2005 Hurricane Cindy tornado outbreak
 Collapsed building at the Atlanta Motor Speedway as a result of an F2 tornado spawned by Cindy. | |
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | July 6–8, 2005 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 44 |
| Max rating1 | F2 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 47 hours, 15 minutes |
| Damage | $76.8 million (2005 USD) |
| Casualties | No fatalities; 1 injury |
| Areas affected | Southeastern United States |
|
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
The Hurricane Cindy (2005) tornado outbreak was a two-day tornado outbreak that was associated with the passage of Hurricane Cindy across the Southern United States starting on July 6, 2005 across the Gulf Coast states of Alabama and Florida as well as Georgia before ending in the Middle Atlantic Coast on early on July 8. The outbreak caused no fatalities and only one injury but was fairly strong, as there were three F2 tornadoes spawned due to Cindy. The hurricane itself killed three people, two in Georgia, one in Alabama.[1] Cindy produced a total of 44 tornadoes across seven states in a two-day span. Just three days after Hurricane Cindy had stuck the Southeastern United States, a much stronger and deadlier storm, Hurricane Dennis, made landfall on the Florida Panhandle on July 10.
Tornado event
The outbreak began as the remnants of Cindy weakened over Louisiana. As the storm weakened, strong thunderstorms began to develop along the edges of the system in Alabama. The first tornado touched down near Semmes, Alabama at 3:00 A.M. (CST). The tornado caused roof damage to several structures as well as knocking down several trees.[2] Over the next ten hours, several F0 and two F1 tornadoes touched down in Alabama and Florida. Later on July 6, the remnants of Cindy were moving over Alabama and the activity shifted into Georgia. At 8:45 PM (EST), a large tornado touched down near the Atlanta Motor Speedway causing severe damage to the structures in the complex. The tornado then moved into an airfield where several planes and helicopters were damaged. Numerous homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornado as well. The tornado was rated F2 by the NWS.[3] The activity slowed for a short while before picking back up in early afternoon hours on July 7 as the remnants of Cindy moved through Georgia. At 2:10PM (EST) an F2 tornado touched down about seven miles south of Taylorsville, North Carolina where three buildings were damaged a mobile home was destroyed.[4] About an hour later, another F2 tornado touched down in North Carolina. It touched down about four miles north-northeast of Harmony. The tornado damaged several buildings before moving into Yadkin County where an additional 13 buildings were damaged as well as severe crop damage to the tobacco and corn farms.[5] By the nighttime hours, the activity was shifting into Virginia. Before the remnants of Cindy moved out into the Atlantic Ocean, seven F1 tornadoes touched down in Virginia. The outbreak ended early on July 8 as Cindy began to move out over the Atlantic.
Confirmed tornadoes
| F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
July 6 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes - Wednesday, July 6, 2005 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | |
| Alabama | ||||||
| F0 | Semmes area | Mobile | 30°47′N 88°15′W / 30.78°N 88.25°W | 0900 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | The first tornado of the outbreak touched down around 3:00 a.m. CST near Semmes. Along the tornado's 1 mile (1.6 km) path, a few homes and outbuildings sustained roof damage. Several trees were also knocked down by the tornado. No injuries were reported as a result of the tornado and damages amounted to $50,000.[6] |
| F0 | Chunchula area | Mobile | 30°55′N 88°12′W / 30.92°N 88.2°W | 0953 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | A brief tornado touched down near Chunchula, knocking down several trees and power lines. No injuries were reported as a result of the tornado and damages amounted to $20,000.[7] |
