• 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.

Inadequately Warned Ft. Lauderdale Tornado

Joined
Feb 19, 2021
Messages
757
Location
Wichita
Unfortunately, we are starting 2024 the way we ended 2023 with another poorly warned tornado. This time, in Ft. Lauderdale this evening.

Here is my write-up: This Evening's Ft. Lauderdale Tornado

Not included in the write-up are two items of interest to StormTrack readers.

The first is the ACARS sounding from the FLL Airport. It was an ideal tornado situation. The tornado passed just north of the airport about a half-hour after the sounding.

The second is a screen capture from one of two videos that show a classic lowering/wall cloud moving across FLL from west to east before the tornado formed.

This was an easy warning.
 

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Classic example of how freightingly unpredictable such events are. I was eating dinner when this happened, after chasing from north of Ft Myers to western parts of Ft Lauderdale (and giving up - The storms seemed to fall apart).

day1probotlk_v_20240106_1630_torn_prt.gif
 
I tried, multiple times, in 2022 to alert the NWS to this problem to no avail. After 2024 started off with six poorly warned tornadoes I thought I should try again. I'm happy to report things went better this time.

Below is my letter to NOAA/NWS, their reply, and my comments. The Tornado Warning Mess -- National Service Replies I also direct your attention to the comment from the retired NWS meteorologist.

Any comments you have would be appreciated.
 
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