February 2009 North American storm complex

On February 10–11, 2009, a broad-scale damaging wind event and small tornado outbreak affected the Central and Eastern United States. During the two-day period, 14 tornadoes touched down in seven states. Oklahoma was struck by six tornadoes, the most of any state. The six tornadoes in Oklahoma also tied the record for the most tornadoes ever recorded in the state during the month of February, which would later be broken in 2023. The first day of the outbreak produced the most tornadoes; the second brought mainly high wind damage and rain or snow in most of the Northeast.

The storm system responsible for the tornado outbreak resulted from the unusual congruence of a cold, dry system, originating in the Four Corners and a warm, moist system, moving north out of Texas. Complicating factors included daytime heating and a strong wind field favorable to the creation of circulating thunderstorms. On the second day, the stronger cold front limited discrete supercell activity and the risk of tornadoes decreased significantly. A squall line, however, produced high winds and rain along the river valleys, primarily those of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. A tight pressure-gradient behind the cold front led to a large area of damaging non-thunderstorm winds across the Midwest and Ohio Valley. This squall line continued to renew its energy as it passed through the Midwest, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and New England, causing wind and water damage, and dumping 6 in of snow in central and eastern Massachusetts. The resulting power outages affected homes throughout the northeastern seaboard.

The widespread damaging winds left an estimated $1.7 billion (2009 USD) in damage across the Ohio River Valley and Southeastern United States. A small tornado outbreak accompanied the storm, with 14 confirmed across 7 states. The most significant damage occurred in Oklahoma from two tornadoes in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and a deadly EF4 tornado that destroyed large parts of Lone Grove. The EF4 tornado killed eight people and injured 46 others.

February 10
Early on February 10, 2009, a strong upper-level trough moved east from the Four Corners into the central and southern Great Plains by the afternoon and early evening hours. Temperatures across Texas and Oklahoma were unusually low antecedent to a severe weather outbreak, generally ranging from 30 to 50 F. Early morning fog moving northwest into Oklahoma signaled the arrival of low-level moisture into the region. Strong surface heating combined with cooler air aloft created an unstable atmosphere, a situation unusual in the region for February. In the afternoon hours, a shortwave trough moved from Arizona into Texas while a strong mid-level jet emanated from the Big Bend region. Daytime heating of the moistening boundary layer increased throughout the afternoon across Oklahoma and Texas as cloud cover shifted eastward. A very strong wind field increased with height through the lower troposphere, resulting in a wind shear favorable for rotation in the thunderstorms.

Meteorologists expected large hail stones and damaging winds, and recognized the potential for strong tornadoes as thunderstorms developed from central Oklahoma southward into north-central Texas in the afternoon. During the night, a cold front moved eastward toward the Mississippi Valley and organized the thunderstorms into a lengthy squall line. Along with a continued threat of hail and tornadoes, the risk of damaging winds increased. The Storm Prediction Center announced a "moderate risk" of severe weather for portions of eastern Oklahoma, northeastern Texas, western Arkansas, and northwestern Louisiana.

Around 19:00 UTC, a line of thunderstorms began developing near the Wichita Mountains in Comanche County, Oklahoma. One supercell originating there produced five tornadoes from Canadian County in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area to Pawnee County. One of these was rated EF2 when it struck western areas of Edmond. The most significant tornado originated in Montague County, Texas at 00:48 UTC. It quickly crossed the Red River into Oklahoma and moved through predominantly rural areas, ultimately striking Lone Grove at EF4 intensity. Severe damage took place in the town and eight people were killed. In addition to the five Oklahoma tornadoes, three tornadoes struck northern sections of Texas and one tornado hit Springfield, Missouri.

February 11
Concurrent with the strong upper-level trough tracking northeastward, the threat for organized severe weather shifted eastward into the Ohio River Valley on February 11, where the Storm Prediction Center issued a Slight risk across much of the region. Very strong wind fields, including mid-level winds upwards of 115 kn, overspread the risk area. Strong forcing along an eastward-moving cold front combined with those wind fields led to the persistence of a low-topped squall line despite little instability ahead of the convection. Widespread sunshine developed ahead of the squall line throughout the afternoon hours, increasing the potential for strong winds aloft to be transferred to the surface. As such, the Storm Prediction Center raised the threat level to a Moderate risk across portions of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia for widespread and potentially significant damaging winds. The organization would ultimately receive over 350 reports of damaging winds on February 11, including a peak gust of 85 kn near Belle, West Virginia. By the evening hours, the squall line encountered cooler surface temperatures and became increasingly separated from the powerful upper-level trough, and it lost its vigor moving through the Mid-Atlantic region.

