Plains Tornado Outbreak 4/14-15

[Dave]

5:17 PM) NWS Sioux Falls SD - FSD: 5 N Ghent [Lyon Co, MN] trained spotter reports TORNADO at 04:11 PM CDT -- tornado on ground. spotter 3 miles north of ghent looking north.

[CrazyC83]

Ratings:

Ellsworth, KS - AT LEAST EF4 so far

Wichita - EF3 so far

[Dave]

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
422 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

...FINAL DAMAGE SURVEY RESULTS FOR CRESTON...

...CRESTON TORNADO RATED AS A STRONG EF2...

THE FOLLOWING IS A FINAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED OVER
CRESTON ON APRIL 14, 2012.

* EVENT DATE: APRIL 14, 2012

* ESTIMATED START TIME: 6:55PM

* EVENT TYPE: (EF2) TORNADO

* EVENT LOCATION: NORTHWEST CRESTON

* PEAK WIND: 130 MPH

* AVERAGE PATH WIDTH: APPROXIMATELY 600 YARDS THROUGH CRESTON

* PATH LENGTH: 14 MILES

* INJURIES: 10 (PRELIMINARY)

* FATALITIES: 0 (PRELIMINARY)

* DISCUSSION/DAMAGE: THE TORNADO BEGAN ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILES
EAST OF CROMWELL AND TRACKED NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE FAR
NORTHWEST PORTION OF CRESTON. THE CRESTON MEDICAL CLINIC AND
SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE SUSTAINED EF2 DAMAGE...WITH THE
WORST DAMAGE OCCURRING TO THE GREEN HILLS EDUCATIONAL CENTER.
THE TORNADO CONTINUED TRACKING NORTHEAST AND DAMAGED A FEW
FARMSTEADS NORTHEAST OF CRESTON. THE TORNADO DISSIPATED TEN MILES
NORTHEAST OF CRESTON.

[Fyzn94]

New tornado watch for much of Arkansas.

[CrazyC83]

Sounds like a possible EF5 to me.

000
NOUS43 KICT 152018
PNSICT
KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-160830-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
318 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...

PRELIMINARY EF4 DAMAGE WAS DETERMINED NEAR KANOPOLIS LAKE IN
ELLSWORTH COUNTY.

THE ASSESSMENT TEAM IN CENTRAL KANSAS HAS BEEN TRACKING TORNADO
DAMAGE ACROSS THREE COUNTIES IN CENTRAL KANSAS. THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE HAS BEEN NOTED NEAR KANOPOLIS LAKE WHERE A
FARMSTEAD WAS DECIMATED...TREES WERE STRIPPED OF THE BARK AND THE
ROADS WERE SCOURED. THIS AREA IS VERY RURAL AND FEW OTHER
STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE TORNADO. THEREFORE...THE RATING IS
PRELIMINARY AS THE ASSESSMENT CONTINUES.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THIS INFORMATION IS NOT FINAL AND THE RATING
MAY CHANGE WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

THE OTHER DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TEAMS CONTINUE TO WORK ALONG THE
TORNADO TRACKS IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. AS THE INFORMATION BEGINS
TO FUNNEL INTO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE...WE WILL BE
ISSUING MORE STATEMENTS.

$$

[Dave]

Quick View Tornado Watch #179 - Full details coming soon...

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 179
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
425 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

TORNADO WATCH 179 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1200 AM CDT FOR THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

ARC001-005-011-013-019-021-023-025-027-029-031-037-039-041-043-
045-049-051-053-055-057-059-063-065-067-069-073-075-077-079-085-
089-091-095-097-099-103-105-107-109-111-115-117-119-121-123-125-
129-135-137-139-141-145-147-149-160500-
/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0179.120415T2125Z-120416T0500Z/

