Talkweather Forums: Southeast Weather

June 16th-22nd Weather Discussion

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:24:01 +0000

I figured I'd start a thread to talk about the weather for the week.

I thought the amount of damaging wind reports across Alabama today was pretty impressive. Below is one of the more significant reports.

Quote

METAL ROOFING PEELED BACK FROM GYM ROOF AT SPRINGVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL RESULTING IN WATER DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. ALSO SEVERAL TREES

I woke up at about 2 am this morning to the sound of thunder and lightning (it was very close). The amount of lightning and rain was insane till about 5 am! Radar estimates show that it rained about 5 inches since Sunday night only a few miles south of me. I couldn't get any sleep, but I love lightning shows at night and the sound of rain and thunder.

Just a suggestion

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 22:04:28 +0000

Maybe you all should think about creating a Tornado or severe weather section so it dont dominate the "general weather discussion" part of the forum. Just on the first page of GWD I counted 10-12 Tornado threads. Not saying Tornado threads are unimportant but those Tornado threads need their own section of the forum since they take up so much space. That way it would look more like the "General wx discussion" part of the forum instead of the "All things tornado" section?

Just one guys opinion with a few years experience at running several different weather social media outlets (Forums/Blogs/and such)

Close up footage of the El Reno EF5 tornado

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:05:39 +0000

I was on Rt. 81 south of El Reno as the EF5 was about to cross Rt. 81 -- I filmed it when it was
200 yards away due west of me coming at me -- I could see the intense rotation & huge
debris field - at this point I thought I was going to die.

Here's a link to my footage :

I tried to hold the camera steady w/ my right hand while I was driving w/ my left but the winds were so
intense that I was getting blown all over the road -- I drove south on Rt. 81 thru the debris ball as debris
was flying by & around me at incredible speeds -- in most cases I had no time to react because I would
see an object coming from my right side & in a split second it would travel from right to left (west to east)
across the road then out of view (Rt 81 is a 4 lane highway separated by a wide median).

It took me approx. 30 seconds to drive thru the debris field.  Once I got out, I continued driving a quarter mile.
At this point, I saw the TIV on the other side of Rt. 81 pointing north stopped -- I remember thinking at the
time that I was glad he didn't try to intercept this tornado.  I crossed over & stopped facing north bound on
Rt. 81 -- here I saw a horizontal vortex wrapping around meso - I was very close to it & could see it very clearly.
It was elongated & stretched out (it looked like a white snake).  It was up approx. 500 feet & spinning incredibly fast
(this is the 1st horizontal vortex I've ever seen).

A beautiful supercell video

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:55:11 +0000

Short, but very nice. http://io9.com/witness-the-terrifying-birth-of-a-supercell-thunderstor-512596750

Civil engineers release study on Joplin: No EF5 damage; 83% of damage EF2 or less

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:31:24 +0000

I know we're in the midst of debating 2013 El Reno but in the same vein, I saw this article tweeted by the NWS today. It will likely start another debate... but hey, it's summer.

Thoughts?

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x120729257/Civil-engineers-release-study-of-Joplin-tornado-damage

Thunderstorm video from yesterday.

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 07:41:42 +0000

This is a sped up video of a thunderstorm yesterday seen from my home.

Had strong wind from the direction of strongest precip during this event(outflow).

Not sure if scud was playing tricks on me, or this thing was trying to drop a sucker. I am going with scud for now.

Hail striations were clearly visible... glad this thing missed me to the east by a few miles. We need rain but not eggs!

Southern Airways Flight 242--Severe Weather Rlated Crash--4 April 1977

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:23:26 +0000

If this is in the wrong place, please move topic. Thanks.

I have this on DVD, but if you have never seen this episode of Air Crash Investigation you should watch it due to its severe weather connection.
A man my dad knew died in this crash. I have always been fascinated by this accident and I think of it often when my wife Aly and I park by Huntsville International Airport and watch aircraft arrive and depart.

Southern Airways Flight 242 was a DC-9 jet, registered N1335U, that executed a forced landing on a rural highway in New Hope, Georgia after suffering severe hail damage and losing thrust on both engines in a severe thunderstorm on April 4, 1977.

Southern Airways Flight 242 was flying from Huntsville, Alabama to Atlanta, Georgia. Sixty-three people on the aircraft, including the flight crew, and nine people on the ground died; twenty passengers survived, as well as the two flight attendants; one passenger who initially survived died around one month later.

