Texas Winter 2015-2016

[TXdaddy217]

Prayers go out to East Texas tornado victims.

Thundersleet and 35 degrees here in Abilene. Expecting "Blizzard"like conditions Sunday according to TWC. Everyone stay safe with this system. Looks to be bad in many ways.

[brunota2003]

If a well built Apartment building was destroyed like I'm seeing wouldn't that indicate winds near EF-5?

Here is the DOD from the EF Scale for apartment, condo, townhouse (3 stories or less):
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale/5.html

There are no estimated wind speeds for total destruction, but for almost total destruction of top 2 stories, it gives a lower bound of 155 mph and an upper bound of 205 mph, with an expected of 180 mph. So, generally from an upper end EF3 to a low end EF5, with an expected as a midrange EF4.

Now, if it was a masonry apartment/motel, you would use this DOD: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale/7.html

Total destruction of a large section of the building gives you a lower bound of 160 mph, an upper bound of 205 mph, with an expected of 180 mph...still an upper end EF3 to lower end EF5, with the expected being a midrange EF4.

For the other damage indicators and the actual EF Scale, you can go here: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale/ef-scale.html

[Kelarie]

Can verify we had thundersleet/thundersnow last night.

[Ralph's Weather]

10Z RAP has a 40" spot through 10pm in the Panhandle.

Here in Hideaway I have to get a drop of rain from all of this. Still hoping the surface low stays far enough SE that is can see a flurry tomorrow morning.

[Tammie]

10Z RAP has a 40" spot through 10pm in the Panhandle.

We are in Amarillo experiencing this storm first hand. How far away are we from the 40" prediction?

[Ralph's Weather]

10Z RAP has a 40" spot through 10pm in the Panhandle.

We are in Amarillo experiencing this storm first hand. How far away are we from the 40" prediction?

Amarillo is in the 20" zone the 40" max is about 30 mi west of Childress.

[WeatherDuck]

Cooling down in Taylor, TX. Went from 71 at 5:45AM to 49 at 6:45AM.

[ravyrn]

A police officer I spoke to had this grim description of the tornado last night:

I worked that scene earlier tonight/this morning.

8 dead at least (that I saw). Bodies in various places. Vehicles blown off the overpasses and destroyed. Complexes and neighborhoods gone. A hundred or even more displaced from one apartment complex alone, I hear.

It's a whole mess out there. I just hope morning doesn't show us any more people/bodies.

[srainhoutx]

LUB states the ULL is South of the guidance. Watch the 700mb low carefully today as the deformation band appears to be convectively enhanced in the cold sector. Folks in SE and East Texas Western Louisiana need to pay particularly close attention this morning into the afternoon. the CIPS Severe Weather Analogs are very concerning. Would not be surprised to see a Moderate Risk issued later.

[wxman57]

Main squall line hitting Dallas now. Not good.

[Portastorm]

Cooling down in Taylor, TX. Went from 71 at 5:45AM to 49 at 6:45AM.

Heads up, Duck. You have a strong storm headed your way by 8 am!

[TeamPlayersBlue]

Dont want to deflect attention from this storm yet but next week continues to show an area of snow for South Central Texas region. It continues to trend northward with the snow so this could be interesting moving forward.

[srainhoutx]

Dont want to deflect attention from this storm yet but next week continues to show an area of snow for South Central Texas region. It continues to trend northward with the snow so this could be interesting moving forward.

Overnight ensembles are suggesting a closed core low in the SW with embedded energy moving out of the Pacific with the sub tropical jet.

[Ntxw]

Yeah the evidence is strongly suggesting active weather. It's pretty clear now we will get the complete Dec-Jan reversal. All teleconnections are flipping 180, much like what occured in 1957-1958, 1965-1966, 1977-1978, 1987-1988. Winter has begun

[Texas Snowman]

From reporter Ann Wyatt Little:

@annwyattonFOX7 - The death toll from the N.Texas tornadoes has risen to 11. 8 died in Garland. Police there say 600 structures damaged. @fox7austin

[gpsnowman]

Well, daylight has unfortunately revealed the extent of the damage from the tornadoes last night. Just incredible weather here in Texas. Prayers go out to the fatalities and all the victims of this horrible tragedy. Sometimes the weather we all love to watch and discuss can turn deadly.

[Ntxw]

Well, daylight has unfortunately revealed the extent of the damage from the tornadoes last night. Just incredible weather here in Texas. Prayers go out to the fatalities and all the victims of this horrible tragedy. Sometimes the weather we all love to watch and discuss can turn deadly.

Areal shots of the damage looks like EF4. Lots of destruction

[gpsnowman]

Well, daylight has unfortunately revealed the extent of the damage from the tornadoes last night. Just incredible weather here in Texas. Prayers go out to the fatalities and all the victims of this horrible tragedy. Sometimes the weather we all love to watch and discuss can turn deadly.

Areal shots of the damage looks like EF4. Lots of destruction

Yes, quite a bit. The nighttime visuals of the tornadoes brightened from all the power flashes were surreal. Those were large tornadoes. Unreal.

[Texas Snowman]

Got to thinking, that might have one of the most photographed and videoed nighttime tornadoes of all time. Was very well illuminated at times and went through a heavily populated area.

Just heartbreaking.

[Texas Snowman]

Saw a Twitter photo this morning taken from the Farmersville area. Looked like a 3/4 mile wide multi vortex tornado at that point.

To be honest, I'm actually surprised that the death and injury toll isn't higher.