Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Damaging Tornadoes Slam Plains

Posted by: Shaun Tanner, 6:50 AM GMT on April 15, 2012

+36

A devastating string of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes tracked through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska on Saturday. This severe weather outbreak was remarkable in its duration as supercell thunderstorms began to pop up in western Kansas late Saturday morning, and the dry line that was supposed to represent the end of the severe weather threat was only halfway through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas by 1:00 AM Central Time Sunday. The moisture difference on either side of this dry line was remarkable as well, with dew points in the upper 60's to the east, and a very dry 20's to the west.

SPC Storm Reports from Saturday

The SPC storm reports show the track of these storms, with Kansas being the hardest hit. Early in the afternoon, most of the supercell thunderstorms were consistently producing weak tornadoes that skipped across western and central Kansas. As the low-level jet stream kicked in late in the afternoon and into the evening, the thunderstorms strengthened considerably. Probably the most remarkable supercell thunderstorm began in western Oklahoma near Woodward as a stunning multi-vortex tornado. The tornado actually was several tornadoes that danced into southern Kansas and eventually threatened Wichita. The tornado passed just south and east of the city, producing an 84 mph wind gust at the Wichita Airport. It also did extensive damage at the airport. In addition, the Oaklawn area of Wichita was declared a disaster area very soon after the tornado passed. The Sedgwick County commissioner declared the county a disaster area. This wedge tornado eventually moved along the Kansas Turnpike northeast of Wichita before finally dissipating.

Figure 1. Double tornadoes in Oklahoma close to the Kansas border. Image credit: news9.com

Figure 2. This tornado sparked a fire in Oklahoma as it passed through the area northeast of Woodward. Image credit: news9.com

The deadliest tornado of the outbreak struck Woodward, OK early Sunday morning, as the main squall line moved through western Oklahoma. This tornado was very large and particularly dangerous since it occurred at night when most residents assumed the threat had ended. There were multiple reports of not hearing the city's siren, so it is entirely possible that the siren was either struck by lightning or hit by the tornado itself. At least five deaths have been confirmed in the Woodward area from this tornado. Probably the scariest video of a tornado I have ever seen was taken of this Woodward tornado as it moved into town. Note you can see the scale of the tornado as between power flashes.

Video 1. Storm chaser video of one of Saturday's impressive tornadoes near Salina, Kansas.

Figure 3. Radar reflectivity image of the tornado that hit the south side of Wichita, Kansas, causing damage at the Wichita airport.

Perhaps the most telling feature of this severe weather outbreak was its repetitive nature. Salina, KS was tornado warned three times by three separate severe thunderstorms. Similarly, areas from Medicine Lodge to Kingman, Kansas were warned for two separate thunderstorms, while Woodward itself was warned very early in the day before a different tornado moved through the city late in the night.

Last night's storms have weakened, but a new round of severe weather is expected Sunday afternoon over portions of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has put the region under their second highest level of alert, a "Moderate Risk."

Shaun Tanner

Thunderstorm Wind Damage (dhennem)

Straight line winds from a thunderstorm this evening blew several semi tractor/trailers over on Interstate 29 in Fremont county, Iowa.

Freak Hail Storm Texas Panhandle (Randy7628)

Night tornado (Andrewbre)

Night tornado in Manchester,OK

Clouds II (amo1379)

Categories: Tornado Severe Weather

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251. TropicalAnalystwx13 6:57 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting wxgeek723: Watch it be designated as an invest and then the NHC decides not to upgrade it. Or it becomes a depression but fails to reach the name level. People on here would flip, lol. Watch it become some rare April hurricane or not even get designated as an invest. Member Since: July 6, 2010 Posts: 89 Comments: 25290

252. RTSplayer 6:58 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting LargoFl: any chance this goes into the gulf around that big high? Ridiculously negligible. less than 1%. Member Since: January 25, 2012 Posts: 27 Comments: 875

