Tornado outbreak of November 15, 2005

The tornado outbreak of November 15, 2005 was a tornado outbreak on November 15, 2005, in the Midwestern United States. It occurred along a cold front separating warm, humid air from the southeast from cold Arctic air to the north and northwest. 49 tornadoes were confirmed in the central United States in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee over that afternoon and evening. Strong winds and large hail caused additional damage throughout the region.[2]

Tornado outbreak of November 15, 2005
F4 tornado behind James Madison Middle School in Madisonville, Kentucky on November 15, 2005 by Leonard Costanzo.
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationNovember 15, 2005
Tornadoes confirmed49 confirmed
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak26 hours, 5 minutes
Damage$68 million[1]
Casualties1 fatality, 108 injuries
Areas affectedMidwestern United States, Tennessee River Valley

1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

The strongest tornado was an F4 tornado on the Fujita scale; it occurred in the vicinity of Earlington and Madisonville, Kentucky. It was also the strongest tornado recorded in the United States in 2005.

Meteorological synopsis

The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma had issued a "high risk" for severe weather over an area from northern Mississippi to central Indiana.[3] Such a declaration is unusual (particularly for November) and means that there is a significant threat for severe thunderstorms with widespread tornadic activity. When the first tornado watches of the afternoon were issued, the SPC had declared a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) for destructive tornadoes in several of the tornado watches, a highly unusual alert which notifies that frequent and dangerous tornadoes are possible, and by late that evening, no less than 49 tornadoes (including ten strong tornadoes and one violent tornado) were confirmed, and several more unconfirmed tornadoes were reported (and later confirmed as microbursts).[4][5][6][7] Fortunately, the tornadoes were centered over more rural areas and damage was scattered but severe over many communities. There were numerous injuries, but remarkably, only one person was killed. The low casualty toll was likely due to the fact the outbreak was well-predicted and primarily occurred in the afternoon when people are most aware of the situation.

This was the third major tornado outbreak of November 2005, the other two being in Evansville, Indiana on November 6 (killing 25 people) and in much of Iowa on November 12 (killing one person). There was another major outbreak in the same general area on November 27 and 28, killing two people.

