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Close call tornado...watched it swirling overhead

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 12:44 am
by furluvcats
Well...we just made it by the grace of God...we watched a funnel cloud forming overhead....I've never been so scared in my life....we saw clouds swirling right next door, then they came down and covered the ground, but was not a tornado...very strange...there was also a very large cylandal shaped cloud that was longways on its side..we've never seen anything like it...can anyone explain this type of cloud?

It was touch and go, for about 20 mins. with having watched that funnel cloud form right here....we are next to the news station and they reported it as well, and we did not loose power bc we are on the same grid as them, and the hospital. I do not envy anyone who has experienced the scare of a tornado...

On a lighter side, we all probably looked pretty funny huddled up in a powder room, kittens, cats, kids, numberous pillows, blankets, couch cushions, candles, matches, etc....lol OH< and I saved my 2 liter of Sprite! :)
Anyway, we are fine, thanks Kathy for your concern, and we just pray everyone else gets through this storm outbreak unscathed...

Frightened Furry

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 12:55 am
by weatherlover427
:o I am sooooooo glad you're OK Furry! :o Glad you made it home safe from your cruise too!

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 1:30 am
by vbhoutex
Furry, sounds like a rotating wall cloud or the actual beginnings of a tornado. some scientists do believe they begin on their side or horizontally and then rotate down to a vertical axis.

I'm just glad you guysa are all ok!!

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 9:47 am
by furluvcats
Storm spawns hail, two funnel clouds locally
By Curtis Heyen / The Times
Posted on May 14, 2003
A storm that began late Tuesday night near Mooringsport dropped large hail in that area of Caddo Parish and later spawned two funnel clouds as it passed over Shreveport-Bossier City, according to the National Weather Service.

No injuries or major damage were reported, although there were power outages and numerous tree limbs downed by the storm that also dropped hail the size of golf balls as it tracked along the Red River from downtown and southeast Shreveport into southwest Bossier City.

Weather spotters reported a funnel cloud in southeast Shreveport at 11:25 p.m., senior forecaster Michael Berry said. Ten minutes later, he said, a funnel cloud was spotted in southwest Bossier City near the Jimmie Davis Bridge.

Wall clouds, funnels and rotation but no touchdowns were reported by storm spotters.

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 9:58 am
by Amanzi
WOW.. what a site that must have been Furry!

I am so glad you and yours are safe. Well done for saving the Sprite, but if it was me I would have grabbed something a little stronger! :o

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 10:00 am
by chadtm80
whew... Glad your alright.

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 10:05 am
by Stephanie
Amanzi wrote:WOW.. what a site that must have been Furry!

I am so glad you and yours are safe. Well done for saving the Sprite, but if it was me I would have grabbed something a little stronger! :o


Yeah, like Seagram's Seven!! :o

Goodness! I'll be the fur was flying then! (I know, that was BAAADDD... :roll: ). That would've scared the crap out of me too! I'm glad everyone is safe though!

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 10:08 am
by mf_dolphin
But did you take any pictures ????

Glad to hear you're ok! :-)

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 10:11 am
by furluvcats
lol..you guys are soooo funny! Manzi...I was screaming at Brian to "make me a drink"....my nerves could not handle the situation...I tell you, prayer really and truly protected us...well, the Lord did, through prayer...lol...I probably sounded like someone from one of those different religions, chanting my prayer over and over...when ya see the thing at your front door, well front sky and low...it scares the pee outta you!

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 10:15 am
by furluvcats
MF...Brian was video taping the electrical part of the storm...what a show! But when those clouds starting so ominous, I begged him to put the camera away and come in the "safe room" with us! Well, you know men...he had to go back out there and watch, and when all the crazy stuff started happening, he didn't have the cam....too bad , bc the TV station is like a block away and they would have used his footage! I was pissed after the fact that he didn't stay out there and tape it...was the weirdest cloud we've ever seen, and he's from the midwest, and witnessed many awesome storms...AHHHH, I may settle down with a good stiff drink this evening...and relax! :)

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 10:25 am
by Amanzi
furluvcats wrote:lol..you guys are soooo funny! Manzi...I was screaming at Brian to "make me a drink"....my nerves could not handle the situation...I tell you, prayer really and truly protected us...well, the Lord did, through prayer...lol...I probably sounded like someone from one of those different religions, chanting my prayer over and over...when ya see the thing at your front door, well front sky and low...it scares the pee outta you!


