February 2016 North American winter storm
Category 2 "Significant" (RSI/NOAA: 4.68)
The extratropical cyclone responsible for the winter storm at 16:00 UTC (11:00 a.m EDT) on February 2, 2016 over the Upper Midwest
TypeExtratropical cyclone
Nor'easter
Winter storm
Blizzard
Tornado outbreak
Flood[1]
FormedJanuary 29, 2016 (2016-01-29)
DissipatedFebruary 7, 2016 (2016-02-07) (moved out to sea)
Tornadoes
confirmed		14
Max. rating1EF2 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2		1 day, 1 hour, 23 minutes
Maximum snowfall
or ice accretion		41 in (100 cm) in Coal Bank Pass, Colorado[2]
Fatalities7 fatalities
Damage$7.472 million (Tornadoes only)[3]
Power outages100,000
Areas affectedWestern United States, Central United States, Southeastern United States, Northeastern United States

1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado
Blizzard in Pennsylvania.

The February 2016 North American winter storm was a strong winter storm that caused more than 70,000 people in southern California to lose their electricity, with many broken trees and electrical lines in that area,[4] with the Southern Rocky Mountains having the potential to receive some of the greatest snowfall from the system.[5] One person in San Diego, California area died when a tree fell on their car.[6][7] Another person in Minnesota died after being struck by a car while crossing a street.[8][9]

Meteorological history

The storm first developed late on January 29 near California and started to track east and brought heavy snow and wind to parts of the Southwest.[1] Late on February 1, the storm started to track northeastward towards Canada, bringing with it blizzard conditions and up to 18 inches (0.46 m) of snow in parts of the Midwest.[2][8] It also brought severe weather to parts of the South on February 2.[1][8] As the system tracked northeast into Canada, it brought rain to most of the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and New England, which had already been hit by a previous historic storm about a week prior to this. After the storm complex had moved into Canada, the cold front associated with it stalled over the East Coast late on February 4.[10] A new low pressure developed off North Carolina that night and started to track up the coast. It impacted areas already hit hard by the previous blizzard about two weeks prior, and caused messy travel along Interstate 95 in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast areas. The storm brought a quick but moderate-to-heavy burst of fresh snow, with some areas in New England receiving up to 1 ft (0.30 m) of the wintry precipitation.[10][11]

Impact

Wolf Creek Pass got more than 23 in (58 cm) of snow in 24 hours as of the morning of February 1,[12] with multiple feet of snow expected in the mountains of Utah and Colorado.[13]

On February 1, over 500 airplane flights were canceled at Denver Airport.[14]

A blizzard watch was issued for February 2 north and west of Des Moines.[15]

Along with the aforementioned deaths, on February 5 two people were killed in Canton, Massachusetts when hit by heavy tree branches covered in heavy snow.[16][17] In New York City, a person was killed when a huge construction crane, in the midst of being moved and secured due to the weather, collapsed and fell on him.[18][19] While only 2.5 in (6.4 cm) of snow fell in Central Park, amounts totaled much higher in parts of the metro area, including as high as 13 in (33 cm) in Woodbridge, Connecticut.[20] In Broomall, Pennsylvania, a 90-foot beech tree fell down on a house, killing an elderly couple.[21]

