Monday, June 30, 2008

Storm Damage Video



Storm Damage in New Jersey


New Mexico Storm Damage

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Another day another round...


Here we go again. I'm not too worried about the first line of storms, but take a look out towards Iowa. This is not good news because it could mean some heavy rain for us. This has a classic set up for an MCS or Meso convective system or meso convective complex. Many recent studies have shown that our region is primed for these kind of storms for summer months. What makes them so interesting is that many times around here they have a nocturnal nature and seem to thrive on warm humid nights. While these systems can cause severe weather I think the main concern is going to be heavy rain. Just what we need right?

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Second line


There is a second line of thunderstorms, they're really not holding together too well but there is also an outflow boundary formed by the current thunderstorms which could be enough to spark some early afternoon storms.

Get ready for a pattern change



Gone are those dry days and they will be replaced by several waves of low pressure moving across the the area. The first comes this morning. The good news for today is that the rain should end by early afternoon.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Finally Video Post

Sorry about not posting the last couple of days, computer problems with every computer I own, Even at work!


Here is a funnel cloud in Houston:

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Still the same

Just like the old Bob Seger song goes "it's still the same". That's the pattern today although the northwest wind sometimes brings a little moisture our way but I think most of the moisture will be in the form of clouds. Temperatures with this northwest flow are going to be well below normal again with highs in the lower 70s, that's ten degrees below normal for this time of year.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Last nights storm video

Great shots of last nights storms. Southern Allen county clean up trees on cars!

Firefighters have to cut down trees in southern Allen county

Rainbow after the storm (Great Video!)

Cool Video

Severe weather time lapse as weather moves towards Chicago downtown

Cool, Quiet and Calm

After our first heat wave of the season we have our first cool down as well with a strong ridge of high pressure from the north influencing our weather pattern this week.

12z Wednesday (Wednesday morning) you can really see the cooler air settling in to the region. 850 mb temperatures are going to be around +2. That would put overnight lows in the upper 40s to lower 50s. It also shows the depth of this high pressure.
Warmer high pressure remains in the plains with cooler air still lingering across northeastern Indiana on Thursday morning with +8.
Finally the warmer high pressure brings warmer air into the picture with 850 temperatures around +14. This will help temperatures climb into the 80s. Keep in mind that this also continues the quiet pattern across the region.
Saturday we will continue to see temperatures warmer but still on the quiet side. Highs will be in the lower 80s and we should still see manageable humidity values.
This is the first indication of a pattern change with very hot air starting to build across the northern Rockies and the southwest. This warm air will eventually take us back to Summer so enjoy this little week long break.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Watch Cancelled

Looks like everything has moved north and the area of precipitation to the south is not severe so Ohio and Michigan can have the severe weather. I beleive we've had enough of this stuff this week!

Bowing Echo

Look at the radar for an echo that looks like a bow, that shows wind the bigger the bow the more wind involved in the storm. A couple of bow echos out there right now.

Worst Weather Near Indy

Worst storm right now is near Indy with a VIL of 45 and another storm in Delphos Ohio with a top of 46,000 feet.

Severe weather to our west

Right now it looks like the most severe storms are to our west the strongest cell is in Lafayette with 1" hail and a VIL of about 42, anything over 35 is considered pretty strong. This is another indicator that I use to look at severe weather.

Moving in FAST

These storms have accelerated toward the area, with some storms traveling up to 60 mph! Some of the storms to our west have tops of 40,000 feet, that's some pretty nasty stuff. Look for hail to be a big threat with the first wave of these thunderstorms headed our way. I'm looking at attributes for the 88D at the NWS in North Webster and hail is at .75 to 1.25" in these storms to our west.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch


The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the following counties in Indiana until 9:00 pm tonight:
ADAMS...ALLEN...BLACKFORD...DE KALB...GRANT...KOSCIUSKO... LAGRANGE...NOBLE...STEUBEN...WABASH...WELLS and WHITLEY

Strong thunderstorms are possible with damaging winds and large hail.

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 522
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1130 AM CDT FRI JUN 13 2008

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

PARTS OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN ILLINOIS
MUCH OF INDIANA
SMALL PART OF WESTERN KENTUCKY
SMALL PART OF SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN
SMALL PART OF SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI
LAKE MICHIGAN

EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY MORNING AND EVENING FROM 1130 AM UNTIL 800
PM CDT.

HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 80
STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 65 MILES EAST
NORTHEAST OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA TO 40 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF
CARBONDALE ILLINOIS. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE
THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

DISCUSSION...THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN NUMBER AND INTENSITY
ALONG AND AHEAD OF SURFACE BOUNDARY FROM NWRN IND SWWD TO SERN MO.
AIR MASS OF MLCAPE AOA 2000 J/KG SUPPORTS BOTH LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS AS STORMS EVOLVE INTO MULTICELL CLUSTERS AND ISOLATED
SUPERCELLS.

AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
TO 2.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 24030.

More on Storms for later today


Here are the latest discussions and risk assessment for the area later this afternoon.

DAY 1 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1237 AM CDT FRI JUN 13 2008

VALID 131200Z - 141200Z

...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS TODAY ACROSS PARTS OF THE S
CNTRL PLAINS AND MID MS VLY...THRU MUCH OF THE OHIO VLY AND SRN
GREAT LAKES REGION....

...SYNOPSIS...
MODELS INDICATE THAT THE CLOSED LOW NEAR THE CENTRAL CANADIAN/U.S.
BORDER WILL TAKE A MORE NORTHEASTWARD TURN...TOWARD HUDSON BAY...
DURING THIS FORECAST PERIOD. THIS APPEARS LIKELY TO OCCUR IN
RESPONSE TO A SIGNIFICANT IMPULSE PIVOTING AROUND ITS IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PERIPHERY...WHILE ANOTHER UPSTREAM IMPULSE DIGS
TO THE LEE OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES.

WHILE STRONGEST MID/UPPER FLOW IS PROGGED TO BEGIN SHIFTING TO THE
NORTHEAST OF THE UPPER GREAT LAKES EARLY IN THE DAY...SEASONABLY
MODERATE TO STRONG CYCLONIC MID-LEVEL FLOW IS FORECAST TO PERSIST
ACROSS THE NORTHERN/CENTRAL PLAINS THROUGH THE UPPER HALF OF THE
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...THE OHIO VALLEY AND GREAT LAKES REGION. WITHIN
THIS REGIME...AND A DISTINCT BELT OF STRONGER FLOW TO THE SOUTH OF
THE MAIN CLOSED LOW...A SIGNIFICANT LOW AMPLITUDE IMPULSE IS IN THE
PROCESS OF TURNING EAST OF THE CENTRAL ROCKIES THROUGH THE CENTRAL
PLAINS. AND...MUCH OF MODEL GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT THIS FEATURE
WILL CONTINUE EAST NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE DAY...CONTRIBUTING TO
MID-LEVEL HEIGHT FALLS ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY AND LOWER GREAT LAKES
REGION BY THIS EVENING...AND PARTS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY/NORTHERN
AND CENTRAL APPALACHIANS BY 12Z SATURDAY.

WHILE SHARP UPPER RIDGING PERSISTS NEAR THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD...
MODELS INDICATE THAT SUBTROPICAL RIDGING WILL SLOWLY BUILD NORTHWARD
THROUGH THE SOUTHWESTERN STATES...WHILE REMAINING STRONG ACROSS THE
CENTRAL/EASTERN GULF STATES...BEFORE BECOMING SUPPRESSED EAST OF THE
LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY LATER TONIGHT.

...S CNTRL PLAINS THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY/LWR GREAT LAKES...
THE SURFACE FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH NORTH CENTRAL STATES UPPER TROUGH
WILL MAKE ONLY SLOW PROGRESS EAST/SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE REGION
TODAY. THE BOUNDARY WILL BE PRECEDED /AND PROBABLY MASKED/ BY
COMPOSITE CONVECTIVELY GENERATED OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES WHICH...IN
CONJUNCTION WITH AT LEAST A COUPLE OF MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE
VORTICES...LIKELY WILL PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR NEW CONVECTIVE
DEVELOPMENT BY THIS AFTERNOON. THE BOUNDARY LAYER ALONG/AHEAD OF
THE SURFACE BOUNDARIES REMAINS SEASONABLY MOIST... AND WILL AGAIN
BECOME MODERATE TO STRONGLY UNSTABLE WITH DAYTIME HEATING.

