May 2009 Southern Midwest derecho
Encyclopedia
The May 2009 Southern Midwest Derecho was an extreme progressive derecho
and mesoscale convective vortex
event that struck Southeastern Kansas, Southern Missouri, and Southwestern Illinois on May 8, 2009. Thirty-nine tornadoes, including two of EF3 strength on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
, were reported in addition to high non-tornadic winds associated with the derecho and MCV. Due to the abnormal shape of the storm on radar and the extremely strong winds, many called this an "inland hurricane." A new class of storm, the Super Derecho, has been used to describe this event after analysis in 2010. Embedded supercell
s produced hail up to baseball size in Southern Missouri, a rare event in a derecho. A wind gust to 106 mph (170.6 km/h) was recorded by a backup anemometer
at the Carbondale, Illinois
airport after official National Weather Service equipment
failed.
, where National Weather Service
damage surveys found winds greater than 100 mph (160.9 km/h) started, then continued through southern Missouri. While in Southwestern Missouri, the derecho began to change; supercell
s began to embed within the line and a wake low
began to form in conjunction with a bookend vortex on the northern end of the derecho. As the derecho entered Southeastern Missouri, the initial line associated began to weaken, but the mesoscale convective vortex
(MCV) became increasingly pronounced on the northern end. Many experts and NWS meteorologists considered this to be one of the worst derechos and MCVs in the past decade. The Storm Prediction Center
issued two "particularly dangerous situation"
severe thunderstorm watch
es and a vividly worded tornado watch
, mentioning the possibility of winds in excess of 105 mph (169 km/h). Local National Weather Service offices in Springfield, Missouri
and Paducah, Kentucky
also issued strongly worded severe thunderstorm warning
s, with precautionary statements similar to those used in tornado warning
s. As both the initial squall line and MCV weakened, very little severe weather was reported between Southern Illinois and Central Kentucky. However, as the weakening squall line encountered higher instability and more favorable upper-level winds, the line split into several supercells in a process still not fully understood; these storms produced several tornadoes in Central Kentucky, Eastern Tennessee, Southwestern Virginia, and Northwestern North Carolina. While no longer producing severe weather itself, the MCV continued to enhance thunderstorms early the next morning across southeastern Virginia.
}
|Brief tornado damaged several trees and outbuildings along an intermittent path.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|Republic
area
|Greene
|37°06′N 93°30′W
|1305
|4 miles (6.4 km)
|Short-lived tornado tracked through downtown Republic, damaging about 50 structures. Losses from the storm reached $1 million.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|NW of Springfield-Branson National Airport
|Greene
|37°15′N 93°23′W
|1314
|2 miles (3.2 km)
|A brief tornado touched down near Springfield Airport, destroying a few outbuildings and heavily damaging a home. Losses from the storm reached $200,000.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|NW of Brighton
|Polk
|37°28′N 93°22′W
|1316
|9 miles (14.5 km)
|An EF1 tornado damaged or destroyed several barns and outbuildings and caused moderate to severe damage to frame homes. Losses from the storm reached $2 million.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|Ebenezer
area
|Greene
|37°19′N 93°19′W
|1321
|4 miles (6.4 km)
|Several trees and outbuildings were damaged.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|SE of Swan to SW of Merritt
|Taney
, Christian
, Douglas
|36°46′N 93°01′W
|1325
|12 miles (19.3 km)
|A 0.5 mi (0.80467 km) wide, relatively long-tracked tornado tracked for 12 miles (19.3 km) through three counties. The most severe damage took place in Christian County where two homes were damaged and several outbuildings were destroyed. Losses from the tornado reached $2.6 million.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|E of Fordland
|Webster
|37°09′N 92°55′W
|1338
|4 miles (6.4 km)
|A dairy farm lost its roof, a truck was lofted over a fence, and an outbuilding was destroyed.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|W of Goodhope
|Douglas
|36°54′N 92°49′W
|1339
|2.5 miles (4 km)
|A short-lived tornado tore the roof off a home and damaged numerous trees.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|N of Merritt
|Douglas
|36°55′N 92°52′W
|1339
|2.5 miles (4 km)
|A short-lived but very large 0.75 mi (1.2 km) tornado damaged two homes and several outbuildings. Losses from the storm reached $200,000.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|ESE of March
|Dallas
|37°31′N 93°03′W
|1341
|4 miles (6.4 km)
|A 400 yd (0.36576 km) wide tornado made several touchdowns along a 4 mi (6.4 km) path. Peaking at EF2 intensity with estimated winds of 130 mph (209.2 km/h), the tornado destroyed three framed houses and numerous outbuildings. Two people were injured and transported to a local hospital; however, one died of a heart attack while en-route.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|N of Ava
|Douglas
|37.00°N 92.67°W
|1400
|1 miles (1.6 km)
|A barn was destroyed and a few homes suffered minor damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|NW of Hartville
|Wright
|37.30°N 92.55°W
|1402
|3.5 miles (5.6 km)
|Several outbuildings were destroyed, and numerous trees were uprooted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|SW of Wasola
|Ozark
|36.76°N 92.61°W
|1411
|2 miles (3.2 km)
|Seven outbuildings were destroyed and three homes were damaged; intense tree damage was also noted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|ESE of Mountain Grove
|Texas
|37.12°N 92.19°W
|1422
|3.5 miles (5.6 km)
|Several buildings were damaged and numerous trees were uprooted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|WNW of Peace Valley
|Howell
|36.89°N 91.79°W
|1435
|9 miles (14.5 km)
|A few homes and numerous trees were damaged.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|W of Mountain View
to SE of Summersville
|Howell
, Texas
, Shannon
|37.00°N 91.85°W
|1435
|21 miles (33.8 km)
|A farm house was lifted and moved injuring two people. Two auto shops and several homes and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|SE of Lebanon
|Laclede
|37.62°N 92.59°W
|1440
|2.2 miles (3.5 km)
|Four homes and several outbuildings were damaged
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|ESE of Hazelton
|Texas
|37.50°N 91.95°W
|1444
|3.5 miles (5.6 km)
|One barn was destroyed and one mobile home lost its roof.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|SW of Alley Spring
|Shannon
|
|1445
|12 miles (19.3 km)
|Several buildings and a cabin at a sawmill were destroyed. Trees suffered extensive damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF3
|NW of Pomona
|Howell
|36.88°N 91.93°W
|1500
|2.2 miles (3.5 km)
|One house, one mobile home, one travel trailer, two outbuildings, and an auto shop were destroyed. Cars were tossed 40 to 50 yd (36.6 to 45.7 ) away and two school buses were blown over.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|McBride area
|Perry
|
|1620
|2.2 miles (3.5 km)
|Damage limited to trees; the tornado was caught on tape.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|SE of Fredericktown
|Madison
|
|unknown
|0.5 mile (0.80467 km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|N of Ellington
|Reynolds
|
|unknown
|2 miles (3.2 km)
|Two homes had roof damage; trees suffered significant damage.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|Illinois
