2002 — Nov 10, Tornado Outbreak, AL (12) MS (1) OH (5) PA (1) TN (15) — 34

lornajarrettblanchard November 10, 2002

Alabama (12)

–12 State. NCDC/NOAA. Query Results, Alabama, Tornadoes, 1950-2008.

— 4 NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, AL, 10 Nov 2002, Walker County, 7:10

— 7 NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, AL, 10 Nov 2002, Walker County, 8:34

— 1 NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, AL, 10 Nov 2002, Cherokee County.

— 1 Cherokee County, Co. Road 16, approximately 11:25 pm CST. Female, 72, mobile home.[1]

— 3 Walker Co., Rose Hill community. Male, 53, outside; Male 61, female, 62, mobile home.[2]

— 7 Walker County, Saragossa vicinity, ~8:34-9:03 pm.[3]

Females, 15, 38, 39, 61, 73; males 50 and 51; all in mobile homes.

— 1 Winston County. Male, 91, at a permanent home.[4]

Mississippi ( 1)

— 1 Lowndes County, Crawford, ~7:45 pm. Male, 52, outside while trying to warn neighbors.[5]

Ohio ( 5)

— 2 Putnam County, Continental area, 15:58-16:03. Male, 72, wife, 67, in their mobile home.[6]

— 1 Seneca County, Tiffin County, Scipio Township. Male, 24, permanent home.[7]

— 2 Van Wert County, Van Wert. Male, 75, in his home; male, 18, thrown from his vehicle.[8]

Pennsylvania ( 1)

— 1 Mercer County, Sharpsville area, 7:54-8:02 pm. Male, 81, permanent home.[9]

Tennessee (15)

— 2 Coffee County, New Union Heights subdivision near Manchester. Males, 10 and 43.[10]

— 4 Cumberland County, Lake Tansi and southern Crossville areas, 21:43-21:58.[11]

— 5 Morgan County, Mossy Grove, ~8:31 pm.[12]

Male, 47, permanent home. Female, 36, permanent home. Male, 55, vehicle.

Female, 73, permanent home. Male, 1, vehicle.

— 2 Morgan County, Joyner, 8:40 pm. Male, 45, female, 93, permanent homes.[13]

— 2 Montgomery County, Port Royal. Dennis and Karen Tooby, 45 and 49; in mobile home.[14]

Narrative Information

NCDC: Walker County (Carbon Hill), AL, Tornado:

“The Carbon Hill Tornado was the first tornado of the evening. It began in Fayette County at 6:52 pm, about 5.6 miles north-northwest of the city of Fayette, and 2.8 miles west of US Highway 43. The tornado moved on a northeast track crossing US 43, State Route 129, and SR 13, and then moved into Walker County just southwest of Carbon Hill at 7:10 pm. It then crossed the western and northern sections of Carbon Hill, downing trees and power lines and damaging many residential structures. Carbon Hill Elementary School was also heavily damaged. The tornado continued northeast, crossing SR5, and exited the county at SR 195. The two deaths associated with this tornado occurred just south of SR 195. Entering Winston County at 7:31 pm, the tornado continued on a northeast path traveling across mostly sparsely populated areas of Bankhead National Forest and several fingers of Smith Lake. It crossed County Road 41 about 1.8 miles south of Arley and then crossed CR 12, finally lifting at 7:45 pm. This tornado was rated an F3 on the Fujita scale, with winds estimated to be in the 150 to 200 mph range. Much of the damage along the track was lesser intensity (F1 and F2). F3 damage occurred in both Fayette and Walker Counties. Total path length for the Carbon Hill Tornado was 44.3 miles, with a width of 1175 yards. Four deaths were reported with this tornado, three in the Rose Hill community of Walker County and one near Arley in Winston County. Injury figures are approximate with three in Fayette County, 20 in Walker County, and 15 in Winston County. About 40 percent of the injuries were treated at local hospitals while about 60 percent of the injuries were considered minor. Structural damage along the path included approximately 47 in Fayette County, 135 in Walker County, and 35 in Winston County.” (NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, Alabama, 10 Nov 2002, Walker County.)

NCDC: Walker County (Saragossa), AL, Tornado:

“The Saragossa Tornado was the fourth tornado to occur in Alabama and the longest track of the severe weather episode. It began in Fayette County, just east of the Sipsey River about 6 miles north-northeast of the city of Fayette at 8:15 pm. The tornado moved northeast, crossing portions of State Routes 102 and 13, and then SR 102 again around Stoddard’s Crossroads. The tornado crossed into Walker County at 8:34 pm and traveled through sparsely populated areas of western Walker County. It crossed the interchange of US Highway 78 about 5.5 miles east-southeast of Carbon Hill, and became very strong as it traveled through the Saragossa area. It crossed State Roads 5, 195, and 257, before entering Winston County. The tornado appeared to be at its most intense during the travel from US 78/SR 118 interchange across Saragossa and the areas near SR 5 and SR 195. Seven deaths occurred in this 10 mile stretch of the tornado track, along with an estimated 40 injuries. At 9:03 pm the tornado crossed the extreme southeastern tip of Winston County, crossing a part of Smith Lake. The tornado entered Cullman County at 9:08 pm, moving across portions of Smith Lake and across CR 222. Tornado intensity remained high during the first several miles after it entered Cullman County. Continuing northeast, it crossed Interstate 65 and US 31 just south of Cullman on the south side of the Cullman Golf Course. The tornado seemed to be significantly less intense as it continued to travel northeasterly toward Holly Pond. Damage from just east of US 31 to just south of Holly Pond was not nearly as intense as it was west of Interstate 65. Traveling through mostly rural areas downing trees and powerlines, and damaging scattered structures along the way, the tornado finally ended just south-southeast of Holly Pond at 9:52 pm, This was the longest tornado of the outbreak, with a path length of 72.6 miles and a width of 1100 yards. It was the second F3 tornado of the day.” (NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, AL, 10 Nov 2002, Walker County, 8:34)

