TornadoVideos.net

Posted At: May 13, 2008 @ 11:55 AM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

This morning's model forecasts do not look very favorable for tornadoes across the Southern Plains, and even further northeast into MO.  An unfavorable orientation of the frontal boundary and weak low-level shear are the two main limiting factors for tornadoes today, but extreme CAPE values of 4000+ J/kg will be possible east of the cold front/dryline across OK/TX.  Here is the 12-hr RUC forecast for this evening for CAPE and 850 mb wind:


There is still a possibility that the extreme CAPE values over central OK into Texas can over-compensate for weak low-level shear, so we will still likely be chasing this event.  Even if tornadoes are not a possibility, we would enjoy a core-punch with softball size hail..  Our current target is Duncan to Wichita Falls, TX, but we are also considering a northeast OK target where low-level shear may be able to hang on into the evening.  We'll be streaming this event live so be sure to check the tracker page..  Good luck to all who are chasing this event

Posted At: May 11, 2008 @ 12:05 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

Preliminary SPC reports indicate that 42 tornadoes touched down yesterday from the eastern Southern Plains to the Southeast U.S., with many of the reports coming from a particularly strong supercell that tracked from Southeast KS into Southwest MO.  Sadly, this storm produced at least 20 fatalities from extreme Northeast OK into Newton Co, MO, with the hardest hit communities being Picher, OK and Seneca, MO, where 7 and 10 fatalities were reported respectively.  The tornado that hit the town of Picher (an old mining town of ~800 people) was a 1/2 mile wide wedge tornado that appeared to be very strong.  From the damage pictures I've seen and from a friend who intercepted the tornado, it appeared to be EF3 to EF4 damage in Picher. 

Here are links to video of this tornado from storm chaser Chris Wilburn:

Wedge near Picher, OK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-aKmv1QepQ

Stovepipe from I-44 in extreme Northeast OK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2obd362ZaM

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/05/10/tornado.deaths/index.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24558648/

In addition to this supercell, several tornadoes were reported in Eastern OK and Arkansas, with the town of Stuttgart, AR taking a direct hit from what appeared to be an EF2 tornado.  We were chasing this storm from south of Little Rock, through the town of England where the first circulation tried to put down a tornado.  Here, rain curtains were wrapping completely around the circulation, but a condensation funnel was never visible.  We fell behind the storm briefly but re-intercepted from the west just as a new tornado was moving through Stuttgart.  We could not make out a condensation funnel since we were approaching from the west near dark, but we did see power flashes as the tornado was moving through the south side of town.  After the tornado moved through, we returned to Stuttgart to help with the rescue effort.  Power lines and trees were down everywhere, and the smell of natural gas was nauseating.  We even witnessed some looting around some destroyed structures.  Very bad site.  From what I saw, I'm guessing this was an EF2 tornado.  Here are some radar images I captured as the tornado was on the ground from around 8:10 pm CDT yesterday evening.  Interestingly, this is the last radar image we were able to acquire, since we could no longer connect to mobile internet after this time...likely due to a downed data tower near the town of Stuttgart.

Posted At: May 10, 2008 @ 4:11 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

A "Particularly Dangerous Situation" (PDS) tornado watch has been issued for central and southern Arkansas for this afternoon and evening, for the expectation of strong, long-track tornadoes in the vicinity of a diffuse warm front draped across the area.  We're currently stationed just south of Little Rock waiting for the storms to our west to intensify and ride the front east-southeast-ward.  Three live streaming teams are in this area, so stay tuned to the tracker for live streaming tornado video!

Posted At: May 10, 2008 @ 7:33 AM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

An outbreak of tornadoes is possible today from Eastern OK/Northeast TX eastward through the Lower Mississippi River Valley.  Wind shear will be most favorable for strong tornadoes along an E-W warm front forecast to move northward across AR/MS through the day.  Due westerly upper flow will allow for storms to move eastward parallel to the boundary, increasing further the chance for long-track tornadoes.  CAPE values will be significant, contributing to the formation of massive hail stones.   The warm front can be seen clearly on the WRF forecast CAPE for 00z this evening - forecast to be along I-40 at this time.  The strong trough responsible for this severe weather episode can be seen in the WRF forecast 500 mb map for 00z (see below):
We're currently driving toward an initial target of Little Rock, AR, and will reposition from there depending on the location of the warm front.  Stay tuned to the live tracker as at least 2 streaming teams will be chasing today!

Posted At: May 9, 2008 @ 6:52 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

TornadoVideos.net just recently partnered with Vuze.com, a company similar to Youtube but specializing in the broadcast of high-quality standard digital and high-definition videos.  Most of the TVN videos have been provided to Vuze, and they just went live today!  You can check out all of our most extreme tornado videos in their best quality at the following link...Check it out and let us know your thoughts!  Vuze is an amazing site...

http://www.vuze.com/channel/tornadovideos.net

Posted At: May 8, 2008 @ 11:36 AM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

Another day of active weather is ahead, this time for the Deep South. There has already been a tornado report with damage in Tupelo MS. More warnings and extended watches are likely for North Mississippi and North-Central Alabama. In fact, SPC issued a 10% hatched area for tornadoes: 

I am not surprised by the forecast considering instability should increase before the main forcing moves into Alabama. A tornado watch is in effect through 2 pm today:

Biggest threat today will be supercells developing ahead of squall line. The environment is prime. Dewpoints in the mid 60s, temps rising into the 80s, 850 mb flow 50 kts, no CIN. Here is the RUC analysis from SPC of the curent 0-1 km storm relative helicity. This is the measure for the potential aid in updraft rotation:

Reed should have more updates later. I should be out chasing this event, but I am down in Mobile monitoring any severe potential for our inland counties. 

