Thursday, June 2, 2011

Washington Breaks Century-Plus Mark to Set Double Heat Record

Washington's high temperature of 98° on June 1 broke the more than 100-year-old record for the date of 97° in 1895. Moreover, despite the passage of a "cold" front during the evening, the midnight temperature was 83°, so the morning low of 76° also broke the daily record for highest minimum of 74° set in 1991. The 1895 record was one of only two remaining 19th-century daily high temperature records for June in Washington. The sole remaining one is now 102° on June 9, 1874.

Baltimore (BWI) also broke its 1895 record with a high of 98°.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Multiple Tornado Reports in Springfield, Massachusetts Area
Update: NWS Confirms 3 Tornadoes, Including Springfield EF-3

Image (click to enlarge): Preliminary Springfield tornado path map from Boston Globe

Image (click to enlarge): Building damage in W. Springfield, Massachusetts, from WWLP-TV, Channel 22.

June 3, 11 PM Update: The National Weather Service confirmed tonight that there were 3 tornadoes in Massachusetts on June 1, including one rated at EF-3 intensity which moved through Springfield and caused a total of 4 fatalities. There were also 2 EF-1 tornadoes in Wilbraham and North Brimfield. According to National Climatic Data Center statistics, this was the largest single outbreak of EF-1 or higher tornadoes in Massachusetts since July 3, 1997.
LOCATION...WESTFIELD TO CHARLTON IN HAMPDEN AND WORCESTER COUNTIES
DATE...JUNE 1 2011
ESTIMATED TIME...417 PM TO 527 PM EDT
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF3
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...160 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...ONE HALF MILE
PATH LENGTH...39.0 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON...42.10N / 72.75W
ENDING LAT/LON...42.10N / 71.99W
* FATALITIES...4
* INJURIES...200
In Springfield:
THE TORNADO RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED AS IT MOVED INTO WEST
SPRINGFIELD. THE TORNADO CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO INDUSTRIAL
BUILDINGS AND HOMES. SEVERAL BUILDINGS HAD THEIR ROOFS REMOVED BY
THE TORNADO...A FEW STRUCTURES COLLAPSED...AND SEVERAL MULTI-
STORY BUILDINGS LOST THEIR UPPER STORIES.

THE TORNADO THEN CROSSED THE CONNECTICUT RIVER AT THE MEMORIAL
AVENUE BRIDGE AND INTO THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD. HERE THE TORNADO
PRODUCED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA
WITH MANY HOMES DESTROYED. IN ADDITION COMMERCIAL BRICK BUILDINGS
SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. ROOFS WERE REMOVED FROM MANY OF THESE
LARGE COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES. THE TORNADO ALSO PRODUCED SEVERE
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO TOWN HOMES AND APARTMENTS NEAR SPRINGFIELD
COLLEGE. THE TORNADO CONTINUED MOVING EAST INTO THE ISLAND POND
SECTION OF SPRINGFIELD...WHERE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL SUSTAINED
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE...AND MANY HOMES IN THIS PART THE CITY WERE
COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
The other 2 storms:
LOCATION...WILBRAHAM IN HAMPDEN COUNTY
DATE...JUNE 1 2011
ESTIMATED TIME...632 PM TO 640 PM EDT
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF1
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...90 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...200 YARDS
PATH LENGTH...3.6 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON...42.14N / 72.48W
ENDING LAT/LON...42.15N / 72.40W
* FATALITIES...0
* INJURIES...0

LOCATION...NORTH BRIMFIELD IN HAMPDEN COUNTY
DATE...JUNE 1 2011
ESTIMATED TIME...654 PM TO 657 PM EDT
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF1
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...90 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...100 YARDS
PATH LENGTH...1.3 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON...42.14N / 72.23W
ENDING LAT/LON...42.15N / 72.20W
* FATALITIES...0
* INJURIES...0
June 3, 1 PM Update: Storm damage analysis is still underway, but the National Weather Service reports that the preliminary rating of the Springfield tornado is at least EF-3. As noted in the original post below, the last tornado of EF-3 or higher in Massachusetts was in 1995.