IN THE PRESENCE OF MIXED LAYER CAPE AT OR ABOVE 2000 J/KG...AND AT
LEAST A MODERATELY SHEARED 30-50 KT WESTERLY DEEP LAYER MEAN
FLOW...ORGANIZED STORM CLUSTERS ARE EXPECTED TO EVOLVE/INTENSIFY IN
THE PEAK AFTERNOON HEATING. THIS SHOULD BE AIDED BY LARGE SCALE
FORCING ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPULSE EMANATING FROM THE CENTRAL
ROCKIES...AND PROGGED TO SPREAD EAST OF THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY BY THE 13/18-21Z TIME FRAME...THROUGH THE LOWER GREAT
LAKES/UPPER OHIO VALLEY BY 14/03-06Z.

HODOGRAPHS MAY BE SUFFICIENT FOR SUPERCELLS WITH POTENTIAL FOR
TORNADOES/HAIL IN INITIAL STORMS...BUT SWATHS OF DAMAGING WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE A MORE PROMINENT THREAT...PARTICULARLY AS COLD POOLS
STRENGTHEN/CONSOLIDATE ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY/SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES
REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

..KERR/GRAMS.. 06/13/2008

Storms and more storms

Sorry for the late update this morning but I've been dealing with some severe weather at the station. We had an outflow boundary early this morning from some thunderstorms which formed this last night and early this morning across the Chicago area. This boundary drifted east and we saw several cells, a couple of severe cells between 5:45am and 7:00am. This is not the main event. A line of thunderstorms across a boundary of low pressure will redevelop this afternoon. It looks like these thunderstorms might be severe as well late this afternoon. Here's what to look for if you are watching the radar. Look for a line which we refer to as a squall line of thunderstorms right along the boundary of low pressure. While these fast moving storms can cause some severe weather, the problem with them is that they usually see tops that are not fully developed. These storms with the lower tops can spawn very small tornadoes and some gusty winds and hail. What I'm more concerned about are the storms out ahead of this squall line. These can be large supercell thunderstorms which have more room to grow and can spread out and develop without winds from the front to cut off the development.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Iowa Tornado and other storm video

Latest on Iowa Tornado


Omaha Tower Camera shots of lightning


Manhattan, Kansas Tornado Damage



Wednesday, June 11, 2008

No tornadoes Monday

Here's the summary from the latest severe weather which moved through Monday.

Damaging winds affect portions of northern Indiana and northwest Ohio during the afternoon and evening hours of June 9th, 2008

A cluster of thunderstorms moved out of portions of central Indiana and began to race northeast at speeds of 50 to 60 mph. A bowing segment began to develop and produce widespread wind damage affecte areas east of Highway 27 from Berne in Adams county south to Portland and then southeast to Salamonia in Jay county, with the strong winds and damage continuing across much of Van Wert, Putnam and Allen counties in Ohio. Another area of thunderstorms caused damage in eastern Whitley county and northwestern Allen county Indiana, including portions of the northwest side of Fort Wayne, and then spread into much of Fulton and Williams counties in Ohio. Wind speeds of 65 to 80 mph in these areas, bringing down numerous trees, tree limbs, power lines and poles. One NWS survey team was sent into the Middle Point and Delphos area of Van Wert county to investigate a possible tornado touchdown. Damage found in the area was consistent with 60 to 65 mph straight line winds and no signs of any tornado related damage.

Two initial spotter reports of a 99 mph wind gust 2 miles east of Glenmore in Van Wert county and 117 mph in Lyons in Fulton county Ohio, were found to be in kilometers per hour, with the respective speeds in mph being 62 and 73.

More Weather Extremes

Street flooding in Evansville

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Damage and Heat across the rest of the country

Indiana flooding update
Amazing video from Wisconsin as the whole house falls into the water.

Tree falls on house in Ohio

Thunderstorm Damage

Here's a look at some of the damage across Fort Wayne.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Some tornadic Wind Damage Friday night

Most of the damage on Friday night looks like microburst or straight line wind damage. There are a couple of terms and conclusions I want to post about as well. For right now read the report and I'll give you my assessment in my next post:

Swath of Wind Damage and Tornadoes across portions of Northern Indiana and northwestern Ohio June 6th, 2008

Synopsis

A line of thunderstorms moved across central Indiana and expanded northeastward into northeastern Indiana and northwestern Ohio. The greatest concentration of storms was from southern Miami county to Allen county Indiana and then northeast to Fulton County Ohio. The line of storms rapidly began bowing out with velocity data signatures of winds in the 70 to 80 mph range. Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings were issued along the line during the evening hours of the 6th.

