The Weather Guy: tornadoes

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Thursday, March 1, 2012

Severe Weather Expected Again Friday

DAMAGES IN UPPER CUMBERLAND

Strong, damaging winds (including 2 possible tornadoes) have killed at least three in middle Tennessee on Wednesday. One lady died in Dekalb County (just east of Smithville) while three died in Cumberland County near the unincorporated community of Rinnie. According to the Crossville Chronicle newspaper, there were five injuries along with five homes completely destroyed and another 50 structures damaged.

The National Weather Service will send storm survey crews to each area to determine if the destruction occurred due to straight-line winds or a tornado.

TODAY'S FORECAST

Expect sunshine after a cool start this morning. Our low has been 40.2°. Today's high should reach near 70°.

MORE SEVERE WEATHER EXPECTED:

On the heels of Wednesday's strong weather, we'll see a break today BUT we'll be under a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms on Friday, particularly in the afternoon and evening. A squall line will set up with very strong, damaging winds along with the possibility of supercells, which could contain and produce significant tornadoes.

*Latest Local Forecast*
*Severe Weather Safety Checklist*
*Severe Weather Safety Rules*
*ReadyTN Android App*
*Quick Reference to NWS Severe Weather Products*

WEATHER SITE OF THE DAY
Today's featured website is WEATHER UNDERGROUND. Wunderground (as it's called) is a strong weather website with volumes of great information. Wunderground has one of the best radars on the web. Easy to zoom in, easy to see storm tracks, and easy to identify tornadic cells.

Cookeville's Wunderground Page

For those of us who have electronic home weather stations, Wunderground offers the opportunity to put your station's information out on the world wide web. My station page is here.

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Monday, January 23, 2012

Father Recounts Teen Daughter's Death in Tornado

This story is from the Birmingham News.

Early Monday morning a 16-year-old Clay, Alabama girl was found dead just 40 feet from her home. Christina Heichelbech was one of two people killed by a tornado that touched down near Birmingham. Her father said the family didn't hear the warning siren. ...REST OF THIS STORY HERE

My heart hurts for this family. As a dad of a 17-year-old daughter, this story hits so very close to home.

Folks, please understand that outdoor tornado sirens are mostly not useful due to our homes being well insulated and the fact the tornado siren was invented in a time where air conditioning did not exist. The tornado siren evolved out of the civil defense siren dating back to World War 2. During the 50's, the siren was used for situations such as a possible nuclear attack and then evolved into the present-day use of a tornado siren. While they are effective for people who are outside, they do not serve to alert us indoors or while we are sleeping.

So, what do we do during potentially severe weather? I encourage you to spend a minimum of $30 and get a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio. I will post some links below to help you purchase this life-saving device.

*AmbientWeather.com Weather Radio Reviews*

*Here is the $30 Midland Weather Radio*

I use a Midland-WR100, which is also a $30 product.

It will wake you up, guaranteed!

YouTube video from KSN-TV 16...

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Joplin, MO Devastated by Tornado Sunday

The town of Joplin, MO. in southwest part of the state was pounded by a tornado on Sunday afternoon around 6 pm.

I mentioned to one friend tonight this is eerily reminiscent to Tuscaloosa.

Some sites and sounds from the web:

P icture of destroyed Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Joplin, MO. today.

More photos:

St. John's Hospital takes a direct hit.

Home Depot destroyed

Joplin High School is a mangled mess

Photo Credit: Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Stunning Tornado Stats

NOAA estimates there were 305 tornadoes from April 25 to 28, 2011 while eyewitness reports put that number around 434.

The largest previous number of tornadoes from one event like this occurred on April 3 and 4, 1974 and 148 tornadoes were recorded.

There were around 326 fatalities during the entire outbreak with 309 of those occurring in 24-hour period from 8 am on April 27 to 8 am on April 28

Tornado fatalities by state during event:
4 - Arkansas
35 - Mississippi
236 - Alabama
31 - Tennessee
5 - Virginia
15 - Georgia

Now for some good news:

The NWS Storm Prediction Center issued severe weather outlooks five days in advance and tornado watches hours in advance
NWS Weather Forecast Offices issue life-saving tornado warnings with an average lead-time of 24 minutes.
NWS issued warnings for more than 90% of these tornadoes

Tornado Tracks: April 24-29, 2011 (Interactive Map)

April 2011 Weather Stats

Aerial Imagery of Tuscaloosa, AL tornado damage

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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Federal Disaster Declarations

Since April 28th, there have been disaster declarations in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, and Arkansas due to the powerful tornadoes, severe storms, straight-line winds, and associated flooding.

