Seven IL Counties Declared Disaster Areas after Deadly Storms

“We are still receiving reports of massive damage to communities across our state” —IL Gov. Quinn

Sunday’s deadly storms killed at least six people and injured scores of others, while damaging and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses and cutting power to tens of thousands of residents.

The counties declared disaster areas are Champaign, Grundy, LaSalle, Massac, Tazewell, Washington and Woodford, according to the Disaster Proclamation issued by Gov. Pat Quinn’s office on Monday.

“Although we are still receiving reports of massive damage to communities across our state, we want to make sure people are getting the assistance and resources they need as quickly as possible,” said the governor. “As we pray for the families of those who have lost their lives and others who are injured, the state of Illinois will do everything necessary to help these communities recover.”

A large swarm of storms brought destructive winds and tornadoes to Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York.

Illinois took the brunt of the ferocious weather system, which spawned a total of 76 confirmed tornadoes, and 451 storm reports.

Washington (Population: 16,000), a small city in Tazewell County, about 140 miles southwest of Chicago, was the hardest hit area, with up to 500 homes damaged or destroyed, according to reports. of 16,000.

EF4 Tornadoes

Two of the deadly twisters were rated EF-4 tornadoes, reported the National Weather Service (NWS).

EF4 tornadoes pack destructive winds of between 166 and 260 mph (267 – 322kph), and can leave well-constructed houses leveled, blowing away structures with weak foundations blown away some distance;  throwing cars and generating large missiles.

F4 F touch down in IL November 17, 2013.

Tacloban City, Philippines or the State of  Illinois?

IL deadly tornadoes aftermath – Image credit: Natalie Martinez

Powerful tornadoes tore through large swathes of Illinois on Sunday. Image credit: @WCL_Shawn

Latest Weather Forecast

Strong winds in the Northeast and across the Great Lakes will subside today as the powerful storm system responsible for yesterday’s severe weather continues to move farther away into Canada. Meanwhile, another storm system will move into the Pacific Northwest bringing rain and mountain snow. NWS

“You don’t need temperatures in the 80s and 90s to produce severe weather [since] the strong winds compensate for for the lack of heating,”  said a forecaster at NWS. “That sets the stage for what we call wind shear, which may produce tornadoes.”

Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)

Fujita-Pearson Tornado Scale

F-0  [39%]
40-72 mph, chimney damage, tree branches broken

F-1 [35%]
73-112 mph, mobile homes pushed off foundation or overturned

F-2 [20%]
113-157 mph, considerable damage, mobile homes demolished, trees uprooted

F-3  [5%]
158-205 mph, roofs and walls torn down, trains overturned, cars thrown

F-4 [0.9%]
207-260 mph, well-constructed walls leveled

F-5 [<0.1%]
261-318 mph, homes lifted off foundation and carried considerable distances, autos thrown as far as 100 meters

Source: US gov. [Figures in brackets represent long-term relative frequencies— revised by FIRE-EARTH]

Related Links

• Deadly Tornadoes Attack U.S. Midwest November 18, 2013

DISASTER Diary – 21 May 2013

Major Disaster Declared in Oklahoma after Mega Tornado Kills Dozens

The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Oklahoma in the area affected by severe storms and tornadoes beginning on May 18, 2013, and continuing.

The areas worst affected are the counties of Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma, and Pottawatomie.

At least 91 people, many of them children, are feared to have been killed and about 240 others injured after a mega tornado ripped through Oklahoma City suburbs, leveling numerous blocks in the city of Moore (pop: ~ 55,000),  Cleveland County, Oklahoma.

The death toll included 51 confirmed deaths and an additional 40 bodies on their way to the Medical Examiner’s office. (See also the ‘Joplin Syndrome’).

• The tornado was rated as at least an EF4, with winds of up to 200mph, according to NWS preliminary damage ratings.
• The tornadic event began at 2.56pm CDT on Monday and lasted for 40 minutes.
• Moore twister was as much as two miles wide, and carved a 20-mile path of destruction.
• The tornado left obliterated many hundreds of homes and other buildings in Moore.

This is a preliminary tornado track for the tornado that affected Newcastle, Moore, and Oklahoma City on May 20, 2013. The tornado touchdown at around 2:56 pm in Newcastle, OK and moved through Moore and south OKC before lifting at around 3:36 pm. The path length is estimated to be about 20 miles long with a preliminary damage rating of at least EF4. —NWS

“Our hearts are broken,” Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said. “This is bigger than anything I’ve ever seen. It’s absolutely huge. It’s horrific.”

More Severe Weather Expected from Great Lakes to Central Texas on Tuesday

More severe weather is expected on Tuesday from the Great Lakes across the Mississippi River Valley and into central Texas. Primary threats will be very large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. Some of the storms could also produce heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding concerns, especially in the Ark-La-Tex region. —NWS

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Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Average CO₂ at Mauna Loa Observatory: Last 5 days of preliminary daily average CO2

• May 20 – 400.15 ppm
• May 19 – 400.06 ppm
• May 18 – 399.77 ppm
• May 17 – 399.87 ppm
• May 16 – 399.74 ppm

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Groundwater depletion in the U.S. has accelerated

Groundwater depletion in the United States during 1900–2008 was about 1,000 cubic kilometers (km³), according to a new study released by USGS.