KHTX (Hytop/Huntsville radar) picking up strange anomaly

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:55:36 +0000

Word has is that even NWS HUN doesn't know what it is.

Weather for June 9th-15th (6/12-6/13 Severe Weather Outbreak)

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 04:02:29 +0000

I noticed the GFS from time to time shows a rather impressive jet streak for this time of the year across the Southeast states.

http://postimg.org/image/amrkg1lx1/

Its ensemble members agree that there'll be a trough coming to the eastern US.

http://postimg.org/image/kly2pw7lt/

This upper level support and summer instability may work to give a more robust threat for severe thunderstorms closer to home.

Tornado--Get underground or get out of town?! Asking for tragedy?

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:44:06 +0000

Okay the other thread took a very sad direction and I do not want to bring this back up there,,, However, it is an idea worth debating similarly to the school release idea and people may want to discuss here.

On this post in the other thread it was said that this was the worst advice ever which I definitely agree with.

http://www.talkweath...390#entry863494

The advice continued into the 2nd video from this TV Met telling people to get out of the way of a tornado that he speculated "could drop at any time" -- "Go South" he said not having any idea how strong it would be if it even formed. Go forward to 1:00 to see this. It did happen to become a tornado but at 1:00 it was unknown.

https://www.youtube....h?v=6gbgqM0JfW0

Not wanting to pick on the Met as everyone makes mistakes and I am sure based on what transpired as well as the comments on YouTube, that hopefully he will change his advice a bit.

Perhaps he even gave other mets thinking the same thing after 4/27 and seeing people killed even in their "safe place" a second thought.

Really though it's up to everybody individually what to do whether to stay or go. It is known that if in a tornado warning and in a mobile home that you must leave--so you SHOULD expect at least that much traffic on the roadways if these people follow the rules, In the Southeast, that's a lot of folks. Other than that, it's really a tough call. If in a Metro area especially, you may be putting them as well as your own life in jeopardy due to traffic and be stuck on the roadways. Tough choice and just my thoughts, feel free to discuss if you wish.

A Weather Question

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 03:24:12 +0000

Spent the last two days tent camping in Cade's Cove in the Smoky Mountains. Been out of loop with weather in Oklahoma, so I will be reading a little to catch-up ! Noticed a weather phenomenon though  in the mountains and I would appreciate some explanations.

Days were warm - I estimate low 80s. Very little breeze.  As we settle in for evening, around 10 or so, the wind picks up drastically. I estimate 25 mph and even higher gusts. I think early on that a thunderstorm is nearby. Then I wonder if there had been a frontal passage, and there wasn't.  This goes on all night, which did not make for good sleeping weather!! Briefly, I wonder if it is a gravity wave, but it went on all night and shortly after sunrise.  The same thing repeated Friday night.

Thought I would ask some of you. I am guessing that geography and temps play a role. Cade's Cove is a valley around 1900 feet surrounded by mountains.  The winds did remind me of gravity wave type winds.

Any help is appreciated!!

June thoughts?

Mon, 27 May 2013 20:10:40 +0000

I believe I saw the outlook that June is supposed to be slightly above normal temps and above normal precip. Just wondering what everyone around here thinks June will be. Any tropical mischief?

May 26th-31st Severe Weather Outbreaks (5/31/13 - The Day Chasing Went Horribly Wrong)

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:40:50 +0000

Operational/Ensemble guidance continues to hone in one what looks to be a potentially substantial trough digging southeastward from the West Coast as a vigorous, unseasonably strong upper level jet makes landfall next week (of which the first effects will likely be induced on Memorial Day as periodic shortwaves ahead of the longwave trough eject into the Central CONUS). The operational Euro is a bit at odds with some of the other guidance in terms of digging the energy well into Mexico, likely leading to a more meridional flow pattern once the trough ejects (I.E. less conducive for sustained discrete supercell modes). Regardless, a trough like this at this time of year holds some serious potential and should be monitored for all interests Memorial Day and after, especially in light of what has happened the past week.

SPC D4-8.

