News DetailRespite expected for the southern Plains -- Sweetwater, OK tornado rated EF-3
Posted At: May 9, 2007 @ 12:29 PM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
Related Categories: Tornadoes
The tornado threat appears to be very low today over southwest TX, given the lack of low-level shear and the convective debris present there. Still though, there is a chance for supercells producing very large hail delineated above in the slight risk. The great news is that the western OK/western, central KS area will have a break in severe weather for at least a week, based on the extended model forecasts.
SWEETWATER, OK TORNADO ON MAY 5 RATED EF-3:
Here is the NWS survey:
SWEETWATER, OK TORNADO ON MAY 5 RATED EF-3:
Here is the NWS survey:
HERE ARE THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY.
--- SWEETWATER TORNADO ---
- ENHANCED FUJITA (EF) SCALE RATING -- EF3
- PATH LENGTH -- APPROX. 7.5 MILES
- PATH WIDTH -- AVERAGE AROUND 100-150 YARDS
THE TORNADO APPEARS TO HAVE DEVELOPED 1/2 MILE NORTH OF E1130 ROAD
AND ALONG HIGHWAY 30 IN NORTHERN BECKHAM COUNTY...ABOUT 2 1/2 MILES
SOUTH OF SWEETWATER. THE FIRST EVIDENCE OF A TORNADO WAS DAMAGE TO
AN OUTBUILDING AT A GAS FACILITY ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY...
ALONG WITH SOME TREE DAMAGE. THE TORNADO MOVED NORTH ALONG AND
PARELLEL TO HIGHWAY 30...DAMAGING TREES...HOMES AND SOME
OUTBUILDINGS. DAMAGE IN THIS AREA WAS MAINLY IN THE EF0 RANGE.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED WHEN THE TORNADO STRUCK THE
SWEETWATER SCHOOL. AT THIS LOCATION...THE TORNADO IS ESTIMATED TO
HAVE BEEN 100-150 YARDS WIDE. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS TO A
METAL BUILDING THAT WAS THE SCHOOL`S MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING...WHICH
WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE ANCHORING THAT CONNECTED THE
BUILDING TO THE FOUNDATION APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED...ALLOWING ALL
BUT THE MOST NORTHERN SECTION OF THE BUILDING TO COLLAPSE. A SMALL
BUILDING THAT CONNECTED THIS BUILDING WITH THE SCHOOL`S GYMNASIUM
SUFFERED ONLY SLIGHT DAMAGE. THE GYMNASIUM...AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER
OF THE SCHOOL...SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL ROOF DAMAGE...WHICH APPEARED TO
HAVE CAUSED THE WEST MASONRY WALL OF THE SCHOOL TO COLLAPSE OUTWARD.
OTHER DAMAGE ON THE SCHOOL PROPERTY CONSISTED OF A SMALL STORAGE
BUILDING OF SIMILAR CONSTRUCTION AS THE MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING BEING
COMPLETELY DESTROYED...A BUS BARN/GARAGE STRUCTURE SUFFERING DAMAGE
WHEN THE LARGE GARAGE DOORS BLEW INWARD...AND DAMAGE TO
TREES...POWER LINES AND FENCES.
A PICK UP TRUCK...WHICH HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE SCHOOL`S PARKING
LOT...WAS ROLLED/TOSSED APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS TO THE NORTH. A
HORSE TRAILER THAT HAD BEEN NEAR THE STORAGE BUILDING AT THE
SOUTHWEST EDGE OF THE SCHOOL PROPERTY WAS FOUND MORE THAN ONE
QUARTER MILE AWAY IN A FIELD.
JUST NORTH OF THE SCHOOL...A HOME WAS DAMAGED...AND AN OIL STORAGE
FACILITY WAS ALSO HIT. AN OIL TANK FROM THIS LOCATION WAS FOUND
APPROXIMATELY 500 YARDS AWAY.
THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO PRODUCE DAMAGE AS IT MOVED NORTH ALONG
HIGHWAY 30 INTO SWEETWATER. THE CHURCH AND POST OFFICE WERE
DAMAGED...AS WERE SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS AND BUSINESSES.
DAMAGE CONTINUED FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES NORTH OF SWEETWATER...
WITH SOME SUBSTANTIAL TREE DAMAGE NOTED ON THE WEST SIDE OF HIGHWAY
30...AND NUMEROUS POWER LINES DOWNED.
THE TORNADO APPEARED TO HAVE DISSIPATED JUST SOUTH OF E1040 ROAD IN
SOUTHERN ROGER MILLS COUNTY.
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Now which tornado was this? I haven't heard about it...at least not that I remember.
Sweetwater is only about 20 miles or so from where I grew up. In fact, I used to referee basketball games at the gym that was destroyed.
Sweetwater is a very small town on the Beckham, Roger Mills County border. It consists of the school, just a few homes, a church, a water tower and maybe one convenient store. The school being damaged is a huge blow. Fortunately it didn't happen one night later because there was supposed to be a big reception in the gym on Sunday evening.
Chris -
This tornado occurred in west central Oklahoma Saturday evening. It was the southern most storm that developed that day. It ended up producing several large tornadoes, fortunately other than Sweetwater, most were in open country.
I used to teach at Reydon and know several people that live in Sweetwater. Thank goodness all are ok.
Are you sure there was a tornado in sweetwater ks?
i'me not saying there was not. but I agree with
chris bray
Sweetwater, Oklahoma isabout 5 miles from the Texas Panhandle. It is about 20 miles west of Elk City Oklahoma.
there Is a trpical storm out with 30-48 mph wind
Tornado warning @ Crockett TX
TORNADO WARNING FOR...
