February–March 2007 Tornado Outbreak

Infobox tornado outbreak
name=February–March 2007 Tornado


image location=Enterprise Radar.jpg
date=February 28 – March 2, 2007
duration=37 hours, 7 minutes
fujitascale=EF4
enhanced=yes
tornadoes=55 confirmed
total damages (USD)=>$580 million [cite web |url=http://ams.confex.com/ams/88Annual/techprogram/paper_137282.htm|title=The 2007 U.S. Tornado Season: Large Outbreaks Scattered Throughout the Year, Most Fatalities in Eight Years|publisher=American Meteorological Society|accessdate = 2008-02-02]
total fatalities=20
areas affected=Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Deep South regionThe February–March 2007 Tornado Outbreak was a tornado outbreak across the southern United States that began in Kansas on February 28, 2007. The severe weather spread eastward on March 1 and left a deadly mark across the southern US, particularly in Alabama and Georgia. Twenty deaths were reported; one in Missouri, nine in Georgia, and 10 in Alabama. Scattered severe weather was also reported in North Carolina on March 2, producing the final tornado of the outbreak before the storms moved offshore into the Atlantic Ocean. [cite web |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070302/ap_on_re_us/tornadoes_27|title=Tornadoes rip through Ala., killing 7|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070304065659/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070302/ap_on_re_us/tornadoes_27|publisher=The Associated Press|archivedate=2007-03-04]

In the end, there were 55 tornadoes confirmed during the outbreak, including three EF3 tornadoes reported across three states, as well as three EF4 tornadoes; two in Alabama and one in Kansas, the first such tornadoes since the introduction of the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Total damages were estimated at over $580 million from tornadoes alone, making it the fourth costliest tornado outbreak in US history (the figure not including damage from other thunderstorm impacts including hail and straight-line winds). [cite web |url=http://ams.confex.com/ams/88Annual/techprogram/paper_137282.htm|title=The 2007 U.S. Tornado Season: Large Outbreaks Scattered Throughout the Year, Most Fatalities in Eight Years|publisher=American Meteorological Society|accessdate = 2008-02-02] Insured losses in the state of Georgia topped $210 million, making this outbreak the costliest in that state's history. [cite web |url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2007/03/19/77826.htm |title=Ga.: Losses from March 1 Storms Top $210 Million |publisher=Insurance Journal |accessdate = 2007-11-11] Enterprise, Alabama, which was hit the hardest, sustained damages in excess of $307 million. [cite web |url=http://www.disasternews.net/news/article.php?articleid=3281 |title=AL recovery shows real 'Enterprise' |publisher=Disaster News Network|accessdate = 2007-11-11]

Meteorological synopsis

The tornado outbreak was related to a large low-pressure system across the central United States that intensified on February 28 while over Kansas, and a cold front moved across the region, providing the lift needed to allow the storms to develop. In addition, a surge of very moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and warm temperatures across the south side of the storm helped feed the storms. Temperatures were in the 70s °F (low 20s °C) in some areas to the south, while the mercury was below freezing on the north side. The dewpoints were in the 60 °F (16 °C) range as far north as southeastern Kansas, which provided extra fuel. [cite web |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2007/day1otlk_20070228_1630.html |title=Feb 28, 2007 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook |=publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |accessdate=2007-11-11]

A moderate risk of severe storms was issued by the Storm Prediction Center for February 28 across parts of the central Plains. The first tornadoes developed early in the evening of February 28 in Kansas as the dry line pushed eastward and was lifted by the cold front. [cite web |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2007/day1otlk_20070228_2000.html|title=Feb 28, 2007 2000 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook |=publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |accessdate=2007-11-11] In total, 12 tornadoes formed that evening across Kansas and Missouri, of which 11 were weak. However, one of the tornadoes was an EF4, the first such tornado recorded and the first violent tornado since September 22, 2006. No one was injured that evening. Farther south, expected activity in Oklahoma and Arkansas did not take place as the atmospheric cap held up. [cite web |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2007/day1otlk_20070301_0100.html |title=Mar 1, 2007 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook |=publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |accessdate=2007-11-11]

A high risk of severe storms—the first such issuance since April 7, 2006—was issued for a large part of the Deep South for March 1 as the cold front moved eastward. [cite web |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2007/day1otlk_20070301_1200.html|title=Mar 1, 2007 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook|=publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |accessdate=2007-11-11] The activity began almost immediately, with several isolated tornadoes taking place that morning across the Mississippi Valley, with one of them leading to the first fatality of the outbreak. Isolated tornadoes were also reported as far north as Illinois, near the center of the low. However, the most intense activity began around noon and continued throughout the afternoon and evening, with southern Alabama and southern Georgia hit the hardest. Nearly continuous supercells formed north of the Gulf of Mexico and produced many tornadoes, some of which hit large population centers with devastating effects. 19 people were killed by those tornadoes. [cite web |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2007/day1otlk_20070301_2000.html|title=Mar 1, 2007 2000 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook|=publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |accessdate=2007-11-11]

