NewsHIGH RISK issued for GA/SC
Posted At: March 15, 2008 @ 2:48 PM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
Related Categories: Tornadoes
A high risk has now been issued for eastern GA into central SC for the threat of long-track supercells and damaging tornadoes. Several cyclic supercells have already developed across northern GA into western SC, with additional explosive development anticipated along and east of the SW to NE convective line. 8 tornadoes have already been reported across northern GA, with several homes damaged. However, that number will likely triple before the day is over. Stay tuned for updates!
Tornado Outbreak underway in the Southeast!
Posted At: March 15, 2008 @ 2:10 PM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
Related Categories: Tornadoes
The 18z RUC analysis maps below for CAPE and 0-1 km helicity tell the entire story! A MAJOR tornado outbreak is likely this afternoon and evening across northern GA and SC, as a strong, compact vort max moves through the region. A massive, uncapped and unstable warm sector is in place across the Southeast, which is a major ingredient for most significant tornado outbreaks. As seen in the map below, CAPEs are surpassing 2000 J/kg across eastern GA!
A tornado watch has already been in effect for several hours from eastern AL into western SC, with one particularly strong supercell moving across northern GA through 19z. This cell has exhibited very strong, persistent couplets, and has even had reported tornadoes. I would not be surprised at all if these tornadoes were large and damaging given the insane shear values in place. Additional storms have been developing to the southwest of this parent storm, and these cells will likely become tornadic very soon. Stay tuned for updates, and check out the Nowcasting thread in the blog for near real-time updates!
The 0-1 km helicity analysis below definitely minimizes the importance of the previous statement, since we'd probably only need about 50 J/kg CAPE for large tornadoes today given the extreme low-level shear values of 500+ m2/s2 in the supercell environment! The only bright-spot for the residents of South Carolina is that it appears the low-level shear drops of slightly to the east of GA, but this area of extreme low-level shear will likely propagate east with the progression of the vort max anyway.
A tornado watch has already been in effect for several hours from eastern AL into western SC, with one particularly strong supercell moving across northern GA through 19z. This cell has exhibited very strong, persistent couplets, and has even had reported tornadoes. I would not be surprised at all if these tornadoes were large and damaging given the insane shear values in place. Additional storms have been developing to the southwest of this parent storm, and these cells will likely become tornadic very soon. Stay tuned for updates, and check out the Nowcasting thread in the blog for near real-time updates!
Tornado Hits Downtown Atlanta
Posted At: March 14, 2008 @ 11:28 PM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
Related Categories: Tornadoes
Shortly before 10 pm, a possible tornado roared through Downtown Atlanta causing damage to Philips Arena, the Georgia Dome, and even CNN center. The overtime battle between Alabama and Mississippi State in the SEC tournament had to be halted as the tornado struck, and small debris was raining down from the roof onto the basketball court! Minor damage occurred to the CNN center building, including shattered windows in the newsroom!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/14/storm.atlanta/index.html
Here is the radar loop around the time of the tornado -- showing a textbook, right-moving supercell with a classic hook echo. These storms in the Southeast resulted from the same subtle shortwave that produced the storms last night in Eastern OK...
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/14/storm.atlanta/index.html
Here is the radar loop around the time of the tornado -- showing a textbook, right-moving supercell with a classic hook echo. These storms in the Southeast resulted from the same subtle shortwave that produced the storms last night in Eastern OK...
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