Preliminary Damage Survey Summaries

**Review of Survey Information and data continues with revisions to the summaries below possible***
NWS personnel, in cooperation with county Emergency Management officials, conducted surveys of the wind damage to determine if distinct damage could be found which would be associated with tornadic development. Numerous eye witness reports came in of funnel clouds and possible tornado touchdowns from Grant county, into Wells and Adams counties in Indiana and Van Wert county in Ohio. Many of these were gustnadoes, or gust front tornadoes, which rapidly develop on the leading edge of a fast moving lines of storms. According to current classification standards, gustnadoes are classified as thunderstorm winds and not tornadic winds. That does not diminsh the threat that they can pose or the fact that they look and act just like tornadoes. The vast majority of the damage in this swath was the result of damaging straight line winds on the order of 60 to 80 mph. Damage indications in a few areas leaned toward peak wind speeds around 90 mph as well.

Grant County
Damage patterns indicate that at least one brief tornado did occur just to the northwest of Marion, Indiana in Grant county. A EF1 tornado touched down around 733 pm EDT in a heavily forested area just south of the 4 Mile Bridge, west of State Route 15 and lifted immediately just across the road at 735 pm EDT. Damage was confined to mature trees and roof damage with a peak width of 50 yards and a path length just shy of two tenths of a mile. Extensive tree damage and terrain prevented a more accurate assessment of the path length. Winds were estimated between 90 and 100 mph. Wind speeds of a EF1 range from 86 to 109 mph on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale).

The tornado mentioned above appeared to have occurred coincident with a microburt wind event which originated to the southwest in a subdivision north of West Harreld Road and west of Frances Slocum Trail. This wind swath widened out to three quarters of a mile after it crossed State Route 15 and impacted another subdivision with substantial tree damage. Winds were estimated at between 65 and 85 mph. Additional sporadic wind damage was noted through the remainder of the county, with one more extensive area of straight line wind damage found near the town of Fowlerton. Winds were estimated at up to 75 mph.

Wells and Adams Counties
Several areas of concentrated damage were seen across Wells and Adams county during a seperate survey. The majority of the damage was consistent with straight line winds. The wind speeds that were esimated, which were in the 80 to 90 mph range, would have overshadowed any small damage patterns which may have been created by what was likely several brief gustnadoes. Much of the wind damage was found along and north of US 224 across these two counties.

Scattered tree damage was found across Wells county with highlights including a rolled semi-trailer near Rockford and a 10,000 pound RV rolled into a barn 3.5 miles northwest of Bluffton.

Significant tree damage was found scattered across Adams county as well, espeically near and around Decatur. Large signs and rooftops of businesses were damaged with many houses suffering minor roof damage.

Van Wert County
Just as was observed in adjacent Adams county Indiana, widespread reports of wind damage, with speeds estimated as high as 90 mph across Van Wert county. Early indications of a possible tornado in the county were reconsidered after examination of damage, radar data and intense discussion with other NWS staff members. Due to the strength of the winds, specific tornado tracks were difficult at best to be ascertained in the county. Several eye witness reports in the county stated observing a wall or blast of high winds and dust which was then proceeded several minutes later by heavy rain and small hail.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Storm damage update

It doesn't look as though this weeks damage was anywhere near as bad as last Friday's. As far as I know there are no assessment crews from the National Weather Service surveying storm damage even though there were reports of funnel clouds and some touchdowns. There doesn't seem to be extensive damage. There was quite a bit of microburst damage south of Fort Wayne in Adams county though.

Links New Haven Storm Damage
Adams county storm damage

Storm Damage Photos

Missy from Portland sends these photos of storm damage




Friday, June 6, 2008

Large Squall Line Moving Toward Area

Remember that squall line I mentioned this morning. Here it is, this is very elongated but with the wind and the afternoon heating it won't take much to spark some pretty decent storms.