| F0 | Leroy area | Washington | 31°30′N 87°59′W / 31.5°N 87.98°W | 1120 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | A brief tornado touched down near Leroy, knocking down several trees and power lines. No injuries were reported as a result of the tornado and damages amounted to $15,000.[8] |
| F0 | W of Walker Springs | Clarke | 31°32′N 87°53′W / 31.53°N 87.88°W | 1125 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado knocked down trees and power lines. Caused $15,000 in damages. |
| F0 | Atmore area | Escambia | 31°02′N 87°30′W / 31.03°N 87.5°W | 1220 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown, damage was confined to trees. Caused $5,000 in damages. |
| F0 | Watkins Bridge area | Covington | 31°05′N 86°26′W / 31.08°N 86.43°W | 1545 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado knocked down trees and power lines. Caused $15,000 in damages. |
| F0 | Lockhart area | Covington | 31°01′N 86°21′W / 31.02°N 86.35°W | 1557 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado knocked down trees and power lines. Caused $15,000 in damages. |
| F1 | N of Autaugaville | Autauga | 32°30′N 86°40′W / 32.5°N 86.67°W | 1827 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado damaged one outbuilding. Caused $14,000 in damages. |
| F0 | NW of Vida | Autauga | 32°37′N 86°41′W / 32.62°N 86.68°W | 1836 | 0.2 miles (0.3 km) | Brief touchdown, damage was confined to trees. Caused $3,000 in damages. |
| F0 | SSW of Cecil | Montgomery | 32°16′N 86°01′W / 32.27°N 86.02°W | 1842 | 7.6 miles (12.2 km) | Tornado caused damage to a baseball complex. Caused $22,000 in damages. |
| F0 | W of Shorter | Macon, Elmore | 32°24′N 85°59′W / 32.4°N 85.98°W | 1855 | 5.6 miles (9.0 km) | Tornado damaged a few structures. Caused $18,000 in damages. |
| F0 | SSW of Tallassee | Elmore | 32°31′N 85°54′W / 32.52°N 85.9°W | 1917 | 1.3 miles (2.1 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado damaged three homes and one outbuilding. Caused $38,000 in damages. |
| F1 | NW of Tuskegee | Macon | 32°31′N 85°48′W / 32.52°N 85.8°W | 1934 | 0.1 miles (0.2 km) | 1 Injury Brief touchdown, tornado completely destroyed an auto body shop. Caused $48,000 in damages. |
| F0 | SW of Prattville | Autauga | 32°25′N 86°33′W / 32.42°N 86.55°W | 1956 | 0.2 miles (0.3 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado damaged a few trees. Caused $2,000 in damages. |
| F0 | E of Camp Hill | Tallapoosa | 32°48′N 85°35′W / 32.8°N 85.58°W | 2034 | 0.1 miles (0.2 km) | Brief touchdown, no damage reported. |
| F0 | SW of Lafayette | Chambers | 32°44′N 85°28′W / 32.73°N 85.47°W | 2034 | 0.1 miles (0.2 km) | Brief touchdown, no damage reported. |
| F0 | E of Opelika | Lee | 32°39′N 85°13′W / 32.65°N 85.22°W | 2040 | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) | Brief touchdown, two mobile homes were damaged. Caused $34,000 in damages. |
| Florida | ||||||
| F0 | Cantonment area | Escambia | 30°37′N 87°20′W / 30.62°N 87.33°W | 1150 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado knocked down several trees and power lines. Caused $20,000 in damages. |
| F0 | Bratt area | Escambia | 30°58′N 87°26′W / 30.97°N 87.43°W | 1211 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado knocked down several trees and power lines. Caused $15,000 in damages. |
| F0 | Laurel Hill area | Okaloosa | 30°58′N 87°28′W / 30.97°N 87.47°W | 1555 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado knocked down several trees and power lines. Caused $15,000 in damages. |
| Georgia | ||||||
| F0 | SW of Rocky Mount | Meriwether | 33°09′N 84°41′W / 33.15°N 84.68°W | 2230 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | Brief touchdown, two mobile homes and a few vehicles were damaged. Caused $25,000 in damages. |
| F0 | N of Haralson | Coweta | 33°17′N 84°34′W / 33.28°N 84.57°W | 0100 | 0.1 miles (0.2 km) | Brief touchdown, damage was confined to trees. Caused $1,000 in damages. |
