Quniter KS = this spring's tornado magnet

[Brian Stertz]

Quinter KS = this spring's tornado magnet

Yet another tornado warning was issued for the Quinter KS area. There is certainly some merit that certain areas are magnets over the course of a spring. I am going to back track and make a list since 2000 of these "tornado magnets"...and post it on Vortex Times. Have lots of updates to do and this was one that has always been on my mind.

 

[Simon Brewer]

While 99% of tornadoes in a year occur in different areas respectively, I have to admit I've noticed some areas receiving repeat tornado events, usually within days or weeks. I hypothesize this is most likely due to the synoptic patturn. Example; in spring of 2007 nearly every major wave occluded over the mountain west setting up a patturn of repeated severe weather events, including tornadoes, over the same region and area, which happened to be the western high plains, towns like McClean, TX took many shots.

Another year: 2003; Jackson, TN just couldn't keep the tornadoes away, and eastern KS and western MO were big repeat targets.

2005: Northwest TX/South TX Panhandle was hit by many big tornado events.

2004: South-central Nebraska and south-central Kansas were photogenic tornado-producing machines.

Can't think of multi-hit small areas for every year, but seems like it does happen often.

Simon

 

[Danny Neal]

I believe in 2001 into 2002 chase season that Pratt, Kansas, was a hot target for a couple of weeks. That area seemed to flare up again in 07-08. Once I finish school and my EMT/firefighter testing I planned on moving in and around Pratt. I love that area and the people around there.

Springfield IL and Springfield MO are too recent hot spots too.

 

[Brian Stertz]

Yeah Pratt has lots of options open for chasers for real....seems like everytime I have lunch in Pratt...something goes down nearby or in town. Its a weird track record. Best of luck on the EMT/FF training btw.

 

[mike scantlin]

how about coldwater KS last year? if you found a good look-out point between Coldwater and Protection, KS, you could have seen over 15 tornadoes in about a 3 week period. I think it was April 23rd, there about 7 tornadoes near Protection, and then May 2nd there was another tornado near Protection. and then May 4th, and then again on the 5th. I'm at work so I can't check out all the facts and stats, but thats my pick for 07.

 

[J.B. Dixon]

The 2004 chase season stands out to me, as we were virtually all saying "Target: Hebron, NE"

 

[Andrew Revering]

Over the years there have been many large tornadoes around the Minnesota River Valley in south-west and south-central Minnesota. I personally saw 2 tornadoes just outside of the small town of Searles, MN (population like 100 I think). I mean what are the odds of seeing 2 tornadoes in different years basically on the corner of one gravel road and another gravel road?

Not to mention it's a river valley.... thats a whole other topic, but I think there's something to river valleys.

 

[Darin Brunin]

Osborne, KS has been another hotspot this year. Tornadoes reported within 5-10 miles of the town 3 maybe 4 times.

 

[Andrea Griffa]

Yet another tornado warning was issued for the Quinter KS area. There is certainly some merit that certain areas are magnets over the course of a spring. I am going to back track and make a list since 2000 of these "tornado magnets"...and post it on Vortex Times. Have lots of updates to do and this was one that has always been on my mind.

I've noticed it in these years. And I think this is not casual: Mother Nature often tends to repeat synoptic configuration on the Plains during the same year and this causes the producing of the tornado magnet zones.

 

[Kevin Myatt]

May 22, 2007: We waited for the cap to bust in the parking lot of the WaKeeney, Kansas, Super 8 ... and then we had the mothership-fest with a couple of tornadoes

May 22, 2008: We stayed 2 nights -- the night before and the night after -- at the WaKeeney Super 8, and caught 7-10 tornadoes over May 22-23.

Should we just book our rooms for May 22, 2009, right now?

 

[Mark Blue]

I'd have to agree with you Brian as I remember several days in a row in May where there were tornadoes night after night in the Quinter KS vicinity. I am a firm believer in a climatological theory known as "persistence". Once mother nature gets into a pattern she tends to repeat herself for several days or sometimes weeks in a row. I just thought I'd chime in since I totally agree with your observation.

 

[beaudodson]

Several times a year you will get meso's tracking across Calloway County, KY - also Pulaski, Alexander, and Massac Counties of southern Illinois. There is a ridge that runs along the above three Illinois counties.

I have noticed that during most outbreaks you will find at least one meso across these areas.