User:Nicholas Krasznavolgyi/sandbox2
 Sentinel-2 satellite imagery of the scar left behind by the Bassfield, Mississippi EF4 tornado. | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | April 12, 2020, 4:12 p.m. CDT |
| Dissipated | April 12, 2020, 5:28 p.m. CDT |
| Duration | 1 hour, 16 minutes |
| EF4 tornado | |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 190 mph (310 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 7 (+1 indirect) |
| Injuries | 98 (+1 indirect) |
| Damage | $55.8 million (2020 USD) |
| Areas affected | Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones, Jasper, and Clarke, Mississippi counties. |
Part of the 2020 Easter tornado outbreak | |
Throughout the late afternoon hours of April 12, 2020, a large and destructive tornado struck the cities and communities of Bassfield, Cantwell Mill, Collins, Seminary, Soso, Moss, Heidelberg, and Pachuta in southeastern Mississippi, killing 7 people and injuring 98 others. The tornado was the strongest and second deadliest of the 2020 Easter tornado outbreak. The tornado reached peak intensity in the Cantwell Mill community northeast of Bassfield, leading the National Weather Service to assign a rating of high-end EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with maximum wind speeds estimated at 190 mph (310 km/h).
Meteorological synopsis[edit]
The first indications of organized severe weather came on April 8, when the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) outlined 15% probabilities for severe weather within 25 mi (40 km) of a point from central Texas eastward into the Florida Panhandle and eastern Georgia valid for April 11–12.[1] These threat areas were later refined with the introduction of a day-3 moderate risk, the fourth of five threat levels, across northeastern Louisiana through central Alabama on April 10.[2] Over subsequent days, a significant mid-level shortwave trough progressed eastward across the United States. By the pre-dawn hours of April 12, mid-level cooling associated with the feature overspread the Edwards Plateau, Hill Country, and much of central Texas. Accordingly, an intense line of severe thunderstorms developed along a dry line while vigorous convective development formed farther east.[3] These thunderstorms were initially isolated in nature but soon coalesced into a mesoscale convective system as they encountered an enhanced corridor of warm air streaming northward, as well as very strong wind shear. This storm complex progressed across northern Louisiana through the late morning and early afternoon hours, and embedded circulations within the line began producing strong tornadoes. In advance of the line, a lifting warm front aided in the formation of a very moist, highly unstable, and highly sheared environment across northeastern Louisiana and much of Mississippi.[4] Accordingly, the SPC issued a particularly dangerous situation tornado watch into the late evening hours.[5]
A weather balloon launch from Jackson, Mississippi, at 18:00 UTC revealed the presence of a capping inversion across the region. This cap was expected to weaken across central Mississippi,[6] while forecasters expressed more uncertainty about its longevity across southern Mississippi and Louisiana.[7] As a small area of low pressure progressed across northwestern Mississippi, it caused surface winds to turn out of the east-southeast, enhancing the potential for tornadoes. As a cluster of storms across central Mississippi progressed toward the northeast, it began to re-intensify and develop embedded supercell characteristics with an attendant threat of strong tornadoes.[8] Farther south, two distinct supercells developed within an environment where long-tracked, significant tornadoes were favored, both producing a combined total of four significant (EF2+) tornadoes. After conducting damage surveys, the National Weather Service identified two violent tornadoes that occurred with the first supercell. The first violent tornado killed four people and injured three others near Sartinville, Mississippi, earning a low-end EF4 rating with peak wind speeds estimated at 170 mph (270 km/h). The second violent tornado touched down in the Bassfield area, killing 8 people (1 indirectly) and injuring 99 others (1 indirectly). A long-tracked EF3 tornado was identified with the second supercell that tracked behind the first one, producing significant damage near Oak Vale and Carson, injuring two people. The first supercell also produced two other tornadoes after the second EF4 tornado dissipated, including an EF2 tornado that passed near Stonewall and Enterprise. Both supercells then weakened and merged with a squall line after that.[9]
Tornado summary[edit]
Bassfield–Cantwell Mill[edit]
This violent, long-tracked, and deadly EF4 wedge tornado was the fifth of eleven spawned by the Quad-State supercell, and the first of two violent tornadoes produced by the storm. It first touched down in Craighead County, Arkansas, just north of Bay, at 7:07 p.m. CST (01:07 UTC) on the evening of December 10, initially causing minor EF0 tree and outbuilding damage. As it moved through the south side of Bowman, it caused EF0 to EF1 damage as roofs were damaged, power poles and tree limbs were downed, and a radio antennae at a residence was bent. The tornado quickly intensified to EF2 strength as it crossed AR 18 and passed northwest of Lake City, downing trees and damaging or destroying some metal outbuildings. A house also sustained minor damage in this area. It grew to a width of 800 yards (730 m) as it crossed County Road 505 and tracked to the northeast, snapping power poles and unroofing a house along County Road 10. Another house sustained major roof damage in this area, an irrigation pivot sprinkler was overturned, and a silo was damaged. The tornado reached low-end EF3 strength as it moved through the western and northern fringes of Monette at 7:23 p.m. CST (01:23 UTC), resulting in significant damage. Two industrial buildings were destroyed at the west edge of town, and many trees and power poles were snapped. The Monette Manor nursing home was struck by the tornado, killing one person and trapping 20 other residents and employees. The building sustained major structural damage, losing much of its roof and sustaining collapse of some masonry exterior walls.[10] Multiple homes and mobile homes were damaged or destroyed in a neighborhood near the nursing home, and several large grain silos were torn apart. In addition to the fatality, five people were reported seriously injured in Monette.[11] AR 135 and AR 139 were also shut down near the town due to downed power lines on the roadways.[12] Maximum wind speeds in the Monette area were estimated at 143 mph (230 km/h).