Confirmed tornadoes
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 21 17 7 3 1 0 49
List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, November 15, 2005
F#
Location
County
Time (UTC)
Path length
Damage
Missouri
F0 E of Matthews New Madrid 1837 0.2 miles The first tornado of the outbreak was confirmed to be on the ground by the local sheriff and lasted at least 10 minutes. No damage was reported.[8][9]
F0 NNW of East Prairie to NW of Whiting Mississippi 1844 0.2 miles Tornado sighted and reported by a local radio station. No damage was reported.[8][9]
F0 WSW of Lilbourn New Madrid 2044 0.2 miles An old equipment shed was destroyed. Near the shed, a couple of power lines were downed and a large, but partially rotten tree was snapped off about halfway up.[8][9]
F1 SW of Lilbourn to North Lilbourn New Madrid 2055 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 Moderate damage occurred on the western side of Lilbourn. A couple of mobile homes were pushed several feet off of their foundations. Several projectiles were embedded into one of the mobile homes. A considerable amount of debris was stuck in the trees in the area. Numerous trees were either sheared off or blown down. A minivan was turned slightly, and a couple of small outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Near the end of the tornado track in North Lilbourne, a couple of farm trailers and a couple of empty semi trailers were overturned. Two people were injured.[8][9]
Illinois
F0 Eastern Norris City White 1910 0.2 miles Brief tornado occurred near a reservoir and caused no damage.[8][9]
F0 NW of Metropolis Massac 1934 0.1 miles
(200 m)		 A weak, short-lived tornado was reported crossing the Ohio River just east of the border with Kentucky. No damage was observed.[8][9]
F1 NW of Omega to SSE of Farina Marion 2035 5 miles Much of the path was through Stephen A. Forbes State Park, where extensive tree damage occurred. Tornado destroyed a 32-foot travel trailer and a machine shed. Three farms were also damaged. One home lost its entire roof, several machine sheds and outbuildings were destroyed, and large trees were downed.[8][9]
F1 W of Bogota to Newton to Sam Parr State Park Jasper 2115 10 miles
(16 km)		 Tornado downed numerous trees and power lines as it moved directly through Newton. The majority of the structure damage impacted outbuildings, barns and grain bins. 11 outbuildings were severely damaged or destroyed. Three homes sustained minor damage. One attached garage was destroyed, with the debris carried 150 yards downwind.[8][9]
F0 S of Harco Saline 2132 0.2 miles Brief touchdown. No damage was reported.[8][9]
Tennessee
F1 W of Eaton to Dyer Crockett, Gibson 1920 15 miles
(24 km)		 In Crockett County, one house was shifted off of its foundation and some homes suffered shingle damage. Several mobile homes and utility sheds were also damaged. In Gibson County, the tornado struck Dyer, where 25 homes and several businesses were damaged. Mobile homes and some utility sheds were damaged as well.[8][9]
F1 N of Rutherford to Sidonia Weakley 1955 2 miles One house suffered significant damage. Two mobile homes and several houses were damaged to a lesser extent. Many trees were blown down or uprooted as well.[8][9]
F2 Palestine to Paris to NE of Buchanan Henry 2035 20 miles
(32 km)		 100 houses were damaged, mostly on the north side of Paris. 30 of the homes were destroyed. Several manufacturing facilities were also demolished. The Henry County emergency management center took a direct hit from the tornado and was forced to relocate. 13 people were injured. The tornado briefly displayed a twin funnel. 13 people were injured.[8][9]
F1 ENE of Vale Benton 2135 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 A house lost part of its roof.[8][9]
F2 N of Camden Benton 2138 1.2 miles A house had its roof torn off.[8][9]
F2 S of Tennessee Ridge Houston 2204 0.5 miles
(800 m)		 A modular home was destroyed, and other homes were damaged.[8][9]
F0 SE of Erin (1st tornado) Houston 2210 0.2 miles Trees were snapped along Bateman Branch Road.[8][9]
F1 SE of Erin (2nd tornado) Houston 2210 0.3 miles Metal sheds and outbuildings sustained roof damage.[8][9]
F1 Shiloh Montgomery 2235 0.2 miles A mobile home was overturned and destroyed.[8][9]
F1 SW of Cunningham Montgomery 2236 0.2 miles A mobile home was damaged and the roof was blown off of a market.[8][9]
F0 N of Cunningham Montgomery 2237 0.1 miles
(200 m)		 Damage was limited to trees.[8][9]
F2 S of Clarksville Montgomery 2244 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 A well-built brick home had its roof torn off, and large trees were snapped.[8][9]
F0 NE of Holladay Benton 2250 0.1 miles
(200 m)		 Trees were snapped.[8][9]
F1 S of New Johnsonville Humphreys 2255 2 miles A house and a mobile were destroyed, and several other homes sustained roof damage. A barn lost its roof.[8][9]
F2 N of Sylvia Dickson 2333 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 Multiple homes sustained extensive damage.[8][9]
F0 N of Charlotte Dickson 2340 0.1 miles
(200 m)		 Damage was limited to trees.[8][9]
F2 N of Collinwood Wayne 0002 6 miles
(10 km)		 Tornado snapped numerous large trees and damaged multiple homes, one of which was nearly destroyed. Two trailer homes were pushed off of their foundations, and a barn was destroyed. One person was injured.[8][9]
F0 E of Pleasant View Robertson 0005 0.1 miles
(200 m)		 Trees were snapped and large branches were downed.[8][9]
F0 NW of Nashville Davidson 0015 0.1 miles
(200 m)		 Utility poles were broken near Whites Creek Pike.[8][9]
F0 SW of Burwood (1st tornado) Maury 0025 0.1 miles
(200 m)		 Brief tornado with no damage.[8][9]
F0 SW of Burwood (2nd tornado) Williamson 0032 0.1 miles
(200 m)		 Brief tornado with no damage.[8][9]
F0 SE of Hendersonville Sumner 0042 0.1 miles
(200 m)		 Several trees were blown down.[8][9]
Kentucky
F0 Rossington McCracken 1930 0.2 miles Brief tornado with no damage.[8][9]
F3 S of Mayfield to Benton to SW of Princeton Graves, Calloway, Marshall, Lyon 1945 44 miles
