2005 tropical weather impacts to the memphis cwa
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Jonathan L. Howell – Jason F. Beaman National Weather Service - Memphis, TN. 2005 Tropical Weather Impacts to the Memphis CWA. Memphis Tropical Impacts. Overview of Impacts From Hurricanes Katrina & Rita Satellite, Radar, & Track Overviews - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
2005 Tropical Weather Impacts to the Memphis
CWA
2005 Tropical Weather Impacts to the Memphis
CWAJonathan L. Howell – Jason F. Beaman
National Weather Service - Memphis, TN
Jonathan L. Howell – Jason F. Beaman
National Weather Service - Memphis, TN
Memphis Tropical ImpactsMemphis Tropical Impacts• Overview of Impacts From Hurricanes
Katrina & Rita
– Satellite, Radar, & Track Overviews
– Synoptic Weather Patterns Responsible for Steering of Tropical Systems
– Mesoscale Weather Environments
• Katrina – Pressure Gradient Winds
• Rita – Convective/Severe Weather Environment
– Impacts to Memphis County Warning Area
– WFO Operations Performance
• Overview of Impacts From Hurricanes Katrina & Rita
– Satellite, Radar, & Track Overviews
– Synoptic Weather Patterns Responsible for Steering of Tropical Systems
– Mesoscale Weather Environments
• Katrina – Pressure Gradient Winds
• Rita – Convective/Severe Weather Environment
– Impacts to Memphis County Warning Area
– WFO Operations Performance
Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina’s TrackHurricane Katrina’s Track
Katrina Weather ImpactsKatrina Weather Impacts
• Weather Impacts to North Mississippi
– 7 Hours of Tropical Storm Force Wind Gusts (22z-06z) at Tupelo, MS ASOS (KTUP)
– Maximum Gust – 46 Kts. – KTUP – 2350z/0148z
– Unofficial Wind Gust Reports > 50 Kts.
– Lowest Pressure – 980 mb. – KTUP – 07z
– Rainfall Amounts Ranged Between 4”-8” Isolated Higher
– Rain Gauge Measurements of 3”-6” Underestimated Actual Totals Due to High Winds
• Weather Impacts to North Mississippi
– 7 Hours of Tropical Storm Force Wind Gusts (22z-06z) at Tupelo, MS ASOS (KTUP)
– Maximum Gust – 46 Kts. – KTUP – 2350z/0148z
– Unofficial Wind Gust Reports > 50 Kts.
– Lowest Pressure – 980 mb. – KTUP – 07z
– Rainfall Amounts Ranged Between 4”-8” Isolated Higher
– Rain Gauge Measurements of 3”-6” Underestimated Actual Totals Due to High Winds
Katrina Damage Across Memphis CWA
Katrina Damage Across Memphis CWA
• Damage Across North Mississippi
– Structural Damage – Mainly Trees Falling on Structures
– Hundreds of Trees Downed/Uprooted
– Powerlines Downed – 100,000+ Customers Without Power
– Flash Flooding/Minor River Flooding
• Water Over Secondary Highways
• 5 River Points to Flood
– Buttahatchie / Tombigbee / Noxubee / Town Cr.
• Damage Across North Mississippi
– Structural Damage – Mainly Trees Falling on Structures
– Hundreds of Trees Downed/Uprooted
– Powerlines Downed – 100,000+ Customers Without Power
– Flash Flooding/Minor River Flooding
• Water Over Secondary Highways
• 5 River Points to Flood
– Buttahatchie / Tombigbee / Noxubee / Town Cr.
Katrina Weather ImpactsKatrina Weather Impacts• Weather Impacts to
West Tennessee
– Tropical Storm Force Wind Gusts at Memphis (KMEM) & Jackson (KMKL)
• 6 Hours at KMEM (03z-09z)
• 3 Hours at KMKL (05z-08z)
– Maximum Gust
• 47 Kts. – KMEM – 0641z
• 38 Kts. – KMKL – 0538z
– Unofficial Wind Gust Reports > 50 Kts.
– Lowest Pressures Recorded
• KMEM – 989 mb. (0653z)
• KMKL – 987 mb. (0953z)
– Rainfall Amounts Ranged Between 3-6 Inches
• Weather Impacts to West Tennessee
– Tropical Storm Force Wind Gusts at Memphis (KMEM) & Jackson (KMKL)
• 6 Hours at KMEM (03z-09z)
• 3 Hours at KMKL (05z-08z)
– Maximum Gust
• 47 Kts. – KMEM – 0641z
• 38 Kts. – KMKL – 0538z
– Unofficial Wind Gust Reports > 50 Kts.
