Storm Chasing

[symple19]

Cool link where you can view webcams from stormchasers out on the hunt. Big tornado outbreak today.

http://chase.tornadovideos.net/pages/full_screen

[benefactor]

My neck of the woods right now. :wow

http://radblast-mi.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/radar/WUNIDS_map?station=FWS&brand=wui&num=0&delay=15&type=N0R&frame=0&scale=0.507&noclutter=0&t=1303857697&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&showstorms=10&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=176&centery=220&transx=-224&transy=-20&showlabels=1&severe=0&rainsnow=0&lightning=0&smooth=0

[benefactor]

Map is self updating. Originally all three supercells east of Tyler were showing TVS signatures but now it's down to one. All three could still easily produce tornadoes though.

[MannyIsGod]

Was watching those earlier. 4 cells all had TVS and 2 of them had HUGE hooks and had to have tornadoes.

[ManuBalboa]

uJlPTU_kmk8

An American Classic.

[MannyIsGod]

:lol So earlier I told Jess that it was a bad sign when Reed Timmer is near your family's homes. Well, pretty sure there was just a tornado within a mile of her aunts house.

Those 2 cells near Waco have big time hooks.

[benefactor]

Everything has pretty much passed here now. Pretty wild for a while there. Sirens going off and reports of funnel clouds and a potential touchdown just a few miles from my house. First time I've been nervous in a storm in quite some time.

[benefactor]

:lol So earlier I told Jess that it was a bad sign when Reed Timmer is near your family's homes. Well, pretty sure there was just a tornado within a mile of her aunts house.

Those 2 cells near Waco have big time hooks.
Reed and Sean both wound up over in this area. Local news caught up with Sean and got some pictures of the TIV yesterday morning. Reed said on FB last night he got caught in some pretty heavy debris.

[MannyIsGod]

The past few weeks are approaching all time outbreak status. Another High risk day today from the SPC. In a normal year that happens 1-2 times. This is now back to back and about the 3rd or 4th high risk day this year and its not even May.

[MannyIsGod]

The past few weeks are approaching all time outbreak status. Another High risk day today from the SPC. In a normal year that happens 1-2 times. This is now back to back and about the 3rd or 4th high risk day this year and its not even May.

[MannyIsGod]

NWS just issued a PDS watch for Mississippi. A PDS Tornado watch is a special type of watch that means you're likely to not only get tornadoes but especially strong and violent tornadoes.

The PDS stands for particularly dangerous sitaution.

[Ed Lover]

Gonna be a long day son

[Axe Murderer]

I wish it would rain sometime in Lubbock:depressed

[symple19]

one on the ground north of B-ham right now, live on stream

[symple19]

if the link I gave up top doesn't work, try this one.

http://www.chasertv.com/watch/video-streams-in-imap/

[symple19]

fucking amazing

[symple19]

wow, this is gnarly as hell live

[symple19]

holy shit, it was approaching structures and the chasers had to leave cus it was too close

[symple19]

this should be on youtube by tonight, wow

[symple19]

omg omg omg

[symple19]

7 minutes on the ground

[symple19]

holy shit

[symple19]

lol, this dude is busting off into peoples yards trying to get another shot of this tornado

[symple19]

on the weather channel now

[symple19]

there were definitely 2 vortices at one point that I saw

Manny, wish you were here bro

[symple19]

the echo on this fucker is serious

the one reed is chasing has a massive one too, down in SE MS

[symple19]

Chasing in northern Alabama sucks, too many trees and hills.

[symple19]

lol, Reed turns his GPS off when he's on a promising storm. There's another group on it now though. It's the storm in SE MS.

[symple19]

wow, the chasers on that N AL storm just had to stop because of a tree completely across the road... Not good

[MannyIsGod]

http://radblast-mi.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/radar/WUNIDS_map?station=GWX&brand=wui&num=1&delay=15&type=N0R&frame=0&scale=0.202&noclutter=0&t=1303935553&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&showstorms=0&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=652&centery=146&transx=252&transy=-94&showlabels=1&severe=0&rainsnow=0&lightning=0&smooth=0

Don't know if there are any chasers on that storm but if so you should check out their live feeds because that hook is fucking MASSIVE.

[MannyIsGod]

Looking at the Columbus radar in Mississippi with the crappy resolution Wunderground provides there are at least 7 cells with very apparent circulations. Thats just fucking nuts.

[symple19]

nope, nobody on that one. Only a few teams out, which sucks

[MannyIsGod]

Hackleburg, AL looks about to take a big ass direct hit.

[symple19]

It's insane...

[MannyIsGod]

nope, nobody on that one. Only a few teams out, which sucks

Mississippi and Alabama are not good chasing grounds. Trees galore. Thats why its all about TX, OK, KA, NE, WY, and MT.

[symple19]

Chasing in northern Alabama sucks, too many trees and hills.

For sure. Probably why Reed is staying on those storms in southern MS/AL. Better for getting some good film. Wooded, but at least it's flat

[symple19]

looks like another on the ground, just over the border into central alabama.

injuries/damage in Cullman, the one I was watching earlier...

[symple19]

Jesus, that storm east of Brooksville Ms, over the border into alabama looks nasty. The chasers can't get a good view, but it looks like a large tornado

it's either really fucking wide or partially rain wrapped. stream is a bit grainy

[MannyIsGod]

I was wondering why he was down there. He usually just goes where the action is and since they're moving to the NE so fast I think he should have been farther north. I don't know though.

That being said there are storms near him that should produce tornadoes. Its just the ones to the north have some disgustingly huge circulations.

[symple19]

Manny, that one Reed was on an hour and a half or so ago looked almost like a doughnut on radar. Doesn't that usually indicate debris inside a large tornado?

[symple19]

showing some of the shots from the cullman tornado, amazing (on TWC)

[symple19]

Reed said on FB that he's NEVER seen anything like this... serious words from that dude...I have a lot of family in Central Ala...They know the drill though.

