List of United States tornadoes from November to December 2009

Reflectivity (left) and relative velocity (right) radar loops of a thunderstorm that spawned an EF2 tornado in Longview, Texas, on December 23

Between November and December 2009, 51 tornadoes touched down across eight states.[note 1] Collectively, the tornadoes injured nine people and wrought $20.36 million,[note 2] much of which resulted from an EF3—the strongest tornado during the two-month period—that struck Lufkin, Texas, on December 23.[1] Compared to annual averages, November was one of the quietest on record while December was one of the most active on record for their respective months. With only three confirmed events in November, the month ranks as the third quietest on record since 1950.[note 3][2] The opposite is true for December, during which 48 tornadoes touched down; at the time, this was the second highest since 2000 and the sixth highest since reliable records began.[4]

The month of November featured no tornado outbreaks[note 4] while December featured two. The first spawned 7 tornadoes on December 2 and the second, more prolific event, resulted in 28 tornadoes from December 23–24.[4] Twelve tornadoes touched down within the warning area of the National Weather Service office in Lake Charles, Louisiana—the largest such event in their jurisdiction since November 23, 2004.[6] Both outbreaks were the result of strong extratropical cyclones that moved across the Southern United States, with tornadoes primarily developing along a cold front that extended south of the system's center or within supercells ahead of the front.[4]

Daily statistics

A welding shop near Lufkin, Texas, that was severely damaged by an EF3 tornado on December 23
A pile of wood and metal framing, the remains of a mobile home that was destroyed by a tornado
A mobile home that was destroyed by an EF2 tornado in Gueydan, Louisiana, on December 24
Daily statistics of days with confirmed tornadoes in November and December 2009[note 5]
Date Total Enhanced Fujita scale rating Deaths Injuries Damage Ref.
 EF0   EF1   EF2   EF3   EF4   EF5 
November 6 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $35,000 [1]
November 29 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 $75,000 [1]
December 2 7 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 $3,235,000 [1]
December 8 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $2,000 [1]
December 9 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 $50,000 [1]
December 14 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $0 [1]
December 15 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $3,000 [1]
December 18 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $90,000 [1]
December 23 9 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 2 $11,251,100 [1]
December 24 19 12 4 3 0 0 0 0 4 $5,732,000 [1]
Monthly aggregates
November total 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 $110,000 [1]
December total 48 28 10 6 1 0 0 0 9 $20,363,000 [1]

November

November 6

List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, November 9, 2009[note 5]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage Summary
EF0 WNW of Neotsu Lincoln OR 45°01′N 124°01′W / 45.01°N 124.01°W / 45.01; -124.01 (Neotsu (Nov. 6, EF0)) 0530–0540 0.09 miles (0.14 km) 80 yards (73 m) $35,000 A strong thunderstorm produced a waterspout along the coastline near Lincoln City. Once onshore and classifiable as a tornado, the system tracked through Roads End, damaging eleven homes and three cars. One home had nearly half its roof destroyed. Several trees were also uprooted and/or snapped; one tree was tossed roughly 20 yd (18 m) by the tornado.[7]

November 29

List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, November 29, 2009[note 5]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage Summary
EF0 NW of Douglas Cochise AZ 31°24′41″N 109°37′19″W / 31.4114°N 109.6219°W / 31.4114; -109.6219 (Douglas (Nov. 29, EF0)) 1757 0.1 miles (0.16 km) 50 yards (46 m) $0 A trained spotter confirmed that a funnel cloud briefly touched down before dissipating.[8]
EF1 NNW of New Boston Bowie TX 33°28′28″N 94°25′46″W / 33.4744°N 94.4295°W / 33.4744; -94.4295 (New Boston (Nov. 29, EF1)) 2357–2358 3.32 miles (5.34 km) 75 yards (69 m) $75,000 A brief tornado touched down just outside the city of New Boston, destroying a mobile home and damaging four other structures. Shortly after crossing Interstate 30, the tornado dissipated.[9]