Confirmed tornadoes
 

Non-tornadic events
During the evening of February 10, a long line of severe thunderstorms developed along the tail-end of a cold front in central Texas. Meteorologists predicted embedded supercell thunderstorms that could produce hail up to 2.5 in in diameter and wind gusts up to 90 mph. North of the squall line, bow echo thunderstorms developed in Missouri, causing widespread wind damage. By the morning of February 11, the squall line reached as far southeast as eastern Louisiana, where winds were recorded in excess of 70 mph along with hail up to 1 in in diameter. Around 12 pm EST (17:00 UTC), the first line of thunderstorms significantly weakened, but a new, narrow line developed in eastern Kentucky and Tennessee. A strong, deep layer wind field prevented a number of tornadoes from forming but instead caused widespread wind damage. Throughout the day, the line of low-topped thunderstorms continued eastward, reaching Ohio and West Virginia by 4 pm EST (21:00 UTC). Several hours later, the line broke apart, with the strongest storms tracking through Pennsylvania. By February 12, rain showers, accompanied by high winds up to 60 mph, affected most of the Northeastern United States. The large-scale damaging wind event left an estimated $1.7 billion (2009 USD) in losses.

West South Central states
In addition to the strong tornadoes, Oklahoma was affected by high winds and large hail. The largest hailstones were observed in Okesa at 4.5 in in diameter. Numerous cars were hit and several houses sustained roof damage; the cost of the hail damage was estimated at $100,000. Heavy rains produced by the storms also caused isolated flooding, inundating numerous streets. A lightning bolt struck an oil tank, igniting a fire. The most significant wind damage occurred in Atoka and Coal counties where winds up to 70 mph destroyed two mobile homes, several barns, and outbuildings. Gusts peaked at 81 mph in McIntosh and Pawnee counties. Throughout the state, an estimated 61,000 people lost power: 29,000 lost power due to thunderstorms and 32,000 due to tornadoes.

Strong straight-line winds of 70 – caused significant damage in Hamilton County, Texas. Barns, sheds, and outbuildings were destroyed with some having debris strewn 1.5 mi downstream. Several mobile homes near Hamilton sustained damage after tree limbs fell on them. In Huron, several outbuildings were damaged or destroyed and a permanent building was damaged at a youth retreat center. An estimated 15,000 residences were without power following the storms in Texas. Three people were injured in McGregor when their home was destroyed.

In Arkansas, high winds produced by the squall line knocked out power to 315,324 residences and caused widespread structural damage. Trees and power lines were brought down in eight counties, and several homes in Independence and Van Buren County sustained damage. Winds estimated at 80 mph in Van Buren blew a barn onto AR 9. Hundreds of trees were blown down, many of which fell on homes. Winds estimated up to 85 mph caused extensive damage to homes, primarily from fallen trees, and injured three people. In Conway County, a sawmill and two barns were destroyed, while several homes and a church also sustained damage. Damaging straight-line winds affected northwestern Louisiana, downing many trees and power lines. Several homes were damaged by fallen trees in Shreveport. Approximately 12,000 residences lost power in the state.

Midwest
In Missouri, high winds caused widespread damage and knocked out power to 7,629 residences. Several homes and businesses lost their windows due to 65 mph wind gusts produced within squall lines. Flooding and high winds in Michigan knocked out power to about 57,000 residences. In southern Michigan, upwards of 0.8 in of rain fell, leading to faster snowmelt.

A tight pressure gradient behind the cold front produced strong winds across portions of Indiana and Illinois, with many areas seeing sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph. Heavy rain, warmer temperatures, and snow melt contributed to saturated grounds. In the town of Carmel, a total of 2.75 in of rain fell. The combination of these factors swelled the Wabash River, leading to widespread flooding of low-lying areas. The river remained above flood-stage through February 23. Floods affected portions of Fountain, Parke, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warren counties. In southwestern counties, the White River reached nearly 4 ft above flood-stage, inundating low-lying areas and some roads. The river remained above flood-stage through February 22. Flood gates were erected in Hazleton as water reached a local sports field. Non-thunderstorm wind gusts peaked at an estimated 80 mph in Crawford and Tippecanoe counties; the highest measured value was 73 mph in Hamilton County. In Tippecanoe County, several homes had shingles and siding blown off and fallen trees blocked roads. Winds in southwestern Indiana damaged power lines weakened from the ice storm in late January. A total of 14,590 residences lost power in Indiana. Several large trees were brought down by high winds, one of which fell on a home in South Bend.

