2011-04-27 REPORTS: AL/MS/TN/KY/VA/GA/OH

[Drew.Gardonia]

Adam Reagan, myself, Jennifer and Jesse Hines are headed back to Murfreesboro. While we did not see any tornado's on the ground, today was anything but a bust. We were near 2 rain wrapped tornadoes but we just were not able to see them. But we did get

2 wall clouds
2 funnels (don't know how the pictures will come out just yet but they may be iffy, both were shot while we were driving, so we'll see).
incredible lightning video
and on the drive back up towards Huntsville, we caught an amazing storm on video.

I will have a full chase report up in the next day or two, with videos and pictures.

Every town we've been in has been a ghost town with no power at all whatsoever. Only damage we have seen today was in Decatur at an Industrial Park which took a pretty good hit (also near where we got the 2 wall cloud's at).

Decatur, Falkville, Cullman, Vinemont, Hartselle, Huntsville, and so far every town north of Huntsville on 231 that we've encountered have had no power...never seen anything like this before in my life.

Incredible Lightning show going on to the east as we continue north, makes for a nice treat on a long way home.

Big thanks to Jesse and Jennifer for driving, they got a big treat today for their first time out on a real chase, and they are super ecstatic and pumped up about what they saw, and neither has expressed any disappointment at all. Adam and I are buying the 2 of them dinner tonight when we finally reach somewhere that has power....lol.

 

[Bill Hark]

I have added a full chase report with images and video (added Dec 2011)

http://www.harkphoto.com/04272011.html


Here is a link to a short youtube video of an amazing tornado and "mothership" supercell that I intercepted near Oilville, VA (west of Richmond.) Full report to follow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOnIX04eZBk

Bill Hark

 

[Erik Perozo]

Got a late start because I had to work earlier in the day but was able to leave Spring Hill, TN around 3PM. Figured my best bet was to play the pseudo warm front in Northern Alabama. After noticing the tornado emergencies on the Cullman,AL and Smithville,MS storms I knew I had a chance after looking at the amount of 0-1 SRH(900m2/s2) and CAPE values of 1000j/kg in and around Decatur,AL. Intercepted the Large Wedge Tornado at I-65 in Tanner,AL. Was literally in the edge of the circulation after the video ends. I hate I had to use my Iphone for Video but at least I had something.

Screen Shot from the Video

Large Wedge Crossing I-65 Here!!!

Watch video >

 

[Simon Brewer]

Juston and I documented a large violent tornado in Tuscaloosa, AL, while filming "Storm Riders" for The Weather Channel. It was very difficult to find breaks in the trees and the tornado made a right turn forcing us to reposition as it moved into the city. Our support car driver lives in Tuscaloosa, and his house was on the edge of the damage path.

Simon

 

[DRMabe]

I was in Tuscaloosa AL today also chasing the cell that ultimately destroyed alot of the town. I was chasing solo, had telephone assistance with navigation and positioning from Ryan Rogers. Also saved my ass when the network got clogged after the tornadoes. He was helping me dodge cells as I was trying to bail out of AL back into GA blind with no data after dark. Here's a few still captures from video, a link to my video, and a few stills of the tornado.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKLP2FgxKuE

 

[Adam Lucio]

So much to go over but saw 2 tornadoes and both I have a feeling we were the only chasers on as most were either in Tuscaloosa or on the first batch of storms to the north. We were in between on an isolated storm that put this monster down near Haleyville, AL

The tornado was moving incredibly fast and the sound of it tearing through the dense forest made it the loudest tornado I have ever heard.

Later we also caught a rope/needle that moved over I-65 [yea, not everything was a wedge or violent cone yesterday, it may have been the Cullman tornado near the end of its life though.]

I still can't get over just how crazy yesterday was. Almost got stranded as my truck was almost out of gas and for over 150 miles every station we stopped at was without power. Each station had multiple cars just sitting at pumps with no gas. I suspect many spent long nights out there and may still even be there. I owe thanks to Bill Oosterban for coming down and bringing me 5 gallons which allowed me to get north into TN where they had power so I could fill up and continue home, otherwise I would probably still be down there as they suspect power won't be on for 3 days.

More later, there is much to go over.

 

[Zack Hargrove]

Possible Blountsville, AL tornado and damage.

