Top outbreak day of this century?

[Derek Weston]

In terms of tornadoes confirmed. (Note: Mean 21st century -- 2000-2009)

I know that reports wise, March 12 2006 might be tops... with 140, I believe.
(and in reviewing that outbreak and setup -- what a beast!)

Don't know the exact confirmed number, though. I know wikipedia has stats up... but I question their accuracy.

I believe May 29 and 30 2004 were big with reports... (29 being higher, I thought -- but not higher than March 12 2006)

Super Tuesday outbreak was large... The mid may period in 03 -- I believe we went + 100 reports on the Quad Cities outbreak area day.

May 5 2007 was big...

Looked through the archive of reports since 2000... certainly seemed to be a trend towards bigger severe outbreaks in terms of reports as we progressed in time. Is the spotter network really that much stronger now than it was 10 years ago?

Additional question: what do you think the signature outbreak of the new century is? (not necessarily just by numbers -- this is kind of an open question)

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

The 'Super Outbreak' of April 3/4 1974:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Outbreak
Yeah, it's from the last century - but it is still within a hundred years!

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Ummm.... you guys do realize that a century is 100 years, right? With that said, how is 1974 last century? You mean to tell me that 1974 was 100+ years ago? Or is is already the year 2074 or beyond? Please explain.

And since the Super Outbreak of 1974 had 148 tornadoes that beats any other outbreak that has occurred since then including May 29th/30th of 2006.

 

[Derek Weston]

for cryin'... yeah. Ha. Should have put "21st" century.

2000-2009, thus far...

(now technically, the 20th century might not of ended till 2001 came in...according to the Gregorian Calendar, at least)

 

[Joey Ketcham]

for cryin'... yeah. Ha. Should have put "21st" century.

2000-2009, thus far...

(now technically, the 20th century might not of ended till 2001 came in...according to the Gregorian Calendar, at least)

Gotcha, much better.

Though I'm still confused by Rob stating that 1974 was last century?

 

[Derek Weston]

Gotcha, much better.

Though I'm still confused by Rob stating that 1974 was last century?

I think most people operate under the assumption that "this century" is the 21st.

Or at least I'd bet a good number would. (but apparently not everyone)

 

[Danny Neal]

Perhaps "decade" is the word everyone is looking for >:-D

 

[Joey Ketcham]

I think most people operate under the assumption that "this century" is the 21st.

Or at least I'd bet a good number would. (but apparently not everyone)

I suppose.

I learned in grade school that a century = 100 years, so when someone says 'the last century' I automatically assume they are referring to the last 100 years. But now I'm just being an ass so I will stop.

 

[Derek Weston]

Perhaps "decade" is the word everyone is looking for >:-D

Probably. Though I thought people might go back to 1999.
(course, it just happened with 'century' so...eh)

Truth be told, I was going to throw millenium out there but my browser's spellcheck red-lined it... and I was too lazy to go to webster's dictionary.

 

[Derek Weston]

I suppose.

I learned in grade school that a century = 100 years, so when someone says 'the last century' I automatically assume they are referring to the last 100 years. But now I'm just being an ass so I will stop.

speaking as an ass myself... while a century is 100 years, we seem to be speaking of a century as a logical unit of time when we say "this" or "last" century. Which would lend itself to the common counting of centuries as according to the gregorian calendar.18th,19th,20th,21st and so on. (though, as I mentioned in my other posting, this standard would actually have the latest century starting as of 2001 - not 2000)

(anyway, yay for bordem!)

 

[Joey Ketcham]

When speaking in logical unit of time, this "century" would refer to the last 100 years whereas "last century' would refer to the century prior, 100 - 200 years ago.

 

[Darin Brunin]

When speaking in logical unit of time, this "century" would refer to the last 100 years whereas "last century' would refer to the century prior, 100 - 200 years ago.

Derek's right...it's his thread...let it be

March 12, 2006 easily gets my vote. It's not often at all you see a setup like that come together.

 

[Derek Weston]

Derek's right...it's his thread...let it be

March 12, 2006 easily gets my vote. It's not often at all you see a setup like that come together.

I'm inclined to say the same.

I joined Stormtrack shortly after the April 13 2006 Iowa City Tornado that thrust my interest in severe weather to an obsession.

One of the first threads I read after the April 13 event was the report and discussion thread from March 12. Even then, just reading, sounded like such an epic event. The early day start in E Kansas far W Missouri -- KC getting hit with repeated rounds. Cyclical supercells one after another raging from border to border through out Missouri -- and well into night. Stories of chasers dodging monsters in the dark, the nightmares on the interstate as people were caught... as numerous small towns took direct hits. And the everlasting supercell... what was it, six states? That was incredible. I was enthralled. Severe tornadic storms from the morning through the late night... And once I learned a bit more about forecasting... what a monster system and setup. Though I didn't chase it, feel especially close to this outbreak -- the best thus far from my era of chasing.

 

[Melissa Jablonski]

Man you guys are bored.
Melissa

 

[Fred Gossage]

I have to say Super Tuesday, with March 12, 2006 or May 4, 2003 a VERY close second. Guys, we haven't had this many people killed in one day from tornadoes in over two decades... not one day has had that many tornado fatalities since 88Ds were installed. Keep in mind that excellent warnings were provided for these tornadoes with MANY television stations in the areas going live, non-stop with their weather coverage, and the potential had been talked about by the SPC a good six days out. On top of that, the shear ferocity of the outbreak itself is scary. Over 80 tornadoes... with five of those EF4 (one of those with a continuous surveyed track of over 120 miles in length).... and it was way ahead of the climatological season for many of the areas that were affected (AR/TN/MO/KY/IL/IN) to see a tornado outbreak like this.

I definitely think that 3/12/06 and 5/4/03 should be ranked right up there near the top, but when you take into account total number of tornado tracks confirmed, tornado intensity, and death toll (in the presence of Doppler Radar, aggressive media weather coverage, and very adequate warning lead-time compared to the national average) combined... it should be Super Tuesday without question.