Tornado Watch

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 475
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
220 PM EDT FRI JUN 6 2008

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

NORTHERN INDIANA
LOWER MICHIGAN
NORTHWEST OHIO
LAKE ERIE
LAKE HURON
LAKE MICHIGAN

EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 220 PM UNTIL
1000 PM EDT.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 90 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 45 MILES WEST OF FORT WAYNE
INDIANA TO 25 MILES NORTH OF ALPENA MICHIGAN. FOR A COMPLETE
DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU5).

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 472...WW 473...WW 474...

DISCUSSION...DISCRETE STORMS DEVELOPING OVER LAKE MICHIGAN ARE
EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO WESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...WITH ADDITIONAL STORMS DEVELOPING NEAR THE LAKE BREEZE
ACROSS WESTERN MICHIGAN...SOUTHWARD INTO NORTHERN INDIANA.
CONSOLIDATION INTO ORGANIZED FAST MOVING LINES SEGMENTS APPEARS
LIKELY IN STRONG AND HIGHLY SHEARED SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW. THIS MAY BE
ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...WITH A COUPLE OF
TORNADOES ALSO POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
WIND GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO
500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 22045.

Tornado Watch Issued for area

Here we go again. Allen County is on the eastern edge of this one. Here's the latest SPC discussion: MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 1251
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1238 PM CDT FRI JUN 06 2008

AREAS AFFECTED...PARTS OF NRN IND...LWR MI

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH LIKELY

VALID 061738Z - 061900Z

CORRECTED FOR WORDING IN LAST SENTENCE

TRENDS ARE BEING MONITORED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INCREASING
SEVERE THREAT. A WW MAY BE NEEDED BY 18-19Z.

AS SUBTROPICAL RIDGING ALONG THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD REMAINS
STRONG...AXIS OF LARGER-SCALE TROUGH OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL STATES
IS LIFTING MORE NORTHWARD THAN NORTHEASTWARD...TOWARD THE UPPER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY/UPPER GREAT LAKES REGION. ONLY A GRAZING
INFLUENCE OF FORCING ON THE TAIL END OF THIS MAY AFFECT MUCH OF
LOWER MICHIGAN DURING THE 18-21Z TIME FRAME. BUT...THIS PROBABLY
WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME MID-LEVEL INHIBITION AS WARM SECTOR
ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES TO MOISTEN. WARM MID-LEVEL TEMPERATURES
COULD SLOW CONVECTIVE INTENSIFICATION. HOWEVER...ONCE STORMS BECOME
ESTABLISHED...STRONG DEEP LAYER MEAN FLOW FIELDS /IN EXCESS OF 50
KT/ WILL CONTRIBUTE TO RAPID STORM MOTIONS. COUPLED WITH STRONG TO
EXTREME...BUT LARGELY UNIDIRECTIONAL....LOW-LEVEL SHEAR ...TORNADOES
WILL BE POSSIBLE IN ISOLATED SUPERCELLS. DAMAGING WINDS MAY BECOME
THE MORE PROMINENT THREAT THOUGH...WITH LINES OF STORMS LIKELY
INITIATING NEAR LAKE BREEZE OFF LAKE MICHIGAN.

Severe weather tonight?


A line of storms ahead of front moves into the area tonight, does that mean severe weather for us? Well, there is certainly some dynamics for severe weather in place, the heat and humidity of the afternoon are going to add some buoyancy to the atmosphere and a boundary of low pressure will push a squall line of thunderstorms towards the area by late this afternoon and tonight. A strong low level jet will also be present. Here's my thinking, with squall line thunderstorms severe weather is limited by the fast movement of storms. Cumulonimbus cloud tops are cut off by this fast movement making for marginally severe storms. So, while there is a risk of severe weather, and I'm certainly on board with this, dynamics are marginal right now.

Severe Storm Videos

From weird weather in Colorado Springs, (snow and rain in the same day) to a church roof taken off by storms in Oklahoma!


Thursday, June 5, 2008

Storm Damage Video

Widespread storm damage yesterday from Moscow, Indiana where a school lost the second floor of the building to Virgina.