The squall line finally overtook the supercells just after midnight on March 2, after putting down 37 tornadoes that day. As the squall line overtook the cells, a few tornadoes—all EF0—took place overnight in Florida and extreme southern Georgia within the squall line, before the severe weather emerged in the Atlantic Ocean that morning. [cite web |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2007/day1otlk_20070302_0100.html|title=Mar 2, 2007 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook|=publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |accessdate=2007-11-11] The final tornado was a landfalling waterspout in the Outer Banks of North Carolina late that morning. [cite web |url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~649201 |title=Event Record Details|publisher National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=2007-11-11] In addition to the tornadoes, widespread straight-line wind damage from microbursts were also reported, along with scattered large hail, the largest of which were the size of baseballs. [cite web |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/070301_rpts.html|title=20070301's Storm Reports|=publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |accessdate=2007-11-11]

On the other side of the low pressure area, a significant blizzard occurred over the northern Great Plains and Upper Midwest, including parts of Minnesota, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska, where several snowfalls in excess of 8 to 18 inches (20–45 cm) were reported, as well as snow of between 6 and 11 inches (15–28 cm) across portions of Ontario and Quebec. [cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2007/03/01/storm-roads.html|title=Treacherous roads blamed for accidents|publisher=CBC News|accessdate=2007-11-11] Freezing rain was reported across New England, the lower Great Lakes in Ontario, Michigan, and in the Chicago area. 19 people were killed by the storm, including two in Manitoba [cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2007/03/02/weather-roads.html|title=Storm creates deadly highway conditions in Manitoba
publisher=CBC News|accessdate=2007-11-11] , two in Ontario, [cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/03/01/storm-ontario.html|title=Storm heads east after slamming southern Ontario|publisher=CBC News|accessdate=2007-11-11] one in Massachusetts, four in North Dakota, one in Minnesota, three in Michigan, five in Wisconsin and one in Nebraska. [cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/weather/stormcenter/2007-03-03-midwest-storm_x.htm?csp=34|title=Snowstorms sock upper Midwest|publisher=USA Today|accessdate=2007-11-11] The University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities was closed for the first time since 1991 and the roof of a supermarket in Wisconsin collapsed. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty called in the National Guard while governors Chet Culver (Iowa) and Michael Rounds (South Dakota) issued disaster declarations [cite web |url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crnews/display_story.php?wfo=oax&storyid=6356&source=0|title=Blizzard Hits Region|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=2007-11-11] [cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/03/02/storm-wrap.html|title=Storm blankets Quebec, aims for Maritimes|publisher=CBC News|accessdate=2007-11-11]

Confirmed tornadoes

Tornado Chart
Total=55
F0=21
F1=19
F2=9
F3=3
F4=3
F5=0
Enhanced=yes

February 28 event

March 2 event

Enterprise area tornado

Early on the afternoon of Thursday, March 1, at 1:08 pm CST (19:08 UTC), a destructive tornado first developed near the Enterprise Municipal Airport. The tornado lifted off the ground briefly before returning to the ground as an even stronger storm. [cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/Mar0102_2007/index.html|title=Tornado Outbreak of March 1-2, 2007|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=2007-11-11] It quickly slammed into Enterprise, Alabama, at 1:12 pm CST (19:12 UTC). The tornado left severe damage throughout a large section of the city. The most severe damage took place at Enterprise High School, where a section of the school was destroyed during the middle of the school day. At least eight fatalities were reported at the school and 50 others were taken to local hospitals. Some early reports suggested that there had been as many as 15 deaths at Enterprise High School and 18 deaths statewide, which was found to be an over-estimation. [cite web |url=http://www.readingeagle.com/Article.aspx?id=18801|title=Tornadoes Kill 18 in Alabama; Mo. Girl|publisher=Reading Eagle|accessdate=2007-11-11] It was the first killer tornado at a US school since the Plainfield Tornado in Illinois in 1990, and the deadliest definite tornado since one in Belvidere, Illinois, in 1967. [cite web |url=http://www.tornadoproject.com/toptens/topten2.htm|title=The Ten Worst Tornado Related Disasters in Schools|publisher=TornadoProject.com|accessdate=2007-11-11] One other death was reported in Enterprise at a nearby private residence when her living room was shattered by the tornado. [cite web |url=http://www.eprisenow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=ENT/MGArticle/ENT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149193487576&path=%21news|title=Victim count continues to change; some names released|publisher=The Enterprise Leader|accessdate=2007-11-11] cite web |url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~646167|title=Event Record Details|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=2007-11-11]