Watch video >

This lightning strike in St. Claire County sure woke us up:

Watch video >

 

[Dan Robinson]

I was in Charleston, WV on business on the 27th and unable to leave to chase until after 3PM, which limited my options. I caught up to two tornado-warned supercells in western VA overnight, but saw little of interest with them. The catch of the day for me was back in the Charleston area at an old chase standby spot, the WVAH TV tower:

http://stormhighway.com/blog2011/april2811a.shtml

 

[Jeremy Holmes]

Im sorry I didnt get to give everyone a heads up that I was just on Fox news along with one video I shot of the Tuscaloosa monster. I was on the storm when it first formed and produced. I lost it and got on another cell that produced and trapped me for about two hours with down trees over every road. When I got free the storm had already been through Tuscaloosa. I got on another cell that produced another large tornado. I was in a very bad spot and it came fast. I floored it and it felt like I was being sucked back in. It ripped the hat off my head and in the video you see it being sucked away. Tonight on the weather channel between 7-8 my video maybe shown again with a live interview with Jeff Piotrowski. When things settle down I will post some video and pics. There is a few up at www.twisterchasers.com.

 

[Jerry Funfsinn]

1st tornado 7 miles west of Hamilton, Alabama crossing US 78 SR4 at 4:06 P.M. CDT. 2nd tornado 5 miles north
of Guin, Alabama on US 43 taken at 5:13 P.M. CDT. I drove east on US 78/SR 43 trying to position ahead of the supercell to my south
and it was literally raining branches and occasional sheet metal. Noticing a debris ball signature on radar, I stopped twice and turned
around once only to double back on US 78 thinking the tornado would have already passed the highway. I was expecting the tornado to be
north of the highway when it popped out of the rain in front of me. I would say with confidence that it was moving 70+ mph. The decision
to hold back was a good choice because there was no way to see it coming with the tree tops obscuring the lowest part of the storm.
I tried to follow on a north road option but had to stop from the damage blocking the highway.
The second tornado I was able to position in a clearing with a view to the west. As I waited, I looked beyond the western tree line and saw rapid
cloud motion approaching.Not wanting to be on the business end of this storm either I put the car in drive and started to back out of the drive
where I was parked. After a few seconds it looked like the storm would pass to my north so I stopped to watch a white barrel tornado skirt beyond
the northern tree line.
I had thus far sampled 4 supercells, two with tornadoes and another approaching from the south. At this point I decided not to press my luck
and try to make my way out. Fuel was getting low and each town I passed through had no power. With so many storms taking similar paths the chance
of encountering debris blocked roads was high and I did not want to expend fuel detouring. I spent some worried hours driving back to MS
where I was able to get gas.
With all the flooding, morning & afternoon storm destruction and power outages, I feel so fortunate that I could drive away, unlike the victims
who have to pick up the pieces of their lives. The speed at which these storms/tornadoes hit was utterly amazing. In retrospect it seems
silly that one could believe you could "chase" them. My strategy going in was to find a major north/south highway and daisey chain the storms
north to south which worked for a while. The reality was that there were razor thin margins for error and it gives all new meaning
to ThreadN' the Needle.

Watch video >

 

[Trey Alvey]

Multiple tornadoes including the initial formation of the Tuscaloosa tornado. It was amazing how quickly the storms went from rotating wall clouds to violent tornadoes.
Watch video >

 

[Jeff House]

Blount Co. AL

Crystal and I departed Chattanooga at about 3:00 pm CDT (1600 local) after I worked an interesting day to say the least. I would have posted a FCST but was crazy busy at work. Our goal was to find supercells firing on a pre-frontal trough and intersecting the outflow boundary from earlier storms in Tenn. Our target would be northeast AL. We work our way down I-59 and exit at AL 40/117 to drive up on a ridge and observe a supercell in DeKalb Co AL. According to SPC the cell produced during the 4:00 hour CDT but we could not see anything. Radar showed an insane supercell approaching us from southwest of Gadsen so we got back on I-59.

Exit at US-278 near Gadsen. We drive west and climb up onto the plateau which offered better views and terrain a little more similar to the Plains I'm used to. Other chasers are documenting the Blountsville tornado. We approach the supercell from the east just before AL-75. At the time we were sure it was in a rural area, not affecting anyone. We took some pictures from 5:45 to 6:00 CDT. Unfortunately it impacted Blountsville, AL.

