February-March 2007 Tornado Outbreak
Encyclopedia
The February–March 2007 Tornado Outbreak was a tornado outbreak
across the southern United States
that began in Kansas
on February 28, 2007. The severe weather spread eastward on March 1 and left a deadly mark across the southern US, particularly in Alabama
and Georgia
. Twenty deaths were reported; one in Missouri, nine in Georgia, and 10 in Alabama. Scattered severe weather was also reported in North Carolina
on March 2, producing the final tornado
of the outbreak before the storms moved offshore into the Atlantic Ocean
.
In the end, there were 55 tornadoes confirmed during the outbreak, including three EF3 tornadoes reported across three states, as well as three EF4 tornadoes; two in Alabama and one in Kansas, the first such tornadoes since the introduction of the Enhanced Fujita Scale
. Total damages were estimated at over $580 million from tornadoes alone, making it the fourth costliest tornado outbreak in US history (the figure not including damage from other thunderstorm impacts including hail
and straight-line winds). Insured losses in the state of Georgia topped $210 million, making this outbreak the costliest in that state's history. Enterprise, Alabama
, which was hit the hardest, sustained damages in excess of $307 million.
that intensified on February 28 while over Kansas
, and a cold front
moved across the region, providing the lift needed to allow the storms to develop. In addition, a surge of very moist air from the Gulf of Mexico
and warm temperatures across the south side of the storm helped feed the storms. Temperature
s were in the 70s °F (low 20s °C) in some areas to the south, while the mercury was below freezing on the north side. The dewpoints were in the 60 °F (16 °C) range as far north as southeastern Kansas, which provided extra fuel.
A moderate risk of severe storms was issued by the Storm Prediction Center
for February 28 across parts of the central Plains. The first tornadoes developed early in the evening of February 28 in Kansas
as the dry line
pushed eastward and was lifted by the cold front. In total, 12 tornadoes formed that evening across Kansas and Missouri, of which 11 were weak. However, one of the tornadoes was an EF4, the first such tornado recorded and the first violent tornado since September 22, 2006
. No one was injured that evening. Farther south, expected activity in Oklahoma
and Arkansas
did not take place as the atmospheric cap held up.
A high risk of severe storms—the first such issuance since April 7, 2006—was issued for a large part of the Deep South
for March 1 as the cold front moved eastward. The activity began almost immediately, with several isolated tornadoes taking place that morning across the Mississippi Valley, with one of them leading to the first fatality of the outbreak. Isolated tornadoes were also reported as far north as Illinois
, near the center of the low. However, the most intense activity began around noon and continued throughout the afternoon and evening, with southern Alabama
and southern Georgia
hit the hardest. Nearly continuous supercells formed north of the Gulf of Mexico
and produced many tornadoes, some of which hit large population centers with devastating effects. 19 people were killed by those tornadoes.
The squall line
finally overtook the supercells just after midnight on March 2, after putting down 37 tornadoes that day. As the squall line overtook the cells, a few tornadoes—all EF0—took place overnight in Florida
and extreme southern Georgia within the squall line, before the severe weather emerged in the Atlantic Ocean
that morning. The final tornado was a landfalling waterspout
in the Outer Banks
of North Carolina
late that morning. In addition to the tornadoes, widespread straight-line wind damage from microburst
s were also reported, along with scattered large hail
, the largest of which were the size of baseball
s.
On the other side of the low pressure area
, a significant blizzard
occurred over the northern Great Plains
and Upper Midwest
, including parts of Minnesota
, Manitoba
, Saskatchewan
, Wisconsin
, Iowa
and Nebraska
, where several snowfalls in excess of 8 to 18 inches (20–45 cm) were reported, as well as snow of between 6 and 11 inches (15–28 cm) across portions of Ontario and Quebec. Freezing rain was reported across New England
, the lower Great Lakes
in Ontario
, Michigan
, and in the Chicago
area. 19 people were killed by the storm, including two in Manitoba, two in Ontario
, one in Massachusetts
, four in North Dakota
, one in Minnesota
, three in Michigan
, five in Wisconsin
and one in Nebraska
. The University of Minnesota
in the Twin Cities was closed for the first time since 1991 and the roof of a supermarket in Wisconsin collapsed. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
called in the National Guard
while governors Chet Culver
(Iowa) and Michael Rounds (South Dakota
) issued disaster declarations
. The tornado lifted off the ground briefly before returning to the ground as an even stronger storm. It quickly slammed into Enterprise, Alabama
, at 1:12 pm CST (19:12 UTC). The tornado left severe damage throughout a large section of the city. The most severe damage took place at Enterprise High School
, where a section of the school was destroyed during the middle of the school day. Eight fatalities occurred at the school and 50 other people were taken to local hospitals. Some early reports suggested that there had been as many as 15 deaths at Enterprise High School and 18 deaths statewide, which was found to be an over-estimation. It was the first killer tornado at a US school since the Grand Isle
, Louisiana
tornado in 1993, and the deadliest tornado since one in
Belvidere, Illinois
in 1967. One other death was reported in Enterprise at a nearby private residence when a woman's living room was shattered by the tornado.
At the school, the fatalities resulted from the collapse of a concrete wall. One hallway completely collapsed, trapping many students in the rubble on the hallway known as 3rd Hall. The tornado at the school was so strong that it flipped cars over in the parking lot, flattened parts of the stadium and tore trees out of the ground. School bus
es were there for an early dismissal due to the storms at just after 1 pm, but the tornado hit before the school could be dismissed.
Nearby Hillcrest Elementary School also sustained severe damage from the tornado. After the tornado hit, students from both schools who were not injured were relocated by emergency personnel to Hillcrest Baptist Church, adjacent to the schools and which was not damaged, in order to meet up with shocked parents. Emergency personnel also rushed to the school to send the most seriously injured to local hospitals and provide treatment on the scene to others.
The tornado initially formed in a neighborhood just south of the downtown area; after demolishing a section of the downtown area, it moved on to the schools. The tornado then continued northeast crossing the Holly Hill and Dixie Drive areas. A quarter-mile (400 m) wide swath was devastated, with enormous damage reported to many houses and businesses, some of which were flattened. Several other schools and the local YMCA
were among the damaged buildings. According to the Red Cross, 239 homes were destroyed, 374 sustained major damage, 529 sustained minor damage, and 251 homes were affected.
The tornado itself was estimated to have been 500 yards (470 m) wide and have had a path length of 10 miles (16 km). It dissipated shortly after leaving Enterprise. It was given an initial rating of EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
. However, after a detailed survey, the tornado was upgraded to a low-end EF4 with winds around 170 mph (275 km/h). This upgrade was based on the finding of flattened houses near the school. A total of $307 million in damages were inflicted on the city of Enterprise.
was called into Enterprise in the aftermath of the tornado. Governor Bob Riley
mobilized about 100 troops and placed more on standby. A dusk-to-dawn curfew
was imposed on the community after the tornado strike. On the morning of March 3, President
George W. Bush
visited the community and declared Coffee County a disaster area
. He went into the school and also took an aerial view of the devastation. The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) was also called in to provide additional assistance.
After the tornado, there was an investigation into whether the students should have been dismissed before the tornado stuck the school. However, the National Weather Service
survey from the office in Tallahassee
suggested that the death toll could have been much higher due to the extreme damage in the parking lot and the area nearby. In addition, earlier thunderstorm activity in the area with two other rotating supercells tracking towards Enterprise late that morning (the first tornado warning was issued at 10:41 am CST) made evacuating the area unsafe.
