Severe Weather Update Thread (5.24.2011)

[jdcnow]

Well, good afternoon, all. Thankfully, I have some time to monitor the weather today. Looks like quite the nasty setup over northern Texas, most of Oklahoma, and Kansas, today. Of course, thoughts and well-wishes go out the good people of Joplin, MO as they pick up the pieces from the tornado, Sunday night.

In the event that I should have to end early due to some unforseen reason, my weather-monitoring resources are Intellicast Interactive Doppler Radar, and the National Weather Service website for any warning statements.

Of course, if there's anyone affected by the weather this afternoon and tonight, let us know how it is where you are, and let us know that you and yours are OK, afterwards.

Quite the interesting Hazardous Weather Statment from the main Weather Service office in Norman, OK...

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1207 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK COVERS NORTHERN...WESTERN...
CENTRAL...AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA...AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MOST OF OKLAHOMA
AND PARTS OF WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

LOCATION...
THE HIGH RISK AREA COVERS LOCATIONS NEAR AND EAST OF A LINE
EXTENDING FROM ALVA...TO WEATHERFORD...TO WICHITA FALLS. THIS
INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALVA...ENID...PONCA CITY...THE OKLAHOMA CITY
METRO...LAWTON...WICHITA FALLS...ARDMORE...ADA...AND DURANT.

WEST OF THE HIGH RISK...THERE IS STILL A RISK OF SEVERE STORMS... AS
FAR WEST AS WOODWARD...CLINTON...HOBART...FREDERICK...AND SEYMOUR.

TIMING...
THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM 3 PM
THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

IMPACTS...
THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR VIOLENT TORNADOES...PRIMARILY IN THE HIGH
RISK AREA. DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...POSSIBLY LARGER THAN BASEBALLS...AND
DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WIND WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE IN THE RISK AREAS.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS...
STORM SPOTTER GROUPS...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...AND ALL EMERGENCY
RESPONSE AGENCIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE OF
READINESS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND EVENING. THE PUBLIC SHOULD REVIEW
SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY PLANS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION.

DISCUSSION...
A VERY STRONG UPPER-LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE QUICKLY OVER THE
REGION TODAY AND TONIGHT. WITH VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR AHEAD OF
THIS STORM...SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED. STORMS ARE
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY MID-AFTERNOON JUST WEST OF THE HIGH RISK
AREA...WITH STORM MOTIONS EASTERLY AT AROUND 30 MPH. WITH VERY
UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...AND STRONG WINDS AT ALL LEVELS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE...THE ENVIRONMENT WILL SUPPORT LONG-LIVED SUPERCELLS WITH
THE RISK FOR GIANT HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. TORNADOES WILL BE LIKELY
WITH THE MOST INTENSE STORMS...AND THE POTENTIAL WILL EXIST FOR ONE
OR MORE VIOLENT...LONG-TRACK TORNADOES IN THE HIGH RISK AREA.

THE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL CONTINUE WELL INTO THE NIGHT...BUT
SHOULD SHIFT INTO FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA BY AROUND MIDNIGHT.

PROBABILITY TABLE...
VALID THROUGH 700 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MAY 25.
PROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING IN THE
NWS NORMAN COUNTY WARNING AREA...100 PERCENT.
PROBABILITY OF SEVERE STORMS IF STORMS OCCUR...100 PERCENT.

 

[jdcnow]

And let's get things started with the first Tornado Warning from the National Weather Service in Dodge City, Kansas...

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
230 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN GRANT COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS...
HASKELL COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS...

* UNTIL 315 PM CDT

* AT 229 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
VERY STRONG ROTATION ASSOCIATED WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO 4 MILES
SOUTH OF RYUS. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL UP TO TENNIS BALL SIZE IS ALSO EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RYUS...SATANTA...SUBLETTE AND TICE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

 

[jdcnow]

Scary weather these days. We missed the Minneapolis tornado by about 10 blocks; TOO close.

I'm glad you made it through, OK, Donny! Was there very much damage?

 

[jdcnow]

From NWS Blacksburg, Virginia. This would be for north-central North Carolina...

