Scared

(@terdalfarm)

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We're all pretty freaked out by what happened just up the road in Joplin Sunday.
Hence, we're paying real close attnetion to the weather.
Here is what the state of Oklahoma's climatologist is saying right now, about today:

May 3, 1999?

[Note for my PN friends: May 3, 1999, is when a tornado as strong as the one that hit Joplin hit the suburbs of Oklahoma City.]

This is very Weather-ish, but at least on the surface, today's setup for the
possible tornado outbreak looks different than what was occurring at 1:30 pm
on May 3, 1999. Today looks more juicy thus far! Of course, conditions
vertically also matter, but let's take a look at what's going on close to the
ground.

This Mesonet map is from May 3, 1999, at 1:30 pm.

Here's a similar map for 1:30 pm today.

May 3: Temperatures in the 70s, strong southerly winds gusting to 25-30 mph,
dewpoints in the mid-upper 60s.

Today: Temperatures in the 80s and 90s, strong southerly winds gusting to 25-35
mph, dewpoints in the lower 70s.

So surface wise, if you're looking at the ingredients to these nasty cake, we're
more well-stocked today.

YIKES!

Stay weather aware, and safe!

Gary McManus
Associate State Climatologist
Oklahoma Climatological Survey

And here is the word from the NWS:

.. Long track violent tornadoes possible later today...

An outbreak of severe thunderstorms is expected across portions of
eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas later today. The potential
for high impact severe weather... including violent long-track
tornadoes... is high.

I lost power for a while last night from the wind, and expect the same this evening; I'll unplug the modem and computer before the storm hits, so don't worry if you don't hear from me. --Erik

Posted : 24/05/2011 5:40 pm

lucky1

(@lucky1)

Posts: 11322

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Sheesh, Erik, that's awful.
Stay safe.
Hitting Kansas too, I believe, where Steve lives.

The poor folks in Joplin...

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 24/05/2011 5:45 pm

DesertZone

(@desertzone)

Posts: 4411

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I so hope everyone will be ok this season. 🙁

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

Posted : 24/05/2011 7:30 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

(@cameron_z6a_n-s)

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Stay safe!

Posted : 24/05/2011 8:33 pm

TerdalFarm

(@terdalfarm)

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Lots of tornadoes and deaths in OK last night, but fine here on the farm--just lots of lightning, rain and strong wind; the nearest tornado was a few miles away. A triangle palm was pulled out of its patio pot but that was the worst here.

Posted : 25/05/2011 2:01 pm

lucky1

(@lucky1)

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Lots of tornadoes and deaths in OK last night

How awful, Erik.

Hope Steve's OK in Kansas, too.

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 25/05/2011 2:48 pm

hardyjim

(@hardyjim)

Posts: 4697

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I was looking out for you last night Eric,glad you guys stayed out of harms way...........

Did you guys see this post???

http://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/msg/1306293609.html

Posted : 25/05/2011 2:51 pm

lucky1

(@lucky1)

Posts: 11322

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Glad Erik's OK, hope Steve's fine in Kansas.

Unbelievable carnage in that link, Jim.

My heart goes out to those people who are suffering so much.

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 25/05/2011 5:20 pm

hardyjim

(@hardyjim)

Posts: 4697

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If you check out the first and second links to the videos...you see-

First they are in the Gas station and the tornado hits-

and in the second video he goes back the next day and
shows you where they were when he takes the video.

It is absolutely unbelievable to me how calm they remained!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted : 26/05/2011 11:01 am

Knnn

(@knnn)

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Erik, Glad you missed the worst of it!

Barb, Still here 😀 Waiting to see if we get flooded out or not, recorded around 7.5" of rain in the last week upstream of me. Had about 3" here.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/uv?site_no=06869500

Here's the view from my backyard on the 24th

Steve

Posted : 26/05/2011 3:23 pm

TerdalFarm

(@terdalfarm)

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Steve,
hang on tight when the water comes downstream. Life jackets in the safe room, maybe?

That photo is great. W and I enjoy sitting outside on the "beach" and watching the clouds -- very dramatic lately.
--Erik

Posted : 26/05/2011 6:11 pm

lucky1

(@lucky1)

Posts: 11322

Illustrious Member

Keeping fingers crossed that you won't get flooded.
That's a whack o' rain.
And here I am complaining about our 1 inch of rain today 😕

That photo is almost surreal, looks pretty dangerous!

Erik so much damage in OK too, glad both you and Steve are safe.

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 26/05/2011 6:54 pm

Okanagan desert-palms

(@okanagan-desert-palms)

Posts: 1603

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I hope you are all well through this record tornado season. Stay safe! Prayers out to all who have been affected.

John

Okanagan Palms and Tropicals
6b-7a

Posted : 26/05/2011 8:16 pm

TerdalFarm

(@terdalfarm)

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John,
the prayers are appreciated. The final death was tabulated today. Too sad to write about here. Easy to find with google news if you want a name to pray over.

The nearest tornado to us was upgraded to EF-2 after the NWS examined the damage, but no deaths--just wrecked homes.

The forecast here is for Summer: hot and humid. Tornadoes are spring weather. We seem to be moving into a classic summer pattern, which the palms should love. --Erik

Posted : 26/05/2011 11:35 pm

TerdalFarm

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Windy and mild here today. Potted palms are being blown over, but can't complain. I'll pot-plant them soon so that stops happening.

Here are some pics from the recent event, all from the OK mesonet (mesonet.org, the state wx for farmers):

Photo 1 shows what the tornado (now classified as EF-2) did to a mobile home nearby us. We live in a double wide so the same would have happened to us. Fortunately these folks had a storm shelter (circled in yellow) and so are alright.

Photo 2 shows the data from the mesonet weather station in El Reno, an OKC suburb, as broadcast on local TV in OKC. Notice that spike in wind speeds to 151 mph (240 kmh) as the tornado passed over.

Photo 3 shows that same weather station afterwards. They sure make those things sturdy now, don't they?

Posted : 27/05/2011 1:09 pm