NWS confirms straight-line wind damage to mobile home park in Millington

Following severe storms that raked the Memphis metro on Wednesday night, October 18, officials from NWS-Memphis conducted storms surveys in several areas within their area of responsibility.

In Shelby County, the NWS determined that damage in Millington, TN adjacent to the Wal-Mart in the West Side Mobile Home Park was due to straight-line wind of 75-80 mph that struck at about 8:15pm.  The damage occurred over an area about 50 yards wide and about 1/3 of a mile long.

Damage path from storm that struck the West Side Mobile Home Park in Millington, TN.  Click for larger image.

From the NWS storm survey:

"TWO MOBILE HOMES SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE FROM FALLING TREES. SEVERAL OTHER MOBILE HOMES SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THE ROOF WAS LIFTED OFF OF A BASEBALL FIELD DUGOUT ADJACENT TO AND WEST OF THE MOBILE HOME PARK AND TOSSED 20 FT. A FEW TREES WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED ON THE WEST END OF THE MOBILE HOME PARK AND A PRIVACY FENCE WAS BLOWN DOWN."

Severe damage to mobile home from a fallen tree.
Photo credit: Ashli Blow, WMC-TV Community Blogger

A Tornado Warning was in effect until 8:30pm for areas of northwest Shelby County just to the west of the damage location at the time the storm struck and sirens were sounding in Millington.  A follow up Tornado Warning was issued at 8:05pm that included all of Millington.  In addition, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was also in effect until 8:15pm.  Graphics of all warnings are shown below.

MemphisWeather.net strongly advises those living in mobile homes or travel trailers to evacuate to sturdier shelter when either Tornado OR Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are issued for their location.  As evidenced, major damage to trailers can occur from 75 mph straight line wind.

Tornado Warning area that was in effect at the time of the damage in Millington.
A subsequent warning covered the damage area (shown below).

Additional tornado warning that was in effect for the mobile home park at the time of the damage 

Severe Thunderstorm Warning that expired at about the time the damage occurred.
The Tornado Warning was still in effect after the Severe Thunderstorm Warning expired.

Finally, the NWS also determined that 60 mph wind struck Coldwater, MS (Tate County in the MWN coverage area) around 9:25pm, causing some tree damage.

Related stories:
Millington residents displaced by severe storm - WMC-TV 5 (Story/video)
Damage photos at West Side Mobile Home Park - WMC-TV 5 (Photos)
Millington Storm Cleanup Begins - WREG-TV 3 (Story/video)


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