The Australian Weather Forum

You can also see the sheer total number of all the tornado, hail and strong wind reports just for the 27th (US) together with the details (injuries, fatalities, etc) on the ever-handy SPC storm report map, http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/110427_rpts.html
And here's the epitome of calm (from about 1min into the clip): http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81452085/

Here's remarkable footage of a horizontal vortex ("horizontal tornado" for want of a better term) associated with a tornado that moved through Cullman, Alabama during the recent outbreaks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_32B_WMu ... ture=share

It's one of many pieces of footage from this recent outbreak of multiple vorticies emanating out a fair distance from the main funnels of tornadoes at variously titlted angles like tentacles or spiders' legs e.g. http://wap.weather.com/outlook/videos/a ... 0460#20459 (I think the heavy breathing in that clip was because the person ran indoors) rather than being mostly confined to within the main funnel as is common with many tornadoes. It was likely caused by the very strong wind shear in the lower levels causing stronger than usual horizontal rolling of the air (which happens in tornado-favourable conditions). The mesoscale analyses from the SPC showed 0 to 1km shear was around an amazing 70 knots in the area at the time near a low level jet. Below is radar imagery of the storm after it passed through Cullmand and continued NE. You can clearly see the debris ball associated with the tornado and the classic hook echo:

Ive been watching another tornado live on severstudios, does not look good, dozens dead at this stage.

Yeah, yet another significant tornado outbreak. There's been some more footage on the news.

Today's storm report map from the SPC shows a distinct line of them along the front:

Current death toll in Joplin according to CNN is 89 and rising.

This is a link to a 360 degree panorama taken in Joplin showing the devastation from today - reports suggesting EF-4. Would not be suprised by this or if it was rated higher in the end
http://occip.it/pt51c7s3

God damn, check out the size of this thing...

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The toll so far from this massive Joplin, Missouri tornado is shocking. 116 fatalities so far at time of writing with 400 injured. This apparently ties with a 1953 tornado (in Michigan from memory) as the deadliest US tornado on record. The NWS survey has determined it was an EF4.There are more tornadoes developing across the region today.

This footage taken from a stormchaser shows how wide it became. Note the sudden appearance of the wide condensation funnel after around 30secs into the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT7CtF5ljxY

That video is just incredible, they should win an award or something. To see something that big and destructive form before your eyes in 5 seconds is the most amazing tornado vid I have seen. Seeing this and I understand them now. Not much you can do it seems. Just lucky we dont have them like that here as yet.

The next 24hrs or so also continues to look potent. The SPC's short range ensemble forecast system is predicting significant tornado parameter values to reach around 7 near and west of Joplin again (about the same as yesterday when the deadly tornado struck). SPC has a High risk area in this region as well.

The SPC has a High risk area again for this area with two PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) watches current as I type.

In the SPC's words, "The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a major severe weather outbreak today and/or tonight."

Some extracts of the current very dangerous situation from their convective outlook:

...AN INTENSE OUTBREAK OF TORNADOES AND WIDESPREAD SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY OVER PORTIONS OF KS/OK/TX...

STRONG HEATING AND RICH MOISTURE...COUPLED WITH
NEAR DRY-ADIABATIC MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES...WILL YIELD AN EXTREMELY
UNSTABLE AIR MASS WITH MLCAPE VALUES OF 4000-4500 J/KG. LATEST TCC PROFILER DATA SHOWS 90+
KNOT FLOW AT 6KM...INDICATIVE OF THE MID/UPPER LEVEL WIND MAX THAT
WILL NOSE INTO THE PLAINS THIS EVENING.

LOW LEVEL WINDS
WILL BE STRENGTHENING...WITH ALL CONDITIONS FAVORING THE POTENTIAL
FOR LONG-TRACKED STRONG/VIOLENT TORNADOES AND VERY LARGE HAIL OVER
PORTIONS OF NORTH TX...CENTRAL OK...AND CENTRAL KS.

Just heard that the SPC themselves had to evacuate - from 28Storms:

The Storm prediction center and national weather service in Norman, OK had to evacuate and seek shelter

The Joplin tornado has been upgraded to an EF5 with the death toll at 122.

Now reports coming in of fatalities in OK from the band of storms/tornadoes moving through. They are really copping it this year

2 killed so far as a couple of tornadoes ripped through parts of metropolitan Oklahoma City itself.

This is mind boggling - before and after of the same street in Joplin

Let me try that again !
http://jasonfisher.tumblr.com/post/5811137534

Bellarine » Wed May 25, 2011 10:01 am wrote:

Bellarine wrote:The Joplin tornado has been upgraded to an EF5

Incredible season they're having. 1 EF5 a year is considered average. They count stands at 4 for this year!

They were on watch again overnight their time! Scary stuff.

Activity spreads east today as the complex trough and low wander east over Alabama, Carolinas and Ohio.

Bellarine.
I felt sick in the stomach when l saw that before and after picture.
I heard on the radio today that there a 1000 are missing.
What can l say! . A nightmare. Too frightening to contemplate.
Many say that climate change is a furphy . I don't know.. but l can say l personally have become more scared of the weather, this past 5 years
I have bothered to check out the BOM climate data and temp trends on BOM and there is a clear trend for warming but not so talked about , is also a trend for low minimum temps for extreme cold.
The weather seems overstimulated at time . More extremes.

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How's this for close! - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OMG that last video was nuts Meso!!

Anyone else seen this? - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tornado, waterspout?