June 2, 5 PM Update: The National Weather Service reports that 2 damage assessment teams (7 meteorologists) conducted tornado surveys today from Westfield to Springfield and the Sturbridge area. Because of the extent of the area affected, however, a report will not be issued until Friday.

June 2, 11 AM Update: Raw tornado damage video in Monson, Massachusetts, from NECN:



June 2, 10 AM Update: Several teams of National Weather Service meteorologists will be surveying storm damage and issuing a preliminary report later today.

Midnight Update: More Springfield tornado coverage from the Boston Globe:
Four fatalities confirmed as tornadoes rip through Mass.

Storm video:

Tornado touches down in downtown Springfield: wwlp.com



Original post:
The National Weather Service reports multiple tornado sightings in the vicinity of Springfield, Sturbridge, and Westfield in western Massachusetts late this afternoon. Cars were reported overturned at an exit of route I-84, and a state of emergency was declared by the governor in response to damage in Springfield. According to media reports, the death toll is at least four, with 20 injured.

These are the preliminary Local Storm Reports from the NWS:
..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..

0430 PM TORNADO WESTFIELD 42.14N 72.76W
06/01/2011 HAMPDEN MA LAW ENFORCEMENT

POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN SHAKER ROAD AREA.

0432 PM TORNADO SPRINGFIELD 42.12N 72.54W
06/01/2011 HAMPDEN MA AMATEUR RADIO

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED TORNADO ON THE GROUND
ONE HALF MILE FROM MAIN STREET. WIDESPREAD DAMAGE.

0524 PM TORNADO STURBRIDGE 42.10N 72.06W
06/01/2011 WORCESTER MA LAW ENFORCEMENT

STATE POLICE NORTHAMPTON REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND
IN STURBRIDGE ON INTERSTATE 84 EXIT. CARS OVERTURNED.

0607 PM TORNADO WESTFIELD 42.14N 72.76W
06/01/2011 HAMPDEN MA UTILITY COMPANY

ELECTRIC COMPANY REPORTED TO POLICE A TORNADO ON THE
GROUND IN SOUTHWEST PORTION OF WESTFIELD.

0620 PM TORNADO SPRINGFIELD 42.12N 72.54W
06/01/2011 HAMPDEN MA LAW ENFORCEMENT

STATE POLICE REPORT TORNADO IN NORTH SPRINGFIELD AREA.


0725 PM TORNADO STURBRIDGE 42.10N 72.06W
06/01/2011 WORCESTER MA AMATEUR RADIO

AMATEUR RADIO REPORT OF A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN
STURBRIDGE AT ROUTE 49A
According to the National Climatic Data Center, since official records began in 1950, there have been 155 tornadoes in the state of Massachusetts. The most recent report prior to this year was on 07/23/2008, when a minimal F0 storm occurred in South Swansea, causing an estimated $15K in damages. The last tornado to cause over $1 million in damage was an F2 storm in Franklin on 08/21/2004. The most recent F4 tornado was in N. Egremont, Berkshire County, on 05/29/1995. That storm caused 3 deaths and 24 injuries.

There have been a total of 11 tornadoes with magnitude F3 or higher in Massachusetts, of which 3 were F4. The F4 tornadoes included the N. Egremont storm, the infamous Worcester storm of 06/09/1953, and a Berkshire County storm on 08/28/1973.

Of the total 102 deaths caused by tornadoes in Massachusetts, the vast majority (90) were in the Worcester F4 storm.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Hundred-Year Record Montana Rainfall Leads to Missouri River Flooding

Image (click to enlarge): Montana precipitation percentage of normal for 14 days ending 8 am EDT, May 31, from National Weather Service.

Record rainfall in Montana through the second half of May is threatening serious flooding on the Missouri River downstream into the Dakotas, Iowa, and Nebraska. Large portions of southeastern Montana have had rainfall as much as 600% of normal for the 14 days ending May 31.

