Tornadoes · United States · Tennessee · 2006

F3 tornado, Newbern, Tennessee, April 2, 2006

This F3 tornado ran 18.0 miles across Dyer County on April 2, 2006, touching down at 7:32 PM CDT and reaching 880 yards wide. It killed 16 people and injured 70, and did $20 million of property damage.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. F040 to 72 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. F173 to 112 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. F2113 to 157 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. F3158 to 206 mphthis tornado

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. F4207 to 260 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. F5261 to 318 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
F3
Date
April 2, 2006
Touchdown
7:32 PM CDT (00:32 UTC)
Path length
18.0 miles (29.0 km)
Path width
880 yards (805 m)
Deaths
16
Injuries
70
Property damage
$20 million
County
Dyer County
Touchdown point
36.120, -89.520
Lift-off point
36.130, -89.200
Record number
266

What the Weather Service recorded

A tornado spawned from the same parent supercell that produced damaging tornadoes west of the Mississippi River moved across Dyer County during the evening of April 2nd. The most affected areas were Millsfield, Maxey, and Newbern. The F3 tornado resulted in sixteen fatalities and 70 injuries. Seventy-one homes were destroyed and one hundred eighty-two were damaged.

The deaths

16 direct deaths are recorded for this tornado, each with what Storm Data knows of it.

AgeSexWhereKind
37MMobile/Trailer HomeDirect
40FMobile/Trailer HomeDirect
13MMobile/Trailer HomeDirect
69MPermanent HomeDirect
87FPermanent HomeDirect
66MPermanent HomeDirect
63FMobile/Trailer HomeDirect
27MMobile/Trailer HomeDirect
26FMobile/Trailer HomeDirect
47FPermanent HomeDirect
57MPermanent HomeDirect
0MPermanent HomeDirect
67FPermanent HomeDirect
35MMobile/Trailer HomeDirect
57FPermanent HomeDirect
77MPermanent HomeDirect

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

15 minutes of warning. NWS MEG issued a tornado warning for this county at 00:17 UTC, 15 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 01:00 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 21:40 UTC and running to 03:33 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
21:40 UTC03:33 UTCTornado WatchMEG
00:17 UTC01:00 UTCTornado WarningMEG
00:58 UTC01:15 UTCTornado WarningMEG
02:49 UTC03:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEG
03:32 UTC04:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEG
03:33 UTC05:05 UTCTornado WatchMEG

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk, with a 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 19:55 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Apr 2, 2:03 PM CDT, 5 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 2, 2:03 PM CDT, 5 hours 29 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
203 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

.DISCUSSION...

INITIAL UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE IS MOVING THROUGH THE MIDSOUTH AT
THIS TIME. A BATCH OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS (BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS) ARE MOVING THROUGH THE REGION. MORNING CLOUD COVER AND
ADDITIONAL DEBRIS WITH THE CLUSTER HAVE SEVERELY LIMITED
INSTABILITY THIS AFTERNOON. WATER VAPOR SHOWS THAT THE INITIAL
SHORTWAVE HAS SCOURED OUT A GOOD DEAL OF THE DEEPER MOISTURE
LEAVING ONLY NEAR SURFACE MOISTURE FOR THE FRONT TO WORK WITH AS
IT COMES THROUGH TONIGHT. NAM APPEARS TO HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON
THE SITUATION WHICH INDICATE THAT RAIN CHANCES ARE REALLY LOW
BECAUSE OF LACK OF DEEP MOISTURE. HOWEVER...IF A STORM OR TWO WERE
TO DEVELOP THERE IS PLENTY OF SHEAR IN PLACE. ASSUMING ADDITIONAL
HEATING BEHIND THE INITIAL CLUSTER...CAPES OF AROUND 1000-
1500J/KG. SO...AN ISOLATED TORNADO AND LARGE HAIL REMAIN A THREAT
IF CONVECTION COULD DEVELOP.

HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION AND PROVIDE DRY AND COOLER
WEATHER THROUGH MIDWEEK. LOW DEW POINTS WILL FILTER INTO THE
REGION. AS A RESULT...THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SOME FREEZING TEMPS IN
THE OUTLYING AREAS OF WEST TN AND NORTHEAST MS TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY MORNINGS IF WINDS SLACKEN OFF ENOUGH AT NIGHT. GFS
CONTINUES TO SHOW AN UPPER DISTURBANCE TRYING TO MOVE OVER THE
RIDGE AXIS POSITIONED JUST WEST OF THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY. UPPER
LEVEL SUBSIDENCE DUE TO THE RIDGE COMBINED WITH LOW LEVEL DRY AIR
SHOULD KEEP THE AREA DRY. RAIN CHANCES RISE ONCE AGAIN TOWARDS THE
WEEKEND AS ANOTHER SYSTEM ROLLS INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. SYSTEM
LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO CURRENT ONE AND MAY HAVE A SEVERE WEATHER
THREAT ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...NONE.
MO...NONE.
MS...NONE.
TN...NONE.
&&

VALLE
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 2, 4:46 PM CDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
446 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-
MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-040000-
ALCORN-BENTON(MS)-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CHESTER-CHICKASAW-CLAY-COAHOMA-
CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROCKETT-CROSS-DESOTO-DECATUR-DUNKLIN-DYER-
FAYETTE-GIBSON-GREENE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-
ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LEE(AR)-LEE(MS)-
MADISON-MARSHALL-MCNAIRY-MISSISSIPPI-MONROE-OBION-PANOLA-PEMISCOT-
PHILLIPS-POINSETT-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN-RANDOLPH-SHELBY-
ST. FRANCIS-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TIPTON-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-
UNION-WEAKLEY-YALOBUSHA-
446 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS...
THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL AND
PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST ARKANSAS UNTIL 9 PM CDT. ALSO...ANOTHER
TORNADO WATCH COVERING THE REMAINDER OF THE MID SOUTH IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT.

A VERY STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE MID SOUTH TONIGHT.
ANY THUNDERSTORMS WHICH DEVELOP IN THE WARM...MOIST...UNSTABLE AIR
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. THE SEVERE WEATHER
THREATS ARE LARGE HAIL DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

PATCHY FROST IS POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF WEST TENNESSEE TUESDAY
AND WEDNESDAY MORNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED THIS EVENING. SPOTTERS PLEASE
RELAY YOUR REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 2, 6:26 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
626 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

MOZ115-030000-
PEMISCOT MO-
626 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR...PEMISCOT COUNTY.

A TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 27 MILES WEST OF DEERING AT 626
PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. ON ITS CURRENT TRACK...THIS STORM
MAY ENTER INTO PEMISCOT COUNTY MISSOURI AROUND 7 PM.

PEOPLE IN PEMISCOT COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CARUTHERSVILLE
AND HAYTI...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM EXTREMELY CLOSELY. THIS STORM
HAS PRODUCED DAMAGING TORNADOES ACROSS NORTHEAST ARKANSAS. IF THE
STORM MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT STRENGTH...A TORNADO WARNING MAY BE
NEEDED FOR PEMISCOT COUNTY.
Local storm report, Apr 2, 6:35 PM CDT, 57 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
635 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0503 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       LAWRENCE           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0511 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN SPRINGS        36.31N 91.22W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND

0515 PM     TORNADO          IMBODEN                 36.20N 91.18W
04/02/2006                   LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0516 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN SPRINGS        36.31N 91.22W
04/02/2006  M2.75 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0517 PM     HAIL             POCAHONTAS              36.26N 90.97W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0525 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006                   LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HALF DOZEN HOMES DESTROYED AND DOWNED POWERLINES

0525 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006  E4.25 INCH       LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0531 PM     HAIL             POCAHONTAS              36.26N 90.97W
04/02/2006  M2.75 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0535 PM     TORNADO          1 S POCAHONTAS          36.25N 90.97W
04/02/2006                   RANDOLPH           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0559 PM     HAIL             FRIARS POINT            34.37N 90.64W
04/02/2006  M1.75 INCH       COAHOMA            MS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0601 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MALDEN                  36.58N 89.98W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES UPROOTED...CAMMPERS ROLLED...BUILDING DAMAGED AND
            DAMAGE TO AIRPORT

0604 PM     HAIL             9 SE CORNING            36.32N 90.47W
04/02/2006  M0.88 INCH       CLAY               AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0610 PM     HAIL             MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006  M1.75 INCH       GREENE             AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0612 PM     TORNADO          MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006                   GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND 2.7 MILES W OF MARMADUKE

0620 PM     TORNADO          MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006                   GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO REPORTED IN TOWN WITH HEAVY DAMAGE.

