1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado
The Tornado outbreak of November 16–18, 2015 was a highly unusual nocturnal late-season tornado outbreak that significantly impacted the lower Great Plains on November 16 before producing additional weaker tornadoes across parts of the Southern United States the following two days. The first day of the outbreak spawned multiple strong, long-track tornadoes, including two consecutive EF3 tornadoes that caused major damage near Pampa, Texas. Overall, the outbreak produced 61 tornadoes in all, and was described as by the National Weather Service office in Dodge City, Kansas as being "unprecedented in recorded history for southwest Kansas" given the magnitude and the late season.[3] In addition, the tornado outbreak brought the first November tornadoes into northwest Kansas, and the first strong tornadoes in the Texas Panhandle in November, as well as the further west any F3/EF3 tornadoes touched down this late in the calendar year.[4] Despite spawning multiple strong tornadoes after dark, no fatalities and only one minor injury occurred as a result of the outbreak.
Meteorological synopsis
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An intense mid-level trough moved from the desert Southwest United States into the south-central High Plains, and low-level flow brought moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the region, allowing dew points to reach the 50s and low 60s. Strong wind shear supported supercell thunderstorm development.[5]
Tornado struck the town of Grainfield, where numerous trees, power lines, and grain bins were damaged. A wood structure sustained damage, an abandoned house had its roof ripped off, and a quonset building was destroyed. A small shop, windows, and sheds were destroyed, and a second home sustained minor damage.[10][11]
This large, long-tracked wedge tornado destroyed a mobile home and snapped power poles near the beginning of its path. The tornado reached its maximum intensity (mid-range EF3) as it passed west of Kismet, where a farmstead was heavily damaged, trees were partially debarked and denuded, a well-built metal hog containment building was obliterated, and a heavy steel oil tank was tossed. The tornado weakened to EF2 strength as it passed near Plains, snapping miles of power poles, destroying outbuildings, and flipping irrigation pivots. One of the irrigation pivots had one of its wheels ripped off and thrown. EF1 damage to power poles, trees, and irrigation pivots was noted northwest of Meade. The tornado re-strengthened to EF2 intensity as it passed between Montezuma and Ensign, tearing the entire roof off of a frame home, destroying outbuildings, and snapping power poles before it dissipated to the northeast of Montezuma.[12][13][14]
A brief tornado occurred in a very rural area of northwestern Roberts County, causing a windmill to collapse. A witness stated that a funnel was visible for about 10 minutes and the tornado tracked 4 to 5 miles (6.4 to 8.0 km).[15][20]
Large wedge tornado began south of Pampa, snapping numerous power poles at EF2 strength. As the tornado passed east of town, EF3 damage occurred as trees were denuded and partially debarked, a well-anchored double-wide mobile home was completely swept away with little debris recovered, and heavy farm equipment along with a 2-ton truck were thrown 150 yards over a barn. EF3 damage continued as the tornado crossed into Roberts County, debarking trees, toppling metal high-tension truss towers, and causing some ground scouring as it passed through open fields. Several power poles were snapped to the west of Miami before the tornado dissipated.[15][23][24][25]
Tornado moved directly through Lenora, where windows and garage doors were damaged or blown out. An aluminum door was folded and mangled, outbuildings sustained minor damage, and trees were blown through windows. A Nex-Tech building had its roof ripped off.[27]
Strong tornado completely destroyed a well-built metal frame outbuilding. A home had its windows broken and roof decking material removed, with the roof uplifted. Large pieces of wood were embedded in the roof. A large truck was moved 50 yards (46 m).[23][28][29]
A well-built metal frame outbuilding was heavily damaged, with its metal supports severely twisted and bent as a result of this large wedge tornado. Numerous power poles were snapped, large trees were uprooted, irrigation pivots were flipped, and three homes sustained roof and window damage.[33][34]
Fence and tree damage was observed near the Texas–Oklahoma state line, and multiple power flashes were observed just west of the town of Booker.[35][36]
Large cone tornado began south of Pampa, snapping tree trunks and destroying a manufactured home at EF2 intensity. Farm equipment was moved and damaged and fences were downed southeast of town before the tornado reached EF3 strength, completely flattening multiple large metal frame industrial buildings at a chemical plant complex just east of town. Several vehicles were thrown into the rubble and damaged, trees were snapped, and a manufactured home at the edge of the circulation sustained minor damage as well. Further to the northeast the tornado weakened to EF2 strength as it snapped multiple power poles and completely destroyed an outbuilding before dissipating. The destruction of the chemical plant resulted in a significant gas and chemical leak, prompting Hazmat response.[15][23][38]
Twelve electrical poles were downed, a flagpole was bent in half, a trailer house and outbuildings were damaged, and a radio station lost its ability to broadcast.[39]
Tornado paralleled and crossed the path of the first Pampa EF3 tornado and was produced by the same supercell which produced the second Pampa EF3 tornado. Damage was confined to wooden power poles broken in Roberts County.[15][23][41][42]