Severe weather in the South

The storm also produced severe weather across the South on the evening of February 2, including 11 tornadoes, some of which were strong and caused considerable damage in and around Alabama and Mississippi towns of Collinsville, Scooba, and McMullen.[22][23][24] More storms had affected the southeast region on February 3.[25] Flooding also impacted the south including Georgia.[26] On the 3rd, an EF0 tornado occurred near Columbia, South Carolina,[27][28] and an EF1 tornado caused damage in Fort Stewart, Georgia.[29][30][31] The tornadoes resulted in no fatalities, although two people were injured.[3] A tornado emergency was issued during the storm for Carrollton, Alabama.[32]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total
0 3 8 3 0 0 0 14
February 2 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, February 2, 2016[note 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[note 2] Summary
EF1 S of Newton to WSW of Hickory Newton MS 32°14′39″N 89°09′25″W / 32.2441°N 89.1570°W / 32.2441; -89.1570 (Newton (Feb. 2, EF1)) 2048–2052 7.13 mi (11.47 km) 150 yd (140 m) $120,000 Three site-built homes and a mobile home were damaged, two chicken houses were destroyed, and numerous trees and power poles were snapped along the path.[33]
EF2 SW of Collinsville to S of De Kalb Lauderdale, Kemper MS 32°28′07″N 88°52′30″W / 32.4685°N 88.8749°W / 32.4685; -88.8749 (Collinsville (Feb. 2, EF2)) 2119–2149 21.23 mi (34.17 km) 880 yd (800 m) $1,485,000 A strong wedge tornado damaged numerous homes and other structures in subdivisions in and around Collinsville, heavily damaged or destroyed a couple mobile homes, and caused extensive damage to buildings at Collinsville Baptist Church. Moving to the northeast, the tornado downed many trees, damaged outbuildings, and caused minor roof and fencing damage at West Lauderdale High School before dissipating in Kemper County.[34][35]
EF2 ESE of De Kalb to W of Panola, AL Kemper, Noxubee MS 32°43′49″N 88°34′39″W / 32.7303°N 88.5776°W / 32.7303; -88.5776 (Oak Grove/Scooba (Feb. 2, EF2)) 2153–2223 18.52 mi (29.81 km) 300 yd (270 m) $270,000 A multiple-vortex tornado impacted the west side of Scooba, downing many trees and power lines and damaging the baseball field, fence, and field-house buildings at East Mississippi Community College, as well as two mobile buildings and the roofs of several homes in the area. Moving away from Scooba, the tornado mowed down groves of trees, completely destroyed a well-constructed barn, a carport, and a metal shed, caused minor roof damage to another home, and damaged several other sheds. More trees were downed as the tornado dissipated near the Noxubee River.[36][37]
EF2 NNW of Panola to SW of Reform Pickens AL 33°01′38″N 88°19′04″W / 33.0273°N 88.3177°W / 33.0273; -88.3177 (McMullen/Carrollton (Feb. 2, EF2)) 2234–2309 26.2 mi (42.2 km) 1,200 yd (1,100 m) $0 A strong wedge tornado was caught on camera by local media moved north-northeastward through Pickens County, causing minor damage to a building at a campground in Cochrane and to another building at the Aliceville federal prison. Multiple mobile homes and frame homes were heavily damaged or destroyed in the Sapp community northwest of Aliceville and McMullen, and trees blown over onto homes and other structures on the west side of Carrollton. Thousands of trees were snapped and uprooted along the path, and one person was injured.[38]
EF1 W of Alamo Crockett TN 35°46′02″N 89°10′04″W / 35.7673°N 89.1677°W / 35.7673; -89.1677 (Alamo (Feb. 2, EF1)) 2255–2303 2.64 mi (4.25 km) 100 yd (91 m) $150,000 A mobile home, a site-built structure, several houses, and several buildings at Crockett County High School sustained roof damage as a result of this rain-wrapped tornado. Numerous sheds were damaged and many trees were downed, especially at the Crockett County Golf Club. Two tractor-trailers were overturned on U.S. Highway 412. The driver of one of the overturned trucks was injured.[39]