December

December 2

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, December 2, 2009[note 5]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage Summary
EF0 SE of Crestview Okaloosa FL 30°43′N 86°33′W / 30.717°N 86.550°W / 30.717; -86.550 (Crestview (Dec. 2, EF0)) 1332 unknown A brief tornado was reported by the Duke Field Fire Department at Eglin Air Force Base but no damage took place.[10]
EF0 E of Juliette Jones GA 33°05′N 83°44′W / 33.083°N 83.733°W / 33.083; -83.733 (Juliette (Dec. 2, EF0)) 1830 2 miles (3.2 km) A short-lived tornado, with winds estimated at 80 mph (130 km/h), tracked through a forested area, damaging 50 to 100 trees worth a total of $15,000.[11]
EF0 W of Eatonton Putnam GA 33°19′N 83°27′W / 33.317°N 83.450°W / 33.317; -83.450 (Eatonton (Dec. 2, EF0)) 1855 1.5 miles (2.4 km) Another short-lived tornado touched down in a forested area, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. With winds estimated at 85 mph (140 km/h), this tornado nearly 500 trees were uprooted or damaged. Two hunters in the forest at the time were trapped by the felled trees and required rescue, though they sustained no injuries. Losses were placed at $100,000 in the national forest.[12]
EF1 NE of Eatonton Putnam GA 33°26′N 83°19′W / 33.433°N 83.317°W / 33.433; -83.317 (Eatonton (Dec. 2, EF1)) 1902 0.8 miles (1.3 km) A second tornado in Putnam County struck a more populated area; two structures were damaged and another destroyed. A mobile home was rolled on its side by the tornado but the occupant was unharmed. Hundreds of trees and several power lines were also felled by the tornado. Total losses were placed at $120,000.[13]
EF0 E of Douglas Coffee GA 31°31′N 82°45′W / 31.51°N 82.75°W / 31.51; -82.75 (Douglas (Dec. 2, EF0)) 1915 3 miles (4.8 km) Intermittent tornado touchdown snapped some trees, a few landing on weak buildings.
EF1 NW of Alma Bacon GA 31°37′N 82°34′W / 31.62°N 82.57°W / 31.62; -82.57 (Alma (Dec. 2, EF1)) 1945 0.5 miles (0.80 km) Three chicken houses were destroyed.
EF2 NNW of Bristol Pierce, Appling GA 31°30′N 82°14′W / 31.50°N 82.24°W / 31.50; -82.24 (Bristol (Dec. 2, EF2)) 2015 5 miles (8.0 km) A mobile home and three metal structures were destroyed, one of which was flattened. Five other structures - including three wood frame houses - were also damaged. Two people were injured.

December 8

List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, December 8, 2009[note 5]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage Summary
EF0 NNW of Carthage Leake MS 32°48′37″N 89°34′10″W / 32.8102°N 89.5695°W / 32.8102; -89.5695 (Carthage (Dec. 8, EF0)) 0235–0240 6.54 miles (10.53 km) 75 yards (69 m) $2,000 A weak tornado downed numerous tree limbs along its path.[14]

December 9

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, December 9, 2009[note 5]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage Summary
EF0 NE of Lake Jackson Leon FL 30°32′24″N 84°19′15″W / 30.5399°N 84.3207°W / 30.5399; -84.3207 (Lake Jackson (Dec. 9, EF0)) 1705–1706 0.64 miles (1.03 km) 50 yards (46 m) $50,000 A tornado touched down near Lake Jackson and traveled east-northeast. One home lost a large portion of its shingles with debris carried 50 to 100 ft (15 to 30 m) away. The tornado also snapped three large trees in the home's backyard.[15]
EF1 ESE of Jesup Wayne GA 31°35′14″N 81°50′50″W / 31.5872°N 81.8473°W / 31.5872; -81.8473 (Jesup (Dec. 9, EF1)) 1915–1925 1.6 miles (2.6 km) 250 yards (230 m) Unknown A mobile home and shed were destroyed, with debris thrown 0.25 mi (0.40 km) away; one person inside the mobile home was injured. A school bus was tossed into a ditch; the driver escaped without injury. Numerous trees and power lines were snapped along the tornado's path.[16]

December 14

List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, December 14, 2009[note 5]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage Summary
EF0 ESE of Java Coffee AL 31°32′N 85°47′W / 31.53°N 85.79°W / 31.53; -85.79 (Java (Dec. 14, EF0)) 2220 unknown Brief tornado touchdown in an open field.
EF0 NW of Rocky Head Coffee AL 31°34′N 85°46′W / 31.56°N 85.77°W / 31.56; -85.77 (Rocky Head (Dec. 14, EF0)) 2225 unknown Brief tornado downed a few trees.

