Joplin Tornado – May 28 Update

Joplin tornado death toll climbs to 132

Death toll from the devastating EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin on May 22 has risen to 132, after the remains of 6 more victims were identified, according to Joplin City Manager.

The twister, the deadliest single tornado to strike in the United States in 64 years, has also injured about 1,000 people.

Meanwhile, the officials said the number of people uncounted for had dropped to 156 [the number of missing was previously stated at about 1,500.]

Official  also said the remains of only 19 of the victims had so far been identified and released to families, a report said.

“Many of the bodies are in such poor condition that officials said they are using fingerprints, medical records, distinctive tattoos, DNA and other methods to identify them.”

Joplin Tornado Radar Animation

A supercell thunderstorm tracked from extreme southeast Kansas into far southwest Missouri (NWS Springfield, County Warning Area) late Sunday afternoon and evening (May 22nd).  This storm produced an EF-5 tornado over Joplin, Missouri resulting in devastating damage. This storm generated other tornadoes and wind damage along its path as it moved southeast across far southwest Missouri.  Spotty wind damage also occurred across the remainder of far southern Missouri as the storms moved east.  Additionally, these storms produced flash flooding across far southwest Missouri.  Image and caption: National Weather Service (NWS)

Frame by Frame Radar Sequence 

Selected frame shown at 22:39UTC on May 22, 2011. (L ) Radar Reflectivity  (R) Storm Relative Velocity. Source: NWS. Click image to enlarge.

Joplin tornado store receipt flew 525 miles to Indiana

Meanwhile a Purdue University storm researcher reported that “a receipt from a tire store in Joplin, Mo., turned up 525 miles away on a front porch in north-central Indiana, a record distance for apparent tornado debris to travel,” according to a report.

“This paper traveled more than twice as far as the longest distance recorded for debris from a storm,” according to a professor of earth and atmospheric sciences and tornado expert. “The previous record was a canceled check that traveled 210 miles after the 1915 tornado in Great Bend, Kan.” Said the report.

Joplin Tornado Satellite Images

Joplin, Missouri satellite image shows a small section of the city after it was devastated by a tornado on May 22, 2011. Source: NOAA. Cropped by FIRE-EARTH.

Joplin, Missouri satellite image after the city was devastated by a tornado on May 22, 2011. Source: NOAA. For high resolution image click HERE.

Tornado Fatalities in Georgia

At least three people were killed when a tornado with winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour touched down in Atlanta, Georgia, reports said.

 

Latest Weather Hazard Reports

• Red Flag Warning
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning
• River flooding returns to central Plains; expands on northern Missouri River
• Memorial Day holiday weekend forecasts for central United States

Related Links

• Severe Weather Update – May 27
• One Large Tornado Patch
• Major tornado outbreak forecast for southern Plains on Wednesday

• Tornado Death Toll in Joplin Reaches 116
• Tornado Death Toll Rises to 89 in Joplin, Missouri
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

2011 Disasters

• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2010 Disasters [Includes Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Other Tornado News

• NWS Confirms Tornado In Greensburg
• Tornado near Cressona is 2nd in Schuylkill County in 3 days  
• Possible tornado activity reported in Huntingdon County
• Wolf Creek nuke plant faulted for tornado preparedness  
• Tornado Confirmed In Franklin County

Two tornadoes target Iowan town

Town of Lenox Reports “Significant Damage”

Buildings leveled, roofs blown off and the debris covered the small town.

At least 35 blocks in the small Iowan town of Lenox (pop: 1,407) in Taylor County  received some damage, reports say.

Lenox, IA. EF1 tornado caused damage to homes. Source: NWS/Des Moines

The first tornado was an EF0 with a peak wind of about 80MPH (width of 0.3mile; path of 0.6mile) , and the second one an EF1, with more fierce winds of 105MPH (width of 0.3mile; path of 1.2mile) . There were NO fatalities or serious injuries reported, NWS said.

