Folks, this storm front is very nasty...

[lspencer534]

Here's what my area looks like right now:

http://i57.tinypic.com/fbgc5i.jpg

I'm in Mississippi, and the thunderstorms started at 6:00 this morning. Constant thunder and lightning, on-and-off rain, sometimes very heavy. One minor system near me had quarter-size hail. It's almost completely dark outside. And I'm not even in the severe part (in red) of the storm yet; that happens tonight/tomorrow.

Here's what later today looks like:

http://i57.tinypic.com/27yajog.jpg

And it remains through Tuesday. There's supposed to be lots of high-strength tornadoes through Tuesday. And up to 5" of rain each day.

Please take precautions--you're gonna need them. Expect loss of electricity, very high winds (60+ mph), heavy rain, and floodiing.

[Jeff '79]

Ya, when we hear about it up here, you know it ain't gonna be pretty.

[RED-85-Z51]

60mph....lol.

As long as it stats under 125mph, I wont even pickup the lawn furniture...

[blurdog]

Stay safe!
Hopefully,we'll just get the much needed rain in our area.

[CertInsaneC5]

Just checked the radar here. Live Doppler 15 Fury Radar | WANE (http://wane.com/weather/radar/)

That stuff looks nasty. Hunker down. :angel:

[Cybercowboy]

We already got our F5, should be OK for a a long time. Right? Right?

['77Babe]

Tie down the cats and barbies. :willy:


Hope all of you in this weather make it out with as little damage as possible. :angel:

[Cybercowboy]

http://i57.tinypic.com/27yajog.jpg


Note that the V of Severe is directly on top of Joplin. :leaving:

[Grey Ghost]

Best be gettin' your hunker down on.

Here by Tues. I think.

[StaticCling]

My dad and sisters are in Kansas City, right in the middle of the 'red' zone.

My dad actually installed a tornado shelter inside of his garage. :yesnod:

[Jeff '79]

Can you do a "Tornado Cam" or something?
Don't you have a generator to keep the juice on?

Ya, like a tornado cam is on top of your A-list...
Stay safe everyone... :sadangel:

[lspencer534]

My dad and sisters are in Kansas City, right in the middle of the 'red' zone.

My dad actually installed a tornado shelter inside of his garage. :yesnod:

I dearly want to install a shelter inside my work shop, but it's usually so hot here that's I'd probably die from heat stroke inside one. Electricity for AC would likely be out. Any solutuion for that?

[WalkerInTN]

Not looking forward to it this evening. :nonod:

[lspencer534]

Can you do a "Tornado Cam" or something?
Don't you have a generator to keep the juice on?

Ya, like a tornado cam is on top of your A-list...
Stay safe everyone... :sadangel:

I've yet to find a good tornado warning system. Besides, like the Nat'l. Weather Service says, "In the event a tornado is spotted in your area, be prepared to move to a place of safety." Uhhhh...like where?

No generator. I'm not worried about the food. I'll keep it on ice in coolers. I wouldn't spend the money on a generator big enough to run what's important here: The air conditioners. One 4-ton, three 2-ton.

[CertInsaneC5]

I am surprised you don't have a generator already. Even one to run the essentials. I have a 8 KWA unit here. It has saved my ass several times and we don't have near the bad weather you guys south of me get.

Yes, its expensive up front. But when you look at frozen pipes, freezers full of spoiled food and sweating/freezing your ass off I will gladly pay the price. :cert:

[Jeff '79]

I am surprised you don't have a generator already. Even one to run the essentials. I have a 8 KWA unit here. It has saved my ass several times and we don't have near the bad weather you guys south of me get.

Yes its expensive up front. But when you look at frozen pipes, freezers full of spoiled food and sweating/freezing your ass off I will gladly pay the price. :cert:
:iagree:
You forgot no TV or puter or lights. I'd never be w/o a genny and at least 20 gallons of fuel.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Sorry, but it's.........:clever: up here.

Mr. Rogers "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood".mp4 - YouTube

[CertInsaneC5]

I've yet to find a good tornado warning system. Besides, like the Nat'l. Weather Service says, "In the event a tornado is spotted in your area, be prepared to move to a place of safety." Uhhhh...like where?

No generator. I'm not worried about the food. I'll keep it on ice in coolers. I wouldn't spend the money on a generator big enough to run what's important here: The air conditioners. One 4-ton, three 2-ton.


Holy moley !! You got 15k sq feet under roof? Block off part of the house you actually use and power it with a genset. :cert:

[78SA]

Pfft, no tornadoes here this year.

[lspencer534]

I am surprised you don't have a generator already. Even one to run the essentials. I have a 8 KWA unit here. It has saved my ass several times and we don't have near the bad weather you guys south of me get.

Yes, its expensive up front. But when you look at frozen pipes, freezers full of spoiled food and sweating/freezing your ass off I will gladly pay the price. :cert:

I have electric heat. Do they make an affordable generator for that?

[lspencer534]

Holy moley !! You got 15k sq feet under roof? Block off part of the house you actually use and power it with a genset. :cert:

Not that big, but it is a big house.

