2 March 2012
Biggest Tornado Outbreak Since April 27th Today
Posted by Dan Satterfield
A rare HIGH risk has been issued for much of KY and TN today by the Storm Prediction Center (NOAA).
Much like on April 27th Alabama was hit by tornadoes in a line of thunderstorms well ahead of the main threat. There has been major damage in Limestone and Madison Counties and the track of the (EF 2?) tornado was very similar to the EF 5 track on 27 April. The Supercell index at the SPC is at the highest numbers I have seen since April 27th as well.
This is going to be bad day and there will be fatalities. If history is any guide, most of the deaths will be in mobile homes. If you know someone in the risk area who is in a mobile home, urge them to go anywhere else until the storms pass later tonight. ANYWHERE ELSE.
The image below is the Doppler velocity data showing intense rotation as the tornadic storm passed through Madison County AL.
The strong rotation is between Hazel Green and Meridianville. Bright blue is wind blowing toward the radar (far right). Red is away.
The supercell composite index is at extreme levels. This index is based on wind shear and instability parameters.
Image from NOAA SPC in Norman, OK. Click for larger image.
More soon.
Dan Satterfield has worked as an on air meteorologist for 32 years in Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Forecasting weather is Dan's job, but all of Earth Science is his passion. This journal is where Dan writes about things he has too little time for on air. Dan blogs about peer-reviewed Earth science for Junior High level audiences and up.
I saw a documentary that said most tornados follow the same path after a large tornado has hit a paticular area.
How accurate is this. My house and eeverythign I had was gone on 4-27TH i WAS HOME IN A BRICK HOUSE AND NOTHING WAS LEFT EXCEPT ME AND MY SMALL DOG I WAS HOLDING WE WERE BURIED UNDER DEBRE. PS I SURE MISS YOU IN NORTH AL.
I LIVED IN PHIL CAMPBELL, AL ON HWY 237 ON APRIL 27TH. I MOVED 8 MILES NORTH OUT OF THE AREA.