Quote

DAY 4-8 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0344 AM CDT FRI MAY 24 2013

   VALID 271200Z - 011200Z

   ...DISCUSSION...
   MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT IN MAINTAINING WRN U.S.
   TROUGHING THROUGH NEXT WEDNESDAY /DAY 6/ BUT DIFFER QUITE
   SUBSTANTIALLY ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE TROUGH EARLY IN THE WEEK.
   EPISODIC STRONG-SEVERE STORMS WILL AT LEAST BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY
   EJECTING SMALLER-SCALE SPEED MAXIMA AHEAD OF THE LARGER-SCALE WRN
   U.S. TROUGH ON BOTH MONDAY AND TUESDAY /DAY 4-5/.  ISOLD SEVERE
   STORMS APPEAR MOST PROBABLE TO OCCUR OVER PORTIONS OF THE CNTRL AND
   NRN PLAINS STATES ON MONDAY /DAY 4/ AND THEN PERHAPS OVER A MORE
   EXPANSIVE AREA ON TUESDAY /DAY 5/...ADDITIONALLY INCLUDING PORTIONS
   OF THE SRN PLAINS.  AT THIS TIME...THE MAGNITUDE/COVERAGE OF SEVERE
   IS NOT EXPECTED TO WARRANT A 30 PERCENT SEVERE PROBABILITY AREA.

   BY WEDNESDAY /DAY 6/...A GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE QUALITY OF LOW
   LEVEL MOISTURE IS EXPECTED FROM THE SRN PLAINS NWD INTO THE CNTRL
   PLAINS/MID MO VALLEYS DESPITE MODEL VARIABILITY.
   HOWEVER...CONSIDERABLE MODEL DIFFERENCES ARE NOTED IN THE EVOLUTION
   OF AN E PACIFIC JET MOVING INTO THE WRN STATES EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH
   VARIABILITY RANGING FROM AN OPEN TROUGH TO A SLOWER CLOSED LOW
   SOLUTION OVER THE SWRN U.S.  AS A RESULT...SUBSTANTIAL UNCERTAINTY
   FOR SEVERE EXISTS BY WEDNESDAY /DAY 6/ OVER PARTS OF THE PLAINS
   GIVEN MODEL PREDICTABILITY CONCERNS WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THE WRN
   U.S. TROUGH EVENTUALLY INFLUENCING CONDITIONS DOWNSTREAM OVER THE
   CNTRL U.S.

   ..SMITH.. 05/24/2013

NWS Forecast Language

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:55:15 +0000

Why do the NWS offices use language like this in their forecasts:

Today
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

This was from the NWS Huntsville office's forecast for today for the area near where I work in Limestone County. Is this lingo supposed to split hairs between thunderstorms being possible before 1:00PM but then likely after 1:00PM? It's no wonder the public gets confused when forecasts are phrased using this stuff that sounds computer generated.

NWS Computers getting Upgraded

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:57:10 +0000

Game-changing improvements in the works for U.S. weather prediction

By Jason Samenow, Published: May 15, 2013 at 10:19 amE-mail the writer

A little known fact is that the source of most weather forecasts delivered on your TV news and smartphones are two supercomputers housed in Reston, Va. and Orlando, Fl. An infusion of funding into the National Weather Service from Hurricane Sandy relief legislation promises to facilitate massive upgrades to these machines that may dramatically improve local, national, and global weather forecasts.
Congress has approved large parts of NOAA’s spending plan under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 that will direct $23.7 million (or $25 million before sequestration), a so-called “Sandy supplemental” to the National Weather Service (NWS) for forecasting equipment and supercomputer infrastructure.
“This is a breakthrough moment for the National Weather Service and the entire U.S. weather enterprise in terms of positioning itself with the computing capacity and more sophisticated models we’ve all been waiting for,” said Louis Uccellini, director of the National Weather Service.
Last year, criticism began to emerge concerning the inferior accuracy of the NWS’s Global Forecast System (GFS) model – run on earlier versions of the supercomputers – compared to the model run at the European Centre for Medium Range Forecasting (ECMWF) based in the United Kingdom. The GFS and ECMWF models are, by far, the most heavily relied on by meteorologists around the world for forecasting.
Cliff Mass, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington and expert in numerical weather prediction, called the standing of the GFS model “third-rate” and “a national embarrassment” in a March 2012 blog post.
“It is a huge story, an important story, but one the media has not touched, probably from lack of familiarity with a highly technical subject,” Mass wrote.
But when the ECMWF model outclassed the GFS model in its long-range forecasts for Hurricane Sandy in late October, the accuracy discrepancy between the models caught the media’s attention.
“The American model is the basis for many forecasts, and its reliability problems beyond the short term suggest something major is amiss with its physics and inputs,” wrote USA Today in an editorial. “The European model’s embarrassing superiority on Sandy ought to accelerate efforts to identify and fix what’s wrong.”

