofs off of several buildings and heavily damaging others. It also caused severe damage to the electricity network in the area, which was out for several days in some subdivisions in Goodlettsville.cite news| url=http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060408/NEWS01/604080348|title=Goodlettsville: Intact day-care a miracle amid surrounding rubble|publisher=Nashville Tennessean |date=2006-04-08|accessdate=2006-11-12] The tornado also caused a traffic nightmare as a direct result of tornado-related accidents on I-65 at Exit 97 just before rush hour.cite news| url=http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060408/NEWS01/604080352|title=Storms shut down roads, leaving traffic at a standstill |publisher=Nashville Tennessean |date=2006-04-08|accessdate=2006-11-12] No deaths were reported in Goodlettsville although seven injuries were reported, and public shelters were set up at two locations.

s at the base of the foundation.

Volunteer State Community College suffered extensive damage to numerous buildings, briefly trapping many students before they were rescued with only a few minor injuries. The front lawn of the college was littered with debris from buildings after the tornado. The public relations director for the college, Angie Jowers, stated that having routine tornado drills paid off that day, as no one was killed on the campus. A commercial area was also hit hard, along with three large

Station Camp High School, a local high school, also received notable damage from this storm. The tornado affected its large athletic complex, tearing parts of the roof off and flooding the gymnasium. Damage was also sustained to student and faculty vehicles.cite news| url=http://www.gallatinnewsexaminer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/MTCN0401/304100023/1310/MTCN04 |title=Tornado drills prepare students for the worst|publisher=Gallatin News-Examiner |date=2006-04-10|accessdate=2006-11-11] The tornado lifted shortly thereafter, however the supercell continued eastward and tornado warnings were issues east of Gallatin as well. Total damage from the supercell tornadoes was estimated at over $650 million.

Coincidentally, the outbreak also cut short the first of a two-day emergency preparedness drill to be held on April 7 and 8 in four Middle Tennessee counties: Davidson, Williamson, Sumner, and Wilson. The second day was canceled. [cite news | last = Emery | first = Theo | title = 11 More Killed in Tennessee as Tornadoes Strike Again | publisher = New York Times | date = April 8, 2006 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/08/us/08tornadoes.html | accessdate = 2008-03-13]

Warren County tornadoes

, causing additional damage along this path. Two mobile homes on Foster Road were completely destroyed, and two fatalities occurred. The width of the tornado was convert|150|yd|m, and the path length was convert|11|mi|km.

The second tornado in Warren County, also an F1, occurred near the small town of Morrison, Tennessee, about convert|9|mi|km southwest of the county seat of McMinnville.cite web | title = Event Record Details - Warren County | publisher = National Climatic Data Center | date = April 7, 2006 | url = http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~634909 | accessdate = 2008-03-13] It touched down along Caney Branch Road where there was extensive damage to a barn and a cinder block building, and numerous large trees were downed. The third and last fatality in Warren County occurred in a trailer home on Bonner Road. The tornado continued slightly south of east in the County Club subdivision, where several homes sustained roof damage and outbuildings were destroyed. The width of this tornado was convert|100|yd|m, with a path length of convert|4|mi|km.

Aftermath

was called in after the tornado hit to help with security and the removal of the excessive debris. It would take 10 days for Volunteer State Community College to re-open after the tornado hit.

The City of Hendersonville did not have tornado sirens at the time of the tornado, but the city installed some soon after the storm.

On September 26, the Greater Nashville Regional Council awarded the authorities involved in the recovery (including the municipalities of Sumner County) the Marshall S. Stuart Memorial Award for outstanding intergovernmental cooperation after the tornado. The quick response by other local authorities, counties and cities was congratulated.

In early October 2006, an episode of "" featured a family from Hendersonville that had their home being rebuilt after it was destroyed by the tornado.cite news| url=http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/midstate-remembers-deadly-tornadoes-mos-later |title=Mid-State Remembers Deadly Tornadoes, 6 Mos. Later |publisher=WKRN-TV |date=2006-10-09|accessdate=2006-11-12] However, insurance issues plus personal injuries held back the recovery for many, and some neighborhoods have been slow to recover. Nonetheless, many homes have been rebuilt in the area.

References

ee also

*List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
*Tornadoes of 2006

External links

* [http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/060407_rpts.html Storm Prediction Center] - preliminary April 7 storm reports log
* [http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=8506 Stormtrack Forums] - for reports by storm chasers and photographs of the tornadoes