December 15

List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, December 15, 2009[note 5]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage Summary
EF0 Westwego Jefferson LA 29°54′N 90°07′W / 29.90°N 90.11°W / 29.90; -90.11 (Westwego (Dec. 15, EF0)) 1120 unknown Brief tornado snapped large tree limbs and power lines along the Westbank Expressway.

December 18

List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, December 18, 2009[note 5]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage Summary
EF0 E of Homestead Miami-Dade FL 25°28′N 80°23′W / 25.47°N 80.39°W / 25.47; -80.39 (Homestead (Dec. 18, EF0)) 1600 1 mile (1.6 km) Tornado touched down in an unpopulated area.
EF0 Key West Monroe FL 24°34′N 81°47′W / 24.56°N 81.78°W / 24.56; -81.78 (Key West (Dec. 18, EF0)) 1935 1 mile (1.6 km) Several trees were snapped, with debris downing a few power lines.
EF0 E of Vandolah Hardee FL 27°32′N 81°55′W / 27.53°N 81.92°W / 27.53; -81.92 (Vandolah (Dec. 18, EF0)) 2058 unknown Brief narrow tornado damaged a few buildings and vehicles at the Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation.
EF0 Key Largo Monroe FL 25°08′N 80°24′W / 25.13°N 80.40°W / 25.13; -80.40 (Key Largo (Dec. 18, EF0)) 2255 unknown Brief tornado at mile 104 on the Overseas Highway with minor damage.

December 23

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, December 23, 2009[note 5]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage Summary
EF0 NE of Jacksonville Cherokee TX 32°00′N 95°09′W / 32.00°N 95.15°W / 32.00; -95.15 (Jacksonville (Dec. 23, EF0)) 2035 2 miles (3.2 km) Damage limited to a few trees.
EF0 NE of New Summerfield Cherokee TX 32°05′N 95°00′W / 32.08°N 95.00°W / 32.08; -95.00 (New Summerfield (Dec. 23, EF0)) 2104 3 miles (4.8 km) Damage limited to a few trees.
EF2 Longview area Gregg TX 32°31′N 94°40′W / 32.52°N 94.67°W / 32.52; -94.67 (Longview (Dec. 23, EF2)) 2239 7 miles (11 km) Numerous industrial buildings, including a FedEx building, were heavily damaged. Several houses were also damaged and significant tree damage along its path.
EF1 SE of Avinger Cass TX 32°53′N 94°30′W / 32.89°N 94.50°W / 32.89; -94.50 (Avinger (Dec. 23, EF1)) 2351 50 yards (50 m) Brief tornado in a wooded area damaged numerous trees and tree branches.
EF0 NNE of Recklaw Rusk TX 31°58′N 94°57′W / 31.97°N 94.95°W / 31.97; -94.95 (Recklaw (Dec. 23, EF0)) 0116 0.1 miles (0.16 km) Brief tornado snapped a few trees.
EF3 Lufkin area Angelina TX 31°20′N 94°44′W / 31.33°N 94.73°W / 31.33; -94.73 (Lufkin (Dec. 23, EF3)) 0356 4 miles (6.4 km) Three buildings were destroyed, including a welding shop and a funeral home. Many houses sustained significant roof damage and tree damage was widespread, including in a park. Several 18-wheelers were also thrown. Two people were injured.
EF1 SE of Atlanta Cass (TX), Miller (AR) TX, AR 33°02′N 94°04′W / 33.04°N 94.06°W / 33.04; -94.06 (Atlanta (Dec. 23, EF1)) 0410 5 miles (8.0 km) One house sustained minor roof damage, and many trees and limbs were damaged.
EF1 SE of Garrison Nacogdoches TX 31°48′N 94°28′W / 31.80°N 94.47°W / 31.80; -94.47 (Garrison (Dec. 23, EF1)) 0437 0.5 miles (0.80 km) Several trees were snapped and a small storage building was destroyed.
EF2 SW of Carthage Shelby, Panola TX 31°55′N 94°23′W / 31.92°N 94.38°W / 31.92; -94.38 (Carthage (Dec. 23, EF2)) 0526 11 miles (18 km) Many houses were damaged, including roof and shingle damage. A barn and two mobile homes were destroyed.