The supercomputer running the GFS model in Reston, Va., known as Tide (National Weather Service).
The $23.7 million in improvements to NWS’s forecasting systems from the Sandy supplemental will facilitate a more than ten-fold increase in the capacity of the supercomputer running the GFS model.
“This is an extraordinarily positive development and will give the National Weather Service the potential to lead the world in numerical weather prediction,” Mass said in an email Tuesday.
In technical terms, the computing capacity will ramp up from 213 teraflops to 2,600 teraflops by the 2015 fiscal year according to the NWS. (Teraflops are simply a measure of the number of trillion calculations the computer can perform per second.) The NWS expects ECWMF’s supercomputer to have a capacity of 2,217 teraflops at that same time.
“By 2015, we will exceed the ECMWF in operational computing capacity with NOAA operational computers for the first time since the late 1980s or early 1990s,” Uccellini said.
The increased computing power will enable drastic improvements in the GFS model’s resolution Uccellini said. Higher resolution models pick up on weather features a lower resolution might miss, like some high altitude steering currents. (Model resolution defines the geographic size of grid boxes in which models perform calculations. The smaller the grid box, the better the model can simulate localized features.)

In the case of Sandy, the ECMWF’s significantly higher resolution at forecast times 8 days into the future helped it accurately forecast the storm’s unusual left turn towards the Northeast coast while the GFS incorrectly simulated the storm would track harmlessly out to sea (at that same forecast time).
The NWS projects the Sandy supplemental funds will help enhance the horizontal resolution of the GFS model by around a factor of 3 by FY2015, enough to rival the ECMWF.
To make additional gains in the model’s accuracy, Uccellini said some of the Sandy supplemental funds will help pay for contract scientists to improve the model physics and to enhance the systems that bring in (or assimilate) data from ground weather sensors, satellites and weather balloons.
“These upgrades and plans represent a substantial improvement of the primary modeling system used by the Weather Service,” said Ricky Rood, professor of meteorology at the University of Michigan. “With these developments, the U.S. forecast system will share many characteristics with that of ECMWF.
Uccellini stressed the Sandy supplemental funds will be distributed to not only advance the GFS model, but also specialized models for predicting short-range weather, hurricanes, and thunderstorms.
The large scope of the modeling efforts the Sandy supplemental funds support may make it difficult to sustain gains made relative to the ECMWF cautioned University of Washington’s Mass.
“[The Sandy supplemental] is huge, but is only a down payment on what is needed,” Mass said. “The ECMWF only has to do global weather prediction; in contrast, the NWS has many more responsibilities.”
Uccellini said the President’s FY14 budget proposal provides a $13.8 million increase in funding levels for operational computing on top of the Sandy supplemental which would provide the various modeling programs with long-term security.
“We now have a budget profile, if the President’s budget is passed, that will allow us to sustain and build off the [Sandy supplemental] increases,” Uccellini said.
Marshall Shepherd, president of the American Meteorological Society, called these investments in forecasting a “game-changer”.
“I applaud NWS, NOAA, and policymakers for stepping forth with investments,” Shepherd said. “Weather forecasting is as critical to U.S. citizen’s lives as many public safety and national security activities, in my view.”
(Note: The $23.4 million appropriated to the NWS for forecasting improvements is just a small fraction of the $309.7 million NOAA will receive as part of the Sandy relief legislation. For example, funds will support ocean observing and coastal monitoring, disaster assistance for fisheries, and upgrades to two NOAA hurricane hunter aircrafts among other initiatives.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/05/15/game-changing-improvements-in-the-works-for-u-s-weather-prediction/

What's Happened to the Instant Weather Maps site?

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:02:16 +0000

Hasn't updated any of the models in the last 2 day... anyone know what's going on here?

http://www.instantweathermaps.com

May 15th-21st Severe Weather Outbreaks (Devastating Tornado Strikes OKC Metro)

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:14:03 +0000

Severe potential looks to increase through the second half of this week into next as an upper level trough moves ashore and amplifies as it ejects into the Plains. How the pattern evolves past Saturday is still rather uncertain (timing in particular), but there will instability available without a doubt, and with the potential for multiple sfc cyclogenesis episodes as periodic vort maxes rotate around the axis of the trough, this could be the first more substantial threat of severe weather since April (and really the first opportunity for chasers in the Plains to catch some action). There is enough confidence that the SPC issued a D6 yesterday and now has a D5 out for Saturday and another one following for Sunday.