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
339 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN WILKES...WESTERN SURRY AND SOUTHERN ALLEGHANY
COUNTIES...

AT 335 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HALLS MILLS...OR
NEAR MC GRADY...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HALLS MILLS...
DOCKERY...
TRAPHILL...
ROARING GAP...

 

[thewiz]

I took off from Minneapolis airport just as the storm was moving into the area. It began pouring rain as we took off and it was bumpy as hell getting into the clouds. I didn't pay a lot of attention to how high the cloud tops were because I didn't expect tornadic activity.

Was in St. Louis just after the tornado there; actually was to have flown in on Sunday but got delayed until Wednesday. Kind of eery walking into a terminal with lights strung on wires, all the windows boarded up and what glass remained, a lot of it was cracked. The tornado also touched down just south of Highland, IL where I was working and took out some trees and barns but no injuries.

Poor Joplin is in the bullseye area again today; I just hope it misses them. Last night two police officers were hit by lightning; one is in critical condition and one was not as seriously hurt. At a briefing today, the fatalities are likely to increase as they get into some apartment areas but it is a wonder more weren't killed.

Tornadoes seem to be hitting dense city areas this year rather than skipping across rural areas where they do much less harm. While our predictability methods have improved and warning systems installed, there is still precious little time to react when a tornado forms. Plus people tend to get complacent and figure "it'll never hit here."

Hope the weather over Texas just turns to rain; seems like you folks can really use it....

 

[jdcnow]

Update from southwest Kansas...Confirmed tornado...

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
242 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL HASKELL COUNTY
UNTIL 315 PM CDT...

AT 237 PM CDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A TORNADO 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF
HUGOTON. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADIC STORM MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 30 MPH. LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL UP TO TENNIS BALL SIZE IS ALSO
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SUBLETTE...
TICE...
MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF CENTRAL HASKELL COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS CONFIRMED WITH THIS STORM. TAKE COVER NOW.
MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING.
AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO
THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.

 

[eddielee]

Well, a PDS tornado watch has been issued for a few midwestern states. Looks as if another outbreak is expected. This tornado season has been the worst ever!

 

[jdcnow]

I took off from Minneapolis airport just as the storm was moving into the area. It began pouring rain as we took off and it was bumpy as hell getting into the clouds. I didn't pay a lot of attention to how high the cloud tops were because I didn't expect tornadic activity.

Was in St. Louis just after the tornado there; actually was to have flown in on Sunday but got delayed until Wednesday. Kind of eery walking into a terminal with lights strung on wires, all the windows boarded up and what glass remained, a lot of it was cracked. The tornado also touched down just south of Highland, IL where I was working and took out some trees and barns but no injuries.

Poor Joplin is in the bullseye area again today; I just hope it misses them. Last night two police officers were hit by lightning; one is in critical condition and one was not as seriously hurt. At a briefing today, the fatalities are likely to increase as they get into some apartment areas but it is a wonder more weren't killed.

Tornadoes seem to be hitting dense city areas this year rather than skipping across rural areas where they do much less harm. While our predictability methods have improved and warning systems installed, there is still precious little time to react when a tornado forms. Plus people tend to get complacent and figure "it'll never hit here."

Hope the weather over Texas just turns to rain; seems like you folks can really use it....

The United States has already seen almost twice the number of tornados this year thus far (only 5 1/2 months in) than in an average whole year alone!

And thing of it is, the deadlier tornados seem to be hitting the mid-size to large cities. Tuscaloosa, Alabama - mid-size city. Joplin, MO - mid-size city. Minneapolis - major city. It's just the way the conditions happen in any given place, but still...

Thanks for the wishes for rain here. We desperately need it, because around here, we all know that we'll be hurting for rain come July, August, and September. We've been through some years where we hardly saw any storms during the spring, and by mid to late summer - our driest months here - the drought was so bad that the only thing that could break it would be a landfalling tropical storm or hurricane.

 

[jdcnow]

For sw VA...

