Historic Multi Day Tornado/Flooding Event 4/23-28/2011

[jhpigott]

Alabama EMA now reporting 145 deaths in Alabama alone, and said number is expected to rise.

[KatDaddy]

The amount of tornado warnings were unreal yesterday. I watched this unfold yesterday on ChaserTV.com, Facebook, and Twitter, as well as
numerous NWS websites and SPC. There was no doubt this would be an extreme event. My heart goes out to all those effected by a historic weather event. I am sure the death toll will rise. I am also sure we will hear many incredible survivor stories over the next few weeks.

[TFGQ]

this was a real trumatic event it was so unreal and i am not here to say i lived history but this was something that was totally crazy and watching all the radars in different locations was really scary to say the least prayers for the people involved this was something that is gonna take time to get over and it is gonna be hard to forget in time in my life i never seen something like this

[brunota2003]

I am interested in just how long that one tornado stayed on the ground, and what it's rating will be.

[Tireman4]

For the meteorological history books. That is for sure. Goodness gracious.

[brunota2003]

Seems at least one EF4 (or EF5) is likely, they've already called in the subject matter experts:

PNSBMX
ALZ011>015-017>050-282300-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
808 AM CDT THU APR 28 2011

...UPDATED FOR JEFFERSON AND TUSCALOOSA COUNTY SURVEYS...

IN REGARDS TO THE JEFFERSON AND TUSCALOOSA COUNTY DAMAGE...SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY WILL BE ARRIVING TODAY TO
ASSIST WITH SURVEYS...AND DAMAGE RATINGS WILL BE PROVIDED AFTER A
THOROUGH ASSESSMENT IS CONDUCTED.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS TODAY WILL BEGIN THE TASK OF
ASSESSING THE DAMAGE FROM A TRAGICALLY HISTORIC DAY OF TORNADIC
ACTIVITY AND SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. THERE WERE TWO
WAVES OF SEVERE WEATHER. THE FIRST MOVED THROUGH DURING THE EARLY
MORNING HOURS ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA PRODUCING
DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE SECOND WAVE
INVOLVED NUMEROUS SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS AND PRODUCED LONG LIVED...
STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES ACROSS THE NORTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA...WITH WIDESPREAD AND CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE IN SEVERAL
LOCATIONS.

AT THIS TIME...STORM SURVEYS ARE BEING PLANNED FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES:

TEAM ONE: MARION COUNTY...THREE POSSIBLE TRACKS INCLUDING HACKLEBURG.
WALKER COUNTY...THREE POSSIBLE TRACKS INCLUDING CORDOVA.

TEAM TWO: BIBB COUNTY...TWO POSSIBLE TRACKS INCLUDING EOLINE.
SUMTER COUNTY...GIEGER.

TEAM THREE: TUSCALOOSA COUNTY...TUSCALOOSA.
JEFFERSON COUNTY...PLEASANT GROVE...PRATT CITY.

MEDIA INQUIRIES CAN BE DIRECTED TOWARD WARNING COORDINATION
METEOROLOGIST JOHN DE BLOCK AT 205-664-3010...OR METEOROLOGIST IN
CHARGE JIM STEFKOVICH AT 205-585-8635.

A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
PROGRAM IS THE RECEIPT OF STORM REPORTS FROM ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND
PARTNERS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. IF YOU WITNESSED OR ARE AWARE OF
ANY STORM DAMAGE DUE TO HIGH WINDS OR TORNADOES...PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE...OR CALL OUR STORM REPORTING
HOTLINE AT 1-800-856-0758.

$$

JD/02

[Aquawind]

Amazing how people had plenty of warning time and still ignored the threat. Heck sirens were screaming and TV stations had the storms on TV live! It's got to be frustrating for the NWS. We talk about hurricane threats here and get the same kind of ignorance. Notice all of the people driving around on the many videos shot. Nobody takes it serious until someone close to them dies and even then give it 10 years and all is forgotten.

[PTPatrick]

Agreed that there prolly won't be as many f3's+ as 1974...but confirmed numbers of tornados regardless of strength could be higher...