Quote

DAY 4-8 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013

   VALID 171200Z - 221200Z

   ...DISCUSSION...
   MEDIUM-RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO GENERALLY AGREE WITH THE ADVANCE OF
   A WRN U.S. TROUGH ACROSS THE ROCKIES EARLY IN THE PERIOD...WITH
   ASSOCIATED CONVECTIVE/SEVERE POTENTIAL RAMPING UP ACROSS THE PLAINS
   AS THE TROUGH APPROACHES DAY 5 /SAT. 5-18/.  DETAILS REMAIN
   UNCLEAR...BUT CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE GREATEST THREAT MAY
   OCCUR A BIT FARTHER N ON DAY 5 THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST -- I.E. FROM
   NRN KS NWD INTO SD.  CAPPING SUGGESTS THAT INITIATION MAY BE
   HINDERED UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON...AFTER WHICH SUPERCELLS SHOULD
   INITIATE INVOF A DRYLINE/PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH AND THEN SHIFT EWD
   THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.  LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL
   LIKELY BE THE PRIMARY THREATS...ALONG WITH ISOLATED TORNADOES.

   AS THE UPPER TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE SYSTEM CONTINUES EWD DAY
   6 /SUN. 5-19/...SEVERE POTENTIAL APPEARS LIKELY TO CONTINUE -- FROM
   IA SSWWD ACROSS WRN MO/ERN KS AND INTO THE NWRN OK VICINITY.  STORMS
   -- POSSIBLY ONGOING IN SOME AREAS EARLY IN THE PERIOD -- SHOULD
   INCREASE DURING THE AFTERNOON...BRINGING CONTINUED THREAT FOR LARGE
   HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ALONG WITH ISOLATED TORNADOES.

   MODELS BEGIN MORE SUBSTANTIAL DISAGREEMENT THROUGH DAY 7 AND
   BEYOND....AND THUS WILL RESTRICT AREAL OUTLINE OF SEVERE POTENTIAL
   TO DAYS 5-6 ATTM.

   ..GOSS.. 05/14/2013

Ice Wave

Mon, 13 May 2013 03:06:31 +0000

Came across this raw footage. Have not seen anything written yet ...

http://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/2013/05/12/2153947/

Do you guys use Smoothing for Grlevel3?

Wed, 08 May 2013 03:56:12 +0000

Do you guys use Smoothing for Grlevel 3 why or why not.

Flirting with danger...

Tue, 07 May 2013 20:31:32 +0000

�It just came down from our parent organization NOAA that they would like to implement furloughs for all of the NOAA line offices, including the National Weather Service, for potentially up to four days,� he said.

Already contending with a hiring freeze, the proposed furloughs would impact 12,000 NOAA employees, including those at the National Hurricane Center and 122 local weather service offices nationwide.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/05/06/natl-weather-service-cuts-could-put-minnesotans-in-harms-way/

(OFF TOPIC) Can someone make me this color table please

Tue, 07 May 2013 04:17:48 +0000

Can someone make this exact Color Table for me? Base Reflectivity o13nSEU.png (1366×638)

Frost advisory for E/NE AL

Sat, 04 May 2013 20:59:05 +0000

Lolzzz in May!

@iembot_bmx: #BMX issues Frost Advisory valid at May 05, 1:00 AM CDT for Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, R http://t.co/YBb3ufHegt

New weather Facebook page

Sat, 04 May 2013 09:17:10 +0000

I just wanted to let everybody know that there is a great new weather Facebook page called Storm Cast. I am the content coordinator and PM person. I would like to invite everybody to join. We could use some forecasters and chasers willing to contribute, especially from Dixie Alley. The link is in my signature below. Please stop by for a visit, and if you would lke to help out please let me know. Thanks!

P.S. Mods please delete this post if it's against the TOU or move it if it belongs in another forum.

Flooding rains from cutoff low.

Sat, 04 May 2013 01:03:46 +0000

Looks like this is going to be a big deal with flooding rains and heavy winds and possible severe storms. We have a cutoff low that is going to be moving very very slowly across the south the next several days bringing wind whipped rains and possible sever weather along the bands of rain coming through. The NWS has issued Flood watches for Northern AL,GA,and into SC. Also into SE TN and into WNC watches have been issued. I think we will see these watches expand as we go into tonight and into tomorrow along with Many Warning I think will be issued with this event. Looks like a pretty larg swath from AL,GA, and into the Carolinas will see 3-6 inches of rain from this system with it moving so slow.

Cold spring in the SE leads to...?

Fri, 03 May 2013 03:28:39 +0000

What does climatology say late spring and early summer will be like?