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|WSW of Du Quoin
|Jackson
|37.95°N 89.40°W
|1630
|3 miles (4.8 km)
|Structural damage to two barns, shingle damage to homes, power poles blown over, and dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|N of Thompsonville
to NE of Crab Orchard
|Franklin
, Williamson
|
|1945
|5 miles (8 km)
|Trees were damaged in a rural area.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|N of Royalton
|Franklin
|
|unknown
|unknown
|A brief tornado touchdown was photographed.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|Kentucky
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|E of Hiseville
|Barren
, Metcalfe
|37.11°N 85.80°W
|1904
|4 miles (6.4 km)
|Three outbuildings were destroyed, and one home and a pole barn were damaged.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF3
|S of Richmond
|Garrard
, Madison
, Estill
|37.68°N 84.37°W
|2055
|at least 22 miles (35.4 km)
|2 deaths - Homes suffered severe damage. Several cars were flipped over. Five people were injured.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|NW of Irvine
|Estill
|
|2123
|less than 0.25 mile (0.402335 km)
|Two structures had metal roofing torn off. Several trees were knocked down including one that damaged the porch of a home.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|Tennessee
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|SE of Huntsville
|Scott
|
|2254
|4.5 miles (7.2 km)
|Seven homes were damaged and a free standing cellphone tower collapsed.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|SW of Tazewell
|Claiborne
|
|unknown
|2.2 miles (3.5 km)
|Two large barns were destroyed and one home lost its roof.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|NE of Thorn Hill
|Grainger, Hancock
|36.40°N 83.34°W
|2336
|3.5 miles (5.6 km)
|Barns and outbuildings were damaged heavily, and several homes suffered roof damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|S of Gray
|Washington
|36.40°N 82.48°W
|0045
|unknown
|Tornado touchdown was reported by law enforcement, but no damage reported.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|NW of Etowah
|McMinn
|
|unknown
|0.1 mile (0.160934 km)
|A tornado briefly touched down causing damage to several trees.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|Virginia
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|N of Clintwood
|Dickenson
|37°11′N 82°28′W
|0100
|0.75 miles (1.2 km)
|Numerous trees were uprooted, one of which fell on a mobile home. Two homes suffered minor roof damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|SE of Pound
|Wise
|37°04′N 82°33′W
|0145
|1.7 miles (2.7 km)
|Two trailers and several outbuildings were destroyed, and a third trailer was damaged.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|NW of Lebanon
|Russell
|36°54′N 82°05′W
|0225
|0.1 mile (0.160934 km)
|A tornado briefly touched down without any known impact.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|NE of Lebanon
|Russell
|36°56′N 81°57′W
|0230
|1.1 miles (1.8 km)
|One barn was destroyed, one home had moderate damage, and 100 trees were snapped or uprooted.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|North Carolina
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|NW of Ennice
|Alleghany
|36°33′N 81°01′W
|0344
|5 miles (8 km)
|A mobile home was destroyed, injuring four people. Five homes and several outbuildings were damaged, and cement silos were toppled, causing two additional injuries. Damages from the tornado amounted to $200,000.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|SW of Ennice
|Alleghany
|36°33′N 81°00′W
|0346
|0.25 mile (0.402335 km)
|Three outbuildings were destroyed and one home and a pole barn were damaged.
|-
|colspan="7" | Sources:National Weather Service Springfield, MO, National Weather Service St. Louis, MO, National Weather Service Paducah, KY, National Weather Service Louisville, KY, National Weather Service Jackson, KY, National Weather Service Morristown, TN
|}
when her mobile home was blown forty feet off of its foundation. National Weather Service survey teams found that winds reached 120 mph (193.1 km/h) in the area, which also resulted in the destruction of a church and the town's post office, in addition to damaging several homes. 130 buildings were damaged in Cherokee, Kansas
, including a high school gymnasium. Schools in several counties closed for the day, and a twenty mile strech Kansas Turnpike
was closed for an hour due to flooding. The derecho continued to intensify as it reached Southwestern Missouri, where the storm forced several television stations in Joplin, Missouri
off-the-air after their transmission towers were downed; one station's
tower landed on its studios. Numerous schools were damaged throughout the Springfield, Missouri
area including a roof collapse at the Fair Grove High School resulting in three injuries to students. There were numerous reports of tree and roof damage throughout Springfield, prompting some business to close, and caused Drury University
to cancel some morning classes. 346 buildings were damaged in some way in Greene County, Missouri
, and four people were injured, but none required hospitalization.
, producing hail up to baseball size and a few tornadoes in addition to the more widespread straight-line wind damage throughout the area. As the MCV crossed the Mississippi River
and entered into more populated areas, it strengthened greatly while it nearly separated from the initial line. Numerous buildings were severely damaged or destroyed throughout Southern Illinois; immediately after the MCV struck, Carbondale was reported to be virtually impassable due to the amount of debris on roadways. Marion
, Murphysboro
, Grand Tower
, Johnston City
Herrin
, Energy
, and Carterville, Illinois
declared curfews and states of emergency due to power outages and the massive amounts of damage caused by the storms, some of these cities were even left without water due to the power outages. In the city of Carbondale, damage was estimated at $3,000,000 USD, excluding damage at Southern Illinois University
. Officials deemed 34 buildings total losses, and reported that 3,000 trees were felled throughout the city. Preliminary estimates placed damages at Southern Illinois University in excess of $5,000,000 USD, numerous buildings on campus sustained some kind of roof damage, and nearly 100 windows were blown out residence halls. Due to infrastructre damage from the storm, most communication by land line and mobile phone was reported to be impossible. In Carterville, Illinois, officials found 17 buildings to be total losses. The city's public works garage was shifted off its foundation and the police station sustained damage. In Franklin County, Illinois
, 13 buildings were deemed to be beyond repair; damage assessments found that 184 buildings received some kind of damage from the storm. Winds were estimated between 80 and 90 mph (128.7 and 144.8 km/h) in the county. At one point, 68,000 people were left without power in Southern Illinois alone, prompting unusual methods to restore power, such as using helicopters to clear debris and position power poles.
before tracking into southern Madison County, Kentucky
; two people were killed in this tornado, five others were injured, and 150 homes were damaged. All of the injuries and deaths occurred in one mobile home near the intersection of Kentucky Route 1295 and Kentucky Route 52 in southern Madison County. Most of the damaged homes were in a subdivision in the Waco area, just north of the Blue Grass Army Depot
. One mobile phone
bill from a damaged house was carried 35 miles (56.3 km) before coming to rest on the property of a National Weather Service employee.
and in Eastern Kentucky.
