Tornado! (My Oklahoma weekend storm tracker!)

[disinfected]

As many of you know, I live in Oklahoma City, a place infamous for severe weather and that "tornado alley" stigma. Since the Air Force moved me here in 2009, I've seen it all, from tornadoes, to wildfires, to ice storms, to earthquakes! It seems like every year that big "threat" appears and tornadoes usually appear and cause a big headache.

In 2010 there was the May 10th outbreak, which claimed lives and spanned all across the state and surrounding states.

In Oklahoma alone, according the the NWS.
-A total of 35 tornadoes have been docuemented in the NWS Norman County Warning Area, and additional tornadoes occurred in eastern Oklahoma in the NWS Tulsa County Warning Area. This will be the second largest tornado outbreak documented in Oklahoma (the largest outbreak occurring on May 3, 1999.)
-Thirteen different storms produced tornadoes.
-The tornado damage paths are spread over a north-south area of over 200 miles from near the Kansas-Oklahoma border to near the Red River.
Very large hail was reported in several locations, up to the size of softballs (4.25").

In 2011, it happened again, though not as extreme. This time on May 24th.

Still a few EF-5 (the highest) were spotted. Damage was again pretty insane.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/?n=events-20110524

Here we are now, 2012. Looks like the big one might be coming early. Starting tonight there are predictions of softball size hail. The Weather Channel's TOR:CON index (Which is scarily right compared to most weather reporting) is giving the whole state a seven out of eight on their probability scale. The same number they gave on the two previous year's index.


Everyone is bracing for the storm, looks like it's going to be an interesting weekend. I'll keep you guys updated!

TOR:CON Index

EDIT: From here on out, going to post updates throughout the weekend, since it might be fun for some of you to follow along that don't get to see this kind of thing often.

 

[Pupik]

Yeah, I'm glad I'm leaving Iowa right now, because they're rated between 6-7 for tomorrow. I nearly bowled someone over when the wind caught me opening my car door at a gas station.

 

[Slash]

Stay safe bro!

 

[Patrick]

It looks like Saturday is going to be the worst. Stay safe.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

[. The Weather Channel's TOR:CON index (Which is scarily right compared to most weather reporting) is giving the whole state a seven out of eight on their probability scale.

TOR:CON Index[/QUOTE]



You made a slight error with TOR:CON. It's based with a 10 being the highest. Still, a 70% chance of a tornado forming within a 50 mile radius- scary stuff!!!

 

[CodeRedR51]

Anyone see the 4-foot deep hail in Texas yesterday?

 

[Slash]

Wow I just looked that up.

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

I hate hail. We have to get a new roof (roof was already new) and my moms 07 F150 FX2 is going to be totaled because of it. My solid steel 89 Lincoln Town Car was fine except for the trim along the windows.

 

[Slash]

I hate hail. We have to get a new roof (roof was already new) and my moms 07 F150 FX2 is going to be totaled because of it. My solid steel 89 Lincoln Town Car was fine except for the trim along the windows.

And that just goes to show the difference in build quality over the years...

 

[disinfected]

I remember when this was taken just a few days after the May 10th storms.



I was in an Arena football game at the time.

Also got caught in an insane hail storm last year as well, combined with 75-mile per hour winds. The car was less than a month old when it got attacked by the hail, a children's playset, and a picket fence. I remember pulling off the road into a neighborhood to get out of the zero-visibility rain. The hail started coming down and the car shook from side to side. I watched fences and air conditioners break free and scatter across the street, was scared half to death. (Especially when the debris started hitting the car.) I thought that was it for me.

 

[NINE_HUNDRED]

Wow, that hail stone video is crazy

 

[Touring Mars]

Anyone see the 4-foot deep hail in Texas yesterday?