Top Tornado Cities

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:18:50 +0000

Just came across an AJC article touting Atlanta on this list put together by Dr. Forbes so went to The Weather Channel to pull it up.

http://www.weather.com/news/tornado-central/top-tornado-cities-2013-20130415

Dixie Alley is well represented ...

If someone else has already posted this, then I apologize !

Viral Weather Video

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:15:53 +0000

Well, it finally happened to me. I have my first official weather blooper. About two minutes before my 10 oclock weather cast last night, a breaker switch that supplies power to the weather center died. Computers all shut down and unable to start. Well the show must go on while the engineers are working so I had to go old school.
://www.facebook.com/cedric.haynes.3?ref=tn_tnmn#!/photo.php?v=596381540373096

A Memorial Thread for April 27, 2011

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:08:10 +0000

Starting with this tribute from Tyler Penland:

I spent the last few days thinking of what I would post on this anniversary. The writer in me said I had to post something, so I listened (as usual). I finished writing my book (specifically the April 27 day chapter) after the anniversary last year, but this post stems from things I thought of while writing it. Its rather long so I apologize in advance.

What is utter destruction?

Is it roofs blown off? Is it houses being swept off their foundations? Is it trees having every shred of bark stripped from their trunks? Is it debris scattering the ground for hundreds of square miles?

During the fateful day now known immediately by the words “April 27”, we heard the words “utter destruction” used over and over again. They were used by everyone from storm chasers to city mayors to state governors. As the ground pictures and aerial photos brought the aftermath to life on our computer screens and televisions, millions of us sat captivated and in awe of the destruction being posted before our eyes. Millions of people sat and thought: “utter destruction”.
But what is utter destruction?  Is it destruction of houses? Pictures? Possessions? Nay, I say, none of this is truly utter destruction. No natural disaster is capable of utter destruction. Why? Because the human spirit can never be utterly destroyed.

The tornadoes destroyed things, possessions, but they could not destroy people. Even those who died live on in our memories today. No matter how bad it gets, no tornado, or earthquake, or hurricane is capable of utter destruction. No disaster can destroy our memories. No disaster can destroy our spirit. No disaster can destroy us.

And now, as we look back 731 days later at April 27, we see the same has held true. The tornadoes came. The tornadoes went. But WE are still here. WE are still around. And WE are the ones who must make sure this disaster is never written away in the history books. WE are the ones who survived. From the ones like myself who sat glued to a radar screen and the television to those who barely escaped with their lives, this day changed us, and since it changed us, we should do our best to make sure it, nor the people who tragically lost their lives, are forgotten.

Unfortunately a day will likely come when the April 27 outbreak is forgotten. One each of us has passed it will go down as “just another bad outbreak.” But that day is not today, and that day will never come for me.

I spent the last few days scouring the internet looking for the names of those who were killed during the outbreak.  Unfortunately, I could only find a few names on the web from Georgia, and none from many other states. Fortunately, a database was created in Alabama that includes every name. I realize this is a long post and mods can create a specific thread if they wish, but below are all the names I was able to find. These people are the reason we should never forget.
And so, as I come to the conclusion of this long, reminiscent post, I would like to once again thank the thousands of EMS, Fire, and Police workers who responded on that day, as well as the thousands of un-trained heroes who worked to save lives. Thanks to Fred and others who made this thread so great and kept us all in the know days ahead of time. God bless every one.

Rebuild.
Revive.
Remember.
4.27.11

Bibb County

Brent
Ricky Paul Smith, 55

Calhoun County

Ohatchee
Ruby Douthitt, 61
Tina Forrest, 49
Michael Forrest, 54
Francis Arvella Jones, 72
James Romaine, 65

Piedmont
Angel Stillwell, 13

Webster's Chapel
Vernon Spencer Motes, 33

Wellington
Linda Sue Lipscomb, 63
William Lipscomb, 67

Cullman County

Cullman
Lloyd Winford Harris, 68

Johnson Crossing
Keenan Jonathan Sullivan, 20

DeKalb County

Exact location unknown
Chelsie Black, 20
Charlotte Bludsworth, 36
Belinda Boatner, 67
Gene Bullock, 65
Marcella Bullock, 64
Jewell Ewing, 73
Emma Ferguson, 6
Jeremy Ferguson, 34
Tawnya Ferguson, 32
Hannah Goins, 3
Kenneth Graham, 56
Linda Graham, 61
Ruth Hairston, 90
Harold Harcrow, 74
Patricia Harcrow, 75
Jody Huizenga, 28
Lethel Izell, 86
Jimmy Michael Kilgore, 48
Courtney McGaha, 15
William Michaels, 70
Martha Michaels, 72
Eulah Miller
Ida Ott, 87
Timothy Ott, 53
Ester Rosson, 81
Peggy Sparks, 55
Terry Tinker, 50
Daniel Vermillion, 42
Jidal Vermillion, 44
Herbert Wooten, 70
Juanita Wooten, 70

