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Historic Tornado Outbreak April 27, 2011


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i wonder what they need to get a red becuase these are the best parameters i have ever seen?

I see they epanded the nMOD risk more north too with hatched tornado

Red's been issued once before, on 4/7/06. They will issue the red if multiple tornadoes have been dropped down and are dropping down at 20Z. Prolly won't issue it before hand though.

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Hopefully we dont get fatalities like then. But like I said even if we even a third or a quarter of the strong/violent EF3+ tornadoes like we did in the Superoutbreak of 1974 it could be quite catastrophic. 1974 had 35 F3's, 24 F4's, and 6 F5's. Imagine getting 8-12 EF3 tornadoes, 5-8 violent EF4 tornadoes, and 1-2 violent EF5 tornadoes today. IMO that could be a major disaster waiting to happen.

Even if we had the same number of tornadoes and tornado strengths, and even given the population growth and sprawl that has happened since 1974, I do not think we would see the same number of fatalities, and probably not the same number of serious injuries.

The warning and detection is light years ahead of what it was then, and medical advances, better emergency first response, emergency treatment, etc. would limit the number of fatalities-some of the people who died then would have survived with faster and better treatment available today.

Also with the mass media we have today and instant communications with various devices(cell phones, computers, etc) more people would be aware of what is going on, and be able to take some kind of measures to protect themselves and get to some kind of shelter.

*The only exception to this I believe would be a worst case scenario thing, with a strong tornado striking a sporting or entertainment venue with thousands of people who are simply unable to get to appropriate shelter in time, and with a catastrophic structural failure like in a large arena, auditorium, concert hall, etc.

The damage totals could very easily be greater given urban/suburban sprawl, overall population growth, and simply more developed land to be hit

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yikes

..THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SVR TSTMS ACROSS PARTS OF MS...AL

TN

AND GA......

...THERE IS A MDT RISK OF SVR TSTMS ACROSS PARTS OF

MS...AL...TN...KY...WRN VA...WRN NC...WRN SC...NRN GA...

...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS ACROSS PARTS OF THE MID-MS

VALLEY...CNTRL TO ERN GULF COAST STATES...TN VALLEY...OH

VALLEY...CNTRL TO SRN APPALACHIAN MTNS...CAROLINAS...MID-ATLANTIC

AND NERN STATES...

...MAJOR TORNADO OUTBREAK EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS

THE TN VALLEY AND SRN APPALACHIAN MTNS EXTENDING NWD INTO THE SRN OH

VALLEY...

..TN VALLEY/SRN APPALACHIAN MTNS AND SRN OH VALLEY

A VIGOROUS UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE INTO THE OZARKS TODAY AS A

POWERFUL MID-LEVEL JET ROUNDS THE BASE OF THE TROUGH AND NOSES INTO

THE OH AND TN VALLEYS. AT THE SFC... A LOW WILL MOVE QUICKLY NEWD

ACROSS THE MID-MS VALLEY AS LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE IS TRANSPORTED NNEWD

ACROSS THE OH AND TN VALLEYS THIS AFTERNOON. MODERATE

DESTABILIZATION IS ALREADY IN PLACE ACROSS THE LOWER MS VALLEY AND

THIS AIR MASS SHOULD MOVE NEWD INTO THE MODERATE AND HIGH RISK AREAS

BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. THE WARM AND MOIST AIR MASS ALONG WITH

STRONG SHEAR PROFILES IN THE LOW TO MID-LEVELS WILL BE VERY

FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES THIS AFTERNOON AND

EVENING. THIS SYSTEM IS VERY ORGANIZED AND CONFIDENCE IS HIGH

REGARDING THE POTENTIAL FOR A MAJOR TORNADO OUTBREAK THIS AFTERNOON

AND EVENING ACROSS THE CNTRL GULF COAST STATES AND TN VALLEY

EXTENDING NWD INTO THE SRN OH VALLEY.

