3 marks highest thread-level

Note: Forecast as shown is not official


http://www.estofex.org/

+ + + TORNADO OUTBREAK CURRENTLY UNDERWAY ACROSS SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL POLAND AND POSSIBLY SLOVAKIA EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING + + +

DISCUSSION



S and E Poland... Slovakia... E Czech Rep...

A line of supercells with reported tornadoes are ongoing across a line from just west of Warsaw to Krakow to Bratislava. These are expected to continue during the evening while moving eastward. As a southerly nocturnal low-level jet sets in across the Pannonian Plain and the Carpates, and the pressure gradient increases due to pressure falls east of the Alps, low-level shear profiles are expected to improve further. A continued threat of supercells producing (strong) tornadoes, very large hail and damaging winds is forecast. Storms may weaken no sooner than well after midnight.

First pictures http://www.nto.pl/apps/pbcs.dll/tngallery?Site=NO&Date=20080815&Category=GALERIA&ArtNo=797122456&Ref=PH&Params=Start=1

You don't hear that often, I wouldn't of guessed the conditions would be right as Eastern Europe has experienced a Heat wave of late...

Also surprised to see Scotland having Thunderstorms according to the map...

Basically equivalent to a High Risk...yikes! Is there an SPC-like site with reports?

2 people dead. Damage sounds like at least an EF3 from one of them.

Check the links

tornado

n.Mykanów near highway nr.1, slaskie
Poland (50.9333 N, 19.2000 E)
15 08 2008 (Friday) 15:30 UTC (+/- 1 hrs.)


based on: information from a report on a website, photo or video of the event
land use: land
land use where event was first observed: land
The funnel cloud was observed.
It is possible, that this tornado blew over a bus on highway. Around 10 people were injured. Video of the tornado: http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=-PaTsoDWDkI
This report has not been verified.
contact: *************************************


tornado

Balcarzowice, Sieroniowice, Blotnica Strzelecka Opolskie
Poland (50.4667 N, 18.3667 E)
15 08 2008 (Friday) 15:00 UTC (+/- 15 min.)


based on: information from a report on a website, a television or radio broadcast, an eye-witness report, photo or video of the event
land use: land
land use where event was first observed: land
accompanying weather: heavy rain, hail >= 0.5 cm but < 2.0 in diameter.
The funnel cloud was observed.
maximum path width: 800 m
number of people injured: 15
number of people dead: 2
Large funnel cloud was observed on the ground. Very serious damages. Source: TVN24 - news. Discussion on POLSCY LOWCY BURZ FORUM: http://forum.lowcyburz.pl/viewtopic.php ... 66&p=17242 p17242; further source: http://www.nto.pl/apps/pbcs.dll/tngalle ... &ArtNo=797 122456&Ref=PH
This report has been partially verified.
contact: ***************************************


large hail

Zdzieszowice Opolskie
Poland (50.4167 N, 18.1167 E)
15 08 2008 (Friday) 14:00 UTC (+/- 3 hrs.)


based on: information from a report on a website, photo or video of the event
land use: land
land use where event was first observed: land
maximum hail diameter: 6.0 cm
hail stone slightly bigger than chicken egg; source: NTO, 15.08.2008; http://www.nto.pl/apps/pbcs.dll/tngalle ... _INT&ArtNo =423555702&Ref=PH
This report has been partially verified.
contact: *********** (ESSL) [e-mail]

This is awesome : http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=v_d5fjdvO ... re=related

http://www.tvn24.pl/0,1561396,0,1,jezus ... omosc.html

Scary video from yesterday's tornado....

wow. that video was quite scary.

Looks like EF3 based on damage pictures.

There is more video footage at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7565187.stm. As well as the tornadoes there was confirmed tennis ball size hail. http://forum.lowcyburz.pl/viewtopic.php?f=163&p=17209#p17209

A couple of comments on the videos I watched. Number one, drivers in Europe seem to be almost as stupid as American drivers caught in severe storms. Not a good idea to drive when debris is flying around nor parking in the open. Secondly, when videotaping pan SLOWLY panning too fast makes the video hard to watch.

Steve

Polish drivers are more or less stuntmen and they are not that experienced with storms. The tornado threat is more or less a new issue Europeans gotta deal with.

Obviously, as evidenced by the video taken on the bus that drove right into the tornado with the bus getting blown over. The weather "weenies" (no insult intended) of Europe need to start passing the word as to what to do when confronted by tornadoes or severe downburst winds. Especially those who have experience chasing in the US-don't know about Europe, but local media in the US always like to have a local weather expert they can talk to outside of the Official sources.

Steve