The tornado continued at low-end EF3 intensity as it crossed into northwestern Mississippi County, striking Leachville at 7:30 p.m. CST (01:30 UTC). There, it moved through a subdivision heavily damaging or destroying numerous homes. As the tornado crossed AR 77, it completely destroyed a local Dollar General store sweeping a portion of it off its foundation, killing the store's assistant manager. A few metal-framed warehouse buildings across AR 77 were badly damaged or destroyed, cars and semi-trailers were tossed, and multiple homes and mobile homes were damaged or destroyed in town. Extensive tree damage also occurred, and businesses in downtown Leachville had roofing blown off. Maximum wind speeds in the Leachville area were estimated at 145 mph (233 km/h). The tornado continued northeast for 6 miles (9.7 km) and grew larger as it passed near the rural community of Buckeye, and very intense tree damage was noted along West County Road 38. An entire row of large trees were completely debarked and denuded at this location, and a low-end EF3 rating was applied. Power poles were snapped and an outbuilding was also destroyed by the tornado in this area.
Collins–Seminary[edit]
As it crossed the state line into Dunklin County in the Missouri Bootheel at 7:40 p.m. CST (01:40 UTC), high-end EF2 damage occurred as multiple outbuildings, mobile homes, and houses were damaged or destroyed, and many power poles and trees were snapped, with some low-end debarking noted. It continued south of Hornersville and over the Hornersville Swamp Conservation Area, briefly weakening to EF1 intensity. Trees and power poles were damaged in this area, and a mobile home also sustained minor damage. Farther to the northeast, the damage became more severe again as multiple metal truss transmission towers were twisted or collapsed near County Road 722, and damage in this area was rated EF3. A house along the periphery of the circulation sustained minor damage, and some power poles were pushed over as well. High-end EF2 damage occurred as the tornado then crossed into Pemiscot County west of Steele. Trees were snapped and denuded, power poles were downed, a couple of homes were heavily damaged, and a pickup truck was tossed along this segment of the path.[13] The tornado became weak again as it passed just south of Braggadocio at EF1 intensity, damaging or destroying some barns and outbuildings, and inflicting roof damage to homes. However, the tornado abruptly became violent as it moved through the intersection of State Highway J and County Highway 407 to the east of town, causing EF4 damage as two homes were swept from their foundations and scattered across fields. A nine-year-old girl was killed, and her parents and two younger sisters were injured in the destruction of one of the homes. As it crossed I-55 just south of Hayti, the large wedge tornado weakened back to EF2 strength and blew multiple semi-trailer trucks off the highway into a field, injuring the drivers. A car was also thrown, fatally injuring the driver. In addition to the two fatalities, at least nine people overall were injured in the county.[14][15][16][17]
Soso–Moss[edit]
East of Hayti, the tornado caused additional EF2 power pole damage and then crossed the Mississippi River into Lake County, Tennessee around 8:20 p.m. CST (02:20 UTC). It briefly crossed a bend in the river back into Missouri before crossing into Lake County again. Moving through central Lake County, the tornado narrowly missed the small community of Wynnburg, producing EF3 damage in rural areas outside of town, where numerous large trees were snapped and denuded, some of which sustained debarking. Some metal high-tension power poles were bent to the ground as well. The tornado reached peak intensity a second time near Tiptonville as it moved across the southern shore of Reelfoot Lake, striking the Cypress Point Resort and resulting in three fatalities. A bait and tackle shop sustained EF4 damage as it was swept clean from its foundation, with only a bare concrete slab remaining. Multiple cottages, houses, and cabins were also destroyed, while a couple of two-story hotel buildings sustained total destruction of their top floors, and collapse of many walls on their first floors, with damage to those structures rated EF3. A gift shop and a restaurant also sustained severe damage, large amounts of debris was scattered throughout the area, and several people sustained serious injuries at the resort. The tornado crossed the southeastern part of the lake, before moving ashore again as it entered Obion County, causing high-end EF2 damage as it damaged or destroyed cabins, outbuildings, and houses along Lake Drive. Continuing at high-end EF2 strength, the tornado narrowed as it impacted the small town of Samburg, resulting in major damage along SR 22. Houses in town had roofs and exterior walls ripped off, RV campers were tossed, and mobile homes were destroyed. The city hall building, post office, a gas station, and several other buildings were damaged or destroyed as well. One person was killed in town, and others were injured. Northeast of town, the tornado began to weaken, with the roof being blown off a farm building along Old Samburg Road. Trees and tree limbs were also downed, and damage was rated EF1 in this area. It continued northeastward along the road, causing EF0 tree limb damage until it dissipated approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) northeast of Samburg at 8:36 p.m. CST (02:36 UTC).[18][19]