CONCERNING THE CURRENT SETUP...A LARGE MCS IS ONGOING ACROSS THE TN

VALLEY. THIS CONVECTIVE SYSTEM IS TIMED TO MOVE INTO ERN TN AND NW

GA BY 21Z. MESOANALYSIS SHOWS A RESERVOIR OF MODERATE INSTABILITY

FROM LA EXTENDING EWD ACROSS SCNTRL MS WHERE MLCAPE VALUES ARE

ESTIMATED IN THE 2000 TO 3000 J/KG RANGE. THIS MODERATE INSTABILITY

SHOULD BE TRANSPORTED NEWD INTO THE HIGH RISK AREA THIS AFTERNOON AS

THE MCS EXITS THE REGION TO THE EAST. AS THE THERMODYNAMIC SETUP

IMPROVES...THE WIND SHEAR ENVIRONMENT WILL ALSO RAPIDLY BECOME MORE

FAVORABLE AS THE NOSE OF A 80 TO 100 KT MID-LEVEL JET EJECTS EWD

ACROSS THE REGION AND INTERACTS WITH A WELL-DEVELOPED LOW-LEVEL JET.

THIS WILL CREATE LARGE LOOPING HODOGRAPHS FROM ERN MS AND NCNTRL AL

NWD INTO SRN TN. 0-3 KM STORM RELATIVE HELICITIES IN THE 450 TO 600

M2/S2 RANGE SHOULD BE VERY FAVORABLE FOR TORNADIC SUPERCELLS. THE

CURRENT THINKING IS THAT THE GREATEST TORNADO POTENTIAL WILL EXIST

LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING FROM COLUMBUS MS EWD TO

BIRMINGHAM AND HUNTSVILLE AL. THIS AREA IS CURRENTLY SOUTH OF THE

ONGOING MCS WHERE DESTABILIZATION SHOULD BE MOST FAVORABLE. AS

SUPERCELLS INITIATE IN ERN MS AND TRACK ENEWD ACROSS THE HIGH RISK

AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON...A TORNADO OUTBREAK IS EXPECTED. A FEW

LONG-TRACK STRONG TORNADOES AND POSSIBLY A VIOLENT TORNADO OR TWO

MAY OCCUR AS THE LOW-LEVEL JET STRENGTHENS EARLY THIS EVENING. HAVE

ADDED A 45 PERCENT SIG-TOR AREA WHERE CONFIDENCE IS THE HIGHEST

CONCERNING THE POTENTIAL FOR LONG-TRACK TORNADOES. LARGE HAIL AND

WIND DAMAGE WILL ALSO BE LIKELY WITH SUPERCELLS THAT DEVELOP.

FURTHER TO THE NORTH ACROSS MIDDLE TN IN WCNTRL KY...THE ONGOING MCS

IS HAMPERING DESTABILIZATION. HOWEVER...AS THE MID-LEVEL JET NOSES

INTO THE REGION FROM THE WEST...THE MODERATE INSTABILITY IN NRN LA

AND SRN AR IS EXPECTED TO ADVECT QUICKLY NNEWD ACROSS WCNTRL TN AND

WCNTRL KY BETWEEN THE EXITING MCS AND A CLUSTER OF STORMS IN NW AR

AND SRN MO. THIS SHOULD ALLOW THE MOIST AXIS TO BE LOCATED FROM WEST

OF NASHVILLE NEWD TO NEAR LOUISVILLE WHERE NUMEROUS SFC-BASED

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INITIATE LATE THIS AFTERNOON. THE

LOW-LEVEL JET AND MID-LEVEL JET ARE FORECAST TO BE JUXTAPOSED ACROSS

THIS CORRIDOR SUGGESTING SHEAR PROFILES WILL BE VERY FAVORABLE FOR

SUPERCELLS AND TORNADOES EVEN IF DESTABILIZATION IS NOT AS GREAT AS

IS EXPECTED. THE CURRENT THINKING IS THAT A BROKEN LINE OF TORNADIC

SUPERCELLS WILL INITIATE ALONG THE WRN EDGE OF THE MODERATE RISK

AREA AND TRACK EWD ACROSS CNTRL KY AND MIDDLE TN EARLY THIS EVENING.

THE LOW-LEVEL SHEAR ENVIRONMENT WILL BE VERY FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES

AND A FEW LONG-TRACK STRONG TORNADOES MAY OCCUR. THE MODERATE RISK

AREA HAS BEEN EXTENDED WWD ACROSS PARTS OF MIDDLE TN AND CNTRL KY TO

ACCOUNT FOR THIS POSSIBILITY. LARGE HAIL AND WIND DAMAGE WILL ALSO

BE POSSIBLE WITH SUPERCELLS THAT DEVELOP.

