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Feb 28th - March 1st Severe Weather Outbreak


andyhb

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18 minutes ago, StormChaser4Life said:

Yeah they really could use a crossing in Chillicothe then we would have both been in perfect position

that route 6 bridge at Mossville will be done any year now(only has been talked about for 30 years)

 

did that Washburn tornado touchdown west of the River?  if so where?

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5 minutes ago, janetjanet998 said:

that route 6 bridge at Mossville will be done any year now(only has been talked about for 30 years)

 

did that Washburn tornado touchdown west of the River?  if so where?

I'm almost certain it touched down east of the river.  Somewhere to the SW of Washburn

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UBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL  
502 PM CST WED MAR 1 2017 /602 PM EST WED MAR 1 2017/  
   
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 02/28/17 TORNADO EVENT  
  
   
NAPLATE-OTTAWA TORNADO  
  
RATING:                 EF-3  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    155 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  11.5 MILES  
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   800 YARDS  
FATALITIES:             1  
INJURIES:               14  
  
START DATE:             FEB 28 2017   
START TIME:             4:41 PM CST  
START LOCATION:         3.5 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF NAPLATE  
START LAT/LON:          41.3239 / -88.9504  
  
END DATE:               FEB 28 2017  
END TIME:               4:59 PM CST  
END LOCATION:           2.5 MILES NORTHWEST OF MARSEILLES  
END_LAT/LON:            41.3597 / -88.7352  
  
SURVEY_SUMMARY: THE FIRST AREA OF SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN THE EF2  
RANGE WAS IN THE AREA AROUND THE LA SALLE COUNTY NURSING HOME AND  
LA SALLE COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, WITH LIGHTER DAMAGE UPSTREAM   
FROM THIS LOCATION. THE TORNADO CONTINUED INTO NAPLATE AND  
PRODUCED WIDESPREAD EF2 DAMAGE TO NUMEROUS HOMES. EF3 DAMAGE ALSO  
WAS IDENTIFIED IN TWO LOCATIONS, THE FIRST WHERE A HOME WAS   
LIFTED OFF ITS FOUNDATION AND LEFT WITH ONLY ITS INTERIOR WALLS   
INTACT, AND THE SECOND AT THE PILKINGTON GLASS PLANT WHERE ONE   
SECTION OF THE FACTORY WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE TORNADO THEN   
CROSSED THE ILLINOIS RIVER AND MOVED THROUGH THE SOUTH SIDE OF   
OTTAWA, PRODUCING AN 800 YARD WIDE PATH OF EF1 DAMAGE TO TREES   
AND HOMES. THE TORNADO THEN CROSSED THE ILLINOIS RIVER AGAIN AND  
CONTINUED TO PRODUCE EF1 AND EF0 DAMAGE AS IT EXITED OTTAWA,    
FINALLY DISSIPATING IN THE AREA NORTHWEST OF MARSEILLES. 

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UBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL  
446 PM CST WED MAR 1 2017  
   
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 02/28/17 TORNADO EVENT  
  
   
WASHBURN, IL TORNADO  
  
RATING:                 EF-3  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    150-160 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  18.0 MILES  
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   600 YARDS  
FATALITIES:             0  
INJURIES:               0  
  
START DATE:             FEB 28 2017   
START TIME:             5:26 PM CST  
START LOCATION:         3.5 MILES WEST OF WASHBURN / WOODFORD COUNTY / IL  
START LAT/LON:          40.9128 / -89.3609  
  
END DATE:               FEB 28 2017  
END TIME:               5:50 PM CST  
END LOCATION:           0.4 MILE EAST OF RUTLAND / LASALLE COUNTY / IL  
END_LAT/LON:            40.9847 / -89.0370  
  
SURVEY SUMMARY: THE TORNADO BEGAN IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 3.5 MILES  
WEST OF WASHBURN AT 5:26 PM IN EXTREME NORTHERN WOODFORD COUNTY,  
TRAVELING TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THE TORNADO BROKE  
WINDOWS AND DID ROOF DAMAGE TO A HOUSE AND DESTROYED SEVERAL  
OUTBUILDINGS ABOUT A MILE FROM ITS ORIGIN.  
  
THE TORNADO WIDENED RAPIDLY TO MORE THAN ONE-QUARTER MILE ACROSS  
AND INCREASED IN INTENSITY TO EF-3 AS IT DESTROYED A HOUSE ABOUT  
2.5 MILES WEST OF WASHBURN. ONE MILE TO THE EAST THE TORNADO TORE  
THE ROOF OFF A HOUSE BEFORE MOVING INTO WASHBURN. THE TORNADO  
DAMAGED 8 HOUSES IN WASHBURN, DOING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO ROOFS,  
GARAGES, AUTOMOBILES AND TREES.  
  