Obviously, many of us have relatives and friends in those states.

Here is the link to FEMA and three ways to apply for federal assistance.

Greeneville, TN, May 2, 2011 -- FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate speaks at a press conference in Greeneville, Tennessee after viewing damage from last Thursday’s tornadoes that ripped through Eastern Tennessee and across the south east part of the country. Behind the Administrator from left to right are Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, State Senator Steve Southerland, U.S. Representative Phil Roe, and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Bassham. FEMA photo/Brad Carroll

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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Update on Wednesday's Tornado Deaths

INCREDIBLE NUMBERS:
The death toll is continuing to climb across the south. The Tuscaloosa tornado actually stayed on the ground for 63 miles. This is quite unfathomable. It was a MILE wide. Looking at the damage, I cannot see how this won't be rated at least an EF-4 and more likely, an EF-5 (the highest rating for a tornado).

A MUST PURCHASE:
Tonight, I decided to put up an ad from Amazon.com for a Midland Weather Radio. At $37.00, it is a no-brainer to purchase on of these.

COMPARING THIS EVENT TO 1974:
This event from yesterday is also likely to go down in the record books as one of the most deadliest days in American history. The storms are being compared to the "super outbreak" of tornadoes April 3 and 4, 1974, Craig Fugate, the FEMA administrator, said Thursday. In that period, 148 tornadoes were reported in 13 states, and 330 people died. States affected were Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. This is the deadliest U.S. outbreak since that Super Outbreak of 1974

The AlabamaWX.com weather blog probably has the best coverage, including video.

Latest numbers:
207 dead in Alabama, plus 1700+ injuries
33 dead in Tennessee
32 dead in Mississippi
14 dead in Georgia
12 dead in Arkansas
5 dead in Virginia
1 dead in Kentucky

*List of North American tornado outbreaks*

...Public information statement...

...NWS Nashville storm survey crews will examine damage in several
locations today...

Survey team 1 is enroute to Summertown in Lawrence County then
Collinwood in Wayne County today. The team will survey
Benton...Stewart and Dickson County damage on Friday.

Survey team 2 is enroute to Murfreesboro and Watertown today. The
team will also survey Bledsoe County in east tennesse later today
and Friday.

Survey team 3 will head to Fentress and Cumberland counties on
Friday.

Here are their Preliminary Storm Summaries

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Cleaning Up Today

At least 128 people are dead in Alabama due to tornadoes and 173 people have died across the south. Today will be a day of clean-up and assessment by National Weather Service on each tornado touchdown. The Tuscaloosa tornado may be rated as either an EF-4 or EF-5. The photo above is from al.com

The Morning After post from AlabamaWX.com (a MUST read)

Another must see is the video from ABC's 33/40 station in Tuscaloosa/Birmingham. They are the best in weather coverage in the deep south.

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Remembering the May 2010 Tennessee Flood is a detailed an incredible look at this powerful event.

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Today, across the Upper Cumberland, should be cloudy with sprinkles this morning. They will give way to cloudy skies and eventually we should become mostly sunny with highs in the upper 60's. Tonight, cool and foggy by morning, low 48° and Friday should be nice with a high of 72°. We're thinking 80° by Saturday!

-Our Upper Cumberland Forecast-

Cookeville's Daily Almanac

24-hour precip total: 4.23"

48-hour precip total: 5.34"

April precip total: 12.75" (Record is 8.91 from 1920)

2011 precip total: 30.13"

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Before and After in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Incredible before and after pictures from Tuscaloosa after a massive tornado nearly a mile wide devastated the college town. As of now, there are 15 confirmed fatalities and search and rescue is going on all over the city as of 10:30 pm. There are more than 100 injuries. The University of Alabama will be closed on Thursday. Emergency # to find out about your student is 205-348-1001.

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Saturday, April 23, 2011

Pesky Clouds, but Warm

Partly to mostly cloudy skies for your Saturday across the Upper Cumberland area as a storm system moves across areas just to our north. I don't think we'll see much, if any, rain today from that particular system. Speaking of that current storm system, *see photo above from Kansas City Star - kansascity.com* the St. Louis, MO airport was struck by an apparent tornado last night and was closed. Major damage, according to CNN.com

More on the St. Louis tornado from Kansas City Star (PHOTOS)

Today's high across the area will be around 80°

Tonight, low 63°

Easter Sunday, high 82°

*Link to: Current RADAR*

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Saturday, April 16, 2011

Tornadoes Roar Across U.S.