The big one yesterday stayed intact from just north of Meridian Ms producing a tonado for most of the way to very near ashville nc...this could blow the tri state tornado out of the water.

I know some people probably didn't head warning...but I suspect many people in that area don't have basements. They are often poorly constructed homes...a closet won't protect you in a shoddy structure from an f4. May they rest in peace.

[MGC]

Watching the TV news and the damage looks complete...easy strong EF4 or EF5. I expect the death count to rise. Just as in Katrina the bodies are trapped in the debris. Sad, sad.....MGC

[Sanibel]

The wind was blowing from the south the night before. I said to myself "night wind, must be weather". I've seen that before where there's a strong draw from the south pushing air up into those fronts into a deadly collision.

[wxman57]

Do any of you know how many tornadoes have been reported so far in April of 2011? What's the total from Sunday through yesterday? What about yesterday's total?

I'm making a presentation next week and was just asked to discuss the recent tornado outbreak as well...

[GCANE]

Do any of you know how many tornadoes have been reported so far in April of 2011? What's the total from Sunday through yesterday? What about yesterday's total?

I'm making a presentation next week and was just asked to discuss the recent tornado outbreak as well...

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/mo ... mmary.html

[GCANE]

Do any of you know how many tornadoes have been reported so far in April of 2011? What's the total from Sunday through yesterday? What about yesterday's total?

I'm making a presentation next week and was just asked to discuss the recent tornado outbreak as well...

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/mo ... mmary.html

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/yesterday.html

[Ntxw]

Agreed that there prolly won't be as many f3's+ as 1974...but confirmed numbers of tornados regardless of strength could be higher...

The big one yesterday stayed intact from just north of Meridian Ms producing a tonado for most of the way to very near ashville nc...this could blow the tri state tornado out of the water.

I know some people probably didn't head warning...but I suspect many people in that area don't have basements. They are often poorly constructed homes...a closet won't protect you in a shoddy structure from an f4. May they rest in peace.

What a storm that was, it would be amazing if it beat the tri state tornado. MS/AL has a lot of low income families which I think may have been even more of a problem. Sometimes when an ef4 or ef5 comes through there just may not be much you can do if you weren't financially prepared beforehand to build a shelter.

For a place that's commonly hit by violent tornadoes I'd think more legislation would be done to protect the people. Had this been Oklahoma or Kansas, the devastation (imo) might not have cost as many lives. God bless...

[Tireman4]

Do any of you know how many tornadoes have been reported so far in April of 2011? What's the total from Sunday through yesterday? What about yesterday's total?

I'm making a presentation next week and was just asked to discuss the recent tornado out break as well...

Where and can we view the presentation online?

[wxman57]

Do any of you know how many tornadoes have been reported so far in April of 2011? What's the total from Sunday through yesterday? What about yesterday's total?

I'm making a presentation next week and was just asked to discuss the recent tornado out break as well...

Where and can we view the presentation online?

You can't. It's mostly about hurricanes, but they wanted me to discuss some recent events as well.

Thanks for the links, GCANE. I'll have to wait for that April totals map to be updated to include yesterday's count, but my talk isn't until next Thursday so I have time to wait.

[BigB0882]

It is horrifying to think we have nearly 200 deaths and that is with all the modern technology and warning systems that put those of the past to shame. The number could have easily been many times higher if this same tornado hit in the same place 15-20 years ago. Heck, even just 10 years ago.

[BigB0882]

By the way, CNN is reporting 160+ dead in Alabama alone. Total now stands at 247 for all states. Unbelievable.

[vbhoutex]

The wind was blowing from the south the night before. I said to myself "night wind, must be weather". I've seen that before where there's a strong draw from the south pushing air up into those fronts into a deadly collision.

The wind has been blowing from the South here in SE TX for days on end and it has been very windy compared to normal. Yesterday the gusts were almost 40 mph and it was about the same the day before. I was thinking like you about how much moisture was being transported Nward and basically cringing at the thought of what would happen when the collision occurred. Unfortunately my worst fears were realized and the NWS call for yesterday's outbreak was spot on also.

[Brent]

Stunned doesn't even describe my mood today...

this is from TUSCALOOSA, not a foreign warzone.