Author Topic: Historic Tornado Outbreak (Read 27852 times)

W Thomas · « **Reply #25 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:27:22 AM »

I have to say that I believe this makes the outbreak of 74 look a little wimpy..at least in this area. We were spared and major damage except for a pine tree that has fallen in the next door neighbors yard.. Fortunately looks like no damage. Down the road from us maybe 11 miles that area was totally devastated with at least 7 dead now and numerous homes and commercial properties destroyed. The Petro stopping center was totally destroyed and this morning trucking companies are calling the local LEO offices in an effort to find their drivers. As best I can tell from my radar at the time this storm system had a long history of being tornadic but spawned a tornado near Winterham Subdivision and this tornado was on and off the ground all the way from Abingdon until the Glade Spring Area where it apparently touched down for an extended period.

We we're certainly lucky here... Many really close to us were not! in 46 years I have never witnessed anything like the devastation this weather produced.

W Thomas · « **Reply #26 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:30:08 AM »

Quote from: Slow Modem on April 28, 2011, 09:25:37 AM

Quote from: HailHunter on April 28, 2011, 08:18:32 AM
This is now officially the deadliest outbreak since the Super Outbreak, and the preliminary reports have reached 160 tornadoes from yesterday. I cannot believe that in the modern era we could see an outbreak kill more than 200 people. I cannot even begin to fathom this.

It is very sad, indeed. Especially since now there are high-tech, affordable shelters available for people. I think every home should have one. But, everybody has different priorities I suppose.

Good to see you online after last night's activity!!
Really good !

Downlinerz2 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:45:00 AM »

Yesterday I wouldn't have thought it possible that the number killed could be over 200. I heard on TWC, I think they said, is over 250.

It looks like most of those killed and the damage came from a single super-cell that lasted for over 300 miles. It started near the Miss/Al border and went through Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and through Georgia. The tornado in places may have been a mile wide.
Unbelievable. Sad.

I think the death toll could go higher as the search continues. I think everyone will say "I remember when in April 2011".

Mark
ADDED: Tuscaloosa AL tornado pic

Downlinerz2 · « **Reply #28 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:55:54 AM »

We need to take some time today to donate to the Red Cross or some other charity working in the wake of this storm..
Mark

Downlinerz2 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:19:34 AM »

Everyone has probably seen a lot of this but here is a group of videos of the tornadoes yesterday. The one is unbelievable how close it its.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/videos/see-and-hear-deadly-alabama-tornado-20461

Mark

IMADreamer · « **Reply #30 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:46:26 AM »

I didn't have the energy to post or the words to say last night. After it tore through Tuscaloosa and I heard the report of "mile wide tornado entering the west end of Birmingham" I had to stop. I teared up a bit and couldn't watch any more. I knew it would be bad. Fortunately my friends were all ok, but many peoples lives will never be the same. God bless them all.

Chris H. · « **Reply #31 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:58:48 AM »

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000&s_subsrc=RCO_BigRedButton

I could've stayed up all night and watched the reports on the death toll and tornado count…which stands at over 200 and 148 respectively. While not to overshoot this topic, I have a feeling this is only one of probably a few deadly tornado outbreaks for this year. I mean, can such a thing happen in one season?

Downlinerz2 · « **Reply #32 on:** April 28, 2011, 12:14:49 PM »

Quote from: IMADreamer on April 28, 2011, 10:46:26 AM

I didn't have the energy to post or the words to say last night. After it tore through Tuscaloosa and I heard the report of "mile wide tornado entering the west end of Birmingham" I had to stop. I teared up a bit and couldn't watch any more. I knew it would be bad. Fortunately my friends were all ok, but many peoples lives will never be the same. God bless them all.

