Extreme Weather Events from August 15, 2010 through August 31, 2010.
by Michael Leiba

Above Normal Temperatures*:

In the first half of September, daily record high temperatures were set in the nation's Southwest and Midwest. Some of the records include:

Liberal, Kansas 106 September 5
Borger, Texas 103 September 6
Gage, Oklahoma 102 September 15
El Paso, Texas 100*** September 2
Borger, Texas 100 September 15
Clayton, New Mexico 99*** September 5
Amarillo, Texas 98 September 15
Dalhart, Texas 97 September 15

Temperatures were also above normal throughout much of Alaska during the middle part of September. Attached below is a sample of the warmer than normal temperatures in the form of a Public Information Statement from the Fairbanks Alaska Weather Forecast Office on September 13:

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
737 PM AKDT MON SEP 13 2010

...ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES CONTINUE ACROSS THE INTERIOR...TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM 10 TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL ACROSS MUCH OF THE INTERIOR TODAY. THIS WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE AT LEAST THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.

HIGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE INTERIOR FOR THROUGH 7PM.
FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...70
TANANA..................................................69
NENANA..................................................66
DELTA JUNCTION..........................................65
NORTHWAY................................................59
MCKINLEY PARK...........................................68
GALENA..................................................69
MCGRATH.................................................71
BETTLES.................................................66
ARCTIC VILLAGE..........................................61

SOME OF THESE STATIONS SET NEW DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS.
MCGRATH................71 THE OLD RECORD WAS 68 SET IN 1968
GALENA.................69 THE OLD RECORD WAS 66 SET IN 1965
TANANA.................69 THE OLD RECORD WAS 67 SET IN 1965

$$
MKK

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Below Normal Temperatures

September also saw record low temperatures. This is mainly due to the early seasonal passage of cold fronts. Some of these daily record lows include:

Gunnison, Colorado (3 miles to the southwest) 24 September 7
Alliance, Nebraska 29 September 7
Craig, Colorado (4 miles to the southwest) 31 September 7
Roosevelt, Utah 32 September 11
Gateway, Colorado 41 September 11
Burlington, Colorado 42*** September 3

Attached below is a Public Information Statement from the Weather Forecast Office in Riverton, Wyoming describing the record low temperatures in the state of Wyoming:

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
735 PM MDT TUE SEP 7 2010

AN UNSEASONABLY COLD AIRMASS SETTLED INTO WYOMING MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT BEHIND A CANADIAN COLD FRONT. RECORD COLD HIT AREAS OF CENTRAL WYOMING THIS MORNING ALONG WITH THE FIRST HARD FREEZE FOR SOME AREAS. THE FOLLOWING RECORD LOWS HAVE BEEN SET OR TIED SINCE SEPTEMBER 1ST...

LOCATION/DATE RECORD OLD RECORD

NATRONA COUNTY AIRPORT (CASPER)

SEPTEMBER 7 28~ 36 IN 2000
SEPTEMBER 6 33 33 IN 1956 (TIE)
SEPTEMBER 3 31^ 32 IN 2008

~RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SO EARLY IN THE SEASON FOR SEPTEMBER 7TH.
^ RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SO EARLY IN THE SEASON FOR SEPTEMBER 3RD.

ROCK SPRINGS AIRPORT

SEPTEMBER 7 35 36 IN 2001
SEPTEMBER 6 35 36 IN 2001

WORLAND AIRPORT

SEPTEMBER 7 34 36 IN 1984

$$
AEM

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Rainfall

On September 5-7, areas of eastern Texas received heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Hermine. Attached below is a Public Information Statement from the Fort Worth Weather Forecast Office which lists the total rainfall amounts:

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
902 PM CDT WED SEP 08 2010

...PRELIMINARY 48 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ENDING AT 7 PM...

THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM HERMINE HAS BROUGHT VERY HEAVY RAINFALL TO PARTS OF NORTH TEXAS.