[Jeff '79]

I have electric heat. Do they make an affordable generator for that?

:ball:

[CertInsaneC5]

I have electric heat. Do they make an affordable generator for that?

Affordable? Depends on how much you like modern life with electricity and comfort. Me, I value that kind of thing. Look into a natural gas powered unit. And yes its going to be in the low 5$ figures. :cert:

[CertInsaneC5]

:ball:

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Jeff '79]

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

:wtf: Really?

[StaticCling]

I dearly want to install a shelter inside my work shop, but it's usually so hot here that's I'd probably die from heat stroke inside one. Electricity for AC would likely be out. Any solutuion for that?

Not sure, but one from this company is what my dad installed.

Family Safe | Certified in-home Tornado Shelters and Safe Rooms (http://familysafeshelters.com/)


His garage is climate controlled, so I guess it wasn't an issue for him.

[Cybercowboy]

Affordable? Depends on how much you like modern life with electricity and comfort. Me, I value that kind of thing. Look into a natural gas powered unit. And yes its going to be in the low 5$ figures. :cert:

Yeah, I can power a lot of stuff with my modest generator (10kW peak) because my furnace and water heaters are all gas. I have a bypass switch and can connect my generator directly to my home's 220V supply. Lights, TV, internet, heat, hot water, cold food, all that with just the generator.

[Jeff '79]

Yeah, I can power a lot of stuff with my modest generator (10kW peak) because my furnace and water heaters are all gas. I have a bypass switch and can connect my generator directly to my home's 220V supply. Lights, TV, internet, heat, hot water, cold food, all that with just the generator.

Same here. A $600 Honda can run a lot of systems for days...:yesnod:

[lspencer534]

Same here. A $600 Honda can run a lot of systems for days...:yesnod:

Can it run a 2-ton AC? I know it can't run electric heat. Should I get a generator that is gasoline-powered, or should a use one with a PTO hook-up from my diesel tractor?

[Jeff '79]

I have this one. It runs a boiler for heat, a forced air furnace for heat, two fridges, and anything else that I want in my entire house. Yes it runs my A/C no problem. The surge rating of 6250 is the key for that because the initial surge from the a/c going on is the difficult part. Constant running is no problem.
I don't see why it wouldn't do the same for you.
As always, when using a genny like this one, you go on conserve mode and just use what you need. I've gone days on this thing w/o a hiccup.
Powermate Portable Generator — 6250 Surge Watts, 5000 Rated Watts, Model# PM0435005 | Portable Generators| Northern Tool + Equipment (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200512013_200512013?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Generators-_-Portable%20Generators-_-25617&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=25617&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=25617&gclid=CI_DkLT_gL4CFS8V7AodPg0AbQ)

[Grey Ghost]

Very near F5, last year. I saw the aftermath of houses picked up and deposited hundreds of yards away from their foundation. We've always had them near for decades. Bad ones...killing ones...the worst are the ones in the night. People sleeping and never get the warnings. The only safe spot is a shelter under/in the ground.

Tornado Photos by jerryholmes | Photobucket

[LisaJohn]

We already got our F5, should be OK for a a long time. Right? Right?

That's what I keep telling myself.

[carlton_fritz]

Pfft, no tornadoes here this year.
:kick:

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Sorry, but it's.........:clever: up here.

Don't gloat. You also get 9 months of snow a year.

:leaving:






Stay safe, everyone.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Don't gloat. You also get 9 months of snow a year.
:leaving:
Stay safe, everyone.

Sandy, I put up with southerners "gloating" all winter long! Feels good for once to put the shoe on the other foot. :seasix:

Yes, stay safe everyone....:yesnod:

[lspencer534]

Sandy, I put up with southerners "gloating" all winter long! Feels good for once to put the shoe on the other foot. :seasix:

Yes, stay safe everyone....:yesnod:

You won't hear any gloating from me. It's too cold for me where you live, and it's too hot for you where I live. I'm not crazy about either heat or cold, but that's about all the choices we have in this Country.

[Cybercowboy]

Can it run a 2-ton AC? I know it can't run electric heat. Should I get a generator that is gasoline-powered, or should a use one with a PTO hook-up from my diesel tractor?

It probably could but that would be about all it could do. You're not going to run AC on a generator, but you can power a few box fans and at least survive. Around here it's more likely to be without power in cold weather than warm, at least for extended periods of time. Summer outages are usually 1-3 hours or so. Winter ice storm outages can last for days or even weeks.

[LisaJohn]

Y'all ok in Joplin right now?

[Cybercowboy]

Oh, and the line passed here awhile ago, total non-event. Heck, I could have played golf today. We got about 1/8" of rain.

[Cybercowboy]

Y'all ok in Joplin right now?

All good! Got my car washed for free on the way to our Sunday breakfast place (actually brunch.)

[LisaJohn]

I haven't talked to my sons today. Youngest son is an April 27, 2011 tornado survivor. And so is Fletcher the cockapoo.

[Jeff '79]

It probably could but that would be about all it could do. You're not going to run AC on a generator, but you can power a few box fans and at least survive. Around here it's more likely to be without power in cold weather than warm, at least for extended periods of time. Summer outages are usually 1-3 hours or so. Winter ice storm outages can last for days or even weeks.