From May 10 through the 25th, all-time May daily rainfall records were set at 10 locations in Montana. At Billings, where records extend back 76 years, the 3.12" on the 24th broke the previous May daily record of 2.83" set in 1952. Another 1952 record was broken at Livingston with 2.08" on the 24th. Two hundred-year records, originally set on May 26, 1911, were broken at Sidney with 2.42" and Ryegate with 2.21".

The 6.98" at Glasgow, Montana through this morning is a new monthly record for May, exceeding the 6.61" in 2007, and is 5.26" above the normal for the month. Glasgow climate records extend back to 1893.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

NOAA/National Weather Service Updates Joplin Tornado Report, Track Map


Image (click to enlarge): Joplin tornado track, May 22, 2011, from National Weather Service. The numbers in the triangles represent Enhanced Fujita (EF) tornado intensity levels. For an interactive version of the Google map, click here.


Video (click to play): Driving tour of the Joplin tornado path, from CNN

June 10 Update: The death toll from the Joplin tornado was increased to 151 today.

Original post:
The National Weather Service late Sunday afternoon updated its report on the deadly Joplin tornado of May 22 based on surveys carried out in the past week:
* DATE...22 MAY 2011  
* MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-5
* ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...IN EXCESS OF 200 MPH
* ESTIMATED PATH WIDTH...3/4 MILE
* ESTIMATED PATH LENGTH...13.8 MILES
* FATALITIES...130+
* INJURIES...750+

THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN ONE HALF MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE
INTERSECTION OF JJ HIGHWAY AND NEWTON ROAD. SEVERAL LARGE TREES
WERE TOPPLED.

THE TORNADO RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED AS IT MOVED TOWARD THE INTERSECTION
OF COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE AND 32ND STREET. DAMAGE BECAME MORE WIDESPREAD AS
THE TORNADO CROSSED MAIDEN LANE...CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO
NEARLY ALL WINDOWS ON THREE SIDES OF ST JOHNS HOSPITAL AS WELL AS TO
THE ROOF. THE TORNADO FURTHER INTENSIFIED AS IT DESTROYED NUMEROUS
HOMES AND BUSINESSES TO THE EAST AND NORTH OF THE HOSPITAL. A
CHURCH SCHOOL HAD ALL BUT A PORTION OF ITS EXTERIOR WALLS DESTROYED.
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A NURSING HOME WAS ALSO NOTED IN THIS AREA.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO DESTROY OVER 100 HOMES BETWEEN 32ND AND
20TH STREETS. THREE STORY APARTMENT COMPLEXES HAD THE TOP TWO FLOORS
REMOVED...OTHER TWO STORY COMPLEXES WERE PARTIALLY LEVELED. A BANK
WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VAULT. A DILLONS
GROCERY STORE ALSO HAD SIGNIFICANT ROOF AND EXTERIOR WALL DAMAGE.
LASTLY...THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR WALLS OF A TECHNICAL SCHOOL...A
MORTAR AND REBAR REINFORCED CINDER BLOCK BUILDING...FAILED.

THE TORNADO CROSSED RANGELINE ROAD NEAR 20TH STREET. THE MOST
INTENSE DAMAGE WAS NOTED JUST EAST OF THIS INTERSECTION WHERE A HOME
DEPOT WAS DESTROYED. IN ADDITION...THE CUMMINS BUILDING...A CONCRETE
BLOCK AND HEAVY STEEL BUILDING...HAD ITS STEEL ROOF BEAMS COLLAPSE.
SPORTS ACADEMY AND THE WALMART ALSO SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO MOVE EASTWARD ALONG AND SOUTH OF 20TH
STREET DESTROYING NUMEROUS WAREHOUSE STYLE FACILITIES AND RESIDENCES
THROUGH DUQUESNE ROAD.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED DESTROYING NUMEROUS HOMES BEFORE WEAKENING AS
IT TURNED SOUTHEAST TOWARD INTERSTATE 44. THE DAMAGE PATH CONTINUED
SOUTHEAST FROM JOPLIN TO APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF DIAMOND.

Seasonal Outlook

Latest seasonal forecast: Click here.


Latest 3-month temperature outlook from Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA.