Virtual Chase Thread 2012

[Cookie]

welcome to a new thread for the 2012 virtual storm chasing thread.

this was taken over night and most likely first photographed tornado of the 2012 season.

[Paul Sherman]

Nice Picture. Looks like it was quite a strong Tornado with at least 50 Properties Damaged in the Ellenboro area of North Carolina.

Unfortunately 1 critical injury as well - Lets hope they pull through or this will be the 1st Killer Tornado of 2012 as well

[Cookie]

quite a few warnings out at the moment.

New tornado warning just southwest of Nashville, TN. Should move south of the metro. Very strong rotation and moving rapidly east at 65 mph. Hickman, Maury, and Williamson Counties.

[Coast]

http-~~-//youtu.be/kkLTrPtjjmU

Jackie Schaefer figured she’d escaped the worst of the tornado-spawning storm that passed through Louisville on Tuesday while she hunkered in her basement office at The Brook Hospitals on La Grange Road. Then her brother called. The house they share, about 10 miles away in the 5000 block of Stony Brook Drive, lost shingles and siding, among other damage. She rushed home. “I didn’t even see any damage until I got to the top of Stony Brook,†Schaefer said.

The storm dumped an EF-1 tornado that reached wind speeds of 100 mph on her neighborhood, near the intersection of Bardstown Road and Hurstbourne Parkway, the National Weather Service confirmed Wednesday. It was one of five tornadoes that the weather service confirmed struck the Louisville and Southern Indiana area, making it the most prolific January tornado outbreak ever recorded in the region, the weather service said.

The aftermath left Schaefer and her neighbors clearing the limbs, branches and other debris into piles in their yards Wednesday while an endless string of contractors solicited their business. Schaefer and her family were working with a sense of urgency. A chance of rain, and possibly snow, is forecast for today, and Schaefer wanted to get her yard cleared of debris while she could, even as she fretted over the patches of roof that were bare of shingles and covered with tarp. “It’s January,†she said. “We could be in 3 feet of snow, so we want to get things situated before they can be damaged even more.â€

It will be up to them to clean up the mess. Louisville metro government has no plans to provide debris pickup or other assistance, because the tornadoes did not impact large swaths of the city, said Chris Poynter, a spokesman for Mayor Greg Fischer. The Stony Brook tornado was one of two that struck Jefferson County. It traveled along Stony Brook Drive for 356 yards, lifting at the intersection of Laverne Drive, the weather service said. Shabana Shaik was in her living room when the storm hit. She said she could see concrete blocks in her backyard fluttering in the air like leaves.

Video: http-~~-//bcove.me/wu3ebg6r

http://www.courier-j...%7CLocal%20News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A second tornado has been confirmed in Louisville during a storm that knocked out power to thousands, uprooted trees, damaged buildings and threw two tractor-trailers off a highway, and other tornadoes struck in Simpson and Scott counties.

One tornado had been confirmed Tuesday in northeastern Jefferson County. The National Weather Service says the second tornado hit a few miles south, The Courier-Journal reported. Trees were snapped along its path and shingles blown off multiple houses.

The weather service said Wednesday that another tornado touched down Tuesday in Simpson County, about 120 miles south of Louisville. WTVF-TV in Nashville said several homes were damaged. A fourth struck in Scott County, destroying some barns and

http://www.therepubl...entucky-Storms/

http-~~-//youtu.be/NKe57xRppXk

[Cookie]

thanks for sharing coast

[Cookie]

Edited January 19, 2012 by cookie

[Tom Lynch]

nothing to do with this thread bur just about to sert off to chase theNorthern Lights. Will try to post photos from the Arctic Circle

tom

[Gorky]

Good luck Tom! Looks like a nice CME heading our way for tomorrow night. Hope the clouds stay away! I'll probably be watching the auroraskystation webcam tonight, and am hoping to head north in the car in search of clear skies tomorrow. Think we might have an outside chance of aurora into Northern England if we are lucky and it's very dark over the moors so might see soemthing. Should be something special overhead up in the Arctic Circle though!

[Cloud]

NWS are saying todays mod risk could be similar to 10 Jan 2008 event, which produced tornadoes in MS. We'll see.

[Cookie]

am sure I posted in this thread eariler, hmm http://cdn.nwstatic.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.png

THE POTENTIAL SEVERE EVENT FOR SUNDAY NIGHT COULD BE THE MOST

SIGNIFICANT WE`VE SEEN IN A WHILE. MID-STATE RESIDENTS SHOULD

REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER FAMILY ACTION PLANS, AND KNOW HOW TO RESPOND

IF ANY SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

[Cookie]

waiting for things to kick off stateside, next couple of hours I reckon!