Ider
Judith White, 63, killed in a fire caused by the storm
Wayne White, 68, killed in a fire caused by the storm

Rainsville
Eddie Joe Bobbitt, 71
Carol Lisa Fox, 50

Elmore County

Eclectic
Candice Hope Abernathy, 23
Kammie Abernathy, 5
Melissa Ann "Missy" Myers Gantt, 43
Alice Herren Lee, 74
Martha Ann Gray Myers, 67
Rebecca Herren Woodall, 70

Fayette County

Berry
Jeffery Kemp, 60
Reba Kemp, 60
Leon Spruell, 76
Sylvia Spruell, 69

Franklin County

East Franklin
Donald Ray Heaps, 48
Kelli Thorn Morgan, 24
Michael Morgan, 32

Phil Campbell
Nila Black, 68
Zan Reese Black, 45
Jeffrey Dewight Cotham, 35
Jack Cox, 78
Charlene Crochet, 41
Donnie Gentry, 63
Patricia Ann Gentry, 50
Lester William Hood, 81
James Robert Keller Jr., 67
Linda Faye Knight, 57
Rickey Ethan Knox, 10
Amy LeClere, 33
Jay W. LeClere, 45
Dagmar Leyden, 56
Edna Lucille Bradley Nix, 89
Martha Lou Pace, 64
Claudia I. Mojica, 38
Edgar Mojica, 9
Georgia Schribner, 83
Jack E. Tenhaeff, 67
Sonya Black Trapp, 47
Carroll Dean "C.D." Waller, 76
Gerri Waller, 64

Double Springs
Donna Renee Berry, 52

Hale County

Greensboro
Cora L. Brown, 68
Gerald C. Brown, 70

Sawyerville
Jerry Lee Hodge, 64
Henry Lewis, 26
Frankie Lunsford, 55
Elizabeth C. White, 25

Jackson County

Pisgah
Kathy Gray Haney, 46
Herbert Satterfield, 90
Ann Satterfield, 81

Higdon
Janie Shannon, 80

Flat Rock
Shelby Jean Shannon, 58
Elease Whited, 75
John Whited, 77

Bridgeport
Branen Warren, 13

Jefferson County

Pleasant Grove
Iva Mae Cantrell, 73
James Jerry Clements, 66
Cheryl Denise Cooper, 47
Canatha Hyde Earley, 71
Reba Jones, 75
Carrie Grier Lowe, 26
Ramona Sanders-Walker, 47
Louella Bell Thompson, 81
Tracy A. Traweek, 39
Nancy L. Wilson, 56

Concord
Janet Dickinson Hall, 55
Jennifer Leonard Jones, 26
Haley Alexis Kreider, 8
Michael David Kreider, 10
Michelle Pearson Kreider, 30
Ernest C. "Ernie" Mundi Jr., 53

Cahaba Heights
Milton Edward Baker Sr., 68

Pratt City
Bessie Brewster, 72

Forestdale
Kenneth Ray Nation, 64

McDonald Chapel
Deniece Presley, 57

Lawrence County

Chaleybeate
Aurelia Guzman, 12
Donald "Duck" Ray, 73
Edward Vuknic, 66

Hillsboro
Zora Lee Jones Hale, 80

Langtown
Lyndon Lee "Doby" Mayes, 74
Mary Mayes, 76

Mt. Moriah
Allen Oneal Terry, 49
Herman Oneal Terry, 80

Moulton
Mike Daworld Dunn, 58

Mount Hope
Matthew Chase Adams, 21
Earl Lewis Crosby Sr., 63
J.W. Parker, 78
Horace Grady Smith, 83
Helen Smith, 84

Limestone County

Tanner
Carol Jan McElyea, 67
Janice Dorothy Peden Riddle, 54
Roger Glen Riddle, 55