LOCATION RAINFALL /INCHES/

YOUT2 YOUNGSPORT 11.27
HLR FORT HOOD AAF 11.26
KIET2 KILLEEN 11.13
STIT2 STILLHOUSE HOLLOW 10.66
WTYT2 LAKE WHITNEY 10.50
BCAT2 LAKE AMON CARTER 10.06
STIT2 STILLHOUSE HOLLOW 10.01
LBJT2 LBJ GRASSLANDS RAWS 9.54
BLNT2 BELTON LAKE 9.37
BUMT2 BLUM 8.18
TMCT2 MARINE CREEK LAKE 8.21
ACT WACO ASOS 817
DDGT2 DALLAS ALERT 107 8.03
GRK ROBERT GRAY AP 7.99
BCHT2 FORT WORTH 7.94
DDPT2 DALLAS ALERT 795 7.79
DECT2 DECATUR 7.74
RRLT2 LAKE RAY ROBERTS 7.49
ERMT2 EVERMAN 7.48
PICT2 PIDCOKE 7.31
DDHT2 DALLAS ALERT 115 7.24
FTW FTW MEACHAM ASOS 7.20
DCRT2 DALLAS ALERT 613 7.16
DBBT2 DALLAS ALERT 677 7.16
DCZT2 DALLAS ALERT 777 7.09
GPNT2 GRAPEVINE DAM WX STA 7.05
DTNT2 DENTON 2SE 7.02
TWFT2 TRWD SUMP 13 7.01
ZZAT2 KELLER 6.95
DDCT2 DALLAS ALERT 485 6.77
CART2 CARROLLTON 6.70
DBIT2 DALLAS ALERT 195 6.69
LEWT2 LAKE LEWISVILLE 6.64
CDDT2 CADDO WILDLIFE MNGT 6.62
DDOT2 DALLAS ALERT 745 6.58
FWOT2 FORT WORTH 6.53
TCET2 CEMENT LAKE 6.52
DDLT2 DALLAS ALERT 377 6.42
DAL DALLAS LOVE ASOS 6.42
CWFT2 CRAWFORD 6.42
DAHT2 DALLAS ALERT 775 6.38
VNST2 VENUS 6.37
GPRT2 GRAND PRAIRIE 6.35
ZZFT2 KELLER 6.34
DTO DENTON ASOS 6.34
GKY ARLINGTON ASOS 6.32
TWHT2 TRWD SUMP 8 6.31
COVT2 COLLINSVILLE 6.31
BNBT2 LAKE BENBROOK 6.29
DFW DALLAS/FORT WORTH AP 6.24
DDMT2 DALLAS ALERT 504 6.22
DDDT2 DALLAS ALERT 635 6.22
KEMT2 KEMPNER 6.19
MEGT2 MCGREGOR RAWS 6.18
AFW FTW ALLIANCE ASOS 6.16
GPVT2 LAKE GRAPEVINE 6.14
GAIT2 GAINESVILLE 1N 6.12
DADT2 DALLAS ALERT 255 6.07
GUNT2 GUNTER 6.06
DBGT2 DALLAS ALERT 623 6.06
ILE KILEEN AWOS 6.03
DABT2 DALLAS ALERT 415 6.03
DDKT2 DALLAS ALERT 171 6.02
DCJT2 JUSTIN 6.02
DWRT2 WHITE ROCK CREEK AT 6.01
MNMT2 MORGAN MILL 6.00
EAMT2 EAGLE MOUNTAIN LAKE 6.00

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Severe Weather (Damaging Winds)

A series of tornados, most likely from the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine, effected parts of Dallas, Texas on September 8. Attached below is the Public Information Statement that covers these tornadic events:

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
540 PM CDT THU SEP 9 2010

...PRELIMINARY DAMAGE REPORT...

A TOTAL OF SIX TORNADOES OCCURRED ON WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH. FOUR TORNADOES WERE RATED EF0 ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE. ONE TORNADO WAS RATED EF1...AND ONE TORNADO WAS PRELIMINARILY RATED EF2. ONLY TWO MINOR INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED FROM ALL OF THESE STORMS.

THE EF2 TORNADO DAMAGE WAS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF DALLAS NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF MOCKINGBIRD LANE AND IRVING BOULEVARD. THIS TORNADO CAUSED MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO SEVERAL BUILDINGS AND CAUSED MORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO A WAREHOUSE. AN EXTERIOR NON LOAD BEARING WALL COLLAPSED...LEADING TO A PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF THE ROOF. THIS DAMAGE WAS RATED EF2 ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE WITH WIND SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 115 MPH. THE LAST TIME THE CITY OF DALLAS HAD A TORNADO RATED AT F2/EF2 OR HIGHER WAS F2 TORNADO DAMAGE ON APRIL 11 1974. THE LANCASTER TORNADO OF APRIL 25 1994 PRODUCED F4 DAMAGE IN THE CITY OF LANCASTER BEFORE DISSIPATING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF DALLAS.

THE EF1 TORNADO DAMAGE WAS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF SEAGOVILLE JUST EAST OF HIGHWAY 175. AT LEAST THREE APARTMENT BUILDINGS SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT ROOF DAMAGE. WIND SPEEDS IN THIS TORNADO ARE ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR 90 MPH.

THE REMAINING TORNADO DAMAGE WAS GIVEN A PRELIMINARY RATING OF EF0. THESE TORNADOES OCCURRED NEAR LINDSAY IN COOKE COUNTY...NEAR FERRIS IN ELLIS COUNTY...IN HEATH IN ROCKWALL COUNTY...AND NEAR BLOSSOM IN LAMAR COUNTY.

THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE RATES TORNADO DAMAGE.

ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE APPROXIMATE WIND SPEED RANGE

EF0 65-85 MPH
EF1 86-110 MPH
EF2 111-135 MPH
EF3 136-165 MPH
EF4 166-200 MPH
EF5 200 MPH OR GREATER

$$

FOX

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On September 13, severe thunderstorms caused significant wind damage in parts of Nebraska. Attached below is the Public Information Statement from the Omaha/Valley Weather Forecast Office describing the damage in more detail.

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY
345 PM CDT TUE SEP 14 2010

NWS PERSONNEL CONDUCTED A STORM DAMAGE SURVEY ACROSS PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA...AFTER A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVED THROUGH THE REGION ON MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING SEPTEMBER 13 2010.

WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DURING THE STORM...EXTENDING FROM NEAR ITHACA...SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH GREENWOOD AND ASHLAND...CONTINUING SOUTHEAST TO ELMWOOD... MURDOCK...AND WEEPING WATER. THE STORM CONTINUED TO MOVE SOUTHEAST WITH ADDITIONAL WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE EXTENDING TO SYRACUSE AND DUNBAR...AND EVENTUALLY JOHNSON...AUBURN AND FALLS CITY.

THE DAMAGE REPORTED HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL...WITH MOST LOCATIONS ALONG THE PATH OF THE STORM EXPERIENCING VERY LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN... SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES...POWER POLES BEING SNAPPED...SHEDS AND OUTBUILDINGS BEING DESTROYED...AND CROPS BEING FLATTENED. ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE STORM...WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 70 TO 80 MPH. ONE SPOTTER MEASURED A WIND GUST AROUND 76 MPH 4 MILES WEST OF ASHLAND. THE DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM HAS CONFIRMED THAT WINDS OF AT LEAST 70 TO 80 MPH OCCURRED ALONG THE PATH OF THE STORM...POSSIBLY AS HIGH AS 90 MPH NEAR GREENWOOD WHERE THE ROOF OF A MOTEL APPEARED TO BE LIFTED OFF.

HOWEVER...AT THIS TIME THE DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM HAS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A SMALL TORNADO EMBEDDED WITHIN LARGER SCALE WIND DAMAGE SWATH. ALL OF THE DAMAGE APPEARED TO BE IN THE SAME DIRECTION WITH NO SIGNIFICANT TWISTING OR TURNING NOTED OF ANY TREES...CROPS OR DEBRIS. WHILE THE DAMAGE WAS VERY EXTENSIVE TO EXTREME FROM THE WIDESPREAD STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT A TORNADO OCCURRED.

$$
DEWALD

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On September 15, a severe weather event produced record size hailstones over parts of Kansas. Below is a special summary from the Weather forecast Office in Wichita, Kansas describing this event as well as other weather events for the month of September:

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September was a 'Hail' of a Month!

Holy hail! The gigantic west Wichita hailstone of September 15th is 'hailed' as king of Kansas hailstones

September Climate Summary

A secondary peak of severe thunderstorms has been known to occur during the month of September. The 2010 edition has definitely solidified that reputation for on the 15th...a record-setting hailstone landed in west Wichita like a meteorite.