[MannyIsGod]

Manny, that one Reed was on an hour and a half or so ago looked almost like a doughnut on radar. Doesn't that usually indicate debris inside a large tornado?

On higher resolution images than you'll see on the web you get a debris affect in large tornadoes. All that stuff that is lifted within the vortex adds to the reflectivity but you probably won't see it on the wunderground or NWS images on the web because the resolution isn't good.

GR Level 3 might show it. Thats a cool program to download if you don't have it.

[MannyIsGod]

Reed said on FB that he's NEVER seen anything like this... serious words from that dude...I have a lot of family in Central Ala...They know the drill though.

To be honest no one exaggerates more than Reed Timmer. Great storm chaser but dude piratically exhales hyperbole. He'll probably post the video tonight though. Their video from a couple of weeks ago was pretty damn amazing.

[symple19]

reed's GPS has him inside of a warned supercell, with another warned supercell lined up directly behind

[symple19]

while true that he exaggerates, the radar doesn't lie. That dude has been camped in warned supercells for two hours straight, if not longer.

[symple19]

hmmmmm, I just realized a few of these are headed toward Tuscaloosa.....

[symple19]

just kidding...mostly

[MannyIsGod]

Just looked at his location. He's in great position on two monster cells. Dude is good.

[symple19]

27 warnings out right now. I counted by county, so there aren't that many storms, but still.

Early too.

[symple19]

Just looked at his location. He's in great position on two monster cells. Dude is good.

There's already footage up from yesterday's event on youtube. Really, the entire month has been great for tornado video

[symple19]

reed's stream is up and he's saying there's a large tornado to his west

[symple19]

Dr Forbes on TWC just said today may rival the super outbreak of 74'

[symple19]

reports of a mile wide tornado hitting Tuscaloosa, including UA campus......fuck

[symple19]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/286005237.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1303943787&Signature=JRxZfMNhVRL8bJ%2Ft%2FfuMubr0xUk%3D

[symple19]

Birmingham is next in line, maybe a bit south. Extensive damage in downtown Tuscaloosa, including city hall

wow

[symple19]

Reed is fucked, stuck in traffic outside T-town. More forming up behind though.

[symple19]

the high res of the tornado en route to birmingham is like nothing i've ever seen

[symple19]

blyhHUHXFJ0

[EricB]

My wife's grandmother lives in Tuscaloosa and my wife went to Alabama. Were trying to get into cOntact with everyone but obviously the lines are jammed.

The size of this thing is just unreal...

[symple19]

debris falling from the sky over birmingham, 15 miles ahead of the tornado. holy shit

[symple19]

My wife's grandmother lives in Tuscaloosa and my wife went to Alabama. Were trying to get into cOntact with everyone but obviously the lines are jammed.

The size of this thing is just unreal...

i sincerely hope everyone is safe

[hehateme]

this one looks amazing on live feed from abc affiliate...

[symple19]

this one looks amazing on live feed from abc affiliate...

link?

[hehateme]

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ABC-33-40-Main

sorry lived in bham for awhile so i know the affiliates really well

[symple19]

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ABC-33-40-Main

sorry lived in bham for awhile so i know the affiliates really well

thanks

[symple19]

on the weather channel too. Absolutely unreal

[hehateme]

looks like it will hit fultondale where i lived during high school...fun fun

[symple19]

the wall cloud is on the fucking ground

[symple19]

the damage reports coming from Tuscaloosa are getting bad.......

[Bukefal]

wow unreal. this is crazy. thanks for the link

I realize Im fortunate we dont have these things over here.

[symple19]

wow unreal. this is crazy. thanks for the link

I realize Im fortunate we dont have these things over here.

check the feed from stormscapeLive if you're on the IMap.

[EricB]

wow unreal. this is crazy. thanks for the link

I realize Im fortunate we dont have these things over here.


Friend of my wife's just texted her saying that the radio stations there are gone. Like nothing. Also buildings on 15th street totally gone. Complete devastation.

No word from family yet :-(

[Bukefal]

check the feed from stormscapeLive if you're on the IMap.

damn thats crazy :wow

[Bukefal]

Friend of my wife's just texted her saying that the radio stations there are gone. Like nothing. Also buildings on 15th street totally gone. Complete devastation.

No word from family yet :-(

Yeah I see it on these cams and he ustream, its shocking. I hope they're alright

[symple19]

this live footage is incredible.

[symple19]

this tornado has been on the ground for 3+ hours...i'm out of adjectives

[symple19]

dude is right on that thing, heavily wooded area though

[symple19]

jesus, the guy chasing the birmingham tornado is literally dodging shit in the road. Big pieces of plywood and sheet metal

[MannyIsGod]

Just got home - put TWC on to see what is going on even though I kinda hate TWC. Gotta catch up.

[MannyIsGod]

The NWS knows their shit. I'm going to rant a bit here because I think its important.

Earlier this year when they were going to do the budget for the government, NOAA, and specifically the NWS were going to take huge cuts. I'm not sure what kind of cuts they actually took in the final budget but the fact is that had they gone through with the original budget the NWS would have been severely crippled.

Think about that when you see the images from today. The primary warning system for these storms is the NWS and without it there would have been so many more deaths today than we'll see.

[symple19]

wow, new reports that it's still on the ground

Cullman is wrecked. Tuscaloosa is wrecked. suburbs of birmingham are wrecked. Reed had footage not long ago of damage farther south in central Al. Could be a significant loss of life

already reports of EF4/EF5 type damage in T-town

warnings in 8+ states. just incredible

[MannyIsGod]

Seeing TWC footage of the storm north of Birmingham. Wow.

[benefactor]

Just got home and checked the radar. Sounds like its been a wild day and the cells look like they are still plowing through Alabama...especially the one NE of Birmingham.