According to TornadoPaths.org, there have been 221 tornadoes reported since Thursday, April 14. That is an incredible number.

(an example from TornadoVideos.net of a multi-vortex)

83 of those have been reported today (Saturday) with most occurring in North Carolina and some in South Carolina.

At least 6 people are reported dead. The death toll could go higher in North Carolina.

There are some unbelievable videos on Weather.com ....

*Latest Local Cookeville, TN Weather Forecast*

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Sunday, April 3, 2011

Anniversary of April 3, 1974 Tornado Outbreak

More on that outbreak below. First, a very windy day ahead for your Sunday (Wind Advisory in effect...see below) with warmer temperatures ahead of a strong cold front that will produce showers and thunderstorms on Monday. We'll see a high of 75° on Sunday with gusty winds from 15 to 20 mph up to 40 mph! Be careful on area lakes.

From the National Weather Service...

Warning Description: Wind Advisory
Warning Date: 3:40 am CDT on April 3, 2011
Warning Summary:...
Wind Advisory Remains In Effect From Noon Today To 7 pm cdt
this evening...

Warning Message:
* geographic area: all of middle Tennessee.
* Timing: noon to 7 PM Sunday.
* Winds: sustained 15 to 25 mph...with gusts to 40 mph.
* Impacts: choppy waters will develop on area lakes. High
  profile vehicles will be hard to control. Small limbs may be
  blown down. Loose objects...such as lawn furniture...may be
  blown around.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Wind Advisory means that winds of 25 to 39 mph and/or gusts of
35 to 57 mph are expected. Winds this strong can make driving
difficult...especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra
caution.

*Latest Local Forecast*

Today is the 37th anniversary of the Super Outbreak of Tornadoes from 1974. There are several websites dedicated to one of the most destructive days in weather in American History. 315 people died, including 47 in Tennessee, and 10 right here in Putnam County. Here is the text of a report: "Between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. CDT, 9 persons were killed and I died of a heart attack as a tornado (82) swept through Putnam County southeast of Cookeville;"

April 3, 1974
Super Outbreak - Wikipedia
NOAA and '74 Outbreak - Worst in U.S. history
Tennessee outbreak - 1974
Alabama outbreak - 1974
Xenia, Ohio
Eyewitness Report from Bobby Boyd with NWS-Nashville
Facebook Page on Super Outbreak

Cookeville's Daily Almanac
Our morning low: 37.2°
Yesterday's high: 63.0°
Yesterday's low: 39.2°
24-hour precip total: 0.00
Winds gusted to 25 mph

Last Year: 86° and 58°
0.00" of rainfall

Normal High: 65°
Normal Low: 40°

Records: 86° in 2010 and 21° in 1992

1.75" of rain fell on this date in 2009

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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Sunshine Early On Sunday

NICE START ON SUNDAY:
After quite a crazy day on Saturday with watches and warnings all day long, Sunday will be much quieter with sunshine early giving way to clouds and some showers later this afternoon. Expect highs around 73°. The showers will continue off and on through Tuesday with cooling temperatures. By Wednesday morning, we could see lows down in the upper 30's.

SATURDAY WRAP-UP:
By now, most of you know about the devastating tornadoes that struck MS, AL, AR, TN, and LA. The worst of these hit Yazoo City, Mississippi, where it is reported that up to 10 people have lost their lives. Two children are among those who perished.

*Mid TN Graphical Storm Reports*

Join me on Facebook and request to be my friend. Follow me on Twitter. It is a great way to keep up quickly! Read my latest weather post at Examiner.com website, I am the Nashville Weather Examiner. Finally, I write for the local website, CookevilleTimes.com

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Cold With Snow Flurries Today

SNOW BACK IN FORECAST: Cloudy for Wednesday and cold. Seems to be a reoccurring theme! A chance of snow flurries today before noon and a high of just 38°. Currently, it is 30° at 7 a.m. Tonight, cold and a slight chance of snow showers, low of 21. Sunshine returns for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with gradually warming temperatures. Highs from the upper 30's Thursday to upper 40's by Sunday.

TORNADO SAFETY DAY: We have tips on tornado safety today at the Examiner page. Remember, this is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Tennessee. All of the information is available at the Nashville Weather Examiner page. The picture, today, is of the famous 1974 Xenia tornado. The series of tornadoes that struck the U.S. on April 3rd and 4th was one of the most deadliest in history. Here in Cookeville, 11 people lost their lives out in the Poplar Grove/Dry Valley area.