Topic: Tornadoes New Year's Eve tornadoes?!

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New Year's Eve tornadoes?!
         

A large, powerful mid-level trough is plowing across the southern and  central Plains this morning, and an associated surface low developing over  northern Missouri continues to allow low-level moisture to flow north into the  mid South and middle Mississippi Valley region. As such, strong wind shear and  ample instability are in place, and will be enough to support the last severe  weather event of 2010.  A tornado watch is currently in effect for the Ozark  Mountains into extreme western Illinois, as a strong cold front surging east  across Oklahoma and Kansas has initiated a line of severe thunderstorns with  embedded and pre-frontal supercells in western Arkansas and Missouri. Earlier  this morning, a tornado was reported on the OK-AR border in the town of  Cincinnati, AR, and was responsible for multiple fatalities as several buildings  were destroyed. Later, a particularly strong supercell traveled northeast  through Branson, MO, though so far there have been no reports of damage (radar  images from this storm are shown above). Storms will be racing to the northeast  today, with motions in excess of 50 MPH, so people in areas under the threat of  severe weather definitely need to remain alert to changing weather conditions.  Winter severe weather events can be especially dangerous since they often catch  people off-guard. This is just another reminder that tornadoes can happen any  time the conditions are favorable, even on New Year's Eve!
         

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New Year's Eve Tornado Outbreak 12-31-10

During the early morning hours on December 31st a broad line of severe thunderstorms broke out ahead of an advancing cold front across southeast Kansas, Eastern Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas. Instability was very limited especially so early in the morning. However, extreme deep and low level shear led to supercells to develop out ahead of the line and also embedded within the line. Shortly after 6AM, an EF-3 tornado devastated the small town of Cincinnati, Arkansas near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border. Sadly, three people lost there lives in the town. For more information (including damage photos) about this tornado refer to Tulsa National Weather Service's write up on the event.


As the morning progressed, additional supercells developed out ahead of the line across southwest Missouri. These storms moved northeastward paralleling interstate I-44. Around 9:48 AM a tornado developed and moved through Fort Leonard, Missouri producing extensive damage with a peak intensity of an EF-3. This tornado had a path length of 4 miles and was up to 500 yards wide. A second tornado developed and passed just to the northwest of Rolla, Missouri destroying two mobile homes and several other structures sadly claiming two lives. Another storm produced an EF-1 tornado near Lacoma, Missouri destroying three mobile homes, and sadly claming an additional two lives. For more information (including damage photos) about these tornadoes refer to Springfield National Weather Service's write up on the event. Below is a YouTube video as the tornado moved through Fort Leonardwood.

Tornado

As the storms approached the St. Louis metropolitan area, the line merged with the two supercell storms that were previously out ahead of the line. These storm mergers, combined with the extreme shear led to several quick, but destructive tornadoes across the St. Louis metro area. The most significant tornadoes occurred in Robertsville, Missouri as well as Sunset Hills, Missouri. The Robertsville tornado, rated an EF-2, occurred around 11:34AM and had a path length of approximately 6.5 miles. The Sunset Hills tornado first developed around 11:48AM approximately 13 miles to the southwest of Sunset Hills producing several EF-0 and EF-1 tornadoes. As the tornado approached Sunset Hills it rapidly intesified producing significant damage to several homes and businesses. The tornado at it's peak was rated a strong EF-3 with winds approaching 160 mph. For more information (including damage photos) about these tornadoes refer to St Louis National Weather Service's write up on the event. Below areYouTube videos of the tornado damage in both Roberstsville as well as Sunset Hills.

Tornado Damage Robertsville Missouri 12-31-10

New Years Eve Tornado F3 Strikes Sunset Hills Missouri ..2010

Several other tornadoes occurred later in the evening across Mississippi, including one  EF-3, and two EF-2s. For more information about this tornado refer to Jackson National Weather Service's write up on the event.

         

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