0630 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     5 S KENNETT             36.17N 90.05W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

ARC
Local storm report, Apr 2, 6:50 PM CDT, 42 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
650 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0503 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       LAWRENCE           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0511 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN SPRINGS        36.31N 91.22W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND

0515 PM     TORNADO          IMBODEN                 36.20N 91.18W
04/02/2006                   LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0516 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN SPRINGS        36.31N 91.22W
04/02/2006  M2.75 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0517 PM     HAIL             POCAHONTAS              36.26N 90.97W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0525 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006  E4.25 INCH       LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0525 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006                   LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HALF DOZEN HOMES DESTROYED AND DOWNED POWERLINES

0531 PM     HAIL             POCAHONTAS              36.26N 90.97W
04/02/2006  M2.75 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0535 PM     TORNADO          1 S POCAHONTAS          36.25N 90.97W
04/02/2006                   RANDOLPH           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0559 PM     HAIL             FRIARS POINT            34.37N 90.64W
04/02/2006  M1.75 INCH       COAHOMA            MS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0601 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MALDEN                  36.58N 89.98W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES UPROOTED...CAMMPERS ROLLED...BUILDING DAMAGED AND
            DAMAGE TO AIRPORT

0604 PM     HAIL             9 SE CORNING            36.32N 90.47W
04/02/2006  M0.88 INCH       CLAY               AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0605 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HICKORY RIDGE           35.40N 90.99W
04/02/2006                   CROSS              AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN

0605 PM     HAIL             HICKORY RIDGE           35.40N 90.99W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       CROSS              AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0610 PM     HAIL             MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006  M1.75 INCH       GREENE             AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0612 PM     TORNADO          MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006                   GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND 2.7 MILES W OF MARMADUKE

0620 PM     TORNADO          MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006                   GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO REPORTED IN TOWN WITH HEAVY DAMAGE.

0630 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     5 S KENNETT             36.17N 90.05W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0635 PM     TORNADO          4 N SENATH              36.19N 90.16W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND CONFIRMED BY SPOTTERS

&&

ARC
Local storm report, Apr 2, 6:56 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
656 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0503 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       LAWRENCE           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0511 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN SPRINGS        36.31N 91.22W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND

0515 PM     TORNADO          IMBODEN                 36.20N 91.18W
04/02/2006                   LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0516 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN SPRINGS        36.31N 91.22W
04/02/2006  M2.75 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0517 PM     HAIL             POCAHONTAS              36.26N 90.97W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0525 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006  E4.25 INCH       LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0525 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006                   LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HALF DOZEN HOMES DESTROYED AND DOWNED POWERLINES

0531 PM     HAIL             POCAHONTAS              36.26N 90.97W
04/02/2006  M2.75 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0535 PM     TORNADO          1 S POCAHONTAS          36.25N 90.97W
04/02/2006                   RANDOLPH           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0559 PM     HAIL             FRIARS POINT            34.37N 90.64W
04/02/2006  M1.75 INCH       COAHOMA            MS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0601 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MALDEN                  36.58N 89.98W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES UPROOTED...CAMMPERS ROLLED...BUILDING DAMAGED AND
            DAMAGE TO AIRPORT

0604 PM     HAIL             9 SE CORNING            36.32N 90.47W
04/02/2006  M0.88 INCH       CLAY               AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0605 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HICKORY RIDGE           35.40N 90.99W
04/02/2006                   CROSS              AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN

0605 PM     HAIL             HICKORY RIDGE           35.40N 90.99W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       CROSS              AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0610 PM     HAIL             MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006  M1.75 INCH       GREENE             AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0612 PM     TORNADO          MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006                   GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND 2.7 MILES W OF MARMADUKE

0620 PM     TORNADO          MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006                   GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO REPORTED IN TOWN WITH HEAVY DAMAGE.

0630 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     5 S KENNETT             36.17N 90.05W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0635 PM     TORNADO          4 N SENATH              36.19N 90.16W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND CONFIRMED BY SPOTTERS

0652 PM     TORNADO          5 W WYNNE               35.23N 90.88W
04/02/2006                   CROSS              AR   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

&&

ARC
Special weather statement, Apr 2, 7:07 PM CDT, 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
707 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

TNZ001-019-030030-
LAKE TN-DYER TN-
707 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR...DYER AND LAKE COUNTIES.

A TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WITH A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGE WAS
LOCATED OVER PEMISCOT COUNTY MISSOURI...18 MILES WEST OF COTTONWOOD
GROVE AT 707 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

ON ITS CURRENT TRACK...THE STORM WILL ENTER SOUTHERN LAKE AND
NORTHERN DYER COUNTIES WITHIN THE NEXT HALF HOUR. IF THE STORM
MAINTAINS ITS INTENSITY...TORNADO WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR LAKE
AND DYER COUNTIES.

