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User:ChessEric/February 2013 North American storm complex

Coordinates: 31°19′48″N 89°19′16″W / 31.330°N 89.321°W / 31.330; -89.321
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February 2013 North American storm complex
The storm system on February 10
FormedFebruary 9, 2013
DissipatedFebruary 12, 2013
Highest winds
Tornadoes
confirmed		8
Max. rating1EF4 tornado
Maximum snowfall
or ice accretion		15 inches (38 cm)
Fatalities0 fatalities, 76 injuries[1]
Damage≥$43.711 million[1]
Areas affectedGreat Plains, Midwestern, Southeastern United States

1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale

A large and powerful storm system bought wintery weather and severe weather to much of the country between February 9–12, 2013. Heavy snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain fell across Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Colorado. Severe weather and flooding occurred in southeastern United States with a small, but destructive tornado outbreak struck Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama on February 10. This included a violent multiple-vortex low-end EF4 wedge tornado devastated Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Meteorological synopsis

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[1]

Impacts

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Heavy sleet, freezing rain and snow fell in south central and east central Minnesota while heavy snowfall occurred across central and west central portions of the state with Millerville receiving 14 inches (36 cm) of snow.[1]

Tornado outbreak

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Further south, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) had stated as early as February 8 that a few supercells would possibly develop on the 10th and could produce large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes. When the thunderstorm outlook was issued for the 10th, the SPC stated that only a marginal chance for severe thunderstorms existed and that only a few storms would develop. Most of the severe weather activity was expected to develop along the cold front in the form of a squall line. A 10% chance of isolated tornadoes was introduced as the instability remained marginal for the event.

During the morning hours of February 10, a squall line developed along a cold front that stretched from western Arkansas, down through northwest Louisiana, and into east Texas. Simultaneously, a warm front was ascending northward through Mississippi and Louisiana. The area between the fronts became increasingly unstable as the day went on, and four tornado watches were issued across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama throughout the day as the storms tracked eastward. The watches were issued as very strong wind shear and instability engrossed the area, causing the development of supercell thunderstorms. These watches were issued through the day, with the first being posted at 7 a.m. CST (1300 UTC) and the last one coming out at 5:35 p.m. CST (2335 UTC).[2]

Throughout the afternoon hours, the cold front and the squall line began to stall over portions of Louisiana and Arkansas. The supercells that developed that afternoon ahead of the squall line originated across Louisiana and southern Mississippi. One supercell produced four tornadoes in Mississippi, including an EF2 tornado that tracked through Marion and Lamar Counties and a large wedge EF4 tornado that hit that struck Hattiesburg.[3]

Confirmed tornadoes

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Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total
0 1 5 1 0 1 0 8