Taylor County was declared a disaster are after the two tornadoes struck, increasing the state’s 2011 tornado tally to 30.

Severe whether continued in Iowa Thursday night, with  3-in diameter hail attacking  western Iowa counties of Monona and Woodbury, a report said.

Image above shows the severe thunderstorm that spawned the EF0 tornado near Sharpsburg in northeastern Taylor County, Iowa at 4:22 pm on May 11. “Note the hook right over Sharpsburg.” Source NWS. Click images to enlarge.

This image shows the severe thunderstorm that spawned the EF1 tornado in western parts of Lenox, IA at 4:51 p.m.

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

The damage contour map and details of the Lenox tornadoes are posted HERE.

Related Links

• More Severe Thunderstorms, Rain and Flash Flooding
• Tornado Damage in Tuscaloosa -Satellite Image

• April Tornado Stats
• Tuscaloosa Tornado Damage Images
• The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history
• U.S. Tornado Update – April 29
• U.S. Tornadoes, Storms Kill at least 195

• Mile-wide Mega Tornado Devastates Alabama
• Tornado Record for April Smashed
• When Weather Went Really Crazy
• U.S. Tornado Outbreak – Update 19 April
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

2011 Disasters

• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2010 Disasters [Includes Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

U.S. Tornadoes – Update 18 April

Updated at 02:12 UTC

Deadly  tornado clusters devastate southern U.S., killing 50 injuring 500

Waves of tornadoes battering southern United States, killing about 50 people and injuring hundreds of others from Oklahoma through the South and on to the Atlantic Coast since Thursday, have carved swathes of destruction in their wake, with hundreds of homes left destroyed or severely damaged.

Combined Map of Reported Tornadoes, Severe Weather and Hail 14 – 17 April 2011

Source:  NWS/ Storm Prediction Center. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH

Tornado Reports: 248
Wind Reports/High: 434/5
Hail Reports/Large: 356/31
3-Day Total Reports: 1,038

In the worst tornado assault ever recorded, 248 twisters have devastated large areas in 14 states from Thursday through Saturday. A total of 1,038 tornadoes, wind gusts and hail events were reported, according to the logs kept at the Storm Prediction Center.

NC Tornado damage. Frame grab from AP video report. Video clip posted HERE

States of Emergency

• Virginia.  Gov McDonnell has declared a state of emergency following widespread damage caused by powerful thunderstorms, which left at least six people dead in the central and southern parts of the state on Sunday, a report said.
• North Carolina. Gov Perdue has declared a state of emergency for North Carolina because of the destruction caused by deadly storms and tornadoes across the state, reports said. Sever storms ripped through central North Carolina causing multiple fatalities and much destruction.
• Alabama.  Gov Bentley is declaring a State of Emergency for all Alabama counties following severe weather which brought tornados, severe t-storms, hail and strong winds earlier today, a report said. At least one person was killed in
• “This is a serious storm that has already caused significant damage across the South. I hope Alabamians take extreme caution while these storms move through,” said Bentley.
• “There are confirmed reports of tornado touchdowns in the following Alabama counties:  Monroe, Greene, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Choctaw. Multiple injuries have been reported in Sumter, Greene and Marengo counties.” The report said.
• “An apparent tornado struck Bellington Circle approximately 6 miles south of Linden [Marengo County.] Law enforcement confirmed 1 fatality and at least 4 injuries.” The National Weather Service reported.
• Mississippi. “A State of Emergency has been declared for 14 Mississippi counties after tornadoes and high winds whipped through the state today, causing multiple injuries, shutting down I-20, ravaging homes and businesses and knocking out power to thousands.” Said a report.
• Oklahoma.  Gov Fallin has declared a state of emergency in 26 Oklahoma counties, a report said. The declaration include the following counties: Atoka, Carter, Coal, Creek, Custer, Delaware, Harper, Johnston, Latimer, LeFlore, Lincoln, Love, Marshall, Murray, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington and Woodward.