Wrong

[MrPeabody]

We already got our F5, should be OK for a a long time. Right? Right?

That's what we figure about earthquakes here.:yesnod:

Everybody stay safe down there.:seasix:

[MrPeabody]

I have electric heat. Do they make an affordable generator for that?

All you need is a small generator to power an ice maker for the Gin & Tonics.:shots:

[Cybercowboy]

Wrong

Mine probably could. It would be close. It's the starting current that's the deal breaker for most stuff like that. But I wouldn't try it any more than I'd try to use my electric oven.

Most AC units are on a 220V/50A breaker, which is 11kW. My generator has a peak power of 10.5kW. It would be close. Then there is also the fan on the furnace, which probably takes 7 or 8 amps of 120V, so it would be really really close.

[Jeff '79]

Mine probably could. It would be close. It's the starting current that's the deal breaker for most stuff like that. But I wouldn't try it any more than I'd try to use my electric oven.

Most AC units are on a 220V/50A breaker, which is 11kW. My generator has a peak power of 10.5kW. It would be close. Then there is also the fan on the furnace, which probably takes 7 or 8 amps of 120V, so it would be really really close.

:yesnod: The initial surge is the key as stated in my post.
6250 is plenty, and that's what the one in the link that I posted has.
That Coleman will juice up my entire house, A/C included.

[lspencer534]

Oh, and the line passed here awhile ago, total non-event. Heck, I could have played golf today. We got about 1/8" of rain.

Radar says you got extremely lucky. The front had a small hole in it, and Joplin was in that hole.

[Jeff '79]

It may be an interesting spring for everyone. It is uncharacteristically cool here for April. It's 58°

[lspencer534]

It may be an interesting spring for everyone. It is uncharacteristically cool here for April. It's 58°

I'll check The Old Farmer's Almanac. BRB....

[Olustee bus]

Thunderstorms and rain here near Birmingham. The bad stuff is supposed to start in Ms Monday afternoon and move into Alabama late afternoon and (in my area) Monday night, overnight. I have a good basement but My mother cannot goe in there so I will have to move her to a cousins shelter or a friends basement if need be.

[LisaJohn]

Indy's on at Barber. Hope they can finish.

[VITE1]

Coleman Propane Catalytic Heater | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/bhp/coleman-propane-catalytic-heater)

Can it run a 2-ton AC? I know it can't run electric heat. Should I get a generator that is gasoline-powered, or should a use one with a PTO hook-up from my diesel tractor?

Get a few catalytic propane heaters and 20# tanks. Great back up for heat.

[LisaJohn]

Sons just texted that tornado sirens going off in Joplin.

[VITE1]

Sons just texted that tornado sirens going off in Joplin.

:angel:

[Bucwheat]

Looks like we missed it by being here in Fl.:dance:

[Ol Timer]

Sons just texted that tornado sirens going off in Joplin.

Local news said 2 on the ground in Joplin. One is "large".

[lspencer534]

I'm not trying to single out Cybercowboy for criticiam because he said that the storm in Joplin was a non'event, but I just want to warn you that this is far from over. It's supposed to get progressively worse the next two days. The sun is shining here, and it's dead calm. It will suddenly change tonight. Be prepared!

[LisaJohn]

You are correct. We are watching closely. Filled up my exploder and John's truck this afternoon. Stopped and got a few groceries. Full tank of lp gas for the grill. Not trying to be an alarmist but just trying to be a little more prepared.
We have the sun/calm thing too! Not good!

[LATB]

It may be an interesting spring for everyone. It is uncharacteristically cool here for April. It's 58°

MMGW

[Jeff '79]

MMGW

:wtf: does that mean?

[LATB]

:wtf: does that mean?

Man made global warming

[lspencer534]

:wtf: does that mean?

Mean Men Got Wienies.

[Jeff '79]

Man made global warming

BS

It's completely natural. That's why they call it nature.

[LisaJohn]

Three years later and I haven't forgotten the kindness. I will never forget.

[lspencer534]

Three years later and I haven't forgotten the kindness. I will never forget.

I remeber your plight well. That was traumatic. I'm glad you survived.

Possibly some good news for tonight: The storms may have moved North of me and will maybe clear you, too. They return tomorrow with a vengeance. though.

[LATB]

BS

It's completely natural. That's why they call it nature.

I agree

[PortDawg]

Tie down the cats and barbies. :willy:


That made me laugh !

[LisaJohn]

Y'all be safe the next few days if you are in the line of storms!

[Cybercowboy]

Radar says you got extremely lucky. The front had a small hole in it, and Joplin was in that hole.

Yeah, we were having dinner over at a friend's home about 1/4 mile from our house, and the sirens (and our iPhones) all started going crazy just as we sat down for dinner. I checked the radar and said we'd be OK, but my wife's friend insisted we go down into their hidey hole. So I grabbed a fresh bottle of wine and slithered down into their crawl space, sat on a tarp, and sipped some wine for about 30 minutes until the last cell was west of us.

