4/21/04 NOW: OK

[Dave Kaplow]

The cell west of OKC is showing intense rotation already per velocity data, looks visually very like a TVS, extremely tight rotation. The cell is quickly developing a pronounced hook, also. Incredible

Edit: Heh, TVS looking thing disappeared on the next scan. Still some broad rotation, though...

 

[Amos Magliocco]

Southern storm is splitting, right split should tornado momentarily.

 

[J.B. Dixon]

Cood call, Amos. I hope OKC isn't lulled to sleep by that cell missing them on the NW side of town. The danger has only started. That right cell southwest of Norman is already kidney-beaning like mad. Could be a long-track one as well when it comes down.

This is bad.

 

[Michael Shively]

***TOR WARNING FOR OKC*** looks to be the north part of town

 

[Tim Vasquez]

Here's where screencaptures of the live TV feed from Channel 9 OKC are stored. Not sure how often it updates:
http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/showcams?cam=Port4

 

[mikegeukes]

Severe Weather Event is over, removed information.

Mike

 

[Amos Magliocco]

Steve Miller (Dallas) reported the base on the southern storm(s) are a little high at the moment, and I noticed our dewpoint depressions are still substantial. Perhaps some localized moisture pooling will help us out when the activity gets into E OK.

 

[Tim Vasquez]

Velocity products have not been showing any tornadic rotation, with the possible exception of the storm just west of Newcastle which is showing 50 kt of gate-to-gate (the data looks suspect though even on that one). Wonder if anyone else is seeing anything different.

Tim

 

[J.B. Dixon]

Latest update from Norman NWS.....particularly ominous in launuage.....

http://www.srh.weather.gov/oun/productview...p?pil=OUNAWUOKC

 

[David Wolfson]

In the latest scan the cell approaching Purcell/Lexington, south of Norman, looks nasty.

 

[J.B. Dixon]

With the OKC area SUPs having fits trying to get organization at the lower levels, maybe the main tornado threat shifts to another highly populated area......

http://www.srh.weather.gov/radar/loop/DS.p...0/si.klzk.shtml

 

[Chauncy Schultz]

The north metro OKC storm definitely has the look of a prolific hail producer--and considering the environment its in, its not at all surprising that its dumping lots of hail....potentially up to softball size. The latest radar scans show this quite well with a good deal of elevated reflectivity at the moment; the storm would look to be pushing 50dbz upwards of 35,000 feet or so as of 5:15 p.m. Where tornado potential is concerned....I cannot say that I have seen any real significant rotation on the radar data recently with this storm...it appears to be more of a broad circulation without defined low level features. The storm southwest of OKC is rapidly strengthening...and it looks to be a significant hail producer, as well. The latest word out of OUN seems to concur; they also mention that the storms are apparently HP in nature and that they may be going more for severe warnings as opposed to tornado warnings in the short term.

Other storms continue to rapidly intensify both further north and south....however at the moment, these too appear to be mainly very large hail/damaging wind producers. I would think that as the low level jet increases some the next few hours/increasing low level shear values/the tornado threat may yet increase....particularly where LCL's are lower. (which is the case the further east one goes).

 

[Tim Vasquez]

Velocities are still poor... but the storms are pretty on reflectivity.

Agreed about the Little Rock area... that's one mean HP monster coming down SW of Conway.

Tim

 

[David Draun]

That cell north of Little Rock, AR looks like a mini-hurricane, as the echo has some banding. You can also see the storm rotating on the NEXRAD animation! :shock: There also seems to be a good sized BWER on that storm as well.

 

[J.B. Dixon]

And don't look now, Fort Smith, but......this one is making it's turn right for it, and it has been gaining strength, with a bit better environment for it to tornado.

Yikes.

http://www.srh.weather.gov/radar/loop/DS.p...0/si.ksrx.shtml