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
353 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
SCOTT COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
WISE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 430 PM EDT

* AT 349 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 5 MILES SOUTH OF
BENHAM...OR 16 MILES NORTHEAST OF JONESVILLE. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED
THIS TORNADO MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
BIG STONE GAP AND APPALACHIA.

 

[jdcnow]

For northern North Carolina...

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
351 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHWESTERN YADKIN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTHWESTERN SURRY COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
NORTHEASTERN WILKES COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 430 PM EDT.

* AT 349 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BENHAM...OR
NEAR TRAPHILL...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BENHAM...
PLEASANT HILL...
STATE ROAD...
BURCH...
CRUTCHFIELD...

 

[jdcnow]

For northern Oklahoma...

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
300 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN BLAINE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA...
NORTHEASTERN DEWEY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA...
MAJOR COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA...
EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN WOODS COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA...

* UNTIL 345 PM CDT

* AT 300 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 10 MILES WEST OF
CANTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE AMES...CANTON LAKE...CANTON...CLEO
SPRINGS...FAIRVIEW...HOMESTEAD...HUCMAC...ISABELLA...LONGDALE...
MENO...ORIENTA...ORION AND RINGWOOD.

 

[jdcnow]

Radar Views...

North Carolina...

Southwestern Virginia...

Southwest Kansas...

and in Oklahoma...

Stay safe out there...

 

[jdcnow]

Live tornado in progress just northwest of Canton, Oklahoma...

Courtesy KOCO-TV ABC Oklahoma City...

KOCO-TV Live Coverage...

"Longdale, OK - Take cover immediately" - NWS Norman
"Half-mile wide tornado on ground" - KOCO Storm Chaser

 

[jdcnow]

Confirmed tornado in east-central Colorado...

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
212 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTH CENTRAL PROWERS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...

* UNTIL 300 PM MDT

* AT 210 PM MDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO 5 MILES
EAST OF LAMAR. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 15 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GRANADA AND BRISTOL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID
WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE
CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

 

[jdcnow]

Fairly large wedge tornado in progress just west of the OK City Metro. Caddo, Canadian, and Kingfisher Counties, OK, get to shelter on the double!

 

[jdcnow]

From Norman...

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
340 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHERN ALFALFA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA...
EASTERN MAJOR COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA...

* UNTIL 445 PM CDT

* AT 340 PM CDT...A THUNDERSTORM WITH A HISTORY OF PRODUCING
TORNADOES WAS LOCATED 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FAIRVIEW...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE ALINE...CARMEN...CLEO SPRINGS...
FAIRVIEW...GOLTRY...HELENA AND ORIENTA.

 

[jdcnow]

SW KS, between Garden City and Dodge City...

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
340 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL FINNEY AND
NORTHERN GRAY COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM CDT...

AT 334 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO 1 MILE
NORTHEAST OF CHARLESTON. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADIC STORM
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EASTERN FINNEY AND NORTHERN GRAY COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS TORNADO WARNING REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING THAT
WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE SAME AREA. GO TO A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR
ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR!

 

[jdcnow]

Urgent >> NWS Norman telling OKC TV and radio stations to stress hard that very dangerous, potentially tornadic storms will impact Oklahoma City metro from out of southwest Oklahoma within next few hours...between 5.00pm and 6.00pm

The Garden City, Kansas storm... Ness City (off to the northeast), on it's current path, this storm is headed right for you!

 

[jdcnow]

NWS Norman >> "Deadly serious situation for El Reno and Oklahoma City Metro."

Reports from KOCO-TV that 18-Wheeler was just blown off road on I-40...

Courtesy KWTV...

 

[jdcnow]

Up into western Kansas...

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
403 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHEASTERN FINNEY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS...
NORTHWESTERN HODGEMAN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS...
SOUTHEASTERN LANE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL KANSAS...
SOUTHWESTERN NESS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 430 PM CDT

* AT 402 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
VERY STRONG ROTATION ASSOCIATED WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO 2 MILES
NORTHWEST OF KALVESTA. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT
30 MPH. DANGEROUS AND EXTREMELY DESTRUCTIVE HAIL UP TO SOFTBALL
SIZE IS ALSO EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.