EAST CENTRAL CROCKETT COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS...
* UNTIL 330 PM CDT
* AT 250 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 3 MILES SOUTH OF
OZONA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
OZONA BY 257 PM CDT...
I-10 NEAR THE CROCKETT-SUTTON COUNTY LINE BY 325 PM CDT...
US-190 NEAR THE CROCKETT-SUTTON COUNTY LINE BY 330 PM CDT...
Ok. does anyone have photos / video of it?
I wonder if reed will get close to a tornado like
the May 4, 2007 - Ellis Co OK tornado.
no Chris but u could probrobly see the cell on the live
traker if you can find It
:)
Hey Caleb...the May 4, 2007 tornado?
Do you mean get as close to another tornado in the future?
hopefully!
thanks reed can you explain CAPE to me
BRAKING NEWS TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHWESTERN SCHLEICHER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS...
EAST CENTRAL CROCKETT COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS...
NORTHWESTERN SUTTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS...
* UNTIL 415 PM CDT
* AT 324 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES
NORTHWEST OF I-10 NEAR THE CROCKETT-SUTTON COUNTY LINE...OR ABOUT 9
MILES EAST OF OZONA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
I-10 NEAR THE CROCKETT-SUTTON COUNTY LINE BY 330 PM CDT...
THE INTERSECTION OF US-190 AND RANCH ROAD 1828 BY 400 PM CDT...
IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL...DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...AND
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL.
Caleb, CAPE is the amount of energy in the atmosphere. Higher the better for explosive developments. Best way I can explain it without technical.
I have my own Tornado Watch Box in TX today, away from SPC thinkings. Click the name for the link to the radar and watch box. Lets watch that area. SPC doesn't see it I do not believe. Already a tornado warning and on the ground in my watch box. Two hrs before it happened, I issued it.
A tornado has been spotted
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN SHACKELFORD AND SOUTHERN THROCKMORTON COUNTIES...
AT 404 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO ABOUT 8
MILES SOUTH OF THROCKMORTON...NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF US-183 AND
US-283...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THIS TORNADO WILL APPROACH THE
TOWN OF THROCKMORTON AROUND 415 PM. RESIDENTS OF THROCKMORTON SHOULD
TAKE COVER NOW!
I chased the El Reno storm last night. I was out getting lightning pics and had my laptop with me running internet and thought I would go check it out. Saw a lowering over Peidmont and then about got stuck in a couple feet of water. I drove into a valley area near Guthrie and before i could slow down i was driving down a road that was a lake. My jeep about stalled out, I was nearly flooring the gas pedal to get through it. I thought water was gonna come in my doors at one point. Got to a higher area only to realize it got deeper on down the road, so I had to go back through it to get out. While sitting there trying to figure out what to do, winds went from 0-60 in about a second. Looked like the stop sign next to me was gonna go flying. Looking back on it, I probably should have stayed home. The stretch of water I drove through was about 100 yards long and was up to atleast 2 feet in places. The fields around me looked like lakes. I believe I was near a creek that was flooding very bad.
Lesson to everyone else, dont drive through water when its over the road! I got extremely lucky. Also dont be speeding down back roads in OK when its raining. The water covering the road looked just like the road. I never saw it till I hit it. Gotta love going out to chase after midnight. Saw Val Caster like 6 times.
thanks ows Meteorologist that was a big help:)
I think Throckmorton is right in the path of this tornado. Hope the people seek shelter there.
You're welcome Caleb. I think I placed the watch box in the right area. If you guys want to chat about this come to tornado chat at www.livetornadochat.com
Hey Reed and crew,
Ever thought about a forum? There are tons and tons of great information on this site, that many people like to know. I also see many people meet here to share what is going on, and report tornado's and share information, photo's, radar images and videos. The problem with this comments is that the information will get lost after a while, and there is no possibility to search or find certain information back.
If u need a good webspace to run the forum from i can offer u mine, for free ofcourse :o) maybe there is a possibility to redirect the forum.
I was wondering the same thing Wouter. I left a message on their myspace page on the subject, but they did not reply to it. Those meanies lol.
hay OWS Meteorologist I've tried to go to live tornado
chat.com but I did not get how you chat.
Hey Wouter and Danny,
That's a great idea, and we'll work on getting that up and running soon. I remember your message and thought I responded!
We've also got some MAJOR news coming soon. very exciting developments
The MAJOR news better be a complimentary tornado highlight DVD from the past 10 years for all your loyal followers over the years ;)
Major news? What in the world could that be?
I hope the news is that you & Joel have decided to enter the Presidential race ... oh wait, you're not old enough for that ... and besides that, you've got INTEGRITY!!! MAN!!! :D
Its all good Reed. I know you are so busy with chasing and keeping up the site. I don't expect you to always reply. I forgive you.
Thank you guys.
Living in CA. I do not get to see too many tonados unless they are on the news and those are not as well done as your footage. I am very impressed with all of your work. Thank you for sharing these magnificent sights.
AMAZING!!!
I am STILL shaking my head thinking about the footage I just took a look at. WOW!
Caleb, its together. www.livetornadochat.com
If you live in the N.TX area to S. OK, I have a Tornado Watch out right now on OWS.
www.ontarioweatherservice.com/outtw.html
hahaha Heidi i was thinking the same lol :)
That's great Reed, and if u need the software or help with setting it up i can help you!
And i'm curious about the majar news.
i have video of this tornado on my dvr. it shows the school being hit.