From: 2011 Disaster Calendar – April

Related Links

• Tornadoes, Storms Kill at least 27 in the US Posted on April 17, 2011
• Tornadoes, Severe Weather Continued across the US
• Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorms, Heavy Snow
• US Tornadoes – UPDATE
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

• Global Disaster Forecast – UPDATE 17 Mar
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

• US Severe Weather Forecast: T-Storms, Tornadoes
• Deadly EF2 Tornado Strikes Louisiana Town
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather

Tornadoes, Severe Weather Continued across the US

Multiple Tornadoes Sighted in Oklahoma and Kansas

Tornadoes and severe storms have claimed about a dozen lives, destroyed homes and school buildings; significant damage reported at Atoka and Tushka, Oklahoma with at least 30 people injured: Reports

• Lightning knocked a tree into a home in Garland County, Arkansas, killing the two occupants.
• Falling trees have killed at least four more people in Arkansas, police said.

At least 10 tornadoes touched down the central and southern plains on Thursday (local time), the National Weather Service (NWS) reported. More tornados and powerful thunderstorms expected to strike the south on Friday (see forecast map below).

Tornadoes were sighted  in Atoka, Johnston, Lincoln, Marshall, Murray, Osage, and Pushmataha counties in Oklahoma and in Chautauqua, Cowley and Saline counties in Kansas, NWS reported

“There were reports of significant damage to the Oklahoma communities of Atoka and Tushka. There were 86 reports of high winds with the top recording noted at 80 mph near Russellville in Pope County, Ark. There were also 122 reports of large hail with the largest stones measured at 4.25-inch diameter in Johnston, Murray, Pontotoc and Pushmataha counties in Oklahoma.”

Powerful Spring Storm System Slams the Central Gulf Coast Region with Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorm Winds and Large Damaging Hail

Severe weather threat is expected to move east today, affecting Atlantic Coast from Virginia to Georgia, NWS reported.

Click image to enlarge. Click HERE to enter NWS portal.

Atlanta, Georgia Radar – Base Reflectivity.  Click image to enlarge. Click HERE to update. 

States of Emergency

• Alabama.  Gov Bentley is declaring a State of Emergency for all Alabama counties following severe weather which brought tornados, severe t-storms, hail and strong winds earlier today, a report said. At least one person was killed in
• “This is a serious storm that has already caused significant damage across the South. I hope Alabamians take extreme caution while these storms move through,” said Bentley.
• “There are confirmed reports of tornado touchdowns in the following Alabama counties:  Monroe, Greene, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Choctaw. Multiple injuries have been reported in Sumter, Greene and Marengo counties.” The report said.
• “An apparent tornado struck Bellington Circle approximately 6 miles south of Linden [Marengo County.] Law enforcement confirmed 1 fatality and at least 4 injuries.” The National Weather Service reported.
• Mississippi. “A State of Emergency has been declared for 14 Mississippi counties after tornadoes and high winds whipped through the state today, causing multiple injuries, shutting down I-20, ravaging homes and businesses and knocking out power to thousands.” Said a report.
• Oklahoma.  Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency in 26 Oklahoma counties, a report said. The declaration include the following counties: Atoka, Carter, Coal, Creek, Custer, Delaware, Harper, Johnston, Latimer, LeFlore, Lincoln, Love, Marshall, Murray, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington and Woodward.

From: 2011 Disaster Calendar – April

Related Link

• Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorms, Heavy Snow
• US Tornadoes – UPDATE
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

• TEXAS ON FIRE
• Global Disaster Forecast – UPDATE 17 Mar
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• Extreme fire danger, continued major flooding in the US

• US Wildfire Pattern Consistent with Drought
• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• World on Fire

• US Severe Weather Forecast: T-Storms, Tornadoes
• Deadly EF2 Tornado Strikes Louisiana Town
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• Fierce Storm Dumps 160mm of Rain over SoCal

Extreme Weather Conditions in the US

Severe Thunder Storms, Tornadoes, Wildfires, Heavy Snow, Torrential Rain and Flooding

The United States is experiencing numerous “extreme conditions” throughout the country, NWS forecasts.

