News and Events

September 15th, 2004

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Land falling tropical cyclones pose a number of serious threats, including high wind, storm surge, flooding rainfall, and tornadoes. During the unusually active tropical season in 2004, Hurricane Ivan produced over 100 tornadoes in the US resulting in 8 deaths. Evacuations in the vicinity of the landfall location no doubt saved many lives, but tornadoes often occur hundreds of kilometers from the landfall area, and forecasting their exact location hours ahead of time is impossible. As a result, forecasters must issue tornado warnings in the traditional "now casting" timeframe, i.e., minutes ahead of time.

Ivan From 230 Miles aboveAn outbreak of 117 tornadoes -- with the bulk of the tornadoes on 17 September -- developed over a 3 day period in the United States, including 37 in Virginia, 25 in Georgia, 18 in Florida, 9 in Pennsylvania, 8 in Alabama, 7 in South Carolina, 4 in both Maryland and North Carolina, 3 in West Virginia, and 2 in Maryland. There were 26 tornadoes reported on 15 September, 32 tornadoes on 16 September, 57 tornadoes on 17 September, and 2 tornadoes (in Maryland) on 18 September. At least 8 people were killed and 17 injured by the tornadoes.
 
On 15 September, some of the more significant tornado events occurred -- an F2 tornado occurred on the east end of Panama City Beach (Bay Co.), FL.Take as tornado hits thomas dr. and north lagoon area. Starting at or near 3:40pm CDT and lasting until 3:50pm CDT when passing WJHG 7 TV studios. The first tornado (my map below of the F2: Not Official Track) resulted in 1 death and 7 injuries; a second F2 tornado occurred near Blountstown (Calhoun Co.), FL, later that night around the 10:30 time frame (will check for official time) resulted in 4 deaths and 1 injury; a third tornado (intensity undetermined) killed 2 people in Panama City, FL a little more than 1 h after the F2 tornado had struck the area. It was the actual cell right behind the PCB storm that also was part of the Tornado Warning issued for Bay and Gulf counties by the NWS in TAE.
               The second cell actually came across the Port St. Joe bay and moved very near or on the west side of Mexico Beach and crossed the eastern end of Tyndall Air Force base and then came down according to eyewitness Take as tornado hits thomas dr. and north lagoon area.accounts, in East Bay (water) and then struck the 3-6 houses in the Allenton Point area east of Panama City. It then tracked northwest into east side of Panama City and Callaway city limits. More damage was observed, but not like in Allenton area where a a few house (two stories on the water way) were completely destroyed. And Ford F-150 or 250 was tossed 30-50 yards away from its original location.

Event Record Details or "Storm Report"

From NCDC.gov

Event: Tornado
Begin Date: 15 Sep 2004, 03:40:00 PM EST
Begin Location: 7 Miles South West of Panama City
Begin LAT/LON: 30°06'N / 85°45'W
End Date: 15 Sep 2004, 03:50:00 PM EST
End Location: 4 Miles West North West of Panama City
End LAT/LON: 30°10'N / 85°44'W
Length: 5 Miles 
Width: 200 Yards
Magnitude: F1
Fatalities: 1
Injuries: 7
Property Damage: $ 5.0M
Crop Damage: $ 0.0 
 State: Florida
Map of Counties 
County: Bay

Description:
A strong F1 tornado touched down near the St Andrews recreation area. It damaged dozens of restaurants, stores and shops as it moved north along Thomas Drive. Seven persons were injured at a seafood restaurant near Grand Lagoon. An elderly man was killed when the tornado destroyed a real estate office. The tornado moved across St Andrews Bay near the Hathaway Bridge and then 100 yards south of the WJHG-TV station before dissipating. Reported by the Bay County EMA and WJHG-TV meteorologist.  <per NCDC.gov Storm Report> 

More Information Can be found at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004ivan.shtml 
Credit: NOAA/NHC/NWS and CIRA

Radar data:

evxradarivan.gif ivan1.jpg

 

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