AR
. ARKANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ARKANSAS BAXTER BRADLEY
CALHOUN CLARK CLAY
CLEBURNE CLEVELAND COLUMBIA
CONWAY CRAIGHEAD CROSS
DALLAS DESHA DREW
FAULKNER FULTON GARLAND
GRANT GREENE HEMPSTEAD
HOT SPRING INDEPENDENCE IZARD
JACKSON JEFFERSON LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE LEE LINCOLN
LONOKE MARION MILLER
MONROE MONTGOMERY NEVADA
OUACHITA PERRY PHILLIPS
PIKE POINSETT POPE
PRAIRIE PULASKI RANDOLPH
SALINE SEARCY SHARP
ST. FRANCIS STONE UNION
VAN BUREN WHITE WOODRUFF
YELL


ATTN...WFO...LZK...SHV...MEG...

[Dave]

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 179
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
425 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

CENTRAL AND EASTERN ARKANSAS

EFFECTIVE THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON FROM 425 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 75 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 45 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF
FLIPPIN ARKANSAS TO 15 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF EL DORADO
ARKANSAS. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).

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.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 177...WW 178...

DISCUSSION...PRE-FRONTAL BAND OF TSTMS IS IN THE PROCESS OF SLOWLY
INTENSIFYING THIS AFTERNOON AS IT ENCOUNTERS A MOIST...DESTABILIZING
AIR MASS WHERE MLCAPE HAS INCREASED TO AROUND 1000 J/KG. CURRENT
LITTLE ROCK VAD INDICATES THE PRESENCE OF STRONG WIND FIELD WITH 0-1
KM SRH OF 250-300 M2/S2. AS SUCH...THE POTENTIAL WILL EXIST FOR
EMBEDDED BOWING AND SUPERCELL STRUCTURES WITH AN ATTENDANT RISK FOR
DAMAGING WINDS AND A COUPLE TORNADOES.

AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO
500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 25035.


...MEAD

[Dave]

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
436 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

SDZ053-054-059-060-152245-
SANBORN-MINER-DAVISON-HANSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WOONSOCKET...HOWARD...MITCHELL...
ALEXANDRIA...EMERY
436 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE
NORTHWARD THAT ARE PRODUCING FUNNEL CLOUDS ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST
AND EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA. CURRENTLY...FUNNELS ARE BEING
REPORTED ALONG THE I 90 CORRIDOR BETWEEN SPENCER SOUTH DAKOTA AND
MITCHELL...AND THIS ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY MOVE NORTHWARD. IT IS
QUITE POSSIBLE THAT SOME FUNNELS MAY TOUCH THE GROUND BRIEFLY
PRODUCING BRIEF TORNADIC TOUCHDOWNS. BE ALERT FOR CHANGING WEATHER
CONDITIONS AS SHORT LIVED...NON SUPERCELL TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO DETECT WITH ADVANCED NOTICE.

[Dave]

Current Tornado Watches

[Dave]

Tornado Watch #180 is being issued now...waiting on details. Quick View


BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 180
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
445 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

TORNADO WATCH 180 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1200 AM CDT FOR THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

ILC001-009-013-017-061-083-117-119-133-137-149-163-169-171-
160500-
/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0180.120415T2145Z-120416T0500Z/

IL
. ILLINOIS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ADAMS BROWN CALHOUN
CASS GREENE JERSEY
MACOUPIN MADISON MONROE
MORGAN PIKE SCHUYLER
SCOTT ST. CLAIR


MOC007-019-023-027-035-051-055-065-071-073-091-093-099-103-111-
113-123-125-127-135-137-139-149-151-161-163-169-173-179-181-183-
186-187-189-203-205-215-219-221-223-510-160500-
/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0180.120415T2145Z-120416T0500Z/

MO
. MISSOURI COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

AUDRAIN BOONE BUTLER
CALLAWAY CARTER COLE
CRAWFORD DENT FRANKLIN
GASCONADE HOWELL IRON
JEFFERSON KNOX LEWIS
LINCOLN MADISON MARIES
MARION MONITEAU MONROE
MONTGOMERY OREGON OSAGE
PHELPS PIKE PULASKI
RALLS REYNOLDS RIPLEY
SHANNON SHELBY ST. CHARLES
ST. FRANCOIS ST. LOUIS STE. GENEVIEVE
TEXAS WARREN WASHINGTON
WAYNE


MISSOURI INDEPENDENT CITIES INCLUDED ARE

ST. LOUIS CITY


ATTN...WFO...LSX...PAH...SGF...ILX...