EF1 Shuqualak to SE of Macon Noxubee MS 32°58′58″N 88°34′24″W / 32.9828°N 88.5732°W / 32.9828; -88.5732 (Shuqualak (Feb. 2, EF1)) 2327–2336 6.59 mi (10.61 km) 150 yd (140 m) $170,000 A large portion of the roof was removed from a gas station in Shuqualak, a 60-foot (18 m) section of the roof was taken off and windows were blown out of an old school building, and many trees were downed.[40]
EF1 SE of Kennedy Fayette AL 33°32′24″N 87°54′55″W / 33.5399°N 87.9153°W / 33.5399; -87.9153 (Ashcraft Corner (Feb. 2, EF1)) 2336–2345 6.12 mi (9.85 km) 500 yd (460 m) $0 A house sustained minor roof and porch damage, and numerous trees were downed.[41]
EF1 SW of Neshoba Neshoba MS 32°36′26″N 89°09′17″W / 32.6071°N 89.1547°W / 32.6071; -89.1547 (Neshoba (Feb. 2, EF1)) 0039–0041 0.68 mi (1.09 km) 50 yd (46 m) $22,000 A house had its tin roof torn off, an outbuilding was destroyed, and several trees were snapped or uprooted.[42]
EF1 SE of Beaverton Lamar AL 33°52′40″N 88°01′16″W / 33.8779°N 88.0210°W / 33.8779; -88.0210 (Beaverton (Feb. 2, EF1)) 0210–0216 4.13 mi (6.65 km) 400 yd (370 m) $0 One home sustained major roof damage, another sustained minor roof damage, and many trees were downed.[43]
February 3 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, February 3, 2016[note 1]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width Damage[note 2] Summary
EF0 E of Ethelsville Pickens AL 33°23′44″N 88°09′49″W / 33.3956°N 88.1635°W / 33.3956; -88.1635 (Ethelsville (Feb. 3, EF0)) 0502–0508 4.18 mi (6.73 km) 1,400 yd (1,300 m) $0 A weak wedge tornado downed several trees.[44]
EF0 SW of Lexington Davidson NC 35°47′56″N 80°19′07″W / 35.7989°N 80.3185°W / 35.7989; -80.3185 (Lexington (Feb. 3, EF0)) 1802–1804 1.03 mi (1.66 km) 50 yd (46 m) $25,000 Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which fell onto and damaged homes and vehicles. Other homes sustained damage to shingles, gutters, and siding.[45]
EF1 NE of Lexington Davidson NC 35°50′42″N 80°09′08″W / 35.8451°N 80.1522°W / 35.8451; -80.1522 (Lexington (Feb. 3, EF1)) 1814–1816 1.67 mi (2.69 km) 100 yd (91 m) $100,000 Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which fell onto and damaged homes and vehicles. Other homes sustained damage to shingles, gutters, and siding. Six to eight farm outbuildings were severely damaged or destroyed, including a few that had collapsed walls and major loss of roof panels.[46]
EF0 ESE of Pine Ridge Lexington SC 33°54′12″N 81°04′11″W / 33.9033°N 81.0696°W / 33.9033; -81.0696 (Pine Ridge (Feb. 3, EF0)) 1928–1929 0.69 mi (1.11 km) 75 yd (69 m) $50,000 A brief tornado either damaged or destroyed several cars in a storage lot and downed a few trees.[47]
EF1 Fort Stewart Liberty GA 31°52′18″N 81°37′29″W / 31.8717°N 81.6247°W / 31.8717; -81.6247 (Fort Stewart (Feb. 3, EF1)) 2200–2212 5.7 mi (9.2 km) 300 yd (270 m) $5,080,000 A high-end EF1 tornado touched down near Gate 7 on Fort Stewart and moved slowly northeast, causing heavy damage to six to ten homes in one neighborhood, mainly as a result of falling pine trees. However, one home had approximately 75 percent of its poorly-attached roof removed by the tornado itself. Three cars were moved/rolled-over in the parking lot at Diamond Elementary School, and one corner of the gymnasium sustained roof damage. Many trees and several power lines were downed along the path, which totaled damage to approximately 42 homes, 150 to 200 vehicles, and 8 storage unit facilities.[48]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
  2. ^ a b All damage totals are in 2016 USD unless otherwise stated.

