Discussion (May 18-19-20-21) Moore Tornado EF-5 from NWS

[EF-5bigj]

I think the only way to live through a tornado of the magnitude. Is to be in a shelter it certainly was a extremely violent tornado

[Texas Snowman]

EDIT: Same info posted above.

Interesting tweet from Joe Bastardi:

@BigJoeBastardi: "I think that on days NOAA has moderate or greater risk area,perhaps we should treat it as if a snow storm in on the way, and keep kids hom"

The EF-4 last week happened on a Slight Risk day though. Move that over a major metro and the death toll would be just as enormous.

Would have been more than six most likely. But that storm was only on the ground for 2 1/2 miles if I remember correctly.

[Texas Snowman]

I think the only way to live through a tornado of the magnitude. Is to be in a shelter it certainly was a extremely violent tornado

I'll take it a step further...if it was EF-5 (and from what I've seen, I'm almost certain it was for at least a portion of its path) the only way to live through a tornado of that magnitude is to be in a BELOW GROUND shelter.

[Texas Snowman]

This is in my backyard (I live in the Red River Valley in Denison):

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0732
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0534 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

SUMMARY...THE ENVIRONMENT FOR LONG-LIVED SUPERCELLS CAPABLE OF A
STRONG TORNADO OR TWO APPEAR TO BE MAXIMIZING NEAR THE RED RIVER
OVER THE NEXT 1-2 HRS.

Um, snowman, what does maximizing mean in this context. Does it mean maximizing towards the scale in general or towards the upper end of the prediction ?

I was out of pocket for an hour. I believe maximizing in terms of the greatest threat is from these storms (violent, long-lived tornadoes).

[psyclone]

EDIT: Same info posted above.

Interesting tweet from Joe Bastardi:

@BigJoeBastardi: "I think that on days NOAA has moderate or greater risk area,perhaps we should treat it as if a snow storm in on the way, and keep kids hom"

I think BigJoe's suggestion is ridiculous. if a high end tornado strikes your location, unless you're underground, you have a strong chance of not surviving. it doesn't really matter whether it's a residential structure or a school. thank goodness these types of events are rare. OTOH, if kids had a "tornado day" there would be plenty of poor reading skills in tornado alley. SVR threats are common out there. besides, wasn't Joplin a slight risk day?

[EF-5bigj]

The schools never stood a chance against it it just obliterated everything yes only a below ground shelter would work for a tornado this violent.

[apocalypt-flyer]

It feels weird to compare it to anything but Joplin feels like the closest reference. And for that reason I'm worried the number of fatalities will not only increase but increase significantly.

Also, there's still a considerable number of tornado warnings out. Hope we're not going to see too much more damage.

[summersquall]

The schools never stood a chance against it it just obliterated everything yes only a below ground shelter would work for a tornado this violent.

I don't understand why schools would not be constructed with safe rooms.

[WeatherGuesser]

Also, there's still a considerable number of tornado warnings out.

13 as of right now.

[SaskatchewanScreamer]

The schools never stood a chance against it it just obliterated everything yes only a below ground shelter would work for a tornado this violent.

I don't understand why schools would not be constructed with safe rooms.

Do they not have basements??? If not why?

[EF-5bigj]

Neither do I really it's the tornado capital of the world. That tornado though was one of the most violent ones I have seen. That is counting the April,27 2011 violent tornadoes.

[RL3AO]

ABC News - 37 confirmed dead.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/oklahoma-torna ... ZrDv8qjPpA

[Bunkertor]

The schools never stood a chance against it it just obliterated everything yes only a below ground shelter would work for a tornado this violent.

I don't understand why schools would not be constructed with safe rooms.

It´s expensive

[WeatherGuesser]

Schools hold, what ... 150 - 200 students? That'd have to be a pretty good sized room. Or several smaller ones.

[cycloneye]

Press conference starts.

[WeatherGuesser]

Line of warnings from Chicago to Dallas

[Texas Snowman]

@KXIITV: OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Hospitals treating more than 120 patients after Moore tornado, including about 70 children.

[cycloneye]

State Medical Examiner=Death toll increase to 51.

[RL3AO]

Hope we aren't talking Joplin numbers.

[Texas Snowman]

I bet this goes to or beyond those numbers. Metro area in the middle of the day.