March 12, 2006 - 107 mph thunderstorm wind gust at Moline, IL

[Hoosier]

The severe buffs should recognize this day as having a big severe weather outbreak. There were some unusual occurrences - a high risk as far north as I-80, tornadoes with temps in the 40's, a 6 state supercell, and a 107 mph wind gust in what appeared to be a stable location north of the surface warm front.

The 107 mph wind gust at MLI occurred at 7:48 PM. Here are the obs immediately before and after:

SPECI KMLI 130144Z 08022G32KT 3SM TSRA BR FEW008 BKN013 OVC020 07/06 A2953 RMK AO2 PK WND 08032/0141 WSHFT 0039 LTG DSNT ALQDS P0031

SPECI KMLI 130149Z 16046G93KT 110V240 2 1/2SM R09/6000VP6000FT +TSRA BR SQ FEW008 BKN013 OVC021 08/08 RMK AO2 PK WND 22093/0148 WSHFT 0039 VIS 1 1/2V4 LTG DSNT ALQDS P0033

Besides G93KT, another thing that sticks out is that surface temps were in the mid 40's when this happened. That's right, the mid 40's. The 00z DVN RAOB, which is probably reasonably representative of the environment at MLI around the time of the wind gust, revealed a pretty significant low level inversion extending nearly to 850 mb:

Given the low level inversion and the lack of a large dry wedge aloft, I find it amazing that such a strong wind gust was able to occur.

[cyclone77]

This was from a long lived supercell which IIRC originated out of northern Missouri. This was more than likely elevated above the boundary layer for most of the time given the environment it was in. Just by looking at the radar images it looks like a very powerful RFD made it down to the surface. Note the way the precip/wind bows out on the southern portion of the sup.

I remember a car wash was destroyed in Silvis about 5 miles northeast of MLI. Winds had to be well in excess of 60mph for the damage that happened there.

I wasn't living here in Erie at the time, but it looks like it made it all the way out here...

[andyhb]

The convective outlooks for this day had some of the strongest language I have ever seen..