Re: December 2015 - Colder Weather To End December
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 9:10 am
Morning detailed briefing from Jeff regarding the N Texas Tornado Outbreak:
combination of factors evolved during the early evening hours of December 26, 2015 over N TX to produce one of the most devastating winter time tornado outbreaks in modern times in TX. Several supercell thunderstorms produced at least 9 tornadoes across north TX with the most significant affecting the higher population areas of eastern Dallas County into northwest Rockwall County and southeast Collin County.
There were 11 fatalities associated with the tornadoes including 8 in the City of Garland and 5 at the I-30/George Bush Turnpike interchange where vehicles were swept off the highway. Cell video of the tornado crossing I-30 indicated that motorists traveling both directions on I-30 appeared largely unaware of the approaching tornado and drove directly into the large circulation.
The 11 tornado fatalities on December 26, 2015 makes is the most fatalities in a N TX tornado outbreak since 10 fatalities in Dallas County in 1957 and 34 fatalities in Dallas and Collin Counties on May 9, 1927. This outbreak was the deadliest outbreak in over 50 years.
The 20 tornado fatalities in the last 5 days across the southern US is the most December tornado deaths since 49 fatalities in December 1953.
The EF-4 rated Garland Tornado in the strongest December tornado on record in the US since an EF-4 tornado struck AL on December 16, 2000.
An estimated 1100 structures were damaged by the multiple tornadoes.
Rowlett/Garland/Sunnyvale Tornado:
Tornado developed at 645pm SW of Sunnyvale and tracked NNE through the City of Garland and the City of Rowlett on the western shore of Lake Ray Hubbard. Track was 13 miles long with EF-3 (136-165 mph) rated damage in Rowlett and EF-4 (166-200 mph) rated damage in Garland and a path width of 550 yards. This tornado resulted in 8 fatalities and over 75 injuries and was on the ground for 20 minutes. Doppler radar scans of the supercell that was producing this tornado indicated debris was lofted up to 17,000 ft above the surface. The large debris field was clearly noted in the radar images as captured below as the tornado crossed into the high population areas of Garland and Rowlett. The EF-4 rating in Garland is the strongest tornado rating in Dallas County since 1994.
Copeville Tornado:
This tornado developed from the Rowlett supercell and formed at 728pm near Copeville, TX. The damage path was 7.3 miles long and 150 yards wide and was rated EF -2. There were 2 fatalities with this tornado. This tornado was produced from the same supercell that produced the Garland/Rowlett tornado after crossing over Lake Ray Hubbard.
Blue Ridge Tornado:
This tornado was on the ground for 4 minutes producing EF-0 damage (65-85mph) with a path length of 3 miles and 80 yards wide. Based on the timing…the tornado was moving at nearly 1 mile per minute. There was 1 fatality associated with this tornado in Blue Ridge.
Glenn Heights/Ovilla/Waxahachie Tornado:
Damage survey will be conducted today to determine EF rating for this tornado. Damage was extensive in northern Ellis and southern Dallas County with 101 structures damaged or destroyed. There were no fatalities with this tornado, but several injuries.
The following warnings were issued by the NWS Fort Worth Office for the Garland and Rowlett Tornado. The tornado warning at 639pm, triggered the outdoor siren systems in Rowlett, Garland, and Rockwall…a total of 6 minutes before the tornado touched down. A severe weather statement followed the lead warning at 649pm indicated that there was a confirmed large tornado on the ground and again at 655pm.
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
639 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHERN COLLIN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS...
NORTHEASTERN DALLAS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS...
WESTERN ROCKWALL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS...
* UNTIL 730 PM CST
* AT 638 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BALCH SPRINGS...MOVING NORTH AT 45 MPH.
HAZARD...TORNADO AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.
IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT
SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. TREE
DAMAGE IS LIKELY. THERE ARE TWO STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
TORNADOES. ONE JUST SOUTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS... ONE NEAR BALCH
SPRINGS. BOTH STORMS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND MOVING NORTHEAST.
* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
SUNNYVALE AROUND 645 PM CST.
DALLAS...GARLAND...RICHARDSON...ROWLETT...ROCKWALL AND SACHSE
AROUND 700 PM CST.
MURPHY AROUND 705 PM CST.
WYLIE...LUCAS AND PARKER AROUND 710 PM CST.
FAIRVIEW AROUND 715 PM CST.
FARMERSVILLE AROUND 725 PM CST.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE ST.
PAUL...BUCKINGHAM...NEVADA AND LAVON.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATES...
INTERSTATE 35E BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 425 AND 435.