In a later service assessment done by the NWS, it was determined that the school had taken the appropriate safety precautions to minimize and prevent potential loss of life with the tornado approaching, and the students were indeed in the safest part of the building. However, it was recommended in the assessment that hardened "safe rooms" with enhanced construction should exist, to prevent future disasters in the event of large and violent tornadoes impacting large buildings. A similar tornado
on July 13, 2004 in Roanoke, Illinois
, destroyed an industrial building, yet such rooms were used and no one there was seriously injured.
Enterprise was hit again by a weaker tornado on October 8, 2008; however, no one was injured.
in Webster County
, Georgia
. At 9:07 pm, it moved into Sumter County
, about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Dumas. No one was killed there but three people were injured as numerous buildings were damaged. The worst damage in the county occurred on East Centerpoint Road northeast of Chambliss. There, a cinder block house and two machine shops were destroyed. The three injuries occurred in the home, and 5 cows died on a nearby farm. A tractor-trailer near Chambliss was travelling on Highway 520
and was flipped over by the tornado. It caught fire and burned completely. At the intersection of the highway and TV Tower Road nearby, the Georgia Public Television transmission tower
was damaged. 2/3 of it was twisted and only 150 feet (45.7 m) was left standing afterwards. Many trees and power lines were downed in the area.
In Sumter County, the tornado move northeast and struck Americus
. The worst damage was to the Sumter Regional Hospital. The twister destroyed every building there, causing $100 million in damage to the facility. The buildings included a row of doctors' offices and the Sumter HealthPlex, a newly built 8000 ft2 facility. It went through demolition later in the year and will not reopen until 2011. Extensive damage was done elsewhere in the city. All casualties in the county were in Americus; two people, a 53-year-old man and 43-year-old woman, died in a house when a wall collapsed inside it. The tornado moved right over the downtown area and business district. The Winn-Dixie Supermarket was completely destroyed, and the McDonald's
, Wendy's
, Zaxby's
, Domino's Pizza
, and several more local businesses were damaged or destroyed. The tornado passed right through the National Register Historic District, damaging roughly 250 historical homes, several of which were destroyed. The city's most notable cemetery, the Oak Grove Cemetery, built in 1856, suffered moderate damage. Marble monuments, some 30 feet (9 m) tall, were smashed, 26 wrought iron fences were toppled, and 104 cedar
, magnolia
, and oak
trees were lost. The historic Rees Park High School sustained moderate damage but was not in use. Americus
churches were not spared, as ten of them were damaged,including The Old Shady Grove Church.. Parks were badly affected as well. Rees Park lost 25 trees and nearby Myers Park lost 39.
The toll for damage in the county amounted to $110 million. A total of 31 residences, 42 businesses, one church, and one hospital were destroyed. Another 116 residences, 27 businesses, two churches, and three recreation facilities / parks sustained major damage. Moderate damage was inflicted on 260 residences, 60 businesses, five churches, a school, three recreation facilities / parks, and 2 cemeteries. Minor damage was reported to 586 residences, 88 businesses, two churches, a school, a fire station, two recreation facilities / parks, and a cemetery. A total of 75 structures were destroyed, 148 sustained major damage, 331 sustained moderate damage, and 681 sustained minor damage (a total of 1,235 structures). Of these, 993 were residences, 217 were businesses, 10 were churches, two were schools, one was a hospital, one was a fire station, eight were recreation facilities / parks, and three were cemeteries. Two people died in the county and eight others were injured.
At 9:36 pm, the tornado entered Macon County
about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Oglethorpe, Georgia
, but only continued for three miles (5 km) after that. It lifted at 9:40 pm, about 5 miles (8 km) south-southwest of Oglethorpe.
The tornado was rated as a strong EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. In total, the tornado cut a path up to one mile (1.6 km) wide and about 40 miles (64 km) long through Webster, Sumter and Macon Counties. Two people died and 11 injured. Total damage was estimated at over $111 million, $110 million in Sumter county and $1 million in Webster County. Approximately 1,238 buildings (1,235 in Sumter and 3 in Webster), hundreds of vehicles, and much other property were damaged or destroyed.
Tornado outbreak
While there is no single agreed upon definition, generally at least 6-10 tornadoes produced by the same synoptic scale weather system is considered a tornado outbreak. The tornadoes usually occur within the same day, or continue into the early morning hours of the succeeding day, and within the...
across the southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
that began in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
on February 28, 2007. The severe weather spread eastward on March 1 and left a deadly mark across the southern US, particularly in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. Twenty deaths were reported; one in Missouri, nine in Georgia, and 10 in Alabama. Scattered severe weather was also reported in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
on March 2, producing the final tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
of the outbreak before the storms moved offshore into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
In the end, there were 55 tornadoes confirmed during the outbreak, including three EF3 tornadoes reported across three states, as well as three EF4 tornadoes; two in Alabama and one in Kansas, the first such tornadoes since the introduction of the Enhanced Fujita Scale
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
. Total damages were estimated at over $580 million from tornadoes alone, making it the fourth costliest tornado outbreak in US history (the figure not including damage from other thunderstorm impacts including hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
and straight-line winds). Insured losses in the state of Georgia topped $210 million, making this outbreak the costliest in that state's history. Enterprise, Alabama
Enterprise, Alabama
Enterprise is a city in the southeastern part of Coffee and Dale Counties in the southeastern part of Alabama in the Southern United States. The population was estimated to be 25,909 in the year 2009....
, which was hit the hardest, sustained damages in excess of $307 million.
Meteorological synopsis
The tornado outbreak was related to a large low-pressure system across the central United StatesCentral United States
The Central United States is sometimes conceived as between the Eastern United States and Western United States as part of a three-region model, roughly coincident with the Midwestern United States plus the western and central portions of the Southern United States; the term is also sometimes used...
that intensified on February 28 while over Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, and a cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
moved across the region, providing the lift needed to allow the storms to develop. In addition, a surge of very moist air from the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and warm temperatures across the south side of the storm helped feed the storms. Temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
s were in the 70s °F (low 20s °C) in some areas to the south, while the mercury was below freezing on the north side. The dewpoints were in the 60 °F (16 °C) range as far north as southeastern Kansas, which provided extra fuel.
A moderate risk of severe storms was issued by the Storm Prediction Center
Storm Prediction Center
The Storm Prediction Center , located in Norman, Oklahoma, is tasked with forecasting the risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the contiguous United States. The agency issues convective outlooks, mesoscale discussions, and watches as a part of this process...
for February 28 across parts of the central Plains. The first tornadoes developed early in the evening of February 28 in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
as the dry line
Dry line
A dry line separates moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and dry desert air from the south-western states . The dry line is an important factor in severe weather frequency in the Great Plains of North America...
pushed eastward and was lifted by the cold front. In total, 12 tornadoes formed that evening across Kansas and Missouri, of which 11 were weak. However, one of the tornadoes was an EF4, the first such tornado recorded and the first violent tornado since September 22, 2006
Late-September 2006 Tornado Outbreak
The Late-September 2006 tornado outbreak was a significant tornado outbreak that occurred across a large swath of the Central United States from September 21 – September 23, 2006. Fifty-three tornadoes were confirmed over the three days, with 32 of them occurring on September 22....
. No one was injured that evening. Farther south, expected activity in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
did not take place as the atmospheric cap held up.