– Lowest Pressures Recorded
• KMEM – 989 mb. (0653z)
• KMKL – 987 mb. (0953z)
– Rainfall Amounts Ranged Between 3-6 Inches
Katrina Damage Across Memphis CWA
Katrina Damage Across Memphis CWA
• Damage Across West Tennessee
– Minor Structural Damage
– Several Trees Downed/Uprooted
– Powerlines Downed – 77,000 Customers Without Power in Memphis/Shelby County
– Additional Power Outages Across Remainder West TN
– Flash Flooding/River Flooding
• Water Over Secondary Highways
• 1 River Point to Flood
– S.F. Forked Deer
• Damage Across West Tennessee
– Minor Structural Damage
– Several Trees Downed/Uprooted
– Powerlines Downed – 77,000 Customers Without Power in Memphis/Shelby County
– Additional Power Outages Across Remainder West TN
– Flash Flooding/River Flooding
• Water Over Secondary Highways
• 1 River Point to Flood
– S.F. Forked Deer
Hurricane RitaHurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita’s TrackHurricane Rita’s Track
The Difference Aspects of RitaThe Difference Aspects of Rita
• There were three significant meteorological impacts to the Mid-South
– Heavy Rain
– Tropical Storm Force Wind Gusts
– Severe Weather/Mesocyclone Development
• There were three significant meteorological impacts to the Mid-South
– Heavy Rain
– Tropical Storm Force Wind Gusts
– Severe Weather/Mesocyclone Development
Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Tropical Storm Force Wind Gusts
Tropical Storm Force Wind Gusts
• Numerous tropical storm wind gusts
– KMEM 38 kts @ 1309Z
– KTUP 48 kts @ 1725Z
– Other unofficial reports of 35 to 45 kt winds primarily over north Mississippi
• Gusts produced by convective downdrafts (50-55 dbz cores up to 10,000 feet)
• Numerous tropical storm wind gusts
– KMEM 38 kts @ 1309Z
– KTUP 48 kts @ 1725Z
– Other unofficial reports of 35 to 45 kt winds primarily over north Mississippi
• Gusts produced by convective downdrafts (50-55 dbz cores up to 10,000 feet)
Convective WindsConvective Winds
VAD Wind ProfileVAD Wind Profile
Concerns as Rita Approached the Mid-South
Concerns as Rita Approached the Mid-South
• Although Rita was a depression as it approached the Memphis CWA, it moved at a very favorable heading for producing tornadoes (010-040 degrees). (Malkin and Schulz, Jr., 1966)
• Forecasters at WFO Memphis were tracking many mesocyclones across Arkansas and central Mississippi. Would conditions be right for tornadoes to occur in the Memphis CWA?
• With this in mind, we’ll take a look at the mesoscale environment as Rita progressed into the Mid-South
• The focus will be on the morning of September 25th.
• Although Rita was a depression as it approached the Memphis CWA, it moved at a very favorable heading for producing tornadoes (010-040 degrees). (Malkin and Schulz, Jr., 1966)
• Forecasters at WFO Memphis were tracking many mesocyclones across Arkansas and central Mississippi. Would conditions be right for tornadoes to occur in the Memphis CWA?
• With this in mind, we’ll take a look at the mesoscale environment as Rita progressed into the Mid-South
• The focus will be on the morning of September 25th.
1844z SRM
1855z SRM
1906z SRM
1917z SRM
Rita DamageRita Damage
• Light to moderate damage across E AR, W TN, and N MS
• Damage confined to downed trees and power lines (mainly in N MS)
• 3 to 6 inches of rain caused road and isolated residential flooding
• Total damage estimated at $100K +
• Light to moderate damage across E AR, W TN, and N MS
• Damage confined to downed trees and power lines (mainly in N MS)
• 3 to 6 inches of rain caused road and isolated residential flooding
• Total damage estimated at $100K +
SummarySummary
• Katrina damage primarily from gradient winds
• Tropical storm wind gusts occurred well west of center
• Total Katrina damages in hundreds of thousands
• Damages to structures, trees, & power lines
• Katrina damage primarily from gradient winds
• Tropical storm wind gusts occurred well west of center
• Total Katrina damages in hundreds of thousands
• Damages to structures, trees, & power lines
Summary Summary
• Rita damage primarily from convective wind gusts
• Tropical storm force wind gusts occurred primarily in bowing line segments & mesocyclones
• Total Rita damages > $100K
• Damage mainly to trees and power lines
• Rita damage primarily from convective wind gusts
• Tropical storm force wind gusts occurred primarily in bowing line segments & mesocyclones
• Total Rita damages > $100K
• Damage mainly to trees and power lines