Arizona Tornadoes 22/5/2009
While not in tornado alley, on 22/5/2009 three tornado reports came from the state of Arizona with two of those close to Flagstaff. The reports are:-
1922 - 8 Miles NE of Flagstaff in Coconino County - Public report of a tornado.
2000 - 9 Miles NE of Flagstaff in Coconino County - Public report of a tornado.
2130 - Petrified Forest National Park in Apache County - Public report of a tornado.
It appears that the tornadoes have done little damage. I have been to flagstaff and the city and surrounds is at an elevation of 7,000 feet or some 2,135 metres above sea level. If Reports 1922 and 2000 are confirmed then it would mean that a tornado has occurred not too far from the Grand Canyon.
It seems unusual to get tornadoes in such an area of high elevation and climate.
I have been unable to find further details on the tornado reports at the National Weather Service - Storm Prediction Centre to date.
Tornado Reports 24/5/2009
Some severe weather occurred across portions of the American Midwest but certainly not significant. Severe Weather affected portions of Colorado, western Tennessee and the Deep South of Texas.
Colorado:
A tornado Watch Box was issued by the National Weather Service for areas of Denver and a tornado was observed near Commerce City (Close to Denver city centre) - Eastern suburbs of the city and NE of Route 270.
Report 2012 - 2 Miles NE of Commerce City in Adams County.
Report 2147 - Chatfield Reservoir in Jefferson County.
Report 2200 - 1 Mile south west of Parker in Douglas County.
Chatfield Reservoir is just south of Route 470 on the south west outskirts of Denver.
Parker is an outer south eastern suburb of Denver on Route 83.
Hence the Denver city region experienced 3 reported tornadoes close to or within the city limits.
Texas
Report 2145 - 4 Miles north of Ben Bolt County in Texas (Deep south) - Location is 54 miles west of Corpus Christi. A tornado damaged a trailer, power lines brought down and trees uprooted in Green Acres Subdivision.
A thunderstorm occurring in the area was warned for intense rainfall and constant cloud to ground lightning.
Tennessee
There were 3 reports of a tornado in Dyer County being:-
2214 - 1 Mile South of Heloise.
2225 - 7 Miles South of Heloise.
2325 - 7 Miles South of Heloise.
It appears that the tornado has done no significant damage. This appears to be one tornado that appears to have traversed some 6 miles or 10 km of countryside close to the Arkansas River in far west Tennessee.
The other tornado in the state occurred at Friendship - Report 0107 in Crockett County (Route 20 SE of Dyersburg) where a tornado destroyed a barn and some trees.
Generally the whole region that would normally expect severe weather events this time of year has been relatively quiet over recent days except for the occasional event such as the ones stated above.
(Source of the Reports - National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Centre 22 and 24 May 2009).
Harley Pearman
