Published August 3, 2022
MONROE, LA – A recent paper published in the National Weather Association's "Journal of Operational
Meteorology" by the University of Louisiana Monroe analyzed the impact of tornados
that formed on April 12, 2020, in Monroe.
This event produced two EF-3 tornadoes that destroyed 23 homes and damaged 458 homes.
The used casualty model suggests a $39 million in economic savings from the expected
versus actual casualty losses.
The research results found 0 casualties, including injuries and fatalities, directly
attributed to the tornado. This scenario could expect at least 19 casualties, suggesting
that improved low-level coverage provided by the ULM polarimetric Doppler weather
radar greatly assisted the National Weather Service warning operations in issuing
a better tornado warning lead time.
"Analysis of the 12 April 2020 Northern Louisiana Tornadic QLCS," was co-authored
by Associate Professor and Atmospheric Science Program Coordinator Todd A. Murphy,
Assistant Professor of Geosciences, Tyler Fricker, and university students Tessa Stetzer
and Lauren Walker, along with National Weather Service meteorologists Brad Bryant
and Charles Woodrum.
The paper examines the event by looking at the evolution of the pre-tornadic environment
and the tornadic circulation, estimating tornado intensity using a variety of traditional
and new methods, and finally applying a casualty model to the storm survey data.
"This paper shows for the first time the type of economic impact the ULM radar has
for our region. The ULM data-sharing partnerships with surrounding NWS offices have
led to numerous positive outcomes since the radar became operational and is a model
that could be used in other radar gaps across the country," Murphy said.
Some analyses were based on UAS flights of the tornado track provided by Paul Karlowitz
and Stephanie Robinson from the ULM UAS program. The full publication can be accessed
via https://doi.org/10.15191/nwajom.2022.1004
