Hoosier Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 Over an area about a third or less of the aerial extent of the 1974 event. I'd say that's pretty freaking impressive. Yep...weather geeks will be talking about this one decades from now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amped Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 The amazing thing about this outbreak is that 57 fatalities in one day is the most of any tornado outbreak between 4/5/1974 and 4/26/2011. It seems every 40- 50 years there is an event that sticks out like a royal palace at a trailer park. Also the NWS needs to add the following lines to tornado warnings IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IN A BASEMENT OR OTHER UNDERGROUND SHELTER AND GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY. DO NOT RUN TO YOUR COMPUTER AND TWEET "TORNADO COMING FOR MY HOUSE SO SCARY :}" DO NOT PULL OUT YOUR IPHONE AND ATTEMPT TO FILM THE TORNADO OR YOUR FREINDS ACTING LIKE JACKASSES IN FRONT OF THE TORNADO . Although I have no proof anyone died in such a manne, but I have faith that at least 1 of the 330+ was killed while tweeting or trying to get pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackjack123 Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 Over an area about a third or less of the aerial extent of the 1974 event. I'd say that's pretty freaking impressive. I totally agree. One tornado that caught my eye was an EF4 tornado that ripped part of a concrete slab out of the ground and sucked the concrete steps right off the foundation. That just does not sound of the ordinary for a tornadop to dod something like that. Talk about "incredible phenomena." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aslkahuna Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 In the photo showing the plowed up ground. Notice that denuded uprooted tree which is located nowhere near where it was growing. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.B. LaForce Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 some photos from said EF5 Good lord! that is some fricken power!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calderon Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 In the photo showing the plowed up ground. Notice that denuded uprooted tree which is located nowhere near where it was growing. Steve Look at the root ball too, it ground it up enough to where it looked like a large nursery stock tree! Unreal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master of Disaster Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 It started pissing me off how every headline is about Bin Laden so I decided to write an article on the exact topic that we are discussing here: The 'finger of god': An EF5 tornado Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isohume Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 It started pissing me off how every headline is about Bin Laden so I decided to write an article on the exact topic that we are discussing here: The 'finger of god': An EF5 tornado It started pissing me off how every lead story was beginning to sensationalize the Epic OutbreakTM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k*** Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 It started pissing me off how every headline is about Bin Laden so I decided to write an article on the exact topic that we are discussing here: The 'finger of god': An EF5 tornado atrocious writing as usual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dino Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 SUMMARY 277 Confirmed Tornadoes EF0: 83 EF1: 109 EF2: 49 EF3: 21 EF4: 12 EF5: 3 341 Confirmed Deaths Alabama: 236 Mississippi: 34 Tennessee: 34 Georgia: 15 Arkansas: 13 Virginia: 5 Louisiana: 2 Kentucky: 1 Ontario: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dino Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 Stats: 4/27-4/28 Outbreak EF0: 30% EF1: 40% EF2: 18% EF3: 7% EF4: 4% EF5: 1% Relative Frequency of EFx Tornadoes EF0: 53.5% EF1: 31.6% EF2: 10% EF3: 3.4% EF4: 0.7% EF5: <0.1% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amped Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 Stats: 4/27-4/28 Outbreak EF0: 30% EF1: 