[Cybercowboy]

I'm not trying to single out Cybercowboy for criticiam because he said that the storm in Joplin was a non'event, but I just want to warn you that this is far from over. It's supposed to get progressively worse the next two days. The sun is shining here, and it's dead calm. It will suddenly change tonight. Be prepared!

It was a non-event twice yesterday. We used to shrug off this sort of weather all the time prior to 2011, but that one left a mark. One gets a bit jaded after living in tornado alley for 40 years. I've had a tornado go directly over both houses I've owned, and can usually just glance at a radar picture to know if we need to be worried or not. There were large cells all around us but nothing that actually crossed our immediate area. As far as I know, there was zero damage anywhere up to 10 miles outside Joplin.

[GS Ragtop]

Glad everyone is safe.

:sadangel: to those impacted by this year's storms -- USA Today says the death toll is up to 18.

:sadangel::sadangel::sadangel:

[Cybercowboy]

Sons just texted that tornado sirens going off in Joplin.

I think prior to 2011 they would not have turned them on. Apparently one was sighted in Baxter Springs KS, a small town about 10 miles west of Joplin, and if so it went north and west of Joplin. Then there was a large cell south of our location (we are at the southern edge of town) that could have in theory made it here but it stayed south of us by about 10 miles.

[onedef92]

We've had very vivid lightning and heavy rains here in Louisville. Bad stuff on tap possibly tonight through Tuesday. KY Derby on Saturday looks like a cool, damp, rainy, gullywasher, too.

[wwomanC6]

It was a non-event twice yesterday. We used to shrug off this sort of weather all the time prior to 2011, but that one left a mark. One gets a bit jaded after living in tornado alley for 40 years. I've had a tornado go directly over both houses I've owned, and can usually just glance at a radar picture to know if we need to be worried or not. There were large cells all around us but nothing that actually crossed our immediate area. As far as I know, there was zero damage anywhere up to 10 miles outside Joplin.

Its funny you say that. Last night I was looking at radar in Arkansas. I saw one area with hook echo and what look like rotation. I said I bet there is a tornado on the ground there. Sure enough they just showed the areas of where tornados touched down. south of Heber Springs is were one hit which is where I was looking at on radar.

[jaxgator]

Its funny you say that. Last night I was looking at radar in Arkansas. I saw one area with hook echo and what look like rotation. I said I bet there is a tornado on the ground there. Sure enough they just showed the areas of where tornados touched down. south of Heber Springs is were one hit which is where I was looking at on radar.

I heard about something like 16 deaths from tornadoes in Arkansas. :sadangel:

Has anyone heard from NEVRL8T (Lee)? Sure hope he and his loved ones are safe.

[Grey Ghost]

:ohnoes:

I'm in the purple

https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/p180x540/10320558_717474248275499_3125673005289939568_n.jpg

[LATB]

We've had very vivid lightning and heavy rains here in Louisville. Bad stuff on tap possibly tonight through Tuesday. KY Derby on Saturday looks like a cool, damp, rainy, gullywasher, too.

Go all in on the "mudder"

[wwomanC6]

I heard about something like 16 deaths from tornadoes in Arkansas. :sadangel:

Has anyone heard from NEVRL8T (Lee)? Sure hope he and his loved ones are safe.

Been a month since he logged in here. Hope and pray Lee and his family are ok and safe!

[carlton_fritz]

:ohnoes:

I'm in the purple

https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/p180x540/10320558_717474248275499_3125673005289939568_n.jpg
So is my brother in Cartersville.

[Cybercowboy]

All my friends and acquaintances apparently fared just fine. One friend lives near Baxter Springs, and he saw three tornadoes yesterday from his back yard. Some other friends live north of town in Briarbrook and they saw the same tornadoes, roughly 10 minutes later.

Lots of close calls, although there was some significant damage in Baxter Springs so I hear. Interestingly, in the aftermath of the Joplin tornado the fire chief and two other firefighters from Baxter Springs were arrested for stealing generators and chain saws from damaged residences. Using their official capacity as first responders to loot.

[Gina]

I heard about something like 16 deaths from tornadoes in Arkansas. :sadangel:

Has anyone heard from NEVRL8T (Lee)? Sure hope he and his loved ones are safe.

I haven't heard from Lee.....one of the tornadoes was in his county, but on the opposite side of the county so I'm sure he's ok. That cell hit at my house but didn't drop the tornado for about 20 more miles. It was a rough night.

Stay safe everyone dealing with these storms now.

[wwomanC6]

So glad to hear your ok Gina! :seasix:

[lspencer534]

We made it through last night with no real problems here in Madison, Mississippi. Electricity went out sometime during the night but was on when I woke up this morning. No severe wind, rain, or tornadoes.

Tonight looks like a different story. On the way home there were radio reports of 2-3 tornadoes touching down in the adjoining County. The sky looks very ominous: Black, clouds moving rapidly, lots of thunder, and ocassional rain. Radar show severe weather moving in in an hour or so. Then there's still tomorrow and tomorrow night to worry about.