December 24

List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, December 24, 2009[note 5]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage Summary
EF0 E of Pineland Sabine TX 31°17′N 93°56′W / 31.29°N 93.93°W / 31.29; -93.93 (Pineland (Dec. 24, EF0)) 0810 1.5 miles (2.4 km) Numerous trees and a few power lines were snapped.
EF0 S of Pleasant Hill Sabine LA 31°45′N 93°31′W / 31.75°N 93.51°W / 31.75; -93.51 (Pleasant Hill (Dec. 24, EF0)) 0924 1.2 miles (1.9 km) Several pecan trees were uprooted.
EF0 E of Fairmont Sabine TX 31°12′N 93°44′W / 31.20°N 93.73°W / 31.20; -93.73 (Fairmont (Dec. 24, EF0)) 0928 0.5 miles (0.80 km) Brief tornado with damage to trees and power lines along Toledo Bend Reservoir.
EF0 N of Many Sabine LA 31°35′N 93°30′W / 31.58°N 93.50°W / 31.58; -93.50 (Many (Dec. 24, EF0)) 1021 2.6 miles (4.2 km) Numerous large pine trees were uprooted.
EF0 SW of Martin Red River LA 32°01′N 93°13′W / 32.02°N 93.21°W / 32.02; -93.21 (Martin (Dec. 24, EF0)) 1136 3 miles (4.8 km) A few large trees were downed.
EF2 Whiteville area St. Landry, Avoyelles LA 30°47′N 92°10′W / 30.79°N 92.16°W / 30.79; -92.16 (Whiteville (Dec. 24, EF2)) 1325 10 miles (16 km) A small church on cinder blocks was destroyed. A rice silo was thrown into a bayou and two tractor-trailers were also damaged.
EF2 N of Crowley Acadia LA 30°17′N 92°23′W / 30.28°N 92.38°W / 30.28; -92.38 (Crowley (Dec. 24, EF2)) 1327 7 miles (11 km) At least 30 houses were damaged, primarily in a single subdivision that was especially hard hit where four houses were heavily damaged. The worst damage was a house that completely lost its roof. Four people were injured.
EF0 E of Evergreen Avoyelles LA 30°57′N 92°06′W / 30.95°N 92.10°W / 30.95; -92.10 (Evergreen (Dec. 24, EF0)) 1337 5 miles (8.0 km) Several trees were damaged.
EF0 W of Branch Acadia LA 30°21′N 92°20′W / 30.35°N 92.33°W / 30.35; -92.33 (Branch (Dec. 24, EF0)) 1340 2 miles (3.2 km) A small outbuilding was destroyed and a few trees were blown down.
EF0 Richard area (1st tornado) Acadia LA 30°25′N 92°19′W / 30.42°N 92.31°W / 30.42; -92.31 (Richard (Dec. 24, EF0)) 1346 3 miles (4.8 km) Several trees were blown down, and a mobile home and barn were damaged.
EF1 Richard area (2nd tornado) Acadia LA 30°26′N 92°19′W / 30.43°N 92.32°W / 30.43; -92.32 (Richard (Dec. 24, EF1)) 1350 2 miles (3.2 km) A house and a church were damaged in town. Many trees were also damaged.
EF1 N of Iota Acadia LA 30°23′N 92°29′W / 30.38°N 92.49°W / 30.38; -92.49 (Iota (Dec. 24, EF1)) 1350 3 miles (4.8 km) A barn was destroyed, and two mobile homes lost their roofs.
EF0 W of Savoy Acadia, St. Landry LA 30°28′N 92°19′W / 30.47°N 92.31°W / 30.47; -92.31 (Savoy (Dec. 24, EF0)) 1353 3 miles (4.8 km) A barn was damaged, along with many trees.
EF2 Gueydan area (1st tornado) Vermilion LA 29°59′N 92°32′W / 29.98°N 92.53°W / 29.98; -92.53 (Gueydan (Dec. 24, EF2)) 1357 6 miles (9.7 km) Two structures were destroyed - a mobile home which rolled and an outbuilding which was thrown into a water tower, and over 50 others were damaged, some of them heavily.
EF0 S of Chataignier St. Landry, Evangeline LA 30°31′N 92°19′W / 30.52°N 92.31°W / 30.52; -92.31 (Chataignier (Dec. 24, EF0)) 1358 2 miles (3.2 km) An outbuilding was damaged by the tornado.
EF0 NW of Long Bridge Avoyelles LA 31°02′N 92°02′W / 31.03°N 92.03°W / 31.03; -92.03 (Long Bridge (Dec. 24, EF0)) 1359 unknown A mobile home was heavily damaged by the brief tornado.
EF1 Gueydan area (2nd tornado) Vermilion LA 30°05′N 92°29′W / 30.08°N 92.48°W / 30.08; -92.48 (Gueydan (Dec. 24, EF1)) 1405 3 miles (4.8 km) Tornado quickly touched down after the first Gueydan tornado dissipated. Three houses and an entire farm were damaged.
EF1 W of Farmerville Union LA 32°46′N 92°32′W / 32.77°N 92.54°W / 32.77; -92.54 (Farmerville (Dec. 24, EF1)) 1420 6 miles (9.7 km) Two houses were damaged on the shores of Lake Darbonne. Many trees were snapped or knocked down.
EF0 E of Vancleave Jackson MS 31°17′N 93°56′W / 31.29°N 93.93°W / 31.29; -93.93 (Vancleave (Dec. 24, EF0)) 2150 unknown Brief tornado damaged a few trees.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tornadoes of 2009.