[Paul Sherman]

Yep Dangerous Nocturnal Event, only the VERY Brave would chase this one knowing how bad the terrain will be. Obviously local spotters will have their hands full overnight but would not expect much in the way of footage from streams for this event.

[Cookie]

Yep Dangerous Nocturnal Event, only the VERY Brave would chase this one knowing how bad the terrain will be. Obviously local spotters will have their hands full overnight but would not expect much in the way of footage from streams for this event.

reed timmer just posted on facebook saying is it worth chasing, like you said be very dangerous idea

[Paul Sherman]

The early Initiation around Pine Bluff is along the Cold Front, the real action should be after dark from the lifting Warm Front further east over towards Memphis. But yes if you wanted some Pre Dark structure (If you can call it that in Arkansas) with Shelf's then further West would have been the play.

Btw these should run pretty close to where Pat is living now (Missouri Bootheel) I wonder if he has his eyes peeled this evening

[Cookie]

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 5

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

520 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

EASTERN ARKANSAS

THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL

NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI

WESTERN TENNESSEE

EFFECTIVE THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON FROM 520 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST.

...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...

DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES...LARGE 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 85 STATUTE

MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF

DYERSBURG TENNESSEE TO 25 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF GREENVILLE

MISSISSIPPI. 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.

DISCUSSION...THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE/INTENSITY THE

NEXT FEW HOURS ACROSS CENTRAL/ERN AR AS THE LOW LEVELS DESTABILIZE

AND ASCENT OVERSPREADS THE AREA FROM W TO E...IN ADVANCE OF A STRONG

SHORTWAVE TROUGH NOW OVER ERN OK. LOW-LEVEL SHEAR AND MOISTURE WILL

INCREASES THROUGH THE EVENING ACROSS NE AR/WRN TN...AND STORMS ARE

EXPECTED TO EVOLVE INTO A BROKEN BAND WITH BOTH EMBEDDED SUPERCELLS

AND EMBEDDED BOWING SEGMENTS. VERTICAL SHEAR...MOISTURE...AND THE

MIXED STORM MODES WILL FAVOR A RISK OF A FEW STRONG

TORNADOES...ALONG WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL THROUGH

TONIGHT.

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 24045.

...THOMPSON

[Cookie]

[mackerel sky]

I'm currently in Houston and there is a severe weather warning for overnight Tornados in Arkansas and Tennessee, following it on the Weather Channel. Unseasonably warm humid air (26C here today) across southern states with an active cold front set to move through with considerable shear.

Realised i've spelt tornado wrong in the title, what a plonker.

Edited January 23, 2012 by mackerel sky

[Purplepixii]

Is this warning somewhat earlier in the year than usual? I've been keeping an eye on http://chase.tornado...ges/full_screen but am aware that it's very scary and more dangerous when tornadoes happen at night! Stay safe

[Paul Sherman]

Hi PP

No it is not unusual at all for this time of the year in Dixie Alley and the S Eastern States. There Tornado Season can start in early January and runs through to about April and May, some years it peaks in March. There was a similar outbreak on January 10th in 2008 for instance.

[Liam J]

I have amended the title for you mate

As Paul has already said above, it's not unusual for these events to kick off during January. Can't imagine having to live in those areas within the risk areas, scary.

Are you going to be up for some storm chasing?

Edited January 23, 2012 by Liam J

[Coast]

UPDATE: Storm Alert 3 Team monitoring another severe weather chance

First area of approaching storms extends from middle TN to north central AL, moving to the northeast. They'll arrive in western sections of the viewing area- Grundy Co., TN to northeast AL- soon, then proceed through the rest of the region. This will be followed by a line of storms a little while later (if it holds together). Some storms in middle TN are severe at this hour (2:15 a.m. EST), but the ones in AL are not. Will keep monitoring.

CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- A significant weather event is taking shape at this hour (12:30 EST)in west Tennessee. A line of severe storms is moving through that region and will arrive in the Channel 3 viewing area in a few hours. It may slightly weaken by the time it gets here but not enough to discount the chance for severe weather. It is not expected to be anything like the April 27th, 2010 event but may be stronger than the storms Saturday morning.

Here's the breakdown based on current data and the latest computer forecast models:

Approximate timing: Up until around 3-4am EST scattered showers and storms may develop in parts of the Channel 3 viewing area but will probably not be severe. Then a line of severe storms is expected arriving first in northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia, the Cumberland Plateau, and Sequatchie Valley around 5:00-7:00 a.m.; Chattanooga/Hamilton/Bradley counties northward and north central Georgia around 7:00 - 9:00 a.m.; Blue Ridge around 9-11:00 a.m., clearing out around 1pm. All times are Eastern Standard.