A total of 70,695 residences lost power in Illinois. Rainfall up to 4 in fell throughout most of the state. Several major roadways were covered in flood waters. The Little Wabash River overflowed its banks and inundated nearby roads. Elevated waters along the Wabash River in Indiana traveled south into Illinois by February 13, with Wabash and White counties experiencing flooding. The river crested at 24.86 ft in Mount Carmel, nearly 5 ft above flood-stage on February 19. Strong winds on the backside of the cold front affected large portions of the state, with gusts generally reaching 50 to 60 mph. Some minor damage resulted from these winds.

In Ohio, 70 mph wind gusts led to a highway accident that killed a truck driver. The high winds also caused significant damage throughout the state. Heavy rains produced by the same system inundated several streets in flood-prone towns in Ohio. In Scioto County, the high winds destroyed a brick house and brought down power lines. The most significant damage resulted from the strong pressure gradient behind the frontal system. Thousands of tree were knocked down or uprooted by winds gusting in excess of 75 mph, cutting power to 585,775 residences. Ten railroad cars were knocked off their tracks near Shelby. Several hundred homes lost shingles and gutters due to the winds. Wind also overturned two semi-trailers, though the drivers of both vehicles were unharmed. A vacant school building in Epworth lost its entire roof. Some windows were damaged or broken by flying debris or fallen trees. Power outages forced numerous schools to close for at least two days following the storm. A large barn was leveled just north of Brighton in Lorain County by 64 mph winds. Throughout the state, damages from the storm system amounted to $4.7 million.

Northeastern states
Hurricane-force wind gusts up to 92 mph caused significant damage and power losses in Pennsylvania. Throughout the state, at least 400,000 residences lost power due to the winds. Allegheny Power stated that the loss of power due to this system was the largest ever experienced by the company. Thousands of trees and power lines were brought down by strong winds and numerous homes sustained significant damage. Although most of the damage to homes consisted of shingle damage, several homes lost gutters and had portions of their siding blown off. In Pottstown, a large portion of the roof of a four-story building was blown off, forcing residents to evacuate the building. An 18 ft pillar was knocked down at the First Moravian Church in Easton. In Northampton County, a fire sparked by fallen power lines destroyed a barn and partially melted a nearby metal shed. The blaze was fully contained by 40 firefighters. Another fire sparked by fallen power lines destroyed a garage in Lower Merion Township. In Philadelphia, the roof of a portable classroom began to peel off, forcing the forty students inside to evacuate to a safer structure. A large tree fell through one house and severely damaged the roof of a nearby home. Numerous major highways and local streets were shut down for several hours to allow cleanup crews to clear debris. Throughout the state, damages from the storm system amounted to $3.7 million.

In upstate New York, winds in excess of 50 mph shattered windows, toppled numerous trees, and brought down power lines, cutting power to more than 50,000 residences. Unseasonably warm temperatures and heavy rains from the storm system increased the snowmelt rate in northern areas of the state. In Genesee County, an estimated 2 to 5 in of the snowpack melted, triggering flash floods along several rivers. The Tonawanda Creek reached a height of 14.38 ft, 2.38 ft above flood stage. Several homes were inundated by flood waters throughout the region. In all, 84,624 residences lost power in New York State. The storm system continued producing gusty winds through February 12, which caused tree damage and power outages, and killed a construction worker in the New York City metropolitan area. The construction worker was killed after a cinder block wall collapsed due to high-winds. Winds in the city gusted to 65 mph in the Bronx. Throughout Long Island, an estimated 4,000 people lost power.

In New Jersey, strong winds gusted up to 55 mph, bringing down tree limbs that killed two people. A total of 93,816 residences were also left without power at the height of the storm. High winds on the backside of the storm brought down a power line that sparked a small fire in Galloway Township, burning a total of 40 acres. A total of 8,486 Connecticut residences were left without power after high winds damaged numerous power lines and tree limbs. Downed wires delayed Metro-North service on the New Haven Line. In Massachusetts, gusts up to 55 mph brought down several trees and cut power to residences in Middleborough, Boston, Brookline and Hingham. The Western Massachusetts Electric Company reported that at least 360 residences lost power during the storm. Westerly winds and enhanced moisture from lakes led to 3 to 6 in of snow falling in parts of The Berkshires.