[symple19]

tuscaloosa

http://media.al.com/wire/photo/9523242-large.jpg

[symple19]

http://media.al.com/wire/photo/9523088-large.jpg

tuscaloosa

[MannyIsGod]

The footage I saw in Birmingham basically showed that almost the entire Mesocyclone was on the ground. A tornado basically is the extension of the MCV and to see that whole thing on the ground was pretty amazing. The Tristate tornado traveled about 220 miles in almost 4 hours on the ground so that record is LIKELY safe but this is definitely one of the worst ever.

[MannyIsGod]

http://newsblogged.com/video-tornado-tuscaloosa-city-alabama-mile-wide-042711

[MannyIsGod]

AMAZING footage.

http://vimeo.com/22970879

[MannyIsGod]

This tornado near Rome, GA started is the same one that ripped through Tuscaloosa and started in Mississippi. Another TriState Tornado.

[MannyIsGod]

http://i51.tinypic.com/2lnzi4z.jpg

The spot of green to the NW of ATL is that tornado.

[MannyIsGod]

Another look - the circulation of that tornado is the green red semicircles.

http://i56.tinypic.com/212s2kl.jpg

[MannyIsGod]

Another look - the circulation of that tornado is the green red semicircles.

http://i56.tinypic.com/212s2kl.jpg

[MannyIsGod]

DAMN

http://www.twitvid.com/D1HNK

[MannyIsGod]

tcM4--k5c_w

[benefactor]

Speechless. It's like Jarrell all over again.

[MannyIsGod]

This dwarfs Jarrel to be quite honest.

[MannyIsGod]

As an aside, that supercell that wiped out Jarrel was the worst storm I've ever witnessed. Phenomenal. But this supercell is spectacular beyond anything I've ever seen.

[symple19]

region wide death toll over 30 now. Will probably go higher, just heard a report of a 3 story structure collapsing in Rome.

[Axe Murderer]

I'm guessing there was a tornado emergency issued today?

I believe there's only been 4 ever issued until today

[Pistons < Spurs]

This tornado near Rome, GA started is the same one that ripped through Tuscaloosa

shit .... my parents live like 60 miles northeast of there.

[MannyIsGod]

That same storm is about to cross over in North Carolina and the couplet is still strong so there is stilll very strong rotation and likely a tornado on teh ground. This might end up being a Quad State tornado.

[Pistons < Spurs]

my parents are in Blairsville Ga, which is just off the NC border. Spotters reported a tornado just south of them in Suches.
:wow

[MannyIsGod]

Thats the same storm then. If spotters are still reporting TOG then its probalby the same damn tornado. Insane.

[MannyIsGod]

There are also two cells behind it that have tornadoes from what I can tell.

[MannyIsGod]

P<S, tell your parents to be on aware. The next storm coming to them has a strong couplet and probably has a tornado on the ground. Going to go very near them.

[MannyIsGod]

http://radblast-mi.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/radar/WUNIDS_map?station=FFC&brand=wui&num=1&delay=15&type=N0R&frame=0&scale=0.252&noclutter=0&t=1303962552&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&showstorms=10&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=118&centery=815&transx=-282&transy=575&showlabels=1&severe=0&rainsnow=1&lightning=1&smooth=0

How close does that line come to them? The Z4 line?

[Pistons < Spurs]

yeah, I've been on the phone w/ them. They're keeping an eye on things. Starting to sound a bit stressed...

[MannyIsGod]

I hope they are safe my man.

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1133 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

GAC187-281-291-280415-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-110428T0415Z/
UNION GA-TOWNS GA-LUMPKIN GA-
1133 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 AM EDT FOR NORTHERN
LUMPKIN...TOWNS AND UNION COUNTIES...

AT 1130 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR GOOCH MOUNTAIN SHELTER...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WOODS
HOLE SHELTER...BLOOD MOUNTAIN SHELTER...VOGEL STATE PARK...OWLTOWN...
BLAIRSVILLE...TRACK ROCK...BLUE MOUNTAIN SHELTER...BRASSTOWN BALD...
ALEXANDERS MILL...YOUNG HARRIS...MOUNTAIN SCENE...MACEDONIA...
HIAWASSEE...TITUS...PLUM ORCHARD GAP SHELTER AND TATE CITY.

[MannyIsGod]

Do they have a basement? If not I would tell them to get into the innermost bathroom right fucking now. It'll pass in about 20 minutes but yeah, they need to be in a middle room NOW.

[Pistons < Spurs]

http://radblast-mi.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/radar/WUNIDS_map?station=FFC&brand=wui&num=1&delay=15&type=N0R&frame=0&scale=0.252&noclutter=0&t=1303962552&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&showstorms=10&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=118&centery=815&transx=-282&transy=575&showlabels=1&severe=0&rainsnow=1&lightning=1&smooth=0

How close does that line come to them? The Z4 line?
they're pretty much between the z2 and z4 but closer to the z2

[Pistons < Spurs]

Do they have a basement? If not I would tell them to get into the innermost bathroom right fucking now. It'll pass in about 20 minutes but yeah, they need to be in a middle room NOW.

nope no basement.

on stilts on top of a mountain.

[Pistons < Spurs]

It's looking like this one will move on to the east of them ... but the next batch may get closer to home.

[MannyIsGod]

The couplet has passed them as of the last update on my GRL3. There's another cell behind them though. Its couplet just got way stronger.

[MannyIsGod]

There's a couple of storms to the west of Jasper that will likely come close to them but they look a lot weaker than the ones to the south. Hopefully they stay that way. Just tell them to pay attention to news etc. I'll obviously post in here if they get stronger.

[MannyIsGod]

http://i56.tinypic.com/315h35j.jpg

[Cry Havoc]

http://i51.tinypic.com/2lnzi4z.jpg

The spot of green to the NW of ATL is that tornado.