PEOPLE IN DYER AND LAKE COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM VERY
CLOSELY.
Local storm report, Apr 2, 7:23 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
723 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0503 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       LAWRENCE           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0511 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN SPRINGS        36.31N 91.22W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND

0515 PM     TORNADO          IMBODEN                 36.20N 91.18W
04/02/2006                   LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0516 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN SPRINGS        36.31N 91.22W
04/02/2006  M2.75 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0517 PM     HAIL             POCAHONTAS              36.26N 90.97W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0525 PM     HAIL             RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006  E4.25 INCH       LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0525 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RAVENDEN                36.24N 91.25W
04/02/2006                   LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HALF DOZEN HOMES DESTROYED AND DOWNED POWERLINES

0531 PM     HAIL             POCAHONTAS              36.26N 90.97W
04/02/2006  M2.75 INCH       RANDOLPH           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0535 PM     TORNADO          1 S POCAHONTAS          36.25N 90.97W
04/02/2006                   RANDOLPH           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0559 PM     HAIL             FRIARS POINT            34.37N 90.64W
04/02/2006  M1.75 INCH       COAHOMA            MS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0601 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MALDEN                  36.58N 89.98W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES UPROOTED...CAMMPERS ROLLED...BUILDING DAMAGED AND
            DAMAGE TO AIRPORT

0604 PM     HAIL             9 SE CORNING            36.32N 90.47W
04/02/2006  M0.88 INCH       CLAY               AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0605 PM     HAIL             HICKORY RIDGE           35.40N 90.99W
04/02/2006  M1.00 INCH       CROSS              AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0605 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HICKORY RIDGE           35.40N 90.99W
04/02/2006                   CROSS              AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN

0610 PM     HAIL             MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006  M1.75 INCH       GREENE             AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0612 PM     TORNADO          MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006                   GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND 2.7 MILES W OF MARMADUKE

0620 PM     TORNADO          MARMADUKE               36.19N 90.39W
04/02/2006                   GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO REPORTED IN TOWN WITH HEAVY DAMAGE.

0630 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     5 S KENNETT             36.17N 90.05W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0635 PM     TORNADO          4 N SENATH              36.19N 90.16W
04/02/2006                   DUNKLIN            MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND CONFIRMED BY SPOTTERS

0652 PM     TORNADO          5 W WYNNE               35.23N 90.88W
04/02/2006                   CROSS              AR   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0719 PM     HAIL             CLARKTON                36.45N 89.97W
04/02/2006  M1.75 INCH       DUNKLIN            MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SOME LARGER THAN GOLF BALL STONES CAUSING DAMAGE

&&

ARC

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), 00:00Z

0.5 hours before the tornado, 154 km from the path. April 3, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 2006-04-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 2530 joules per kilogram, CIN -32, lifted condensation level 1375 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 2006-04-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 182 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 51 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
2530 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-32 J/kg
Surface CAPE
3209 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1375 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
182 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
253 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.1
Supercell composite
14.4
0-3 km lapse rate
7.3 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), 12:00Z

11.5 hours after it, 154 km from the path. April 3, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2006-04-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -110147, lifted condensation level 2794 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2006-04-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -33 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 63 knots.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-110147 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2794 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-33 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
5 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
5.1 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Dyersburg(Awos) (DYR), 15 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
22:35 UTC78.862.6200° 15 kt241007.1
22:55 UTC78.862.6210° 13 kt211008.5
23:15 UTC78.862.6210° 14 kt221008.5
23:35 UTC7762.6190° 8 kt181008.5
23:55 UTC7762.6190° 9 kt1008.1
00:15 UTC75.262.6160° 7 kt1007.5TS
00:35 UTC75.262.6150° 11 kt1006.1VCTS
00:55 UTC75.260.8210° 11 kt181007.1TS
01:35 UTC75.262.6240° 12 kt201007.5
01:55 UTC78.862.6220° 13 kt231007.8
02:15 UTC7762.6210° 14 kt231008.1

