Tornado at MEM
 

CNN just reported touched down at or near the airport.... anyone there?

It apparently lifted the roof off a fire station that was attached to the FedEx hangar. That's what our local television station is saying right now, anyway.

Anyone have any updates on this situation? I'm flying through there tomorrow and wasn't sure if any structural damage occured at the airport. I know I may sound paranoid; but I just wanted to make sure

As of right now, there have been not reports of damage at the airport but the tornado sirens just started again so we won't know until it's all over.

Here is a link to the storm reports from the Memphis National Weather Service:

http://www.weather.gov/view/validPro...=LSR&node=KMEG

Here are a couple snippets from around 536 pm as listed on said link (capital letters produced by the Memphis NWS):

"ROOF BLOWN OFF OF PINNACLE AIRLINE HANGER AT MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. PLANES WERE MOVED. AIRSTAIRS MOVED 100 YARDS. MOVED A 737 AIRPLANE A FOOT."

"ROOF DAMAGE AT FEDEX FIRE STATION AT MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. 73 KT GUST REPORTED BY WIND SENSOR."

Wow, I've been watching the news since 5ish and had't seen that reported. Maybe I was just watching the wrong station, but they has focused mainly on the Hicory Ridge mall which sustained a lot of damage.

Tornados in February? The weather sure is getting wacky...

Yeah, the weather has been really weird here lately. It was 75 degrees yesterday and I beleive it got up to 78 today. Anyime I see people in MEM wearing t-shirts and shorts in Febuary I know something is wrong.

Several deaths and damage extensive in Arkansas west of Memphis, a line spawning tornadoes, winds in excess of 60 mph and hail is east of Memphis now,moving at 50mph.

Reports out of MEM tonight:

-Half of the roof blew off of the Pinnacle hanger with debris scattered across runway 9/27. No injuries or aircraft damaged in the hanger.

-The jetbridge on NW's gate B39 was damaged

-FedEx fire station was damaged

-FedEx deicing equipment sustained damage

Glad to hear it was not worse after seeing the pictures on CNN this morning.

I will be flying through MEM tomorrow. I wonder if i will be able to see the roof off?

I believe the FedEx fire station facility is on the north side of the airport. If I am correct then you can see the facility amongst the FedEx aircraft from the port side when landing on runway 18.

If you are flying in from the East and land on runway 27 you may be able to see the damage done to the Sears store at the Hickory Ride Mall. Flying East the Hickory Ridge Mall can be easily seen on the port side of the aircraft shortly before landing.

Of course if you land in the evening after it is dark you may not be able to see any of this.

Some reports that I received said that 9-27 was closed due to debris on the runway. Have not heard any update on a status change.

I was in MEM yesterday 2/6 and there was not any delay from what I can see and the airport operations seem to be running as usual.