February 10 event

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List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, February 10, 2013[note 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Summary
EF0 E of Livingston Polk TX 30°42′25″N 94°52′16″W / 30.707°N 94.871°W / 30.707; -94.871 (Livingston (Feb. 10, EF0)) 15:15–15:20 0.51 mi (0.82 km) 30 yd (27 m) A trailer was thrown about 50 feet (15 m) and several large pine trees were downed. One person was injured.[4]
EF1 NW of Oak Vale Lawrence MS 31°28′22″N 90°00′42″W / 31.4728°N 90.0118°W / 31.4728; -90.0118 (Oak Vale (Feb. 10, EF1)) 21:39–21:43 1.58 mi (2.54 km) 140 yd (130 m) Three homes and several barns were damaged and the front porch was removed from a mobile home. Numerous trees and power lines were downed along the path.[5]
EF2 SE of Kokomo to ESE of Columbia Marion, Lamar MS 31°06′33″N 89°55′15″W / 31.1091°N 89.9209°W / 31.1091; -89.9209 (Kokomo (Feb. 10, EF2)) 22:23–22:50 18.13 mi (29.18 km) 400 yd (370 m) The tornado touched down just inside western Marion County and destroyed a few outbuildings. The tornado intensified and caused considerable damage in the Pickwick area. A home lost part of its roof and three mobile homes were destroyed as well. The tornado continued northeast and caused roof damage to three more homes. Many trees were downed in this area. The tornado then weakened but continued damaging structures and downing trees until it crossed into Lamar County. In Lamar County, a few other structures were damaged, including one home that lost its roof. Significant tree damage was noted and several power poles were snapped. Three people were injured. The storm later spawned the EF4 Hattiesburg tornado.[6][7]
EF1 NW of Jackson Washington, Clarke AL 31°32′41″N 88°09′28″W / 31.5446°N 88.1577°W / 31.5446; -88.1577 (Jackson (Feb. 10, EF1)) 23:00–23:19 14.25 mi (22.93 km) 200 yd (180 m) A few homes suffered roof damage and many trees were downed in Washington County. The tornado crossed the Tombigbee River into Clarke County, where it damaged three wood-frame homes, rolled a single-wide mobile home, and blew another mobile home off of its block foundation. Several pine trees were snapped before the tornado dissipated.[8][9]
EF4 WSW of Hattiesburg to E of Petal Lamar, Forrest, Perry MS 31°16′49″N 89°27′59″W / 31.2802°N 89.4665°W / 31.2802; -89.4665 (Hattiesburg (Feb. 10, EF4)) 23:03–23:36 21.65 mi (34.84 km) 1,320 yd (1,210 m) See article on this tornado – 71 people were injured.[10][11][12]
EF1 NNE of Jackson Clarke AL 31°37′15″N 87°51′13″W / 31.6208°N 87.8536°W / 31.6208; -87.8536 (Jackson (Feb. 10, EF1)) 23:26–23:27 0.91 mi (1.46 km) 80 yd (73 m) The roof of a shed was peeled back and several pine trees were snapped.[13]
EF1 SSW of Waynesboro Wayne MS 31°31′59″N 88°39′55″W / 31.533°N 88.6654°W / 31.533; -88.6654 (Waynesboro (Feb. 10, EF1)) 00:46–01:06 3.15 mi (5.07 km) 250 yd (230 m) A few homes, outbuildings, and a barn suffered varying degrees of damage and many trees, mostly pine, were downed. The tornado came from the same supercell as the Hattiesburg tornado.[14]
EF1 SE of Waynesboro Wayne MS 31°37′35″N 88°32′27″W / 31.6263°N 88.5408°W / 31.6263; -88.5408 (Waynesboro (Feb. 10, EF1)) 01:14–01:20 3.11 mi (5.01 km) 200 yd (180 m) A single-wide mobile home was destroyed, several homes suffered roof damage, and many trees were downed. This tornado came from the same supercell that produced the Hattiesburg and Clara tornadoes.[15]

West Hattiesburg–Hattiesburg–Petal, Mississippi

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West Hattiesburg–Hattiesburg–Petal, Mississippi
EF4 tornado
EF4 damage to a house near Oak Grove High School.
Highest winds
  • 170 mph (270 km/h)
Max. rating1EF4 tornado
Fatalities0 fatalities, 71 injuries[18]
Damage$38.525 million[3][16][17]
1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale
Main article: 2013 Hattiesburg, Mississippi tornado

This violent tornado touched down west-southwest of West Hattiesburg at 5:03 p.m. CST (23:03 UTC), causing EF0 damage to tree limbs at the western edge of the community. It rapidly widened and intensified as it moved through residential subdivisions of the city, snapping numerous trees and power lines, severely damaging homes, and expanding to one half-mile wide. Further northeast, it narrowed as it struck Oak Grove High School, causing major damage to the school's athletic complex. Several well-constructed buildings around the school's athletic stadiums were destroyed, with twisting and buckling steel girders noted. Several steel light poles with concrete reinforcement were snapped as well. Vehicles were thrown in considerable distances, one of which was taken from a parking lot of the high school, rolled up a hill and across the baseball field, and then deposited onto the pitcher's mound. Much of the damage in this area ranged from EF2 to EF3 intensity, though an isolated pocket of EF4 damage occurred just to the southwest of the high school, as a well-built brick home was completely flattened with debris scattered downwind. Nearby trees were denuded and debarked. As it then approached I-59, the tornado heavily damaged numerous homes and apartment buildings at EF2 to EF3 strength, and snapped more trees and power lines. It crossed the interstate and entered Forrest County, tearing through densely populated areas of Hattiesburg, resulting in major damage.[18][3]

Damage to alumni housing on the University of Southern Mississippi campus.