Furry I know all about the screaming for a drink bit, while praying your socks off! When TS Gabby came over my house in 2001 the NWS put out a warning there was a tornado moving towards my area (this was my first tropical storm and I was sooooooo scared) I was sitting in the closet with an open bottle of Jack and chain smoking. My husband decided to take a peek outside which put me into a flat spin because it was all GREEN outside.. I decided to dash back to my closet to the comfort of Jack and the soothing of a Marlbro :o

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 11:12 am
by Stormsfury
we watched a funnel cloud forming overhead....I've never been so scared in my life....we saw clouds swirling right next door, then they came down and covered the ground, but was not a tornado...very strange...there was also a very large cylandal shaped cloud that was longways on its side..we've never seen anything like it...can anyone explain this type of cloud?


What you witnessed was a roll cloud (a horizontal tornado in slang terms) and yes, it's formed by the same shear process that forms tornadoes ... except the required updraft/downdraft couplet to turn the roll cloud vertical...thank goodness you're ok.

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 11:18 am
by furluvcats
Manzi...you have me peeing in my pants! OMG....I can totally relate!

SFury...it was such a HUGE cloud....thanks for explaining what kind of cloud...now whats the difference between a funnel cloud and an actual tornado? Because the news reports we had funnel clouds...but trees were ripped out of the ground 5 blocks away still part of my historic neighborhood...and power outages everywhere...We really are soo lucky to be on the same power grid as the TV station and the hospital...lights never even flickered!

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 1:06 pm
by Stormsfury
furluvcats wrote:Manzi...you have me peeing in my pants! OMG....I can totally relate!

SFury...it was such a HUGE cloud....thanks for explaining what kind of cloud...now whats the difference between a funnel cloud and an actual tornado? Because the news reports we had funnel clouds...but trees were ripped out of the ground 5 blocks away still part of my historic neighborhood...and power outages everywhere...We really are soo lucky to be on the same power grid as the TV station and the hospital...lights never even flickered!


A funnel cloud is just that .. a funnel cloud .... a tornado is a funnel cloud which has actually come in contact with the ground ... even if there's just a funnel cloud visible ... the tell-tale sign is of swirling debris beneath the base of the funnel cloud ...

A roll cloud is very,very turbulent and can be accompanied after the roll cloud passes (with the associated squall line) straight line winds ... however, in this case, it does sound like a tornado did strike that area, especially if trees were "ripped" out of the ground.

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 1:10 pm
by JQ Public
yeh from what i saw on tv...it seems like tornadoes normally start horizontally until there is a vertical wind to propel it downward. Just glad you made it out :)

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 1:29 pm
by furluvcats
Thanks guys...I'm glad to have such sweet concerned friends, AND such knowledgable ones!!!

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 3:44 pm
by furluvcats
All I see when I turn on TWC is P Allen Smith...please email me or post here, all you wonderful storm watchers, if it looks like I'm going to get something severe again tonight...thanks.

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 3:50 pm
by ColdFront77
:lol:, Shannon.

That's neat, you live close to a local television, what station and affiliate is it?

By the way, I did read the post in the thread I started about living near a television station and hospital. Sure is nice to be on the same power grid. :)

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 3:56 pm
by furluvcats
KSLA Channel 12 News...the warnings are on the TV now...drat! Someone come and get me!

Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 4:01 pm
by ColdFront77
Thank you, Shannon. I enjoying knowing the call letters, locations and network affiliates of local television stations. :)

Yes, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Seview County in Southwest Arkansas, a little ways from northwestern Louisiana.

These storms are a little ways from you area.