| F0 | SE of Fayetteville | Fayette | 33°26′N 84°26′W / 33.43°N 84.43°W | 0110 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown, hundreds of trees were blown down, twisted, and uprooted along the path of the tornado, many causing damage to dozens of homes and vehicles. Trees fell through the roof of several homes. A couple of businesses in southeast Fayetteville reported extensive damage, with the roof blown off one building on Highway 85 Parkway. Caused $2 million in damages. |
| F2 | Atlanta Motor Speedway to NNE of Lovejoy | Henry, Clayton | 33°23′N 84°19′W / 33.38°N 84.32°W | 0145 | 9 miles (14.5 km) | See section on this tornado |
| F0 | W of McDonough | Henry | 33°27′N 84°10′W / 33.45°N 84.17°W | 0155 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown, a church and several homes were damaged. Several trees and power lines were also knocked down. Caused $150,000 in damages. |
| F1 | NE of McDonough | Henry | 33°29′N 84°06′W / 33.48°N 84.1°W | 0155 | 7 miles (11.3 km) | Tornado tracked through mostly rural areas and damage was confined to trees and power lines. Caused $25,000 in damages. |
| Sources: | ||||||
July 7 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes - Thursday, July 7, 2005 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | |
| South Carolina | ||||||
| F1 | W of Anderson | Anderson | 34°30′N 82°48′W / 34.5°N 82.8°W | 0643 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado struck a dock where it damaged about twelve sailboats, one of which was thrown 100 yards. Caused $150,000 in damages. |
| F1 | NW of Chesnee | Spartanburg, Rutherford (NC) | 35°11′N 81°55′W / 35.18°N 81.92°W | 1451 | 0.2 miles (0.3 km) | Brief touchdown, one outbuilding had its roof torn off and one mobile home was picked up and dropped 50 to 100 ft from where it once stood, causing severe damage to it. Caused $50,000 in damages. |
| North Carolina | ||||||
| F2 | S of Taylorsville | Alexander | 35°50′N 81°10′W / 35.83°N 81.17°W | 1710 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Tornado destroyed one mobile home and damaged several homes. Caused $150,000 in damages. |
| F2 | NNE of Harmony | Iredell, Yadkin | 36°00′N 80°45′W / 36.0°N 80.75°W | 1810 | 8.6 miles (13.8 km) | At least 13 structures were damaged or destroyed. In addition to the structural damage, damage to tobacco and corn crops was extensive. Caused $2.4 million in damages. |
| F1 | NE of Yadkinville | Yadkin | 36°09′N 80°39′W / 36.15°N 80.65°W | 1841 | 1.4 miles (2.3 km) | Brief touchdown, damage was confined to trees. No structural damage reported. |
| F1 | E of Yadkinville | Yadkin | 36°08′N 80°37′W / 36.13°N 80.62°W | 1853 | 1.1 miles (1.8 km) | Brief touchdown, damage was confined to trees. No structural damage reported. |
| F0 | Lewisville area | Forsyth | 36°06′N 80°25′W / 36.1°N 80.42°W | 1930 | 8 miles (12.9 km) | Damage was confined to trees. No structural damage reported. |
| F0 | Ceffo area | Person | 36°27′N 79°03′W / 36.45°N 79.05°W | 1942 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown, no damage reported. |
| F0 | Oak Ridge area | Guilford | 36°11′N 79°59′W / 36.18°N 79.98°W | 2120 | 5 miles (8.0 km) | No damage reported. |
| F0 | N of Olivia | Harnett | 35°23′N 79°07′W / 35.38°N 79.12°W | 0040 | 12 miles (19.3 km) | No damage reported. |
| Virginia | ||||||
| F1 | NW of Ararat | Patrick | 36°38′N 80°33′W / 36.63°N 80.55°W | 1722 | 0.6 miles (1.0 km) | Brief touchdown, no damage reported. |
| F1 | N of Alberta | Brunswick, Nottoway | 36°58′N 77°52′W / 36.97°N 77.87°W | 0050 | 3.7 miles (6.0 km) | Damage confined to trees. Caused $10,000 in damages. |
| F1 | Winterpock area | Chesterfield | 37°21′N 77°44′W / 37.35°N 77.73°W | 0229 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown, minor damage to one home. Caused $5,000 in damages. |
| F1 | E of South Hill | Mecklenburg | 36°44′N 78°07′W / 36.73°N 78.12°W | 0255 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) | Tornado caused damage to several structures. Caused $5,000 in damages. |
