News Detail"Cold-core" landspout tornadoes today in TX Panhandle!
Posted At: April 17, 2007 @ 12:55 PM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
Related Categories: Tornadoes
A fairly classic "cold-core" setup was in place over the southern Texas Panhandle earlier this afternoon, with 3 landspout tornadoes reported in Hockley, Lubbock, and Parmer Counties. A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for the Hill Country and Northwest TX for the rest of the afternoon. An in-depth explanation of cold-core tornado events is included below.
Cold-core events typically occur when a cold 500 mb low passes over a modestly moist low-level environment, yielding sufficient instability in the low-levels of the atmosphere. Cold-core tornadoes do not occur in the warm sector, where most supercell tornadoes are produced, but usually occur further to the northwest along the occluded boundary to the ESE of the 500 mb and surface low. The occluded boundary is produced when the cold front overtakes the warm front, and modest moisture is often advected westward to the north of this boundary where easterly flow prevails. To the south of the occluded boundary, an ideal cold-core setup is characterized by a dry, sunny atmosphere as the mid-level "dry punch" advects rapidly eastward to the south of the upper low. Given the very cold temperatures aloft associated with the upper low, storms often initiate in the vicinity of the occluded boundary, and stretch existing vorticity or spin induced by the differing densities between the air north and south of the occluded boundary. As this vorticity is stretched in the vertical, the rate of spin increases, and landspout tornadoes (non-supercell tornadoes) can be produced if the stretching by the thunderstorm updraft is sufficient. Mini-supercell storms can also develop as the storms cross to the immediate north of the occluded boundary into an environment of enhanced wind shear, where low-level easterlies are present. A composite of the surface and upper-level features typical of a cold-core tornado event was created by John Davies, an expert and pioneer of this topic.
**THIS WEEKEND LOOKS VERY ACTIVE FOR TORNADOES OVER THE PLAINS! STAY TUNED!**
Cold-core events typically occur when a cold 500 mb low passes over a modestly moist low-level environment, yielding sufficient instability in the low-levels of the atmosphere. Cold-core tornadoes do not occur in the warm sector, where most supercell tornadoes are produced, but usually occur further to the northwest along the occluded boundary to the ESE of the 500 mb and surface low. The occluded boundary is produced when the cold front overtakes the warm front, and modest moisture is often advected westward to the north of this boundary where easterly flow prevails. To the south of the occluded boundary, an ideal cold-core setup is characterized by a dry, sunny atmosphere as the mid-level "dry punch" advects rapidly eastward to the south of the upper low. Given the very cold temperatures aloft associated with the upper low, storms often initiate in the vicinity of the occluded boundary, and stretch existing vorticity or spin induced by the differing densities between the air north and south of the occluded boundary. As this vorticity is stretched in the vertical, the rate of spin increases, and landspout tornadoes (non-supercell tornadoes) can be produced if the stretching by the thunderstorm updraft is sufficient. Mini-supercell storms can also develop as the storms cross to the immediate north of the occluded boundary into an environment of enhanced wind shear, where low-level easterlies are present. A composite of the surface and upper-level features typical of a cold-core tornado event was created by John Davies, an expert and pioneer of this topic.
**THIS WEEKEND LOOKS VERY ACTIVE FOR TORNADOES OVER THE PLAINS! STAY TUNED!**
Calendar
Categories
Figured something was up with the weather. Way excited to see what happens! :)
I'm close to Chicago let's hope the Great Chicago Tornado will never happen. I just wnat to see tornadoes in big empty fields. Anyway see you there.
It looks pretty serious close to Brownwood, maybe a tornado?
Guys, This squall line is starting to look a little simalar to the event on friday. Roof off house and trees down reported in Stevenphile. Storms are Re-Instesifying. I do wonder if the metroplex will get some hail? And also this thing apperently has a very good shelf cloud. Ill keep updating. :)
i'm monitoring the situation closely but it doesnt look as bad as friday
Doesnt look as bad as friday, but as the NWS thought, These storms are not weakening. It will be interesting to see if they get stronger.
Lol let me tell you this spring is going crazy snow to tornadoes then a few nice days and back to sever storms lol damn im glad i always have my cam on me lol if I see sum big hail here in dallas ill send them to ya..
Ahh no! They're getting smaller right as they approach where I live!!! this always happens to me. Friday i was in San Antonio for the tornadoes, and now from what I can tell the strong storms are diminishing right as they approach me. But maybe they'll re-intensify.
These storms were amazing on the approach.
There was fog until right when it hit. 10 seconds before it hit, the fog was gone, and it just got pitch black, I was like WOAH. Then the wind hit and alot of Rain
wow that is INCREDIBLE! :P
Get closer you pussy!!!!!
I hate when a storm dies before it reaches NYC. Was funny how my favorite channel became the Weather channel. I was a super weather nerd when I was in high school. I should have went to school for it. I could have probably been out there with you guys having fun.
Here's a link for ya'll to look at with some good footage of the tornado that struck Downtown Nashville on April 16th, 1998. That was a very disturbing day here in Middle TN that none of us will forget
http://www.wkrn.com/video_player.php?id=11601
Sorry here's the link
Well they say we had another tornado tonight in Haslet Tx they said storm spotters spotted it but no warnings where issused so not sure what it looked like or what not but i bet it was very weak they said there was just a little bit of damage.
yeah the storm report states that locals have pictures of a small tornado. The shear sure was weak...it must have been directly in association with the upper low.
David...I remember the 1998 Nashville tornado very well...
While the news station has incredible tornado, that is definitely not when it was at its strongest point..fortunately.
EF-0 Tornado Confirmed by NWS for the Tarrent County Storm.
David, are you talking about last night or friday?
The Tuesday Storm.