Monday, March 5, 2012

The Tornado Chronicles: Far Eastern Tennessee Area Tornadoes of 3-2-12...

A total of five tornadoes of EF-2 intensity or higher were surveyed by the National Weather Service (NWS) as a result of the severe weather outbreak of March 2, 2012 across far eastern Tennessee and along the Tennessee / North Carolina border. One of the tornadoes was rated EF-3 intensity, while the other four were rated EF-2 intensity.


The lone EF-3 tornado took place in Harrison (in Hamilton County, just to the Northeast of Chattanooga), and tracked East/Northeastward into adjacent portions of Bradley County. The total path length was 25.9 miles, with maximum winds estimated at 165 mph. The maximum path width was 300 yards.

Damage took place a the marina and on Hunter Road in Harrison.  The following YouTube video shows some of the damage near the marina:


Here is a still photo showing more of the damage at the marina:


According to media reports, 6 to 8 people were "severely" injured in the Short Tail Springs area of Harrison.  About 10 people reportedly sustained minor injuries.

The NWS has not yet provided mapping and/or detailed track information for the Harrison tornado.  Please check back for this information as it becomes available.


The first two EF-2 tornadoes were clustered fairly close to one another in southeast Tennessee, near Delano and Tellico Plains:


The Delano tornado (left track on image above) had maximum sustained winds estimated at 130 mph, was 120 yards wide at its widest damage path, and was on the ground for 10.5 miles.  

The Tellico Plains tornado (right track on image above) had maximum sustained winds estimated at 130 mph, was 400 yards wide at its widest damage path, and was on the ground for 14.9 miles.  According to the NWS survey, approximately 30 structures were damaged, with a few destroyed.

The following video shows vigorous rotation as the storm approached Tellico Plains, and at about 1:10 into the video, a condensation funnel becomes visible.  NOTE:  this video contains bad language - cover any young ears in the room (or just mute it - you don't really gain anything by listening to the conversation):


The following video shows some of the damage in and around Tellico Plains (also a "language alert" on this one):



Another EF-2 tornado took place near Murphy, NC (in Cherokee County along the Tennessee / North Carolina border).  Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 120 mph.  According to the NWS survey, "moderate to major damage" was reported to several businesses and a few homes near Murphy.  





One local citizen caught a picture of the actual tornado near Murphy as well:


Detailed mapping and/or track information has not been provided by the NWS for this tornado.  Please check back for updates.

A fourth EF-2 tornado took place near Harrogate (Claiborne County) near the Tennessee / Kentucky border:


This tornado produced maximum winds estimated at 120 mph, and had a maximum path width of 250 yards.  The tornado is reported to have blown the roofs off of "several" homes in the Harrogate area.

The following YouTube video shows damage from this tornado and the associated severe thunderstorm in the Harrogate area:


Additional/detailed survey data has not yet been provided by the NWS for this tornado.  Please check back for additional updates as information becomes available.

This tornado was just one of many associated with the outbreak that took place across the Midwest, Ohio and Tennessee Valley region on Friday, March 2, 2012.  Please see this post for a "Table of Contents" index listing of the other Tornado Chronicles posts associated with the outbreak. 


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