Prior to becoming a mesocyclone, the system produced upwards of 4 in (101.6 mm) of rain over parts of Kansas during the morning hours. In Rice County
, high waters washed out several small bridges and low water crossings and damaged concrete structures, leaving roughly $340,000 in losses. In some places, rainfall reached 4 in (101.6 mm) within a 30-minute span, leading to widespread street flooding. Up to ten drivers required rescue after their cars stalled in the flood waters. Flowing water over the Kansas Turnpike
forced officials to shut down a 20 mi (32.2 km) stretch of the highway for over an hour. One person needed to be rescued in Lyon County
after driving into a flooded street. Barricades were set up in some areas of the county due to rising waters. In Reno County
, four bridges sustained severe flood damage and another was destroyed. Damages to the bridges amounted to $500,000. In some places, the rainfall was heavy enough to cancel schools.
In parts of Missouri, up to 4 in (101.6 mm) of rain fell in a short period of time, triggering flash flooding. Along Missouri Route 89, flood waters reached a depth of roughly 2 ft (0.6096 m). Numerous side roads were closed due to flooding throughout several counties. In Washington County
, the Big River overflowed its banks and inundated a nearby highway. More significant flooding took place in St. Francois County where some homes had up to 8 ft (2.4 m) of water in their basements and railroads were partially washed out. A water rescue took place near the town of Bloomsdale
. Some of the most severe flooding took place in the town of Doniphan
in Ripley County
where 5.03 in (127.8 mm) of rain fell in a 24-hour span. Ten people needed to be evacuated from their homes due to rising waters. The county courthouse and local high school sustained major water damage. At the school, all of the classrooms were flooded by up to 18 in (457.2 mm) of water and a nearby parking lot also buckled under the water. Several other structures in the area were also inundated during the storm and two people needed to be rescued from their vehicle that was trapped in waist-deep water. In Laclede County
, severe flooding washed out low-lying roads and drainage culverts.
declared a major disaster in Franklin
, Gallatin
, Jackson
, Randolph
, Saline
, and Williamson
counties in Illinois; Dolph A. Diemont was named as the Federal Emergency Management Agency
coordinating officer for the area. FEMA also stated that further disaster declarations are possible as requested by the state. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon
requested federal assistance for 46 counties in Missouri; damage in those counties was estimated to exceed $48,700,000 USD. On November 30, 2009, Senator Claire McCaskill
announced the State Emergency Agency of Missouri would receive $2, 623,409.71 in federal grant money to cover the state's cost in managing the Public Assistant Award Grants. In addition, it was announced the Citizens Electric Corporation is receiving a $1,395,201.46 grant to offset costs incurred repairing infrastructure in Perry
, Sainte Genevieve
, and Cape Girardeau
counties.
Derecho
A derecho is a widespread and long-lived, violent convectively induced straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms in the form of a squall line usually taking the form of a bow echo...
and mesoscale convective vortex
Mesoscale convective vortex
A mesoscale convective vortex is a low-pressure center within an mesoscale convective system that pulls winds into a circling pattern, or vortex. With a core only 30 to wide and 1 to deep, an MCV is often overlooked in standard weather analysis. But an MCV can take on a life of its own,...
event that struck Southeastern Kansas, Southern Missouri, and Southwestern Illinois on May 8, 2009. Thirty-nine tornadoes, including two of EF3 strength 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:...
, were reported in addition to high non-tornadic winds associated with the derecho and MCV. Due to the abnormal shape of the storm on radar and the extremely strong winds, many called this an "inland hurricane." A new class of storm, the Super Derecho, has been used to describe this event after analysis in 2010. Embedded supercell
Supercell
A supercell is a thunderstorm that is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone: a deep, continuously-rotating updraft. For this reason, these storms are sometimes referred to as rotating thunderstorms...
s produced hail up to baseball size in Southern Missouri, a rare event in a derecho. A wind gust to 106 mph (170.6 km/h) was recorded by a backup anemometer
Anemometer
An anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed, and is a common weather station instrument. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind, and is used to describe any airspeed measurement instrument used in meteorology or aerodynamics...
at the Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale is a city in Jackson County, in the state of Illinois, within the Southern Illinois region. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest...
airport after official National Weather Service equipment
Automated airport weather station
Automated airport weather stations are automated sensor suites which are designed to serve aviation and meteorological observing needs for safe and efficient aviation operations and weather forecasting...
failed.
Meteorological synopsis
A complex of thunderstorms formed over Northwestern Kansas overnight May 7 and into the early morning hours of May 8, before moving into in South Central Kansas, where better moisture and stronger upper level winds were present. The cluster of storms began to evolve into a more organized derecho near Hutchinson, KansasHutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
, where 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...
damage surveys found winds greater than 100 mph (160.9 km/h) started, then continued through southern Missouri. While in Southwestern Missouri, the derecho began to change; supercell
Supercell
A supercell is a thunderstorm that is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone: a deep, continuously-rotating updraft. For this reason, these storms are sometimes referred to as rotating thunderstorms...
s began to embed within the line and a wake low
Wake low
A wake low, or wake depression, is a mesoscale low-pressure area which trails the mesoscale high following a squall line. Due to the subsiding warm air associated with the systems formation, clearing skies are associated with the wake low...
began to form in conjunction with a bookend vortex on the northern end of the derecho. As the derecho entered Southeastern Missouri, the initial line associated began to weaken, but the mesoscale convective vortex
Mesoscale convective vortex
A mesoscale convective vortex is a low-pressure center within an mesoscale convective system that pulls winds into a circling pattern, or vortex. With a core only 30 to wide and 1 to deep, an MCV is often overlooked in standard weather analysis. But an MCV can take on a life of its own,...
(MCV) became increasingly pronounced on the northern end. Many experts and NWS meteorologists considered this to be one of the worst derechos and MCVs in the past decade. 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...
issued two "particularly dangerous situation"
Particularly dangerous situation
A particularly dangerous situation is a type of enhanced wording first used by the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma on certain severe weather watches...
severe thunderstorm watch
Severe thunderstorm watch
[File:Annual_severe_thunderstorm_watch_frequency_in_the_United_States.svg|thumb|right|300px|Map of average annual severe thunderstorm watches in the United States between 1999 and 2008.Legend:...
es and a vividly worded tornado watch
Tornado watch
A tornado watch is issued when conditions are right for a tornado to form. Since any thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is defined as severe, a tornado watch is also automatically a severe thunderstorm watch...