THE TORNADO CONTINUED THROUGH EXTREME SOUTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY  
DESTROYING OUTBUILDINGS, DAMAGING HOUSE ROOFS AND TREES AS IT  
WIDENED TO ABOUT 600 YARDS WIDE SOUTHEAST OF LA ROSE. THE TORNADO  
WEAKENED IN SOUTHEAST MARSHALL COUNTY AS IT CROSSED INTERSTATE 39  
WEST OF RUTLAND. AS THE TORNADO MOVED INTO RUTLAND IT DAMAGED  
TREES AND DID MINOR DAMAGE TO HOUSE ROOFS BEFORE DISSIPATING 0.4  
OF A MILE EAST OF RUTLAND AT 5:50 PM.  
  
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES  
TORNADOES INTO THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES.  
  
EF0...WEAK......65 TO 85 MPH  
EF1...WEAK......86 TO 110 MPH  
EF2...STRONG....111 TO 135 MPH  
EF3...STRONG....136 TO 165 MPH  
EF4...VIOLENT...166 TO 200 MPH  
EF5...VIOLENT...>200 MPH  

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50 minutes ago, HillsdaleMIWeather said:

I noticed the spike in shear around Niles at that time, guess that makes sense now why. Probably also why they issued tornado warnings afterwards as that line moved along the border.

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Not sure if this was from the super long tracked cell or another one.  Would have to check radar.

 

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
611 PM EST WED MAR 1 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1203 AM     TORNADO          IRELAND                 38.42N 87.00W
03/01/2017                   DUBOIS             IN   NWS STORM SURVEY

AN EF-2 TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WIND SPEEDS OF 130 MPH TOUCHED DOWN 4.1 MILES WSW OF
IRELAND INDIANA. INITIALLY...A LARGE POLE BARD WAS DESTROYED ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO SEVERAL HOMES. THE TORNADO THEN TRAVELED A MILE NE WHERE IT DAMAGED SEVERAL HOMES...INCLUDING 1 HOME THAT LOST ITS ROOF AND HAD PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF WALLS. THE TORNADO THEN TRAVELED ALMOST DUE EAST TOWARD IRELAND WHERE IT DAMAGED MORE HOMES BEFORE LIFTING NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF DUBLIN AND
CHURCH ST. THE MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH WAS 200 YARDS AND IT WAS ON THE GROUND FOR 4 TO 5 MINUTES.
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Earliest tornadoes in a calendar year in the LOT cwa:

1/7/2008:  EF3

1/25/1950:  F2

2/16/2006:  F1

*2/28/2017:  EF3 (1 fatality), EF1, EF1

3/4/1961:  F2 (1 fatality), F1

3/4/1976:  F1

3/6/1956:  F3, F2

3/8/2009:  EF1, EF0, EF0

 

*preliminary information

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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
711 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017

...Tornado Confirmed Near 7 SE Mitchell in Lawrence County
Indiana...

Location...7 SE Mitchell in Lawrence County Indiana
Date...March 1 2017
Estimated Time...537 AM EST
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF2
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...130 MPH
Maximum Path Width...25 yards
Path Length...0.58 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...38.69N / 86.3406W
Ending lat/Lon...38.6884N / 86.33W
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event(s) and publication in
NWS Storm Data.

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Indianapolis IN has confirmed a
tornado near 7 SE Mitchell in Lawrence County Indiana on March
1 2017.

The tornado collapsed 3 metal chicken barns and damaged or
destroyed some outbuildings. The tornado continued southeast
into WFO Louisville`s area of responsibility.
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1 minute ago, Hoosier said:

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
711 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017

...Tornado Confirmed Near 7 SE Mitchell in Lawrence County
Indiana...

Location...7 SE Mitchell in Lawrence County Indiana
Date...March 1 2017
Estimated Time...537 AM EST
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF2
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...130 MPH
Maximum Path Width...25 yards
Path Length...0.58 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...38.69N / 86.3406W
Ending lat/Lon...38.6884N / 86.33W
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event(s) and publication in
NWS Storm Data.

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Indianapolis IN has confirmed a
tornado near 7 SE Mitchell in Lawrence County Indiana on March
1 2017.

