Our series on the tornadoes of 2004 continues.
The year was an average one for tornadoes until August. Then one tropical storm and five tornadoes affected areas from Florida to the mid Atlantic in August and September. Two of the hurricanes were prolific tornado producers. Hurricane Frances produced 117 tornadoes, breaking the old record set by 1967’s Hurricane Beulah. Hurricane Ivan generated 104 reports of tornadoes and Jeanne sixteen. The tropical cyclones led to a record number of tornadoes for any August or September.
The second deadliest tornado of the year struck Blountstown, Florida late on the evening of September 15th is association with the outer bands of landfalling Hurricane Ivan. There were three other killer tornadoes on the 15th in the vicinity of Panama City, including an F2 that killed one person at Hamilton’s Restaurant. Another tornado killed one person at Carnesville, Georgia the following afternoon when a tree fell on a car.
Four killer tornadoes were reported in November, including the final killer of the year, which struck Bynum early on the morning of November 24th.
There were 19 killer tornadoes during the year. Not surprisingly, there were more F3 killer tornadoes than any other category. Those five twisters accounted for 12 of the 35 fatalities. The two F4 killer tornadoes were responsible for four deaths. Nearly half of the killer tornadoes (9) were F0-F2 in intensity. Those nine killer tornadoes resulted in thirteen of the fatalities.
Sixteen of the nineteen killer tornadoes occurred within the boundaries of a valid tornado watch. Another occurred in a valid severe thunderstorm watch. Another occurred as a result of Tropical Storm Bonnie near Rocky Point, N.C. on August 13th when a tornado struck a trailer park, killing three people. A weak tornado killed a man in a corrugated building near Cameron, Texas on June 26th.
Illinois led the list of states with the most tornado fatalities in 2004, with nine. Eight of these occurred in the Utica tornado on April 20th. Missouri and Florida were tied for second, with seven each. Alabama had one.
The year was an average one for tornadoes until August. Then one tropical storm and five tornadoes affected areas from Florida to the mid Atlantic in August and September. Two of the hurricanes were prolific tornado producers. Hurricane Frances produced 117 tornadoes, breaking the old record set by 1967’s Hurricane Beulah. Hurricane Ivan generated 104 reports of tornadoes and Jeanne sixteen. The tropical cyclones led to a record number of tornadoes for any August or September.
The second deadliest tornado of the year struck Blountstown, Florida late on the evening of September 15th is association with the outer bands of landfalling Hurricane Ivan. There were three other killer tornadoes on the 15th in the vicinity of Panama City, including an F2 that killed one person at Hamilton’s Restaurant. Another tornado killed one person at Carnesville, Georgia the following afternoon when a tree fell on a car.
Four killer tornadoes were reported in November, including the final killer of the year, which struck Bynum early on the morning of November 24th.
There were 19 killer tornadoes during the year. Not surprisingly, there were more F3 killer tornadoes than any other category. Those five twisters accounted for 12 of the 35 fatalities. The two F4 killer tornadoes were responsible for four deaths. Nearly half of the killer tornadoes (9) were F0-F2 in intensity. Those nine killer tornadoes resulted in thirteen of the fatalities.
Sixteen of the nineteen killer tornadoes occurred within the boundaries of a valid tornado watch. Another occurred in a valid severe thunderstorm watch. Another occurred as a result of Tropical Storm Bonnie near Rocky Point, N.C. on August 13th when a tornado struck a trailer park, killing three people. A weak tornado killed a man in a corrugated building near Cameron, Texas on June 26th.
Illinois led the list of states with the most tornado fatalities in 2004, with nine. Eight of these occurred in the Utica tornado on April 20th. Missouri and Florida were tied for second, with seven each. Alabama had one.
on January 3, 2005, 8:45 am
Thank You,
John Gravitt, out in Clay.
Reply to this comment