40% EF2: 18% EF3: 7% EF4: 4% EF5: 1% Relative Frequency of EFx Tornadoes EF0: 53.5% EF1: 31.6% EF2: 10% EF3: 3.4% EF4: 0.7% EF5: <0.1% 3/300 gives you 1% not .01%. I fixed it so you're numbers add up to 100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtticaFanatica Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 Stats: 4/27-4/28 Outbreak EF0: 30% EF1: 40% EF2: 18% EF3: 7% EF4: 4% EF5: 1% What we've learned from recent research suggests that the percentage of EF-2, EF-3, and EF-4 tornadoes shown here is probably too low, particularly EF-2's, which are probably severely underestimated, while the percentage of EF-0 and EF-1 tornadoes is probably too high (especially the EF-0's). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amped Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 What we've learned from recent research suggests that the percentage of EF-2, EF-3, and EF-4 tornadoes shown here is probably too low, particularly EF-2's, which are probably severely underestimated, while the percentage of EF-0 and EF-1 tornadoes is probably too high (especially the EF-0's). Well if an EF2 happens in the woods and nobodies there to see it, is it an EF0? Probably according to the NWS, but with there limited budget they probably don't have rescources to survey all those remote areas. I'm just happy that the global pattern has changed signifigantly since last week. And the month of May could easily turn out with below average tornadoes, despite this being a record setting year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtticaFanatica Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 Well if an EF2 happens in the woods and nobodies there to see it, is it an EF0? Probably according to the NWS, but with there limited budget they probably don't have rescources to survey all those remote areas. I don't know what this means or what it has to do with what I posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amped Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 I don't know what this means or what it has to do with what I posted. I was suggesting that the tornadoes beeing underated are the ones in remote unpopulated areas. Do you think thats true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtticaFanatica Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 I was suggesting that the tornadoes beeing underated are the ones in remote unpopulated areas. Do you think thats true? Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master of Disaster Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 atrocious writing as usual Who cares what you think, I dont see you writing anything worth reading out there. This became my fourth headline article. WOOT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg ralls Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I don't understand the negativity - I thought it was a good article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewxmann Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 BHM/TCL survey information.... updated: In summary, b/c the homes were of cinder block construction and not bolted/anchored, the tornado was not rated EF5 (not inclusive of other reasons periodically brought up or implied in the text). THE FOLLOWING DETAILED INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM NWS SURVEY TEAM DAMAGE EXPERTS. AS THE TORNADO PROGRESSED INTO THE TUSCALOOSA AREA... THE CORE OF THE TORNADO CROSSED 15TH STREET EAST...JUST WEST OF MCFARLAND BOULEVARD EAST. SEVERAL SMALL RESTAURANTS AND STORES ALONG 15TH STREET WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED...WITH ONLY A WALL OR TWO STILL STANDING (EF3). THE TORNADO DEVASTATED THE CEDAR CREST NEIGHBORHOOD JUST NORTH OF 15TH STREET...LEVELING MANY CINDER BLOCK HOMES AND CAUSING AT LEAST 3 FATALITIES. IN THE ALBERTA CITY AREA ON THE EAST SIDE OF TUSCALOOSA...THE TORNADO STRENGTHENED AS IT CROSSED UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD EAST NEAR 25TH AVENUE EAST. THE ALBERTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUFFERED NEARLY COMPLETE DESTRUCTION...WITH ONLY A FEW PORTIONS OF WALLS STILL STANDING. A NEARBY TWO STORY APARTMENT BUILDING WAS REDUCED TO RUBBLE SITTING ON THE FOUNDATION. THE ALBERTA PARK SHOPPING