AS A BROKEN LINE OF TORNADIC SUPERCELLS MOVES EWD ACROSS THE HIGH

AND MODERATE RISK AREAS THIS EVENING...A TRANSITION TO MORE OF A

WIND DAMAGE THREAT MAY OCCUR AS THE LINE CONGEALS AND BOWING

LINE-SEGMENTS DEVELOP. AN ENHANCED WIND DAMAGE THREAT SHOULD EXIST

AS FAR EAST AS WRN VA ...WRN NC AND WRN SC DURING THE LATE EVENING

HOURS WHEN A LARGE MCS MOVES INTO THE SRN APPALACHIAN MTNS. THE

TORNADO THREAT MAY SHIFT SWD LATE THIS EVENING INTO NRN GA WHERE THE

STORMS MAY TEND TO REMAIN DISCRETE.

..CNTRL TO NRN APPALACHIAN MTNS/CAROLINAS/ERN GULF COAST STATES

THE UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE CNTRL STATES WILL MOVE INTO THE MS

VALLEY THIS EVENING AS A POWERFUL MID-LEVEL JET EJECTS NEWD OUT OF

THE BASE OF THE TROUGH. THE EXIT REGION OF THE MID-LEVEL JET WILL

MOVE INTO THE CNTRL APPALACHIAN MTNS AND ERN GREAT LAKES WHERE DEEP

LAYER SHEAR PROFILES WILL BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE STORMS

TONIGHT. ALONG AND TO THE EAST OF THE JET AXIS...A LINE OF STRONG

THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO BE LOCATED FROM ERN OH EXTENDING SWD

INTO FAR WRN SC AROUND 06Z. THIS LINE SHOULD MOVE EWD ACROSS

NY...PA...VA...NC AND SC WHERE A WIND DAMAGE THREAT SHOULD EXIST DUE

TO STRONG LOW-LEVEL FLOW. AN ENHANCED WIND DAMAGE THREAT COULD EXIST

ACROSS VA AND WRN CAROLINAS WHERE THE MODELS DEVELOP MODERATE

INSTABILITY AFTER 06Z.

..BROYLES/GARNER.. 04/27/2011

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Red's been issued once before, on 4/7/06. They will issue the red if multiple tornadoes have been dropped down and are dropping down at 20Z. Prolly won't issue it before hand though.

Right. I imagine they'd never roll out the 60% contour until stuff was already ongoing, which is most likely in a 20Z outlook. 45% is pretty dang stout.

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BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED

TORNADO WARNING

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL

1130 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...

SOUTHEASTERN LIMESTONE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

SOUTHWESTERN MADISON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

NORTHERN MORGAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL NOON CDT

* AT 1130 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR

DECATUR...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

ALC083-089-103-271700-

/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0056.000000T0000Z-110427T1700Z/

MORGAN AL-LIMESTONE AL-MADISON AL-

1137 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT FOR

SOUTHWESTERN MADISON...SOUTHEASTERN LIMESTONE AND NORTHEASTERN MORGAN

COUNTIES...

AT 1137 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO. THIS

TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BELLE MINA...OR ABOUT 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF

DECATUR...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

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Huntsville metro

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED

TORNADO WARNING

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL

1141 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...

EAST CENTRAL LIMESTONE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

CENTRAL MADISON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

WEST CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 1215 PM CDT

* AT 1141 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS

TRACKING A CONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR CAPSHAW...OR ABOUT 6 MILES

NORTHWEST OF MADISON...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...

HUNTSVILLE.

NORMAL.

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Even if we had the same number of tornadoes and tornado strengths, and even given the population growth and sprawl that has happened since 1974, I do not think we would see the same number of fatalities, and probably not the same number of serious injuries.

The warning and detection is light years ahead of what it was then, and medical advances, better emergency first response, emergency treatment, etc. would limit the number of fatalities-some of the people who died then would have survived with faster and better treatment available today.

Also with the mass media we have today and instant communications with various devices(cell phones, computers, etc) more people would be aware of what is going on, and be able to take some kind of measures to protect themselves and get to some kind of shelter.

*The only exception to this I believe would be a worst case scenario thing, with a strong tornado striking a sporting or entertainment venue with thousands of people who are simply unable to get to appropriate shelter in time, and with a catastrophic structural failure like in a large arena, auditorium, concert hall, etc.

The damage totals could very easily be greater given urban/suburban sprawl, overall population growth, and simply more developed land to be hit

Yeah a lot of things have changed since 1974 but like you said a EF3+(150+mph winds ) hitting a sports arena or auditorium packed with tens of thousands of people without getting to shelter on time.

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Even if we had the same number of tornadoes and tornado strengths, and even given the population growth and sprawl that has happened since 1974, I do not think we would see the same number of fatalities, and probably not the same number of serious injuries.