At the school, the fatalities resulted from the collapse of a concrete wall. One hallway completely collapsed, trapping many students in the rubble on the hallway known as 3rd Hall. The tornado at the school was so strong that it flipped cars over in the parking lot, flattened parts of the stadium and tore trees out of the ground. School buses were there for an early dismissal due to the storms at just after 1 pm, but the tornado hit before the school could be dismissed.cite web |url=http://www.eprisenow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=ENT/MGArticle/ENT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149193481054&path=%21news|title='We need your prayers'|publisher=The Enterprise Leader|accessdate=2007-11-11]

Nearby Hillcrest Elementary School also sustained severe damaged from the tornado. After the tornado hit, students from both schools that were not injured were relocated by emergency personnel to Hillcrest Baptist Church, adjacent to the school which was not damaged, in order to meet up with shocked parents. Emergency personnel also rushed to the school to send the most seriously injured to local hospitals and provide treatment on the scene to others.

The tornado initially formed in a neighborhood just south of the downtown area; after demolishing a section of the downtown area, it moved on to the schools. The tornado then continued northeast crossing the Holly Hill and Dixie Drive areas. A quarter-mile (400 m) wide swath was devastated, with enormous damage reported to many houses and businesses, some of which were flattened. Several other schools and the local YMCA were among the damaged buildings. According to the Red Cross, 239 homes were destroyed, 374 sustained major damage, 529 sustained minor damage, and 251 homes were affected.cite web |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070303/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_tornadoes|title=Bush offers comfort to devastated towns|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070307154321/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070303/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_tornadoes|archivedate=2007-03-07|publisher=The Associated Press]

The tornado itself was estimated to have been 500 yards (472 m) wide and had a path length of 10 miles (16 km). It dissipated shortly after leaving Enterprise. It was given an initial rating of EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. [cite web |url=http://www.eprisenow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=ENT/MGArticle/ENT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149193487576&path=%21news|title=Victim count continues to change; some names released|publisher=The Enterprise Leader|accessdate=2007-11-11] However, after a detailed survey, the tornado was upgraded to a low-end EF4 with winds around 170 mph (275 km/h) due to flattened houses near the school. [cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/Mar0102_2007/PNSTAE_03010207.txt|title=Public Information Statement|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=2007-11-11]

Aftermath

The National Guard was called into Enterprise in the aftermath of the tornado. Governor Bob Riley mobilized about 100 troops and placed more on standby. A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on the community after the tornado hit due to the extensive damage. [cite web |url=http://www.eprisenow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=ENT/MGArticle/ENT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149193468910&path=%21news |title=The Enterprise Ledgder - National Guard Being Sent to Enterprise |accessdate=2007-11-08 ] On the morning of March 3, President George W. Bush visited the community and declared Coffee County a disaster area. He went into the school and also took an aerial view of the devastation. FEMA was also called in to provide additional assistance.

After the tornado, it was debated on whether the students should have indeed been dismissed before the tornado hit. However, the National Weather Service survey from the office in Tallahassee suggested that the death toll could have been much higher due to the extreme damage in the parking lot and the area nearby. [cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/Mar0102_2007/index.html|title=Tornado Outbreak of March 1-2, 2007|publisher=National Weather Service|accessdate=2007-11-08] In addition, earlier thunderstorm activity in the area with two other rotating supercells tracking towards Enterprise late that morning (the first tornado warning was issued at 10:41 am CST) made evacuating the area unsafe.cite web |url=http://www.weather.gov/os/assessments/pdfs/AL-GA_tornadoes07.pdf|title=Tornadoes in Southern Alabama and Georgia on March 1, 2007|publisher=National Weather Service|accessdate=2007-12-04]

In a later service assessment done by the NWS, it was determined that the school had taken the appropriate safety precautions to minimize and prevent potential loss of life with the tornado approaching, and the students were indeed in the safest part of the building. However, it was recommended in the assessment that hardened "safe rooms" with enhanced construction should exist, to prevent future disasters in the event of large and violent tornadoes impacting large buildings. A similar tornado on July 13, 2004 in Roanoke, Illinois, destroyed an industrial building, yet such rooms were used and no one there was seriously injured.