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 00:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
00:47 UTCHAIL 1.251 Sw RidgelyLake, TN
00:52 UTCHAIL 1.75KentonObion, TN
00:55 UTCTORNADO 31 N NewbernDyer, TNIN THE NAVOO COMMUINITY ALONG HWY 2 HOUSES DESTROYED. POWER KNOCKED OUT. FATALITIES ON BIFFLE ROAD NEAR JIMMY DEAN PLANT IN NEWBERN. ADDITIONAL FATALITIES OCCURRED IN THE BOGOTA AREA.
00:55 UTCTORNADO 3NewbernDyer, TN*** 16 FATAL *** PRELIMINARY F-SCALE ASSESSMENT RATES THIS TORNADO AT A STRONG F3 TORNADO WITH ESTIMATED WINDS AROUND 200 MPH. NUMEROUS HOMES WERE DESTROYED WITH ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE NOTED. 16 FATALITIES IN DYER CO
00:55 UTCTORNADO 3NewbernDyer, TNPRELIMINARY F-SCALE ASSESSMENT RATES THIS TORNADO AT A STRONG F3 TORNADO WITHESTIMATED WINDS AROUND 200 MPH. NUMEROUS HOMES WERE DESTROYED WITHADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE NOTED. THERE WERE 15 FATALITIES WITH THISSTORM AND
00:55 UTCTORNADONewbernDyer, TN*** 11 FATAL *** IN THE NAVOO COMMUINITY ALONG HWY 2 HOUSES DESTROYED. POWER KNOCKED OUT. FATALITIES ON BIFFLE ROAD NEAR JIMMY DEAN PLANT IN NEWBERN. ADDITIONAL FATALITIES OCCURRED IN THE BOGOTA AREA.
00:55 UTCTORNADONewbernDyer, TN*** 1 FATAL *** IN THE NAVOO COMMUINITY ALONG HWY 1 HOUSE DESTROYED. POWER KNOCKED OUT. AT LEAST ONE FATALITY ON BIFFLE ROAD AT JIMMY DEAN PLANT.
00:55 UTCTORNADONewbernDyer, TN*** 2 FATAL *** IN THE NAVOO COMMUINITY ALONG HWY 2 HOUSES DESTROYED. POWER KNOCKED OUT. AT LEAST ONE FATALITY ON BIFFLE ROAD NEAR JIMMY DEAN PLANT.
00:55 UTCTORNADONewbernDyer, TN*** 2 FATAL *** IN THE NAVOO COMMUINITY ALONG HWY 2 HOUSES DESTROYED. POWER KNOCKED OUT. FATALITIES ON BIFFLE ROAD NEAR JIMMY DEAN PLANT.
00:55 UTCTORNADONewbernDyer, TN
01:07 UTCTORNADOMillsfieldDyer, TNHOMES DESTROYED WITH INJURIES REPORTED.
01:17 UTCHAIL 1.75ObionObion, TN
01:30 UTCTORNADO6 Se GreenfieldWeakley, TN*** 2 INJ ***
01:43 UTCTORNADO 31 W BradfordGibson, TN*** 8 FATAL, 50 INJ *** FATALITIES OCCURRED IN THE RUTHERFORD...BRADFORD AREA. TORNADIC DAMAGE WAS RATED A F1 ON THE FUJITA SCALE WITH UP TO F3 DAMAGE IN BRADFORD... ESPECIALLY ON TAYLOR ROAD JUST EAST OF HIGHWAY 45. A S
01:43 UTCTORNADO 31 W BradfordGibson, TN*** 8 FATAL, 50 INJ *** FATALITIES OCCURRED IN THE RUTHERFORD/BRADFORD AREA. TORNADIC DAMAGE WAS RATED A F1 ON THEFUJITA SCALE WITH UP TO F3 DAMAGE IN BRADFORD... ESPECIALLY ON TAYLOR ROAD JUST EAST OF HIGHWAY 45. A SECO
01:43 UTCTORNADO1 W BradfordGibson, TN*** 8 FATAL, 50 INJ *** FATALITIES OCCURRED IN THE RUTHERFORD/BRADFORD AREA.
01:43 UTCTORNADO1 W BradfordGibson, TN*** 8 FATAL, 50 INJ ***
01:43 UTCTORNADO1 W BradfordGibson, TN
02:15 UTCTSTM WND DMGBradfordGibson, TN*** 1 INJ *** TRACTOR TRAILER HIT DOWNED POWERLINES ACROSS HWY 45E. DRIVER INJURED AND TRAILER DESTROYED.
02:53 UTCHAIL 0.7512 Sw HallsLauderdale, TN
03:02 UTCHAIL 0.8810 Ssw HallsLauderdale, TN
03:22 UTCTORNADO 2BrownsvilleHaywood, TNTHIS TORNADO WAS ESTIMATED TO BE AN F2 ON THE FUJITA SCALE WITH A WIDTH OF 30 YARDS AND LENGTH OF THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE. THIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN THE HICKORY TRAIL SUBDIVISION AND OCCURRED AROUND 1030 PM. THERE WA
03:22 UTCTORNADO 2BrownsvilleHaywood, TNTHIS TORNADO WAS ESTIMATED TO BE AN F2 ON THE FUJITA SCALE WITH A WIDTH OF 30 YARDS AND LENGTH OF THREEQUARTERS OF A MILE. THIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN THE HICKORY TRAIL SUBDIVISION AND OCCURRED AROUND 1030 PM. THERE WAS
03:22 UTCTORNADOBrownsvilleHaywood, TN

