Historic outbreak Sunday: The aftermath

[senorpepr]

She may go overboard. But, I know she has helped save a lot of lives.

The helicopters stay out of harm's way. I watched two tornadoes wreak havoc right before my eyes on TV, thanks to helicopters.

Kristi

I can tell you that from the 5-4-03 storms, that if I didn't see that helicopter capturing a tornado on the ground in KCK, I probably wouldn't have seeked shelter so early. It might have been way too late by the time I realized it was super serious (insulation and other debris was landing in the apartment complex parking lot).

--snoopj

However... there are much safer ways to inform people than flying a helicopter through a storm. Much of the aviation field outlaws that sort of reckless flying and eventually it will led to a horrible accident. Remember, during a thunderstorm, hail can be projected miles from the storm. Additionally, air currents can become violent. Just one hail stone or one violent down-/updraft can crash a light-weight helicopter... killing the crew inside and whoever on the ground.

[wx247]

I am just curious senorpepr... I am not arguing with you... what other ways do you suggest? I think tower cams are a great option, but you could never possibly have enough.

[WaitingForSiren]

I dont want to say that I am GLAD there was an f-4, as its not a good thing to have your house ripped apart, but I think for historical purposes it was a good thing. Now, there will be a REASOn to remember this amazing outbreak. And also, with so many tornado reports, its a shame to have them all be weak tornadoes (like may 30 2004)

[wxmann_91]

I dont want to say that I am GLAD there was an f-4, as its not a good thing to have your house ripped apart, but I think for historical purposes it was a good thing. Now, there will be a REASOn to remember this amazing outbreak. And also, with so many tornado reports, its a shame to have them all be weak tornadoes (like may 30 2004)

So, you want Mr. Tornado Outbreak to have muscles, eh? lol

*********************************************************

What I'm really happy about is how lucky we were. Downtown Springfield IL was missed by a few miles by that monster supercell, one supercell passed just to the south of Springfield MO and another produced right after leaving city limits. A hook passed through Columbia but fortunately it was cycling at that time. Three hooks passed right through downtown Kansas City during the initial stages of the outbreak but fortunately no tornadoes were dropped. Sedalia was nearly hit as well. Finally, during the last part of the outbreak, a hook passed right through downtown Jefferson City.

Considering how many major cities were traversed by major supercells (and especially hook echoes), it is amazing there were no fatalities from these major cities. I believe that had LCL's been a little lower and/or SRH/dynamics a little higher, not only had there been many more F4's and perhaps a few F5's, but the ultimate disaster - a sig/violent tornado tracking right through the heart of a downtown of a good sized city - could've occurred.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Heck this may might have a tornadoe outbreak that has 500 tornadoes in 48 hours. With 10 f5s,40 f4s and 80 f3s. Maybe!

[senorpepr]

I am just curious senorpepr... I am not arguing with you... what other ways do you suggest? I think tower cams are a great option, but you could never possibly have enough.

Well, as you mentioned, tower cams are probably the best and safest option. Other than that... you're looking at crews actually on the ground. While you still run some risk with that option, it's a LOT safer than having a helicopter flying.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for forewarning people about severe weather, but having a helicopter flying with that danger on live TV is just plain stupid. Any level-headed aviator would steer clear of thunderstorms. As I mentioned before, hail can fly several miles outside of a thunderstorm. All it takes is one small hailstone to hit a blade and you have a falling helicopter--on live TV. The real reason they (media and 'newschoppers') provide this service is not to "save lives," but to compete with the other stations in town.

[CrazyC83]

Here's the breakdown now:

Total confirmed tornadoes - 55
F0's - 21
F1's - 15
F2's - 10
F3's - 8
F4's - 1
F5's - 0

That Columbia one by the looks of it was a tornado; they haven't confirmed it though and I'd say (based on damage reports) it was an F1 or at the most a low-end F2.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

55 tornadoes with that outbreak?

[wxmann_91]

Here's the breakdown now:

Total confirmed tornadoes - 55
F0's - 21
F1's - 15
F2's - 10
F3's - 8
F4's - 1
F5's - 0

That Columbia one by the looks of it was a tornado; they haven't confirmed it though and I'd say (based on damage reports) it was an F1 or at the most a low-end F2.

If you are getting the info from Sam's website, 15 of those tornadoes occurred from 3/9-11. Thus, there have only been 40 confirmed tornadoes from the outbreak.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Yeah this thing is alot smaller then I thought. Wow!

