Top 10 Weather Events of the decade (2000-2010)

[Thundersnow]

Since we're wrapping up the decade, I thought it would be interesting to tally up the top ten weather events to affect the state.

Here's my rough list:

1. "May Flood" (May 1-2 2010)
2. "Super Tuesday Outbreak" (February 5, 2008)
3. Good Friday Outbreak of April 10, 2009 (i.e. the Murfreesboro tornado)
4. Winter Storm Dec 22-23, 2004
5. April 7, 2006 Outbreak (i.e. the Gallatin tornado)
6. November 10, 2002 Outbreak
7. March 2008, March 2009 ULL heavy snow events (West TN)
8. Localized Middle TN heavy snow events (January 16, 2003 & February 15, 2004)
9. May 2003 outbreaks
10. Summer 2007 drought & heat wave

[Sbeagles]

Nice work amigo. I think most everyone will agree on the events you have listed as #1 and #2. Words cannot describe either of those days.

[harlequin]

That's a good list, but I probably would have put the April 2 Tornado Outbreak on there if I included the Murfreesboro tornado. I probably would have put it several spots lower. 24 people died in Dyer and Gibson counties, although I guess the overall impact across the entire state was minimal to moderate.

I definitely agree with your #1 and #2 and their respective places. Never going to forget the May flood or Super Tuesday.

[Eric]

Since we're wrapping up the decade, I thought it would be interesting to tally up the top ten weather events to affect the state.

Here's my rough list:

1. "May Flood" (May 1-2 2010)
2. "Super Tuesday Outbreak" (February 5, 2008)
3. Good Friday Outbreak of April 10, 2009 (i.e. the Murfreesboro tornado)
4. Winter Storm Dec 22-23, 2004
5. April 7, 2006 Outbreak (i.e. the Gallatin tornado)
6. November 10, 2002 Outbreak
7. March 2008, March 2009 ULL heavy snow events (West TN)
8. Localized Middle TN heavy snow events (January 16, 2003 & February 15, 2004)
9. May 2003 outbreaks
10. Summer 2007 drought & heat wave

Super Tuesday Outbreak = FTW.

May Flooding is a close second for me....my youngest son was born April 29th.  He spent two weeks in the NICU at Centennial, so we had to traverse the mess to see him that first weekend.

Good list, TS.  Other than the first two, I can live with the rest.   

[Crockett]

Point of contention: The decade ended in 2009. 

Good list. It's hard to argue with any of those. I would leave the top two as you have them, though either one could arguably be No. 1. The death and destruction of the Super Tuesday outbreak was amazing, but the great flood was simply unbelievable. I would have never imagined that I would have seen Nashville under water like that.

Most of those severe weather outbreaks had little impact on East Tennessee, but the Nov. 10, 2002 event was an exception. There were several confirmed tornadoes on the Plateau, including the devastating touchdown in the Mossy Grove community of Morgan County.

After the three decades that preceded it, it's amazing how few big snows we had on the Plateau this decade. After the 1998 dynamic cooling event, which is probably the most damaging winter storm I'll ever see in my lifetime, we had only a few significant snows here in Scott County: a 4" event in 2004 that fell on warm ground and melted quickly, a 6" event in 2005 (or was it 2006?) that did the same, a 4" snow from a clipper system in 2007, and then the three this year if 2010 is going to be counted as part of the decade: 8" in January, 8" two weeks ago and 7" this week.

[StormNine]

Since we're wrapping up the decade, I thought it would be interesting to tally up the top ten weather events to affect the state.