Holy shit, Manny. Have you ever seen a better radar signature than that? That's just un-fucking-real.

[Pistons < Spurs]

There's a couple of storms to the west of Jasper that will likely come close to them but they look a lot weaker than the ones to the south. Hopefully they stay that way. Just tell them to pay attention to news etc. I'll obviously post in here if they get stronger.

I appreciate it. Looks like they're going to be spared most of the real rough stuff.

[MannyIsGod]

I appreciate it. Looks like they're going to be spared most of the real rough stuff.

Yeah I think so. Incredibly scary day for many in the south. I feel for anyone with family out there or who they themselves have been affected today. Just plain insanity.

[MannyIsGod]

Holy shit, Manny. Have you ever seen a better radar signature than that? That's just un-fucking-real.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/updraft/content_root/1%20ok%20tor.jpg

[Cry Havoc]

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/updraft/content_root/1%20ok%20tor.jpg

Perfect hook. Insane.

[Cry Havoc]

Is that tornado a guaranteed EF5?

[MannyIsGod]

I don't think so. It might be, but a long path doesn't mean it was an EF5. We'll see what they say after damage surveys.

[Cry Havoc]

I don't think so. It might be, but a long path doesn't mean it was an EF5. We'll see what they say after damage surveys.

Usually when you hear the "like a bomb" comparisons, it's an EF4-EF5. I'd say this is at the higher end of the EF4 range at least.

[Cry Havoc]

Death toll is up to 42. Sad day for those in the US. How many of these were preventable just by people paying attention to their weather reports? :depressed

[MannyIsGod]

Just gotta wait for damage surveys. The damage I've seen could be anything f3 and up.

[Cry Havoc]

News herald reporting 70+ deaths.

http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/04/28/news/nh3939246.txt

:wow

Horrible, horrible day. One of the worst days in US history for tornado related injury/damage/deaths.

[Pistons < Spurs]

looks like my folks are getting hit right now going by the radar.

[MannyIsGod]

They're in the clear my man. `

[Pistons < Spurs]

Lol


@georgiaema: Pickens county - four chicken houses destroyed with approximately 80,000-100,000 chickens loose

[Cry Havoc]

Death toll stands at 173. One of the deadliest outbreaks in history.

Looks like we have a "Super Wednesday" to refer to in the history books.

[symple19]

gonna try and find the footage that I saw live on stream yesterday...the Cullman tornado

[symple19]

from Reed: the origins of the tuscaloosa/birmingham tornado

vhKjv9GuARQ

[symple19]

fyVCsrmGsvU

the cullman tornado, not the footage i saw

[symple19]

6f9r57lSNvc

[symple19]

still can't find it yet though

[symple19]

tuscaloosa

NjVW0Du2ZIo

[symple19]

Here it is. Was incredible to watch live

19c9eCmVnPY

[symple19]

over 400,00 without power in Alabama. more than the blizzard in 93' (just imagine a blizzard in Alabama)

[symple19]

tuscaloosa

5ohIVzIZLuQ

[symple19]

jaw dropping^

[symple19]

tuscaloosa y90DIU6tMPs

[symple19]

Birmingham area I37BAJISXII

[symple19]

rofl, it's so big they don't realize what it is

[symple19]

yet another one, Eutaw AL CDeT3MzlJiY

[BlackSwordsMan]

spinning fucking clouds

[BlackSwordsMan]

I remember when one almost formed in SA and everyone went ape shit downtown.

[Pistons < Spurs]

202 dead now

[symple19]

J5LZzFfwNvg

enterprise MS

[symple19]

J5LZzFfwNvg

enterprise MS

[symple19]

also yesterday. farmville Va

caORcajdPls

[The 4cc Dictionary]

why couldn't this have gone over the south oklahoma mavericks practice facility?

[Cry Havoc]

The significant tornado (chance of >EF2 tornadoes) index for yesterday registered the highest readings since the index was created.

[Cry Havoc]

Tuscaloosa/Birmingham tornado

A large wedge tornado tracked across Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, including the southern and eastern portions of Tuscaloosa around 5:10 p.m. CDT and continued northeast.[9] Debris from the tornado was reported to be falling from the sky across Birmingham over 20 miles away in Jefferson County. Television cameras, including a skycam operated by local ABC affiliate WBMA-LP/WCFT/WJSU, captured the mile-wide tornado as it moved east-northeast across the western and northern suburbs of Birmingham around 6:00 p.m. CDT.[20] Initial reports indicate significant structural damage and a mile to 1½ mile wide damage path. The overall death toll is uncertain but initial reports from Tuscaloosa and Birmingham indicate at least 32 people were dead and over 600 injured in the Tuscaloosa area and at least 10 people confirmed dead from Concord and Pleasant Grove.[21]

Rick Reichmuth, a Fox News meteorologist, says the tornado was probably an EF-5 and may have stayed on the ground for more than 4 hours, cutting a 170-mile path of destruction across Alabama and Georgia.[22]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late-April_2011_tornado_outbreak_sequence#Tuscaloosa.2F Birmingham_tornado

[Soul_Patch]

tuscaloosa

5ohIVzIZLuQ

Im pretty sure that guy/gal pooped their pants.

If they didnt, they should have.

[Cry Havoc]

Confirmed EF5 on the enhanced Fujita scale, according to wikipedia. Can't say I'm surprised. When was the last EF5 tornado? 2007?

[Cry Havoc]

Yep, 2007 in Canada of all places to have an F5.

There were 0 F5/EF5 tornadoes from 2000-2010 except for the one that hit Greensburg, Kansas.

[Cry Havoc]

Manny, do you have any LI figures from yesterday?

[Cry Havoc]

Oops. Apparently there was another EF5 tornado in 2008, in New Hartford, Iowa.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Death toll is up to 42. Sad day for those in the US. How many of these were preventable just by people paying attention to their weather reports? :depressed

There was probably a little of that, but the wind was so strong with this, it cleaned entire buildings off their foundation.

