2012-04-13 MISC: KS/OK/NE/IA/TX + Norman tornado

[Tim Vasquez]

Regarding the supercell that hit Norman this afternoon (13/2100 UTC) streaming video from the OKC stations is currently showing what looks like EF1/EF2 damage on the north edge of downtown Norman, probably concentrated heaviest on N. Porter St between Van's Pig Stand and the Tarahumaras restaurants. It doesn't appear that there has been any major damage elsewhere in town. The potential track of this thing (at least what I was able to ascertain from velocity and spectrum width products) extended west-southwest to near W 36th & Lindsey and east-northeast to around Hall Park.

If anyone can clarify with any ground observations or other information, feel free to do so in this thread.

It does look like another storm is on the way to Norman and should hit around 2300 UTC... crossing my fingers this one won't be as bad.

Tim

 

[Jon Powell]

Tim, for what it is worth, I was watching this thing LIVE on the TWC via a local news chopper is was a large cone- actually Forbes thinking it was a developing wedge.. It was was somewhat rain wrapped from what I could tell and it lasted for just a minute or two before they lost the base of it on the ground- but it was captured on video.

 

[Tim Vasquez]

Looks like storm #2 went well north of the boundary and is entraining some of the shallow rain-cooled air. Whew.

Tim

 

[John Massura]

Drove along SW 36th as it turns SE-ward toward Lindsey on the way to work about 45 minutes ago. I can confirm a very narrow damage path, some broken off trees and damaged fencing, maybe less than 50 yards wide. So it seems believable the initial touchdown was in this area. Also noticed some damage to the roof of Carino's on Ed Noble. There was also damage just north of Hwy 9 on SW 24th, which is about a mile southeast of the abovementioned damage. Will be interesting to see the reason for this damage about a mile southeast of the initial Lindsey damage.

(edit) I guess the damage near 24th/Hwy 9 could possibly be RFD-induced.

 

[Andrew Francis]

Not sure where to post this since we don't really have NOW threads anymore.

Trio of supercells in SW OK continue to train ENE... looking to follow same path as the earlier storms. The furthest east cell looks to be jogging more north. Could be lining up to cross Norman tonight if these don't fall apart.

 

[Samadamsuk]

I was watching the MIDSCAR chase team on live streaming, and they either got caught in a TN or very close in the rfd, the whole lot rain wrapped- only young chasers and they nearly got blown off the road - I think they were pretty shook up understandably!
Cheers, Sam

 

[RCarlson]

I saw the developing funnel from my porch. I wondered why there wasn't a warning yet, but I couldn't see the ground under the funnel because it was obstructed by houses, trees, etc. It's different when it's heading for your house!

 

[Steve Bottkol]

I caught the tornado as it formed directly in front of me to my WNW. I was parked off of Lindsey St and I-35 at the Autobody shop and was in a fairly clear area free of rain. Rapid circulation formed and developed into a very large tornado quickly. It started to take the power lines down on 24th st.

 

[James Aydelott]

If you have access to a radar loop from SW OK (9-10pm), it looks like the southern end of the multicell cluster is outrunning the northern end. Almost looks "Fujiwara-ish" very interesting.

 

[Jeff Duda]

Did a cursory damage survey in Norman this afternoon. I couldn't get within about a quarter to half mile of the intersection of Lindsey St. and 24th Ave. - cops had it all blocked off. Although I didn't get a great view of that area, it seems to be where the most intense damage was. If this tornado will be rated EF2, that's probably where that level of damage will be found. There's a concentrated area of damage around Boyd and Wylie, as well as in the square bounded by Berry Rd., Boyd St., Main St. and Wylie Rd. The damage I saw was almost entirely tree damage - very little structural damage to be found in that area. Just some shingles blown off or branches fallen into homes. Farther northeast, there's another concentrated area of damage in a few-block radius around the intersection of Flood Ave. and Kansas St. Again, mostly tree damage, but I did see some fences blown over, a collapsed garage, and some roof damage. I didn't see Porter Ave. or the rest of downtown, but damage was very spotty northeast of there around Robinson and 12th Ave. NE.

In summary, looks like mostly EF0 and EF1 damage, but I wouldn't be surprised to see an EF2 rating come out of this from the damage near Lindsey and 24th.