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From: jbrand9299{at}aol.com
Date: Sun Dec 22 2002 - 16:00:18 EST
Hello All,
I know I am a little late on this storm report, but I was out chasing the
tornadic storm that eventually struck Newton, MS. You all can remember, that
the weather system started off two days before it marched through MS, with on
it is first night producing 16 tornadoes through and near the Missouri area.
Looking a little at the setup for the line of storms that crossed through.
First of all, the line extended from the Middle Mississippi Valley, reaching
down the Gulf Coast. While the line in its more northern extent, from lets
say North MS up to the north, continued to move off to the east, as some
upper level energy was pulling it away, providing a focusing mechanism to
push the line. However, the more southern extent of the line, slowed down to
a point of not even moving for hours. It had to wait for some extra
dynamical support to rotate through the base and move through texas to advect
it on east. This allowed for the line to cross through the State during the
daytime hours, and while surface instability was at its weakest, any way you
put it, it still allowed the maximum advantage of what was there. The upper
level dynamics, or anything off the surface was wonderful. Great upper jet
coupling structure in place. The storm that hit Newton, MS originally
produced a possible tornado, maybe an F1 if that, in South Central, MS in a
town called Brookhaven. If you follow Interstate 55 South, out of Jackson,
maybe 45 miles, is where the storm started. It was warned for with a tornado
warning. It continued to move to Northeast at about 40-45 mph. I picked the
storm up out of Brookhaven, and continued with it for almost two hours before
it hit Newton. I continued to watch it on my laptop radar in my truck, and
monitor the storm. It was a classic high percipitation supercell, embedded
within a line, and low topped. Something we see often. The whole time I
observed it, it had a mesocyclone accompying it, sometimes more impressive
than not. When the storm reached Newton county, they had not continued with
a tornado warning. Instead, they said the storm had weakened, and was a
strong thunderstorm. They issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the cell.
On radar. there was no meso, tvs, no hail, no accompying reflectivity nor
velocity signatures to indicate anything else besides a severe thunderstorm.
About 10 minutes after the warning was issued, they upgraded it to a Tornado
Warning and in the warning stated that they had already received uncomfirmed
reports of damage, and had strong radar signs that a tornado was developing.
I stopped in Newton, where the damage started. A gas station roof was torn
off, a house rolled, 3 rail road cars flipped over, and an eighteen wheeler
on the interstate. Yes, lots of tree damage, etc.....I am sure all of you
have seen the pictures by now. Once the storm moved Northeast of Newton, you
could see on radar, and somewhat unusual, impressive reflectivity image
showing good cyclonic rotation, though, storm attributes where lacking.
Nothing tripped. I think there was one big thing that contributed to a
delayed warning on this storm. To the east of the Jackson NEXRAD, lay some
bluffs that block the lowest evlevation slices on the eastern part of MS.
Currently, if you visit JXN WFO homepage at <A HREF="www.srh.noaa.gov/jan">www.srh.noaa.gov/jan</A> you can see
where and further why they are moving the radar site from its current
location to a new home in Brandon, MS atop a much more suitable place that
will allow for much better radar coverage from the eastern part of the State.
If anyone would like to know more about this, feel free to email me at
JBrand9299{at}aol.com......I know I have taken a lot of time and space with this
right here, but I felt like some people might want to know a little more
about what happened. Merry Chrimstmas and Happy Holidays to all!!!
Jason Brand
Jackson, MS
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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