The tornado collapsed 3 metal chicken barns and damaged or
destroyed some outbuildings. The tornado continued southeast
into WFO Louisville`s area of responsibility.

Extremely interesting it's 25 yards wide. Very small for a tornado that is Highend EF2

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8 minutes ago, MattPetrulli said:

Extremely interesting it's 25 yards wide. Very small for a tornado that is Highend EF2

Agree, but it's a good example of not judging a tornado by its width.  The width/intensity correlation only goes so far. Haven't seen anything yet from Louisville regarding this tornado so will be interesting to see what they find.

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20 minutes ago, Hoosier said:

Agree, but it's a good example of not judging a tornado by its width.  The width/intensity correlation only goes so far. Haven't seen anything yet from Louisville regarding this tornado so will be interesting to see what they find.

I feel like this is a flaw in the EF scale. if it was only 25yds wide, yet caused EF2 rated damage, it just seems wrong to correlate the wind speeds to those found in a typical EF2, I feel like winds are probably much higher if the width to damage ratio is lower. Just my two cents. I also don't really have a better way of doing things...

 

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so where is the "large Tornado 2 miles NW of Morris(IL)" report

 

 

are they still surveying



I'm not sure of additional surveying because I'm out of the office, but additional information is still being gathered. There is video that should help with additional determinations, as well as possibly more surveying.
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Initially picked this storm to intercept before it split near Springfield MO. We chased from Rt 3 at the river. Watched many power flashes prior to it crossing while it was in the Perryville area in MO. Watching our radar as it was an intense signature on Velocity scan. at the river at Rockwood we were too far sough so decided to intercept close to Ava IL. The scans over Rockwood was very intense and you all may remember had 2 signatures, possible reforming another or a satellite possibly. We blasted east on Hwy 149 back to Murphy and picked up on Ava rd. We felt it was too dangerous so turned around and picked up on rt 127 and headed cautiously N to Vergennes. We seen the wedge with many power flashes to our WNW and felt we were close and stopped we witnessed and some vid as it crossed over rt 127. A long duration power flash revealed very intense ground circulation. I was on phone with NWS PAH. while my partner attempted video.we missed the very good illumination but some good stills will be able to be pulled. We drove up the road a couple of miles to damage where search and rescue commenced for us. The neighbors a couple of hundred yards behind home on 127 stated they had a full grain elevator was "gone" what we seen was High end damage with ground scouring dominate and some debarking of trees was present. Hard to see at night but plan to meet with Mr. Shanklin today if possible during survey. We were happy to see all were on and accounted for,  even a cat in carrier they had in a carrier in basement. Sections of what we could see at night lead to an EF-4 rating but will leave that to the professionals to determine. lots of EF-3 evidence however. It was our first wedge and especially in Feb. Thank you all professionals here for what you do and forecasting and other chasers.

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22 hours ago, madwx said:

I'm almost certain it touched down east of the river.  Somewhere to the SW of Washburn

I had a brief touchdown on video in Chillicothe actually. But I don't know if that became the Washburn tornado or if it cycled. It wasn't condensed to ground but was kicking up dust. 

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I found something interesting when going through the tornado archives.  There has been a huge increase in the frequency of February tornadoes in Illinois in the past 2 decades or so.  

I simply looked at years that had February tornadoes, without consideration for the number of tornadoes to avoid potential issues with inflation in more recent times. Get this.  From 1950-1995, there were a total of 6 years with February tornadoes in Illinois.  From 1996-2017, there were 8 years with February tornadoes in Illinois. That is more years than the first period and in less than half the time.  Interestingly, March has gone the other way, with a tendency toward less Marches producing tornadoes than in earlier decades.  I also found somewhat similar trends for February and March when looking at Indiana.

It's tempting to speculate about reasons for this trend.  But anyway, it could be a real problem if this is a trend that keeps up (and also if March starts increasing again), as February is a month that typically will have plenty of shear to take advantage of, given sufficient instability.

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Here is my full video of the Washburn, IL tornado along with a quick timelapse of tornadogeneis at the beginning. What a day and I'll upload some more pictures and a little chase account summary later tonight or tomorrow. 

This is a little late as I was out all day yesterday assisting with the Naplate/Ottawa tornado with Victor Gensini and another guy from NWS Chicago.

 

 

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Don't have an exact count but we are somewhere around 20 confirmed tornadoes in this subforum, with 4 EF3.  

4 EF3 (or greater) in Illinois puts this outbreak in some special company for that state.  The last time that happened was 11/17/2013 and before that, 4/19/1996.

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