Americus tornado

In the evening of March 1, Georgia's most significant tornado of the outbreak took place. This tornado began at approximately 9:00 pm EST (02:00 UTC), about Convert|6|mi|km|0 southeast of Weston in Webster County, Georgia. At 9:07 pm, it moved into Sumter County, about Convert|5|mi|km|0 southeast of Dumas. No one was killed there but three people were injured as numerous buildings were damaged. The worst damage in the county occurred on East Centerpoint Road northeast of Chambliss. There, a cinder block house and two machine shops were destroyed. The three injuries occurred in the home, and 5 cows died on a nearby farm. A tractor-trailer near Chambliss was travelling on Highway 520 and was flipped over by the tornado. It caught fire and burned completely. At the intersection of the highway and TV Tower Road nearby, the Georgia Public Television transmission tower was damaged. 2/3 of it was twisted and only Convert|150|ft|m was left standing afterwards. Many trees and power lines were downed in the area. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~652158 NCDC: Event Details ] ]

In Sumter County, the tornado move northeast and struck Americus. The worst damage was to the Sumter Regional Hospital. The twister destroyed every building there, causing $100 million in damage to the facility. The buildings included a row of doctors' offices and the Sumter HealthPlex, a newly built Convert|8000|ft2|m2|sing=on facility. It went through demolition later in the year and will not reopen until 2010. Extensive damage was done elsewhere in the city. All casualties in the county were in Americus; two people, a 53-year-old man and 43-year-old woman, died in a house when a wall collapsed inside it. The tornado moved right over the downtown area and business district. The Winn-Dixie Supermarket was completely destroyed, and the McDonald's, Wendy's, Zaxby's, Domino's Pizza, and several more local businesses were damaged or destroyed. The tornado passed right through the National Register Historic District, damaging roughly 250 historical homes, several of which were destroyed. The city's most notable cemetery, the Oak Grove Cemetery, built in 1856, suffered moderate damage. Marble monuments, some Convert|30|ft|m|0 tall, were smashed, 26 wrought iron fences were toppled, and 104 cedar, magnolia, and oak trees were lost. The historic Rees Park High School sustained moderate damage but was not in use. The Old Shady Grove Church. Americus churches were not spared, as ten of them were damaged. Parks were badly affected as well. Rees Park lost 25 trees and nearby Myers Park lost 39. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~652158 NCDC: Event Details ] ]

The toll for damage in the county amounted to $110 million. A total of 31 residences, 42 businesses, one church, and one hospital were destroyed. Another 116 residences, 27 businesses, two churches, and three recreation facilities / parks sustained major damage. Moderate damage was inflicted on 260 residences, 60 businesses, five churches, a school, three recreation facilities / parks, and 2 cemeteries. Minor damage was reported to 586 residences, 88 businesses, two churches, a school, a fire station, two recreation facilities / parks, and a cemetery. A total of 75 structures were destroyed, 148 sustained major damage, 331 sustained moderate damage, and 681 sustained minor damage (a total of 1,235 structures). Of these, 993 were residences, 217 were businesses, 10 were churches, two were schools, one was a hospital, one was a fire station, eight were recreation facilities / parks, and three were cemeteries. Two people died in the county and eight others were injured. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~652158 NCDC: Event Details ] ]

At 9:36 pm, the tornado entered Macon County about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Oglethorpe, Georgia, but only continued for three miles (5 km) after that. It lifted at 9:40 pm, about 5 miles (8 km) south-southwest of Oglethorpe. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~652158 NCDC: Event Details ] ]

The tornado was rated as a strong EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. In total, the tornado cut a path up to one mile (1.6 km) wide and about 40 miles (64 km) long through Webster, Sumter and Macon Counties. Two people died and 11 injured. Total damage was estimated at over $111 million. Approximately 1,238 buildings, hundreds of vehicles, and much other property were damaged or destroyed. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~652158 NCDC: Event Details ] ]

References

See also

* List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
* List of tornado-related deaths at schools
* Tornadoes of 2007
* Winter storms of 2006–07

External links

* [http://www.weather.gov/os/assessments/pdfs/AL-GA_tornadoes07.pdf NWS assessment: Tornadoes in Southern Alabama and Georgia on March 1, 2007]
* [http://www.spc.noaa.gov/ Storm Prediction Center]
* [http://www.eprisenow.com/ Enterprise Ledger] newspaper coverage for the Enterprise tornado
* [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/Mar0102_2007/index.html NWS Tallahassee, FL tornado outbreak summary]
* [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/html/tor3107.shtml NWS Atlanta/Peachtree City, GA Tornado Outbreak Page]
* [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/sgf/?n=2007mar1_tornadoes NWS Springfield, MO Tornado event page]
* [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crnews/display_story.php?wfo=eax&storyid=6417&source=0 NWS Kansas City, MO Summary of Outbreak]
* [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crnews/display_story.php?wfo=pah&storyid=6416&source=0 NWS Paducah, KY Tornado event page]
* http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~652597
* http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~652427
* http://www.albanyherald.com/stories/20080301n8.htm