Aftermath[edit]
The tornado was rated as a low-end EF4 with winds estimated at 170 mph (270 km/h), reaching a peak width of 1,800 yards (1,600 m) along an 81.17-mile (130.63 km) path through portions of three states, remaining on the ground for 89 minutes. Eight fatalities occurred, along with many injuries, some of which were serious.[20][21][22][23][24] After the tornado dissipated, the parent supercell entered a cycling phase, producing three brief tornadoes, one rated EF1 and the other two rated EF0, in Obion County northeast of Samburg and west of Union City. As the storm passed to the northwest of Union City, it produced a stronger, longer-tracked tornado near Woodland Mills.[18][25]
In 2023, tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis published that this tornado was a "minimal EF4, based on tree damage...millions of trees were destroyed".[26] Grazulis also published that the width of the tornado was 2,000 yards (1,800 m; 1.1 mi; 1.8 km), not close to the National Weather Service width of 2.25 miles (3.62 km).[26]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Andy Dean; Greg Dial. "Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Apr 8, 2020". Storm Prediction Center.
- ^ Andy Dean; Greg Dial. "Storm Prediction Center Apr 10, 2020 0730 UTC Day 3 Severe Thunderstorm Outlook". Storm Prediction Center.
- ^ Brynn Kerr; Rich Thompson. "Storm Prediction Center Mesoscale Discussion 345". Storm Prediction Center.
- ^ Aaron Gleason; Jeremy Grams. "Storm Prediction Center Mesoscale Discussion 350". Storm Prediction Center.
- ^ Jeremy Grams. "Storm Prediction Center PDS Tornado Watch 106". Storm Prediction Center.
- ^ Aaron Gleason. "Storm Prediction Center Mesoscale Discussion 357". Storm Prediction Center.
- ^ Jeremy Grams; Aaron Gleason. "Storm Prediction Center Mesoscale Discussion 353". Storm Prediction Center.
- ^ Aaron Gleason. "Storm Prediction Center Mesoscale Discussion 355". Storm Prediction Center.
- ^ "2020 Easter Sunday Outbreak". ArcGIS StoryMaps. National Weather Service Jackson MS. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ Grant Lancaster (December 11, 2021). "Arkansas nursing home struck in storm; 1 person dies". Arkansas Democrat. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Brinkmannwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Authorities release name of victim in Leachville tornado". KAIT. Gray Television. December 10, 2021. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "Multiple semis caught in tornado's path along I-55 in Missouri". The Trucker. Associated Press. December 12, 2021. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ^ Amber Ruch (December 11, 2021). "Gov. Parson tours storm damage in Pemiscot Co.; 2 confirmed deaths in Mo., hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed". KFVS-TV. Gray Television. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021 – via KAIT.
- ^ Chris Carter (December 13, 2021). "Girl, 9, killed in Missouri tornado; community rallies around family". KYTV. Gray Television. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "As cleanup continues, Missouri officials assessing damage from Friday's tornadoes". FOX 2. 2021-12-12. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ NWS Memphis. "Preliminary findings suggest that at least two EF-3 tornadoes struck the Mid South Friday evening. We will continue to survey the damage along the paths of these two long track tornadoes. Rating is subject to change as we acquire more data". twitter.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". apps.dat.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ^ Olivo, Antonio (December 17, 2020). "Recovering Together". Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ Action News 5 Staff (December 11, 2021). "3 dead in tornadoes in northwest Tennessee". KFVS-TV. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Sebastian Posey (December 11, 2021). "2 people dead in Obion County tornado, TEMA reports". WKRN-TV. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ Brandon Shields (December 17, 2021). "Remains of man missing after Lake Co. tornado found near rubble". The Jackson Sun. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Yahoo! News.
- ^ Evan Beebe (December 11, 2021). "3 deaths confirmed following tornadoes in northwest Tennessee". WPSD-TV. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Updated NWS Damage Survey For 12/10/21 Tornado Event". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Memphis, Tennessee. December 20, 2021. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ a b Grazulis, Thomas P. (2023). Significant Tornadoes 1974–2022. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project. p. 593. ISBN 978-1-879362-01-7.