INTERSTATE 20 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 475 AND 481.
INTERSTATE 30 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 41 AND 69.
INTERSTATE 45 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 280 AND 284.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.
649 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CST FOR SOUTHERN
COLLIN...NORTHEASTERN DALLAS AND WESTERN ROCKWALL COUNTIES...
AT 648 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS
LOCATED OVER ROWLETT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.
SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO.
IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY
BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES
WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO
HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE
DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. SPOTTERS REPORT A LARGE AND EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS TORNADO NORTH OF SUNNYVALE...MOVING NORTH TOWARDS GARLAND
AND ROWLETT. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE COVER
IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE!
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
ROCKWALL AND SACHSE AROUND 700 PM CST.
WYLIE AROUND 705 PM CST.
FARMERSVILLE AROUND 720 PM CST.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE ST.
PAUL...BUCKINGHAM...NEVADA AND LAVON.
655 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CST FOR SOUTHERN
COLLIN...NORTHEASTERN DALLAS AND WESTERN ROCKWALL COUNTIES...
AT 654 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS
LOCATED OVER ROWLETT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.
SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO.
IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY
BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES
WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO
HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE
DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. RADAR CONFIRMED DEBRIS WAS BEING LOFTED
OVER 1 MILE IN THE AIR. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF
YOU ARE NEAR ROWLETT...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE!
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
ROCKWALL AROUND 705 PM CST.
WYLIE AROUND 715 PM CST.
FARMERSVILLE AROUND 730 PM CST.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE ST.
PAUL...BUCKINGHAM...NEVADA AND LAVON. From Rockwall…looking west toward Rowlett (blue flash is debris striking power lines) From Rockwall…looking across Lake Ray Hubbard From Rockwall Massive tornado approaching I-30 from the south…moving through Garland Rowlett I-30 at George Bush Turnpike (several vehicles were rolled and carried by the tornado) 65 trailers destroyed…no fatalities High End EF 3/low end EF 4 damage (entire second floor of apartment building blown apart): Garland South of I-30 (high end EF 3/low end EF 4 damage) Just S of I-30 and George Bush Turnpike: I-30 at George Bush Turnpike (location of multiple fatalities in vehicles): S of Hwy 66 at Dalrock Exit (Rowlett) Rowlett (at west shore of Lake Ray Hubbard): Garland ( mid to high end EF 4 damage where home is completely removed from slab): [/i]
combination of factors evolved during the early evening hours of December 26, 2015 over N TX to produce one of the most devastating winter time tornado outbreaks in modern times in TX. Several supercell thunderstorms produced at least 9 tornadoes across north TX with the most significant affecting the higher population areas of eastern Dallas County into northwest Rockwall County and southeast Collin County.
There were 11 fatalities associated with the tornadoes including 8 in the City of Garland and 5 at the I-30/George Bush Turnpike interchange where vehicles were swept off the highway. Cell video of the tornado crossing I-30 indicated that motorists traveling both directions on I-30 appeared largely unaware of the approaching tornado and drove directly into the large circulation.
The 11 tornado fatalities on December 26, 2015 makes is the most fatalities in a N TX tornado outbreak since 10 fatalities in Dallas County in 1957 and 34 fatalities in Dallas and Collin Counties on May 9, 1927. This outbreak was the deadliest outbreak in over 50 years.
The 20 tornado fatalities in the last 5 days across the southern US is the most December tornado deaths since 49 fatalities in December 1953.
The EF-4 rated Garland Tornado in the strongest December tornado on record in the US since an EF-4 tornado struck AL on December 16, 2000.
An estimated 1100 structures were damaged by the multiple tornadoes.
Rowlett/Garland/Sunnyvale Tornado:
Tornado developed at 645pm SW of Sunnyvale and tracked NNE through the City of Garland and the City of Rowlett on the western shore of Lake Ray Hubbard. Track was 13 miles long with EF-3 (136-165 mph) rated damage in Rowlett and EF-4 (166-200 mph) rated damage in Garland and a path width of 550 yards. This tornado resulted in 8 fatalities and over 75 injuries and was on the ground for 20 minutes. Doppler radar scans of the supercell that was producing this tornado indicated debris was lofted up to 17,000 ft above the surface. The large debris field was clearly noted in the radar images as captured below as the tornado crossed into the high population areas of Garland and Rowlett. The EF-4 rating in Garland is the strongest tornado rating in Dallas County since 1994.
Copeville Tornado:
This tornado developed from the Rowlett supercell and formed at 728pm near Copeville, TX. The damage path was 7.3 miles long and 150 yards wide and was rated EF -2. There were 2 fatalities with this tornado. This tornado was produced from the same supercell that produced the Garland/Rowlett tornado after crossing over Lake Ray Hubbard.