• The rate of groundwater depletion has increased significantly since about 1950, with maximum rates occurring during the most recent period (2000–2008), said the report.
• The average depletion rate climbed to about 25 km³ [6.6 trillion gallons] per year during 2000–2008, compared to 9.2 km³ per year averaged over the 1900–2008 period.

Map of the United States (excluding Alaska) showing cumulative groundwater depletion, 1900 through 2008, in 40 assessed aquifer systems or subareas. Colors are hatched in the Dakota aquifer (area 39) where the aquifer overlaps with other aquifers having different values of depletion. [Konikow, L.F., 2013, Groundwater depletion in the United States (1900−2008): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013−5079. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2013/5079.(Available only online.)]

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Kamchatka, Russia

At least 2 dozen significant quakes, measuring between 5.0 and 6.0Mw, have struck off the east coast of Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia since Monday May 20, 2013. 

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DISASTER CALENDAR – May 21, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,026 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,026 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

Tornado Death Toll in Joplin Reaches 116

Death Toll Expected to Rise: Officials

Mega tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri, killing at least 116, injuring 500 and destroying more than 2,000 homes

More Deadly Weather May Follow

Summary of details:

• The deadly storm struck Joplin at 17:30 local time (22:30 UTC) on Sunday May 22, 2010.
• The tornado has killed at least 116 people.
• Sunday tornado was the deadliest single tornado in 64 years.
•  Officials expect to find more bodies.
• Some 2,000 buildings have been destroyed.
• Many businesses, schools, churches and other buildings as well as hundreds of vehicles have also been destroyed.
• About 500 people have been injured.
• The tornado that struck Joplin left an estimated path of destruction about 6 miles (10km) long and 3/4 mile (1 km) wide.
• The death and destruction in Joplin far surpasses the devastation caused by the tornado that struck Tuscaloosa, Alabama in April.
• There’re reports of the deadly tornado packing wind speeds of about 200 miles an hour.
• FIRE-EARTH believes the tornado would have  registered at least EF4 (winds of 166 TO 200 MPH) on the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale   (see bottom of the page).
• In just 10 minutes the deadly tornado destroyed between 30 and 75 percent of the city, according to different reports.
• St. John’s Regional Medical Center, the main local hospital, took a direct hit, which resulted in “extensive damage,” a hospital spokesman said. “The roof is gone. A lot of the windows are blown out.”
• Debris from the hospital, including X-rays, were found as far as 110 miles away.
• “Also destroyed were the hospital, the emergency services office, two fire houses, a nursing home, the Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Sonic, and Academy Sports and Outdoors stores. The water treatment plant and the sewage treatment plant were also heavily damaged. Mail delivery for the southern part of the city has been suspended for today.” SPC said.

US Weather Hazard Map

Click image to enter NWS portal.

Weather Forecast Map

Click image to enlarge.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected across the central plains this afternoon and this evening as a strong storm system approaches. Thunderstorm initiation will likely occur late this afternoon approximately along a line stretching from Wichita, KS to Oklahoma City, OK, develop into a squall line and track eastward, reaching the Kansas/Missouri border by early this evening. These thunderstorms will impact the outlook area this evening and into the early overnight hours. Main severe threats with these storms will be damaging straight line winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center has the entire outlook area in a Slight Risk convective outlook for today and tonight. However, a High Risk convective outlook has been issued across southern and southeastern Kansas as well as north central and northeast Oklahoma. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue through the day on Wednesday as this system tracks eastward over the area. However, the threat for severe weather is low. With the continued rounds of showers and thunderstorms impacting the region, there additionally is the threat for localized flash flooding and local streams and rivers to be on the rise due to the likelihood of heavy rainfall. (SOURCE: NWS)

Many of the ingredients for a severe weather outbreak appear to be coming together this afternoon and tonight. By the late afternoon, a dryline from western Oklahoma into South Central Kansas is expected to initiate severe thunderstorms. Additionally a warm front across the northern half of Kansas could focus more thunderstorm development. These storms will be capable of producing tornadoes, some potentially large, along with very large hail and damaging winds. The system will move north and east this evening but will still affect much of central and eastern Kansas into the overnight hours. Stay tuned to the weather and have a plan should severe thunderstorms affect you. (SOURCE: NWS) 

A frontal boundary will remain stalled over northern Missouri and central Illinois through Wednesday night as a wound up area of low pressure to our west slowly approaches. This front will serve as a focus for several rounds of thunderstorms as well as maintaining the moist air over much of the bi-state region. While some thunderstorms are possible later today, thunderstorm chances will increase heading into tonight and Wednesday as the center of the main storm system approaches. Any thunderstorms that do form could become severe, but the greatest chance for severe weather will be Wednesday afternoon and evening where a widespread outbreak of severe thunderstorms is expected. In addition to severe weather, locally heavy rainfall may cause rises on area streams, creeks, and rivers. (SOURCE: NWS)

GOES Eastern US SECTOR Infrared Image

Click image to enlarge.