Notes

  1. ↑ Event listings by the National Climatic Data Center are divided by county. As such, tornadoes that track across multiple counties are split into multiple summaries and the total number of event listings does not represent the actual number of tornadoes.
  2. ↑ All damage totals are in 2009 USD unless otherwise stated.
  3. ↑ Extensive tornado records, compiled by the National Climatic Data Center, begin in 1950;[2] however, it is widely known that improving technology and reports from storm chasers have improved the comprehensiveness of data in recent years and countless tornadoes in older years have gone undocumented.[3]
  4. ↑ Although no official definition of a tornado outbreak exists, Grazulis (1993) describes one as "as a group or family of six or more tornadoes spawned by the same general weather system."[3] Galway (1975) described events with 6–9 tornadoes as small, 10–19 as moderate, and ≥20 as large.[3] Furthermore, an outbreak in Florida—south of 30°N—is defined by Hagemeyer and Matney (1994) as "four or more tornadoes in [four] hours or less."[5]
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "United States Tornado Event Reports: November 1 – December 31, 2009". National Climatic Data Center. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Tornadoes - Autumn (SON) 2009". National Centers for Environmental Information. State of the Climate. National Climatic Data Center. December 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Roger Edwards; Richard L. Thompson; Keith C. Crosbie; John A. Hart & Charles A. Doswell III (2004). Proposals for Modernizing the Definitions of Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Outbreaks (PDF). Storm Prediction Center (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Tornadoes - December 2009". National Centers for Environmental Information. State of the Climate. National Climatic Data Center. January 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ Barlett C. Hagemeyer (September 1997). Peninsular Florida Tornado Outbreaks (PDF). Weather and Forecasting (Report). 12. American Meteorological Society. pp. 399–427. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(1997)012<0399:PFTO>2.0.CO;2.
  6. ↑ "Christmas Eve 2009 Tornado Outbreak". Significant Weather Events. National Weather Service Office in Lake Charles, Louisiana. April 7, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Oregon Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Portland, Oregon. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Arizona Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Tucson, Arizona. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Texas Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Shreveport, Louisiana. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Florida Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Georgia Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Georgia Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  13. ↑ "Georgia Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Mississippi Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi. 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Florida Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Tallahassee, Florida. 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Georgia Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Office in Jacksonville, Florida. 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
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