2011: Tornado Outbreaks

[MOTORHEADBANGER]

I know that there have been other natural disasters this year: Japan earthquake, Iceland Volcano, the thing with all the dead birds and fish... etc, but has anyone noticed the ridiculous amount of tornado outbreaks there have been this season? We usually have one or two pretty bad outbreaks, but this is getting ridiculous. Casualty counts have gone from being in the double digits in worse case scenario, to being in the hundreds. I don't even think we've had that many more "tornados", but definitely more violent ones. Several have been anywhere from half of a mile to a mile in diameter.

[champbassist]

I know it from here, because I don't remembering having read/watched so many news items about tornado outbreaks in the US in a single season in our news media. Scary

[MOTORHEADBANGER]

Apparently from "reports" that I've heard (no official Weather Service Bulletins) spotters have seen another tornado on the ground heading toward Joplin, MO, where a deadly twister had just killed over 120 people.

[HaMMerHeD]

We had a bunch of tornados around here (Norman, OK) today. A friend of mine lost his house, but my neighborhood remains unscathed.

Watching the local weather, at one point I counted 8 funnels on the radar at one time. That kind of tornado super-cell isn't terribly uncommon in Oklahoma, but it is perhaps moreso in other places. The unusual thing was that relatively low-speed circulation was spawning funnel clouds that reached the ground. Usually the low-intensity circulation dissipates before it gets low enough to the ground to cause any damage, but the wall clouds were already hanging so low that the funnels were just popping out left and right and hitting the ground, causing damage.

I think they said 4 people died in central OK today, with lots more hospitalized.

[jp58]

It's been a rough year as far as storms are concerned. And we've got another one now, and more on the way.

[Bongolation]

Record strange weather this year in the US, and not record-breaking by a little bit but by giant amounts. The snowpack here in the Sierras broke the all-time record by about a third.

Experts say it's NOT attributable to "global warming"...but the theories vary, one being that that first bad Icelandic volcano caused enough dispersed particulate matter to widely reduce temperatures just enough to screw things up.

Who knows? But it's really, really odd.

[burk48237]

I suspect their have been other Tornado outbreaks similar before. Our records are far more accurate now. The other issue, is we are a less rural and far more urban society. Even in the US family farms are less common verses large corporate farms, and far more people make a living in urban than rural areas. This means populations are more concentrated and more effected by Weather anomalies.

A great example of this is hurricanes. While we considered Katrina a huge disaster of historical proportions, we must remember that ocean front property is far more expensive and we have much more population in those areas than before. The Galveston hurricane of 1900 would have been far more devastating than Katrina had it hit in 2005 following the same path. Imagine the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 today with the current infrastructure and double the population density? The damage and death toll would be far higher.

Even the Joplin tornado has to be put in this perspective. We say Tornado's rarely hit cities, but the fact is the deadliest single tornado before this one his downtown Flint MI in 1953. We might want to remember that many areas that were rural twenty years ago are now urban or suburban. With more population comes greater damage and devastation. This is the nature of devastating weather events. They didn't hit large population centers as often before because their weren't as many large population centers.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by burk48237

I suspect their have been other Tornado outbreaks similar before. Our records are far more accurate now. The other issue, is we are a less rural and far more urban society. Even in the US family farms are less common verses large corporate farms, and far more people make a living in urban than rural areas. This means populations are more concentrated and more effected by Weather anomalies.

This is very true.

Originally Posted by burk48237

A great example of this is hurricanes. While we considered Katrina a huge disaster of historical proportions, we must remember that ocean front property is far more expensive and we have much more population in those areas than before. The Galveston hurricane of 1900 would have been far more devastating than Katrina had it hit in 2005 following the same path.

It would have done much, much more monetary damage - but I suspect it would have killed significantly less people.

The Galveston hurricane killed ~8,000 people, most of which could have been prevented with modern storm tracking and warning.

Originally Posted by burk48237

Imagine the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 today with the current infrastructure and double the population density? The damage and death toll would be far higher.

Hard to say... Building techniques are much better, some of the areas that had liquefaction issues have been improved, and the main killer in 1906 - uncontrollable fires - should be less of an issue.

...but if you look at the history of large earthquakes hitting highly populated areas - it can really vary in how much damage is done and how many folks get killed.

