1/7/08 NOW: OK, KS, AR, TX, MO, LA, IA, IL

[Sam Sagnella]

WISN is reporting thru KCSO that there is a confirmed tornado with extensive damage in Northern Kenosha, WI. There are gas leaks, and evacuations are underway. No reports of injuries. HWY 50 at 350th near where some of the most significant damage has occurred. Reporter: "I've never seen so many emergency vehicles"

Also, via WIFR-TV in Rockford IL: a photo of the Boone Co., IL tornado.


EDIT: Wheatland resident reporting that homes are 'completely demolished' near the Wheatland Center School (these appear to be the ones from the original LSR), as well as an additional eight in a subdivision nearby. Local zoning laws require at least acre plots from what I can understand. She is also reporting that sirens were sounding prior to the tornado's arrival.

EDIT2: WISN's chief met is reporting that he believes it was a straightline event in Kenosha, though the radar data does show a rather weak couplet in the area at the time.

EDIT3: UM...... I'm not sure if I missed this the first time around or if this is new info, but the summary-LSR out of LOT indicates that there was a "train turned over" as the tornado passed through the Harvard area of Nrn IL. Anyone else lose the WISN feed?

 

[Michael O'Keeffe]

Tornado warnings in SW MO continue near the areas recently affected in October. One storms near I44 has a confirmed tornado on the ground heading towards the Springfield, MO area. Very nice couplet and hook.

A new storm tracking over the same area is in far SW MO as well. No confirmed tornado, but wouldn't be surprised to see something from it soon.

Man I hope the rest of the season is like this!!!

 

[Sam Sagnella]

Yikes-- look out Springfield, MO! Conditions remain favorable for continued tornado activity with that long-lived, isolated supercell moving NEwd thru SWrn MO., although, as SPC notes in MD0016, storm coverage should increase in the next few hours as CINH dissipates with a strengthening LLJ. 23z obs indicate SSEly winds at SGF with a T/Td reading of 65/57.

 

[Bryan Putnam]

I just got off the phone with Brandon Lawson who saw a tornado just south of Monet, MO a few minutes ago. There were power lines down, at least one car blown off the road and possible damage to homes. It was very fast moving cone with debris.

 

[Heidi Farrar]

http://media.myfoxmilwaukee.com/live/index.html

Live stream out of Milwaukee

 

[Scott Weberpal]

EDIT3: UM...... I'm not sure if I missed this the first time around or if this is new info, but the summary-LSR out of LOT indicates that there was a "train turned over" as the tornado passed through the Harvard area of Nrn IL. Anyone else lose the WISN feed?

I'll write up a report in the reports section soon. Was on the storm as it passed just north of Harvard. Not a train turned over, but an 18-wheeler. Between storm motion and heavily populated areas couldn't follow storm past Lake Geneva...unfortunately no good view of tornado (if there was one and not straight-line wind at that point) near Harvard...see REPORT section soon for full report...

 

[Danny Neal]

Storm just moved through the southside. Very heavy rain, clocked 51 mph wind gust and pea sized hail covering the ground. Was in and out of here in a blink of an eye now just left with grungy precip. Tornado watch still out for another 3 hours. Seems like the Central IL moisture is going to stay south of here so unless we get continued development out of WI into NW - WC IL, my show for severe weather is done. Gotta love January.

 

[Sam Sagnella]

UH OH! 55+KT inbound/55+KT outbound at ~300ft. Pray for Springfield. wow.

 

[Jim Zandonai]

Wow what an event..huge squall line now in Central IL. with more Tornado warnings out..
Earlier in Winnebago county here we had a Tornado Warning and Boone county..I Was at work but hey its only January ..
I saw the radar return..wow.. Hail pea size to 3/4 inch fell heavly in Loves park and northward..Hard to believe that just last week we were 20 below windchills with 6" of snow on the ground.. Thats the first time I ever remeber a Tornado warning here in JAN !
Looks like rough nite in Central IL and MO ..
www.rrstar.com has info regarding the Boone county Tornado !

 

[Scott Udell]

Just talked to my folks who live between Halltown and Ash Grove on that shot above, in very NE Lawrence county. Dad said he could hear the sirens from down near Republic (right in the hook). Here's a list of media web sites in Springfield: http://www.springfieldmo.gov/community/media.html

 

[Chad Cowan]

Springfield is in trouble...

Look at this vault moving into the city:

Possible debris return:

 

[Dan Melby]

Funnels being reported in northeast Springfield along with 2" hail.

 

[Sam Sagnella]

The Springfield storm was obviously quite intense as it passed through Barry County earlier, and now reports of damage are coming in from the Midway area. "David Compton of the Barry County Emergency Management office says a storm system that prompted a tornado warning in McDonald County moved into his county just before dark. A suspected tornado touched down near the community of Midway, causing damage to the Midway Mobile Home park and the Midway Package Store at Highways 37 and BB, Compton said. Compton said there was no confirmed report of injuries, however emergency crews were still checking on the well-being of residents in the area."
http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?sid=d4ee0fafea5ada31cead34b12633dbc9&cid=15977

Spotters reported a 'rope funnel' on the west side of Springfield along with quarter to half dollar-sized hail.

 

[Bart_Comstock]

Chris Wilburn and I were on the cell that is effecting Springfeild. We were south of Monet on HWY 37 and had a damaging tornado touch down cross the toad and head into souther monet and stayed on the ground for at least 10 min before moving out of our view and getting rain wrapped by the hook. We are sitting just outside of butterfeild right now with a well pronounced lowering.

Will post video and pics later. Pray for Springfeild, this was a damaging tornado that uprooted whole oak trees.

 

[Rob Lightbown]

KTTS 94.7 out of Springfield, MO is streaming live:

http://player.streamtheworld.com/jbroadcast/?CALLSIGN=KTTSFM