(70 km)		 1 death – Strong, long-tracked tornado began near Mayfield, downing trees and damaging garages and outbuildings. In Calloway County, additional tree and outbuilding damage occurred. In Marshall County, the tornado reached F3 intensity as it passed just south of Benton. The tornado then crossed the Kentucky Lake and devastated the Hillman Ferry Campground. Here, 115 RVs were destroyed, along with a dock and several boats, 19 homes were destroyed, 36 others suffered major damage, and 65 more received minor damage. A man was killed when his mobile home was thrown 40 feet. The tornado damaged several homes at F2 intensity near Lake Barkley before dissipating after being on the ground for 65 minutes. 20 people were injured.[8][9]
F0 SE of Princeton Caldwell 2101 0.2 miles Several trees were downed.[8][9]
F4 Earlington to Southeastern Madisonville to W of Sacramento Hopkins 2127 15 miles
(24 km)		 Violent multiple-vortex tornado first struck Earlington, where F4 damage occurred. Several homes there were leveled, trees were "reduced to nubs", and the ground was reportedly scoured to bare soil. A steel beam was carried through the air and was found wedged against trees and other debris. The tornado then clipped the east side of Madisonville, where additional damage occurred. Along the path, about 151 homes and buildings were destroyed, 67 suffered major damage, and 303 received minor damage. 40 people were injured. This was the only violent tornado recorded on Earth in 2005.[8][9]
F1 ENE of Calhoun McLean 2204 0.2 miles The front porch of a house was blown off. An outbuilding behind the house was moved slightly.[8][9]
F0 N of Utica Daviess 2212 0.2 miles Brief tornado touched down over an open field with no damage.[8][9]
F1 NW of Adairville to S of Middleton Logan 2315 8.4 miles Many homes, trailers, barns, and outbuildings were damaged.[8][9]
F2 NNE of Turnertown Simpson 2352 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 Tornado damaged trailers and downed many trees.[8][9]
F1 Woodburn Warren 0007 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 Tornado struck the north side of town. Three businesses, six homes, and numerous barns and outbuildings were damaged. Initially thought to have been straight-line winds.[8][9]
Arkansas
F0 SW of Pine Bluff Jefferson 2020 0.7 miles
(1.1 km)		 A number of trees were snapped off along the path of the tornado, and one house sustained chimney damage.[8][9]
F1 NNE of Gillett to SSE of Ethel Arkansas 2052 16.5 miles
(27 km)		 Tornado destroyed a barn and an outbuilding, and damaged several others. A few houses had shingles torn off, and hundreds of trees were knocked down or broken off. A few power poles were also knocked down.[8][9]
F1 Hyden Arkansas 2055 3.5 miles
(5.5 km)		 The tornado blew down some trees and tore tin off the roofs of several barns.[8][9]
Indiana
F3 NE of Washington to Burns City Daviess, Martin 2040 12 miles
(20 km)		 In Daviess County, the K&K Industries plant was destroyed, trapping several employees. 123 homes and 20 businesses in the county were damaged or destroyed. In Martin County, F1 intensity damage occurred. 31 people were injured.[8][9]
F1 S of Coveyville Lawrence 2125 0.2 miles Brief tornado damaged two homes. This tornado came from the same supercell that spawned the F3 tornado in Daviess and Martin Counties.[8][9]
F3 NW of Old St Louis Bartholomew, Shelby 2219 10 miles
(23 km)		 A large hog farm was severely damaged, and an old farm house was blown off its foundation. 25 properties were damaged in this largely rural area, with six declared total losses. One person was injured. This tornado came from the same supercell that produced the previous F1 and F3 tornadoes.[8][9]
F1 WNW of Friendly Corner to SW of Van Buren Grant 0010 3 miles
(5 km)		 A house sustained roof damage, several trees and power lines were downed, and grain elevator augers were overturned. The tornado crossed Interstate 69, which resulted in a semi truck being blown off the highway.[8][9]
Alabama
F0 Vernon Lamar 0030 0.1 miles
(200 m)		 Tornado partially tore the roof off of a building supply company, and slightly damaged a few other adjacent smaller buildings in town.[8][9]
F0 NE of Crane Hill Cullman 0230 0.3 miles A service station received moderate roof damage and had its awning partially torn off. Numerous trees were snapped and twisted in this vicinity. A home sustained shingle damage and had a window blown out. Extensive power line damage occurred, and pump house was destroyed as well.[8][9]
Sources: NOAA storm data, Paducah office, Memphis office, Little Rock office, Lincoln office, Louisville office, St. Louis office, Nashville office, Northern Indiana office, WCDQ Radio news, WSMB

See also

References
  1. NCDC Storm Events-Select State Archived 2009-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
  2. https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051116/ap_on_re_us/severe_weather
  3. Thompson; Guyer (November 15, 2005). "Nov 15, 2005 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
  4. "Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch 865". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. November 15, 2005. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  5. "Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch 866". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. November 15, 2005. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  6. "Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch 868". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. November 15, 2005. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  7. "Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch 869". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. November 15, 2005. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  8. http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/2005/11/15/table
  9. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=11&beginDate_dd=15&beginDate_yyyy=2005&endDate_mm=11&endDate_dd=15&endDate_yyyy=2005&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL
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