253. jeffs713 6:59 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting wxgeek723: Watch it be designated as an invest and then the NHC decides not to upgrade it. Or it becomes a depression but fails to reach the name level. People on here would flip, lol. That is exactly what is likely to happen. One thing to bear in mind that even if the system gets below 1000mb, it could still have a front attached - which is likely. Also, if it doesn't become warm-core... same situation. Many people on here seem to forget that it isn't just about pressure or winds... it's also about the overall environment, other weather features (like fronts), and the nature of the system itself. Just like SSTs aren't the only factor in TC development, pressure and winds aren't the only factor in whether a storm gets named. Member Since: August 3, 2008 Posts: 15 Comments: 5722

254. nrtiwlnvragn 7:00 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting MAweatherboy1: I hope that verifies... It would be pretty cool to see a strong STS in the middle of the Atlantic in the middle of April I don't think it will be invested, but that is the Hurricane Specialist at the NHC decision. TAFB and OPC are showing it as a Frontal Cyclone. If it is invested, then the microwave data may be able to show if it is baroclinic or not. Member Since: September 23, 2005 Posts: 11 Comments: 8923

255. jeffs713 7:00 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting LargoFl: any chance this goes into the gulf around that big high? Absolutely zero. Shear would shred it, among other things. This isn't august. Member Since: August 3, 2008 Posts: 15 Comments: 5722

256. MAweatherboy1 7:00 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: Watch it become some rare April hurricane or not even get designated as an invest. Sub-tropical Hurricane Alberto! Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 67 Comments: 6362

257. MAweatherboy1 7:01 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting nrtiwlnvragn: I don't think it will be invested, but that is the Hurricane Specialist at the NHC decision. TAFB and OPC are showing it as a Frontal Cyclone. If it is invested, then the microwave data may be able to show if it is baroclinic or not. Why won't it be invested? Every single model shows a sub-tropical storm within 36 hours Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 67 Comments: 6362

258. Jedkins01 7:01 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting ScottLincoln: Tornadoes do not need to hit a metro area's "downtown" to be deadly or very destructive. Many buildings in the dense commercial core would have more resistance to strong tornadoes. I'd suggest that the worse areas to have hit by the tornado are away from the downtown area, where most people live. I disagree, I don't think downtown areas would fare very well during a strong tornado, on top of that you have more material to become dangerous flying debris or building material to crush people. Now considering the time which the tornado hit, downtown areas may mean less deaths late at night because there would be less people, but I assure you a downtown area could mean mass loss of life during afternoon commuting hours. The strongest downtown buildings would still be shredded apart even if the main structural frame holds intact. I think you are forgetting just what a high end tornado is capable of doing, I wouldn't put too much hope in any building above ground when it comes to high end tornadoes. Buildings frequently fail before their supposed standards. The Hospital in Joplin is about as strong of a structure as you are going to find, it didn't even take a direct hit from the tornado, yet it still was a total loss even with the structural frame remaining mostly intact. The Hospital in Joplin is what would happen to the strongest downtown structures, but even then, most of the commercial sector is composed of high rise building with massive amounts of glass that are not as strong as the hospital was in Joplin, an EF4 to EF5 range tornado would leave many of them with very heavy damage or total loss. Member Since: August 21, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 5333

259. jeffs713 7:03 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting MAweatherboy1: Why won't it be invested? Every single model shows a sub-tropical storm within 36 hours Because it is frontal in nature, and its over rather cold water. Member Since: August 3, 2008 Posts: 15 Comments: 5722

260. LargoFl 7:03 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 1007 AM EDT SUN APR 15 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... .THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS AND A FEW HOURS OF CRITICALLY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN RED FLAG CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING. FLZ048-049-051-052-160000- /O.EXA.KTBW.FW.W.0020.120415T1700Z-120416T0000Z/ HERNANDO-PASCO-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK- 1007 AM EDT SUN APR 15 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING. * AFFECTED AREA...MANATEE...HARDEE...HIGHLANDS...SARASOTA...D E SOTO...CHARLOTTE...LEE. * WIND...SOUTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 20 MPH. * HUMIDITY...30 TO 35 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN VERY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRE ARE OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL OCCUR WITHIN 24 HOURS. && $$ Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