CENTER WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED WITH NO WALLS STANDING AND A PILE OF DEBRIS ON THE FOUNDATION. CINDER BLOCK CONSTRUCTION HOMES IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED...AND IN A FEW CASES DEBRIS WAS SWEPT AWAY FROM THE SITE (EF4). THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST AND STRUCK THE CHASTAIN MANOR APARTMENTS AT THE NORTH END OF 34TH AVENUE EAST. BUILDINGS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THIS NEW 2 STORY APARTMENT COMPLEX WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED...WITH ONLY A PILE OF DEBRIS REMAINING AND A FEW WALLS SET INTO THE HILLSIDE. A SMALL CLUB HOUSE THAT WAS ANCHORED TO A FOUNDATION...BUT WITH APPARENTLY NO INTERIOR WALLS...WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND SWEPT FROM ITS FOUNDATION (EF4). SIMILAR DEVASTATION TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES WAS NOTED INTO THE AREA ALONG BOTH SIDES OF COUNTY ROAD 45 NEAR 1ST STREET EAST AND NORTHEASTWARD. IN THE AREAS EAST OF HOLT AND NORTH OF BROOKWOOD...THE TORNADO REMAINED VIOLENT AS IT CROSSED HOLT PETERSON ROAD JUST NORTHWEST OF CLINKER ROAD. IN THIS AREA...TWO HOMES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. ONE HOME ON A FOUNDATION WAS SWEPT CLEAN FROM ITS FLOOR UNIT...WHICH REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE FOUNDATION. EVIDENCE INDICATED THE WALLS WERE STRAIGHT NAILED INTO THE FLOOR UNIT (EF4). ALMOST ALL TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN OR SNAPPED IN THE VICINITY...AS WELL AS IN THE BOTTOM OF A NARROW RAVINE NEARLY 100 FEET BELOW THE HOUSE. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO HOLT LOCK AND DAM ROAD NEAR ITS INTERSECTION WITH RECREATION AREA ROAD. NUMEROUS MOBILE HOMES AND SEVERAL CINDER BLOCK HOMES WERE DESTROYED IN THIS AREA (EF3 TO EF4). SEVERAL FATALITIES OCCURRED IN THIS AREA. ONE HOME ON A FOUNDATION WAS SWEPT COMPLETELY CLEAN...BUT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF MINIMAL ANCHORING OF THE FLOOR AND WALLS TO THE FOUNDATION...SO A RATING OF EF4 WAS ASSIGNED. THE TORNADO STRUCK A MARINA ON HOLT LAKE AT THE END OF RECREATION AREA ROAD WITH EF1 DAMAGE TO A RESTAURANT AS WELL AS NUMEROUS BOATS. DOCKS WERE BROKEN OFF AND MOVED UP TO 100 YARDS ACROSS THE WATER. SEVERAL INJURIES WERE NOTED IN THIS AREA. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST IN THE AREA BETWEEN ALABAMA HIGHWAY 216 AND HOLT LAKE...PASSING NORTH OF BROOKWOOD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HANNAH CREEK ROAD AND COUNTY ROAD 59/LOCK 17 ROAD. IN THIS AREA... SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES WERE DESTROYED...CINDER BLOCK HOMES RECEIVED HEAVY DAMAGE...AND SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE WAS NOTED (EF3). THE TORNADO CROSSED COUNTY ROADS 99 AND 23 JUST NORTHWEST OF NORTH JOHNS (SOUTH OF OAK GROVE) WITH SIMILAR DAMAGE. IN THE CONCORD AREA...THE TORNADO BECAME VIOLENT ONCE AGAIN WITH TOTAL DESTRUCTION NOTED TO A FEW SMALL RETAIL SHOPS ALONG COUNTY ROAD 46. ONLY PILES OF DEBRIS WERE LEFT ON THE FOUNDATION. IN ADDITION...SEVERAL CINDER BLOCK HOMES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED WITH DEBRIS SWEPT AWAY (EF4). NUMEROUS OTHER HOMES IN THE AREA WERE DESTROYED WITH ONLY A FEW INTERIOR WALLS LEFT STANDING. THE VIOLENT TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD PLEASANT GROVE. MORE DETAILS ON THE DAMAGE IN PLEASANT GROVE WILL BE COMING SOON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master of Disaster Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 BHM/TCL survey information.... updated: In summary, b/c the homes were of cinder block construction and not bolted/anchored, the tornado was not rated EF5 (not inclusive of other reasons periodically brought up or implied in the text). THE FOLLOWING DETAILED INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM NWS SURVEY TEAM DAMAGE EXPERTS. AS THE TORNADO PROGRESSED INTO THE TUSCALOOSA AREA... THE CORE OF THE TORNADO CROSSED 15TH STREET EAST...JUST WEST OF MCFARLAND BOULEVARD EAST. SEVERAL SMALL RESTAURANTS AND STORES ALONG 15TH STREET WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED...WITH ONLY A WALL OR TWO STILL STANDING (EF3). THE TORNADO DEVASTATED THE