, mentioning the possibility of winds in excess of 105 mph (169 km/h). Local National Weather Service offices in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
and Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
also issued strongly worded severe thunderstorm warning
Severe thunderstorm warning
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when trained storm spotters or a Doppler weather radar indicate a strong thunderstorm is producing dangerously large hail or high winds, capable of causing significant damage. In the United States, it does not account for lightning or flooding...
s, with precautionary statements similar to those used in tornado warning
Tornado warning
A tornado warning is an alert issued by government weather services to warn that severe thunderstorms with tornadoes may be imminent. It can be issued after a tornado or funnel cloud has been spotted by eye, or more commonly if there are radar indications of tornado formation...
s. As both the initial squall line and MCV weakened, very little severe weather was reported between Southern Illinois and Central Kentucky. However, as the weakening squall line encountered higher instability and more favorable upper-level winds, the line split into several supercells in a process still not fully understood; these storms produced several tornadoes in Central Kentucky, Eastern Tennessee, Southwestern Virginia, and Northwestern North Carolina. While no longer producing severe weather itself, the MCV continued to enhance thunderstorms early the next morning across southeastern Virginia.
Other similar events
Despite at first seeming extremely rare, further research has found that similar storms have occurred previously. One case, which occurred in North Carolina on April 15, 1999, produced a killer tornado and an 165 mph (265.5 km/h) wind gust, although this may have been associated with a tornado. Another heavily studied event in Northern Pennsylvania on July 21, 2003 also resulted in several tornadoes. However, these events lasted for a much shorter period of time and were significantly smaller; numerical modeling has shown that an average bookend vortex is only 12 nmi (22.2 km) across, while the May 2009 storm reached up to 40 nmi (74.1 km) in diameter.Confirmed tornadoes
| List of reported tornadoes - Friday, May 8, 2009 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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... |
||||||
| EF1 | E of Pilgrim | Dade | 37°22′N 93°45′W | 1253 | ||
|Brief tornado damaged several trees and outbuildings along an intermittent path.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|Republic
Republic, Missouri
Republic is a city in Christian and Greene counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population is 14,751 according to the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
area
|Greene
Greene County, Missouri
Greene County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 275,174 making it the fourth most populated county in Missouri. Its county seat is Springfield...
|37°06′N 93°30′W
|1305
|4 miles (6.4 km)
|Short-lived tornado tracked through downtown Republic, damaging about 50 structures. Losses from the storm reached $1 million.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|NW of Springfield-Branson National Airport
|Greene
Greene County, Missouri
Greene County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 275,174 making it the fourth most populated county in Missouri. Its county seat is Springfield...
|37°15′N 93°23′W
|1314
|2 miles (3.2 km)
|A brief tornado touched down near Springfield Airport, destroying a few outbuildings and heavily damaging a home. Losses from the storm reached $200,000.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|NW of Brighton
Brighton, Missouri
Brighton is an unincorporated community in southern Polk County, Missouri, United States. It is located at the intersection of Route 13 and Route 215 about fifteen miles north of Springfield.Brighton is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area....
|Polk
Polk County, Missouri
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 31,137. Its county seat is Bolivar.Polk County is part of the Springfield, Missouri, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
|37°28′N 93°22′W
|1316
|9 miles (14.5 km)
|An EF1 tornado damaged or destroyed several barns and outbuildings and caused moderate to severe damage to frame homes. Losses from the storm reached $2 million.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|Ebenezer
Ebenezer, Missouri
Ebenezer is an unincorporated community in Greene County, Missouri, United States. It lies six miles north of Springfield and three miles east of Route 13. Several homes, a church and a fire station are located there...
area
|Greene
Greene County, Missouri
Greene County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 275,174 making it the fourth most populated county in Missouri. Its county seat is Springfield...
|37°19′N 93°19′W
|1321
|4 miles (6.4 km)
|Several trees and outbuildings were damaged.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|SE of Swan to SW of Merritt
|Taney
Taney County, Missouri
Taney County is a county located in Southwest Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 39,703. In the 2010 census the counties population was 51,675 Its county seat is Forsyth....
, Christian
Christian County, Missouri
Christian County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. The county had a population of 54,285 in 2000 census. According to the 2010 census, the county's population is 77,422 , making it the fastest growing county in Missouri and one of the fastest growing in the nation as the county becomes...
, Douglas
Douglas County, Missouri
Douglas 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 13,684. The largest city and county seat is Ava. The county was officially organized on October 29, 1857, and is named after U.S. Senator Stephen A...
|36°46′N 93°01′W
|1325
|12 miles (19.3 km)
|A 0.5 mi (0.80467 km) wide, relatively long-tracked tornado tracked for 12 miles (19.3 km) through three counties. The most severe damage took place in Christian County where two homes were damaged and several outbuildings were destroyed. Losses from the tornado reached $2.6 million.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|E of Fordland
Fordland, Missouri
Fordland is a city in Webster County, Missouri, United States. The population was 762 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Fordland is located at ....
|Webster
Webster County, Missouri
Webster County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 31,045. The population in 2010 was 36,202. Its county seat is Marshfield. The county was organized in 1855 and named for U.S. Senator and U.S...
|37°09′N 92°55′W
|1338
|4 miles (6.4 km)
|A dairy farm lost its roof, a truck was lofted over a fence, and an outbuilding was destroyed.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|W of Goodhope
|Douglas
Douglas County, Missouri
Douglas 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 13,684. The largest city and county seat is Ava. The county was officially organized on October 29, 1857, and is named after U.S. Senator Stephen A...
|36°54′N 92°49′W
|1339
|2.5 miles (4 km)
|A short-lived tornado tore the roof off a home and damaged numerous trees.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|N of Merritt
|Douglas
Douglas County, Missouri
Douglas 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 13,684. The largest city and county seat is Ava. The county was officially organized on October 29, 1857, and is named after U.S. Senator Stephen A...
|36°55′N 92°52′W
|1339
|2.5 miles (4 km)
|A short-lived but very large 0.75 mi (1.2 km) tornado damaged two homes and several outbuildings. Losses from the storm reached $200,000.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|ESE of March
|Dallas
|37°31′N 93°03′W
|1341
|4 miles (6.4 km)
|A 400 yd (0.36576 km) wide tornado made several touchdowns along a 4 mi (6.4 km) path. Peaking at EF2 intensity with estimated winds of 130 mph (209.2 km/h), the tornado destroyed three framed houses and numerous outbuildings. Two people were injured and transported to a local hospital; however, one died of a heart attack while en-route.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|N of Ava
Ava, Missouri
Ava is the only incorporated city in Douglas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,993 at the 2010 census. Ava is the county seat of Douglas County. The city was founded in 1871 and was named Ava in 1881 after being renamed from the town's original name, Militia...
|Douglas
Douglas County, Missouri
Douglas 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 13,684. The largest city and county seat is Ava. The county was officially organized on October 29, 1857, and is named after U.S. Senator Stephen A...