In Forrest County, roughly 300 homes and other structures were damaged/destroyed as the tornado moved through various neighborhoods and business districts. The University of Southern Mississippi sustained significant damage to the southern portion of its campus; at least six buildings were damaged and two others were destroyed there. Near the university, a gas station, a strip mall, a church, an apartment building, and multiple homes were damaged/destroyed, and some metal traffic light poles were mangled. The tornado continued through residential areas to the east of U.S. 49, where many trees were uprooted, homes were heavily damaged, and a church's steeple was blown off. Large metal light poles at the athletic fields of Hattiesburg High School were snapped, and the third base wall at the baseball field was destroyed. The gymnasium sustained considerable damage to its roof as well. Near the high school, the American Red Cross Building lost its roof and some of its exterior walls, and the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi building had its roof torn off as well.[18][16][19] The tornado then impacted the northern fringes of downtown Hattiesburg, damaging or destroying several more homes, snapping numerous power lines, and causing heavy damage to several large brick buildings, three of which were leveled. Damage intensity throughout the city of Hattiesburg ranged from EF2 to EF3. The tornado maintained its strength as it continued into Petal, where an ACE Hardware store was completely leveled and more homes were damaged or destroyed.[18][16][20]

Traveling to the northeast of Petal, the tornado began to weaken, causing EF1 to EF2 strength damage to numerous roofs and downing many trees.[18][16] It weakened to EF1-strength in Perry County before weakening rapidly and lifting in a wooded area just west of Runnelstown at 5:36 p.m. CST (2336 UTC).[21][17]

The tornado was on the ground for 33 minutes, travelling 22.5 miles (36.2 km) with a maximum path width of 0.75 miles (1.21 km).[18][21][22] The tornado injured 71 people (8 in Lamar County and 63 in Forrest County)[18] and caused damage amounting to $38.525 million.[3][16][17]

Aftermath

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President Barack Obama declared Mississippi a federal disaster area following the tornado.[23] Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant issued a State of emergency for Forrest, Lamar, Lawrence, and Marion Counties due to the impact of the severe storms and tornadoes in those counties.[24]

Rain hampered cleanup efforts in the city during the days following the EF4 tornado in Hattiesburg.[25] Schools remained closed in the Hattiesburg area until February 14, 2013, including the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). When schools reopened, school buses had to be borrowed from neighboring school districts as most of Hattiesburg's had been damaged by the tornado. USM had to move classes that were previously held in the eight damaged buildings.[22] USM officials estimated that it would take over 10 million dollars to repair the school.[26] Oak Grove High School in West Hattiesburg lost its athletic facilities as well as a few other buildings. The Lamar County School Superintendent said that it would take months and millions of dollars to repair. Hattiesburg High School also suffered destruction of some of its athletic facilities, including the basketball gym that had undergone renovations just a few weeks before.[27]

Power outages in the area were as many as 13,000 just after the storm, but they were quickly reduced. The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army worked together to provide food and shelter for victims of the tornado and the Mississippi State Department of Health offered free tetanus shots at county health departments for residents of storm-affected counties.[22]

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power donated $100,000 to Hattiesburg area schools and the American Red Cross branch based in Hattiesburg.[28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Storm Events Database - Search Results | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Sunday February 10, 2013". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Mississippi Event Report: EF4 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Asheville, North Carolina: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  4. ^ Texas Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  5. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Alabama Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Alabama Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF3 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  12. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  13. ^ Alabama Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  14. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  15. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  16. ^ a b c d e Mississippi Event Report: EF3 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Asheville, North Carolina: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  17. ^ a b c Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report). Asheville, North Carolina: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g "Lamar and Forrest County Tornado". National Weather Service Jackson, Mississippi. February 11, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  19. ^ "Building destroyed, but pieces of Girl Scout history saved". Jackson Clarion-Ledger. February 11, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  20. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ a b "Perry County (Continuation of Hattiesburg Tornado)". National Weather Service Mobile, Alabama. February 12, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  22. ^ a b c "Weather Service finds 3 tornadoes hit Pine Belt". Sunherald.com. February 12, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  23. ^ "Obama declares disaster in Miss. after tornado". Boston.com. February 13, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  24. ^ "Gov. Bryant declares emergency after tornado hits". WDAM.com. February 10, 2013. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  25. ^ "No deaths reported in wake of tornado; cleanup crews hampered by rain". Sunherald.com. February 11, 2013. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  26. ^ "USM tornado damage estimated in tens of millions". EnquirerHerald.com. February 13, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  27. ^ "Tornado totals Oak Grove, Hattiesburg High athletic facilities". WLOX.com. February 11, 2013. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  28. ^ "Sempra U.S. Gas & Power Donates $100,000 To Assist Hattiesburg, Miss., Tornado Victims". WLOX.com. February 12, 2013. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
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31°19′48″N 89°19′16″W / 31.330°N 89.321°W / 31.330; -89.321


2013-02-10 Category:Tornadoes in Mississippi Category:F4 tornadoes by location Category:Tornadoes of 2013 2013 tornado Category:2013 natural disasters in the United States Hattiesburg, Mississippi tornado Category:February 2013 events in the United States
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