Danny Neal
EF5
Sickening birds-eye view of the tornado going through Tuscaloosa.... shame on those people who were cheering it on too.
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- Weather and Chasing
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- 2010s
Greg Stumpf
EF5
The number of tornadoes should not be used to define the impacts of the outbreak, but rather the total area covered by tornado damage. Although we have yet to see those numbers, it is possible that the area covered by damage on 27 April 2011 may exceed that covered in 3-4 April 1974. In addition, the area covered by strong and violent damage is important, along with the population densities, land use, and demographic data affected by the tornadoes.John Peters
EF3
In terms of total path length of violent tornadoes,
Super Outbreak
F-4: 865.9 miles
F-5: 283.6 miles
Late April 2011 Outbreak
EF-4: 597.8
EF-5: 147.6
based on Wiki pages
Robert Dewey
EF5
Family brought it to my attention that the 27-28th is now a new record with NOAA reporting 305 tornadoes, beating the old record of 148 [according to CNN]. Who's the buffoon that writes this stuff?
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/04/tornado.record/index.html?hpt=Sbin
Andy Wehrle
EF5
Has the Smithville tornado been "connected" to any other paths, yet? I find it hard to believe that such a violent tornado had such a short path length:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=meg&storyid=67427&source=0
Given the forward speed of the storms, it could only have been on the ground for three minutes at that path length. That brief of an EF5 tornado just does not compute, especially given the number of much longer-track EF4s and EF3s.
Edit: Ah, here we go:
That makes much more sense. They should update the top news link on their homepage.
Clarence Bennett
EF3
This was the same supercell that produced what is referred to as the "Shottsville" tornado. I believe it actually lifted prior to touching down again just southwest of Hwy78/I-22 near exit 3. This was my first tornado of the day and was rated EF-3 by BMX.
Andy Wehrle
EF5
As per the updated PNS I found, they were found to be one tornado.
Clarence Bennett
EF3
In the "Note:", I guess BMX does indicate that it was one continuous tornado, yet when you read their summary, they suggest the tornado started with coordinates that are almost a mile across the state line. I know I am splitting hairs with them, but it can be very confusing. I have spent a week reading between the lines trying to connect it all as I am sure they have been too. I have been very overwhelmed by the whole event, so I cannot imagine how they must feel.Last edited by a moderator:Glen Turner
"Jesus, help these people in Tuscaloosa."
Excellent view of the Tuscaloosa tornado for over seven minutes, including formation and touchdown. apparently shot from a tripod in the bed of a pickup. Shortly after it touches down, the guy with the camera starts praying for Tuscaloosa. The first 6 minutes are on the supercell approaching Tuscaloosa, and the tornado starts to form around 6:25. Lots of tendrils and secondary vortices spinning off and then getting sucked back in without touching down.
Watch video >Last edited by a moderator:mwenzbauer
EF0
One question that comes to mind when comparing the Super Outbreak with 4/27/11 is the consistency of the ratings. It's probably been debated many times before and I'm not criticizing the surveyors in any way, but I have a hard time believing that on the old rating system we would have just the two EF5/F5 tornadoes from 4/27 and just 11 EF4/F4 tornadoes. It seems some damage indicators that were once F5 are now EF4. Damage from Ringgold and the Tuscaloosa/Birmingham tornadoes certainly seems on par with damage photos of Xenia, Brandenburg or other F5's (even quoted as so by Dr. Forbes on the flyover Tuscaloosa damage). I know they say the difference between F4 and F5 is the most difficult to differentiate, but it's hard to imagine these were not quite as strong as say other F5's which did so much less high end damage, often to a minimal number of structures (Broken Bow, Goessel, Chandler, Oakfield).
Irregardless, like most, I never thought I'd see an outbreak even rival the Super Outbreak.John Peters
EF3
I think there is some truth to this - namely, if the super outbreak were to occur today, the number of tornadoes surveyed as violent may end up being less; however, this is pure speculation.
Keep in mind, BMX has indicated that they have a nationally renown expert who is still looking over damage. It is possible, given the enormity of the damage caused by the Tuscaloosa/Birmingham storm, that they are still examining it.
Chris Hayes
EF5
Third tornado upgraded to EF-5 http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/p.php?pid=201105051837-KJAN-NOUS44-PNSJAN This one dug some trenches feet deep along it's path
Wow those were some big trenches. I wonder what caused those. I would imagine some large piece of debris dug along the ground did it, but it would've had to have been a huge piece of something to dig a trench the size it did. If it was due to the tornadic winds themselves, then that's the first I've ever heard of a tornado doing that, and is a testament to how strong that tornado was.mwenzbauer
EF0
Impressive... for anyone who hasn't seen it, the NWS Jackson page has some great photographs of the damage done by this tornado.
Chris Hayes
EF5
I believe the 1997 Jarrell tornado dug a trench along it's path as well, but not that deep. Probably due to it's slow forward speedSimilar threads