Blue Ridge Tornado:
This tornado was on the ground for 4 minutes producing EF-0 damage (65-85mph) with a path length of 3 miles and 80 yards wide. Based on the timing…the tornado was moving at nearly 1 mile per minute. There was 1 fatality associated with this tornado in Blue Ridge.
Glenn Heights/Ovilla/Waxahachie Tornado:
Damage survey will be conducted today to determine EF rating for this tornado. Damage was extensive in northern Ellis and southern Dallas County with 101 structures damaged or destroyed. There were no fatalities with this tornado, but several injuries.
The following warnings were issued by the NWS Fort Worth Office for the Garland and Rowlett Tornado. The tornado warning at 639pm, triggered the outdoor siren systems in Rowlett, Garland, and Rockwall…a total of 6 minutes before the tornado touched down. A severe weather statement followed the lead warning at 649pm indicated that there was a confirmed large tornado on the ground and again at 655pm.
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
639 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHERN COLLIN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS...
NORTHEASTERN DALLAS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS...
WESTERN ROCKWALL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS...
* UNTIL 730 PM CST
* AT 638 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BALCH SPRINGS...MOVING NORTH AT 45 MPH.
HAZARD...TORNADO AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.
IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT
SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. TREE
DAMAGE IS LIKELY. THERE ARE TWO STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
TORNADOES. ONE JUST SOUTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS... ONE NEAR BALCH
SPRINGS. BOTH STORMS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND MOVING NORTHEAST.
* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
SUNNYVALE AROUND 645 PM CST.
DALLAS...GARLAND...RICHARDSON...ROWLETT...ROCKWALL AND SACHSE
AROUND 700 PM CST.
MURPHY AROUND 705 PM CST.
WYLIE...LUCAS AND PARKER AROUND 710 PM CST.
FAIRVIEW AROUND 715 PM CST.
FARMERSVILLE AROUND 725 PM CST.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE ST.
PAUL...BUCKINGHAM...NEVADA AND LAVON.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATES...
INTERSTATE 35E BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 425 AND 435.
INTERSTATE 20 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 475 AND 481.
INTERSTATE 30 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 41 AND 69.
INTERSTATE 45 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 280 AND 284.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.
649 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CST FOR SOUTHERN
COLLIN...NORTHEASTERN DALLAS AND WESTERN ROCKWALL COUNTIES...
AT 648 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS
LOCATED OVER ROWLETT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.
SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO.
IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY
BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES
WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO
HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE
DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. SPOTTERS REPORT A LARGE AND EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS TORNADO NORTH OF SUNNYVALE...MOVING NORTH TOWARDS GARLAND
AND ROWLETT. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE COVER
IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE!
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
ROCKWALL AND SACHSE AROUND 700 PM CST.
WYLIE AROUND 705 PM CST.
FARMERSVILLE AROUND 720 PM CST.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE ST.
PAUL...BUCKINGHAM...NEVADA AND LAVON.
655 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CST FOR SOUTHERN
COLLIN...NORTHEASTERN DALLAS AND WESTERN ROCKWALL COUNTIES...
AT 654 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS
LOCATED OVER ROWLETT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.
SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO.
IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY
BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES
WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO
HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE
DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. RADAR CONFIRMED DEBRIS WAS BEING LOFTED
OVER 1 MILE IN THE AIR. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF
YOU ARE NEAR ROWLETT...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE!
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
ROCKWALL AROUND 705 PM CST.
WYLIE AROUND 715 PM CST.
FARMERSVILLE AROUND 730 PM CST.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE ST.
PAUL...BUCKINGHAM...NEVADA AND LAVON. From Rockwall…looking west toward Rowlett (blue flash is debris striking power lines) From Rockwall…looking across Lake Ray Hubbard From Rockwall Massive tornado approaching I-30 from the south…moving through Garland Rowlett I-30 at George Bush Turnpike (several vehicles were rolled and carried by the tornado) 65 trailers destroyed…no fatalities High End EF 3/low end EF 4 damage (entire second floor of apartment building blown apart): Garland South of I-30 (high end EF 3/low end EF 4 damage) Just S of I-30 and George Bush Turnpike: I-30 at George Bush Turnpike (location of multiple fatalities in vehicles): S of Hwy 66 at Dalrock Exit (Rowlett) Rowlett (at west shore of Lake Ray Hubbard): Garland ( mid to high end EF 4 damage where home is completely removed from slab): [/i]