|37.00°N 92.67°W
|1400
|1 miles (1.6 km)
|A barn was destroyed and a few homes suffered minor damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|NW of Hartville
Hartville, Missouri
Hartville is a city in Wright County, Missouri, United States. The population was 607 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wright County.-Geography:Hartville is located at , along the Woods Fork of the Gasconade River...
|Wright
Wright County, Missouri
Wright 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 18,815. Its county seat is Hartville. The county was officially organized on January 29, 1841, and is named after Silas Wright , a former Congressman, U.S...
|37.30°N 92.55°W
|1402
|3.5 miles (5.6 km)
|Several outbuildings were destroyed, and numerous trees were uprooted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|SW of Wasola
Wasola, Missouri
Wasola is an unincorporated community in northern Ozark County, Missouri. It is sixteen miles north of Gainesville on Route 5 at the northern intersection with Route 95. A few businesses and homes are located there. The community was founded in 1912 and has an unknown derivation, according to...
|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...
|36.76°N 92.61°W
|1411
|2 miles (3.2 km)
|Seven outbuildings were destroyed and three homes were damaged; intense tree damage was also noted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|ESE of Mountain Grove
Mountain Grove, Missouri
Mountain Grove is a city in Texas and Wright Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri, located in south central Missouri. The population was 4,574 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mountain Grove is located at...
|Texas
Texas County, Missouri
Texas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 26,008. It's county seat is Houston. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County, changing its name in 1845 to Texas, after the Republic of Texas. The 2010 U.S...
|37.12°N 92.19°W
|1422
|3.5 miles (5.6 km)
|Several buildings were damaged and numerous trees were uprooted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|WNW of Peace Valley
Peace Valley, Missouri
Peace Valley is a small unincorporated community in eastern Howell County, Missouri, United States. It is about two miles east of Route 17 on Route W. It was named for an early settler nicknamed "Grandaddy Peace"....
|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...
|36.89°N 91.79°W
|1435
|9 miles (14.5 km)
|A few homes and numerous trees were damaged.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|W of Mountain View
Mountain View, Missouri
Mountain View is a city in Howell County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,430 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mountain View is located at ....
to SE of Summersville
Summersville, Missouri
Summersville is a city in Shannon and Texas counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 544 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Summersville is located at ....
|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...
, Texas
Texas County, Missouri
Texas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 26,008. It's county seat is Houston. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County, changing its name in 1845 to Texas, after the Republic of Texas. The 2010 U.S...
, Shannon
Shannon County, Missouri
Shannon County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States, and the second-largest by area in Missouri. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 8,324. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 8,423. Its county seat is Eminence. The county was...
|37.00°N 91.85°W
|1435
|21 miles (33.8 km)
|A farm house was lifted and moved injuring two people. Two auto shops and several homes and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|SE of Lebanon
Lebanon, Missouri
Lebanon is a city in Laclede County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in July 2009 was 14,292. The population was 12,155 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Laclede County. The Lebanon Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Laclede County.-Geography:Lebanon is located at...
|Laclede
Laclede County, Missouri
Laclede County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 32,513. Its county seat is Lebanon. The county was organized February 24, 1849, and was named after Pierre Laclède, founder of St...
|37.62°N 92.59°W
|1440
|2.2 miles (3.5 km)
|Four homes and several outbuildings were damaged
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|ESE of Hazelton
|Texas
Texas County, Missouri
Texas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 26,008. It's county seat is Houston. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County, changing its name in 1845 to Texas, after the Republic of Texas. The 2010 U.S...
|37.50°N 91.95°W
|1444
|3.5 miles (5.6 km)
|One barn was destroyed and one mobile home lost its roof.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|SW of Alley Spring
Alley Spring, Missouri
Alley Spring is an unincorporated community in Shannon County, Missouri, United States. It is located six miles west of Eminence on Route 106. The scenic Alley Mill, or "Old Red Mill" is located there on a spring and is located in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The Mill is operated as an...
|Shannon
Shannon County, Missouri
Shannon County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States, and the second-largest by area in Missouri. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 8,324. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 8,423. Its county seat is Eminence. The county was...
|
|1445
|12 miles (19.3 km)
|Several buildings and a cabin at a sawmill were destroyed. Trees suffered extensive damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF3
|NW of Pomona
Pomona, Missouri
Pomona is an unincorporated community in Howell County, Missouri, United States, midway between Willow Springs and West Plains. The community was founded in 1895 and it was named for Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit trees; this area was a major producer of apples. Several homes, small...
|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...
|36.88°N 91.93°W
|1500
|2.2 miles (3.5 km)
|One house, one mobile home, one travel trailer, two outbuildings, and an auto shop were destroyed. Cars were tossed 40 to 50 yd (36.6 to 45.7 ) away and two school buses were blown over.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|McBride area
|Perry
Perry County, Missouri
Perry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...
|
|1620
|2.2 miles (3.5 km)
|Damage limited to trees; the tornado was caught on tape.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|SE of Fredericktown
Fredericktown, Missouri
Fredericktown is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Missouri, United States, in the northeastern foothills of the Ozark Mountains. The population was 3,928 at the 2000 census...
|Madison
Madison County, Missouri
Madison County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 11,800. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,276. Its county seat and largest city is Fredericktown...
|
|unknown
|0.5 mile (0.80467 km)
|
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|N of Ellington
Ellington, Missouri
Ellington is a city in Reynolds County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,045 at the 2000 census. In 1925, the infamous Tri-State Tornado began just northwest of Ellington.-Geography:Ellington is located at ....
|Reynolds
Reynolds County, Missouri
Reynolds County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 6,689. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 6,388. Its county seat is Centerville...
|
|unknown
|2 miles (3.2 km)
|Two homes had roof damage; trees suffered significant damage.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|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,...
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|WSW of Du Quoin
Du Quoin, Illinois
Du Quoin is a city in Perry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,448 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Du Quoin is located at ....
|Jackson
Jackson County, Illinois
Jackson County, incorporated January 10, 1816, is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 60,218, which is an increase of 1.0% from 59,612 in 2000...
|37.95°N 89.40°W
|1630
|3 miles (4.8 km)
|Structural damage to two barns, shingle damage to homes, power poles blown over, and dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|N of Thompsonville
Thompsonville, Illinois
Thompsonville is a village in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 571 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Thompsonville is located at ....
to NE of Crab Orchard
Crab Orchard, Illinois
Crab Orchard is an unincorporated census-designated place east of Marion in Williamson County, Illinois located along an old route of Illinois Route 13 now designated Crab Orchard Road. The upper branches of Crab Orchard Creek which eventually feed into Crab Orchard Lake flow nearby and gave the...
|Franklin
Franklin County, Illinois
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 39,561, which is an increase of 1.4% from 39,018 in 2000. Its county seat is Benton.-History:...