East Limestone
Shannon Gail Sampson, 39

Madison County

Harvest
Katie Cornwell, 15, Orvil Smith Road
Harold Fitzgerald, 65, Orvil Smith Road
Milinia Nicole "Nikki" Hammonds, 32
Ronnie McGaha, 40, Yarbrough Road
Bobby Joe Moore, 61, Old Railroad Bed Road
Frederick Post, Stovall Road,
Rachel Renee Tabor, 37, Yarbrough Road

Toney
Gregory John Braden, 58, Welcome Home Village Drive
Philomena Muotoe, 79, Old Eli Road

Marion County

Hackleburg
Bridget Barnwell Brisbois, 34
Robbie Cox, 68
Tina Donais, 37
Chris Dunn, 32
Charles Tommy Garner, 75
Mae Garner, 79
Ed Hall, 53
Teresa Gay Hall, 50
Kaarlo Jokela, 76
Donna Lee "Leah" Jokela, 77
Freddie Lollie, 81
Vickey Lollie, 55
John Lynch
Cledis Inez McCarley, 69
Vicki Lynn McKee, 47
Faye O'Kelley, 70
Rodney Gene Ables, 51
Ken Vaughn, 24

Hamilton
Michelle Brown, 43
Tammy Johnson, 52
Jacob Ralph Ray, 5
Virginia Revis, 53
Jeanette Cochran Wideman, 52

Marshall County

Ruth
Ann Hallmark, 54
Phillip Hallmark, 56
Shane Hallmark, 37
Jennifer Hallmark, 31
Jayden Hallmark, 17 months

St. Clair County

Oberia Layton Ashley, 86
Ronnie Isbell, 56
Tammy Isbell, 31
Leah Isbell, 7
Bertha S. Kage, 91
Thomas Carl Lee, 64
Stella "Mae" Lovell, 97
Sandra Pledger, 68
Albert Sanders, 44
Angie Sanders, 43
Charlie Andrew Wolfe, 68
Nettie Ruth Wolfe, 68

Pell City

Precious Necale Fegans-Hartley, 27
Moody
Sandra Gayle McCrory, 56

Tallapoosa County

Dadeville
Katherine Massa, 70

Tuscaloosa County

Tuscaloosa
Minnie Acklin, 73
Jerry Artis, 51
Scott Atterton, 23, UA student from Bryant
Jennifer V. Bayode, 35
Michael Bowers, 3
Loryn Brown, 21, UA student from Wetumpka
Mary Bryant, 43
Graham Davie, 55
Ta' Christianna Dixon, 11 months
Danielle Downs, 24
Arielle Edwards, 22
Makayla Edwards, 5
Melgium Farley, 58
Cedria Harris, 8
Keshun Harris, 5
Ashley Harrison, 22, UA student from Dallas, Texas
Shena Hutchins, 26
Carolyn Ann Jackson, 50
Jacqueline Jefferson, 45
Thelma Krallman, 89
Davis Lynn Latham, 57
Tennie Mozelle Lancaster, 95
Velma T. Leroy, 64
Dorothy Lewis, 61
Thomas D. Lewis, 66
Yvonne Mayes, 61
Christian A. McNeil, 15 months
William Robert McPherson, 85
Zy'Queria McShan, 2
Melanie Nicole Mixon, 26, UA student
Perry Blake Peek, 24
Lola Pitts, 85
Terrilyn Plump, 37
Kevin Rice, 36
Annie Lois Humphries Sayer, 88
Judy Sherrill, 62
Morgan Marlene Sigler, 23, UA student from Bryant
William Chance Stevens, 22, Stillman College student
Justin Leeric Thomas, 15
Patricia Turner, 55,
Willie Lee Turner III, 21,

Walker County

Argo
Wesley Starr, 45
Lucille Waters, 89

Cordova
Jonathan Doss, 12
Justin Doss, 10
Annette Singleton, 45
Jackson Van Horn, 24

Oakman
Kathleen Brown, 64

Georgia

Ringold
Chris Black
Pamela Black
Cody Black, 21
Chelsea Black, 16

If anyone has other names that they can trace specifically back to a tornado death let me know and I will add them.

New video of Wichita/Andover Tornado (4/26/91)

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 09:43:08 +0000

Hi Folks. Here's a new video that I found on YouTube last night of the infamous Wichita/Andover tornado from April 26, 1991. You can clearly see it mature from its narrow stovepipe stage to its massive wedge stage, especially as it moves through McConnell AFB around the 2:15 mark:

Model archive?

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:26:15 +0000

I should probably know this, but is there a place where old model runs are archived? By old I mean runs from a couple of years ago. I'm doing a research project on a past outbreak and this info would be super helpful.