I know exactly how you feel. While watching the GRL3 radar and having TWC just when it was approaching Tuscaloosa I realized how awful this had to be for GRL3 to show a debris ball on BR1. I never saw anything like it before except on TV. I felt sick to my stomach. On TWC, Dr. Forbes talked about how he felt watching those radar images. He said that the only thing that made him not feel totally terrible was that he hoped he was saving lives by putting the info out as he was. How bad would this have been if the warnings were not put out well in advance. I hate to imagine how much worse it could have been.
I hope and pray the May, which is usually the peak, is a peaceful one. We can hope so.
Mark

IMADreamer · « **Reply #33 on:** April 28, 2011, 12:19:05 PM »

There is no doubt that Greg Forbes, and the guys on the local stations as well as the NWS saved many lives yesterday. I saw so much fantastic coverage of the event from all angles. I often talk bad about the media in this day in age which seems to be almost completely useless, except for in situations like this. All the meteorologist yesterday who were on air should be proud of themselves.

mackbig · « **Reply #34 on:** April 28, 2011, 12:36:04 PM »

I agree. The news, internet, social media probably saved hundreds of lives.... that and history. Back in 1974 there were not 24/7 news stations showing the devastation for all that were in the potential path, people emailing, websites, texting, smartphones, tweeting, you name it probably saved a bunch of folks without weather radios or away from their radios. Probably safe to say if it were not for the aforementioned the death toll would easily have eclipsed the old record. And the history part, if 74, and even the events of this April had not already happened many people might still have been in the "cant happen to me" mindset.

Andrew

CNYWeather · « **Reply #35 on:** April 28, 2011, 12:39:18 PM »

Cant agree with you more. Dr. Forbes is pretty much THE expert to go to when that happens.
Their coverage was great too. no commercials and I think I stared at the TV for almost 2 hours in disbelief.

And Yes, I think Social Media and Severe weather have joined forces. Amazing watching Twitter
last night and all the first hand accounts and picts and videos as it was happening.

My turn came around 2am when one of our dogs woke me and I looked at my phone and
saw Tornado Warnings to the SW of us near Syracuse. 4 separate warnings overnight plus
incredible rain in some areas. Many flooded areas here still.

http://www.wktv.com/slideshows/Early-morning-storm---April-28-2011-120851849.html?gallery=y&img=0&c=y

mackbig · « **Reply #36 on:** April 28, 2011, 12:55:36 PM »

I saw some roll thru Ostego the night before on GR3. They were tor warned, not sure if they touched down that night.

Andrew

Quote from: CNYWeather on April 28, 2011, 12:39:18 PM

My turn came around 2am when one of our dogs woke me and I looked at my phone and
saw Tornado Warnings to the SW of us near Syracuse. 4 separate warnings overnight plus
incredible rain in some areas. Many flooded areas here still.

SlowModem · « **Reply #37 on:** April 28, 2011, 01:23:59 PM »

Quote from: W Thomas on April 28, 2011, 09:30:08 AM

Good to see you online after last night's activity!!
Really good !

Thanks!

it was an exciting night.

I don't think we had much storm damage, but I won't know for sure until I get home this evening and see things in the daylight.

A few more nights like that and I'll bean old man quickly!

SlowModem · « **Reply #38 on:** April 28, 2011, 01:27:36 PM »

Quote from: mackbig on April 28, 2011, 12:36:04 PM

I agree. The news, internet, social media probably saved hundreds of lives.... that and history. Back in 1974 there were not 24/7 news stations showing the devastation for all that were in the potential path, people emailing, websites, texting, smartphones, tweeting, you name it probably saved a bunch of folks without weather radios or away from their radios. Probably safe to say if it were not for the aforementioned the death toll would easily have eclipsed the old record. And the history part, if 74, and even the events of this April had not already happened many people might still have been in the "cant happen to me" mindset.

Andrew

There's no way to know, but if they had today's technology back in 1974, what would they have seen and how many tornadoes would there have been?

HailHunter · « **Reply #39 on:** April 28, 2011, 03:49:27 PM »

I'm trying to keep a Red Cross link on my Facebook wall every day. There's a lot of our neighbors both near and far that are going to need them. What I find interesting is our reaction. I always thought when the next Super Outbreak hit that we'd end up being overly excited at history unfolding that we might have to stop and remind ourselves that people lost homes and "some people even died."

Yet, I am seeing us respond in a much different manner. We are all having a hard time comprehending this now. It's like you can tell we are interested in the historic nature of it, but yet it's hitting home that it's historic for all the wrong reasons.

I know Tuscaloosa has been devastated and many other regions, but please don't forget Mississippi. We have many counties that are struggling today, and especially the town of Smithville. A little town of 900 it is gone. People were having to walk into town yesterday because you couldn't drive the roads anywhere into town.

They are in dire need right now. Not even the high school is left. No grocery store is left. No house is standing that is considered inhabitable.

