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    It's Raining Fish and Spiders

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      A rotating column of rising air, called a mesocyclone, is the key to the long life of a super cell. It gathers in the warm, humid air near the ground and mixes it with the cool, dry air from above. The mesocyclone supplies the spin that strong tornadoes require.

      Most Damaging Tornadoes (F5 and EF5) in the U.S. since 1950

      This is a list of tornadoes since 1950 which the National Weather Service has rated F5 (before 2007) or EF5 (2007 on—the most intense damage category on the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita damage scales. The tornadoes are numbered in the order they happened since 1950; so the numbers run from the bottom up.

      * * *

      Most Damaging Tornadoes in U.S. Since 1950

      NUMBER

      DATE

      LOCATION

      58

      May 24, 2011

      El Reno/Piedmont, OK

      57

      May 22, 2011

      Joplin, MO

      56

      April 27, 2011

      Rainsville/Sylvania, AL

      55

      April 27, 2011

      Preston, MS

      54

      April 27, 2011

      Hackleburg/Phil Campbell, AL

      53

      April 27, 2011

      Smithville, MS

      52

      May 25, 2008

      Parkersburg, IA

      51

      May 4, 2007

      Greensburg, KS

      50

      May 3, 1999

      Bridge Creek/Moore, OK

      49

      April 16, 1998

      Waynesboro, TN

      48

      April 8, 1998

      Oak Grove/Pleasant Grove, AL

      47

      May 27, 1997

      Jarrell, TX

      46

      July 18, 1996

      Oakfield, WI

      45

      June 16, 1992

      Chandler, MN

      44

      April 26, 1991

      Andover, KS

      43

      August 28, 1990

      Plainfield, IL

      42

      March 13, 1990

      Goessel, KS

      41

      March 13, 1990

      Hesston, KS

      40

      May 31, 1985

      Niles, OH

      39

      June 7, 1984

      Barneveld, WI

      38

      April 2, 1982

      Broken Bow, OK

      37

      April 4, 1977

      Birmingham, AL

      36

      June 13, 1976

      Jordan, IA

      35

      April 19, 1976

      Brownwood, TX

      34

      March 26, 1976

      Spiro, OK

      33

      April 3, 1974

      Guin, AL

      32

      April 3, 1974

      Tanner, AL

      31

      April 3, 1974

      Mt. Hope, AL

      30

      April 3, 1974

      Sayler Park, OH

      29

      April 3, 1974

      Brandenburg, KY

      28

      April 3, 1974

      Xenia, OH

      27

      April 3, 1974

      Daisy Hill, IN

      26

      May 6, 1973

      Valley Mills, TX

      25

      February 21, 1971

      Delhi, LA

      24

      May 11, 1970

      Lubbock, TX

      23

      June 13, 1968

      Tracy, MN

      22

      May 15, 1968

      Maynard, IA

      21

      May 15, 1968

      Charles City, IA

      20

      April 23, 1968

      Gallipolis, OH

      19

      October 14, 1966

      Belmond, IA

      18

      June 8, 1966

      Topeka, KS

      17

      March 3, 1966

      Jackson, MS

      16

      May 8, 1965

      Gregory, SD

      15

      May 5, 1964

      Bradshaw, NE

      14

      April 3, 1964

      Wichita Falls, TX

      13

      May 5, 1960

      Prague, OK

      12

      June 4, 1958

      Menomonie, WI

      11

      December 18, 1957

      Murphysboro, IL

      10

      June 20, 1957

      Fargo, ND

      9

      May 20, 1957

      Ruskin Heights, MO

      8

      April 3, 1956

      Grand Rapids, MI

      7

      May 25, 1955

      Udall, KS

      6

      May 25, 1955

      Blackwell, OK

      5

      December 5, 1953

      Vicksburg, MS

      4

      June 27, 1953

      Adair, IA

      3

      June 8, 1953

      Flint, MI

      2

      May 29, 1953

      Ft. Rice, ND

      1

      May 11, 1953

      Waco, TX

      * * *

      * * *

      The 17 Deadliest Days In U.S. Tornado History

      (Since 1950)

      Courtesy Storm Prediction Center; Compiled by Greg Carbin, Roger Edwards, and Joe Schaefer, SPC

      Please note that data from 2011 is incomplete.