A high risk of severe storms—the first such issuance since April 7, 2006—was issued for a large part of the Deep South
Deep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
for March 1 as the cold front moved eastward. The activity began almost immediately, with several isolated tornadoes taking place that morning across the Mississippi Valley, with one of them leading to the first fatality of the outbreak. Isolated tornadoes were also reported as far north as Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, near the center of the low. However, the most intense activity began around noon and continued throughout the afternoon and evening, with southern Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and southern Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
hit the hardest. Nearly continuous supercells formed north of the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and produced many tornadoes, some of which hit large population centers with devastating effects. 19 people were killed by those tornadoes.
The squall line
Squall line
A squall line is a line of severe thunderstorms that can form along or ahead of a cold front. In the early 20th century, the term was used as a synonym for cold front. It contains heavy precipitation, hail, frequent lightning, strong straight-line winds, and possibly tornadoes and waterspouts....
finally overtook the supercells just after midnight on March 2, after putting down 37 tornadoes that day. As the squall line overtook the cells, a few tornadoes—all EF0—took place overnight in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and extreme southern Georgia within the squall line, before the severe weather emerged in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
that morning. The final tornado was a landfalling waterspout
Waterspout
A waterspout is an intense columnar vortex that occurs over a body of water and is connected to a cumuliform cloud. In the common form, it is a non-supercell tornado over water. While it is often weaker than most of its land counterparts, stronger versions spawned by mesocyclones do occur...
in the Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
late that morning. In addition to the tornadoes, widespread straight-line wind damage from microburst
Microburst
A microburst is a very localized column of sinking air, producing damaging divergent and straight-line winds at the surface that are similar to, but distinguishable from, tornadoes, which generally have convergent damage. There are two types of microbursts: wet microbursts and dry microbursts...
s were also reported, along with scattered large hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
, the largest of which were the size of baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
s.
On the other side of the low pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
, a significant blizzard
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
occurred over the northern Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
and Upper Midwest
Upper Midwest
The Upper Midwest is a region in the northern portion of the U.S. Census Bureau's Midwestern United States. It is largely a sub-region of the midwest. Although there are no uniformly agreed-upon boundaries, the region is most commonly used to refer to the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and...
, including parts of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, where several snowfalls in excess of 8 to 18 inches (20–45 cm) were reported, as well as snow of between 6 and 11 inches (15–28 cm) across portions of Ontario and Quebec. Freezing rain was reported across New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, the lower Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and in the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area. 19 people were killed by the storm, including two in Manitoba, two in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, one in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, four in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, one in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, three in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, five in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and one in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. The University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in the Twin Cities was closed for the first time since 1991 and the roof of a supermarket in Wisconsin collapsed. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
called in the National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
while governors Chet Culver
Chet Culver
Chester John "Chet" Culver was the 41st Governor of Iowa, from 2007 to 2011. He was also elected as the Federal Liaison for the Democratic Governors Association for 2008-2009. He founded the Chet Culver Group, an energy sector consulting firm, in 2011.-Early life and education:Culver was born in...
(Iowa) and Michael Rounds (South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
) issued disaster declarations
Confirmed tornadoes
February 28 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, February 28, 2007 | ||||||
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Enhanced Fujita Scale The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:... |
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| Florida Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... |
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| EF0 | Tamarac Tamarac, Florida Tamarac is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,427. It is part of the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010 census.... area |
Broward Broward County, Florida -2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile... |
26.39°N 80.22°W | 1855 | 2.2 miles (3.5 km) | Brief touchdown, caused $10,000 in damages. |
| Kansas Kansas Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south... |
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| EF0 | W of Neosho Falls Neosho Falls, Kansas Neosho Falls is a city in Woodson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 141.-History:The town was an inspiration for the album In the Spirit of Things by the band Kansas.-Geography:... |
Woodson Woodson County, Kansas Woodson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,309... |
38°N 95.59°W | 0033 | 0.3 mile (0.482802 km) | Short-lived rope tornado with no damage. |
| EF0 | E of Colony Colony, Kansas Colony is a city in Anderson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 408.-Geography:Colony is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 397... (1st tornado) |
Anderson Anderson County, Kansas Anderson County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 8,102... |
38.05°N 95.42°W | 0053 | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) | Tornado reported on the ground by KAKE-TV KAKE-TV KAKE, channel 10, is an ABC-affiliated television station based in Wichita, Kansas. The station is owned by Atlanta, Georgia-based Gray Television... spotter. Moderate damage to several houses, and a covered arena was destroyed. |
| EF0 | N of Carlyle Carlyle, Kansas Carlyle is an unincorporated community in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States. It was first settled in 1858... (1st tornado) |
Allen Allen County, Kansas Allen County is a county located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 13,371... |
30.01°N 95.4°W | 0101 | 0.1 mile (0.160934 km) | Brief touchdown in an open field with no damage reported. |
| EF1 | Colony Colony, Kansas Colony is a city in Anderson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 408.-Geography:Colony is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 397... area (2nd tornado) |
Anderson Anderson County, Kansas Anderson County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 8,102... |
30.07°N 95.34°W | 0105 | 9.4 miles (15.1 km) | |
| EF0 | N of Carlyle Carlyle, Kansas Carlyle is an unincorporated community in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States. It was first settled in 1858... (2nd tornado) |
Allen Allen County, Kansas Allen County is a county located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 13,371... |
38.03°N 95.4°W | 0107 | 0.3 mile (0.482802 km) | Brief touchdown, no damage reported. |
| EF4 | Mound City Mound City, Kansas Mound City is a city in and the county seat of Linn County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 694.-Geography:Mound City is located at... area |
Anderson Anderson County, Kansas Anderson County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 8,102... , Linn Linn County, Kansas Linn County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 9,656. Its county seat is Mound City, and its most populous city is Pleasanton... |
38.13°N 95.1°W | 0124 | 28 miles (45.1 km) | Large and dangerous tornado; one house was flattened and several other houses and farm buildings were damaged or destroyed. The occupants of the flattened house were in a storm cellar Storm cellar A storm shelter or storm cellar is a type of underground bunker designed to protect the occupants from violent severe weather, particularly tornadoes... at the time and were not injured. Extensive tree and power line damage was also reported. Caused $400,000 in damages. |
| Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
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| EF1 | E of Alexander | Bates Bates County, Missouri Bates County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population is 16,653. Its county seat is Butler. The county was organized in 1833 and named after Frederick Bates, the second governor of Missouri.... |
38.33°N 94.53°W | 0227 | 12.9 miles (20.8 km)) | Long track tornado, major damage was reported to one house, and minor damage to several other structures. Caused $50,000 in damages. |
| EF1 | E of Gunn City Gunn City, Missouri Gunn City is a village in Cass County, Missouri, United States. The population was 85 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Gunn City is located at .... |
Cass Cass County, Missouri Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 99,478. Its county seat is Harrisonville. The county was organized in 1835 as "Van Buren County", renamed in 1848 after Michigan U.S... , Johnson Johnson County, Missouri Johnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 52,595. Its county seat is Warrensburg. The county was formed 13 December 1834 from Lafayette County and was named for Vice President Richard M... |