It is a momentous day in weather history, but yet suddenly I long for the days where all we could do was go "I wonder what people thought on the day of the Super Outbreak" because I no longer like knowing.

Farmtalk · « **Reply #40 on:** April 28, 2011, 03:53:42 PM »

With 165 tornado reports, was April 27th, 2011 the day where the record amount of tornadoes were spawned in a single day? I believe the Super Outbreak was around 148.

W Thomas · « **Reply #41 on:** April 28, 2011, 05:08:29 PM »

We got a chance to go through some of our local hard hit areas..not by choice but by call out by dispatch, and I have never seen damage such as this. The I81 exit 29 area is near total devastation. As well as hwy 107 where a large construction company was destroyed. The 3 Ph power lines that run adjacent to that area are reminiscent of something you would see on storm chaser video. That going to be a total rebuild and will take weeks. I am going to be carrying a lot a fuel to the generator on the mountain for the generator for that end of the counties communications. There is a area called Plum Creek Community that lies smack in the middle of the storms track that was equally devastated. Mobile homes over turned , laying on houses and hanging up in trees. If I get a chance I am going to try for some photos. Land line phone service here is just barely working and cellular is much better but it has it' s drawbacks as well.

kiabird · « **Reply #42 on:** April 28, 2011, 05:18:11 PM »

All I can say is my heart goes out to those devastated communities.
Now that I've seen the videos, I wish we could in the snap of a finger have a boring normal weather day where no lives are lost and no property destroyed.
Barb

ocala · « **Reply #43 on:** April 28, 2011, 06:06:55 PM »

Quote from: kiabird on April 28, 2011, 05:18:11 PM

All I can say is my heart goes out to those devastated communities.
Now that I've seen the videos, I wish we could in the snap of a finger have a boring normal weather day where no lives are lost and no property destroyed.
Barb

Know what you mean. While we all wish for some good storms stuff like this is really sobering.

HailHunter · « **Reply #44 on:** April 28, 2011, 06:11:17 PM »

It is now officially the 2nd deadliest day of the modern era surpassing the Palm Sunday Outbreak of 1965. Just to hear that the death toll surpassed that day, a day that many of us held right up there next to the Super Outbreak as far as sobering severe weather days, is mind numbing.

DanS · « **Reply #45 on:** April 28, 2011, 07:27:00 PM »

Incredible, death toll nearing 300! My prayers go out to those families.

Downlinerz2 · « **Reply #46 on:** April 28, 2011, 07:34:31 PM »

Quote from: ocala on April 28, 2011, 06:06:55 PM

Quote from: kiabird on April 28, 2011, 05:18:11 PM
All I can say is my heart goes out to those devastated communities.
Now that I've seen the videos, I wish we could in the snap of a finger have a boring normal weather day where no lives are lost and no property destroyed.
Barb
Know what you mean. While we all wish for some good storms stuff like this is really sobering.

I too am still stunned. I keep looking at my saved radar images that were before Tuscaloosa and wish I could just turn off the storm. As I type they just said the death toll is 280. I would have said you was crazy if you said it would be half that. I remember watching on TWC and after the storm hit Tuscaloosa, they showed Birmingham and debris was falling from the sky and the tornado was like 20 minutes away yet, maybe a bit less. It was crazy!!! Even with the warnings these storms were so powerfull the only safe place was underground.
God Help all of you in Alabama!!!

Mark

WeatherHost · « **Reply #47 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:16:08 PM »

There is no doubt that Greg Forbes, and the guys on the local stations as well as the NWS saved many lives yesterday.

I'm not sure I'd say that. Most of those affected probably weren't anywhere near a TV or radio, or if they were, they were watching something else.

W Thomas · « **Reply #48 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:55:06 PM »

Here are some links to the damage nearest my location

http://www.wcyb.com/slideshow/news/27707774/detail.html

http://www.wcyb.com/slideshow/news/27708362/detail.html

NWS has not made any mention of a survey yet but from what I see it looks close to a strong EF3

There's much more damage than these photo's show on into Smyth County

scottm · « **Reply #49 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:03:32 PM »

Some amazing footage has been pouring in, i have to say this one is certainly worth watching, for sure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ohIVzIZLuQ&feature=featured

gets real interesting about 4:00 into it.

Scott

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Author Topic: Historic Tornado Outbreak (Read 27852 times)