Public Information Statement NWS Paducah KY...
550 PM CDT Thu Apr 25 2002
...Preliminary tornado assessment for Carter and Butler counties in
Missouri...
...*** Denotes updated information...
On April 25th 2002 a representative from the National Weather
Service in Paducah Kentucky is conducting a survey of storm damage in
Carter and Butler counties in southeast Missouri. The following are
the preliminary findings of this investigation that is ongoing.
* Event date: 24 Apr 2002
* event type: preliminary results reflect F4 tornado
damage
* estimated Max wind speed: 210 mph
* preliminary estimated initial time of touchdown...423pm
* damage path width: 650 yards...at one of its widest points
* damage area: the tornado damage path began on the west side of
Van Buren Missouri (carter county) right on the river. The
tornado then traveled southeast to Ellsinore and then to
Wilby...which is just north of Poplar Bluff. The tornado
tracked about 2 and 1/2 miles west of Rombauer...which is just
west of Highway T. The tornado traveled continuously on the
ground for about 38 miles...before lifting. However...the tornado
then touched down again between Highway T and Highway z...about a
mile southwest of Rombauer...and ended at Highway z.
* Damage path length: 38 miles
***damage: approximately 6 homes completely leveled...at least 2
of these homes were located in the Pine Cone subdivision. Early
estimates suggest that damage occurred to at least 130 homes in
Butler County alone. 50 homes in Carter County are damaged beyond
repair or destroyed.
A preliminary report was provided to the National Weather
Service in Paducah via the state of Missouri emergency management
agency. This report stated that the American Red Cross reported
that 30 homes were destroyed...16 additional homes have major
damage and 150 homes have minor damage in the Poplar Bluff area
in Butler County. Around 40 to 50 homes were destroyed in
Ellsinore (carter county)...and 7 businesses totally destroyed
which made up the core of the town. Two businesses were severely
damaged in Van Buren.
***Damage cost: 30 million dollars in Butler County...figure now
includes damage in the Mark Twain National Forest.
Carter County damage estimated at 15 million
dollars.
* Injuries: the total physical injuries requiring hospital care
that were directly attributed to the storm was 16...5 of which
were critical.
* Fatalities: none
* additional findings: the hazardous weather outlook issued at 436
PM CDT on Tuesday (april 23rd) stated that there was a slight
risk of severe thunderstorms over the entire area during the day
on Wednesday. It also stated that a broken line of thunderstorms
...possibly severe...will likely develop over southeast Missouri
by early Wednesday afternoon. The hazardous weather outlook
issued at 700 am CDT on Wednesday (april 24th) stated that a
slight risk of severe thunderstorms continued over the quad state
region that afternoon and evening. It also continued to indicate
that a broken line of possibly severe thunderstorms was expected
to form in the early afternoon hours over south central Missouri.
At 1222 PM CDT...an updated hazardous weather outlook was issued.
It stated that the threat for severe weather would increase
dramatically in the afternoon...and that isolated tornadoes were
possible.
The public forecasts issued from 330 PM Monday afternoon through
Wednesday afternoon continued to forecast thunderstorms and the
possibility for some of the thunderstorms to become severe on
Wednesday.
At 230 PM CDT on Wednesday...the Storm Prediction Center issued a
Tornado Watch for portions of central and southern Illinois...
and south central and southeastern Missouri...valid until 800 PM
CDT. The discussion included with this watch indicated the
increasing possibility for supercells and tornadoes.
At 333 PM CDT...the National Weather Service in Paducah issued a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Carter County Missouri valid
until 430 PM CDT.
At 411 PM CDT...the National Weather Service in Paducah issued a
Tornado Warning for Carter County Missouri valid until 445 PM
CDT.
At 433 PM CDT...the National Weather Service in Paducah issued a
Tornado Warning for northern Butler County Missouri valid until
515 PM CDT.
At 506 PM CDT...the National Weather Service in Paducah issued a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Carter County Missouri valid
until 530 PM CDT.
At 513 PM CDT...the National Weather Service in Paducah issued a
Tornado Warning for northern Butler County in Missouri valid
until 615 PM CDT.
At 554 PM CDT...the National Weather Service in Paducah issued a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Butler County Missouri valid
until 630 PM CDT.
Personnel from the National Weather Service office in Paducah remain
on site in Carter and Butler counties in southeast Missouri and
continue to assess the damage. Further information will be provided
as it becomes available.
At 11:06 PM 4/27/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>From: "Matt Higgs" <mattongm{at}hotmail.com>
>
>Large tornado hits a Missouri town. Hit link for more.
>http://www.weather.com/newscenter/topstories/homeandgarden/home/020425xhomxtornadomissouri.html
>
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