NCDC on Cherokee County (Centre), AL, Tornado:

“The Centre Tornado touched down near Highway 411, just to the east of the Cherokee Country Club. It then traveled northeast, crossed over Cowan Creek, and damaged houses along County Road 40 at approximately 1122 pm CST. The tornado continued its northeastward movement and crossed over County Road 16 at approximately 1125 pm CST. One death was reported in a mobile home at the point where the tornado crossed over County Road 16. From this point, the tornado crossed County Road 31, damaging more homes before moving over Spring Creek. The tornado turned more to the east-northeast, damaging even more homes, before finally lifting near the eastern end of Weiss Lake near Mud Creek. The Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency estimates that 88 homes were either damaged or destroyed as this tornado moved across the county. In addition to the one fatality, there were also 4 injuries reported. The tornado was on the ground from 1120 pm CST to approximately 1132 pm CST. It had a path 10.5 miles long, and at its widest point was 440 yards wide.” (NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, AL, 10 Nov 2002, Cherokee County.)

Tennessee

NCDC: “11 tornadoes were reported in Middle Tennessee in one of the worst tornadic outbreaks ever in November. 8 people…and possibly a ninth victim…were killed in Middle Tennessee alone. Damage estimate for the tornadoes in Tennessee was placed at $160 million. Primary losses were due to houses and cars. The toll on government owned infrastructure is about $6 million….More than 900 families across the state applied for storm aid. This was the worst tornado disaster since the April 3-4 outbreak in 1974.

Sources

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Query Results, Alabama, Tornadoes, 1950-2008. NCDC, NOAA, Department of Commerce. Accessed 2-5-2009 at:

http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F2, Alabama, Cherokee County, 3SE Centre, Nov 10, 2002, 23:20-23:32. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5321578

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Alabama, Walker County, Carbon Hill, Nov 10, 2002, 19:10-19:31. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5321432

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Alabama, Walker Co., 6W Townley, Nov 10, 2002, 20:34-21:03. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5321436

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Alabama, Winston County, Nov 10, 2002, 19:31-19:45. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5321433

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F1, Mississippi, Lowndes County, Nov 10, 2002, 19:45-20:15. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5322919

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Ohio, Putnam County, Nov 10, 2002, 15:58-16:03. Accessed 10-28-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5322864

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Ohio, Seneca County, Nov 10, 2002, 17:15-17:38. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5322422

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Ohio, Van Wert County, Nov 10, 2002, 15:15-15:43. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5322801

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F2, Pennsylvania, Mercer County, Sharpsville vicinity, Nov 10, 2002, 19:45-20:02. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5323155

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F2, Tennessee, Coffee County, Nov 10, 2002, 18:52. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5322213

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Tennessee, Cumberland County, 5SW Crossville, Nov 10, 2002, 21:43-21:58. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5322212

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F1, Tennessee, Montgomery County, Port Royal, Nov 10, 2002, 01:00-01:01 Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5322139

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Tennessee, Morgan County, Nov 10, 2002, 20:31-20:42. Accessed 10-28-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5322729

[1] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F2, AL, Cherokee Co., 3SE Centre, Nov 10, 2002, 23:20-23:32.

[2] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, AL, Walker Co., Carbon Hill, Nov 10, 2002, 19:10-19:31.

[3] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, AL, Walker Co., 6W Townley, Nov 10, 2002, 20:34-21:03.

[4] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Alabama, Winston County, Nov 10, 2002, 19:31-19:45.

[5] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F1, Mississippi, Lowndes County, Nov 10, 2002, 19:45-20:15.

[6] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Ohio, Putnam County, Nov 10, 2002, 15:58-16:03.

[7] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, Ohio, Seneca County, Nov 10, 2002, 17:15-17:38.

[8] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, Ohio, Van Wert County, Nov 10, 2002, 15:15-15:43.

[9] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F2, PA, Mercer County, Nov 10, 2002, 19:45-20:02.

[10] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F2, TN, Coffee County, Nov 10, 2002, 18:52. In mobile home.

[11] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, TN, Cumberland County, Nov 10, 2002, 21:43-21:58.

[12] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, TN, Morgan County, Nov 10, 2002, 20:31-20:42.

[13] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F3, TN, Morgan County, Nov 10, 2002, 20:31-20:42.

[14] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F1, TN, Montgomery County, Port Royal, Nov 10, 2002, 01:00-01:01. Notes their mobile home was blown off its foundation.