Trees, power poles, signs, outbuildings, fences, windmills, and small farm machinery were damaged. The western side roof covering was ripped from a barn, and several grain carts on the property were moved.[43][44]
One home sustained roof damage, sheet metal debris from an outbuilding was scattered across a field, and some small power poles were snapped. Oil field equipment and fences were damaged, and multiple trees and tree limbs were snapped along the path as well. Trees and power lines were damaged after the tornado crossed into Oklahoma.[15][23][50][51][52][53]
A home was damaged, sheds were destroyed, outbuildings were heavily damaged, power poles were broken, and trees were damaged along the path.[50][55][56][57]
An old home sustained major damage, and buildings at an oil field were destroyed. Trees were snapped, significant tree damage occurred, and farm implements and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed as well.[59][60]
Several homes sustained minor roof damage, a few homes had their garage doors destroyed, a car wash suffered severe damage, several business signs were damaged or destroyed, and a hotel sustained significant roof damage.[63]
Numerous large trees were snapped or uprooted. Two trailers were thrown and destroyed, numerous barns, outbuildings, and mobile homes suffered severe damage, and tin and lumber debris were tossed over 0.5 mi (0.80 km).[64]
A number of outbuildings and a chicken house were destroyed, the roofs of several homes were damaged, trees were snapped or uprooted, and power lines were downed.[65]
Numerous trees were downed or uprooted. A mobile home was rolled and destroyed. Some tin was removed from the roof of a home, and a shed sustained some damage. An old, unused chicken house was heavily damaged.[67][68][69]
Tornado moved through a subdivision, snapping small trees and damaging five homes. One of the homes had its front porch and a section of its roof lifted off, with the debris being thrown nearly 50 yards (46 m) away. Fences were blown down and 4 by 4 beams were snapped near their bases as well.[84][85]
Near the beginning of the path, goal posts and bleachers sustained minor damage at Creekside High School. The tornado moved through residential areas of Fairburn, snapping and uprooting numerous large trees and causing minor structural damage to several homes. Some of the trees landed on homes and caused significant damage. A small, unsecured shed was torn apart as well. One minor injury occurred when a tree fell on a car near a country club.[84][86]
Two locations sustained structural damage from a brief tornado. The north-facing front wall was ripped apart at one location in the area, and the roof and metal siding of another location were partially peeled back. Additionally, two pine trees were uprooted.[84][87]
A tornado tracked across a rural area and blew down a tree.[88]
Non-tornadic effects
A significant winter storm occurred on the backend of the tornado outbreak. On November 17, whiteout conditions forced 174 mi (280 km) of I-70 to close, from the intersection with E-470 to Goodland, Kansas. A 55 mi (89 km) stretch of I-25 was also closed across southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The storm also brought flight cancellations at Denver International Airport, where 4 in (10 cm) of snow fell.[89] Up to 6 in (15 cm) of snow fell in western Oklahoma on November 18 after the tornado outbreak.[90] The storm was unofficially named Winter Storm Ajax by The Weather Channel.[91]
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^"Kansas Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Dodge City, Kansas. 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
^"Kansas Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Goodland, Kansas. 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
^"Kansas Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Goodland, Kansas. 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
^"Kansas Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Goodland, Kansas. 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
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^"Kansas Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Dodge City, Kansas. 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
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^"Texas Event Report: EF3 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Amarillo, Texas. 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
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^"Texas Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Amarillo, Texas. 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
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^"Texas Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Midland, Texas. 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
^"Texas Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Amarillo, Texas. 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
^"Kansas Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Dodge City, Kansas. 2015. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
^"Kansas Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Dodge City, Kansas. 2015. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
^"Texas Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Amarillo, Texas. 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
^"Oklahoma Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Amarillo, Texas. 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
^"Kansas Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Dodge City, Kansas. 2015. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
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^"Texas Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Fort Worth, Texas. 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
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