Click image to enlarge.

Severe Storms

“A 13-state slice of the central United States from northern Michigan to southern Texas could see severe storms Sunday. The most likely area of severe weather then is an area of Moderate Risk that includes southeast Minnesota, the eastern half of Iowa, extreme northeast Missouri, west-central and southwest Wisconsin and northwest Illinois. A much larger area at Slight Risk for severe weather includes parts of South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana.” NWS reported.

Click Hazard Map to enter NWS portal.

Flooding

More flooding  reported in northern Plains and Upper Midwest, with

• 19 Major Flood sites
• 29  sites at Moderate Flooding
• 75 sites at Minor Flooding
• 135 sites are Near Flood Stage

U.S. Flood Map. Source: NWS

Wildfire

“Critical fire weather conditions and Red Flag Warnings are in effect for today and Saturday in a 5-state portion of the southern Plains. Areas in which all outdoor burning is discourage include the eastern third of Colorado, the western third of Kansas, the Oklahoma Panhandle and western Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle along with northwest and southwest Texas and most of new Mexico but the northwest and west-central parts of the state.” NWS reported.

In Colorado, meanwhile, wildfires have forced the evacuations of about 300 homes in the foothills west of Denver , a report said.

Weather Story: Colorado

Severe thunderstorms are expected in north central Oklahoma tonight. This area is in a tornado watch until 1 A.M. Hot, dry and windy weather is expected in western Oklahoma Saturday afternoon. The dry airmass is expected to include the western two-thirds of Oklahoma Sunday when wildfire potential will be extreme. Windy weather and relatively little rainfall will remain through next week. NWS

Tornadoes

Tornado watches 108 and 109 issued by NWS cover 16 counties Kansas and 24 counties in Oklahoma. See report.

“Temperatures will surge into the upper 80s on Saturday afternoon along with strong southerly winds. Severe thunderstorms may develop along the dryline in central Kansas later Saturday afternoon and early evening. The main threat will be hail and winds… but a tornado or two cannot be ruled out.” NWS reported.

Related News

• Tornado severely damages homes at Pulaski: Severe damage to homes has been reported in the Pulaski and Draper areas of Pulaski County after a tornado earlier this evening, local officials and the National Weather Service said. More than 4,500 customers in Pulaski County are without power.

• Tornado Reported In Northern Oklahoma Storm
• Tornado or not? This week’s storm uprooted trees, damaged buildings, but what was it?
• 1.75-mile path left by tornado

Related Links

• U.S. Weather: Flooding, Wildfires, Heavy Snow
• Severe Thunderstorms Pummel North and Central Georgia April 6, 2011
• US Weather Forecast: Thunderstorms, Strong Winds, Flooding, Fire [April 5, 2011]

• US Severe Weather Forecast: T-Storms, Tornadoes [April 4, 2011]
• Red Flag Warnings in Seven States
• Deadly EF2 Tornado Strikes Louisiana Town
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• US Wildfire Pattern Consistent with Drought
• National Fire Stats Falsified?
• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
• Fierce Storm Dumps 160mm of Rain over SoCal
• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• World on Fire

Tornado, tornadoes | Tagged: dangerous storm, Kansas weather, severe weather warnings, Thunderstorm, Tornado Alley, Upper Midwest flooding satellite images, US flood warnings, weather Missouri |

Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

2011 Tornadoes Ever Deadlier: FEWW

Start of Meteorological Spring Signals Hyper Tornado Season

Based on several climatic indicators and recent weather trends, FIRE-EARTH forecasts a deadly peak tornado season in 2011.