      RANK

      BEGINNING DATE

      DEATHS

      1

      May 22, 2011

      695

      2

      April 27, 2011

      313

      3

      April 3, 1974

      310

      4

      April 11, 1965

      260

      5

      March 21, 1952

      205

      6

      June 8, 1953

      142

      7

      May 11, 1953

      127

      8

      February 21, 1971

      121

      9

      May 25, 1955

      102

      10

      June 9, 1953

      90

      11

      May 31, 1985

      76

      12

      May 15, 1968

      72

      13(tie)

      March 3, 1966

      58

      13(tie)

      April 21, 1967

      58

      15(tie)

      April 10, 1979

      57

      15(tie)

      March 28, 1984

      57

      15(tie)

      February 5, 2008

      57

      * * *

      Waterspout: Cousin to the Tornado

      National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce; Photographer: Steve Nicklas

      A waterspout is a tornado over water. Waterspouts are common along the southeast U.S. coast—especially off southern Florida and the Keys—but they have been seen as far north as New York City, over the Great Lakes, and even off the coast of California. In one season, as many as 390 waterspouts were observed within 50 miles of the Florida Keys, making them far more prevalent than previously thought.

      Waterspouts occur over seas, bays, and lakes worldwide. Although waterspouts are tornadoes, they don’t officially count in tornado records unless they hit land. Waterspouts commonly come from rapidly growing cumulus clouds that have not and often do not become thunderstorms. Waterspouts are smaller and weaker than the most intense Great Plains tornadoes, but still can be quite dangerous. They can cause the same type of damage as an EF0 or an EF1. Waterspouts can overturn small boats, damage ships, do significant damage when hitting land, and kill people.

      National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce


      What Is the Difference Between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning?

      A tornado watch means that approaching weather may produce a tornado. In a tornado watch, you need to be alert to the fact that the weather conditions are favorable for the formation of tornadoes. You need to be prepared to go to a safe shelter or other place of safety if tornadoes do happen or if a warning is issued. This is the time to turn on local TV or radio to get the latest information. You should also make sure your friends and family are aware of the potential for tornadoes in the area.

      * * *

      Example of a Tornado Watch

      URGENT—IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

      TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 600

      NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

      1030 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2007

      THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

      TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

      NORTHERN INDIANA

      NORTHWEST OHIO

      LAKE MICHIGAN

      EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING FROM 1030 PM UNTIL 400 AM EDT.

      TORNADOES…HAIL TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

      THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 40 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 20 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF VALPARAISO INDIANA TO 65 MILES EAST OF FORT WAYNE INDIANA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU0).

      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.

      DISCUSSION…SMALL MCS OVER NW IND HAS FORMED IN THE PAST 90 MINUTES ON WRN SIDE OF COLD POOL/MCV ASSOCIATED WITH EARLIER CONVECTIVE SYSTEM. THE MCS SHOULD REMAIN STRONG THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY AND TRACK ESE INTO OH. A Super cell NOW PRESENT ON WRN SIDE OF SYSTEM WILL POSE A THREAT FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES…IN ADDITION TO DAMAGING WET MICROBURSTS/MARGINALLY SVR HAIL…GIVEN HI PWS AND LOW LEVEL WIND FIELD WITH CONSIDERABLE DEGREE OF SPEED/DIRECTIONAL SHEAR. WIND PROFILES MAY ALSO SUPPORT BACK-BUILDING DEVELOPMENT ON WRN SIDE OF MCS…WITH ASSOCIATED LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE INTO FAR NE IL/NRN IND IN WAKE OF Super cell.

      AVIATION…TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 1 INCH. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 30030.

      …CORFIDI*

      * * *

      Once the outline of a watch area is defined by the NWS Storm Prediction Center, a list of counties within the watch area is posted to make sure residents and travelers understand exactly which counties are possibly in the path of a future tornado. These watch areas are shown on television by a meteorologist or weathercaster, and the counties are named in a special weather bulletin on radio and television. Many television broadcast or cable channels will scroll the names of the counties across the TV screen in what is called a crawl.