Flipping 'eck. My mate just left Scotland to live in Texas last month, and he was bragging about leaving behind the abysmal weather. I know they are drifts, but still, that's pretty spectacular

Bloody hell! I'll never complain about Scottish weather again! (maybe)

 

[Slash]

Bloody hell! I'll never complain about Scottish weather again! (maybe)

You should see what they do to houses if you think that's bad.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Here's that 4-foot deep hail photo.

And video for proof.

 

[Slash]

 

[disinfected]

As of about thirteen minutes ago, Tornado Watch is now in effect for much of the state until nine this evening. It's about 76 degrees and super humid outside right now. Hardly any wind at all, though, it's actually very calm and quiet out. Big stuff is still predicted more tomorrow than today, but the Tor:con is still at a 4-5 range.

Figure I am going to document the weekend for you guys. The sky is looking interesting, not super ominous yet but it's shaping up.

From outside my apartment. (And car door!)

 

[Slash]

It's the calm before the storm!

 

[disinfected]

Quarter-sized hail already being reported to the West of the state.

 

[CodeRedR51]

For some reason when I saw that photo the eerie music from the movie "Twister" started playing in my head.

 

[Slash]

http://www.corad.org/texas_radar.htm

 

[disinfected]

It was filmed in Oklahoma after all.

Here's the official report from NWS for the moment.
.NOW...
THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING RAPIDLY ALONG THE SURFACE BOUNDARY
ACROSS WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON. AT 2 PM...THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR ANADARKO
AND ALTUS STRETCHING SOUTHWESTWARD INTO FOARD AND HARDEMAN COUNTIES
ACROSS WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. AS THESE STORMS MOVE NORTHEAST AT AROUND
30 TO 35 MPH...THEY WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME RAPIDLY SEVERE
WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS LIKELY. LATER THIS AFTERNOON...
LOW LEVEL WINDS WILL INCREASE WHICH MAY ENHANCE THE POTENTIAL FOR
TORNADOES.

ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THROUGH THE AFTERNOON
FROM NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA SOUTHWARD INTO WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. GIVEN
THE ENVIRONMENT...STORMS MAY RAPIDLY BECOME SEVERE WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. REMAIN ALERT FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT.

Read more: http://livewire.koco.com/Event/Live_Wire_Tracking_Oklahoma_Storms_April_12#ixzz1rwybGVQY

 

[Slash]

And I thought Western NY gets bad thunderstorms...When you're entire area isa forest and you've got trees falling everywhere on top of leaves flying off trees and heavy rain you can't see squat.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

Well, what's a purdy lil' lady such as yourself doin' out here in the softball-sized hail?

Stay safe buddy, don't go risking your life for the entertainment of GTP. Unless you want to. It's cool. I'll leave now...

 

[Slash]

Well, what's a purdy lil' lady such as yourself doin' out here in the softball-sized hail?

Stay safe buddy, don't go risking your life for the entertainment of GTP. Unless you want to. It's cool. I'll leave now...

If he suddenly stops posting...


For real though these storms are no laughing matter. I myself almost got caught in the middle of a tornado on a bicycle back in '09. I about **** myself.

 

[disinfected]

On Thea different side of town now. Wind has picked up a bit and there is a trickle of rain. I'll have some more pictures for you guys when I get home.

 

[E28]

Hope you aren't affected by these tornado's, infact, I hope no one is affected by the tornadoes! British weather may be boring, but at least it doesn't have a risk of killing you!

 

[disinfected]

Second tornado has been confirmed. They are staying south of Oklahoma City proper. It's been nothing but rain and thunderstorms so far. Looks like I am out of the woods until tomorrow, though the tornado watch continues until nine tonight.

Scary sky from when I was out.

 

[Crispy]

Looks like Texas might be getting something on Sunday, a few isolated tornadoes. Hope you stay safe.

 

[disinfected]

Heading to bed tonight. Tornado threat is down until tomorrow when the big ones are expected. There's been at least four in the state today.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I hope you do okay tomorrow, Accuweather is saying that the "risk is as high as it gets."