Elsewhere


In Mississippi, strong winds on the backside of the cold front blew a metal roof off a power company building, bringing down several trees and power lines. Progressing into Alabama, the initial squall line brought locally severe thunderstorms with a peak gust of 75 mph near Cherokee. Some areas saw trees downed and homes damaged. The more significant effects resulted from the pressure gradient winds on the backside of the storm, with widespread damaging winds. Trees were downed in many areas, some of which caused power outages, and a few homes had roof damage. Three people were trapped in their apartment in Florence when a tree fell on the building. A downed power line sparked a fire that burned 15 acre a few miles southwest of Leighton. At least 8,300 customers lost power in various parts of the state. In Huntsville, a car carrying four people lost control on rain-slicked roads and crashed into a van, killing one of the occupants and injuring the other three. Effects in Georgia were largely limited to scattered instances of downed trees and power lines across northern and central parts of the state. Peak gusts were estimated at 58 mph.

Winds of 55 to 65 mph affected the majority of Kentucky, resulting in extensive power outages. A total of 161,588 residences lost power, exacerbating the effects of an ice storm two weeks earlier. Numerous counties reported downed trees and some structural damage, mainly from the fallen trees. A peak gust of 73 mph was recorded at Owensboro–Daviess County Regional Airport in western Kentucky. At least 2,500 homes suffered some degree of damage in southwestern Kentucky. Several homes had their roof torn off in Cadiz and two brick buildings collapsed in Morganfield. In eastern Kentucky, approximately 90 percent of Williamsburg lost power; five homes lost their roof in the city. One fatality occurred in Kentucky when a utility worker was knocked over by high winds and fell 30 ft to his death while trying to restore power. Widespread damage to trees occurred across most of Tennessee as the storm moved through, with Central Tennessee and East Tennessee being more severely affected. Many areas estimated or measured winds in excess of 60 mph, with peak gusts estimated at 86 mph near Collinwood and Lawrenceburg. Mostly minor damage to homes was reported in multiple counties; some had their roof significantly damaged. Widespread power outages occurred, with a total of 74,052 residences losing service. In Collinwood, the doors and roofs of three dry kilns at a Hughes Hardwood were blown in or torn off. Several brush and structure fires ignited during the storm in Washington County were worsened by the winds, one of which destroyed two buildings.

One person was killed by high winds in Davy, West Virginia when a gymnasium roof collapsed. Throughout the state, power was knocked out to an estimated 225,000 residences. In Montgomery County, Virginia, winds knocked down power lines which sparked two brush fires, one of which burned a total of 12 acres. Winds up to 65 mph cut power to 28,059 residences in the state. The strong winds also cut power to 50,820 residences in Maryland.

Aftermath
In the wake of the tornado outbreak, law enforcement officers, including 30 National Guard troops, were sent to Lone Grove to assist with rescue efforts. The American Red Cross opened shelters in Ardmore, Edmond, and Oklahoma City. About 100 volunteers from the Sorghum Mill Estates Neighborhood Association traveled to affected areas in Edmond to help with cleanup efforts. A local restaurant provided free meals to the volunteers as they assisted relief workers. The Salvation Army had two canteens in Oklahoma City, one in Lone Grove, and one in Perkins. About 2,000 meals, drinks, and snacks were provided by the Salvation Army to emergency responders. Feed the Children sent two truckloads of relief supplies to Carter County. They also sent three food trucks, containing a total of 619 meals, 900 drinks, and about 500 snacks, to Ardmore. On February 22, the New Life Baptist Church sent drinks and prepackaged snacks, along with items needed for clean-up. Baptist Disaster Relief assisted in Lone Grove with food and emotional care. The Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA) gave away two tickets to anyone who made a donation of $25 or an equivalent amount of food to benefit victims of the tornado. A concert featuring Chris Cagle and other local musicians at Heritage Hall in Ardmore raised over $18,000 to benefit Carter County tornado victims. Another concert set up by the Salvation Army raised $2,300 more for victims.

The Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry declared a State of Emergency in 17 counties and described the outbreak as the worst natural disaster he had seen since becoming governor. On February 15, President Obama approved Henry's request for federal assistance in Carter, Logan and Oklahoma counties. A disaster recovery center was set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on February 20. Homeowners were allowed to borrow $200,000 to repair damages to their home or find a temporary or permanent shelter. They were also allowed to borrow up to $40,000 to replace lost property. Businesses were allowed to borrow up to $2 million for damage repair, property loss, and economic loss. By February 23, about $781,000 had been given in federal grants. On February 25, FEMA approved Governor Henry's request for public assistance in Carter, Coal and Love counties. The estimated cost to clear the 7,000 tons of debris in Lone Grove was placed at $500,000, of which $90,000 has been paid for by FEMA. The Department of Homeland Security offered to assist with the reconstruction of homes and businesses and to support those who were left homeless.