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2006 tornado in TennesseeEvery tornado in Tennessee since 1950Warnings in force in Tennessee nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of April 2, 2006

66 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 23:47 PM CDTF0Davis, IA0.230
April 23:57 PM CDTF0Davis, IA0.125
April 24:03 PM CDTF2Van Buren, IA3.0100$30,000
April 24:15 PM CDTF1Van Buren, IA2.050$10,000
April 24:18 PM CDTF1Jefferson, IA0.350$10,000
April 24:19 PM CDTF1Van Buren, IA3.050$10,000
April 24:25 PM CDTF2Ralls, MO3.5350
April 24:46 PM CDTF2Washington, IA1.075$30,000
April 24:59 PM CDTF1Sharp, AR9.5100$100,000
April 25:00 PM CDTF0Saint Francois, MO0.150
April 25:00 PM CDTF1Washington, IA0.150$10,000
April 25:05 PM CDTF0Sainte Genevieve, MO2.040
April 25:06 PM CDTF0Warren, IA0.230
April 25:15 PM CDTF2Saint Clair, IL7.0100111
April 25:15 PM CDTF0Macoupin, IL2.030
April 25:15 PM CDTF0Macoupin, IL0.530
April 25:16 PM CDTF0Henderson, IL0.025
April 25:20 PM CDTF1McDonough, IL12.0233$150,000
April 25:21 PM CDTF0Madison, IL16.050
April 25:30 PM CDTF1Madison, IL2.0100
April 25:31 PM CDTF0Polk, IA0.230
April 25:35 PM CDTF0Macoupin, IL0.120
April 25:37 PM CDTF3Randolph, AR to MO77.08802177$86 million
April 25:41 PM CDTF0Montgomery, IL1.050
April 25:46 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL0.5200
April 25:49 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL2.0100
April 25:50 PM CDTF2Montgomery, IL20.0200
April 25:56 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL1.0100
April 25:56 PM CDTF1Montgomery, IL2.2100
April 25:58 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL1.0100
April 25:59 PM CDTF0Sangamon, IL1.350
April 26:00 PM CDTF2White, AR6.3100
April 26:06 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL0.850
April 26:08 PM CDTF1Christian, IL6.33001
April 26:13 PM CDTF1Sangamon, IL1.51001
April 26:14 PM CDTF1Christian, IL6.0150
April 26:17 PM CDTF0Christian, IL0.150
April 26:20 PM CDTF1Christian, IL1.0100
April 26:22 PM CDTF0Menard, IL0.340
April 26:29 PM CDTF3Woodruff, AR38.05005$5.0 million
April 26:30 PM CDTF0Macon, IL0.130
April 26:30 PM CDTF2Macon, IL4.5300
April 26:32 PM CDTF0Logan, IL1.080
April 26:36 PM CDTF0Logan, IL2.550
April 26:36 PM CDTF1Macon, IL7.51503
April 26:42 PM CDTF0Cumberland, IL0.8100
April 26:43 PM CDTF0Scott, MO1.550$20,000
April 27:01 PM CDTF0DeWitt, IL0.130
April 27:08 PM CDTF0McLean, IL0.130
April 27:12 PM CDTF0McLean, IL0.550
April 27:13 PM CDTF1McLean, IL1.050
April 27:15 PM CDTF0Champaign, IL0.130
April 27:22 PM CDTF0McLean, IL2.650
April 27:25 PM CDTF0Champaign, IL0.350
April 27:31 PM CDTF0Ballard, KY0.130
April 29:07 PM EDTF1Lawrence, IN0.5100$100,000
April 28:09 PM CDTF3Gibson, TN31.0880644$27 million
April 29:25 PM EDTF1Tippecanoe, IN0.5100$50,000
April 29:37 PM EDTF1Jackson, IN0.5100$200,000
April 28:43 PM CDTF3Gibson, TN8.088026$15 million

All 67 of them

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.