, Williamson
Williamson County, Illinois
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*92.7% White*3.8% Black*0.4% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*0.4% Other races*2.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
|
|1945
|5 miles (8 km)
|Trees were damaged in a rural area.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|N of Royalton
Royalton, Illinois
Royalton is a village in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,130 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Royalton is located at ....
|Franklin
Franklin County, Illinois
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 39,561, which is an increase of 1.4% from 39,018 in 2000. Its county seat is Benton.-History:...
|
|unknown
|unknown
|A brief tornado touchdown was photographed.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|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...
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|E of Hiseville
Hiseville, Kentucky
Hiseville is an unincorporated community in Barren County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 224 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a city. It is part of the Glasgow Micropolitan Statistical Area...
|Barren
Barren County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,033 people, 15,346 households, and 10,941 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 17,095 housing units at an average density of...
, Metcalfe
Metcalfe County, Kentucky
Metcalfe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 10,037. Its county seat is Edmonton. The county is named for Thomas Metcalfe, Governor of Kentucky from 1828-32...
|37.11°N 85.80°W
|1904
|4 miles (6.4 km)
|Three outbuildings were destroyed, and one home and a pole barn were damaged.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF3
|S of Richmond
Richmond, Kentucky
There were 10,795 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. Of all households, 34.7% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had...
|Garrard
Garrard County, Kentucky
Garrard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is pronounced 'Gair-ad' with the third "r" silent. It was formed in 1797 and was named for James Garrard, Governor of Kentucky from 1796 to 1804. Its county seat is Lancaster. The population was 16,912 in the 2010 Census...
, Madison
Madison County, Kentucky
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2008, the population was 82,192. Its county seat is Richmond. The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States. This is also where famous pioneer Daniel...
, Estill
Estill County, Kentucky
Estill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1808. As of 2000, the population was 15,307. Its county seat is Irvine, Kentucky. Formed in 1808, the county is named after Captain James Estill, a Kentucky militia officer killed in the Battle of Little Mountain...
|37.68°N 84.37°W
|2055
|at least 22 miles (35.4 km)
|2 deaths - Homes suffered severe damage. Several cars were flipped over. Five people were injured.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|NW of Irvine
Irvine, Kentucky
Irvine is a city in and county seat of Estill County, Kentucky, United States. Its population was 2,843 at the 2000 census. It is located on the Kentucky River at the junction of Kentucky Route 52 and Kentucky Route 89....
|Estill
Estill County, Kentucky
Estill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1808. As of 2000, the population was 15,307. Its county seat is Irvine, Kentucky. Formed in 1808, the county is named after Captain James Estill, a Kentucky militia officer killed in the Battle of Little Mountain...
|
|2123
|less than 0.25 mile (0.402335 km)
|Two structures had metal roofing torn off. Several trees were knocked down including one that damaged the porch of a home.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|SE of Huntsville
Huntsville, Tennessee
Huntsville is a town in Scott County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 981 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Scott County.-Geography:...
|Scott
|
|2254
|4.5 miles (7.2 km)
|Seven homes were damaged and a free standing cellphone tower collapsed.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|SW of Tazewell
Tazewell, Tennessee
Tazewell is a town in Claiborne County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,165 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Claiborne County. The town is named for Henry Tazewell , a U.S. senator from Virginia.-Geography:...
|Claiborne
|
|unknown
|2.2 miles (3.5 km)
|Two large barns were destroyed and one home lost its roof.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|NE of Thorn Hill
Thorn Hill, Tennessee
Thorn Hill is an unincorporated community in rural northeastern Grainger County, Tennessee, United States. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2010 United States Census reported the population of Thorn Hill to be 1,236 at the time.-Education:The community of...
|Grainger, Hancock
|36.40°N 83.34°W
|2336
|3.5 miles (5.6 km)
|Barns and outbuildings were damaged heavily, and several homes suffered roof damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|S of Gray
Gray, Tennessee
Gray is a census-designated place in Washington County, Tennessee, United States and a rural suburb of Johnson City. It is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area –...
|Washington
|36.40°N 82.48°W
|0045
|unknown
|Tornado touchdown was reported by law enforcement, but no damage reported.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|NW of Etowah
Etowah, Tennessee
Etowah is a city in McMinn County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,663 at the 2000 census.-History:Etowah was founded in 1906, primarily as a location for a depot on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad line as part of a more direct route between Atlanta, Georgia and Cincinnati, Ohio...
|McMinn
|
|unknown
|0.1 mile (0.160934 km)
|A tornado briefly touched down causing damage to several trees.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|N of Clintwood
Clintwood, Virginia
Clintwood is a town in Dickenson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,549 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dickenson County....
|Dickenson
Dickenson County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,395 people, 6,732 households, and 4,887 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile . There were 7,684 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
|37°11′N 82°28′W
|0100
|0.75 miles (1.2 km)
|Numerous trees were uprooted, one of which fell on a mobile home. Two homes suffered minor roof damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|SE of Pound
Pound, Virginia
Pound is a town in Wise County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,089 as recorded in the 2000 census.-Geography:Pound is located at ....
|Wise
Wise County, Virginia
Wise County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. In 1856, the county was formed from land taken from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties. It was named after Henry A. Wise, who was the Governor of Virginia at the time. As of 2010, the population was 41,452, making it the largest...
|37°04′N 82°33′W
|0145
|1.7 miles (2.7 km)
|Two trailers and several outbuildings were destroyed, and a third trailer was damaged.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|NW of Lebanon
Lebanon, Virginia
Lebanon is a town in Russell County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,273 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Russell County.-Geography:Lebanon is located at ....
|Russell
Russell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,308 people, 11,789 households, and 8,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 13,191 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
|36°54′N 82°05′W
|0225
|0.1 mile (0.160934 km)
|A tornado briefly touched down without any known impact.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|NE of Lebanon
Lebanon, Virginia
Lebanon is a town in Russell County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,273 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Russell County.-Geography:Lebanon is located at ....
|Russell
Russell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,308 people, 11,789 households, and 8,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 13,191 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
|36°56′N 81°57′W
|0230
|1.1 miles (1.8 km)
|One barn was destroyed, one home had moderate damage, and 100 trees were snapped or uprooted.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|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...