“Tornado reports are already coming in,” says the National Weather Service forecast offices.

“Tornado Alley should be geared up. Typical peak tornado season runs from late winter through mid summer. The peak period for tornadoes in the southern plains runs from May to early June. On the Gulf coast, it is earlier during the spring. In the northern plains and upper Midwest, it is June or July. Remember, tornadoes can happen any time of year if the conditions are right.”

The Maximum Threat

The following map shows the time for maximum probability of significant tornadoes.

Time for maximum probability of significant tornadoes (F2 or greater). Source: Severe Thunderstorms Climatology

Time for maximum probability of tornadoes. Source: Severe Thunderstorms Climatology

1. Tornado
2. F2 or greater (significant) tornadoes
3. Wind
4. Hail

Monthly Probabilities

Any Tornado	Signif. Tornado (F2-F5)	Violent Tornado (F4-F5)
Java animation	Java animation	Java animation
Monthly frames	Monthly frames	Monthly frames
January	January	January
February	February	February
March	March	March
April	April	April
May	May	May
June	June	June
July	July	July
August	August	August
September	September	September
October	October	October
November	November	November
December	December	December

The probability of having one or more days with a tornado within 25 miles of a point sometime during a month. The base data for all tornadoes are the reports from 1980-1994 and for significant and violent tornadoes are the reports from 1921-1995. The values are probabilities in percent. Source: Severe Thunderstorms Climatology

F5 and EF5 Tornadoes of the United States: 1950-present

[Storm Prediction Center]

Click image to enlarge. Click here for details.

• Tornado FAQs

Tornado Stats:

• Deadliest U.S. tornadoes: The “Tri-state” tornado of 18 March 1925 killed 695 people along a 219 mile track across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, causing F5 damage. The 25 deadliest tornadoes on record are listed here.
• The deadliest U.S. tornado days: On 3 April 1974, a “Super Outbreak” of tornadoes killed 308 people. Two lists of the top 15 deadliest tornado days since 1950 are posted here.
  • First, from midnight to midnight CST (by calendar day, Central Standard Time),
  • Then from 12 UTC to 12 UTC (the “convective day” for SPC outlooks)

• Biggest outbreak of tornadoes: Some 147 tornadoes touched down in 13 U.S. states on 3 and 4 April, 1974. See map here.
• The biggest known tornado: “The Hallam, Nebraska F4 tornado of 22 May 2004 is the newest record-holder for peak width, at nearly two and a half miles, as surveyed by Brian Smith of NWS Omaha. This is probably close to the maximum size for tornadoes; but it is possible that larger, unrecorded ones have occurred. “
• Single month with the most tornadoes: Tornado record was set in May 2003, with 543 tornadoes touchdowns confirmed . Previous record was 399, set in June 1992 (modern tornado records began in 1950).
• The strongest tornado/ the highest wind speed in a tornado: Not Known! “Tornado wind speeds have only been directly recorded in the weaker ones, because strong and violent tornadoes destroy weather instruments. Mobile Doppler radars such as the OU Doppler on Wheels have remotely sensed tornado wind speeds above ground level as high as about 302 mph (on 3 May 1999 near Bridge Creek OK)–the highest winds ever found near earth’s surface by any means. [That tornado caused F5 damage.] But ground-level wind speeds in the most violent tornadoes have never been directly measured.”
• The costliest tornado: The Topeka (KS) tornado of 8 Jun 1966 is believed to be the costliest. The tornado caused damage estimated at  $1,599,537,000 in 2007 dollars, after adjusting for inflation. “The Bridge Creek-Moore-Oklahoma City-Midwest City, OK, tornado of 3 May 1999 currently ranks first in actual dollars but third when inflation adjusted.  A list of  top-10 tornado damage in 2007 dollars is posted here. SOURCE: Storm Prediction Center

April had 195 reported tornadoes

U.S. April Weather Was Hot and Dry

April Saw Above-Normal Temperatures and Below-Normal Precipitation: NOAA

According to NOAA’s State of the Climate report, the April 2010 average temperature for the contiguous United States was 54.3 degrees F, some 2.3 degrees F above the long-term (1901-2000) average  making it the 14th warmest April on record. The average precipitation was 2.18 inches, or 0.25 inch below the long-term average.