261. MAweatherboy1 7:04 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0550 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 0156 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012 AREAS AFFECTED...CNTRL/N-CNTRL IA...SRN MN CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH POSSIBLE VALID 151856Z - 152030Z PORTIONS OF CNTRL/N-CNTRL IA AND SRN MN ARE BEING MONITORED FOR THE POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF A TORNADO WATCH THIS AFTERNOON. SFC ANALYSIS INDICATES A COLD FRONT TRAILING SWD FROM A TRIPLE POINT 30 MILES SE OF SIOUX FALLS SD...WITH A WARM FRONT ARCING ENEWD FROM THE TRIPLE POINT ACROSS SRN MN INTO W-CNTRL WI. INHIBITION WITHIN THE WARM SECTOR CONTINUES TO ERODE...WITH THE MODIFIED MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL 18Z RAOB ACCOUNTING FOR SFC OBS IN THE WARM SECTOR INDICATING UPWARDS OF 1000 J/KG OF MLCAPE WITH NEAR-ZERO CINH. A WELL-DEFINED AXIS OF CONFLUENCE ALIGNS WITH THE COLD FRONT...WITH SUPPORTING LOW-LEVEL CONVERGENCE POTENTIALLY BECOMING RESPONSIBLE FOR CONVECTIVE INITIATION BETWEEN 1930Z AND 21Z AS DIABATIC HEATING CONTINUES TO THE EAST. ALREADY...VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTS MODEST VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN BANDS OF CUMULUS NEAR THE COLD FRONT IN WRN IA. THIS COULD EVOLVE INTO DEEPER CONVECTION WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. ONCE STORMS FORM...THEY WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO QUICKLY BECOME SVR GIVEN EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR MAGNITUDES OF 50-70 KT. LOW-LEVEL SHEAR WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR TORNADIC SUPERCELLS...PARTICULARLY NEAR THE WARM FRONT WHERE SFC WINDS REMAIN RELATIVELY BACKED. ..COHEN.. 04/15/2012 Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 67 Comments: 6362

262. nrtiwlnvragn 7:05 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting MAweatherboy1: Why won't it be invested? Every single model shows a sub-tropical storm within 36 hours Attached to a front. Beven just published a excellent paper on the subject. Member Since: September 23, 2005 Posts: 11 Comments: 8923

263. MAweatherboy1 7:05 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting nrtiwlnvragn: Attached to a front. Beven just published a excellent paper on the subject. Oh so it's possible it could become an STS without being invested? Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 67 Comments: 6362

264. jeffs713 7:07 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting MAweatherboy1: Oh so it's possible it could become an STS without being invested? In theory. But it also would need to be detached from the front to be an STS. In other words... don't get your hopes up for a named storm. Member Since: August 3, 2008 Posts: 15 Comments: 5722

265. nrtiwlnvragn 7:08 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting MAweatherboy1: Oh so it's possible it could become an STS without being invested? Possible?, I guess if NHC went straight to declaring a depression or STS without initiating an invest, yes. Normally they will declare an invest to gather data before taking that step. Member Since: September 23, 2005 Posts: 11 Comments: 8923

266. MAweatherboy1 7:08 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting jeffs713: In theory. But it also would need to be detached from the front to be an STS. In other words... don't get your hopes up for a named storm. Ok... I've never had very high hopes for this one but with all the model consistency it seems to be an increasing possibility. Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 67 Comments: 6362

267. Tropicsweatherpr 7:12 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting jeffs713: In theory. But it also would need to be detached from the front to be an STS. In other words... don't get your hopes up for a named storm. In April 2003,Ana detached from front and became a Sub-Tropical and then Tropical Storm. Member Since: April 29, 2009 Posts: 64 Comments: 8160

268. jeffs713 7:13 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting MAweatherboy1: Ok... I've never had very high hopes for this one but with all the model consistency it seems to be an increasing possibility. Bear in mind what models everyone is looking at... MSLP. Mean Surface Level Pressure. That doesn't show wind vectors, precipitation, or frontal boundaries. All of those are important to whether a system is named. All the models are saying is that a cyclone of some sort is likely to form. That cyclone could be a baroclinic one (attached to a front, driven by temperature differences), tropical (warm core), or subtropical (not attached to a front, but not fully warm core). Based on how, where, and when the system is expected to form... my bet is on a baroclinic one. Member Since: August 3, 2008 Posts: 15 Comments: 5722

