2/05/08 NOW: OK/TX/AR/MO/LA/MS/IL/KY/TN/AL/IN/OH

[Jeff Snyder]

Extreme low-level shear continues to prove favorable for intense tornadic supercells across TN, AR, and adjacent areas. My primary focus continues to be the three supercells in central TN, particularly the supercell SW of Nashville. This cell has had a very impressive velocity representation on KOHX radar, including this possible damage ball signature. The low-level meso appears to have weakened a bit, so whether it's actually a "damage ball" or not isn't known. This is BR1, which means the beam is ~2300 feet above the ground (neglecting elevation changes, which may be locally significant). Having Level II would be nice to check for vertical continuity and how this "feature" changes with height and time.

T-minus about 20 minutes before the meso moves into the Nashville "metro" area. EDIT: "AT 905 PM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO MOVED THROUGH THE BRUSHY COMMUNITY IN HICKMAN COUNTY."

It's rather nice that we have at least a couple well-placed soundings of this event, particularly the 00z LZK/LIT sounding, but also including the SHV and JAN soundings. Now, if only MEG did soundings...

 

[Doug Lee]

The Atkins storm hit Hardy...

I won't dispute that. But a quick measurement and calculation show that Hardy and Atkins are 110 miles apart. If the same storm cell hit both towns, it must have been a very strong one, or it might have cycled a few times. Which just shows how powerful today's set up was, and what we might expect for the rest of the night.

As an assist to the mods, I'll reserve any further comments on this issue for a discussion thread.

 

[Patrick Marsh]

There is a hockey game ongoing in downtown Nashville. TV stations I'm monitoring appear to be underplaying the threat for downtown Nashville.

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Down to one TVS--it does look like a very large circulation.

Edit--two new meso sigs, one is showing a 7nm radius--definitely large.

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

Law Enforcement has reported a tornado, supposedly moved through the Brushy Community. Anyone have links to webcams?

 

[HAltschule]

NWS now receiving a tornado on the ground report in Pegram, TN...just a few miles from Nashville!!!

Tornado Warning now issued for the city of Nashville.

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Doubt its a "debris ball". Radar is at 4500ft there, and it looks like its coming down from above... maybe a DRC. Also appears to be too rural in that area.

I think a lot of that area is more suburban than rural these days.

 

[Tony Laubach]

Sitting in northeastern Memphis with tornado sirens ongoing as we speak. Squall line moving in with a reported tornado 3 miles east of Forrest City. Not really going to chase at this point, but may go out and see what I can see as the storm approaches the metro area.

 

[Dave_Hilbert]

WSMV reports 60 tracktor trailers over turned on I 40

 

[Justin E. Reed]

The circulation will go thru the most expensive area of Metro Nashville(Green Hills, Oak Hill, Forest Hills, Brentwood) and is a heavily forested area of the city, loaded with steep hills. The main part fo nashville is below this, and is relatively flat/gently rolling.

Confirmed touchdown in Pasquo, which is still rural City of Nashville.

 

[HAltschule]

That's not possible. Pegram is in Cheatham County. I wouldnt doubt it, but it is slightly NW of the circulation center

Are you kidding? The hook is almost directly over Pegram!!

 

[Scott Lincoln]

Take a look at the storm in 3D. The storm was not being sampled low enough nor was there enough of a populated area for that "debris ball" to be real debris. Seems like people just jump right on any little blob on the hook of a storm and assume "DEBRIS!!!!". Definitely looked like a DRC in 3D to me. Thank goodness for Nashville it looks like the low level rotation isn't particularly strong - I should say it at least is not looking as obvious as the OKC99 storm did as it got nearer the radar. Still a tornado possible I'd say, but probably not a large one in the next several minutes.

 

[Sam Sagnella]

TOR extended to include downtown Nashville.

Tornado touchdown reported at HWY100 at the Natchez Trace per WKRN. It scares me to pieces that there's a hockey game going on; they'd better be keeping those people there- DO NOT let them outside. House collapsed in Fairview.

Look out Vanderbilt U.

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Don't have 3D--I hope you are right, though. It may be de-instenisfying a bit--hope it holds off across town. Hook is about to go over Belle Meade.

 

[David Poch]

A red tvs just popped up on that storm as it is entering Nashville. NROT at +2.19.