NOAA monthly analysis is prepared by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC.

U.S. Temperature Highlights

Source: NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

• Above-normal temperatures caused by warm and dry weather from high-pressure areas experienced by most states east of the Rocky Mountains. Only California, Nevada and Oregon experienced cooler-than-average temperatures last month.
• Northeast and the East North Central Region: Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan experienced their second warmest April ever.
• Central climate region: West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri had their  fourth warmest April for that region. [link to regional map]

• Northeast: Illinois Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey had their warmest April on record. I
• A total of 31 states experienced above-normal temperatures.
• February to April period: The record warmest in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
• January to April period: Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire had their warmest year-to-date on record. “Conversely, Florida had its coolest, while South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas’ average temperature ranked among their 10 coolest.”
• “The cooler-than-normal temperatures that prevailed during the latter part of the winter season in the south and southeast were still evident in the three-month (February-April) period. Florida had its coolest such period, while Louisiana and Alabama had their sixth coolest, Georgia its seventh coolest and both Mississippi and Texas their eighth coolest February-April.”

U.S. Precipitation Highlights

Source: NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

• Below average precipitation in most areas east of the Mississippi River.  West Coast was wet, and the Northwest higher than normal precipitation.
• “Many Mid-Atlantic states observed much-below-normal precipitation. Both Louisiana and South Carolina experienced their sixth driest April. It was also abnormally dry in Connecticut (eight), North Carolina (ninth), Virginia (ninth) and Maryland (tenth). Conversely, it was Oregon’s tenth-wettest April on record.”
• Michigan saw its second driest January to April period on record. “The year-to-date period was also the seventh driest for Wisconsin and Kentucky and the eighth driest for Louisiana.”

Other Highlights

• North American snow cover extent was the lowest on record for April since 1966. “It was also the largest negative anomaly, meaning distance below long term average, on record for any month.”
• “NCDC’s Climate Extremes Index (CEI) for January-April was about 6 percent higher than the historical average for that time period. The CEI measures the occurrence of several types of climate extremes (like record or near-record warmth, dry spells, or rainy periods). Factors contributing to this year’s value: a very large footprint (three times larger than average) of extreme wetness and twice the average area with warm minimum temperatures.”
• NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center reported 195 tornadoes in April. Subject to confirmation, “it would be the eighth highest number of April tornadoes.”
• “The most significant tornado of the month, which was rated EF-4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, devastated areas near Yazoo City, Miss. According to a preliminary analysis by the National Weather Service, the tornado’s path was 149 miles long and stretched from extreme northeastern Louisiana to northeastern Mississippi. The damage path was up to 1¾ miles wide at points.” [More than a dozen people were killed by the tornado.]
• The U.S. Drought Monitor said 9 percent of the United States was affected by drought on April 27.

Related Links:

• Canceling Your Life Insurance Policy with Nature
• U.S. Weather

–

Serial No 1,696. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

US Midwest in Crosshairs of Climate Change

Make a Radical Change, OR Look For a New Place to Live [sic]

Central US and the Midwest Could Be Running Out of Luck [and northern plains, too!]

NWS Warnings and Forecast – A Snapshot taken on June 21, 2009 at 13:58 UTC

Hazardous Weather Outlook, gale and Hazardous Seas Warning currently threaten about 90 percent of the US by area. FEWW

Waves of thunderstorms caused up to 130, 000 outages. Affected areas include Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Michigan .