Originally Posted by burk48237

Even the Joplin tornado has to be put in this perspective. We say Tornado's rarely hit cities, but the fact is the deadliest single tornado before this one his downtown Flint MI in 1953.

Nope.

The Flint tornado wasn't the deadliest tornado before this one. The Flint tornado was just the last tornado to kill over 100 people. It only ranks as about the 9th deadliest in US history.

1. Mar 18, 1925 Missouri/Illinois/Indiana; 695 dead
2. May 6, 1840 Natchez, Mississippi; 317 dead
3. May 27, 1896 St. Louis, Missouri; 255 dead
4. April 5, 1936 Tupelo, Mississippi; 216 dead
5. April 6, 1936 Gainesville, Georgia; 203 dead
6. April 9, 1947 Woodward, Oklahoma; 181 dead
7. April 24,1908 Amite, La./Purvis, Miss.; 143 dead
8. June 12, 1899 New Richmond, Wisconsin; 117 dead
9. June 3, 1953 Flint, Michigan; 115 dead
10. May 11, 1953 Waco, Texas; 114 dead

Originally Posted by burk48237

We might want to remember that many areas that were rural twenty years ago are now urban or suburban. With more population comes greater damage and devastation. This is the nature of devastating weather events. They didn't hit large population centers as often before because their weren't as many large population centers.

Absolutely true. There definitely weren't as many population centers in the west either - in 1920 Los Angeles was the only city west of the Mississippi in the top 10 in population, now 7/10 are - including 3 in Texas which is a tornado rich state.

[blendermassacre]

I'm in my apartment, tornado sirens going off in downtown KCMO.

[tZer]

I was just listening to an interview with a weather expert. I'll summarize:

1) We've been 'over-warning' with tornado sirens for the last number of years and people are complacent to them.
2) Weather forecasters in the south and midwest are the best in the biz and aspire to work in these locations because of the dynamic weather
3) Weather forecasting - ESPECIALLY TORNADO AND KILLER STORM FORECASTING - is incredibly good today and if your area has warnings posted YOU NEED TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.

I know when I was growing up here in St. Louis, where an F2 tore apart our airport's main terminal and caused amazing amounts of damage to the surrounding communities, I used to hear tornado warnings all the time - NEVER experienced (or remember) an actual tornado anywhere near me - and I am 43 and have lived her my entire life.

I am one of those who still thinks when you see your area cited as being under a tornado warning that it's still very unlikely that it'll happen.

I need to change that.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by tZer

I was just listening to an interview with a weather expert. I'll summarize:

1) We've been 'over-warning' with tornado sirens for the last number of years and people are complacent to them.

This is definitely an issue.

When I was a kid (in the 1980's) a "Tornado Warning" meant one thing: it mean that a tornado was actually spotted.

Now a "Tornado Warning" is issued to warn that severe thunderstorms with tornadoes may be imminent.

Basically they've drastically lowered the criteria for firing off the sirens, and false positives have that nasty "cry wolf" effect.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by burk48237

I suspect their have been other Tornado outbreaks similar before. Our records are far more accurate now.

That's true, plus people are much more able to get the photographic evidence of tornadoes and funnel clouds to support claims that would have been dismissed in the past.

I live where I grew up, and in my distant childhood, we were told that there "were no tornadoes" in this part of the country.

But now we know -- because we have video evidence -- that they're pretty common, just small. In the early '80s there was one that hit Marin, San Francisco and eventually downtown Oakland, producing substantial damage and injuries in the latter. There are lots of fairly trivial ones in the Central Valley.

But still -- this year is different, even beyond the debatable increase in tornadoes. The levels of precipitation (as one example) have been much more objectively and efficiently recorded for much longer than tornado chasing and the methods haven't substantially changed over the years.

This year has really been wet in most of the country, absolutely epic snowfall in the West with no historical precedent.

Storms breed tornadoes and I'm sure this mess is all interrelated, though I'm no meteorologist.

A great example of this is hurricanes. While we considered Katrina a huge disaster of historical proportions, we must remember that ocean front property is far more expensive and we have much more population in those areas than before. The Galveston hurricane of 1900 would have been far more devastating than Katrina had it hit in 2005 following the same path.

What about the horrific one in New England in 1938?

I've read several books on it, and shudder to think what would happen there now if it was repeated.

