Storm
Damage Survey
Mitchell County Tornado of September 25, 2003
Pat Vesper & Todd Lindley
Early Friday morning, the National Weather Service
in Midland conducted a damage survey in Mitchell County. Damage
occurred Thursday afternoon at approximately 1:50 pm to a total
of eight structures near Colorado City, as a complex of thunderstorms
moved across the area. No injuries or fatalities occurred. Four
of the structures sustained significant damage. The following
are conclusions from that damage survey.
Damage was noted along a narrow path from near
Farm to Market Road 1983, one half mile south of Interstate Business
20 just west of Colorado City, to the KVCM-KAUM radio station,
and westward for another 1/4 mile along Business 20. This tornado
developed and moved northwestward, then westward along this path.
The tornado�s damage path was approximately 30
yards wide. Eyewitness accounts also indicated a small and intense
circulation, consistent with observed damage. The damage was intermittent,
and stretched for a total distance of approximately one mile.
Only a very small area along this track sustained F1 damage, with
weaker F0 damage along the remainder of the path. The F1 damage
classifies this tornado as a weak tornado on the Fujita Tornado
Intensity Scale. Wind speeds were estimated to range from 90 to
100 mph based on observed damage.
The F1 damage occurred to one well-constructed
residential structure. Winds associated with the tornado appeared
to have initially impacted the home�s garage, allowing high winds
to enter the northeast portion of the structure. This resulted
in a large portion of the roof being lifted off of the home. Large
pieces of roof debris caused additional damage downwind. Eyewitnesses
reported large amounts of airborne debris at this time. The debris
field along the tornado�s path also indicated the presence of
a circulation.
The survey indicated that while a tornado-like
vortex existed, this vortex was dissimilar from a supercellular
tornado in that it did not move with the parent storm. Yesterday�s
thunderstorms moved from west to east over Mitchell County, while
the tornado moved in an opposite direction. Eyewitness reports
of torrential rainfall immediately following the tornado suggest
that the tornado�s development may have initially been associated
with the thunderstorm�s outflow. The vortex, however, was likely
enhanced as it moved under a nearby updraft or perhaps by a nearby
frontal boundary.
Damage Photos
(Click on a photo for a full resolution image)