The storms produced torrential rain. The National Weather Service said parts of northern Illinois may have gotten up to 4 inches of rain Friday and Racine, Wis., had a 24-hour total of nearly 7 inches. —AP

High winds across central and eastern Kansas may have contributed to one fatality near McPherson, with another two people injured in Great Bend.

Storm Force Cuts Power

About 67,000 Commonwealth Edison customers remain without power early Saturday after two severe thunderstorms ripped through the Chicago area.—Chicago Sun Times.

Lightning strikes behind a windmill on a farm near Baldwin City, Kan., Monday, June 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner). Image may be subject to copyright.

Record rainfall and Flight Delays at O’Hare International Airport

Flight delays at O’Hare on Friday were 90 minutes or more. More than 100 flights were canceled. At Midway, 45-minute delays and minor cancellations were reported. O’Hare had received 3.54 inches by 1 p.m. The National Weather Service said the previous record for June 19 was 1.79 inches in 1961.—AP

Meanwhile, thunderstorms rumbled across Indiana, producing hail and 67-mph winds and tornado warnings. Tornadoes tore through Wisconsin. Storms caused some structural damage in Michigan and Ohio.

How Many Trees are There in Chicago?

The department [of Streets & Sanitation in Chicago] received reports of 350 damaged trees, 61 traffic light outages, 25 damaged light poles, and 53 city light pole wires down, as of 8 p.m. —Chicago Sun Times.

Two storms system hit the central part of the U.S., spreading  across several states, bringing heavy rains, high winds and a half dozen tornadoes.

renewing flooding concerns in already soggy areas and leaving thousands of people without power.

Was it a tornado that did all this?

In Minnesota, an apparent tornado struck the town of Austin, uprooting trees, knocking down power lines and at least one person was reported with minor injuries. The National Weather Service said the storm sent debris flying, flipped cars on their sides and sent trees through roofs.

Heavy rain brought flooding concerns to areas of central North Dakota hit by flooding earlier this spring. South Dakota saw heavy rain, strong wind and hail, with two reports of funnel clouds in Stanley County.

A separate storm system that cut a wide swath across Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri knocked out power, damaged buildings and led to flash flooding. In the small Missouri town of Norborne, about an hour’s drive northeast of Kansas City, straight-line winds from a thunderstorm reached more than 74 mph…

In southwest Kansas winds reached up to 90 mph. About 22,000 residents were without power.—AP

Run those numbers by me, AGAIN!

A total of about 30 tornadoes and 370 storms hit across the nation on Wednesday alone, leaving behind extreme destruction and devastation. A twister was said to have  caused “millions of dollars in damage” in Austin, Minnesota.

High winds in Missouri twisted power poles and toppled trees while in Colorado, hail the size of marbles rained down on rural areas.
In Pittsburgh, flash floods drowned city streets and torrential rains overwhelmed storm drains, stranding even the rescue crews.—AP

How do twister numbers compare?

• About 840 tornadoes to date this year, compared with 1,305 in 2008 (through end of June).
• April tally:  270 tornadoes compared with [the three-year average of 200.]
• May total: 228  compared 461 tornadoes the same month last year.

FEWW said earlier this year could be one of the wettest on record.

A tornado reported west of Kenosha tore up some trees as severe storms moved through and produced downpours and street flooding Friday.

The storms Friday night hit less than 24 hours after severe weather and heavy rains caused flash flooding, so the new storms produced more flood problems, especially in Kenosha, Waukesha and Walworth counties.

…  heavy rains saturated the county with up to 6 inches falling in about an hour in some places.  The city of Racine had heavy rain that raised its 24-hour rainfall total to just under 7 inches. …  flooding along the Fox River had some vehicles floating in downtown Waukesha. —Channel 3000

Related Links

• FEWW FORECAST: 2009 Likely Wettest Year on Record
• What if each time a storm struck your area it turned out to be a major hurricane?
• 2009 Hurricane Season: Storms in Teacup, or Nasty Surprises?
• Drought and Deluge