269. jeffs713 7:15 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting Tropicsweatherpr: In April 2003,Ana detached from front and became a Sub-Tropical and then Tropical Storm. It also started southwest of Bermuda, in a different type of environment. Member Since: August 3, 2008 Posts: 15 Comments: 5722

270. aspectre 7:16 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
225 Ameister12: Gotta watch this area. [Satellite photo] 234 aspectre: I find myself wondering why folks have gotta be so cryptic about the photos they post. So exactly where on Neptune is that? 237 RTSplayer: 30N 53W ... It's sort of a mid-level circulation mixed in with that front. Supposedly it's going to get cut off and become Sub-tropical or even tropical. Thanks. I was wrong even on the general area: thought the AOIcenter was farther northwest MEO is RoanokeIsland,NorthCarolina; CAT is CatIsland,Bahamas; and BDA is Bermuda Area Of Interest Member Since: August 21, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 4846

271. muddertracker 7:20 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
The only thing missing from last night's drama was cycloneOz in chainmail. Is there a repeat performance scheduled for this evening? We will see... Member Since: August 16, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 2126

272. RTSplayer 7:24 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting nrtiwlnvragn: Surface, it is from the Text Track File of the NCEP/EMC Cyclogenesis Tracking Page Ok, I found it. Thanks. Yeah that would be legit TS I guess. CMC even takes it down to 997mb. LOL. That would be really rare event I guess. Member Since: January 25, 2012 Posts: 27 Comments: 875

273. MAweatherboy1 7:29 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Since when do we have a tornado warning? SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 223 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012 NEC107-152000- /O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120415T2000Z/ KNOX NE- 223 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR SOUTHWESTERN KNOX COUNTY... AT 219 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF VERDIGRE...OR 27 MILES EAST OF ONEILL...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHWESTERN KNOX COUNTY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS. && LAT...LON 4261 9814 4256 9802 4245 9804 4243 9811 4245 9818 4256 9823 TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 179DEG 24KT 4252 9812 $$ DEWALD Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 67 Comments: 6362

274. MAweatherboy1 7:30 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
The Thurman, IA tornado was an EF 2 Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 67 Comments: 6362

275. weatherh98 7:36 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting RTSplayer: Ridiculously negligible. less than 1%. No it's gonna hit Florida... DOOM I'm kidding there's almost no shot Member Since: June 17, 2011 Posts: 11 Comments: 6091

276. weatherh98 7:39 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting MAweatherboy1: The Thurman, IA tornado was an EF 2 Woodward looks pretty trashed Member Since: June 17, 2011 Posts: 11 Comments: 6091

277. MAweatherboy1 7:39 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting weatherh98: Woodward looks pretty trashed Yeah that one was probably EF-4 Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 67 Comments: 6362

278. weatherh98 7:42 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Tornado warning for southeast nebraska Member Since: June 17, 2011 Posts: 11 Comments: 6091

279. weatherh98 7:42 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting MAweatherboy1: Yeah that one was probably EF-4 I wouldn't doubt it Member Since: June 17, 2011 Posts: 11 Comments: 6091

280. LargoFl 7:44 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
TORNADO WARNING NEC107-152030- /O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0009.120415T1930Z-120415T2030Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 230 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... KNOX COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA... * UNTIL 330 PM CDT * AT 227 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOS. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR VERDIGRE...OR 31 MILES EAST OF ONEILL...AND MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH. SPOTTERS REPORTED A VERY BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 1 MILE SOUTH OF VERDIGRE AT 227 PM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... VERDIGRE...NIOBRARA...SANTEE AND VERDEL. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS. && LAT...LON 4283 9815 4276 9801 4277 9794 4280 9790 4287 9786 4285 9776 4256 9795 4244 9809 4244 9823 4244 9824 4259 9829 4288 9831 TIME...MOT...LOC 1927Z 176DEG 22KT 4261 9807 $$ DEWALD Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