38.67°N 94.15°W | 0405 | 6.2 miles (10 km) | One mobile home was destroyed and two houses were damaged. Caused $50,000 in damages. |
March 1 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, March 1, 2007 | ||||||
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Enhanced Fujita Scale The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:... |
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| Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
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| EF0 | S of Shelbina Shelbina, Missouri Shelbina is a city in Shelby County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,704 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Shelbina is located at .... (1st tornado) |
Monroe | 39.52°N 92.22°W | 0730 | 2.1 miles (3.4 km) | Brief touchdown, no damage reported. |
| EF1 | S of Shelbina Shelbina, Missouri Shelbina is a city in Shelby County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,704 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Shelbina is located at .... (2nd tornado) |
Monroe | 39.6°N 92.15°W | 0740 | 3.4 miles (5.5 km) | Brief touchdown, no damage reported. |
| EF1 | S of Shelbina Shelbina, Missouri Shelbina is a city in Shelby County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,704 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Shelbina is located at .... (3rd tornado) |
Monroe, Shelby | 39.6°N 92.1°W | 0743 | 8.6 miles (13.8 km) | |
| EF3 | SW of Caulfield Caulfield, Missouri Caulfield is an unincorporated community in western Howell County, Missouri, United States. It is located on U.S. Highway 160 about fifteen miles west of West Plains. The community was founded in 1930 and is named after Missouri governor Henry Stewart Caulfield, who took office in 1929.On March... |
Ozark Ozark County, Missouri Ozark County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 9,542. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 9,227. The largest city and county seat is Gainesville. From 1843 to 1845 the county was called... , Howell Howell County, Missouri Howell County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 40,400. The largest city and county seat is West Plains... |
36.59°N 92.15°W | 1224 | 15 miles (24.1 km) | 1 death Long-track tornado in the area. Severe damage was reported to several homes and businesses, including four mobile homes where a first grader died. Tornado just missed a local school. Tornado dissipated just before entering the West Plains West Plains, Missouri West Plains is a city in Howell County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,866 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Howell County. The West Plains Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Howell County.-Geography:... city limits. Caused $760,000 in damages. |
| Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River... |
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| EF0 | SE of Oak Grove | Carroll | 36.42°N 93.39°W | 1028 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Brief touchdown, caused $10,000 in damages. |
| Louisiana Louisiana Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties... |
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| EF0 | SW of Jonesville Jonesville, Louisiana Jonesville is a town in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, at the confluence of the Ouachita, Tensas, and Little rivers. The three rivers become the Black River at Jonesville though the "Black" is primarily the continuation of the Ouachita River. A new bridge has been built over the Black River... |
Catahoula Catahoula Parish, Louisiana Catahoula Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Harrisonburg, located on the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern boundary of the parish. In 2000, the population of the parish was 10,920.-Prehistory:... |
31.53°N 91.91°W | 1550 | 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) | Brief touchdown, no damage reported. |
| Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
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| EF0 | SW of Jonesboro Jonesboro, Illinois Jonesboro is a city in Union County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,853 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Union County, and was the location of the third of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, on 15 September 1858.-Geography:... |
Union | 37.44°N 89.3°W | 1645 | 1.8 miles (2.9 km) | Brief touchdown, minor damage reported to about 20 houses. Many trees were knocked over. Caused $100,000 in damages. |
| EF0 | Elwin Elwin, Illinois Elwin is an unincorporated community in Macon County, Illinois. The community is located on U.S. Route 51 in the central portion of the county. Elwin was named after its founders Elwood and Martin.... area |
Macon | 39.77°N 88.99°W | 1847 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | 1 Injury, Weak tornado caused minor damage to a house and a church. A tree fell on three cars. Caused $40,000 in damages. |
| Florida Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... |
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| EF0 | Spring Hill Spring Hill, Florida Spring Hill is a census-designated place in Hernando County, Florida, United States. The estimated population was 92,144 in 2007 by the United States Census. Spring Hill belongs to Florida's Nature Coast and is in the Tampa-St... area |
Santa Rosa Santa Rosa County, Florida Santa Rosa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 117,743, while a July 1, 2005, estimate placed the population at 143,105, an 18% increase making it the 84th fastest growing county in the United States between 2000 and 2005. ... |
30.77°N 86.94°W | 1720 | 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) | Weak tornado briefly touched down in a forest. Trees and power lines knocked down. Caused $10,000 in damages. |
| Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi... |
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| EF1 | E of Benton Benton, Mississippi Benton is an unincorporated community in Yazoo County in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Mississippi Highway 433 divides the community. Benton is also served by the Zip Code 39039. Benton was the county seat of Yazoo County from 1829 to 1848. It is home to Benton Academy, one of only two major... |
Yazoo Yazoo County, Mississippi -National protected area:*Hillside National Wildlife Refuge *Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge-History:The area which is now Yazoo County was acquired by the State of Mississippi from the Choctaw Indians in 1820. Yazoo County was established on January 21, 1823. It was the 19th county... |
32.8°N 90.23°W | 1758 | 6.5 miles (10.5 km) | One barn suffered roof damage. Many trees knocked over. Caused $90,000 in damages |
| Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
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| EF0 | W of Industry | Butler Butler County, Alabama Butler County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Captain William Butler, who was born in Virginia and fought in the Creek War, and who was killed in May 1818. As of 2010 the population was 20,947... |
31.63°N 96.64°W | 1805 | 3.2 miles (5.1 km) | Several trees were blown down and a large truck was blown off Highway 106 Alabama State Route 106 State Route 106 is a long route in the south-central part of the state. The route begins at the Conecuh–Butler County line, serving as a continuation of Conecuh County Road 106. The eastern terminus of the route is at its junction with U.S. Highway 29 southwest of Brantley. -Route... . Caused $20,000 in damages |
| EF4 | Millers Ferry Millers Ferry, Alabama Millers Ferry is an unincorporated community in Wilcox County, Alabama, United States. The Millers Ferry Lock and Dam is located near the community on the Alabama River.-Geography:Millers Ferry is located at and its elevation is .-Tornadoes:... area |
Wilcox Wilcox County, Alabama Wilcox County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Lieutenant J. M. Wilcox, who fought in the wars against the Creek tribe. As of 2010, the population was 11,670... , Dallas Dallas County, Alabama Dallas County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander J. Dallas. The county seat is Selma.- History :... |
32.12°N 87.41°W | 1827 | 18.3 miles (29.5 km) | 1 death 2 Injuries, Long track tornado devastated a recreational area in the Bill Dannelly Reservoir area. About 70 houses were damaged or destroyed, mostly manufactured homes (one person was killed in one of them even though most were empty), although two wood frame houses were flattened. Some of the debris extended up to 2 miles (3.2 km) away. Caused $2.25 million in damages |
| EF4 | Enterprise Enterprise, Alabama Enterprise is a city in the southeastern part of Coffee and Dale Counties in the southeastern part of Alabama in the Southern United States. The population was estimated to be 25,909 in the year 2009.... area |
Coffee Coffee County, Alabama Coffee County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John Coffee. As of 2010 the population was 49,948. Its county seats are Elba and Enterprise.... |
31.28°N 85.92°W | 1908 | 10 miles (16.1 km) | 9 deaths 50 Injuries, See section on this tornado |
| EF1 | Echo area | Dale Dale County, Alabama Dale County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General Samuel Dale. As of the 2010 census the population was 50,251... , Henry Henry County, Alabama Henry County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Patrick Henry, famous orator and Governor of Virginia. As of 2010, its population was 17,302... , Clay (GA) Clay County, Georgia Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 3,357. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 3,207... , Quitman (GA) Quitman County, Georgia Quitman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 10, 1858 and named after General John A. Quitman, leader in the Mexican War, and once Governor of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population was 2,598. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 2,666... |