[Dave]

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 180
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
445 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

WESTERN ILLINOIS
EASTERN MISSOURI

EFFECTIVE THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON FROM 445 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 60 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 40 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF
WEST PLAINS MISSOURI TO 20 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF QUINCY
ILLINOIS. 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.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 177...WW 178...WW 179...

DISCUSSION...TSTMS IN PROGRESS OVER CNTRL MO ARE EXPECTED TO
INTENSIFY AS LARGE-SCALE FORCING FOR ASCENT INCREASES ACROSS THE
REGION THIS EVENING. WHILE INSTABILITY WILL REMAIN MARGINAL WITH
MLCAPE OF GENERALLY LESS 500 J/KG...THE PRESENCE OF STRONG VERTICAL
SHEAR AND INCREASED FORCING FOR ASCENT INDICATE A RISK OF EMBEDDED
SUPERCELLS AND BOWING STRUCTURES CAPABLE OF DAMAGING WINDS AND A
COUPLE OF TORNADOES.

[Dave]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
452 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
EASTERN RENVILLE COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
NORTHWESTERN SIBLEY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 530 PM CDT

* AT 449 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A STORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
TORNADO. THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM WAS 6 MILES NORTH OF
FAIRFAX...AND MOVING NORTH AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
FAIRFAX...
HECTOR...
BUFFALO LAKE...
LAKESIDE...

[RL3AO]

That storm is right on the warm front. In fact its probably crossing it as we speak. Not surprised its developed some rotation but it doesn't have much longer to put one down.

[RL3AO]

Those cells popping SE of the Tornado warning are the ones to watch.

[Dave]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
523 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
CENTRAL MCLEOD COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL SIBLEY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 520 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR
BROWNTON...OR OVER BROWNTON. RADAR SHOWED THE TORNADIC STORM MOVING
NORTH AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
HUTCHINSON...
BROWNTON...
BISCAY...
SUMTER...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW! IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT SUNDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN.

[RL3AO]

Hutchinson is a decent sized city. Going to pass near or just east of it.

[Dave]

6:33 PM) MPX: 2 NE Biscay [Mcleod Co, MN] amateur radio reports TORNADO at 05:32 PM CDT -- currently on the ground.

[Dave]

MCLEOD MN-
534 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL MCLEOD COUNTY
UNTIL 600 PM CDT...

AT 529 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR
BISCAY. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BISCAY...OR NEAR
HUTCHINSON...MOVING NORTH AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHERN MCLEOD COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID
WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE
CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

[Dave]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
538 PM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTH CENTRAL MCLEOD COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
NORTH CENTRAL SIBLEY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 534 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A STORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
TORNADO. THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM WAS 7 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF FERNANDO...OR ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF WINTHROP...AND MOVING NORTH
AT 50 MPH. THIS STORM IS SEPERATE FROM THE OTHER TORNADIC STORM
NEAR BISCAY.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
NEW AUBURN...
BROWNTON...
FERNANDO...
SUMTER...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON RADAR...IT MEANS THAT
STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY ALREADY
BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY.

[OverlandHurricane]

I'm surprised that the SPC went as far north with the MN watch as they did. Where I've been all day (Big Lake and Elk River, the SE portions of Sherburne County and on the northwest flank of the MSP mstro), it's been 52 degrees, scattered showers, and a howling wind out of the northeast all day.

On my way into the U, will keep you all up to snuff on what's going on down there.