El Reno Twister Upgraded to Mega Tornado

El Reno Tornado Upgraded to EF5, Widest Ever Measured

The National Weather Service (NWS) has upgraded the El Reno tornado of May 31, 2013 to an EF5 mega tornado with maximum wind speeds of 475km/h (295 mph).

The mega tornado measured 2.6 miles wide at its widest, making it the widest tornado ever recorded in the U.S.

“This is still preliminary and stats may be tweaked as more information becomes available.” NWS said

The mega twister touched down southwest of El Reno at 6:03 pm CDT on Friday, making a 40-minute detour  around the city, effectively missing El Reno.

El Reno Mega Tornado Path. The Mega Twister touched down southwest of El Reno at 6:03 pm CDT on Friday, making a 40-minute detour  around the city, effectively missing El Reno. Source: NWS

The previous record for the widest tornado was set on May 22, 2004, when an EF4 tornado measuring 2.5 miles at its widest raked through Hallam, Nebraska.

The Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale – Quick Chart

EF0: 65 TO 85 MPH
EF1: 86 TO 110 MPH
EF2: 111 TO 135 MPH
EF3: 136 TO 165 MPH
EF4: 166 TO 200 MPH
EF5: Wind speeds greater than 200 MPH

World Record High Temperature Could Be Broken This Year

Death Valley World Record High Temperature of 134ºF Could Be Shattered in 2013

FIRE-EARTH Models show the world record high temperature of 134ºF set 100 years ago cold be broken this year with a probability of  about 78 percent [probability revised up after running additional simulations – June 5, 2013.]  

The world’s highest reliably recorded air temperature was 134°F (56.7°C) set at Furnace Creek Ranch (formerly Greenland Ranch) in Death Valley, California on July 10, 1913.

Excessive Heat Watch for Mojave Desert

Meantime, NWS issued an Excessive Heat Watch for SE Calif., S Nevada and NW Arizona.

• HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO CLIMB TO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LEVELS FOR
  THIS TIME OF YEAR FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

• Very hot weather is expected across the region this weekend as high pressure builds overhead. An Excessive Heat Watch is in effect starting Friday afternoon and continuing through Sunday evening for elevations in the Mojave Desert below 4000 feet.
  

• Expected Temperatures: HIGHS ranging from 105 to 110 for much of the MOJAVE DESERT region including Las Vegas Valley, 110 to 114 along the Colorado river Valley and from  119 to 123 degrees at Furnace creek in   DEATH VALLEY national Park
  

Related Links

•  Fueled by Heat from Hell? January 31, 2013 [FIRE-EARTH Forecast]
• Drought Disaster 2013