Posted on 03/12/2006 6:39:21 PM PST by silentknight
A large tornado has moved through Illinois and has just hit the City of Springfield. Spotters reported a large tornado moved through the city. Damage is being reported. Emergency responders are being called in from surrounding areas.
NWS reports that this was a large wedge tornado.
I grew up back there and only saw tornadoes off in the distance so I'm sort of half and half on that. Unless someone has been in a tornado, the feedback I've gotten from family and friends back there is that they would prefer taking a chance living in tornado country than being in earthquake territory.
Their rationale has been the predictability of tornadoes, that you can seek shelter versus having zero warning of an earthquake.
The 1994 quake was no fun for me personally. The Landers quake and another big one were quite startling but did nothing to prepare me for the Northridge quake.
The quake in San Francisco where the freeway collapsed trapping people in their cars, I felt in Southern California - not good, not good.
Again, I've never been in a tornado, and haven't heard that terrifying train sound they say you hear right before you get hit. AKKKKK!
Well, I tell you, if the animals are not eating, or they seem to be running in the other direction; you can bet your bottom dollar it's a storm with lightning coming up or an earthquake.
sel5
Urgent - Immediate Broadcast requested
Tornado Watch number 85
NWS storm prediction center Norman ok
350 am CST Mon mar 13 2006
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
Tornado Watch for portions of
East Central Illinois
Northern and Central Indiana
Effective this Monday morning from 350 am until 1100 AM CST.
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 65 statute miles
north and south of a line from 25 miles west of Decatur Illinois
to 45 miles southEast of Muncie Indiana. 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...this Tornado Watch replaces Tornado
Watch number 77. Watch number 77 will not be in effect after 350
am CST. Continue...WW 78...WW 79...WW 80...WW 81...WW 82...WW
83...WW 84...
Discussion...convective line with embedded bows was moving into East
Central IL and will shift EWD into NRN/Central IN during the
morning. Strong deep layer shear remains favorable for supercells.
although the main threat appears to be damaging winds and severe
hail...50-60 KT low level jet and 1 KM shear near 50 KT indicates
tornadoes are possible.
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 26030.
...Imy
Cindy wrote: "Well, I tell you, if the animals are not eating, or they seem to be running in the other direction; you can bet your bottom dollar it's a storm with lightning coming up or an earthquake."
So true, Cindy. :-)
One of the creepiest things I saw before a quake was a spider suddenly crawling out of an electrical outlet and scurrying up the wall. I was stunned seeing a spider do that and didn't consider what it might mean until we started rocking and rolling.
I understand...
Thanks for the updated map. Some loud boomers woke me up about an hour ago. Starting to rain steadily now, 35 miles northwest of Detroit.
Hi samiam. We're just south of Lee's Summit. Both large cells went on either side of us. On the local tv reports it looked really bad for those of you up north.
This is just one of the joys of living in Missouri in the spring that I could do without.
In the 1900' there is one reported to have been over a 1/2 mile wide, that hit Ohio. Hundreds were killed.
http://www.wunderground.com/
Try here and click on your state! I like this one better than the weather channel or weather bug. Stay safe it looks like another rough day.
Getting Started in Tornado and Thunderstorm Spotting
Dr. Keith Brewster, N0IAW
May, 1996
All rights reserved.
The Role of the Spotter
While movies and documentaries often focus on "storm chasers" who roam the plains in search of tornadic storms for research data collecting, video taping or, yes, thrill seeking, a more direct service to the public is provided by the "storm spotter". The storm spotter serves a community by participating in an organized effort to watch for storms approaching the community and warn of the formation of tornadoes or other threatening severe weather. Even with the use of Doppler radar there is a need for spotters in the field. The radar can only detect the parent circulation that spawns tornadoes, information is needed about whether tornadoes are actually being produced and their precise location. Also, certain types of tornadoes can form before a Doppler radar signature is detected.
If you are interested in becoming a SkyWarn trained spotter please visit the NOAA website for training dates and times. The training is FREE and is a community service. Although 'spotters' are most heard from during storm season, they are active year round in regards to all types of severe weather. I took the training and renew it annually simply because I spend a lot of time in the great outdoors. It has come in quite handy over the summers.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/skywarn/spotterhelp.php
PS> you don't need to be a ham radio operator either, anyone from the general public is welcome
Good morning barker!
We were in Lee's Summit all day yesterday looking at houses! Haven't found anything yet but sure did enjoy a pretty day! Of course, driving back to Liberty in a torrential downpour was not my idea of fun. We really got pounded up here!
Uh oh...Indiana has been under a tornado warning all morning until noon...it's 71 degrees here....feels unnatural....
No, I don't even know what it is.
Thank you guys so much for your concern! We're fine. Got a 12:30 AM wake up call from the storm, though. Tons of lightning and thunder and lots of standing water this morning. We are very fortunate to have missed the brunt of it.
Oh thank goodness!
The Quad Cities had lots of rain. Almost 4 inches in about 3-4 hours time. Lots of damage to roads and power lines down, etc. But, for the most part, we escaped the really bad stuff too.
Glad and relieved you are okay there. See you tomorrow night!
I just got up.....we spent an hour in our bathroom between 2:30am to 3:330 am with sirens blarring....what a night...
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