CEDAR CREST NEIGHBORHOOD JUST NORTH OF 15TH STREET...LEVELING MANY CINDER BLOCK HOMES AND CAUSING AT LEAST 3 FATALITIES. IN THE ALBERTA CITY AREA ON THE EAST SIDE OF TUSCALOOSA...THE TORNADO STRENGTHENED AS IT CROSSED UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD EAST NEAR 25TH AVENUE EAST. THE ALBERTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUFFERED NEARLY COMPLETE DESTRUCTION...WITH ONLY A FEW PORTIONS OF WALLS STILL STANDING. A NEARBY TWO STORY APARTMENT BUILDING WAS REDUCED TO RUBBLE SITTING ON THE FOUNDATION. THE ALBERTA PARK SHOPPING CENTER WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED WITH NO WALLS STANDING AND A PILE OF DEBRIS ON THE FOUNDATION. CINDER BLOCK CONSTRUCTION HOMES IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED...AND IN A FEW CASES DEBRIS WAS SWEPT AWAY FROM THE SITE (EF4). THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST AND STRUCK THE CHASTAIN MANOR APARTMENTS AT THE NORTH END OF 34TH AVENUE EAST. BUILDINGS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THIS NEW 2 STORY APARTMENT COMPLEX WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED...WITH ONLY A PILE OF DEBRIS REMAINING AND A FEW WALLS SET INTO THE HILLSIDE. A SMALL CLUB HOUSE THAT WAS ANCHORED TO A FOUNDATION...BUT WITH APPARENTLY NO INTERIOR WALLS...WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND SWEPT FROM ITS FOUNDATION (EF4). SIMILAR DEVASTATION TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES WAS NOTED INTO THE AREA ALONG BOTH SIDES OF COUNTY ROAD 45 NEAR 1ST STREET EAST AND NORTHEASTWARD. IN THE AREAS EAST OF HOLT AND NORTH OF BROOKWOOD...THE TORNADO REMAINED VIOLENT AS IT CROSSED HOLT PETERSON ROAD JUST NORTHWEST OF CLINKER ROAD. IN THIS AREA...TWO HOMES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. ONE HOME ON A FOUNDATION WAS SWEPT CLEAN FROM ITS FLOOR UNIT...WHICH REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE FOUNDATION. EVIDENCE INDICATED THE WALLS WERE STRAIGHT NAILED INTO THE FLOOR UNIT (EF4). ALMOST ALL TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN OR SNAPPED IN THE VICINITY...AS WELL AS IN THE BOTTOM OF A NARROW RAVINE NEARLY 100 FEET BELOW THE HOUSE. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO HOLT LOCK AND DAM ROAD NEAR ITS INTERSECTION WITH RECREATION AREA ROAD. NUMEROUS MOBILE HOMES AND SEVERAL CINDER BLOCK HOMES WERE DESTROYED IN THIS AREA (EF3 TO EF4). SEVERAL FATALITIES OCCURRED IN THIS AREA. ONE HOME ON A FOUNDATION WAS SWEPT COMPLETELY CLEAN...BUT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF MINIMAL ANCHORING OF THE FLOOR AND WALLS TO THE FOUNDATION...SO A RATING OF EF4 WAS ASSIGNED. THE TORNADO STRUCK A MARINA ON HOLT LAKE AT THE END OF RECREATION AREA ROAD WITH EF1 DAMAGE TO A RESTAURANT AS WELL AS NUMEROUS BOATS. DOCKS WERE BROKEN OFF AND MOVED UP TO 100 YARDS ACROSS THE WATER. SEVERAL INJURIES WERE NOTED IN THIS AREA. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST IN THE AREA BETWEEN ALABAMA HIGHWAY 216 AND HOLT LAKE...PASSING NORTH OF BROOKWOOD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HANNAH CREEK ROAD AND COUNTY ROAD 59/LOCK 17 ROAD. IN THIS AREA... SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES WERE DESTROYED...CINDER BLOCK HOMES RECEIVED HEAVY DAMAGE...AND SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE WAS NOTED (EF3). THE TORNADO CROSSED COUNTY ROADS 99 AND 23 JUST NORTHWEST OF NORTH JOHNS (SOUTH OF OAK GROVE) WITH SIMILAR DAMAGE. IN THE CONCORD AREA...THE TORNADO BECAME VIOLENT ONCE AGAIN WITH TOTAL DESTRUCTION NOTED TO A FEW SMALL RETAIL SHOPS ALONG COUNTY ROAD 46. ONLY PILES OF DEBRIS WERE LEFT ON THE FOUNDATION. IN ADDITION...SEVERAL CINDER BLOCK HOMES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED WITH DEBRIS SWEPT AWAY (EF4). NUMEROUS OTHER HOMES IN THE AREA WERE DESTROYED WITH ONLY A FEW INTERIOR WALLS LEFT STANDING. THE VIOLENT TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD PLEASANT GROVE. MORE DETAILS ON THE DAMAGE IN PLEASANT GROVE WILL BE COMING SOON. This has to be the third public school I have read that was demolished in this outbreak. Do we know if any of the fatalities were in schools? I believe Alabama has had a policy for years following Enterprise that schools will close on High Risk assignments. Not sure if thats a local decision or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aslkahuna Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I believe the schools were closed because of the State of Emergency that had been declared. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewxmann Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I believe the schools were closed because of the State of Emergency that had been declared. Steve Even before the tornadoes? From what I heard, many schools were let out early. Good decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBriedis Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 There had been severe weather that morning that did a great deal of damage even before the main outbreak hit, so I would not be surprised if it was that, combined with the forecast, that influenced them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janetjanet998 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 BHM/TCL survey information.... updated: In summary, b/c the homes were of cinder block construction and not bolted/anchored, the tornado was not rated EF5 (not inclusive of other reasons periodically brought up or implied in the text). If this Tornado ocurred in 1974 it would of likley been rated F5..... My memory may be fuzzy becuase it's been a while since I looked at the Xenia OH 1974 damage photos(which was very powerful even for an f5) including the flyovers , but the images from this tornado damage were just as bad as that one and Fujita was thinking about rating that one an F6 even if i recall maybe they will upgrade based on the Pleasant Grove damage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewxmann Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 If this Tornado ocurred in 1974 it would of likley been rated F5..... My memory may be fuzzy becuase it's been a while since I looked at the Xenia OH 1974 damage photos(which was very powerful even for an f5) including the flyovers , but the images from this tornado damage were just as bad as that one and Fujita was thinking about rating that one an F6 even if i recall maybe they will upgrade based on the Pleasant Grove damage At this point I highly doubt they will upgrade. And yes I believe if this occurred in 1974 or earlier we would've seen a couple more EF5's... from what I've seen Dekalb County could have also easily been an EF5 with many homes swept away. By now the point is moot though. In case anybody was following, NWS MRX upped the wind speeds for both Greene County tornadoes (no idea why... didn't explain in text)... the Camp Creek tornado that killed 6 has been upgraded from an EF2 to an EF3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornadotony Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 At this point I highly doubt they will upgrade. And yes I believe if this occurred in 1974 or earlier we would've seen a couple more EF5's... from what I've seen Dekalb County could have also easily been an EF5 with many homes swept away. By now the point is moot though. In case anybody was following, NWS MRX upped the wind speeds for both Greene County tornadoes (no idea why... didn't explain in text)... the Camp Creek tornado that killed 6 has been upgraded from an EF2 to an EF3. I still think the 123mi long Smith/Jasper/Clarke MS/Choctaw/Sumter/Marengo AL tornado may eventually get EF5, but that's about all I see happening at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master of Disaster Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Looks like we have an official name for this outbreak. From the Birmingham statement on records. 4 4/25-28/2011 SOUTHERN STATES OUTBREAK SEQUENCE* 339 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isohume Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Looks like we have an official name for this outbreak. From the Birmingham statement on records. Nothings official yet... http://www.erh.noaa....icOutbreak.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthewweatherwatcher Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 How many tornadoes occurred on 4-27? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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