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF2
|NW of Ennice
|Alleghany
Alleghany County, North Carolina
-Major highways:* U.S. Highway 21* U.S. Highway 221* North Carolina Highway 18* North Carolina Highway 88* North Carolina Highway 93* North Carolina Highway 113-Demographics:...
|36°33′N 81°01′W
|0344
|5 miles (8 km)
|A mobile home was destroyed, injuring four people. Five homes and several outbuildings were damaged, and cement silos were toppled, causing two additional injuries. Damages from the tornado amounted to $200,000.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|SW of Ennice
|Alleghany
Alleghany County, North Carolina
-Major highways:* U.S. Highway 21* U.S. Highway 221* North Carolina Highway 18* North Carolina Highway 88* North Carolina Highway 93* North Carolina Highway 113-Demographics:...
|36°33′N 81°00′W
|0346
|0.25 mile (0.402335 km)
|Three outbuildings were destroyed and one home and a pole barn were damaged.
|-
|colspan="7" | Sources:National Weather Service Springfield, MO, National Weather Service St. Louis, MO, National Weather Service Paducah, KY, National Weather Service Louisville, KY, National Weather Service Jackson, KY, National Weather Service Morristown, TN
|}
Kansas and Southwestern Missouri
The initial squall line formed in Central Kansas, to the northwest of Hutchinson. In Hutchinson, several airplanes were flipped at a local airport, and 21,000 people were left without power. A woman was killed in New Albany, KansasNew Albany, Kansas
New Albany is a city in Wilson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 73 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Albany is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
when her mobile home was blown forty feet off of its foundation. National Weather Service survey teams found that winds reached 120 mph (193.1 km/h) in the area, which also resulted in the destruction of a church and the town's post office, in addition to damaging several homes. 130 buildings were damaged in Cherokee, Kansas
Cherokee, Kansas
Cherokee is a city in Crawford County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 714.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Cherokee has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, including a high school gymnasium. Schools in several counties closed for the day, and a twenty mile strech Kansas Turnpike
Kansas Turnpike
The Kansas Turnpike is a freeway-standard toll road that lies entirely within the U.S. state of Kansas. It runs in a general southwest-northeast direction from the Oklahoma border, and passes through several major Kansas cities, including Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City...
was closed for an hour due to flooding. The derecho continued to intensify as it reached Southwestern Missouri, where the storm forced several television stations in Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
off-the-air after their transmission towers were downed; one station's
KSNF
KSNF, virtual channel 16, is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Joplin, Missouri-Pittsburg, Kansas television market, the 145th DMA. KSNF broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 46...
tower landed on its studios. Numerous schools were damaged throughout the Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
area including a roof collapse at the Fair Grove High School resulting in three injuries to students. There were numerous reports of tree and roof damage throughout Springfield, prompting some business to close, and caused Drury University
Drury University
Drury University is a private liberal arts college in Springfield, Missouri.The university enrolls about 1,550 undergraduates, over 2,000 adult part-time undergraduates and around 400 graduate students in six master's programs...
to cancel some morning classes. 346 buildings were damaged in some way in Greene County, Missouri
Greene County, Missouri
Greene County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 275,174 making it the fourth most populated county in Missouri. Its county seat is Springfield...
, and four people were injured, but none required hospitalization.
Southeastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois
As the initial line weakened, the mesoscale convective vortex on the northern end began to strengthen and separate from the squall line. A long-lived supercell formed within the MCV in Madison County, MissouriMadison County, Missouri
Madison County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 11,800. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,276. Its county seat and largest city is Fredericktown...
, producing hail up to baseball size and a few tornadoes in addition to the more widespread straight-line wind damage throughout the area. As the MCV crossed the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and entered into more populated areas, it strengthened greatly while it nearly separated from the initial line. Numerous buildings were severely damaged or destroyed throughout Southern Illinois; immediately after the MCV struck, Carbondale was reported to be virtually impassable due to the amount of debris on roadways. Marion
Marion, Illinois
The city of Marion is the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois. The 2010 census counted 17,193 residents, making Marion the 25th most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in Illinois, and the second most populous city in Southern Illinois, outside of the Metro-East, behind...
, Murphysboro
Murphysboro, Illinois
Murphysboro is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,970 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-Geography:Murphysboro is located at ....
, Grand Tower
Grand Tower, Illinois
Grand Tower is a city in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 624 at the 2000 census. The town gets its name from Tower Rock, a landmark island in the Mississippi River.-Geography:Grand Tower is located at ....
, Johnston City
Johnston City, Illinois
Johnston City is a city in Williamson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,557 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Johnston City is located at ....
Herrin
Herrin, Illinois
Herrin is a city in Williamson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,501 at the 2010 census. It is home to Country Musicstar David Lee Murphy, the hometown of baseball's Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman, and the hometown of San Diego State University men's basketball coach Steve...
, Energy
Energy, Illinois
Energy is a village in Williamson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Energy is located at ....
, and Carterville, Illinois
Carterville, Illinois
Carterville is a city in Williamson County, Illinois, in the United States, and is geographically situated between Carbondale, Illinois and Marion, Illinois. The city is located next to Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge's of land and water contain a wide diversity of flora and...
declared curfews and states of emergency due to power outages and the massive amounts of damage caused by the storms, some of these cities were even left without water due to the power outages. In the city of Carbondale, damage was estimated at $3,000,000 USD, excluding damage at Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
. Officials deemed 34 buildings total losses, and reported that 3,000 trees were felled throughout the city. Preliminary estimates placed damages at Southern Illinois University in excess of $5,000,000 USD, numerous buildings on campus sustained some kind of roof damage, and nearly 100 windows were blown out residence halls. Due to infrastructre damage from the storm, most communication by land line and mobile phone was reported to be impossible. In Carterville, Illinois, officials found 17 buildings to be total losses. The city's public works garage was shifted off its foundation and the police station sustained damage. In Franklin County, Illinois
Franklin County, Illinois
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 39,561, which is an increase of 1.4% from 39,018 in 2000. Its county seat is Benton.-History:...
, 13 buildings were deemed to be beyond repair; damage assessments found that 184 buildings received some kind of damage from the storm. Winds were estimated between 80 and 90 mph (128.7 and 144.8 km/h) in the county. At one point, 68,000 people were left without power in Southern Illinois alone, prompting unusual methods to restore power, such as using helicopters to clear debris and position power poles.
Elsewhere
As the squall line continued east, it began to break apart into separate supercells, several of these supercells produced tornadoes. An EF-3 tornado touched down in eastern Garrard CountyGarrard County, Kentucky
Garrard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is pronounced 'Gair-ad' with the third "r" silent. It was formed in 1797 and was named for James Garrard, Governor of Kentucky from 1796 to 1804. Its county seat is Lancaster. The population was 16,912 in the 2010 Census...
before tracking into southern Madison County, Kentucky
Madison County, Kentucky
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2008, the population was 82,192. Its county seat is Richmond. The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States. This is also where famous pioneer Daniel...
; two people were killed in this tornado, five others were injured, and 150 homes were damaged. All of the injuries and deaths occurred in one mobile home near the intersection of Kentucky Route 1295 and Kentucky Route 52 in southern Madison County. Most of the damaged homes were in a subdivision in the Waco area, just north of the Blue Grass Army Depot
Blue Grass Army Depot
Blue Grass Army Depot is a U.S. Army conventional munitions and chemical weapon storage facility located in east central Kentucky, southeast of the cities of Lexington and Richmond, Kentucky, operated by the United States Army. The site, composed mainly of open fields and wooded areas, is used...