281. LargoFl 7:47 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting jeffs713: Absolutely zero. Shear would shred it, among other things. This isn't august. gee we here could sure use that rain..ty for the reply Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

282. caribbeantracker01 7:55 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
i thought accu weather was saying joe was a problem seems to me they got worst very boring now Member Since: May 21, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 442

283. Zappy 7:56 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting LargoFl: gee we here could sure use that rain..ty for the reply We could use some rain here too in CT. We're in a severe drought, and I expect it to turn to an extreme drought with the next Drought Monitor. Member Since: April 14, 2012 Posts: 0 Comments: 58

284. caribbeantracker01 7:58 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
46 days 1112 hours 66722 minutes 4003327 seconds Member Since: May 21, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 442

285. MAweatherboy1 7:58 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD 256 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... BON HOMME COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA... * UNTIL 330 PM CDT * AT 256 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH A HISTORY OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR TYNDALL...OR 23 MILES WEST OF YANKTON...AND MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH. * THIS TORNADIC STORM WILL BE NEAR... SCOTLAND AROUND 325 PM CDT... 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. && LAT...LON 4285 9774 4290 9800 4317 9785 4317 9773 4317 9767 4316 9764 4310 9764 TIME...MOT...LOC 1956Z 199DEG 29KT 4295 9784 $$ MJF Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 67 Comments: 6362

286. Bluestorm5 8:08 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
I went to bed after Wichita cell finally died. Before I shut the computer off, I saw that there was a tornado warning from that line in OK/Texas... sadly, that tornado, as I learned this morning, killed 5 people. Member Since: August 1, 2011 Posts: 7 Comments: 3593

287. Bluestorm5 8:09 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting MAweatherboy1: Yeah that one was probably EF-4 I'll say Woodward tornado is a EF-3, because the damage is similar from what I saw in Sanford, NC. Member Since: August 1, 2011 Posts: 7 Comments: 3593

288. Bluestorm5 8:11 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Any damage report from Greensburg to Salina tornado? That tornado was clocked at 207 mph over a open field and multiple towns was under tornado emergency, but I never heard of damage or town being wiped out. I didn't hear much from Wichita tornado either, except for city of Wichita itself. What about towns to southwest of Wichita? That tornado was very strong looking on radar. Member Since: August 1, 2011 Posts: 7 Comments: 3593

289. weatherh98 8:16 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
I think the storms will start crnkng in about an hour Member Since: June 17, 2011 Posts: 11 Comments: 6091

290. DavidHOUTX 8:20 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
If this front does not stall or these storms do not fire up quickly.... That makes this map about as useless as anything the NWS uses Member Since: August 18, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 292

291. TropicalAnalystwx13 8:31 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
The Ellinsworth, KS tornado has been rated an EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Member Since: July 6, 2010 Posts: 89 Comments: 25290

292. nofailsafe 8:31 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting DavidHOUTX: If this front does not stall or these storms do not fire up quickly.... That makes this map about as useless as anything the NWS uses There are some small showers popping up in the Houston metro area but that's about it for now, I'm wondering a little myself what's going on. Member Since: June 18, 2010 Posts: 3 Comments: 830

293. Bluestorm5 8:32 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Sounds like we might have EF5... VIA Weather Channel on Twitter: NWS Wichita: Prelim. EF4 #tornado near Kanopolis Lake, KS. A farmstead was decimated, trees stripped of bark, roads scoured. Won't surprise me if this is updated to EF5. Member Since: August 1, 2011 Posts: 7 Comments: 3593

294. Tazmanian 8:33 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
5 deaths – Major strucutral damage in western and northern parts of Woodward. Preliminary survey results revealed at least EF2 damage; rating subject to change. Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111346