On the afternoon and evening of the 15th...incredibly powerful...severe thunderstorms went on a rampage over south-central and southeast Kansas. These monstrosities bombarded parts of west and southwest Wichita with hail that at times reached 4 to nearly 8 inches in diameter! The giant hail punched holes in roofs...shattered windows...heavily damaged siding and thousands of vehicles. The monstrous supercells also unleashed 65 to 80 mph winds and spawned 8 tornadoes. Fortunately (the term is applied very loosely here) the twisters were little guys with short lifespans...but regardless...there was more than enough meteorological mayhem.

The largest hailstone measured 7.75 inches in diameter...15.5 inches in circumference...and weighed 1.1 pounds about 15 hours after it landed 2 miles west of Mid-Continent Airport. After a very careful and extremely detailed review that practically included an estimation of the angle of dangle of descent of the hailstone on impact...the hailstone will be crowned as the "new king of Kansas hailstones" by eclipsing the 5.7 inch diameter hailstone that had landed in Coffeyville 40 years earlier on September 3rd 1970.

Several hailstones...reaching 4 to 5 inches in diameter...bombarded west and southwest Wichita...including Mid-Continent Airport where the colossal hail produced divots that were around 10 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep in front of the forecast office! A few of the staff who worked the event described the hail as sounding as if "shot puts were being dropped onto the roof". The humongous hail smashed windows and punched holes in roofs with some hailstones actually landing in living rooms and bedrooms. The giant hail also ruined many yards and turned 18 hole golf courses into extremely challenging 180-hole masterpieces.

As the severe thunderstorms invaded southeast Kansas later that evening damaging 65 to 80 mph winds became the primary threat. The most serious damage occurred in Winfield where winds around 80 mph tore the steeple off a church and hurled it into an SUV. In southeast Kansas...Parsons was whipped by 70 mph winds that damaged the emergency operations center. No doubt tree...power line and power pole damage was widespread.

For residents of southeast Kansas, September was quite stormy on several occasions. In fact...when the month took the baton from August...there was some concern that these areas were getting abnormally dry. Did that ever change. The month got off to a soggy start when thunderstorms with heavy rains visited the area on the 1st and 2nd. Chanute measured 2.65 inches over the 2-day period while 2.97 inches soaked Coffeyville. Just 1 week later...southeast Kansas would get rained on every day from the 7th to the 15th. During this 8-day period...Chanute measured 5.40 inches of rain while Coffeyville measured 3.47 inches. These areas received rain on the 23rd and 24th and although copious amounts did not occur...it was enough to keep 2010 on a pace to gain admission into the top 10 wettest Septembers on record for Chanute with a monthly total of 8.48 inches. The Coffeyville water plant measured 7.73 inches and while major gaps exist in their climate record...indications was that 2010 was clearly on a pace to crack the top 10 wettest Septembers list there as well. But the spigot was turned off...and 2010 wound up ranking 12th on Chanute’s all-time wettest Septembers list.

For central Kansas...the only volatile period occurred from the 13th to the 15th when thunderstorms...a few of which were severe with very heavy rains and 60 to 70 mph winds...invaded the area. The torrential rains garnered the greater attention. Salina set rainfall records on the 13th and 15th with 1.58 inches and 1.67 inches...respectively. Of the 5.42 inches measured in Russell...4.46 inches soaked the airport early in the morning of the 15th to set a record for the date. A nearby weather lab measured 4.92 inches. Such copious rainfall in such a short period no doubt caused significant flooding and flash flooding...closing many roads in Russell county.

Autumn officially arrived on the 22nd at 1013 pm CDT and while the skies didn`t cooperate by enabling Kansans to witness a "super harvest moon" that night for the first time since 1991...the skies did clear for that weekend after a strong cold front surged southeast across the area. This enabled the coolest temperatures so far this season to spread across the state. Lows tumbled into the mid and upper 40s in most of central and south-central Kansas the morning of the 26th with all areas in the lower to mid 40s the following morning. In fact...September ended in a stellar fashion...signing off with sun-drenched days and moonlit nights.

It`s hard to believe but 2010 is 75% completed and with autumn`s arrival winter`s is close behind. As such weather concerns will soon shift from severe thunderstorms and all of their mayhem to the atmospheric fun and games that winter storms can bring.

* -All degree readings are in Fahrenheit.
*** -Denotes temperatures that tied the record high for the day

Source of information provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.