31.45°N 85.51°W | 1948 | 37.9 miles (61 km) | 6 Injuries, Long track tornado with widespread damage to over 70 mobile homes, some of which were destroyed. In addition, five chicken houses were destroyed, killing over 140,000 chickens. Dozens of other houses were damaged. Widespread tree and power line damage also reported. Caused $13.75 million in damages. |
| EF2 | Letohatchee Letohatchee, Alabama Letohatchee is an unincorporated area in Lowndes County, Alabama, United States. It has a very small population and four businesses. The community is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Location:... area |
Lowndes Lowndes County, Alabama Lowndes County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of William Lowndes, a member of the United States Congress from South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,299... , Montgomery Montgomery County, Alabama Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is the most populous county in the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area; its population in 2010 was 229,363 .- History :... |
32.03°N 86.45°W | 2048 | 24.6 miles (39.6 km) | 6 Injuries, Large wedge tornado tracked across the area. 39 houses were damaged, three of which were destroyed. Many outbuildings, sheds and silos were also damaged or destroyed, and a power transmission line was knocked down, along with hundreds of trees. Caused $700,000 in damages. |
| EF1 | NW of Fayette Fayette, Alabama Fayette is a city in Fayette County, Alabama, United States. The 2000 census lists the population as 4,922. The city is the county seat of Fayette County.-Geography:Fayette is located at .According to the U.S... |
Fayette Fayette County, Alabama Fayette County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette , who aided General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. As of 2010 the population was 17,241... |
33.81°N 87.9°W | 2059 | 11.2 miles (18 km) | Three houses and several sheds suffered minor damage. Widespread tree damage reported. Caused $50,000 in damages. |
| EF1 | N of Samantha | Fayette Fayette County, Alabama Fayette County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette , who aided General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. As of 2010 the population was 17,241... |
33.43°N 87.64°W | 2100 | 3.7 miles (6 km) | Numerous trees were uprooted. One house lost its roof. Initially, NWS officials confirmed two different tornado tracks (including an EF0) but revised as a single tornado following an aerial survey. Caused $50,000 in damages. |
| EF2 | Arley Arley, Alabama Arley is a town in Winston County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 290. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 321. -Geography:Arley is located at .... area |
Winston Winston County, Alabama Winston County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, formerly known as Hancock County before 1858.Its name is in honor of John A. Winston, the 15th Governor of Alabama. As of 2010, the population was 24,484. Its county seat is Double Springs.... , Cullman Cullman County, Alabama Cullman County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel John G. Cullmann. As of 2010, the population was 80,406. Its county seat is the town of the same name, Cullman, Alabama. It is a "moist" county in terms of availablity of alcoholic beverages, which means... |
34.08°N 87.25°W | 2145 | 9.6 miles (15.4 km) | Several houses and barns were damaged and a chicken house was destroyed. Caused $50,000 in damages. |
| EF1 | Adamsville Adamsville, Alabama Adamsville is a town in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. According to the 2010 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 4,522.-Geography:... area |
Jefferson Jefferson County, Alabama Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466... |
33.58°N 86.95°W | 2206 | 0.9 miles (1.4 km) | Tornado reported by The Birmingham News The Birmingham News The Birmingham News is the principal daily newspaper for Birmingham, Alabama, United States, and the largest newspaper in Alabama. The paper is owned by Advance Publications... , confirmed by NWS. Major damage to subdivision. Path was 400 yards (360 m) wide at widest point. Dozens of trees uprooted and snapped, one house de-roofed. Caused $100,000 in damages. |
| EF2 | NW of Phenix City Phenix City, Alabama Phenix City is a city and the county seat in Russell County in the U.S. state of Alabama. Portions of Lee County are addressed as Phenix City, 36870 ZIP code, for the sole purpose that Smiths Station does not have full incorporation to annex the area... |
Russell Russell County, Alabama Russell County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel Gilbert C. Russell, who fought in the wars against the Creek Indians. As of 2010, the population was 52,947... , Lee Lee County, Alabama Lee County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of Robert E. Lee, commanding general of the Confederate Army. As of 2010 the population was 140,247. It is part of the Auburn, Alabama Metropolitan Area. The county seat is Opelika, and the largest city is Auburn... . Muscogee (GA) Muscogee County, Georgia Muscogee County is a county located on the central western border of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population was 186,291. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 190,414... |
32.51°N 85.05°W | 2327 | 12.2 miles (19.6 km) | Minor damage in Phenix City; however, considerable damage with many trees and power lines knocked down and structural damage to some houses and businesses in north Columbus, primarily along Brookstone Boulevard. Caused $28.13 million in damages. |
| EF1 | NNW of Montevallo Montevallo, Alabama Montevallo is a city in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. A college town, it is the home of the University of Montevallo, a public liberal arts university with around 3000 students. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city of Montevallo is 4,825.... |
Shelby Shelby County, Alabama Shelby County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama and a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. It is named in honor of Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. The county seat of Shelby County is Columbiana. As of 2010 U.S. Census the population was 195,085. Shelby... |
33.16°N 86.68°W | 2356 | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) | One house and a barn suffered major damage, primarily due to fallen pine trees. Caused $30,000 in damages. |
| Kentucky Kentucky The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth... |
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| EF1 | Elkton Elkton, Kentucky Elkton is a city in and the county seat of Todd County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,984 at the 2000 census. The city was founded by Major John Gray... area |
Todd Todd County, Kentucky Todd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population is 11,971. Its county seat is Elkton. The county is named after Colonel John Todd, who was killed at the Battle of Blue Licks in 1782... |
36.83°N 87.16°W | 2020 | 0.2 mile (0.321868 km) | Roofs were blown off two mobile homes and a storage building. Caused $40,000 in damages. |
| Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
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| EF1 | SW of Richland Richland, Georgia Richland is a city in Stewart County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,794 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richland is located at .... |
Stewart Stewart County, Georgia Stewart County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 23, 1830. The 2010 Census reflected a population of 6,058. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 4,558. The county seat is Lumpkin.-History:... |
32.07°N 84.68°W | 2111 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | At least 50 houses were damaged to some degree. One house and one church were destroyed. One mobile home was also shifted off its foundation. Caused $400,000 in damages. |
| EF2 | SW of Reynolds Reynolds, Georgia Reynolds is a town in Taylor County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,036 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.75% is water. The town was said to have been settled first by Dr. Alfred... |
Taylor Taylor County, Georgia Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 8,815. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 8,738... |
32.49°N 84.16°W | 2229 | 7.7 miles (12.4 km) | 1 Death 4 Injuries, Many houses reported to have been damaged. Many trees and power lines also fell. Caused $500,000 in damages. |
| EF3 | E of Roberta Roberta, Georgia Roberta is a city in Crawford County, Georgia, United States. The population was 808 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Roberta is located at .... |
Crawford Crawford County, Georgia Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 12,495. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 12,483. The unincorporated county seat is Knoxville.-History:... , Bibb Bibb County, Georgia Bibb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 153,887. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 154,709... |
32.72°N 83.93°W | 2234 | 9.7 miles (15.6 km) | 9 Injuries, Dozens of homes damaged or destroyed. Many cars overturned. Caused $530,000 in damages. |
| EF1 | NW of Fort Valley Fort Valley, Georgia Fort Valley is a city in and the county seat of Peach County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,815.Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of buses... |
Crawford Crawford County, Georgia Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 12,495. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 12,483. The unincorporated county seat is Knoxville.-History:... |
32.61°N 83.97°W | 2249 | 11.9 miles (19.2 km) | Long track tornado, caused $100,000 in damages. |
| EF0 | W of Sherwood Forest | Bibb Bibb County, Georgia Bibb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 153,887. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 154,709... |
32.87°N 83.81°W | 2251 | 2.6 miles (4.2 km) | Brief touchdown, caused $100,000 in damages. |
| EF1 | NE of Macon Macon, Georgia Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia... |
Jones Jones County, Georgia Jones County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 10, 1807. As of 2010, the population was 27,740 . The county seat is Gray.-History:The county is named after U.S... |