Risk level: The Storm Prediction Center currently has the viewing area in the Slight Risk zone for severe storms.

[NWS Online: Storm Prediction Center]

Main threats: Primary concerns will be damaging straight-line winds possibly exceeding 60 mph and large hail. Secondary threat is an isolated tornado. The chance is very low but cannot be entirely ruled out. Also, projected rainfall from this system is 0.5-1.0".

At this time no WATCHES have been issued by the National Weather Service. If this changes, they will be posted to our Facebook and Twitter pages as well as the weather page at WRCBtv.com. The same goes once any warnings are issued.

If you have a NOAA Weather Radio, please make sure your "alert mode" is turned on before going to sleep Sunday night.

http://www.wrcbtv.co...-weather-chance

[Liam J]

Tornado warnings from the guys at NOAA.

http://www.spc.noaa....tch/ww0011.html

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

SOUTHWEST THROUGH CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALABAMA

NORTHWEST GEORGIA

SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI

EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY MORNING FROM 245 AM UNTIL 1000 AM CST.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND

GUSTS TO 75 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE

AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 75 STATUTE

MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF

ROME GEORGIA TO 90 MILES SOUTHWEST OF TUSCALOOSA ALABAMA. FOR A

COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE

UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

Edited January 23, 2012 by Liam J

[Coast]

Tornadoes strike Arkansas as storms menace south

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas | Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:17am EST

(Reuters) - Twisters downed trees and powerlines in Arkansas leaving thousands without power late Sunday, as forecasters warned that tornadoes and heavy storms could mete out damage to several southeast states into Monday. A tornado tore into an area outside of Fordyce, some 70 miles south of state capital Little Rock at around 8:00 p.m. local time, damaging houses and felling trees and power lines as it moved, according to Accuweather.com.

An unnamed official at Dallas County sheriff's department told Reuters that emergency responders rescued a woman resident after she become trapped in her home. No injuries were reported. The potential for severe storms overnight and into Monday stretched from the Gulf of Mexico in Mississippi to southern Indiana and Ohio, according to AccuWeather.com. "A few destructive, long-track tornadoes are quite possible," AccuWeather.com meteorologist Bill Deger said, warning that the severe storms created "an especially dangerous situation given the veil of night."

Accuweather carried reports of five other twisters touching the ground in Arkansas, which was pelted by soft-ball sized hailstones and buffeted by winds gusting up to 70 miles per hour. Funnel clouds were spotted within 20 miles of state capital Little Rock, according to a national weather service alert, which also issued a flood advisory for the city. Roughly 13,400 homes were without power across Arkansas as the storms intensified, according to utility provider Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

Roughly one third of Arkansas tornadoes occur at night and are difficult to see in the darkness, the national weather service said, recommending residents in the state to take cover as a precaution.

VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS

In Alabama, residents were bracing for storms that could hit after dark on Sunday or overnight with a strong cold front from the west combining with warm moist air flowing up from the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service said thunderstorms could bring wind gusts up to 80 mph, tornadoes or golf ball-sized hail in Mississippi, although no damage or injuries were reported late on Sunday. Farther west, the weather service warned of a high fire danger in Texas with wind gusts of up to 50 mph.

A second stormfront was expected to hit California late Sunday night, bringing significant snowfall to the mountain regions, according to the National Weather Service, before rolling into the southern United States later in the week. Parts of central and southern California were under a winter weather warning as a storm system was expected to sweep into the area late Sunday into Monday morning, with the weather service predicting 6 to 12 inches of snow. The Sierras and the Rockies may accumulate as much as 3 feet of snow, the weather service said, and driving in mountain passes will be "very hazardous" due to low visibility, gusting winds and heavy snowfall.

The weather service also warned of high winds along southern California's desert roads that would pose a particular danger to trucks and motor homes. In Reno, Nevada, meanwhile, snowfall provided welcome relief to firefighters who were monitoring remaining hotspots from a blaze that raged near the outskirts of the city beginning Thursday, destroying 30 houses and prompting thousands of people to flee their homes. In the upper Midwest, freezing drizzle was expected to make roads and sidewalks slippery from southeastern Minnesota into Wisconsin, changing to snow later Sunday, the weather service said. Up to 4 inches of snow was expected farther north in southeast North Dakota and west central Minnesota.

In the northeast United States, a fast-moving storm from central Pennsylvania eastward dropped up to a foot of snow in parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts on Saturday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/23/us-weather-idUSTRE80K0LJ20120123

[Cookie]

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4baRpNw5l40&feature=share

live coverage

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ABC-33-40-Main

[Supercell 89]

I have to ask this must be unusal to have tornadoes touching down at the times they did? I can't ever remember hearing about tornadoes on the ground after 4.00am before, although it must have happened at some point