I watched a stream on ABC 33/40 from Birmingham (those guys were excellent, hopefully many in that area were watching). Before that thing even hit Tuscaloosa, they were telling people that the only way to ensure they would survive was to get underground in a basement or storm shelter, and if not to put as many walls between them and the outside of their homes/business as necessary.

When you're in a brick / concrete structure and it gets flattened, there's not much you could have done other than get underground, or get in a car and drive away.

[BlackSwordsMan]

Manny, do you have any LI figures from yesterday?

check the first video that guy posted and search their videos for f5 they film it under a bridge as it goes over them

[Cry Havoc]

check the first video that guy posted and search their videos for f5 they film it under a bridge as it goes over them

.... not sure what that has to do with the question, but okay. :lol

Edit: Ah yes, that's Reed Timmer. The Tornadoesvidoes.net folks are perhaps the most famous storm chasers on the planet. They are responsible for the Storm Chasers show that airs every year on Discovery. Is that the video where they hide under the overpass?

[MannyIsGod]

There was probably a little of that, but the wind was so strong with this, it cleaned entire buildings off their foundation.

I watched a stream on ABC 33/40 from Birmingham (those guys were excellent, hopefully many in that area were watching). Before that thing even hit Tuscaloosa, they were telling people that the only way to ensure they would survive was to get underground in a basement or storm shelter, and if not to put as many walls between them and the outside of their homes/business as necessary.

When you're in a brick / concrete structure and it gets flattened, there's not much you could have done other than get underground, or get in a car and drive away.

Its almost always awareness - or lack there of rather - that causes the deaths. If you know the system is coming and you live in a structure that is terrible you can leave. In fact thats what you're supposed to do if you're in a mobile home etc.

Which is why the NWS is so important. Those television stations don't formulate their own data, they simply distribute what the NWS gives them and tells them. Over 200 people died yesterday but that would have been FAR worse without the NWS.

[benefactor]

tuscaloosa

5ohIVzIZLuQ
Best comment..."You sir are a man. There must be a basket carved into the front seat of that truck to store your testicles."

[Axe Murderer]

Yep, 2007 in Canada of all places to have an F5.


ya that one in Canada was monstrous. These guys were crazy enough to catch it on film

DFFE7WbgSew

[MannyIsGod]

http://www.tornadovideos.net/images/stories/2011/april_2011/4.27.11.tuscaloosa.png

[Cry Havoc]

272. A tragic day.

[MannyIsGod]

Whats fucked up is that the 1974 outbreak still won't be surpassed.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Whats fucked up is that the 1974 outbreak still won't be surpassed.

I wouldn't be so sure, the death toll has been rising consistently throughout the day, unfortunately.

[MannyIsGod]

It won't surpass it. The death toll might but the outbreak itself won't. The 1974 outbreak was larger and its tornadoes were certainly underreported compared to today's reports. I found out recently while doing a severe weather analysis project that storm reports prior to the mid 80s are just much rarer. Now we have a hard time missing storm events unless they happen in sparsely populated areas and even then we usually document them due to remote sensing.

The prelim reports I saw were with 138 tornadoes but that amount will likely come down by about 20 or so. 1974's outbreak had nearly 150 confirmed reports.

[MannyIsGod]

There are reports that in some of these storms people even died in their basements. THAT is fucked up man.

[MannyIsGod]

Confirmed EF5 on the enhanced Fujita scale, according to wikipedia. Can't say I'm surprised. When was the last EF5 tornado? 2007?

No EF5 has been confirmed as of yet by the NWS as far as I can tell.

[Cry Havoc]

No EF5 has been confirmed as of yet by the NWS as far as I can tell.

It was up on the wikipedia page as an EF5, however it has since been retracted. I think they were going on a quote by a city official who was talking about the F5 damage. But I doubt he has the knowledge to make such a claim. :lol

[Cry Havoc]

There are reports that in some of these storms people even died in their basements. THAT is fucked up man.

Yeah, I've heard of this happening if the building collapses into the basement and they're hit by heavy debris. Most likely they weren't under anything sturdy or didn't take anything with them to protect from debris. Horrible situation, but you absolutely cannot take mile wide or F3+ tornadoes with any kind of levity. Protect yourself/your family as much as possible, everything else is secondary. :depressed

[MannyIsGod]

There's a common misconception that a wide tornado is a strong one. Wedge tornadoes can be quite large and still easily be EF1-EF2. In fact many are.

Here is one from yesterday


...EF1 TORNADO IN NEWTON...MORGAN AND GREENE COUNTIES...

A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THAT AN EF1
TORNADO WITH WINDS OF 105 MPH OCCURRED EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. IT
TOUCHED DOWN 1 MILE WEST OF NORWOOD IN NEWTON COUNTY AND LIFTED 6
MILES WEST OF GREENSBORO IN GREENE COUNTY. IT HAD A PATH LENGTH OF
25 MILES AND A WIDTH OF A HALF OF A MILE. A SHOPPING CENTER IN
MADISON HAD A TIN ROOF PEELED BACK. THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE DOWNED.
APPROXIMATELY 50 STRUCTURES SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM DOWNED TREES. ONE
TRAILER HAD PART OF THE BACK RIPPED OFF. TWO TRAILERS SUSTAINED TREE
DAMAGE. THREE OTHER TRAILERS THAT WERE NOT TIED DOWN WERE FLIPPED.

The only confirmed EF4 so far was also a half mile wide, but it was obviously far more violent and destructive.

Also people think that the tornado is just the funnel and that irks me a lot too. Look at some of the videos and look at all the debris OUTSIDE of the actual funnel. The core of that storm isn't just the funnel, and thats why you see other vorticies flying around the exterior. Even if tornadic rotating winds don't extend that far out you can still get extremely strong RFD straightline winds in that area that are just as strong.