My feeling (and the feeling of the Nat'l. Weather Service) is that we'll have severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and tornadoes all over the State tonight and tomorrow. It's just weird-looking outside--very unsetted and nervous looking skies.

[LisaJohn]

We dismissed an hour early from school today. Temp was 86 and sunny this afternoon. Getting cloudy and wind is picking up. Just went under a tornado watch. Y'all be safe!

[99 pewtercoupe]

We made it through last night with no real problems here in Madison, Mississippi. Electricity went out sometime during the night but was on when I woke up this morning. No severe wind, rain, or tornadoes.

Tonight looks like a different story. On the way home there were radio reports of 2-3 tornadoes touching down in the adjoining County. The sky looks very ominous: Black, clouds moving rapidly, lots of thunder, and ocassional rain. Radar show severe weather moving in in an hour or so. Then there's still tomorrow and tomorrow night to worry about.

My feeling (and the feeling of the Nat'l. Weather Service) is that we'll have severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and tornadoes all over the State tonight and tomorrow. It's just weird-looking outside--very unsetted and nervous looking skies.

Hope you have your puzzy posse all hunkered down and safe tonight.

[09CTSV]

Hell of a ride last night here. We got hit with 1" of rain Sunday afternoon. It cleared up for a bit and then about 1:30 this morning all hell broke loose. We received over 3 inches of rain at the house. The thunder and lightning was crazy. The tornado sirens went off on Sunday afternoon but nothing sighted.
Our dogs were worn out this morning. I ended up sleeping in the living room with two of them to keep them calm and the other three slept in the bed cuddled up in a little den with my wife.
I hope tonight is a little calmer than last night. Our willow trees have about 2 inches deep water around them, drinking it all in. I mowed the yard Saturday and don't think I'll be able to mow again for a week until the ground dries out some.

Hope you stay safe down there Spence. I think what hits you ends up here in the Ohio Valley a few hours later.

On the generator, we have only lost power for 1 hour the entire 10 years we have lived here. The sub station is only 1/4 mile from the house and the main power plant is 6 miles away as the crow flies. We haven't been worried about a generator since we've been here, power has been very stable.

[lspencer534]

Hell of a ride last night here. We got hit with 1" of rain Sunday afternoon. It cleared up for a bit and then about 1:30 this morning all hell broke loose. We received over 3 inches of rain at the house. The thunder and lightning was crazy. The tornado sirens went off on Sunday afternoon but nothing sighted.
Our dogs were worn out this morning. I ended up sleeping in the living room with two of them to keep them calm and the other three slept in the bed cuddled up in a little den with my wife.
I hope tonight is a little calmer than last night. Our willow trees have about 2 inches deep water around them, drinking it all in. I mowed the yard Saturday and don't think I'll be able to mow again for a week until the ground dries out some.

Hope you stay safe down there Spence. I think what hits you ends up here in the Ohio Valley a few hours later.

On the generator, we have only lost power for 1 hour the entire 10 years we have lived here. The sub station is only 1/4 mile from the house and the main power plant is 6 miles away as the crow flies. We haven't been worried about a generator since we've been here, power has been very stable.

You stay safe, please. I'm not so lucky here about power. For the past 20 years, my area has been rapidly developing, going from a small, sleepy town to a well-populated City. Power lines have not kept pace with the demand. Lines are old and inadequare and prone to failure at the smallest opportunity.

[09CTSV]

Stay safe down there Spence. We are fortunate our county is sparsely populated. I think the whole county is less than 40,000 people.

In VA Beach we had the problem with growing too fast and the infrastructure not keeping up. It took a week to get power back after a small hurricane which did not even have direct land fall on us. I ran a generator for a week to feed three houses. Our neighbors daughter had diabetes and needed to keep the insulin cold. When we got power I let my brother in law use the generator. He came back and gave me cash and said I wasn't getting it back. He ran his house on it, 8KW with a 10KW surge. Pretty mean little machine, wish I would have kept it.

[lspencer534]

Stay safe down there Spence. We are fortunate our county is sparsely populated. I think the whole county is less than 40,000 people.

In VA Beach we had the problem with growing too fast and the infrastructure not keeping up. It took a week to get power back after a small hurricane which did not even have direct land fall on us. I ran a generator for a week to feed three houses. Our neighbors daughter had diabetes and needed to keep the insulin cold. When we got power I let my brother in law use the generator. He came back and gave me cash and said I wasn't getting it back. He ran his house on it, 8KW with a 10KW surge. Pretty mean little machine, wish I would have kept it.

Anything in your favor means a lot during bad weather. When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, I, too, lost power for over a week even though I'm 150 miles inland. It was in August, a very hot month here. It was completely miserable, as I'm sure you know.

[LisaJohn]

We got a new roof thanks to Katrina. We were without power for 4 days.

[CertInsaneC5]

Just looked at the radar in MS. Time to duck and cover. That looks nasty. :willy:

[carlton_fritz]

Looking at a radar showing rotation detected in west Georgia, near LaGrange.


On a more serious note, 5 are showing in Mississippi.

[carlton_fritz]

Bart should be ready to hunker down. That LaGrange one is heading his way.

[Grey Ghost]

We dismissed an hour early from school today. Temp was 86 and sunny this afternoon. Getting cloudy and wind is picking up. Just went under a tornado watch. Y'all be safe!

Looking at a radar showing rotation detected in west Georgia, near LaGrange.


On a more serious note, 5 are showing in Mississippi.

Yep, already brewing. It's gonna' be a long night. I'm almost tempted to just stay awake all night.

[carlton_fritz]

Yep, already brewing. It's gonna' be a long night. I'm almost tempted to just stay awake all night.
Be safe. We might be getting lucky again up here.

[vtelvr]

I'm genuinely worried about this front. Deciding on where best to try and weather it for the night. No basement at the house...y'all stay safe.

[MrPeabody]

:waiting: Everybody okay over there?

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Sandy, I put up with southerners "gloating" all winter long! Feels good for once to put the shoe on the other foot. :seasix:

Yes, stay safe everyone....:yesnod:

That was my indirect way of gloating. :leaving:

It may be an interesting spring for everyone. It is uncharacteristically cool here for April. It's 58°

I was in Tucson over the weekend. I don't think it got out of the 60s on Saturday. Wore a jacket Saturday evening.

:waiting: Everybody okay over there?

:waiting:

Hope everyone is safe.

[ApexOversteer]

My turn... under a watch now, supercell just southwest of here, traveling northeast... Knoxville/Lenoir City peeps hunker down...

[kylebuck]

here i was hoping for bad weather on rayburn to help even the odds on winning some money in the tournament... and damn it if we didnt get a lick of rain and i got a sunburn

[ApexOversteer]

I'm not in Oz... :hurray:

[NEED-A-VETTE]

My turn... under a watch now, supercell just southwest of here, traveling northeast... Knoxville/Lenoir City peeps hunker down...

Damn. Stay safe.

[RED-85-Z51]

Supposed to be pissing tornadoes around 7am tomorrow morning...

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Supposed to be pissing tornadoes around 7am tomorrow morning...

Do you guys have a basement?

[RED-85-Z51]

Do you guys have a basement?

Ive heard of basements but never actually seen one...

[island14]

If we had a basement we would call it a swimming pool.

[vtelvr]

All good in Woodstock Ga this morning. Lots of wind debris on the roads, and a few trees down in the immediate metro Atlanta area. Traffic sucks, but that's the least of our worries. Round two commences at about quitting time today...

[WalkerInTN]

All good here this morning. We had a few warnings last night & I saw some 3/4" hail, but no damage. :seasix:

Hope everyone else was as lucky. :yesnod:

[snide]

Ive heard of basements but never actually seen one...

I've never lived in a house that didn't have a basement.

[onedef92]

More rough and tumble weather on tap for this evening and tonight across Kentuckiana. Not out of the woods yet. Derby forecast is improving, though. Don't completely put the poncho away — Accuweather.com calls for a chance of a shower on both days — but with a high of 62 degrees. Predicted lows are 47 degrees Friday and 52 degrees Saturday.

[RED-85-Z51]

From about 3:30 to 4:30..it was one solid lightning strike...seriously, it was like it started and just never ended for an hour.

[lspencer534]

Last night was very bad in Mississippi: 23 tornado warnings, about a dozen touched down, 6 dead, many more injured. damage is severe all over the State. One man in Louisville was driving when a tornado touched down in front of him. He quickly swerved and barely avoided it, but he said he saw the cars behind him get sucked up in the tornado.

Two tornadoes touched down near me, one about 5 miles from my house and another about 10 miles away. Thousa nds are without electricity, including myself. So many have lost power that they can't even began repairs until the damage is assessed, which will take all day today. I may not have power for several days.

And it's not over yet. More severe storms today, but tonight should be clear. The storms today are being caused by the incoming cold front. Newspaper says that last night was the most active day ever here for tornadoes.

[Grey Ghost]

Radar looked bad near Lisa/LisaJohn in Tuscaloosa, last night. There was a tornado in the air for certain. Haven't heard about it touching down there.

[VatorMan]

We are getting mega rain here. :slap:

[Cybercowboy]

Last night was very bad in Mississippi: 23 tornado warnings, about a dozen touched down, 6 dead, many more injured. damage is severe all over the State. One man in Louisville was driving when a tornado touched down in front of him. He quickly swerved and barely avoided it, but he said he saw the cars behind him get sucked up in the tornado.

After seeing all the mangled cars here in Joplin after our tornado, I can assure anyone who's curious that you do not want to be in a car when a tornado hits. Some looked like they'd been through a compactor. Others looked like they'd been fired on by a 50-cal belt-fed machine gun.

[Olustee bus]

spent about an hour in my dirt floor basement last night. Prepared to do it again if necessary. They were real close, actually, over the mountain (the one that went to Oneonta, Al)

[Entropy]

After seeing all the mangled cars here in Joplin after our tornado, I can assure anyone who's curious that you do not want to be in a car when a tornado hits. Some looked like they'd been through a compactor. Others looked like they'd been fired on by a 50-cal belt-fed machine gun.
Serious. Best bet is to get down in a ditch to stay out of the wind/debris field.

We had a tornado hit about 20 miles east of here on Sunday. Here are what the clouds looked like before it hit.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/1526300_10203328767921233_5330388748285391024_n.jpg

[carlton_fritz]

Serious. Best bet is to get down in a ditch to stay out of the wind/debris field.

We had a tornado hit about 20 miles east of here on Sunday. Here are what the clouds looked like before it hit.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/1526300_10203328767921233_5330388748285391024_n.jpg
Maybe wear a helmet and Kevlar.

[Cybercowboy]

Serious. Best bet is to get down in a ditch to stay out of the wind/debris field.

We had a tornado hit about 20 miles east of here on Sunday. Here are what the clouds looked like before it hit.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/1526300_10203328767921233_5330388748285391024_n.jpg

That doesn't look good. :ohnoes:

I can tell a day before, usually, when we are going to get a rockin' thunderstorm with high winds and hail. The clouds have this unique "scalloped" look to them. I tried to google some pictures but can't find one that matches what I see here.

[carlton_fritz]

Possible tornado near Buffalo NY.

[Jeff '79]

Possible tornado near Buffalo NY.

Where?
It's raining sideways here but I haven't heard about any tornado.
Did they give they name of a town?

[carlton_fritz]

Where?
It's raining sideways here but I haven't heard about any tornado.
Did they give they name of a town?
I saw it on Macon news, weather and traffic | Macon, GA - Warner Robins, GA | 13WMAZ.com (http://www.13wmaz.com) radar. They have icons representing rotation/tornado, hail, strong cell and damaging wind. Was SSE of Buffalo, maybe technically in Buffalo. Spring Brook, West Seneca area.

[LisaJohn]

OMG! A UA student swimmer was killed last night. My friends about a mile from me have a tree in their bedroom and garage. We got in our basement. These two tornadoes came with little warning. Our sons who are in Joplin and my sis who is in Destin were calling to let us know where it was. The weather guys were naming all the landmarks and roads by our house. I am very thankful that our big old oak tree fell across our driveway and missed our house. We were without power for 10 hours. Still no cable or internet and waiting on the next round to hit.

[Jeff '79]

I saw it on Macon news, weather and traffic | Macon, GA - Warner Robins, GA | 13WMAZ.com (http://www.13wmaz.com) radar. They have icons representing rotation/tornado, hail, strong cell and damaging wind. Was SSE of Buffalo, maybe technically in Buffalo. Spring Brook, West Seneca area.

Hmm, that's about 5 miles from my house.... I still haven't heard anything yet though.
It's raining serious sideways right now.
Thanks.

[LisaJohn]

And it's an upside down pic! I need assistance with pics.

[LisaJohn]

Radar looked bad near Lisa/LisaJohn in Tuscaloosa, last night. There was a tornado in the air for certain. Haven't heard about it touching down there.

Two tornadoes! One went over us. The other tracked a little south of us. It looks like they were dipping down and then back up.

[jaxgator]

And it's an upside down pic! I need assistance with pics.

Here ya go Lisa...

https://home.comcast.net/~jaxgator1/images/lisafelledtree.jpg

[Grey Ghost]

And it's an upside down pic! I need assistance with pics.

Glad y'all are okay! I watched the weather chan. and they were saying how bad it was there. Just remember - you can stream their coverage to your smart phone.

[Grey Ghost]

It cost me $2000. But, I had all the trees close to my house removed a few yrs. ago. I have others in the yard, but if they fall, they won't hit the house.

[carlton_fritz]

Hmm, that's about 5 miles from my house.... I still haven't heard anything yet though.
It's raining serious sideways right now.
Thanks.
That rotation/tornado icon has been gone for a while. All that is showing now is strong cells NE of Buffalo.

[carlton_fritz]

This system seems to be making up for the late and relatively calm spring.

[ApexOversteer]

LOL... it's snowing in Minneapolis...

[Entropy]

LOL... it's snowing in Minneapolis...
My friend in Duluth posted about it snowing there yesterday. She also asked for Prozac.

I'm supposed to report to Ely, MN to start the canoeing season around May 17. I expect an axe may be required.

[erickpl]

Had an F3 go thru Athens, AL and did some pretty good damage, missing my friend's house by less than 1 mile.

Same tornado was headed right at us just outside of Huntsville, AL, but weakened a bit and turned more northeast instead of due east. Missed us by about a mile.

Other than that, fairly mild. Less than 1/2" of rain. Not much wind.

Somehow it went all around us.

We too lost trees back in 2007 and 2011, so we have no big trees anywhere near the house. Sucks that it doesn't provide shade, but I don't have to worry about my trees leveling my house. Now trees from the neighbors... if they got picked up. That's a different story.

[lspencer534]

Had an F3 go thru Athens, AL and did some pretty good damage, missing my friend's house by less than 1 mile.

Same tornado was headed right at us just outside of Huntsville, AL, but weakened a bit and turned more northeast instead of due east. Missed us by about a mile.

Other than that, fairly mild. Less than 1/2" of rain. Not much wind.

Somehow it went all around us.

We too lost trees back in 2007 and 2011, so we have no big trees anywhere near the house. Sucks that it doesn't provide shade, but I don't have to worry about my trees leveling my house. Now trees from the neighbors... if they got picked up. That's a different story.

That's one of the many reasons tornadoes are so destructive: They pick up everything in their path and use them as battering rams. BTW, if you've ever wondered why the Weather Service seems a little dumb about detecting actual tornadoes, it's because radar has a hard time "seeing" the clutter because it's low to the ground. Radar can't pick up spinning wind.

[lspencer534]

All this morning and up until an hour ago, it was a sunny day, no coulds or wind. All of a sudden the sky got black, it's thundering again, wind is picking up. Forecast has been revised for another bad night here, no relief until tomorrow. I need to start drinking.

[MrPeabody]

Glad to hear everyone here is safe. Hang in there and best of luck to all until this is over.:seasix:

[carlton_fritz]

Storms building here, but mild compared to other places.


Rotation detected east of Fayetteville, North Carolina, near Piney Green.

[LisaJohn]

Here ya go Lisa...

https://home.comcast.net/~jaxgator1/images/lisafelledtree.jpg

KitKat is in this pic! Bottom left!

[lspencer534]

KitKat is in this pic! Bottom left!

I see KitKat! Hunting for zebra and water buffalo in the underbrush....

[RED-85-Z51]

Jsut clouded back up here...lightning has resumed.

[09CTSV]

Was bright and sunny until about 2:30 when I got off of work. Dark clouds and rain. The wind picked up considerably. The temp dropped from 68 to 55 in about 25 minutes. Too afraid to check the weather tonight, need a good nights sleep for one night this week.
UGH!!

[carlton_fritz]

Looks like possible rotation near Starkville, MS and east of Fayetteville, NC again.

[Olustee bus]

It seems to be starting just like yesterday but a little more in East Ms and no tornadic threat right now. I am not real comfortable about Alabama tonight.

[Jeff '79]

I guess we got some wind.
This is what I came home to and I'm on generator power. This tree blew over across the street taking the main power cable with it. The coppers have the street blocked off.
I also lost about 20' of ridge cap from my roof.
It's certainly not as bad as what others are enduring, but it is what it is I guess.
http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af113/jeff79/DSC06826_zpseb47ec04.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af113/jeff79/DSC06829_zps9259f907.jpg

[lspencer534]

It seems to be starting just like yesterday but a little more in East Ms and no tornadic threat right now. I am not real comfortable about Alabama tonight.

You have a right to feel uncomfortable about tonight since you'll be getting what I got last night. It's scary because of the large number of tornadoes. Stay vigilant.

[lspencer534]

I guess we got some wind.
This is what I came home to and I'm on generator power. This tree blew over across the street taking the main power cable with it. The coppers have the street blocked off.
I also lost about 20' of ridge cap from my roof.
It's certainly not as bad as what others are enduring, but it is what it is I guess.
http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af113/jeff79/DSC06826_zpseb47ec04.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af113/jeff79/DSC06829_zps9259f907.jpg

That looks like a healthy young tree.

[Jeff '79]

That looks like a healthy young tree.

Ya, it's a beautiful pine or was a beautiful pine.:sadangel:
The wind never comes from the south east. That tree went down the exact opposite way that the wid always blows around here.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Serious. Best bet is to get down in a ditch to stay out of the wind/debris field.

We had a tornado hit about 20 miles east of here on Sunday. Here are what the clouds looked like before it hit.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/1526300_10203328767921233_5330388748285391024_n.jpg

That's crazy. :willy:

[vetteman9368]

We're getting deluged right now. The back 40 looks like a rice paddy

[Entropy]

That's crazy. :willy:
Green sky = hail.

This was a fun storm that came through when I was canoeing a few years ago. Ended up chasing it for the next 4 hours. Spawned an F2 tornado eventually.

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/60243_2477330709243_647783108_n.jpg

[erickpl]

That's one of the many reasons tornadoes are so destructive: They pick up everything in their path and use them as battering rams. BTW, if you've ever wondered why the Weather Service seems a little dumb about detecting actual tornadoes, it's because radar has a hard time "seeing" the clutter because it's low to the ground. Radar can't pick up spinning wind.

True that about the debris! Newer doppler radars do a pretty darn good job of picking up the rotation now due to the strong winds and the water being pushed around. Local radar was getting GREAT returns on rotation up in the atmosphere, so it was picking up something (which I suspect is the water vapor/rain/hail/whatever). Those advances have really helped with issuing the tornado warnings when they see the rotation before it actually hits the ground.

The heartbreaking part is the 'debris ball' returns they get once they do touch down. But alas, another tool to help them determine intensity and path size to help with the warning of those in the immediate path. A local company, Baron Services, developed a lot of the technology being used by meteorlogists for storm tracking and analysis. That band they draw on a storm front and extend out to show towns in the path? Developed here. Their ability to study a storm from not only above, but dissecting it in the middle for a vertical profile is pretty damned cool and one reason I think more lives have been saved. They've gotten pretty precise when that rotation is found.