05/22/08 DISC: CO/NE/WY/KS/OK/TX

[Sam Sagnella]

Because the outbreak is only just beginning and so many chasers are out today (many of whom seek info from the NOW thread), we should probably start the DISC thread early and move the discussion of the Windsor CO situation here.

Video still of the tornado as it crossed Hwy. 34 (with more images in the slideshow):

http://www.9news.com/9slideshows/Weld County Tornado 5-22-08/Default.aspx?N=7

This would have been as the tornado was approaching Windsor. One thing I noticed watching the video is that the tornado was moving at a pretty good clip.

Local news out of Denver reporting numerous buildings and houses damaged in Windsor, CO. Also 2 semi's blown off highway.

Windsor Fire Department spokeswoman on CNN now; describing tornado that went right over her location in the EOC/Fire Dept. No specific numbers, but serious situation no doubt.

 

[Jeff Lawson]

Reports of "buildings devastated" in Windsor, including a day care. LSR mentions "direct hit on State Farm Building" west of Greeley. That's actually a very large office campus (~500,000 square feet in three buildings).

 

[Sam Sagnella]

Live shot from KUSA on CNN right now. They're currently showing what *looks like* a trailer that was dragged/blown several hundred yards through a field; scrape marks visible in the dirt.

 

[Jeff Lawson]

Getting video from Windsor now. Looks like the day care building held up pretty well, thankfully, and no serious injuries to the children inside. Other visible damage looks about F2 to F3.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

You can listen to the scanner activity live. http://www.scancolorado.com/playlists/scancolorado/scanner30bp.asx

 

[Scott Lincoln]

Getting video from Windsor now. Looks like the day care building held up pretty well, thankfully, and no serious injuries to the children inside. Other visible damage looks about F2 to F3.

So far everything I've seen with videos on the ground, in the air, and from radar, it seems like a preliminary guess of EF2-EF3 would probably be a fair assessment. Apparently the Eastman-Kodak plant and to the NW got some of the worst damage - phone interview with someone from town describes houses completely destroyed to their inner walls. So far the KUSAtv coverage I'm watching hasn't shown much of that area, as they are focused on the day-care area.

 

[David Poch]

Just saw this on CNN. Amazing storm.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/22/colorado.tornado.video/index.html

 

[Jeff Lawson]

More damage footage coming in from along the tornado's path... it looks like the the tornado (or tornado family) path may be 20-30 miles long. Still F2 to F3 damage.

 

[Scott Lincoln]

http://www.9news.com/ now has a link to the video used to make their stills. Its on the main page in that box - click the little camera icon.

 

[Sam Sagnella]

Weld County Sheriff's Dept has a webpage that they're keeping updated as they gather more info. Latest statement is that the schools are on lockdown.
http://www.weldsheriff.com/

 

[Darren Addy]

Talked to my friend in Greeley. He reported seeing what must have been satellite vortexes (in the air) west of Greeley. He had a son a mile from the tornado when it was at Millekin who took camera phone video. Saw it destroy a house and went to help the residents. Friend's daughter, who lives in Greeley was returning from Loveland when she called her dad and said she was west of town (Windsor). He advised her to take shelter at the nearest house. Significant hail started and she got scared. Both she (hugely pregnant) and her son fell on hail running to the house. The 4 year old has some hail welts it sounds like. Understandably shaken but OK. About as close as I'd want MY kids to come.

The striking thing about the video is how the reporters don't seem to even understand what they are looking at.

 

[Sam Sagnella]

The striking thing about the video is how the reporters don't seem to even understand what they are looking at.

Indeed - the big (dusty) wedges sometimes seem to bring about an air of denial among those nearby. 'There's no way THAT is a tornado, it's too big'. Unfortunately, confused or not, someone has now been confirmed by the Sheriff's Dept to have been killed by the storm.

1:57PM One confirmed fatality. No other information at this time
1:54 PM Shelters established for Greeley Residents at the Greeley Rec Center (651 10th Ave) and the Greeley Funplex (1501 65th Ave)

http://www.weldsheriff.com/

 

[Jeff Lawson]

The striking thing about the video is how the reporters don't seem to even understand what they are looking at.

I had the same thought. When the video first aired on KUSA, the anchors had this bemused, "Hey, how about that," tone to their voice, whereas I was falling out of my chair with my mouth hanging wide open.

 

[Sam Sagnella]

A press conference on the situation in Weld County is scheduled to begin at 3PM MDT.

 

[Jeff Lawson]

For those who are curious, here's the Platteville profiler data from this morning...

Based on storm and damage reports, the first tornado should have developed very near the location of the profiler around 1730Z. I guess the site lost power, because it stopped updating after that point.