Some of the people shooting those videos are extremely retarded. I think viewing them from a distance is great, but too many people want to be Reed Timmer and pretty soon someone is going to die because of it.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

From Brent Adair's FB:

Just got information from a search team member in Pleasant Grove, AL....well built homes are no where to be found and people died in there basements. Some basements even damaged or "gone". This tornado may do things to the EF scale we never thought imaginable.

Brent is a chaser (ChaserTV), he was all over the Birmingham cell. Been following him pretty extensively this season, he's been doing some great spotting so far.

[MannyIsGod]

tuscaloosa

5ohIVzIZLuQ

See, this guy was a fucking dumbass. Great video but still pretty damn stupid.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Death count now at 298:

http://www.waff.com/story/14532637/devastating-southern-storms-kill-more-than-290

[Cry Havoc]

There's a common misconception that a wide tornado is a strong one. Wedge tornadoes can be quite large and still easily be EF1-EF2. In fact many are.

This is a good point. Smaller vortices can be F5 strength as well even if they're only 100 yards across or less.


Also people think that the tornado is just the funnel and that irks me a lot too. Look at some of the videos and look at all the debris OUTSIDE of the actual funnel. The core of that storm isn't just the funnel, and thats why you see other vorticies flying around the exterior. Even if tornadic rotating winds don't extend that far out you can still get extremely strong RFD straightline winds in that area that are just as strong.

Not to mention the winds you can get from microbursts or bow echo-type storms that aren't even associated with a tornado.

Edit: Also the RFD frequently has hail associated with it, especially with extremely unstable/strong up and downdrafts. Hail can kill you as dead as a tornado if you are caught out in it.

uCf7gPXuZA4

Pretty sure if they weren't in their car they wouldn't have made it through this storm.


Some of the people shooting those videos are extremely retarded. I think viewing them from a distance is great, but too many people want to be Reed Timmer and pretty soon someone is going to die because of it.

Yeah, there's definitely a segment of the chasers that are essentially "Jackass" with a camera following a funnel cloud. Hell, even as experienced as Timmer & Co. is, I've seen them make some very poor decisions. The difference is, if they get into a bad situation they usually know what to do to minimize their chances of dying.

[Cry Havoc]

See, this guy was a fucking dumbass. Great video but still pretty damn stupid.

Sad thing is this video is ALL OVER the net so he's going to make a ton of money for taking his life into his hands. That tornado literally goes into the parking lot that he starts the video from. It wouldn't even have had to have changed course, just wobbled a bit, and it would have been right on top of him and he would have had nowhere to go unless he wanted to drive through the mall with his car. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[MannyIsGod]

Not this last season, but the season before Reed got them into that tornado that they had no business being in. Tim Samaras knew it was too violent and of course they lose their window and get glass shards all over their faces. Quick way to lose an eye.

Its dangerous no matter what, but I just don't see the point of getting that close to one without the proper equipment. The TIV and Reed's vehicle are built for that but a regular car is not. And the TIV and Reed's vehicle have valid scientific missions even if they are also selling footage.

[MannyIsGod]

Sad thing is this video is ALL OVER the net so he's going to make a ton of money for taking his life into his hands. That tornado literally goes into the parking lot that he starts the video from. It wouldn't even have had to have changed course, just wobbled a bit, and it would have been right on top of him and he would have had nowhere to go unless he wanted to drive through the mall with his car. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

He was in the core of that tornado. Look at the wind and the shit flying around him. It was the edge of the core, but he was in it. It doesn't take much to come flying through your windshield to completely fuck you up or flip your car.

Great video, like I said, but pretty stupid to get that close.

[Cry Havoc]

Not this last season, but the season before Reed got them into that tornado that they had no business being in. Tim Samaras knew it was too violent and of course they lose their window and get glass shards all over their faces. Quick way to lose an eye.

lol as you were posting this I was editing my post to include that. :lol I think it's the same vid you're talking about. It's from 2008 but they were definitely worried.

[MannyIsGod]

Here it is. Was incredible to watch live

19c9eCmVnPY

Octonado. Thats pretty crazy.

[Cry Havoc]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/28/severe.weather/index.html

Photos 7 and 11 both look to be at EF4 damage, minimum.

That photo from Pleasant Grove is absolutely devastating. Reminds me of some of the famous tornadoes like Andover.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

He was in the core of that tornado. Look at the wind and the shit flying around him. It was the edge of the core, but he was in it. It doesn't take much to come flying through your windshield to completely fuck you up or flip your car.

Great video, like I said, but pretty stupid to get that close.

The other amazing thing about that video... about the 1:20 mark, it spins off another tornado between the twister and the camera.

The tornado was horizontal though, but you can see it rotating on its own horizontal to the ground.

Pretty amazing.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/28/severe.weather/index.html

Photos 7 and 11 both look to be at EF4 damage, minimum.

That photo from Pleasant Grove is absolutely devastating. Reminds me of some of the famous tornadoes like Andover.

Look at #12. That goes back to my point - many people probably took shelter, but when something like clears out your neighborhood, it doesn't matter.

Think about how much debris was flying in an urban environment like that, and then just add the sheer force of over 200 mph winds....

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

http://forums.accuweather.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=131685

Aerial from Tuscaloosa :(

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Wow, just.... wow

G6giQ3csbUg

[MannyIsGod]

The other amazing thing about that video... about the 1:20 mark, it spins off another tornado between the twister and the camera.

The tornado was horizontal though, but you can see it rotating on its own horizontal to the ground.

Pretty amazing.

Yeah thats all part of the same rotation of the tornado. Those are called vortices. A lot of the videos show them horizontal from yesterday. Never really remember seeing that.

[MannyIsGod]

That damage path picture is nuts.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Yeah thats all part of the same rotation of the tornado. Those are called vortices. A lot of the videos show them horizontal from yesterday. Never really remember seeing that.