. One mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
bill from a damaged house was carried 35 miles (56.3 km) before coming to rest on the property of a National Weather Service employee.
Flooding
The squall line and associated convection resulted in significant flooding south of St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and in Eastern Kentucky.
Prior to becoming a mesocyclone, the system produced upwards of 4 in (101.6 mm) of rain over parts of Kansas during the morning hours. In Rice County
Rice County, Kansas
Rice County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas; it was named in memory of Samuel Allen Rice, Brigadier-General, United States volunteers, killed April 30, 1864, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 10,083...
, high waters washed out several small bridges and low water crossings and damaged concrete structures, leaving roughly $340,000 in losses. In some places, rainfall reached 4 in (101.6 mm) within a 30-minute span, leading to widespread street flooding. Up to ten drivers required rescue after their cars stalled in the flood waters. Flowing water over the Kansas Turnpike
Kansas Turnpike
The Kansas Turnpike is a freeway-standard toll road that lies entirely within the U.S. state of Kansas. It runs in a general southwest-northeast direction from the Oklahoma border, and passes through several major Kansas cities, including Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City...
forced officials to shut down a 20 mi (32.2 km) stretch of the highway for over an hour. One person needed to be rescued in Lyon County
Lyon County, Kansas
Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county was named for General Nathaniel Lyon, who was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in the Civil War. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 33,690. Emporia is the largest city and county seat...
after driving into a flooded street. Barricades were set up in some areas of the county due to rising waters. In Reno County
Reno County, Kansas
Reno County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 64,511 for the 2010 census. The largest city and county seat is Hutchinson. The Hutchinson Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Reno County.-19th century:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska...
, four bridges sustained severe flood damage and another was destroyed. Damages to the bridges amounted to $500,000. In some places, the rainfall was heavy enough to cancel schools.
In parts of Missouri, up to 4 in (101.6 mm) of rain fell in a short period of time, triggering flash flooding. Along Missouri Route 89, flood waters reached a depth of roughly 2 ft (0.6096 m). Numerous side roads were closed due to flooding throughout several counties. In Washington County
Washington County, Missouri
Washington County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 25,195. The largest city and county seat is Potosi...
, the Big River overflowed its banks and inundated a nearby highway. More significant flooding took place in St. Francois County where some homes had up to 8 ft (2.4 m) of water in their basements and railroads were partially washed out. A water rescue took place near the town of Bloomsdale
Bloomsdale, Missouri
Bloomsdale is a city in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, United States. The population was 419 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bloomsdale is located at ....
. Some of the most severe flooding took place in the town of Doniphan
Doniphan, Missouri
Doniphan is a city in Ripley County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,932 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ripley County.-Geography:Doniphan is located at...
in Ripley County
Ripley County, Missouri
Ripley County is a county located in the Ozarks of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,509. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 13,485. The largest city and county seat is Doniphan...
where 5.03 in (127.8 mm) of rain fell in a 24-hour span. Ten people needed to be evacuated from their homes due to rising waters. The county courthouse and local high school sustained major water damage. At the school, all of the classrooms were flooded by up to 18 in (457.2 mm) of water and a nearby parking lot also buckled under the water. Several other structures in the area were also inundated during the storm and two people needed to be rescued from their vehicle that was trapped in waist-deep water. In Laclede County
Laclede County, Missouri
Laclede County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 32,513. Its county seat is Lebanon. The county was organized February 24, 1849, and was named after Pierre Laclède, founder of St...
, severe flooding washed out low-lying roads and drainage culverts.
Aftermath
On July 2, 2009, President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
declared a major disaster in Franklin
Franklin County, Illinois
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 39,561, which is an increase of 1.4% from 39,018 in 2000. Its county seat is Benton.-History:...
, Gallatin
Gallatin County, Illinois
Gallatin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 5,589, which is a decrease of 13.3% from 6,445 in 2000...
, Jackson
Jackson County, Illinois
Jackson County, incorporated January 10, 1816, is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 60,218, which is an increase of 1.0% from 59,612 in 2000...
, Randolph
Randolph County, Illinois
Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 33,476, which is a decrease of 1.2% from 33,893 in 2000. Its county seat is Chester....
, Saline
Saline County, Illinois
Saline County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 24,913, which is a decrease of 6.8% from 26,733 in 2000. Its county seat is Harrisburg. Saline County is home to the smallest post office and the largest KFC in the United States....
, and Williamson
Williamson County, Illinois
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*92.7% White*3.8% Black*0.4% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*0.4% Other races*2.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
counties in Illinois; Dolph A. Diemont was named as 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...
coordinating officer for the area. FEMA also stated that further disaster declarations are possible as requested by the state. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon
Jay Nixon
Jeremiah Wilson "Jay" Nixon, Sr. is the 55th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Missouri. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as Missouri's Attorney General before his election in 2008.-Political career:...
requested federal assistance for 46 counties in Missouri; damage in those counties was estimated to exceed $48,700,000 USD. On November 30, 2009, Senator Claire McCaskill
Claire McCaskill
Claire Conner McCaskill is the senior United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Democratic Party. She defeated Republican incumbent Jim Talent in the 2006 U.S. Senate election, by a margin of 49.6% to 47.3%. She is the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Missouri in her own...
announced the State Emergency Agency of Missouri would receive $2, 623,409.71 in federal grant money to cover the state's cost in managing the Public Assistant Award Grants. In addition, it was announced the Citizens Electric Corporation is receiving a $1,395,201.46 grant to offset costs incurred repairing infrastructure in Perry
Perry County, Missouri
Perry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...
, Sainte Genevieve
Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri
Sainte Genevieve County, often abbreviated Ste. Genevieve County , is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 17,842. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 17,720. The largest city and county seat is...
, and Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Cape Girardeau County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 75,764. While the largest city in the county is Cape Girardeau, the county seat is actually Jackson, which was the first city named in honor of President...
counties.
See also
- Tornadoes of 2009Tornadoes of 2009This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2009. The majority of tornadoes form in the U.S., but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions...
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- May 2009 derecho seriesMay 2009 derecho seriesThe May 2009 derecho series was an unusually strong sequence of derecho events and tornadoes beginning on May 2, 2009 and continuing through May 8, which primarily affected the Southern United States. At least seven people were killed by the storms...
- List of derecho events
External links
- National Weather Service Paducah, KY summary
- National Weather Service Springfield, MO summary
- National Weather Service Saint Louis, MO summary
- National Weather Service Wichita, KS summary
- National Weather Service Louisville, KY summary
- National Weather Service Blacksburg, VA summary
- National Weather Service Morristown, TN summary
- NBC Chicago slideshow of damage in Carbondale