[tZer]

I can still see how the sirens are still a less than accurate indicator - they still set off more than are needed to err on the side of caution - but the TV people are not BSing you when they say "If you are in the path of this storm you need to take cover." When they say that, you should do that.

If you live in an early being impacted by these storms you need to do the following:

Know where your kids, family members are when there are severe weather alerts. If there are warnings you want them home and in the basement or with you at a shelter of some sort.

You should have a duffel bag or backpacks with emergency supplies.

• Flashlights
• Batteries
• Cell phone charged + extra battery
• a Radio (weather radio)
• First-Aid Kit
• Some $$
• A loud whistle

We get plenty of good warnings from our local media so you have time to prepare for the worst and you should use it wisely.

You need to dress for the occasion. Put on some sturdy clothes - especially shoes. If the worst does happen you'll be walking around on a lot of sharp stuff. Don't be in your night shirt and slippers.

If your shelter is in your own home - basement/central room/closet - bathroom in bathtub...try to have some supplies there too along with your backpack/duffel.

Know where your shelter is. If it's not your home, go to where ever it is at the first indication that your area is in potential danger. Don't wait until they are saying it's in your back yard - that's too late.

I've heard too many stories know of people being sucked out of cars and babies being ripped out of people's arms...

[HaMMerHeD]

The 2.5 year old boy that went missing in Piedmont OK during the tornado was found dead.

The family took shelter in the best place in their home, but the building was destroyed and the tornado took all 3 children from their mother's arms. Two of them are now dead, and the third is recovering from emergency surgery with her mom in the hospital. No mention has been made of the father. The mom is 5-months pregnant, and no mention has been made of the baby-to-be's status.

[emor]

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

I'm in my apartment, tornado sirens going off in downtown KCMO.

My wife has worked at KUMed for eight years.
This is the first time since she's been working there that they sent them to the basement.
I think the Joplin storm has everyone a bit more wary.

My in-laws live in Sedalia where a tornado hit about the same time yesterday. Their house was spared, but others were not so lucky.

Tornado hits Sedalia, damaging homes and businesses - Photo Gallery - KansasCity.com

[blendermassacre]

Originally Posted by emor

My wife has worked at KUMed for eight years.
This is the first time since she's been working there that they sent them to the basement.
I think the Joplin storm has everyone a bit more wary.

My in-laws live in Sedalia where a tornado hit about the same time yesterday. Their house was spared, but others were not so lucky.

Tornado hits Sedalia, damaging homes and businesses - Photo Gallery - KansasCity.com

I have some good friends in Sedalia. I freaked out when I heard about the tornado there. I was standing in front of my apartment watching the channel 9 news chopper circle the funnel clouds in midtown. it was some crazy business.

[Bassman316]

Originally Posted by aborgman

This is definitely an issue.

When I was a kid (in the 1980's) a "Tornado Warning" meant one thing: it mean that a tornado was actually spotted.

Now a "Tornado Warning" is issued to warn that severe thunderstorms with tornadoes may be imminent.

Basically they've drastically lowered the criteria for firing off the sirens, and false positives have that nasty "cry wolf" effect.

I've found this is true even in my area. We've had our handful of tornado watches and warnings so far this year, but each time a tornado warning has been posted, the warning states that a tornado has been spotted on only radar. We're lucky and blessed that in our area we haven't had a tornado in some time, but I thought that a tornado warning meant that a tornado is either forming or on the ground, and to take cover as soon as possible. I can see how over-warning can inadvertently have a "cry wolf" effect.

[Bassman316]

Originally Posted by HaMMerHeD

The 2.5 year old boy that went missing in Piedmont OK during the tornado was found dead.

The family took shelter in the best place in their home, but the building was destroyed and the tornado took all 3 children from their mother's arms. Two of them are now dead, and the third is recovering from emergency surgery with her mom in the hospital. No mention has been made of the father. The mom is 5-months pregnant, and no mention has been made of the baby-to-be's status.

Somehow I've missed hearing about this in the past couple of days. Very sad news indeed.

[Mark Wilson]

HAARP.
That's the problem.

[DwaynieAD]

we have confirmed reports of 3 different tornadoes here in central PA where i live. all from the same storm..

in my 26 years i cant remember ever having a tornado before