Yeah, I've seen muti-vortex videos before. But can't ever remember them being horizontal.

Incredible things going on within that storm.

[MannyIsGod]

Yeah - apparently they do happen but they're just really rare. I had never seen one like several of the videos showed until yesterday.

[MannyIsGod]

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/7910

[ALVAREZ6]

Mother nature has no regard for human life, it is slaughtering masses left and right.

[symple19]

http://www.tornadovideos.net/images/stories/2011/april_2011/4.27.11.tuscaloosa.png

ridiculous. A picture is worth way more than a thousand words here, imo

[symple19]

I think what struck me more than anything on Wednesday were the endless reports of very large pieces of debris falling randomly out of the sky, in some cases 15 miles away from the tornado. One of the chasers had to drive around a large section of roof that was partially in the middle of the road in a neighborhood that had no damage.

Watching the footage of the destruction in T-town makes me sick. Thank goodness the NWS, local media, and storm chasers/spotters all did such a great job of getting warnings out. It could have been far worse, in terms of loss of life, without those people.

agree with you guys about those strange multi-vortice tornadoes, never seen anything like that either. Saw them on video of both the Cullman and Tuscaloosa/Birmingham storms. Wonder if any more had that same trait?

another good slideshow. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/28/alabama-tornado-photos-2011-storm_n_854879.html#s271022&title=Severe_Weather

help:http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000&s_subsrc=RCO_FrontPagePanel

[symple19]

tuscaloosa KK2fsk09jTo

[symple19]

Arab, Alabama. Pretty sure this is yet another different storm, from up in the NE part of the state J5a_yyh4KbQ

[symple19]

rose hill MS

t4ftNOHg3DE

[symple19]

Here's another tornado from a different cell, up in NW Alabama

prnH8tUThQQ

[symple19]

h8SLdLOAM2c

birmingham storm track

[symple19]

Jesus, look at this one, from Cordova Al (might be the same cell as the Thornhill/Haleyville from above)

BZQjBJmQ9Js

amazing multiple vortex tornado

[symple19]

Ringgold Ga

dOkKAG_obNs

[symple19]

different view of Arab tornado

tVoTAfEQ8C0

[symple19]

tuscaloosa, good footage from farther away. Man, that storm was moving fast

EC62TRfuJHY

[symple19]

Blountsville AL

Ao6IMRegET4

The amount of footage from so many different cells, with so few chasers out, (relative to the alley) is remarkable

[symple19]

stevenson Al

7gbK9KcmqXs

[Cry Havoc]

Symple, I had no idea you were a weather fanatic/buff. Is it just an interest or are you planning to make a career out of it?

[symple19]

Symple, I had no idea you were a weather fanatic/buff. Is it just an interest or are you planning to make a career out of it?

just an interest. Fascinated by severe weather.

Years ago I used to do some amateur chasing (driving around looking up while listening to weather bulletins, lol) while stationed in Oklahoma. Never saw any tornadoes, but got to see some badass rotating supercells. Usually chased in the west-central part of the state because I had a FWB that let me stay at her house in Weatherford instead of driving all the way back down to Lawton.

I wish I could make it a career. I'd love to drive for a dedicated team like TVN or Twistex. I'll probably take a month (march/april/may) off and spend it chasing someday. Would be too much fun

[symple19]

Anybody know how much these guys make licensing their videos? I bet some people made a lot of money on Wednesday

[symple19]

For any Stormchasers fans, Sean and the TIV were present for Wednesday's event, as was Twistex. They're gonna have to do like 4 shows on that day alone, if not more...

[symple19]

from Virginia on the 27th

vOnIX04eZBk

[Cry Havoc]

I wish I could make it a career. I'd love to drive for a dedicated team like TVN or Twistex. I'll probably take a month (march/april/may) off and spend it chasing someday. Would be too much fun

Do it in May. Statistically speaking that's your best month for tornadoes.

[symple19]

Wow

LTGJmaK3bsg

[symple19]

From Empire Alabama

zEr2lCnQcow

[Cry Havoc]

Manny and Symple, what are the most impressive tornadoes or tornado footage that you've ever seen?

[symple19]

CMAAjN7KnAc

[symple19]

Manny and Symple, what are the most impressive tornadoes or tornado footage that you've ever seen?

other than yesterday....hmmm

6UbkH-gIlDU

ebi5jTc-amU

MulodeDan_w

PsTDWgmPCuY

DIkIzqClQyQ

Those jump to the top of my head

[symple19]

Oh, and this one too

6UmxSzWaLPc

[Cry Havoc]

I'll have to look at those vids after I get home from work, symple, but thanks for linking them. I think I've seen most/all of them but they definitely don't get old to watch.


Update on the outbreak: We have our first EF5 tornado in the United States since 2008 if the preliminary rating stands. The Mississippi tornado that hit the Smithville area has now been assigned the EF5 rating.

"13 deaths – Dozens of newly constructed two-story, brick homes were leveled and trees were debarked. Five people are reported as missing. Rating is preliminary.[34] Damage assessments have determined that 150 homes, 14 businesses and 2 churches were destroyed by the tornado in Smithville."

[symple19]

Yeah, I saw that too. From the looks of the damage elsewhere, it may not end up being the only EF5

CBnisypTrzM

[symple19]

s-AQdKr2JaU

[symple19]

hR83MBQNGqw

[symple19]

QbVfQxi9JoY

[Cry Havoc]

Not sure if it's been posted, but this is the EF5:
LW_W_umq0ws

Edit: After watching... all I can say is that's a really freaking weird video. They must have dubbed the audio from a storm chaser's track.

[MannyIsGod]

My favorite tornado videos?

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/vortex2/science/5jun09_loops/

[Cry Havoc]

Confirmed EF5 for the Smithville tornado.

