Tornado outbreak of November 15, 2005

A destructive tornado outbreak impacted the Midwestern United States and Tennessee River Valley on November 15, 2005. 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
confirmed		49 confirmed
Max. rating1F4 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2		6 hours, 5 minutes
Fatalities1 fatality, 108 injuries
Damage$68 million[1]
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 only violent tornado documented 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#LocationCountyTime (UTC)Path lengthDamage
Missouri
F0 E of Matthews New Madrid 1837 0.2 mile The first tornado of the outbreak was confirmed by the local sheriff, and no damage was reported.[8][9]
F0 NNW of East Prairie to NW of Whiting Mississippi 1844 0.2 mile Tornado sighted and reported by a local radio station. No damage was reported.[8][9]
F0 WSW of Lilbourn New Madrid 2044 0.2 mile An old equipment shed was destroyed, and a couple of power lines were downed near that shed. A large, 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 mile Brief tornado occurred near a reservoir and caused no damage.[8][9]
F0 NW of Metropolis Massac 1934 0.1 mile
(200 m)		 A weak, short-lived tornado was reported crossing the Ohio River just east of the Kentucky state line. 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. Some machine sheds, outbuildings, and a 32-foot travel trailer were all destroyed. Three farms were also damaged, and one house lost its entire roof..[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 structural damage impacted outbuildings, barns, and grain bins. Eleven outbuildings were severely damaged or destroyed. Three houses sustained minor damage. One attached garage was destroyed, and the debris was carried 150 yards downwind.[8][9]
F0 S of Harco Saline 2132 0.2 mile 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 its foundation, and others sustained shingle damage; in Dyer, the tornado damaged 25 houses as well as several businesses. Mobile homes and some utility sheds were also damaged in multiple locations.[8][9]
F1 N of Rutherford to Sidonia Weakley 1955 2 miles One house was significantly damaged. Two mobile homes and several other 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)		 A strong tornado destroyed several manufacturing facilities and about 30 houses, with another 70 houses sustaining damage of some degree. The Henry County emergency management center took a direct hit from the tornado and was forced to relocate. The tornado briefly displayed a twin funnel and injured 13 people.[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 mile
(800 m)		 A modular home was destroyed, and other houses were damaged.[8][9]
F0 SE of Erin (1st tornado) Houston 2210 0.2 mile Trees were snapped along Bateman Branch Road.[8][9]
F1 SE of Erin (2nd tornado) Houston 2210 0.3 mile Metal sheds and outbuildings sustained roof damage.[8][9]
F1 Shiloh Montgomery 2235 0.2 mile A mobile home was overturned and destroyed.[8][9]
F1 SW of Cunningham Montgomery 2236 0.2 mile A mobile home was damaged, and the roof was blown off of a market.[8][9]
F0 N of Cunningham Montgomery 2237 0.1 mile
(200 m)		 Damage was limited to trees.[8][9]
F2 S of Clarksville Montgomery 2244 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 A well-built brick house had its roof torn off, and large trees were snapped.[8][9]
F0 NE of Holladay Benton 2250 0.1 mile
(200 m)		 Trees were snapped.[8][9]
F1 S of New Johnsonville Humphreys 2255 2 miles A mobile home and a house were destroyed, and several other houses sustained roof damage. One barn also lost its roof.[8][9]
F2 N of Sylvia Dickson 2333 1 mile
(1.6 km)		 Multiple houses sustained extensive damage.[8][9]
F0 N of Charlotte Dickson 2340 0.1 mile
(200 m)		 Damage was limited to trees.[8][9]
F2 N of Collinwood Wayne 0002 6 miles
(10 km)		 This strong tornado snapped numerous large trees and damaged multiple houses, nearly destroying one of them. Two trailer homes were pushed off their foundations, and a barn was destroyed. One person was injured.[8][9]
F0 E of Pleasant View Robertson 0005 0.1 mile
(200 m)		 Trees were snapped and large branches were downed.[8][9]
F0 NW of Nashville Davidson 0015 0.1 mile
(200 m)		 Utility poles were broken near Whites Creek Pike.[8][9]
F0 SW of Burwood (1st tornado) Maury 0025 0.1 mile
(200 m)		 Brief tornado with no damage.[8][9]
F0 SW of Burwood (2nd tornado) Williamson 0032 0.1 mile
(200 m)		 Brief tornado with no damage.[8][9]
F0 SE of Hendersonville Sumner 0042 0.1 mile
(200 m)		 Several trees were blown down.[8][9]
Kentucky
F0 Rossington McCracken 1930 0.2 mile 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 – This 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 where 115 RVs were destroyed, along with a dock and several boats, Nineteen houses were destroyed, 36 others sustained major damage, and 65 more received minor damage. A man was killed when his mobile home was thrown 40 feet. The tornado damaged several more houses at F2 intensity near Lake Barkley before dissipating. This tornado was on the ground for 65 minutes, and about 20 people were injured.[8][9]
F0 SE of Princeton Caldwell 2101 0.2 mile Several trees were downed.[8][9]
F4 Earlington to Southeastern Madisonville to W of Sacramento Hopkins 2127 15 miles
(24 km)		 Violent mult-vortex tornado first struck Earlington where houses 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 found wedged against trees and other debris. Damage also occurred along the east side of Madisonville. A total of 151 houses and buildings were destroyed, 67 others sustained major damage, and 303 more showed minor damage. At least 40 people were injured. This was the only violent tornado that occurred in 2005.[8][9]
F1 ENE of Calhoun McLean 2204 0.2 mile The front porch of a house was blown off, and an outbuilding behind it was moved slightly.[8][9]
F0 N of Utica Daviess 2212 0.2 mile 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 houses, 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 mile
(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 damaged 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. A total of 123 houses 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 mile Brief tornado damaged two houses. 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 farmhouse was blown off its foundation. At least 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 mile
(200 m)		 Tornado partially tore the roof off 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 mile A service station received moderate roof damage and had its awning partially torn off. Numerous trees were snapped and twisted in this vicinity. A house sustained shingle damage and had a window blown out. Extensive power line damage occurred, and a 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. 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. "Tornado History Project: November 15, 2005". Archived from the original on 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  9. "Storm Events Database - Search Results | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov.
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