References

  1. ^ a b c "LIVE: Blizzard winds down across Plains; Severe storms threaten southeastern US". AccuWeather. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Winter Storm Kayla Dumps Feet of Snow, Killing 1; I-80 to Reopen in Nebraska". The Weather Channel. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Tornado Reports: February 2-3, 2016, National Climatic Data Center
  4. ^ "Snowstorm to bury Denver, blast high winds across southwestern US on Monday". MSN. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  5. ^ "Heavy Snow, Blizzard Conditions Possible in Rockies, Plains, Upper Midwest Next Week (FORECAST)". The Weather Channel. January 26, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  6. ^ "California Woman Dies When Tree Falls On Car". The Weather Channel. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "One dead after tree falls on car in Pacific Beach". KFMB-TV CBS8. January 31, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c "Winter Storm Kayla Dumps Feet of Snow; Woman Killed in Minneapolis Identified". The Weather Channel. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  9. ^ "Woman killed crossing Hennepin had left work early because of snow - StarTribune.com". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Elisha Fieldstadt. "Blizzard Hits New England Day Before New Hampshire Primary". NBC News. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  11. ^ "National Weather Service Text Product Display". Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  12. ^ "Dangerous blizzard to unload a foot of snow from Colorado to Michigan". AccuWeather. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  13. ^ "Major winter storm expected from Iowa across Wisconsin Tuesday". WGN-TV. February 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  14. ^ Alexander Smith. "Blizzard Bearing Down on Midwest and Great Plains". NBC News. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "Blizzard will miss caucuses, still blanket Iowa Tuesday". Des Moines Register. January 31, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  16. ^ "Falling tree limb kills child during snow storm". WFXT. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  17. ^ "Second Canton Resident Dies After Being Hit By Falling Tree Limb". Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  18. ^ "City Investigates Deadly Crane Collapse in TriBeCa". TWC News. February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  19. ^ "Crane collapse NYC: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says crews were lowering crane when collapse happened". CBS News. February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  20. ^ February 5th Heavy Snow Event, NWS New York
  21. ^ "Schaefer, M. A. (2016, February 06). Fallen tree kills woman, traps husband in Delco home - Philly. Retrieved March 02, 2018".
  22. ^ "Photos". The Weather Channel. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  23. ^ "Massive storm system fuels tornadoes in the South, blizzards in the Midwest". CBS News. February 3, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  24. ^ "SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Tuesday February 02, 2016". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  25. ^ "Severe Weather Forecast: Groundhog Day 2016". The Weather Channel. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  26. ^ ABC News. "Tornadoes in the South; Snow in Plains and Upper Midwest". ABC News. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  27. ^ Quincy Vagell. "Tornadoes, Flash Flooding Impacted South, East to Start February". Weather Wunderground. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  28. ^ "SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Wednesday February 03, 2016". Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  29. ^ "Tornado destroys vehicles and buildings at Georgia military base". timesfreepress.com. February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  30. ^ "Tornado Outbreak Georgia – Videos & Details From the Ground". WeatherNation. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  31. ^ "SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Wednesday February 03, 2016". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  32. ^ latest:%20Severe%20weather,%20storm%20damage%20reports%20in%20Alabama, ABC3340, February 2, 2016
  33. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Jackson, Mississippi. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  34. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Jackson, Mississippi. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  35. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Jackson, Mississippi. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  36. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Jackson, Mississippi. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  37. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Jackson, Mississippi. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  38. ^ Alabama Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Birmingham, Alabama. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  39. ^ Tennessee Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Memphis, Tennessee. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  40. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Jackson, Mississippi. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  41. ^ Alabama Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Birmingham, Alabama. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  42. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Jackson, Mississippi. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  43. ^ Alabama Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Birmingham, Alabama. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  44. ^ Alabama Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Birmingham, Alabama. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  45. ^ North Carolina Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Raleigh, North Carolina. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  46. ^ North Carolina Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Raleigh, North Carolina. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  47. ^ South Carolina Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Columbia, South Carolina. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  48. ^ South Carolina Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Charleston, South Carolina. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.

External links

Tornado outbreaks of 2016
Tornado events in Alabama
Major snow and ice events in the United States
Categories