04/09/09 NOW: OK, KS.

[Heidi Farrar]

Here is a story from KFSM (Fort Smith, AR) on the Mena situation. The first cell did pass to the north, but the one right behind it had a 121 knt TVS go right over the town.

 

[Sean Poling]

Very tight couplet....but unfortunately the attached pic is not showing properly.

 

[Bill Schintler]

Storm approaching Shreveport

Interesting: the flow in the 3000-5000 ft layer out of the SW (4.3 degree tilt), on the inflow-side of the storm, as increased by about 35kts over about the last 4 radar scans... And, over the period of about 2-3 scans, it cycled; after looking disorganized briefly.

- bill

 

[Charles Kuster]

The storm near Shreveport has become better organized over the past few minutes. It now has a pronounced hook and is moving towards the city. The possible tornado is located about 6 miles west of downtown Shreveport as of 10:09pm CDT. The tornado should be near Shreveport by 10:23pm CDT.

Another supercell with a possible tornado was located in Webster Parish. This possible tornado was located about 3 miles west of Springhill, LA at 10:09pm CDT.

Edit: Possible tornado is now (10:19pm CDT) located about 1 mile west of Shreveport, LA. I would be interested to see what this looked like on GR Level 2/3 at about 10:14pm CDT. I am using StormLab with the raw radar data, and the hook looked quite interesting at this time.

 

[Erik Perozo]

I hope that southern cell in north LA doesn't drop a tor in Shreveport bc it is headed straight for it.

 

[Paul Austin]

Erik beat me to it. Shreveport under the gun.

 

[Erik Perozo]

Me and my chase partner was watching web cam in Shreveport and watched power flashes from the cell that went downtown.
http://www.ci.shreveport.la.us/LiveCam/LiveCam.htm

I hope no one is hurt.

 

[Robert Rohloff]

Reports from Mena indicate tornado moved thru center of town. Large search and rescue mission in progress and nationa guard called in. No report on injury/death however a university was also hit.

 

[Erik Perozo]

Ok have a few more storm shots for you. One is with filter to get rid of some of the lower reflectivity. Looks like half the city is out of power on the web cam.

 

[Cole McConnell]

Reports of Major Damage in the town of Mena. House along Highway 63/8 on the OK/AR border report major damaged, rescue officials having a hard time getting to the location because of downed trees.

 

[Jim Saueressig]

One reported death in Mena AR now.

 

[Steve Dedman]

KTHV in Little Rock reporting two fatalities in Mena, also damage in DeQueen. My mom lived in DeQueen as a little girl.

 

[Chip Redmond]

TOR warned, very discrete supercell that did damage to the Shreveport area is still marching on even though it is entering a much more stable air mass. Currently its just east/southeast of Monroe, LA and about to cross the MS/LA line. This storm has been going at it for over two hours. It will be interesting to see just how far it can make it and sustain itself before the stable atmosphere around it gets the best of it...

Chip

 

[Daniel van Os]

Tornado Warned supercell is now approaching Tallulah in Madison county, MS.

 

[Toni Scholz]

This same cell is responsible for 10-15 railroad cars tossed off the tracks in Cadoo Parish, LA. Reported by county EM.