Large Hail in NW Indiana


Last night large hail was reported in Pulaski county in Northwestern Indiana. You can see a nice hi res picture here from the National Weather Service radar with the hail core diagramed for you. Usually with large hail we see tornadic activity, but that was not the case last night. I'll also attach the NWS statement along with the picture. Very Large Hail in Pulaski County Wednesday Evening

A rare left-moving anticyclonic supercell developed in eastern Illinois and moved into western Indiana Wednesday night. The storm moved through northwestern White County and a majority of Pulaski County between 8:15 and 9:30 PM EDT. As it moved through, the anticyclonic rotation strengthened and a tornado warning was issued highlighting the tornadic threat along with the threat of very large hail. Though no tornadoes were sighted, large and damaging hail was reported all across Pulaski County. The first severe weather report came from Francesville as tennis ball size hail was indicated at 8:45 PM EDT. Two reports of golf ball size hail and a lime size hail report were also received from southwest of Winamac to just east of Ora. The first warnings issued by National Weather Service in Northern Indiana gave over 30 minutes of lead time before any hail reports were received. This storm was a textbook case of a severe hail producing left-moving supercell with the image below showing three tell-tale radar signs of a severe hail:

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Severe Weather South

Well, we didn't see the severe weather here but several rounds for the central part of the state. Rushville seems to be the worst with people feared dead and missing after last nights tornado. Here is some video.




Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Severe Weather Threat Later Today

PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0540 AM CDT TUE JUN 03 2008

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED FROM MISSOURI EASTWARD INTO OHIO
LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES OVER PARTS OF
THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN MISSOURI INTO ILLINOIS...INDIANA AND OHIO
LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE

MUCH OF ILLINOIS
INDIANA
NORTHERN AND EASTERN MISSOURI
OHIO

ELSEWHERE...SEVERE STORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ACROSS THE CENTRAL
PLAINS AS WELL AS ACROSS THE APPALACHIAN STATES.

SEVERAL CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS WERE ONGOING EARLY THIS MORNING
FROM EASTERN NEBRASKA ACROSS IOWA INTO ILLINOIS...FOCUSING ALONG A
WARM FRONT. THIS FRONT WILL REMAIN OVER THE SAME AREAS TODAY.
MEANWHILE...DAYTIME HEATING AND SOUTHWESTERLY SURFACE WINDS WILL
BRING VERY WARM AND UNSTABLE AIR NORTHWARD ACROSS THIS FRONTAL
ZONE...RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL SEVERE STORM DEVELOPMENT. THE
PRESENCE OF MODERATELY STRONG WINDS ALOFT...AS WELL AS EMBEDDED
UPPER DISTURBANCES...WILL AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIPLE
CLUSTERS AND LINES OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AS THEY
RIDE EASTWARD ALONG THE WARM FRONT. A FEW STORMS MAY PRODUCE
TORNADOES AND LARGE HAIL...ESPECIALLY LATE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS
MISSOURI...ILLINOIS AND INDIANA. AN ISOLATED STRONG TORNADO CANNOT
BE RULED OUT.

THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER
SAFETY RULES AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO...TELEVISION...AND NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND STATEMENTS LATER TODAY.

Some interesting weather especially as we head into this afternoon. Here's my big worry, this complex across Omaha this morning could bring in more heavy rain this afternoon and tonight and with thunderstorms this could mean a couple more inches! I drove across much of the flooded areas along state road 14 over the weekend with ponding in fields and many crops ruined. I'm afraid this same area could be in for more soaking tonight. We'll keep an eye on it!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Why all the severe storms this year?

Janie asked this question Friday:
This really has nothing to do with your post...but I was wondering...what is your take on all of the tornadoes that have been occurring this Spring? Why so many? Is it just a matter of time before we see them in our area? Has there ever been another era when so many have occurred? Or maybe is this part of a cycle that is occurring? Thanks for your blog. You are the most knowledgeable, easy to understand, weather guy.

It certainly has been an active year and we got into it a little later this year but had a rude awakening Friday night. As of today there have been 257 reported tornadoes and 2613 thunderstorm wind events. So why all the severe weather this year.

Here's my theory, I think we are seeing this pattern because of the strong La Nina pattern which brought a very strong northern jet stream. This unusually strong pattern has carried over into spring. Why is the jet stream so important? Well the winds of the jet stream can cause lift and buoyancy in the lower levels of the atmosphere. We've seen this strong jet stream in play most of the spring with early thunderstorms across the northern Rockies and plays.

Usually we don't see La Nina as a summer time pattern, so look for this effect to lesson over the next couple of weeks. As far as a cooler then normal summer, I don't think we can correlate to the cold winter season.

This week should be interesting, as we could see more severe weather as early as tomorrow afternoon and evening.