32.9°N 83.52°W | 2330 | 3.6 miles (5.8 km) | Extensive damage to trees and power lines. Caused $500,000 in damages. |
| EF0 | SSE of Gray Gray, Georgia Gray is a city in Jones County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,084 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Jones County.Gray is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
Jones Jones County, Georgia Jones County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 10, 1807. As of 2010, the population was 27,740 . The county seat is Gray.-History:The county is named after U.S... |
32.99°N 83.41°W | 2330 | 0 | Second tornado from the same cell that produced the first Jones County tornado. Damage limited to a few trees. Caused $10,000 in damages. |
| EF1 | W of Talbotton Talbotton, Georgia Talbotton is a city in Talbot County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,019 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Talbot County. Talbotton may be best known in history as the place where the immigrant Straus family got their start in retail sales in the 19th century.... |
Talbot Talbot County, Georgia Talbot County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The 2000 Census showed a population of 6,498. The 2009 Census Estimate showed a population of 6,355. The county seat is Talbotton.-History:... |
32.68°N 84.66°W | 0000 | 4.1 miles (6.6 km) | Minor roof damage to several houses. At least five outbuildings and one mobile home destroyed. Caused $50,000 in damages. |
| EF2 | ENE of Warrenton Warrenton, Georgia Warrenton is a city in Warren County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,013 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Warren County.-Geography:Warrenton is located at .... |
Warren Warren County, Georgia Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 19, 1793. As of 2000, the population was 6,336. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 5,908... , McDuffie McDuffie County, Georgia McDuffie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on October 18, 1870. As of 2000, the population was 21,231. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,551. The county seat is Thomson.... |
33.42°N 82.61°W | 0108 | 11.7 miles (18.8 km) | 3 Injuries, Many houses and buildings damaged or destroyed. Severe damage to Briarwood Academy; it was empty at the time. Caused $700,000 in damages. |
| EF3 | Americus Americus, Georgia -Early years:Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. Lovett B. Smith in 1832.For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed... area |
Webster Webster County, Georgia Webster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The 2000 Census reflected a population of 2,390. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 2,192. The county seat is Preston.-History:... , Sumter Sumter County, Georgia Sumter County is a county located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 26, 1831. As of 2000, the population was 33,200. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 32,532... , Macon Macon County, Georgia Macon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 14,074. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,542. The county seat is Oglethorpe.-History:... |
31.92°N 84.55°W | 0200 | 43.2 miles (69.5 km) | 2 Deaths 11 Injuries, See section on this tornado |
| EF0 | SW of Allentown Allentown, Georgia Allentown is a town in Bleckley, Laurens, Twiggs, and Wilkinson Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, although primarily in Wilkinson County. The population was 287 at the 2000 census.... |
Bleckley Bleckley County, Georgia Bleckley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population is 11,666. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 12,306. The county seat is Cochran.- History :... |
32.55°N 83.29°W | 0330 | 1.4 miles (2.3 km) | Short-lived tornado destroyed several outbuildings and damaged three houses slightly. Caused $250,000 in damages. |
| EF2 | SE of Irwinton Irwinton, Georgia Irwinton is a city in Wilkinson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 583 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wilkinson County.-Geography:Irwinton is located at .... |
Wilkinson Wilkinson County, Georgia Wilkinson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on May 11, 1803. As of 2000, the population was 10,220. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 10,064... |
32.66°N 83.15°W | 0340 | 13.3 miles (21.4 km) | Long track, half-mile-wide tornado caused damage to several houses, primarily along SR 112 Georgia State Route 112 State Route 112 is a Georgia state highway that runs in a generally north–south orientation from Milledgeville in Baldwin County to Cairo in Grady County.-Route description:... . Caused $30,000 in damages. |
| EF1 | SSW of Junction City Junction City, Georgia Junction City is a town in Talbot County, Georgia, United States. The population was 179 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Junction City is located at .... |
Marion Marion County, Georgia Marion County is located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 14, 1827. It is part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2000 Census reflected a population of 7,144. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 6,995... |
32.49°N 84.51°W | 0352 | 2.5 miles (4 km) | Brief touchdown, caused $30,000 in damages. |
| EF2 | Newton Newton, Georgia Newton is a city in Baker County, Georgia, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 851. The city is the county seat of Baker County.-Geography:Newton is located at .... area |
Baker Baker County, Georgia Baker County is a county in the U.S. state of Georgia. , the population is 4,074. The 2007 Census Estimate placed the population at 3,781. The county seat is Newton.Baker County is included in the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:... , Mitchell Mitchell County, Georgia Mitchell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 21, 1857. As of 2000, the population was 23,932. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 24,139. The county seat is Camilla.-Geography:... , Dougherty Dougherty County, Georgia Dougherty County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 96,065. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 95,859. It is included in the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area... , Worth Worth County, Georgia Worth County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 21,967. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 21,285... |
31.32°N 84.45°W | 0444 | 30.5 miles (49.1 km) | 6 Deaths 3 Injuries, Tornado destroyed a mobile home park just north of Newton, where the fatalities took place. At least 100 other houses and 13 businesses were damaged or destroyed along its long path in Baconton Baconton, Georgia Baconton is a city in Mitchell County, Georgia, United States. The population was 804 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Baconton is located at .... and Pleasant Grove. Caused $3.97 million in damages. |
| EF2 | SSW of Sylvester Sylvester, Georgia Sylvester is the county seat of Worth County, Georgia, United States. The population was 5,990 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat and business center of Worth County and is claimed to be the Peanut Capital of the World due to its ability to produce more peanuts per acre than anywhere... |
Worth Worth County, Georgia Worth County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 21,967. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 21,285... |
31.44°N 83.89°W | 0520 | 4.6 miles (7.4 km) | 2 Injuries, Related to the Newton tornado. Several houses were destroyed and extensive tree damage was reported. Caused $280,000 in damages. |
| EF2 | NNE of Sumner Sumner, Georgia Sumner is a town in Worth County, Georgia, United States. The population was 309 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sumner is located at .... |
Worth Worth County, Georgia Worth County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 21,967. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 21,285... |
31.51°N 83.76°W | 0530 | 2.9 miles (4.7 km) | An empty mobile home was destroyed. 24 houses were damaged, some of them heavily. Caused $500,000 in damages. |
| EF1 | N of Chula | Tift Tift County, Georgia Tift County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 38,407. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 41,610... , Turner Turner County, Georgia Turner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on August 18, 1905. As of 2010, the population was 8,930. The county seat is Ashburn.-History:The County is named for Henry Gray Turner, U.S... |
31.55°N 83.62°W | 0542 | 7.9 miles (12.7 km) | Extensive damage reported to at least 35 houses and several barns. Widespread tree damage. Caused $1.35 million in damages. |
March 2 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, March 2, 2007 | ||||||
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Enhanced Fujita Scale The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:... |
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| Florida Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... |
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| EF0 | SE of Monticello Monticello, Florida Monticello is a city in Jefferson County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,533 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,572. It is the county seat of Jefferson County... |
Jefferson Jefferson County, Florida Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population is 12,902. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,490 . Its county seat is Monticello, Florida.... |
30.53°N 83.84°W | 0710 | 2.3 miles (3.7 km) | Brief touchdown, minor roof damage to one house, plus scattered tree damage. Caused $10,000 in damages. |
| EF1 | Cherry Lake area | Madison Madison County, Florida Madison County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 18,733. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 19,902. Its county seat is Madison, Florida. Madison County is one of Florida's five dry counties.... |
30.58°N 83.43°W | 0736 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Brief touchdown, one house sustained roof and porch damage. Widespread tree damage was also reported, which also damaged one vehicle. Caused $10,000 in damages. |