The warning and detection is light years ahead of what it was then, and medical advances, better emergency first response, emergency treatment, etc. would limit the number of fatalities-some of the people who died then would have survived with faster and better treatment available today.

Also with the mass media we have today and instant communications with various devices(cell phones, computers, etc) more people would be aware of what is going on, and be able to take some kind of measures to protect themselves and get to some kind of shelter.

*The only exception to this I believe would be a worst case scenario thing, with a strong tornado striking a sporting or entertainment venue with thousands of people who are simply unable to get to appropriate shelter in time, and with a catastrophic structural failure like in a large arena, auditorium, concert hall, etc.

The damage totals could very easily be greater given urban/suburban sprawl, overall population growth, and simply more developed land to be hit

Exactly. It's this kind of catastrophe we have been able to avoid thus far, and hopefully that luck will continue.

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some more suspect storm reports from this morning for BHM metro'

0507 AM TSTM WND DMG BERRY 33.66N 87.61W

04/27/2011 FAYETTE AL EMERGENCY MNGR

NUMEROUS TREES DOWN AND STRUCTURE DAMAGE INCLUDING THE

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 30 TO 40 STRUCTURES DAMAGE. MAINLY

ROOF DAMAGE. AT LEASE 2 MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED. NO

INJURIES.

0525 AM TSTM WND DMG COALING 33.16N 87.34W

04/27/2011 TUSCALOOSA AL EMERGENCY MNGR

NUMEROUS TREES AND STRUCTURES DAMAGED IN THE COALING

AREA. AT LEAST 30 HOME DAMAGED, 15 OF THOSE HEAVILY

DAMAGED AND POTENTIALLY UNINHABITABLE. SEVERAL INJURIES

BUT NO DETAILS AT THIS TIME.

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*The only exception to this I believe would be a worst case scenario thing, with a strong tornado striking a sporting or entertainment venue with thousands of people who are simply unable to get to appropriate shelter in time, and with a catastrophic structural failure like in a large arena, auditorium, concert hall, etc.

This is the nightmare scenario among NWS/emergency managers and is probably how we will get our next large casualty tornado (say 30+ fatalities). Well, either that or a violent tornado tracking through the heart of a major city.

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There are many people without power over MS and AL still and a EOC tower got blown down too..no way to warn..I'm sure some tornado sirens may be out too

stroms along the mS river are on a confluent zone where SW winds hit SE winds ....behind it still warm and humid ahaed of the front...so as usual a line may form along the front with tornadic supoercells well in advance

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Cell currently WNW of Greenwood, MS is probably our first long-track tornado threat from the new cluster of development. Rotation appears to be tightening quickly. Greenwood sfc ob is at 81/72 right now, and this warm/moist air is surging northward in the wake of prior convection.

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There are many people without power over MS and AL still and a EOC tower got blown down too..no way to warn..I'm sure some tornado sirens may be out too

stroms along the mS river are on a confluent zone where SW winds hit SE winds ....behind it still warm and humid ahaed of the front...so as usual a line may form along the front with tornadic supoercells well in advance

Yeah, far western TN and northern MS should really be a hot zone over the next couple hours.

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Cell currently WNW of Greenwood, MS is probably our first long-track tornado threat from the new cluster of development. Rotation appears to be tightening quickly. Greenwood sfc ob is at 81/72 right now, and this warm/moist air is surging northward in the wake of prior convection.

What scares me is that those two cells there (the northern one is strengthening) are just south of the big MCS this morning. God only knows what boundaries may be in place there.

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This is the nightmare scenario among NWS/emergency managers and is probably how we will get our next large casualty tornado (say 30+ fatalities). Well, either that or a violent tornado tracking through the heart of a major city.

Also you could have a violent tornado tracking right along a suburban freeway packed with cars at rush hour, or a violent tornado hitting an amusement park like Cedar Point, Kings Island, or on a smaller scale, one hitting a large nursing home or a major hospital. Even a very large suburban corporate office park getting hit by a violent tornado could cause more than 30 fatalities..if you think of a Xenia or a Jarrell or Bridge Creek type of tornado particularly.

One of these things happening is just a matter of time.

I certainly hope nothing like this happens today in the South. It is bad enough with the large semi-suburban/rural population that you find there. And all of those mobile homes in parks and dotted about the rural areas and small towns do not help either. I fear for people living in mobile homes, as (due to economic necessity right now) I live in one myself.

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