295. Bluestorm5 8:35 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting Tazmanian: 5 deaths – Major strucutral damage in western and northern parts of Woodward. Preliminary survey results revealed at least EF2 damage; rating subject to change. Not surprising. Damages looked like EF2 or EF3. 5 people was killed because sirens never went off because of lightning cutting the power off. Member Since: August 1, 2011 Posts: 7 Comments: 3593

296. Tazmanian 8:36 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting Bluestorm5: Not surprising. Damages looked like EF2 or EF3. 5 people was killed because sirens never went off because of lightning cutting the power off. it could go higher Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111346

297. TropicalAnalystwx13 8:38 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 178 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 340 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012 TORNADO WATCH 178 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IAC033-037-041-059-063-067-081-089-109-131-147-189 -191-195- 160400- /O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0178.120415T2040Z-120416T0400Z/ IA . IOWA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE CERRO GORDO CHICKASAW CLAY DICKINSON EMMET FLOYD HANCOCK HOWARD KOSSUTH MITCHELL PALO ALTO WINNEBAGO WINNESHIEK WORTH MNC003-013-015-019-023-025-033-037-039-043-045-047 -049-053-055- 059-063-067-079-081-083-085-091-093-099-101-103-10 9-123-127-129- 131-139-141-143-147-157-161-163-165-169-171-173-16 0400- /O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0178.120415T2040Z-120416T0400Z/ MN . MINNESOTA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE ANOKA BLUE EARTH BROWN CARVER CHIPPEWA CHISAGO COTTONWOOD DAKOTA DODGE FARIBAULT FILLMORE FREEBORN GOODHUE HENNEPIN HOUSTON ISANTI JACKSON KANDIYOHI LE SUEUR LINCOLN LYON MARTIN MCLEOD MEEKER MOWER MURRAY NICOLLET OLMSTED RAMSEY REDWOOD RENVILLE RICE SCOTT SHERBURNE SIBLEY STEELE WABASHA WASECA WASHINGTON WATONWAN WINONA WRIGHT YELLOW MEDICINE WIC005-011-017-019-033-035-053-063-091-093-095-107 -109-119-121- 160400- /O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0178.120415T2040Z-120416T0400Z/ WI . WISCONSIN COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE BARRON BUFFALO CHIPPEWA CLARK DUNN EAU CLAIRE JACKSON LA CROSSE PEPIN PIERCE POLK RUSK ST. CROIX TAYLOR TREMPEALEAU ATTN...WFO...DMX...ARX...MPX...FSD... Member Since: July 6, 2010 Posts: 89 Comments: 25290

298. RTSplayer 8:38 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting DavidHOUTX: If this front does not stall or these storms do not fire up quickly.... That makes this map about as useless as anything the NWS uses That is a 5 day precip total. The model is probably assuming S. Texas and Louisiana will get some rain from the surface low that is supposed to develop over the bay of Campeche. Then again, the previous surface low sort of just died over Mexico and never did anything anyway. Yeah, I checked again, and not all of the models' latest runs are out yet, but some of the ensembles had a weak, pop-up surface low off the coast of Louisiana on the 17th. Given the unseasonable water temperatures are about a month ahead of schedule for temperature, I guess that's not entirely out of the question. That could explain some of the rain in Louisiana and Texas. Member Since: January 25, 2012 Posts: 27 Comments: 875

299. Bluestorm5 8:39 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Ellsworth/Kanopolis Lake tornado (part of Greensburg to Salina cell) This tornado looked very powerful on radar last night EDIT: I am unsure if this is the exact tornado that was rated EF4. Couple of tornado was in Ellsworth/Kanopolis Lake area yesterday. Member Since: August 1, 2011 Posts: 7 Comments: 3593

300. Tazmanian 8:40 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
any one have info on the Ellinsworth, KS tornado i like too no where they set the winds on this EF4 nado Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111346

301. Bluestorm5 8:44 PM GMT on April 15, 2012
Quoting Tazmanian: any one have info on the Ellinsworth, KS tornado i like too no where they set the winds on this EF4 nado Not very detailed yet. Just EF4 rating and what's the damage is like. This damage details sounds like it could easily be updated to EF5, though... Link Member Since: August 1, 2011 Posts: 7 Comments: 3593

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