[simplykristi]

I cannot believe that the damage in Lawrece KS was due to a microburst. I personally think that was a F0 tornado that went thru there. The storms were racing to the NE at over 45 MPH. They were spinning tornadoes up and down FAST.

Kristi

[wx247]

I am just curious senorpepr... I am not arguing with you... what other ways do you suggest? I think tower cams are a great option, but you could never possibly have enough.

Well, as you mentioned, tower cams are probably the best and safest option. Other than that... you're looking at crews actually on the ground. While you still run some risk with that option, it's a LOT safer than having a helicopter flying.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for forewarning people about severe weather, but having a helicopter flying with that danger on live TV is just plain stupid. Any level-headed aviator would steer clear of thunderstorms. As I mentioned before, hail can fly several miles outside of a thunderstorm. All it takes is one small hailstone to hit a blade and you have a falling helicopter--on live TV. The real reason they (media and 'newschoppers') provide this service is not to "save lives," but to compete with the other stations in town.

That totally makes sense... and being a former intern/employee of a local tv station, I know all about the whole competition thing. I just don't think that there is anything capable of providing the same kinds of shots yet. I donrealize it is dangerous and they probably shouldn't do it, however.

[wxmann_91]

Here's the breakdown now:

Total confirmed tornadoes - 55
F0's - 21
F1's - 15
F2's - 10
F3's - 8
F4's - 1
F5's - 0

That Columbia one by the looks of it was a tornado; they haven't confirmed it though and I'd say (based on damage reports) it was an F1 or at the most a low-end F2.

If you are getting the info from Sam's website, 15 of those tornadoes occurred from 3/9-11. Thus, there have only been 40 confirmed tornadoes from the outbreak.

I want to correct myself - there were only 36 confirmed as 4 were from Monday.

[CrazyC83]

That's what I meant - whole outbreak, not just Sunday.

[snoopj]

What I'm really happy about is how lucky we were. Downtown Springfield IL was missed by a few miles by that monster supercell, one supercell passed just to the south of Springfield MO and another produced right after leaving city limits. A hook passed through Columbia but fortunately it was cycling at that time. Three hooks passed right through downtown Kansas City during the initial stages of the outbreak but fortunately no tornadoes were dropped. Sedalia was nearly hit as well. Finally, during the last part of the outbreak, a hook passed right through downtown Jefferson City.

Considering how many major cities were traversed by major supercells (and especially hook echoes), it is amazing there were no fatalities from these major cities. I believe that had LCL's been a little lower and/or SRH/dynamics a little higher, not only had there been many more F4's and perhaps a few F5's, but the ultimate disaster - a sig/violent tornado tracking right through the heart of a downtown of a good sized city - could've occurred.

KC did get lucky. I saw a wall cloud move immediately to my south. That's right OVER downtown. We had so many cells hit the area and THEN spawn their tornadoes. I'm very surprised KC didn't get hit harder than it did.

--snoopj

[snoopj]

However... there are much safer ways to inform people than flying a helicopter through a storm. Much of the aviation field outlaws that sort of reckless flying and eventually it will led to a horrible accident. Remember, during a thunderstorm, hail can be projected miles from the storm. Additionally, air currents can become violent. Just one hail stone or one violent down-/updraft can crash a light-weight helicopter... killing the crew inside and whoever on the ground.

Oh, I agree with you. wx247 pointed this out as well. Ultimately, it's probably a ratings thing deep deep down. It's extremely stupid, but if you want start talking about being the first to broadcast it live, then you've apparently won something.

The helicopters work for traffic reports and aftermath of event reports, but really should be grounded during weather events. I'm waiting for an unexpected microburst to knock the Channel 9 helicopter right out of the sky during another storm one of these days.

--snoopj

[conestogo_flood]

Confirmed
F0 22
F1 17
F2 14
F3 10
F4 1
F5 0
64/140 reported.

[wxmann_91]

I have counted 47 tornadoes from this outbreak

14 - EAX
12 - SGF
10 - LSX
6 - ILX
4 - TSA
1 - LOT

[wxmann_91]

Tornado Warnings issued during March 11

LSX - 18
SGF - 15
PAH - 12
LZK - 7
TSA - 4
ILX - 2
IND - 1
Total - 59

March 12 up to 3 AM March 13

EAX - 45
SGF - 40
LSX - 32
TSA - 15
ILX - 11
DVN - 7
ICT - 5
LOT - 4
TOP - 2
MKX - 1
PAH - 1
DMX - 1
Total - 164

[wx247]

Springfield has continued to add tornadoes to their list. I don't know if you have checked Springfield (MO), but they have added some yesterday. There are just so many tracks to cover...