We listen to reports from Tuscaloosa and Birmingham on the radio, a separate cell. Still believing our storm was not hurting anyone we celebrate our tornado is a no-harm event. Unfortunately it did impact some towns such as Blountsville. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of all the Southeast tornadoes. We drove back to Chattanooga, dodging dangerous supercells on the way. Ringgold, GA was being pounded and some of our friends were affected.

Tough to chase when people are really affected. However we believe in research and chasing. Pictures are attached.

 

[Drew.Gardonia]

ok, I still dont have video edited or up yet, but I have a full chase report on my blog

http://funnelsrus.blogspot.com/2011/05/historic-severe-weather-outbreak-brings.html

I've been sick the past 3 days, and still recovering, but I will be doing video over the next few days, and this is my first time editing video so be patient, as I try to learn Final Cut Pro 7.

 

[Bill Hark]

I have finally completed my April 27, 2011 chase report for the Oilville, Virginia tornado and supercell along with the tornado-warned storm in the Quantico/Triangle area of northern Virginia. The report includes video, stills, radar images and some archived weather data.

http://www.harkphoto.com/04272011.html

Bill Hark

 

[Brandon Clement]

Really late report but just getting the chance to do it.

Started the day in Memphis and targeted Philadelphia, Ms. This would be the second time this season Philadelphia would be my target and like the first time we never made it. Storm innitiation started early and we were driving south on I-55 in North Ms. Cells were getting together really quickly in the Ms Delta and with 2500 j/kg and 900 0-1 it wasn't like we were going to run away from them. The first cell passed over I-55 and was looking great but a second cell that blew up right over I-55 was looking better. We dropped down to Houston, Ms where we intercepted this tornado.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12JhIJFp7GY
This was a long track killer tornado that killed 8 where we caught it and then went on to devistate the town of Smithville, Ms. It was amazing to see the speed and devistation of this tornado. The damage path was about 1/3 mile wide and it completely debarked trees, snapped every tree in its path and leveled any homes it hit directly. I stopped at a house it hit just seconds after the tornado passed. Half the house was destroyed, the other half was in bad shape but luckily they were on the outer edge of the damage swath. It completely removed their car port, shop and storage shed. They had a 25-30' horse trailer in their lake and didn't know whose it belonged to. Luckily the family was ok and even though they lost some horses it was a close call.

After making sure everyone was ok at this house we tried to find another route to drop south since HWY 15 was completely blocked by trees. When we got to Hwy 9 on the SE side of town we saw similar damage. One truck was unrecognizable except for the running boards which were somehow mostly unharmed, while the rest of the truck was just a ball of scrap metal. There was even one spot where the asphault was scarred and cracked. It was near here that several people lost their lives.

This storm was incredibly difficult to chase because of terrain, road networks and the speed it was moving. The tornado was probably moving at 65 mph which was incredible. We did catch back up to the storm near Brilliant, Al where it put down a second F-5 tornado that went on to devistate the town of Phil Cambell, Al. Unfortunately we never got this one on video since we only caught a quick glimpse before getting cut off by what became a very familiar scene.

Once cut off by damage the second time there was no way we could catch back up since the next road option was 20 miles south then we'd have to cut back north. At this time we were hearing the destruction taking place in Tuscaloosa and tried to catch that storm as it entered Birmingham. We dropped in from the NW and when we got 15 miles from the rotation we started seeing debris. At first it was just small paper items, leaves and insulation. As we got 10 miles away it was pieces of tin, small wood pieces. 5 miles away we started seeing large objects. It was as surreal as it gets when we watched a Queen size mattress fall out the sky.

When I was about 3 miles north of our intercept point the sheriffs office actually had the road block which sucked for us but major kudos to them because it certainly saved some lives. We managed to cut around and come in just behind the storm as it crossed over I-65. We never did see it but certainly witnessed the damage. It was a repeat of what we'd seen earlier in Houston, Ms but much wider. Trees looked like they had been run over by a giant lawnmower. All snapped at near the same exact height and bark stripped from the remainder of the stump.

We then got on one cell after another dropping all the way down to Montgomery. Each cell was intense but none produced tornadoes as we watched them fly by. At this point it was dark and chasing was not an option so it was basically just intercept points along the interstate.

We stayed the night in Montgomery and the next day drove through the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa areas. I've never witnessed such widespread destruction from a tornado before and it reminded me of a smaller scale Katrina.

We also went and looked at the damage from the tornado in Terry, Ms which is where I live but it was nothing like what happened in North Ms and Alabama.