2/11/09 REPORTS: WV/OH

[Dan Robinson]

A Moderate Risk in WV in February verified with copious wind damage and unfortunately one fatality. I observed the crest of a bowing segment at home after driving back and forth in the valley to reposition. The fast-moving, very thin line produced the briefest burst of rain/wind I've seen, lasting just under 45 seconds. My subdivision lost power during the squall, along with many areas of town. No lightning, but a few power flashes were observed.

My video suffered as I didn't have time to make it inside, nonetheless here is a short log with a video clip:

http://stormhighway.com/blog/feb1109a.shtml

The last part of the video is a post-squall wind burst roaring through the trees (turn the volume up).

 

[Paul Hadfield]

On the surface, this event didn't pop off as was originally forecast for C IL however, when appreciated on a much smaller scale, it proved to be quite opportunistic. Of the things observed within the 60 or so miles covered... fog backed against the cold front, a series of small non-severe wall clouds and a squall line made exciting for being set above a large body of water. Without going overboard on details including other positives of this day, a full report can be found HERE.

 

[Terry Tyler]

2/11/09 REPORTS: TN

Intercepted a line of storms south of Franklin, TN. Close to the start of that big wind event. Storms started going severe about 30mi west. There was a tornado warning only 1 county away, but i didnt even attempt to get to it because of the speed the line was traveling and the distance i was from it. I couldent get any pictures of the front of the storm, or any features because as usual, it was too cloudy you couldent see anything.

Spotter reported a measured 64mph gust in dickson. One of the saplings in that photo was blown down, but aside from that, there wasnt any kind of major damage being done in the immiediate area of Franklin. Id say winds maybe 50-60mph.

On the way back, i drove through damage stricken areas. 4" limbs were common along the roads, and power and utility crews were out. We saw lots of guys with wood chippers cleaning up the roads, and alot of police too. One place they had a road blocked off because of downed trees and powerlines.

Shorty after this photo when i got on the highway headed home, i snapped this shot as i drove by an awful wreck in the opposing lane. Probably occurred as a result of the bad weather, i think the driver survived. Sure hope so.

Good work to the people who chased and spotted for day 1 and 2 of this event. Very dynamic and threatining weather set up that occured out there.

 

[Chip Redmond]

Moderators, could you add Ohio to the discussion?

A major wind event occured today in many parts of the southern Great Lakes/Mid Atlantic.

Chase target was Lexington KY as it seemed everything was coming together there, sunny skies, temps topping the upper 60s, dewpoints in the low 50s, cape values 500+ j/kg, nice shear values and LI's around -2. But, we ended up being a half hour late on our departure and adding that to the squall line moving a little faster than anticipated, we were a hour off of our target. So about a hour away, in Maysville KY we stopped to evaluate how things were coming as rain began to fall. This rain really hampered all the surface warning we received. With a look at the radar, a imbedded meso got tor warned just south of our target area that made things really frustrating.

We decided to head east along the Ohio River in hopes of being hit by the stronger bowing segment of the gust front. We intercepted the gust front just north of Portsmouth and experienced winds of at least 60mph (68mph confirmed). Debris was flying through the air and the rain hurt on impact to the skin. Once we let it over take us we attempted to catch it again but had to go to far north before we could cut east and try to jump out of it and lost it. By then we had stopped monitoring radar and then missed a cell that had developed behind the line around Cincinnati that had great structure and decided to head home.

We thought that was it but upon reaching Athens we were treated to some amazing low-lying mammatus that were on the backside of the low-topped line of storms. I have never seen mammatus this low in my life. It seemed as if they were right on top of you.
Overall, not bad for a February chase, especially for the Ohio valley. Maybe this means for a promising spring chase season.

Miles Travelled: 300

You can see some pics (although they are way to big at the moment, ill change it tomorrow) at our schools website.

Chip