| F1 | S of Beach | Chesterfield | 37°17′N 77°36′W / 37.28°N 77.6°W | 0415 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown, damage was mainly confined to a small forested area. Caused $3,000 in damages. |
| F1 | Varina area | Henrico | 37°28′N 77°24′W / 37.47°N 77.4°W | 0515 | 0.1 miles (0.2 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado blew the roof off an industrial barn. Caused $5,000 in damages |
| Sources: | ||||||
July 8 event
| List of confirmed tornadoes - Friday, July 8, 2005 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | |
| Virginia | ||||||
| F1 | N of Capron | Southampton | 36°43′N 77°12′W / 36.72°N 77.2°W | 0620 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown, tornado caused minor damage. Caused $2,000 in damages. |
| F1 | Saluda area | Middlesex | 37°36′N 76°36′W / 37.6°N 76.6°W | 0715 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Tornado blew the roof off one home. Caused $5,000 in damages. |
| Sources: | ||||||
Atlanta Motor Speedway tornado
On July 6 at 8:45PM (EST), a large, half-mile wide tornado touched down near the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The tornado was estimated to have had winds of 120 mph as it tore through the complex.[3] Every building had sustained at least minor damage and some that were damaged beyond repair. On some of the condominiums, the roof had caved in. Most structures had their windows blown out. The five-story scoreboard was blown down as well. The track was not damaged, however, debris was littered all over it.[9] The tornado continued on its path of destruction towards the Tara Field Airport, west of the speedway. There, eleven planes and five vintage helicopters were damaged. The tornado then moved towards the Edgar Blalock Raw Water Reservation. At this point, the tornado had already been weakening and shrinking. The tornado turned to the northwest and crossed into Clayton County. The tornado lifted shortly after at around 9:04 p.m. (EST).
Damage from the tornado was extensive. About $40 million in damages was caused to the Speedway as many buildings needed to be torn down and rebuilt.[9] Nearby the airport, a Chevron Auto service station was destroyed and at least 60 homes were severely damaged and over 200 others damaged along the tornados' nine-mile track. Power to most of Henry County was out due to the damage.[3]
Following the tornado, all races scheduled to take place for several weeks were cancelled; the first race after the repair work was finished was to take place on October 30.[10]
In all, the tornado caused $71.5 million in damages and despite all the devastation, no one was injured by the tornado.
See also
References
- ↑ National Hurricane Center. "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Cindy" (PDF). NOAA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 June 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- ↑ NCDC: Event Details
- 1 2 3 National Weather Service. "NCDC Event Details: Atlanta Motor Speedway Tornado". NOAA. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- ↑ NCDC: Event Details
- ↑ NCDC: Event Details Archived October 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "NCDC Event Report: Alabama Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2005. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
- ↑ "NCDC Event Report: Alabama Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2005. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
- ↑ "NCDC Event Report: Alabama Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. 2005. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
- 1 2 NBC Sports. "Atlanta Speedway badly damaged by tornado". NBC. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- ↑ Associated Press (July 8, 2005). "Tornado Shreds Atlanta Motor Speedway". Fox News. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
External links
- The NHC's Tropical Cyclone Report on Hurricane Cindy.