6/5/08 NOW: KS/NE/OK

[Damon Scott Hynes]

Stuck in Auburn, NE--can't go east because US-136 is closed, looks like 3-5 feet of water.

Drove through rotating rain curtains in Johnson, NE. TOR warned seconds later.

 

[Josh Murfield]

At 6:00 or so we headed southeast of Lincoln to try to catch Johnson county cell, but gave up on it just east of town when it appeared to be moving more east than north, and with the insane motion didn't figure we could catch it. I guess we should have kept going, we could have intercepted just in time- law enforcement confirmed a tornado on the ground in Fremont County, Iowa with this same cell. This cell looks like the only decent one that has passed through SE Nebraska so far, and may be all we'll see in the region.
Looks like we may be all finished here in eastern Nebraska- nothing like busting this badly on such a hyped high risk day!

 

[Eric Flescher]

Kansas I-70 storms

7:30 Still on the road on I-70 heading back to Olathe, KS.It is nice that this little room next to the restrooms at the service stop on I-70 is wifi enabled for free without passwords and stuff. I thought I saw one earlier in the day but nothing worked. This room did .

I was going to Wichtia but then took off on I-70. I got past Manhattan to Grand Junction and waited. There was not much of anything going on at all at around 2:30 Central. Then mammatus appeared, the clouds started streaming Northward and then storms reallyu moved. I was south of Manhattan and there was dime sized hail while they had golf ball sized in Manhattan. Good lightning show. A few funnels with spotted by spotters to the north or were tornado warned. I could not get to the small tornadoes that were on the ground to the North. Supposedly there was another one east of me near Wamego which I could not catch. Talked to two guys who came from Topeka to watch the storms.

Time to head back and get some videos up from this day and last Tuesday so I can post some pics.

 

[Nick Hartley]

Might as well add South Dakota to the list.

Tornadoes spotted around the Sioux Falls area. Might head out to intercept shortly.

A Friend In Baltic Reports No Power. Tornado between Baltic and Dell Rapids. TV Reports of Debris falling along I-29 West of Baltic.

 

[David Draun]

I'm concerned about an increasing nocturnal tornado threat from the storms as they move into areas with increasingly SE backed winds. It appears the influence of the backed wind area is causing the squall line to break up into a more cellular mode. Especially in MO and eastern OK.

 

[Mike Peregrine]

I-29 is closed north of St. Joseph, primarily between Mound City and Rock Port. Several tornadoes were apparently embedded along the line through there and they are still extracating people from vehicles.

Edit - ooh, as for NOW ... KC, batten down the hatches. Another bow echo is headed our way fast!

 

[Mike Peregrine]

Sirens just blew and power is out in St. Joseph. A tornado apparently went through Doniphan County, Kansas - also embedded in the line. He is unsure whether it actually went through St. Joseph or not, but they currently have no power up there. No one that works for him in Doniphan County are answering their phones, so he is wondering what is going on over there. My mom is in her basement right now as well.

 

[cstrunk]

I witnessed rotation in a wall cloud with possible funnel over the city of St. Joseph. There is power in this part of the city. No touchdowns or reports of tornadoes in or around the city from what I've heard. The storm has moved north of the city with the squall line pushing through.

Spinups are still possible along this line, however it seems to be losing the power it once had.

 

[Mike Peregrine]

This is different ... the gust front just passed overhead here (wish so much I could have seen it during daylight, because it looked impressive just with the city lights). The lightning behind it is emerald green. I'm assuming that it is lighting up the precip core behind the gust front, which would be green in daylight. First time I've seen this color lightning that I can remember.

Radar is looking as freaky as it did for our bow echo a month ago -

Edit ... well that ended up being a little disappointing after our last bow echo adventure in KC. Some brief excitement, but I'm disappointed that the power is still on.

 

[Eric Flescher]

tornado(es) and two trucks I-29

the winds (and tornado(es) apparently blew down two large trucks. One of the tornadoes was near I-29 somewhere either north or south of St. Joseph
::

I-29 is closed north of St. Joseph, primarily between Mound City and Rock Port. Several tornadoes were apparently embedded along the line through there and they are still extracating people from vehicles.

Edit - ooh, as for NOW ... KC, batten down the hatches. Another bow echo is headed our way fast!

 

[Mark Kavalesky]

I agree with Mike. The line came thru Greenwood, South of the K.C. Metro making a lot of noise but little else.

Didnt see much in the way of wind either, however when I went out to take a look I found my neighbors tree on my wifes car.

Looks like the Bradford Pear couldnt take it. LOL

 

[Bart_Comstock]

Looks like the Tulsa Metro Area is under the gun with numerous power flashes being reported by KTUL as well as a a possible wedge according Mark Conklin. Furthermore there is a report of trees powerline and shed damage in Northern Okmulgee County along 221 between 150 and 160 road. Power is out in parts of the metro and even if there hasn't been a touchdown there is a lot of streaming video coming in of intense straight line winds of about 70 mph.

They are now reporting a "definite tornado on the ground" that has been visually confirmed.

 

[Bart_Comstock]

There is now damage reports of power poles snapped and pushed over and numerous power outages there too. Power flashes are still being reported. I am at a hotel in Vinita, Ok borrowing their internet and unfortunately I have parted ways for the night with Chris Wilburn after our bust and thus I am stuck in my Miata which does not do well in this weather.

 

[MatthewCarman]

Nice line of storms moving through central and eastern Iowa with tornadoes being reported with them. A tornado was reported near the Newton Airport and near Kellog and Gilman. There is atleast 3 possible areas of rotation with this dangerous line. Exstensive damage in Sandyville and in Warren County. Also damage in Jasper County by Kellog. It is currently 1:30 AM and the tornadic threat is still pretty strong with these storms. Also 50-60 MPH winds with these storms.

EDIT: Reports now of semi trucks blown over on I-80 near the Kellog turnoff.