5/8/9 DISC: KS,OK,MO,AR,TX, IA

[Mike Smith]

Derecho winds struck in northeast Wichita at 4:30am. KAAO had a gust of 52kt. Had 1.43 inches of rain at my home with minor flooding in the neighborhood.

KSNW TV anemometer in El Dorado had a gust to 81 mph and there is considerable damage in Towanda and El Dorado. K-254 closed at K-196 due to transmission lines across the highway. Roof off restaurant in El Dorado with trees uprooted in the city.

Kansas Turnpike was closed due to flooding between Cassoday and Emporia as the road was covered with water between mileposts 102 and 105. Cottonwood Falls (west of Turnpike) reported 3.34 inches of rain with the derecho.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

We experienced heavy rains and very high winds here in Pittsburg, KS. At my house we had a very large tree branch break and fall. Several reports around town of tree's knocked over, telephone lines down and minor damage caused by the high winds. Heard reports of a semi being knocked over on Highway 400 just south of Pittsburg.

Edited to add that KSN-TV in Joplin, MO had their tower collapse this morning during the storms causing damage to nearby homes.

 

[Jason Bolt]

Widespread large tree damage in Parsons with some structure damage. Across Cherokee Co. there have been three semis blown over and a mobile home destroyed. Numerous barns and outbuildings destroyed. Actually I think SE KS was pretty lucky as it seemed to ramp up just as it crossed the state line.

 

[Todd Friskey]

Been at work this morning at my IT job. So much information coming in, trying to absorb it all. The KNSF-TV 16 TV tower in Joplin, MO has collapsed. I do not live to far from there.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_128103815.html

 

[Dena Sanders]

Here is Springfield, MO around the Battlefield Rd and Glenstone area, there are numerous tree limbs down, street signs, stop signs as well. Power is out at my house so I am in the office typing this as we speak. My sister who lives SE of Lebanon, MO has LOTS of barn damage, window blown out of her shed and skirting completely blown off of a trailer sitting on their property (belongs to her step-daughter). I-44 has been closed at mile marker 130 both directions due to water flowing over the Interstate. Too many damage reports are coming in for me to cover here. Dallas Co. Missouri has extensive damage reports coming in. Will post pictures as soon as I can get out and get them.

 

[Bill Tabor]

Concerning the Brownwood Tx boundary backbuilding / propagating storm / tornado....I was wondering if anyone has any details on the strength of this tornado, pics, account, etc. I noticed on Spotter net that Bob Cozemius (sp?) was nearby the tornado was logged near Early. I always hate to miss the Jarrell, Castell, Lake Whitney type backbuilders. They are usually very strong tornadoes.
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[William Reid]

Brown County "tornadic" supercell

http://stormbruiser.com/chase/2009/05/09/may-8-2009-brown-county-tx-supercell/

Click the link above to go to my account and images for this chase. Bob Conzemius and I were leading the Tempest Tours group. We got on the Brownwood/Early storm about 15-20 minutes before it hit that community. We utilized the FM road that runs from Blanket to Zephyr, about 7 - 8 miles east of Early, and observed a very impressive wall cloud beneath a spaceship updraft. The cell was diving south, and we stayed with it on its east side for about 30-40 minutes along our N-S road.

We are not convinced yet that there was a legitimate tornado in Early. We surveyed the area today and saw a lot of what looked to be straight-line wind damage. I spoke with one local who seemed pretty sharp. She said that there was some strong wind and one-inch hail as the storm approached, then a lull, and then the blast of wind with a bit of a roaring sound. She thought it was a tornado.

I think we would have seen a tornado had there been one ---- though I'm not certain. There was precip that may have obscured our view that far west.

William Reid
www.stormbruiser.com

 

[Justin Avery]

derecho

I got to chase this storm from the front porch in Joplin, MO. It came into town about 7am and packed a punch. I live two miles east of where KSN's tower collapsed. Just now got power and cable restored to our neighborhood. Took video from the porch until the rain swept down the block and then retreated to the garage. We got hail up to nickel size but there was a report of 1.75" just to our east.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnsxAXowu3g

 

[Robert Dewey]

Was this split from the reports thread? I had another DISC thread going, and I didn't see this one at the time.

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20624