[symple19]

early damage estimates put the tag at 2-5 billion

[symple19]

over a million still without power

[symple19]

NOAA confirms 211 total tornadoes. Looks to be worse than 74' after all

[MannyIsGod]

Nope. 1974 was underreported. I promise you that.

[MannyIsGod]

Also I'm pretty sure that 211 isn't a one day total, 1974's total is a 24 hour period.

[MannyIsGod]

Yeah, so far no day has over 200 reports this year on the SPCs site and I'm pretty sure some of those are still preliminary.

[symple19]

yeah, I heard it on the news but can't find any confirmation on NOAA's website

[Cry Havoc]

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/110427_rpts.html

180 reports in one day.

1974 is definitely under-represented, but unless there's a hard number, we can't really estimate the number of tornadoes on the ground, right? If that's the case and these are confirmed, I have to think this would take the title as the most number of confirmed tornadoes in a single 24 hour period. There could have been a day in the 1800s where there were 250 tornadoes but no one survived or was around to report it, but as far as records go, you need actual data, and in this case April 27th might be the new record holder.

[symple19]

^says 211 reports, but they aren't all confirmed yet. Birmingham NWS hasn't finished it's surveys, and won't until saturday at least

[benefactor]

There are reports that the Smithville tornado sucked fire hydrants out of the ground. Good lord.

[Cry Havoc]

There are reports that the Smithville tornado sucked fire hydrants out of the ground. Good lord.

I find it more impressive when a tornado rips the asphalt off of a road. That's just unreal.

[Cry Havoc]

342. Unreal. It's sad that so many people could die from weather in 2011 when they have ample warning that severe storms are heading their way.

[symple19]

342. Unreal. It's sad that so many people could die from weather in 2011 when they have ample warning that severe storms are heading their way.

i think that's what makes it even more of an incredible event

[Cry Havoc]

i think that's what makes it even more of an incredible event

The entire region was blanketed with Tornado Watches with the addendum that it was a PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation), yet thousands of people were caught totally unprepared for the severity of the storms. It makes you wonder if people's memories are really so short that they forget that this kind of thing happens every year. Mississippi and Alabama get severe weather/tornadoes all the time. It's baffling to me that people would be out shopping or dicking around while tornado warnings are spreading their way from the W/SW.

When Hurricane Andrew hit Florida, only 52 people died, but I remember a lot of citizens were kind of laughing it off because it had been a while since Florida had been hit prior to that 'cane. Since then, they take even Cat 1 storms seriously.

[MannyIsGod]

A lot of people don't care and don't pay attention. And you have the tornadoes going through some really populated areas. Thats the main reason, to be frank. When strong tornadoes go through areas of high population density there will be a high death toll.

Still rather shocking.

[symple19]

Hackleburg tornado becomes EF5 number 2

[symple19]

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/fxc/bmx/graphicast/image4.gif

[symple19]

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/april_2011_tornado_information.html
April 26-28, 2011, Tornado Outbreak Statistics

NOAA's preliminary estimate is that there were 288 tornadoes during the entire outbreak from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 26 to 8:00 a.m. April 28, 2011.

During the 24-hour period from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 27 to 8:00 a.m. EDT April 28, The National Weather Service (NWS) estimates there were a total of 211 tornadoes.
NWS issued outlooks five days in advance, watches hours in advance, and tornado warnings with an average lead time of 24 minutes. NWS issued warnings for more than 90-percent of these tornadoes.
The largest previous number of tornadoes on record in one event occurred from April 3-4, 1974, with 148 tornadoes.
Expert NOAA analysis of the fatality information indicates that at least 344 people were killed during the entire outbreak from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 26 to 8:00 a.m. April 28. There were 334 fatalities during the 24-hour-period from 8:00 a.m. April 27 to 8:00 a.m. April 28.

This is the most people killed by tornadoes in a two-day period since April 5-6, 1936, when 454 people were killed, mostly in Tupelo, Mississippi and Gainesville, Georgia.
This is the deadliest single day for tornadoes since the March 18, 1925, tornado outbreak that had 747 fatalities across 7 states (including the Tri-State Tornado).
The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado during the April 2011 event caused at least 65 fatalities.
These are the most fatalities from a single tornado in the United States since May 25, 1955, when 80 people were killed in a tornado in southern Kansas with 75 of those deaths in Udall, Kansas.
The deadliest single tornado on record was the Tri-State tornado (MO, IL, IN) on March 18, 1925, when 695 died.
Note: All numbers are based on combined NOAA and historical research records and current fatality estimates. The historical research records extend back to 1680.




Month of April 2011 (and record monthly) Tornado Statistics

NWS’s preliminary estimate is that there have been more than 600 tornadoes thus far during the month of April 2011.

The previous record number of tornadoes during the month of April was 267 tornadoes set in April 1974.
The previous record number of tornadoes during any month was 542 tornadoes set in May 2003.
The average number of tornadoes for the month of April during the past decade is 161.
The overall monthly average number of tornadoes for the past decade is 106.
2011 Year-to-Date (and record annual) Statistics

NWS’s preliminary estimate is that there have been 835 tornadoes so far this year.

The previous yearly record number of tornadoes was set in 2004 with 1,817.
May is historically the most active month for tornadoes.
The overall yearly average number of tornadoes for the past decade is 1274.

[ace3g]

little off topic, but it looks like it might finally rain in SA early Sunday morning till Monday

[DMC]

Fortunately for me I was in Burbank when the shit broke loose here. I heard about it as soon as I got home though.

[DMC]

342. Unreal. It's sad that so many people could die from weather in 2011 when they have ample warning that severe storms are heading their way.
Plenty were trying to heed the warning but the tornado destroyed their shelter. Storm cellars are the way to go. We all know that but few of us actually own one. It's one of those things you think of after a storm, rarely before it.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

NWS upped the confirmed tornado count to 312 today. :wow