Here's my rough list:

1. "May Flood" (May 1-2 2010)
2. "Super Tuesday Outbreak" (February 5, 2008)
3. Good Friday Outbreak of April 10, 2009 (i.e. the Murfreesboro tornado)
4. Winter Storm Dec 22-23, 2004
5. April 7, 2006 Outbreak (i.e. the Gallatin tornado)
6. November 10, 2002 Outbreak
7. March 2008, March 2009 ULL heavy snow events (West TN)
8. Localized Middle TN heavy snow events (January 16, 2003 & February 15, 2004)
9. May 2003 outbreaks
10. Summer 2007 drought & heat wave

I agree very good list, like previously stated, I would add April, 2nd, 2006.  Jan 29th-30th Winter Storm, and November, 15th, 2005 would make at least good honorable mentions. There are so many destructive events that it is hard to put them in a top 10 list.  Events like Super Tuesday, and the May Floods, are events that we may never see repeated in our life-time, as far as their death toll, how widespread they are, and such.

[Clay]

Very well done, Thundersnow.

The December 2004 snowstorm produced a white Christmas for many as well. Nashville got ice out of that event if my memory is correct.

[StormNine]

That 2004 one was one of my favorite winter storms of all time.  The Christmas one this year was pretty awesome as well to.

[tennessee storm09]

most of my top ten already have been mentioned but one. that was the big ull that barreled out of missouri on february 28,2009. i got a whopping 13 inches out of that. seems like i just in the heavest snow bands all night. top it of with that storm, got some intense lightning and thunder with it. nothing like thunder snow

[Thundersnow]

I actually had that event in mind in #7, with the ULL events affecting West TN in March of both 2008 and 2009 (I guess it was technically the last day of February).  Incredible snow totals were reported... up to 18 inches in parts of Fayette County from that as I recall.

[Curt]

My top ten (with more of a local twist):
1. Super Tuesday Outbreak Feb '08- actually saw the tornado that tore through northern Shelby Co.
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1O4rojzBMo&feature=related
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow3IHJL68qs&playnext=1&list=PLDE78D8E4DDCF1527&index=55

2. Hurricane Elvis July '03- the 110mph freak derecho that tore through downtown and midtown Mphs
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFTQOUevweI (thanks to Kevin)

3. March '09 Snowfest- foot of snow at mi casa with thundersnow to boot
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m20Rc51VPoM
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8zhFNa-nIc

4. July '09 Wolfchase Tornado- across the street from my office
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbei4_t1TrI  (mute the sound to avoid redneck cursing )

5. December '04 Sleetfest/ White Christmas- iciest roads I have ever witnessed for such a long  duration in Memphis
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOfGeVw8hWI

6. May '03 Tornado Outbreak- esp Jackson TN
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0SWwUGdmCk&feature=related (thanks to Kevin)

7. Millington/ North Memphis Floods May '10
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tU4pSDc9Ig

8. March '08 Snowstorm- closest thing to a blizzard in 20 years in Memphis area
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuaLnVrpLiY

9. Earle AR Tornado May 08- practically across the river from Memphis in Crittnenden Co Ar
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrgJv30QtoA

10. New Years Snow Dec 00- 3 inches of snow to ring in the New Year, all unexpected!

[Eric]

My top ten (with more of a local twist):
1. Super Tuesday Outbreak Feb '08- actually saw the tornado that tore through northern Shelby Co.
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1O4rojzBMo&feature=related
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow3IHJL68qs&playnext=1&list=PLDE78D8E4DDCF1527&index=55

2. Hurricane Elvis July '03- the 110mph freak derecho that tore through downtown and midtown Mphs
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFTQOUevweI (thanks to Kevin)

3. March '09 Snowfest- foot of snow at mi casa with thundersnow to boot
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m20Rc51VPoM
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8zhFNa-nIc

4. July '09 Wolfchase Tornado- across the street from my office
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbei4_t1TrI  (mute the sound to avoid redneck cursing )

5. December '04 Sleetfest/ White Christmas- iciest roads I have ever witnessed for such a long  duration in Memphis
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOfGeVw8hWI

6. May '03 Tornado Outbreak- esp Jackson TN
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0SWwUGdmCk&feature=related (thanks to Kevin)

7. Millington/ North Memphis Floods May '10
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tU4pSDc9Ig

8. March '08 Snowstorm- closest thing to a blizzard in 20 years in Memphis area
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuaLnVrpLiY

9. Earle AR Tornado May 08- practically across the river from Memphis in Crittnenden Co Ar
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrgJv30QtoA

10. New Years Snow Dec 00- 3 inches of snow to ring in the New Year, all unexpected!

Nice, Curt!

