2011-04-27 MISC: AL,TN,MS,KY,OH,IN,WV,GA

[Jason Moreland]

Watch video >

 

[Michael Riedl]

Comparisons to '74 should really stop, they really weren't that similar systems at all.

hats off to ABC 33/40 as well, some of the best tornado Coverage I have seen outside of the Plains states.

 

[Chip Redmond]

I'd also be surprised if the total count ends up near the Super Outbreak count. There were a lot of tornadic supercells today, but they primarily occurred over a relatively small area (by comparison to the Super Outbreak); for the most part, most of the tornado reports are from far eastern MS, the northern 2/3 of AL, and adjacent parts of southern TN and northwestern GA (though we can't ignore the other cluster of reports farther northeast). From a pure "totals" standpoint, many of these tornadoes apparently were long-lived, so you'd have 1 tornado per hour compared to maybe 2 or 3 from one supercell. If I remember correctly, we had close to 63 tornadoes in Oklahoma on 5/3/99, and I'm curious to see how many occurred today in AL.

It is also a wonder if they will be able to discern today's from last night's tornadoes/wind damage as many of them crossed similar areas in MS and AL.

That video is the one I was referencing, but there was one similar (although a bit bigger) today and I can't find it anywhere. TWC hasn't aired it again either...

Chip

 

[Tony Cook]

ABC33/40 did by far one the most amazing jobs I have ever seen broadcast meterologists do with an outbreak. They kept their cool, knew the area, and understood the importance of the situation, making it as dumbed down as the public needed.

Chip

Agreed. James Spann knows his stuff, and is the definition of class under pressure in my book. He has also had some experience in this department:

Dec 16, 2000:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Jyqy7qhsQ

Sep 25, 2005:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW6LYQ9hYEs&feature=related

Apr 15, 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL2Vz2clkc0

More Spann info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Spann

TonyC

 

[KenMcWatters]

If I had a dollar for everytime this had to be said today...

TWC just aired an amazing video of a tornado (I don't know which one) developing from a extemely close vantage point and tearing apart trees and powerlines as it crossed the road. Reminded me of the tight small tornado video from Europe a while back. I can't find a link to it anywhere, can anyone find it?

Chip, I think you are referring to this tornado from Philadelphia, Mississippi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XInx2RsPIz8

Agreed it is just one of many incredible videos shot from today's outbreak.

 

[Mike Johnston]

Well, comparisons are difficult at this point, but one topic of interest is that tornadic supercell that developed west of Philadelphia, MS and evidently moved all the way to northwest Georgia. Was it actually one tornado throughout or a cell that put down multiple tornadoes? Did it travel 300 miles? Depending on the answers to these questions, you can see the possible comparison to another historic event.

 

[Michael Riedl]

This is one of the most impressive videos of the day as well, tornado traversing terrain and the updraft/rotating supercell is great. The entire storm is rotating at high speeds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEr2lCnQcow&feature=youtu.be

 

[Chip Redmond]

Chip, I think you are referring to this tornado from Philadelphia, Mississippi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XInx2RsPIz8

Agreed it is just one of many incredible videos shot from today's outbreak.

AHH! That is it! Thanks! Kudo's to Andy Gabrielson for an amazing shot!

This video shows how truely isolated tornadoes can, and usually are. The speed the storms were moving at today is just astounding. Also, given pw's ~1.5", the incredible shear allowed for such classic structure and permitted great views on many of the tornadoes which would of else-wise been hp's.

Chip

 

[jeremy wilson]

Well, comparisons are difficult at this point, but one topic of interest is that tornadic supercell that developed west of Philadelphia, MS and evidently moved all the way to northwest Georgia. Was it actually one tornado throughout or a cell that put down multiple tornadoes? Did it travel 300 miles? Depending on the answers to these questions, you can see the possible comparison to another historic event.

Not one consecutive tornado, guaranteed. I doubt any tornado has ever traveled 300 miles. The supercell was on the ground for an insane amount of time but that has happened many times in my lifetime.

This cell will go down as one of the higher end cyclic storms with the land it traveled and the damaged it caused but to compare this outbreak with the '74 beast is not fair. If this system happened 40 years ago the death toll would have been way higher. Would it have reached '74 status? Who knows?

I think I can say that this will go down as the worst outbreak this century. And thats saying alot!

EDIT: just looked at radar, I think that Tuscaloosa cell is still going and tornado warned again!! BATU!

 

[Travis W Speakman]

Lamar County (GA) Sheriff reporting heavy tress down and his residence has been hit. Just heard another Deputy report he took cover in his residence until the tornado passed, his house also hit....
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?action=wp&feedId=7714

 

[jeremy wilson]

This is one of the most impressive videos of the day as well, tornado traversing terrain and the updraft/rotating supercell is great. The entire storm is rotating at high speeds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEr2lCnQcow&feature=youtu.be

Looks like a machine instead of a storm!! Some of the best tornado video I've ever seen considering the terrain and structure. WOW!

 

[Andy Wehrle]

It's not over yet, folks...

Sigh.

 

[Kevin Walters]

That is simply mesmerizing. Thoughts and prayers to everyone affected down there.

 

[Elaine Spencer]

Saw this on another blog.. with 72 fatalities and counting this is the deadliest SPC High Risk day ever; it's already exceeded 3/28/84 and 2/5/08 (Super Tuesday).

 

[Stan Rose]

This is the most impressive outbreak ive seen in my career, since 97 at least. It was extremely frustrating knowing all the parameters were in place, and not being able to get all those people out of the way--you really feel power-less. While it didnt have the breadth of the Superoutbreak, i think its fair to compare. The one thing that really struck me as similar to '74 is the multiple lines of discrete tornadic supercells, one after another; gravity waves, bores, or instabilities aloft--very reminiscent of '74.