-JY

Posted At: May 7, 2008 @ 1:52 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

We're currently waiting here in Gainesville, TX, as a tornado watch was just issued for the area.  Looking at the low-level jet (visually), it appears relatively backed in our location, with near due-southerly flow.  This is very favorable for strong tornadoes if it remains until the storms arrive.  At least two teams will be streaming live to the tracker!!  According to the weather station, the dewpoint here is 67-68 - so clearly moisture will not be an issue.  Stay tuned for updates..

Posted At: May 7, 2008 @ 11:53 AM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

Given the insane wind shear profiles that are forecast to be in place east of a surging dryline this afternoon/evening, strong tornadoes will be likely with any discrete storms that form.  The best location for strong tornadoes appears to be along and just south of a surface low progged to move eastward just south of the Red River.  50 knots at 850 mb and 700 mb with significant turning will yield extreme low-level shear values.  This could be a very bad situation for the populated NE TX.  We're currently heading east on Highway 82 toward the I-35 corridor, and expect initiation around 2 and 3.  Stay tuned to the live streaming!  Good luck to all who are chasing today...these are going to be some very fast movers!

Posted At: May 6, 2008 @ 12:09 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

As a strong vort max rotates out from the Desert Southwest this afternoon, isolated supercells will develop along the dryline west and southwest of Lubbock, TX.  If these cells can remain discrete into the late afternoon/evening, then tornadoes will be likely as the low-level jet intensifies from the south.  We're currently targeting an area between Lubbock and Hobbs, NM where the wind shear profiles look most ideal.  I paid my data card bill, so the tracker and streaming video will be in full-force!!  Stay tuned for updates..

Posted At: May 5, 2008 @ 3:13 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

As many of you know, yesterday was the 1-year anniversary of the tragic EF5 tornado that struck Greensburg, KS the night of May 4, 2007.  Sadly, 13 people lost their lives from that storm, and a majority of the buildings in Greensburg were completely destroyed.  Below is a 4-part video compiled in remembrance of that night by Dick McGowan and Darin Brunin of TornadoLive.com. 

A week ago, we visited Greensburg for the first time since the tornado, and while the rebuilding process is moving forward rapidly, visual scars of the tornado are widespread.  Nearly all the trees in the town are dead or severely injured, and bare foundations of previous buildings can be seen everywhere.  Still though, a strong feeling of optimism and  determination is apparent with the locals as the town continues to rebuild stronger and more eco-friendly than ever.  Heading the rebuilding process is Greensburg GreenTown, a nonprofit organization established to provide the residents of Greensburg with the resources, information, and support to rebuild as a model green community.  News and updates of the rebuilding process, as well as donation information can be found at the following website:   

http://www.greensburggreentown.org/

Storm chasers not only played a significant role in the warning process during this tragic tornado event but providing ground truth to National Weather Service forecasters and Emergency Managers, but also have established a charity program called Project Greensburg, where profit from storm chaser highlight DVDs are being donated to the rebuilding process.  Information on this program can be found at the URL below:

http://www.thestormsof2007.org/projectgreensburg.htm

Posted At: May 3, 2008 @ 12:00 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

Here is the video of the strong, violent tornado in Northeast AR from Don G of TVN Stream 2.  Note how low the wall cloud is!  Sadly it appears that this tornado caused significant damage to at least a few structures, but I've been out of touch with the news since yesterday.  I'll have images up of the low-contrast wedge near I-40 that we intercepted earlier in the day, as well as the tragic scene in Enterprise, MS.  Thankfully though, no injuries were reported at this time in Enterprise due to the lengthy warning time - and the whole town went to a shelter.  Stay tuned for updates. 

Posted At: May 2, 2008 @ 9:28 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

A major tornado outbreak involving many southern states is occurring at this time. There are 51+ reports at this time... and expected to rise.

Reed has informed me that they have been in the town of Enterprise, MS, where a damaging F2+ tornado ripped through town. They were one of the first on the scene, and have been assisting in the rescue effort, thankfully reporting no injuries at this moment.

Stay tuned for updates as they come in.

Posted At: May 2, 2008 @ 12:31 AM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

Here is the video of several tornadoes that touched down today in Pawnee/Osage County, OK, shot by the TVN stream #1 team of Matt Chatelain, Daniel Betten, Matt Van Every, and Curtis McDonald.  We made it to the storm in time for the last tornado, which was completely illuminated by several power flashes in succession.  However, we missed the first few high-contrast tornadoes that TVN stream 1 intercepted.  AMAZING supercell!  When we punched the core there was barely anything left of the hail shaft, but the tornado was still violent and a strong stovepipe.  Now we're headed to Little Rock!

Posted At: May 1, 2008 @ 8:47 AM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

A moderate risk has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center for eastern Kansas, mainly for the threat of very large hail.  While the SPC mentions moisture will be a limiting factor for tornadoes today, we still think moisture will be sufficient for strong tornadoes near 00z when the upper-level support finally arrives.  We're targeting South Kansas just south of the triple point!  I'm not sure why comments were disabled in the last post!

Posted At: April 30, 2008 @ 10:25 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

Strong tornadoes are likely with any supercells that develop tomorrow ahead of the cold front/dryline from eastern Kansas south into eastern Oklahoma.  Late arrival of the upper forcing will prevent storms from initiating until late afternoon/evening, beginning first in Northeast KS along the cold front, and later on along the dryline into Northeast OK near sunset.  All models are forecasting a narrow axis of strong instability immediately east of the dryline, with a 40+ knot 850 mb jet from Texas into the Northern Plains.  This strong LLJ will result in immense low-level shear, creating an environment favorable for strong tornadoes.  We'll definitely be chasing tomorrow, so stay tuned to the live tracker!  Here are the 00z WRF forecast CAPE and 850 mb flow for 00z tomorrow: