Alabama

[W2NAP]

bama got nailed hard by the storms. lots of damage. the videos i seen of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham are impressive. reminds me alot like the 99 OKC tornado.

so far I believe 25 died down there

[ad4mg]

At least 77 dead so far from these storms. Tragic, and we're under the gun today. This as bad a spring outbreak of storms as I can remember. We had 7 tornadoes touch down in Virginia last night. Some impressive pictures of these unusually large and strong tornadoes in Va from yesterday: http://www.wtvr.com/wtvr-strong-storms-slam-central-virginia-20110427,0,5543095.photogallery

The ingredients are all in place ... it's 77°, 78% RH, and winds from the SW at 25 in Richmond, at 4:30 am. Pretty amazing.

[N8YX]

Eastern Ohio was the only area in the entire eastern U.S. which didn't have a tornado watch associated with it yesterday.

[W3MIV]

Of course, the climate changes from global warming are nothing to worry about. Our Republican friends will keep us safe. We are even having tornado watches and warnings here in MD.

[W5RB]

Mississippi took a beating yesterday . Nine hours in the EOC , and the action never stopped .Nine confirmed dead in adjacent counties , that number likely to be multiplied in the light of day . At least one entire rural neighborhood , 15 homes , totally destroyed 15 miles south of here . Tuscaloosa was hard hit , from what I hear .This has to be the most-recorded outbreak in history . YouTube is covered with tornado video from yesterday , the sheer volume is overwhelming .

[ad4mg]

Yep, I understand Obama has declared Alabama a disaster area due to the incredible damage in Tuscaloosa.

The death count from last night's storms here continues to rise. They added 3, possibly 4 additional fatalities to the count this morning, mostly in Washington County, in the extreme SW corner of the state, in Glade Spring, very near Emory and Henry University.

[ki4itv]

That tornado just west of town was awful damn large for this region. Close too, I live in Innsbrook/Short Pump.
Had to grab my HT. :dunno: I guess that's what we do, eh? :lol: Maybe I'm a repressed whacker. :shock:

Pretty much thought I'd moved away from that kind of weather monster.
...and Luke's right... it's "close feeling" out there this morning.

*Thinking of those who lost family, friends, and the hard-earned comforts of home.

[N2NH]

Sorry to hear of this disaster. You'll probably hear more on the news, but right now the death toll is over 128 dead in Alabama and over 170 through the South.


Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency and mobilized 1,400 National Guard troops to help with search and rescue and law enforcement.

President Obama declared the state a disaster.

"Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives because of the tornadoes that have swept through Alabama and the southeastern United States," he said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by this devastation, and we commend the heroic efforts of those who have been working tirelessly to respond to this disaster."

Southern Storms (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-severe-weather-web-20110428,0,5483199.story)

[W4GPL]

Of course, the climate changes from global warming are nothing to worry about. Our Republican friends will keep us safe. We are even having tornado watches and warnings here in MD.Let's try to keep the political comments in the political forum. Thanks!

[N8GAV]

Having a lot of wind this way, I keep losing power here at the house for short times so I am guessing it all from the wind since we had no storms come through.

[suddenseer]

That tornado just west of town was awful damn large for this region. Close too, I live in Innsbrook/Short Pump.
Had to grab my HT. :dunno: I guess that's what we do, eh? :lol: Maybe I'm a repressed whacker. :shock:

Pretty much thought I'd moved away from that kind of weather monster.
...and Luke's right... it's "close feeling" out there this morning.

*Thinking of those who lost family, friends, and the hard-earned comforts of home.
Wackerism aside, scenario: You can only save your favorite axe, or a favorite HT. whichh one will you have? I think I know your answer. `

[W2NAP]

this month we have seen history made.

[NA4BH]

The numbers are still climbing. The tornado passed about 5 miles from my house. Here is a picture (not that good) of the tornado that started in Tuscaloosa and stayed on the ground for over three hours. About 30 minutes after this one, another one came through. Followed by another shortly after that.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5665150161_ea1809a7e9_m.jpg

[NA4BH]

I was listening to a local radio station that was giving a play by play of the events yesterday, when one of the weather guys talked about debris from Tuscaloosa possibly being carried as far as Rome, GA. I didn't think that much about his words, so I continued to watch the sky. Well it wasn't 5 minutes later when some one called in to station and said that a drink cup from a Tuscaloosa fast food place landed in his yard in Oxford, AL. I immediately called bullshit and continued to look up at the clouds. Before the words could get very far from my lips, I see something coming down from the great beyond. Now mind you the wind at my place was not strong enough to blow a piece of paper on a flat smooth surface. Well, out of the sky comes a small branch with 5 leaves on it. Where it came from? Maybe Tuscaloosa?

[n2ize]

Wackerism aside, scenario: You can only save your favorite axe, or a favorite HT. whichh one will you have? I think I know your answer. `

Keeping a HT handy in time of an emergency isn't necessarily wackerism. It is good common sense. On the other hand dressing to look like a cop and waving around an HT in front of everyone you see when there is no emergency is definitely wackerism.

[W5RB]

We had reports here that made me wonder . Two locations 10 miles apart reported styrofoam among the debris that fell from the sky , not near any apparent tornado . Granted , it could be coincidence , but initial evidence suggests it may have travelled far .Word was the Tuscaloosa storm had a track near 200 miles , so it coulda hauled debris that far , and farther .

[NA4BH]

We had reports here that made me wonder . Two locations 10 miles apart reported styrofoam among the debris that fell from the sky , not near any apparent tornado . Granted , it could be coincidence , but initial evidence suggests it may have travelled far .Word was the Tuscaloosa storm had a track near 200 miles , so it coulda hauled debris that far , and farther .

I was hoping that the cash drawer from the fast food place would be the next object out of the sky. ;) The branch and leaves were very cold and wet. It wasn't raining at my place either.

[W5GA]

I was hoping that the cash drawer from the fast food place would be the next object out of the sky. ;) The branch and leaves were very cold and wet. It wasn't raining at my place either.
And what would you do with an empty cash drawer?

[WØTKX]

The total deaths from all areas has actually reached 250 now. Wow.

[suddenseer]

I feel so bad for our fellow 4/5 landers. I hate to sound selfish, but I found out several people from our Dothan plant are missing. When this hurts one of us, we all feel the pain as well. This is horrible. I wish everyone a speedy recovery.

[ad4mg]

I feel so bad for our fellow 4/5 landers. I hate to sound selfish, but I found out several people from our Dothan plant are missing. When this hurts one of us, we all feel the pain as well. This is horrible. I wish everyone a speedy recovery.
I feel very fortunate. We had bad tornadoes last night just west and south of here, and Richmond dodged the bullet all day. A little late drama with a sharp line of storms that triggered a severe t-storm warning and tornado watch until 9:00, but I think it's already expired.

Death toll at 270 now. I think Alabama gave another update. Eight died here in Virginia, last I heard.

I do hope everyone here came through OK. It was heartbreaking watching the news about Tuscaloosa. One little community reminded me so much of mine, just big enough to have an exit off the interstate. Very sad, and I hope they've accounted for everyone by now.

[NA4BH]

Here is a video one of the locals shot yesterday. You can really see just how big this thing was toward the end.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCZP7QPJhCo&feature=feedu

[KG4CGC]

They were looking like they could have come through here after N. Ga. but they veered further north of me into W. NC. The path this morning was even more interesting.
Looking at all the pictures it's really sad. It looks like bombs went off in some places.

[W2NAP]

its pretty bad. lots of places in bad shape

[NA4BH]

This is a good read:

http://www2.alabamas13.com/news/2011/apr/30/twisters-path-struggle-survival-ar-1785322/

[W3MIV]

Good news. I heard from my friend Bart with whom I served in a former life. He lives in AL and is safe. Nervous but safe.

[suddenseer]

The scope of the destruction of these storms boggles my mind. The last EF5 tornado near my area was the Xenia, Ohio 1974 storm. There has since been 2 smaller killer storms. In this area, we don't take tornado warnings lightly.

[suddenseer]

This is a good read:

http://www2.alabamas13.com/news/2011/apr/30/twisters-path-struggle-survival-ar-1785322/Indeed.

[ki4itv]

I don't take them lightly either, Tim. But one of the things that has started to bother me lately is the NWS seems to have started to issue warnings base on radar signature alone, and not necessarily with the support of reports or observation. The result is a lot more "false alarms" and it worries me that people might become desensitized to them altogether.

[W5RB]

I don't take them lightly either, Tim. But one of the things that has started to bother me lately is the NWS seems to have started to issue warnings base on radar signature alone, and not necessarily with the support of reports or observation. The result is a lot more "false alarms" and it worries me that people might become desensitized to them altogether.

NWS does in fact , usually issue tornado warnings based on radar info alone . The observation must meet certain criteria , and they are able to measure rotation with a fair degree of accuracy . The only thing the radar cannot tell is whether a funnel is actually in contact with the ground . It's great to have qualified observers , through Skywarn or whatever , but they can't be everywhere .

[suddenseer]

I don't take them lightly either, Tim. But one of the things that has started to bother me lately is the NWS seems to have started to issue warnings base on radar signature alone, and not necessarily with the support of reports or observation. The result is a lot more "false alarms" and it worries me that people might become desensitized to them altogether.I agree. They do that here as well. I have been involved with one sighting locally. The photo I snapped of a rotating wall cloud produced a funnel cloud about 1 minute after my camera batteries died. I am a trained NWS observer, so I called the funnel cloud sighting in.They issued a tornado warning 30 seconds later based on my observation. The funnel cloud touched the ground, and the EF1 tornado took off several roofs, and damaged a few mobile homes. I have not figured out why g*d hates mobile homes, but it happened. No one was seriously hurt, no fatalities. I hope my calling in contributed to the warning. maybe not.

http://forums.hamisland.net/http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa328/suddenseer/wallcloud.jpghttp://forums.hamisland.net/http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa328/suddenseer/wallcloud.jpghttp://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa328/suddenseer/wallcloud.jpg

[W2NAP]

I agree. They do that here as well. I have been involved with one sighting locally. The photo I snapped of a rotating wall cloud produced a funnel cloud about 1 minute after my camera batteries died. I am a trained NWS observer, so I called the funnel cloud sighting in.They issued a tornado warning 30 seconds later based on my observation. The funnel cloud touched the ground, and the EF1 tornado took off several roofs, and damaged a few mobile homes. I have not figured out why g*d hates mobile homes, but it happened. No one was seriously hurt, no fatalities. I hope my calling in contributed to the warning. maybe not.

http://forums.hamisland.net/http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa328/suddenseer/wallcloud.jpghttp://forums.hamisland.net/http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa328/suddenseer/wallcloud.jpghttp://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa328/suddenseer/wallcloud.jpg

sometimes all the NWS has is the radar. I have heard counties in indiana have no skywarn spotters out nor no skywarn net. and good chance no spotters out and about..

better issuing the warning for radar, then waiting till PD or FD gets called to damaged homes and hundreds of people bitching they had no warning from nws