2025-04-02 EVENT: OK/TX/LA/MO/IL/IN/OH/KY/MS/AL/TN/MI

[Jason N]

Yeah, I would bet that in the space and time of that much rain coming down in under 48hrs to the ground, you can expect in areas where tributary systems collide and where the Ohio runs into the Mississippi River, there will be some initial and delayed Major flooding effects from towns that line the areas along the river from Paducah to Memphis, and there are too many to name here.

 

[Matt Zumbrunn]

The BBC just published an article online that this synoptic event over the U.S. today will be a "once-in-a-generation" rainfall event, especially for KY/MO/TN. For those of you chasers who are watching the situation closely today, do agree with that assessment?

US storm forecast to unleash flooding rain and life-threatening tornadoes

The Flood watch says areas may see flood waters that have never or rarely seen them before.

 

[Jeff House]

Seeing a very rare occurrence this evening in eastern Arkansas. Supercells ahead of the line seem to have cut off the line. Typically they coexist at the least. Often the line absorbs the sups. Not tonight. Cross flow must be at just the right (wrong) angle. Line does not catch up to sups. The sups keep dropping tornadoes. Should be entering Tennesse as I type.

 

[Randy Zipser]

The Flood watch says areas may see flood waters that have never or rarely seen them before.
View attachment 26987

Thanks, Matt, for the post above. That's probably where the BBC got their information for the story they did, quoting the words "an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime." I had no idea how "dire" this event potentially will become tomorrow through Friday. When I was the OK State Floodplain Coordinator in the 1980s, I do not recall ever seeing wording like that in public flood statements, only words like "100-year flood." Since that region of the country along the Mississippi River is relatively flat floodplain, the flooding could be worse and far-more costly than any other of the system's hazards (including the tornado outbreak ongoing tonight).

BTW, tomorrow marks the 51st anniversary of what the late Dr. Fujita called the "Super Outbreak." I recall that day well as a graduate-student at OU and intern at NSSL.

 

[Matt Zumbrunn]

Seeing a very rare occurrence this evening in eastern Arkansas. Supercells ahead of the line seem to have cut off the line. Typically they coexist at the least. Often the line absorbs the sups. Not tonight. Cross flow must be at just the right (wrong) angle. Line does not catch up to sups. The sups keep dropping tornadoes. Should be entering Tennesse as I type.

I was in awe at all the supercells out in front. I took this screenshot at 1802 cst.

 

[Randy Zipser]

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Thanks, Matt, for the post above. That's probably where the BBC got their information for the story they did, quoting the words "an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime." I had no idea how "dire" this event potentially will become tomorrow through Friday. When I was the OK State Floodplain Coordinator in the 1980s, I do not recall ever seeing wording like that in public flood statements, only words like "100-year flood." Since that region of the country along the Mississippi River is relatively flat floodplain, the flooding could be worse and far-more costly than any other of the system's hazards (including the tornado outbreak ongoing tonight).

BTW, tomorrow marks the 51st anniversary of what the late Dr. Fujita called the "Super Outbreak." I recall that day well as a graduate-student at OU and intern at NSSL.

Even USA Today has now picked up on the "dire" predictions for historic flooding potential over the next couple of days. Please see link below:

Forecast calls for 'catastrophic' floods: Where will it rain the hardest?

If the inland flooding is as bad as is predicted, it will dominate media news over much of next week. Let's hope for the best!

 

[Dan Robinson]

Am I right that it seemed like only the northern and southern supercells in Arkansas produced significant-looking, highly visible tornadoes west of the Mississippi River? Were there other such tornadoes documented with the supercells in between? Social media's a flurry of jumbled info dominated mostly by the Lake City, Potosi and DeWitt tornadoes, but not much on anything else.

 

[Patrick K]

I believe you are right. SPC during the day softened language from long-track tornadoes to more like tornado-producing long-track sups. At one point there were like two dozen active tornado warnings, mostly on discrete supercells, with only 1 or 2 TDS. I think it’s only surprising given the discrete nature, the volume of them, and location within or very near the high risk corridor.

SPC nailed the pre-frontal discrete supercells, but they mostly struggled to produce given the environment, at least from my perspective. I’m curious if anyone has thoughts or theories on why.

 

[JamesCaruso]

SPC storm reports still not showing the Lake City AR tornado?!?

 

[JamesCaruso]

SPC storm reports still not showing the Lake City AR tornado?!?

Am I crazy, or is there STILL no TOR report near Lake City on the SPC ESRI storm reports map for 4/2/25?!?

 

[Jamie H]

No, you're not James! I can't find anything either.

 

[Mike Smith]

Hi Everyone,

I have looked at LZK's web page, their ARCGIS page (which wants a $700/yr subscription!!), Wiki, SPC and others and I can find little or no information with regard to two apparent tornadoes in north central Arkansas on April 2, 2025.

The radar presentation is impressive, especially on the southern storm.

Does anyone have a source which has tracks and times or a map with times?

Thanks very much!!

Mike

 

[Jason N]

did they already classify it or are they waiting still because of slow damage estimates/reporting thats keeping it from showing up?

 

[JamesCaruso]

It’s been nearly two weeks. They can (and usually do) update the reports later, they shouldn’t need a damage survey to put a tornado report on there. I don’t understand why it’s not there. Unless I don’t know enough about their process. Maybe if it’s not reported in real time it has to wait for full analysis later???

 

[JamesCaruso]

Hi Everyone,

I have looked at LZK's web page, their ARCGIS page (which wants a $700/yr subscription!!), Wiki, SPC and others and I can find little or no information with regard to two apparent tornadoes in north central Arkansas on April 2, 2025.

The radar presentation is impressive, especially on the southern storm.

Does anyone have a source which has tracks and times or a map with times?

Thanks very much!!

Mike

I don’t see a Lake City report either, wonder what’s going on with all these AR reports…