[Kevin]

I made this list last year...

10) June 2009 Derecho - Perhaps Tropical Storm "Priscilla" if colloquially named...impressive moving bow echo with a few low-end tornadoes affecting much of the region...70+ mph winds...100,000+ without power at peak. First PDS Severe Tstorm Watch in this area.

9) July 2009 Tornadoes - a surprise and highly anomalous event...the biggest outbreak locally in a year that was dead otherwise as several impressive supercells moved through the area...causing damage in a highly commercialized area of Northeast Memphis among several other tornadoes.

8 ) Hurricane Katrina (Remnants) 2005 - The only time I can remember true "tropical storm" conditions in the Memphis area...50 mph winds and heavy rain made it a long night that August 29 (though not nearly as long and tragic that it would be on the Gulf coast)...there were several downed trees and powerlines in the area...myself among the affected for a few days.

7) April 2006 Tornadoes - A night (April 2) and then day (April 7) that the severe weather mostly escaped the Memphis-area proper...but the incredible supercells that tracked north of the region on the 2nd leave behind some of the most impressive radar captures seen locally and a difficult toll of death (25+) and massive damage from multiple F3s.

6) Snowstorm 2008 - One of the most impressive winter storms that I've experienced in my relatively short life. Well forecast several days out to add...increasing the anticipation. Not only the first time I had ever seen 6" of snow...but one that was wind-driven and came *this* close to reaching blizzard criteria at a few local ASOS. Even though it was almost all gone within 24 hours...still a greatly memorable night and event.

5) December 2004 Sleet Storm - Yikes. Sleet...sleet...sleet...and I never knew sleet could fall as heavily as it did. I was actually stupid enough this day to be caught outside just before the onslaught of 2"+ of heavy sleet...and witnessed the deterioration of conditions on the road from not a big deal to a complete and total nightmare. And that ringing of the sleet on the car...still very vivid in my mind to this day. At least the brutal cold afterward guaranteed my first "White" Christmas...even being a big technicality (very little actual fallen snow)...and not to mention the extra depth of cold air prevented what was thought to be developing as a major ice storm.

4) May 2003 Severe Weather - Not sure if there could ever be a more active weather week than that one was. Day after day of severe weather...many of them impressive tornadic supercells...especially on Night one (where Jackson was hit by an F4). Memphis really escaped any bigtime severe weather...but the number of tornadoes (still #1 locally with 40+ over the course of those 5 or so days) and their destructive power put it high on the list.

3) Snowstorm 2009 - Never would have thought that just one year after first seeing 6" of snow...I'd see it again...with even a little more. This one ranks higher than 2008 though because of the massive amounts that dumped on areas just N/NE of here...over a foot in many areas...with reported rates as high as 3"/hour. Even at my house 2" fell in one hour
as that heavy band finally pivoted south into the city after being stalled for hour after hour...a heavier rate than 2008 as well. Unfortunately in this case...it was just like 2008 in that most of it was gone in 24hours time...but it will be hard to forget watching the radar that night as the snow just continued to dump and dump on much of West Tennessee.

