Greensburg first EF-5 Tornado Under New Scale

KWCH ^ | 5/6/2007

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

Yes, thank you. That is the point I feebly attempted to make as the difference between the “finger of God” and the “Backhand of God”.

[PAR35]

On 27 May 1896 ... and killed 255 to 400 when people lived in densely packed tenements because they couldn’t afford cars for commuting.

Thanks for the laugh.

[John W]

Are you suggesting the original writer of this narrative put a 2007 spin on a 211 year old story?

[John W]

111.Jeez.

[Redcloak]

The ones I’ve been through may not have been “real” earthquakes, but they’ve been close enough for experimental purposes. I’ll still take things jumping around the room every so often to those same things flying around the room at 200 knots.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Well, according to the caption I originally saw with this photo, this was the Xenia tornado in its early stages.

[anymouse]

What’s your major malfunction? I was pointing out that this massive tornado was a bit more than God’s little finger at work. How you can read into my comment what you imply, I can only guess. To paraphrase Eastwood’s character in the Unforgiven, “we all have it coming.”

I’m sure it was God’s mercy that saved the majority of people in that town, as it looked like Hiroshima afterward and so few were taken.

[anymouse]

Last I checked God’s job description includes the creation of and direction of tornadoes. If you have a problem with where he sees fit to direct them, I suggest you take it up with his customer service department. ;)

[Mr. Jeeves]

Then I guess He’s angrier with Kansas for teaching Creation Science than He is with San Francisco for tolerating gays. ;)

[Eye of Unk]

I live in Alaska where we get a lot of earthquakes but in all of 15 years here I have yet to feel a major one myself, I almost think though I would rather prepare for a tornado more so than an earthquake, the odds of actually getting hit by a tornado is just too high, hurricanes affect millions and a widespread area and so can earthquakes, earthquakes are mostly not forecastable, a hurricane you can usually get 12 hours notice of change of direction. The path of a twister is too short and random so I would take on an advancing twister to the other forces. And thats if the earthquakes were all over 6.0 which is dangerous.

[ga medic]

see post 28. I didn’t understand your meaning. I work with some that are practicers of a “faith doctrine” which basically says that if something bad happens to you, its because you don’t have enough faith. I guess I tend to jump to conclusions sometimes. I apologize.

[RayChuang88]

A lot of scientists have feared what would happen to a modern city in the US Midwest if such a city takes a direct hit from a rare super tornado (a tornado about a mile or more wide in diameter with winds over 225 mph, something that could happen). No only would it flatten every wooden structure inside the tornado, but if it hits a downtown area the streets below tall buildings would be extremely deadly (due to all the blown-out building window glass flying all over the place at 225 mph) and even the insides of tall buildings wouldn't be safe with the 225+ mph winds literally blowing you out of the building. And any motor vehicle inside the tornado will be picked up and thrown around like a toy. In short, an F5 super tornado hitting downtown Fort Worth, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City MO/KS, St. Louis, and so on could result in a mind-boggling death toll.

[TypeZoNegative]

You’re right. It spared Florida’s biggest city. It missed Jacksonville for hundreds of miles.

[anymouse]

Apology accepted. I always wonder about the fire and brimstone types that question other’s faith. What don’t they get about the concept of faith anyway?

[westkan]

You’re correct they are two differant kinds of storms. Complicating that is Andrew was the first time, when it was really realized that tornadoes do exist within a hurricane. With that in mind comparisons are really difficult

[Knitebane]

As far as tornados go, THIS was the backhand of God.

Lasted over 3 hours. Traveled 219 miles.

695 dead. 15,000 homes destroyed. Adjusted for wealth and inflation, $1.4 billon in damage.

Tri-State Tornado.

The elementary school I went to in Murphysboro was two stories. Before the 1925 tornado it was three.

[Smokin' Joe]

You won't after Calfornia gets a real earthquake in a densely populated area. Just a matter of time.

...before it happens again. (1906)

[Mr. Jeeves]

Well, the alternate theory is that since dense urban areas have a higher surface temperature due to heat absorbed by the pavement, smog from cars, etc, it’s believed to be unlikely that a tornado vortex will actually be able to touch down and stay down for any length of time through this “bubble” of warmer air a city creates. That’s thought to be one of the reasons why tornadoes usually tear up empty fields, and strikes on more populated areas are unusual. On the other hand, an EF-5 wedge tornado like the one in Greesburg is probably going to do some significant damage, regardless of local surface temperature differences in its path.

[ICrySilentTears]

Miami may not have received a large amount of damage, however, the towns it wiped out, such as Homestead and Chokoloskee (my hometown), were in ruins. Andrew was rated more intense than Donna. Donna being the only hurricane on record to maintain hurricane force winds from Florida to New England. I think you need to refresh you memory on its size, strength, and damage before speaking about something you are clearly uneducated about.

Rating of intensity (#3 is Andrew)
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/deadly/Table4.htm

Satellite Image of hurricane Andrew at landfall (take a look at the bands, and engulfed Florida and parts of Ga)
http://www.noaa.gov/images/hurr-andrew1992goes.gif

Information about hurricane Donna found at
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sfl-1960-hurricane,0,113082.story