• After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.

    I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.

    For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.

    From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.

    Sincerely, Jeff D.

2014-10-13 REPORTS: IL/MO/KY/AR/TN/MS/AL/IN

Joined
Jan 14, 2011
Messages
3,417
Location
St. Louis
I observed a tornado exactly 1.1 miles from home today in my town of New Baden, Illinois (just east of St. Louis) at approximately 1:35PM CDT today, viewed from I-64 at the New Baden exit. Rapidly rotating wall cloud with rapid cloud motion, intermittent rope funnel. The tornado crossed Highway 161 at Ruth School Road at the west end of town with minor tree damage noted. Trash can islands at the new Casey's General Store were moved several feet westward. The tornado then impacted barns at a farm on Ruth School Road north of I-64/161 interchange. A pole barn was completely collapsed, with significant roof damage to an adjacent barn. Sheet metal from the barns was wrapped around tree branches at the residence. A flattened area of corn was just north of the damaged barns. No injuries. No other damage was found north or south of these locations.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG9MWv7ifIg



Larger photo: http://stormhighway.com/blog2014/p-oct1314a.php
 
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I was not planning on chasing today. I was in downtown Belleville when sirens sounded around 1330. Quick check of the radar revealed strong circulation just 4NM away. Headed off to try and intercept. Roads were flooded and it was raining pretty good so I couldn't see anything. I made my way out to Green Mount road and tried to see anything, nothing. Decided with the QLCS nature of the storm and the storm speed, i didn't have much of a shot so I decided to let it go. Headed south on Green Mount Rd then west on 15 towards my house. At this time I noticed a heavy stream of emergency vehicles heading in the opposite direction, and I got a report of an alarm sounding near my parent's house. Immediately my heart sank, there was only one little area of town that they could be going and it was my parent's subdivision. I immediately turned around in the median and blasted back towards their house. The western most street in the neighborhood had taken the brunt of the storm with roof damage, trees snapped, and patio furniture strewn about. Luckily my parent's house was almost exactly 100 yards east of the damage path, with only a few leaves plastered to the east facing garage door.

Looks like the most severe damage was done to large trees and roofs which had up to 5 sheets of plywood torn off in that area, and more significant damage to the north in an older subdivision.

Sorry for the lack of pictures, but I was busy on the phone with my parents who were at work, and Chris while this was going on. Its the closest call my family has had, and it can take the breath out of you when the reality of the storm hits so close to home.
 
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