      * * *

      Example of a Watch County Breakdown

      WOUS64 KWNS 160227

      WOU0

      BULLETIN—IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

      TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 600

      NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

      1030 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2007

      TORNADO WATCH 600 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM EDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

      INC001-003-009-017-033-039-049-053-069-075-085-087

      -091-099-103-113-131-141-149-151-169-179-181-183-160800

      -/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0600.070816T0230Z-070816T0800Z/

      IN

      INDIANA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

      ADAMS

      ALLEN

      BLACKFORD

      CASS

      DE KALB

      ELKHART

      FULTON

      GRANT

      HUNTINGTON

      JAY

      KOSCIUSKO

      LAGRANGE

      LA PORTE

      MARSHALL

      MIAMI

      NOBLE

      PULASKI

      ST. JOSEPH

      STARKE

      STEUBEN

      WABASH

      WELLS

      WHITE

      WHITLEY

      OHC003-039-051-069-125-137-161-171-160800

      -/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0600.070816T0230Z-070816T0800Z/

      OH

      OHIO COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

      ALLEN

      DEFIANCE

      FULTON

      HENRY

      PAULDING

      PUTNAM

      VAN WERT

      WILLIAMS

      LMZ046-160800-/O.NEW.KWNS

      .TO.A.0600.070816T0230Z

      -070816T0800Z/CW

      ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS INCLUDED ARE

      MICHIGAN CITY IN TO NEW BUFFALO MI

      * * *

      Tornado Warning

      A tornado warning is issued when a hook echo is indicated on weather radar. A hook echo is produced when rain, hail, or debris is wrapped around a super cell, indicating that the hook echo that has been sighted could potentially drop down to the ground and become a tornado.

      A tornado warning is also issued when an official weather spotter (someone who is trained to detect a tornado with the human eye) sees a funnel cloud and alerts local authorities such as police, sheriff, fire department, or the local National Weather Service office. It can take only a few moments between a funnel cloud being sighted on radar and a tornado touching down. By the time a warning is heard on radio or seen on television, the tornado may already be on the ground.

      It’s important to know the details and find out if your county is in the watch area. Have a plan and be ready to act if and when a tornado warning is issued.

      How to Save Yourself If You Are Ever Caught in a Tornado

      Know the signs of a tornado: Weather forecasting science is not perfect and some tornadoes do occur without a tornado warning. There is no substitute for staying alert to the sky. Besides an obviously visible tornado, here are some things to look and listen for:

      Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base.

      Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base—tornadoes sometimes have no funnel!

      Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can’t be seen.

      Day or night: Loud, continuous roar or rumble that doesn’t fade in a few seconds like thunder.

      Night: Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to silvery lightning up in the clouds). These mean that power lines are being snapped by a very strong wind, maybe a tornado.

      Night: Persistent lowering from the cloud base, illuminated or silhouetted by lightning—especially if it is on the ground or there is a blue-green to white power flash underneath.

      Frank Picini

      Fred K. Smith; used by permission.

      Frank Picini

      Fred K. Smith; used by permission.

      What To Do During A Tornado

      In a house with a basement: Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection like a heavy table or workbench, or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (like pianos, refrigerators, or waterbeds) and do not go under them. They may fall through a weakened floor and crush you.

      In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor; into a small, windowless chamber like a bathroom or closet; under a stairwell; or into an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down, and cover your head with your hands. A bathtub may offer partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding, like a mattress or blankets, to protect yourself against falling debris in case the roof or ceiling fails. Do not waste time opening windows—it won’t protect your home from damage
    and if a tornado hits your building it’s likely to blow out the windows anyway.

      In an office building, a hospital, a nursing home, or a skyscraper: Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building. Crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter. If the stairs are not crowded, move quickly to a lower level. Stay out of the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.

      In a mobile home: Get out! Even if your home is tied down, you are probably safer outside, even if the only alternative is to seek shelter out in the open. Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes, and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it. If your community has a tornado shelter, go there fast. If there is a sturdy permanent building within easy running distance, seek shelter there. Otherwise, lie flat on low ground away from your home, protecting your head. If possible, use open ground away from trees and cars, which can be blown onto you.

     


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