| EF0 | E of Live Oak Live Oak, Florida Live Oak is a city in Suwannee County, Florida. The city is the county seat of Suwannee County and is located east of Tallahassee, Florida. The population was 6,480 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,828 .... |
Suwannee Suwannee County, Florida Suwannee County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 34,844. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 38,624 . Its county seat is Live Oak, Florida. Suwannee County was a dry county until August, 2011..... |
30.29°N 82.82°W | 0900 | 0.1 mile (0.160934 km) | Brief touchdown, destroyed a garage and damaged many trees and power lines. Caused $10,000 in damages. |
| EF0 | SSE of Callahan Callahan, Florida Callahan is a town in Nassau County, Florida, United States, adjacent to Downtown Jacksonville. The population was 962 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Callahan is located at .... |
Nassau Nassau County, Florida Nassau County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 57,663. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 69,835. Its county seat is Fernandina Beach, Florida.... |
30.53°N 81.8°W | 1025 | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) | Brief touchdown, damage reported to three mobile homes and several sheds. Considerable debris. Caused $30,000 in damages. |
| South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence... |
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| EF0 | NNE of New Ellenton New Ellenton, South Carolina New Ellenton is a city in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.-History:... |
Aiken Aiken County, South Carolina Aiken County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 142,552; in 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 160,099... |
33.65°N 81.68°W | 0720 | 4.9 miles (7.9 km) | Brief touchdown, minor damage to two houses, and many trees knocked over. |
| Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
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| EF0 | Lake Park Lake Park, Georgia Lake Park is a city in Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. The population was 549 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lake Park is located at .... area |
Lowndes Lowndes County, Georgia Lowndes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia along the Florida border. It was created December 23, 1825. The 2010 Census showed a population of 109,233... |
30.67°N 83.2°W | 0755 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Brief tornado touched down in a RV Recreational vehicle Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:... park. Minor structural damage. Caused $10,000 in damages. |
| North Carolina North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... |
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| EF0 | Smyma area | Carteret Carteret County, North Carolina Carteret County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 66,469. Its county seat is Beaufort. Most of the county is part of the Crystal Coast.... |
34.75°N 76.53°W | 1340 | 0.1 mile (0.160934 km) | Brief waterspout Waterspout A waterspout is an intense columnar vortex that occurs over a body of water and is connected to a cumuliform cloud. In the common form, it is a non-supercell tornado over water. While it is often weaker than most of its land counterparts, stronger versions spawned by mesocyclones do occur... came ashore, damaging one house. |
Enterprise area tornado
Early on the afternoon of Thursday, March 1, at 1:08 pm CST (19:08 UTC), a destructive tornado first developed near the Enterprise Municipal AirportEnterprise Municipal Airport (Alabama)
Enterprise Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles west of the central business district of Enterprise, a city in Coffee County, Alabama, United States.Although most U.S...
. The tornado lifted off the ground briefly before returning to the ground as an even stronger storm. It quickly slammed into Enterprise, Alabama
Enterprise, Alabama
Enterprise is a city in the southeastern part of Coffee and Dale Counties in the southeastern part of Alabama in the Southern United States. The population was estimated to be 25,909 in the year 2009....
, at 1:12 pm CST (19:12 UTC). The tornado left severe damage throughout a large section of the city. The most severe damage took place at Enterprise High School
Enterprise High School (Alabama)
Enterprise High School is a 6A public high school at 500 East Watts Street in Enterprise, Coffee County, Alabama, USA, in the Enterprise City School District. The school houses grades 10-12.-Desegregation:...
, where a section of the school was destroyed during the middle of the school day. Eight fatalities occurred at the school and 50 other people were taken to local hospitals. Some early reports suggested that there had been as many as 15 deaths at Enterprise High School and 18 deaths statewide, which was found to be an over-estimation. It was the first killer tornado at a US school since the Grand Isle
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle is a town in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, located on a barrier island of the same name in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is at the mouth of Barataria Bay where it meets the gulf. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,541; during summers, the population sometimes increases to...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
tornado in 1993, and the deadliest tornado since one in
Belvidere Tornado Outbreak
The Belvidere Tornado Outbreak was the tornado outbreak that occurred on April 21, 1967 across the Upper Midwest of the United States, in particular the Chicago area including the towns of Belvidere and Oak Lawn, Illinois. It was the most notable tornado outbreak of 1967 and one of the most notable...
Belvidere, Illinois
Belvidere, Illinois
Belvidere is a city in Boone County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,585 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Boone County. Belvidere is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in 1967. One other death was reported in Enterprise at a nearby private residence when a woman's living room was shattered by the tornado.
At the school, the fatalities resulted from the collapse of a concrete wall. One hallway completely collapsed, trapping many students in the rubble on the hallway known as 3rd Hall. The tornado at the school was so strong that it flipped cars over in the parking lot, flattened parts of the stadium and tore trees out of the ground. School bus
School bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...
es were there for an early dismissal due to the storms at just after 1 pm, but the tornado hit before the school could be dismissed.
Nearby Hillcrest Elementary School also sustained severe damage from the tornado. After the tornado hit, students from both schools who were not injured were relocated by emergency personnel to Hillcrest Baptist Church, adjacent to the schools and which was not damaged, in order to meet up with shocked parents. Emergency personnel also rushed to the school to send the most seriously injured to local hospitals and provide treatment on the scene to others.
The tornado initially formed in a neighborhood just south of the downtown area; after demolishing a section of the downtown area, it moved on to the schools. The tornado then continued northeast crossing the Holly Hill and Dixie Drive areas. A quarter-mile (400 m) wide swath was devastated, with enormous damage reported to many houses and businesses, some of which were flattened. Several other schools and the local YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
were among the damaged buildings. According to the Red Cross, 239 homes were destroyed, 374 sustained major damage, 529 sustained minor damage, and 251 homes were affected.
The tornado itself was estimated to have been 500 yards (470 m) wide and have had a path length of 10 miles (16 km). It dissipated shortly after leaving Enterprise. It was given an initial rating of EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
. However, after a detailed survey, the tornado was upgraded to a low-end EF4 with winds around 170 mph (275 km/h). This upgrade was based on the finding of flattened houses near the school. A total of $307 million in damages were inflicted on the city of Enterprise.
Aftermath
The National GuardUnited States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
was called into Enterprise in the aftermath of the tornado. Governor Bob Riley
Bob Riley
Bob Riley may refer to:* Bob Riley, 52nd Governor of Alabama* Bob C. Riley, acting Governor of Arkansas for 11 days in 1975* Bob Riley , sports car designer and founder of Riley Technologies...
mobilized about 100 troops and placed more on standby. A dusk-to-dawn curfew
Curfew
A curfew is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. Examples:# An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time...
was imposed on the community after the tornado strike. On the morning of March 3, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
visited the community and declared Coffee County a disaster area
Disaster area
A disaster area is a region or a locale heavily damaged by either natural hazards, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, technological hazards including nuclear and radiation accidents, or sociological hazards like riots, terrorism or war. The population living there often...
. He went into the school and also took an aerial view of the devastation. The Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA) was also called in to provide additional assistance.
After the tornado, there was an investigation into whether the students should have been dismissed before the tornado stuck the school. However, the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
survey from the office in Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
suggested that the death toll could have been much higher due to the extreme damage in the parking lot and the area nearby. In addition, earlier thunderstorm activity in the area with two other rotating supercells tracking towards Enterprise late that morning (the first tornado warning was issued at 10:41 am CST) made evacuating the area unsafe.
In a later service assessment done by the NWS, it was determined that the school had taken the appropriate safety precautions to minimize and prevent potential loss of life with the tornado approaching, and the students were indeed in the safest part of the building. However, it was recommended in the assessment that hardened "safe rooms" with enhanced construction should exist, to prevent future disasters in the event of large and violent tornadoes impacting large buildings. A similar tornado
Roanoke Tornado of 2004
The 2004 Roanoke tornado was a powerful tornado that formed outside of Roanoke, a small town in central Illinois. On Tuesday, July 13, 2004, at about 2:30 PM, a tornado with a maximum reported width of a quarter mile struck west of the village of Roanoke, damaging much of the area and cutting...
on July 13, 2004 in Roanoke, Illinois
Roanoke, Illinois
Roanoke is a village in Woodford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,994 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-2004 Tornado:...
, destroyed an industrial building, yet such rooms were used and no one there was seriously injured.
Enterprise was hit again by a weaker tornado on October 8, 2008; however, no one was injured.
Americus tornado
In the evening of March 1, Georgia's most significant tornado of the outbreak took place. This tornado began at approximately 9:00 pm EST (02:00 UTC), about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of WestonWeston, Georgia
Weston is a town in Webster County, Georgia, United States. The population was 75 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Weston is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
in Webster County
Webster County, Georgia
Webster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The 2000 Census reflected a population of 2,390. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 2,192. The county seat is Preston.-History:...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. At 9:07 pm, it moved into Sumter County
Sumter County, Georgia
Sumter County is a county located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 26, 1831. As of 2000, the population was 33,200. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 32,532...
, about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Dumas. No one was killed there but three people were injured as numerous buildings were damaged. The worst damage in the county occurred on East Centerpoint Road northeast of Chambliss. There, a cinder block house and two machine shops were destroyed. The three injuries occurred in the home, and 5 cows died on a nearby farm. A tractor-trailer near Chambliss was travelling on Highway 520
Georgia State Route 520
State Route 520, also known as the South Georgia Parkway, is a state route in southern Georgia. Its western terminus occurs at the Alabama state line on a bridge over the Chattahoochee River that also carries U.S. Highway 280. Georgia 520 becomes unsigned State Route 38 upon crossing the border. ...
and was flipped over by the tornado. It caught fire and burned completely. At the intersection of the highway and TV Tower Road nearby, the Georgia Public Television transmission tower
Transmission tower
A transmission tower is a tall structure, usually a steel lattice tower, used to support an overhead power line. They are used in high-voltage AC and DC systems, and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes...
was damaged. 2/3 of it was twisted and only 150 feet (45.7 m) was left standing afterwards. Many trees and power lines were downed in the area.
In Sumter County, the tornado move northeast and struck Americus
Americus, Georgia
-Early years:Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. Lovett B. Smith in 1832.For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed...
. The worst damage was to the Sumter Regional Hospital. The twister destroyed every building there, causing $100 million in damage to the facility. The buildings included a row of doctors' offices and the Sumter HealthPlex, a newly built 8000 ft2 facility. It went through demolition later in the year and will not reopen until 2011. Extensive damage was done elsewhere in the city. All casualties in the county were in Americus; two people, a 53-year-old man and 43-year-old woman, died in a house when a wall collapsed inside it. The tornado moved right over the downtown area and business district. The Winn-Dixie Supermarket was completely destroyed, and the McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
, Wendy's
Wendy's
Wendy's is an international fast food chain restaurant founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The company decided to move its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. It has been owned by Triarc since 2008...
, Zaxby's
Zaxby's
Zaxby's is a franchised chain of fast casual restaurants that operates primarily in the Southeastern United States with 500 locations. Zaxby's 500th location opened in Tifton, Georgia the summer of 2010. The first Zaxby's was opened in Statesboro, Georgia, near the Georgia Southern University...
, Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza, Inc. is an international pizza delivery corporation headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America. Founded in 1960, Domino's is the second-largest pizza chain in the United States and has over 9,000 corporate and franchised stores in 60 countries and all 50 U.S....
, and several more local businesses were damaged or destroyed. The tornado passed right through the National Register Historic District, damaging roughly 250 historical homes, several of which were destroyed. The city's most notable cemetery, the Oak Grove Cemetery, built in 1856, suffered moderate damage. Marble monuments, some 30 feet (9 m) tall, were smashed, 26 wrought iron fences were toppled, and 104 cedar
Cedar wood
Cedar wood comes from several different trees that grow in different parts of the world, and may have different uses.* California incense-cedar, from Calocedrus decurrens, is the primary type of wood used for making pencils...
, magnolia
Magnolia
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
, and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
trees were lost. The historic Rees Park High School sustained moderate damage but was not in use. Americus
Americus, Georgia
-Early years:Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. Lovett B. Smith in 1832.For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed...
churches were not spared, as ten of them were damaged,including The Old Shady Grove Church.. Parks were badly affected as well. Rees Park lost 25 trees and nearby Myers Park lost 39.
The toll for damage in the county amounted to $110 million. A total of 31 residences, 42 businesses, one church, and one hospital were destroyed. Another 116 residences, 27 businesses, two churches, and three recreation facilities / parks sustained major damage. Moderate damage was inflicted on 260 residences, 60 businesses, five churches, a school, three recreation facilities / parks, and 2 cemeteries. Minor damage was reported to 586 residences, 88 businesses, two churches, a school, a fire station, two recreation facilities / parks, and a cemetery. A total of 75 structures were destroyed, 148 sustained major damage, 331 sustained moderate damage, and 681 sustained minor damage (a total of 1,235 structures). Of these, 993 were residences, 217 were businesses, 10 were churches, two were schools, one was a hospital, one was a fire station, eight were recreation facilities / parks, and three were cemeteries. Two people died in the county and eight others were injured.
At 9:36 pm, the tornado entered Macon County
Macon County, Georgia
Macon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 14,074. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,542. The county seat is Oglethorpe.-History:...
about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Oglethorpe, Georgia
Oglethorpe, Georgia
Oglethorpe is a city in Macon County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,200 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Macon County. It was named for Georgia's founder, James Oglethorpe. Oglethorpe was once one of the largest cities in Georgia, and by the 1850s, was tagged as...
, but only continued for three miles (5 km) after that. It lifted at 9:40 pm, about 5 miles (8 km) south-southwest of Oglethorpe.
The tornado was rated as a strong EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. In total, the tornado cut a path up to one mile (1.6 km) wide and about 40 miles (64 km) long through Webster, Sumter and Macon Counties. Two people died and 11 injured. Total damage was estimated at over $111 million, $110 million in Sumter county and $1 million in Webster County. Approximately 1,238 buildings (1,235 in Sumter and 3 in Webster), hundreds of vehicles, and much other property were damaged or destroyed.
See also
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of tornado-related deaths at schools
- Tornadoes of 2007Tornadoes of 2007This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks that occurred in 2007, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally, particularly in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the summer season. Some tornadoes also...
- Winter storms of 2006–07
External links
- NWS assessment: Tornadoes in Southern Alabama and Georgia on March 1, 2007
- Storm Prediction Center
- Enterprise Ledger newspaper coverage for the Enterprise tornado
- NWS Tallahassee, FL tornado outbreak summary
- NWS Atlanta/Peachtree City, GA Tornado Outbreak Page
- NWS Springfield, MO Tornado event page
- NWS Kansas City, MO Summary of Outbreak
- NWS Paducah, KY Tornado event page
- http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~652597
- http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~652427
- http://www.albanyherald.com/stories/20080301n8.htm