2) "Hurricane Elvis" 2003 - Wow. Completely unexpected event that I believe still is the largest costing storm in Memphis city history...outdoing both the 1994 Ice Storm and the Number 1 entry below. I vividly remember looking at the just released SWODY1 for July 22, 2003 at about 1 AM that morning...just before heading to bed...and noting Memphis was on the very edge of the Slight Risk outlook...and was thinking it shouldn't be too bad later. Ooops...next thing I remember was the weather radio going off at 6 AM as the powerful derecho was entering East Arkansas...aiming for Memphis. It didn't look extremely impressive...but when it crossed the River in the next hour it took on an entirely new life. I was on the northern end of the bow echo but even there the winds were roaring at 70-80 mph...and stayed above 60 for a good 15 minutes after the damaging winds first arrived. The lightning and thunder was incredible...still not sure if I remember something as impressive...and of course the power went out. We were lucky at only 3 days though...some went 15. The derecho...hitting at morning rush hour of all times...carrying 100 mph winds...took most off guard and left the city paralyzed...85% without power...by far the most in city history (even exceeding the 94 ice storm). I don't think there was a part of the city...county...or even a large swath of the Mid-South region...that was completely untouched. Not only tree/powerline damage (but this was on a scale rarely seen anywhere)...but structural damage that would compare in some cases to a modern EF2 tornado. It would have seemed as if this would have been the obvious #1...but one night wouldn't be outdone...

1) Super Tuesday 2008 - You knew several days out this one had the potential to be huge...and sadly it was just that. It was about one of the best forecast events that I can remember...everybody was on it...but there was just nothing that could prevent the strength and sheer number of tornadoes...and thus the number that would end up losing their lives...the most in any event since the Nexrad era. And this was one Memphis wasn't going to escape this time...it among the many areas hit by tornadoes...including several EF4s. Its a day that will undoubtedly be used in many case studies for years to come...and leaves behind radar imagery that's still stunning to look at to this day. For me personally...having the opportunity to work this event with professional meteorologists tasked with warning those in the path of the tornadoes...and I feel did help save many...many lives...despite those lost...was incredibly humbling and serves as one of the proudest moments of my life (even if we did bail for a few minutes for our own safety ). Its also scary to think that if the Southeast Memphis Tornado had remained on the ground through the rest of the county...its track would have put it at no more than 3/4 mile from my own home.

A few Honorable Mentions to Note: November 2001 Severe Weather/Flash Floods, 2000 & 2007 Heat/Drought, 2008 Gradient Wind Event, May 2008 Severe Weather, February 2006 Snow, February 2002 Snow, February 2001 Severe Weather...

Not much change to this now...obvious addition would be the May Flooding which would be in the Top 5 somewhere...probably Number 3 if I had to put it somewhere right now (just from a subjective point of view...I think it would be a pretty clear Number 1 for so many). You could throw in the Summer Heat/HIs to 120...and the Winter Storms Early in the Year to the Honorable Mention list as well.

Great videos btw Curt...did indeed notice a couple of familiar ones!

[Curt]

I made this list last year...

Very similar list, great minds think alilke!

Add this most UNBELIEVABLE video of the Memphis area tornadoes from July 09 in Olive Branch.

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/073109_Viewer_Video_of_Olive_Branch_Tornado

Am amazed every time I watch this.

[InMemphis]

10. December 12, 2000 ice storm.

9. New Years Eve snow of 2000 - Walked into church with a few flurries falling and came out with snow everywhere.

8. February 8, 2010 surprise snow.

7. Severe weather in the early morning hours of November 24, 2001 - I remember temperatures warming up significantly through the night.

6. Severe weather and flooding November 26-29 of 2001.

5. January 29, 2010 winter event - It felt like we could be in for a repeat of 94. We lost power for a while during the early morning hours of January 30.

4. July 2009 Tornado - Surprised to see the amount of damage in the Wolfchase area.

3. June 2009 Derecho - My aunt in Olive Branch experienced major damange and so did my aunt in the Arlington area.

2. Hurricane Elvis of July 22, 2003 - We had just left the house right before the storm hit. I have never experienced such an event in my life. Trees and power lines were falling down left and right. We were without power for six days and lost it again for three more days on the 30th.

1. Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak - The deadliest tornado outbreak that I can ever recall. I also do not recall an event that was forecast so far in advance. Five days before this event parts of the area were dealing with wintry weather. It is also a miracle that no deaths took place at Union University.