Convective Outlook Day 1 (map with population centers)

The SPC is forecasting  severe thunderstorms expected over parts of the mid Mississippi Valley into the central great lakes region this afternoon and evening. Read the latest public statement.

Probability of a tornado within 25 miles of a point. Hatched Area: 10% or greater probability of EF2 – EF5 tornadoes within 25 miles of a point. (More Info)

National Weather Service said:

Another multi-state severe weather outbreak dropped 68 tornadoes on the central Plains, the Midwest and the western Great Lakes over the weekend, killing at least 90 people, according to NOAA Forecasters. To make matters worse, some of the same areas hit over the weekend could see repeated severe weather through Wednesday.

SPC logged more than 1,074 reports of tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds over the weekend.

• Saturday: 22 tornado reports (including)
  
•  Kansas: 14
• Oklahoma: 5
• Missouri: 1
• Sunday:  55 tornado reports (including)
• Missouri: 13
• Minnesota: 13
• Wisconsin: 13
• Iowa: 5
• Oklahoma: 3
• North Dakota: 1

• Severe Storms May 21st and 22nd 2011

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

Related Links

• Tornado Death Toll Rises to 89 in Joplin, Missouri

• Missouri Tornado Kills at least 30
• Deadly Tornadoes, Landslides and Forest Fires
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• More Severe Thunderstorms, Rain and Flash Flooding
• MEGA DELUGE 2011?

• Two tornadoes target Iowan town
• Tornado Damage in Tuscaloosa -Satellite Image
• Tuscaloosa Tornado Damage Images

• April Tornado Stats
• 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

Missouri Storms: “Grown men were crying”

EF4 Tornado Devastates Airport 

Massive Tornado Rips Through Lambert-St. Louis International Airport

The most powerful tornado to strike Missouri in nearly 50 years forces the Airport to close down indefinitely

The airport officials have cancelled all departing and most arriving flights until further notice:

“All operations are closed here today and there are no flight activities until assessments can be made of the damage and what it will take to make the facility safe enough to resume flights,” an airport spokesman said.

A tornadic supercell also flattened/heavily damaged homes and businesses, felled trees and tore down power lines throughout Berkeley, Bridgeton,  Maryland Heights and several other communities in north St. Louis County.

No fatalities were reported as of posting. However, at least 5  people were reportedly hospitalized after sustaining injuries from flying glass and debris at the Airport as the mega twister ripped off the roof of the main terminal building and blew out doors and half the windows.

The tornado that ripped through the airport and the nearby neighborhoods in St. Louis County was at least an EF4 storm on the 5-level Enhanced Fujira tornado-strength scale, NWS said.

People watching the tornado from the airport terminal, suddenly had to run for their lives, as the twister ripped through the main terminal, an eye-witness told reporters.

“About the time we came into the building, the doors blew off,”  he said.

“Literally 10 seconds later, it was over. It’s amazing to me more people weren’t hurt.”

Another eyewitness said:

“Glass was blowing everywhere. The ceiling was falling. The wind was blowing debris all over the place,” she said.

“It was like being in a horror movie. Grown men were crying. It was horrible.”

US Weather Forecast Map

Click images to enlarge.

Severe Weather and Flash Flooding Forecast

Several waves of thunderstorms will move through the region during the next few days, with heavy rainfall contributing to flash flooding and ongoing river flooding across parts of Missouri and Illinois. Some of the storms may also be severe, especially on Monday and Monday night. NWS

Graphical Nowcast. A front has stalled over the area and will remain in the area through the weekend with periods of heavy rain producing thunderstorms and an increasingly high risk for flooding. Source: NWS/MO

State of Emergency

Missouri Gov Nixon has declared a states of emergency after preliminary reports showed about 100 homes were destroyed and 750 other buildings were damaged as a result of the storm, leaving hundreds of people displaced.

“Its just amazing that an F-4 tornado could come through a highly populated area with no fatalities. People got a 34-minute warning and that warning saved countless lives,” Nixon said.

About 50,000 homes were without electricity, after the storm tore down power lines.

Bridgeton, MO, was one of the areas severly damaged by Friday storms. The twister damage was followed by extra-large hail and flash flooding. Photo: Jeff Roberson/AP. Image may be subject to copyright.

Related News Links

• Metro Bus Schedule Severely Affected By Storm Damage
• St. Louis Airport Bears Brunt Of Storm 

Related Links

• The Storm Worm Growing
• US Severe Weather Forecast: Missouri in Crosshairs
• Global Disaster Forecast – UPDATE 19 Mar
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley