Tornado outbreak February 28-March 2, 20 dead, EF4 in Kansas

[wx247]

"3 TORNADOES COMBINED INTO 1 WEDGE" I'm confused, 3 tornadoes merged? what is a wedge? a wedge shaped supertornado?

whats happens when a cap is broke?

sorry for the probably stupid questions.


Stay safe in KS!

Not stupid questions at all:

The three tornadoes were probably all formed within the same general circulation. They came together into one larger tornado, which would take on the shape of a wedge.

The cap is a warm layer of air aloft that prevents thunderstorms from growing high into the atmosphere. Warm air rises and as thunderstorms build, the air continues to rise and thunderstorms grow. If a cap is in place... this layer of warm air aloft prevents the thunderstorms from growing to their maximum potential... acting sort of as a lid. Thus, the word cap is used to explain this situation.

[simplykristi]

As of ten minutes ago.....

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
747 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

KSC107-010215-
/O.CON.KEAX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-070301T0215Z/
LINN KS-
747 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL LINN COUNTY IN
EAST CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL 815 PM CST...

AT 743 PM CST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO ON THE
GROUND...DOING DAMAGE. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 7 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF PARKER...OR 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF MOUND CITY...MOVING
EAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL TRACK JUST NORTH OF MOUND CITY IN THE NEXT SEVERAL
MINUTES AND NEAR PLEASANTON AROUND 815 PM.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION FOR
RURAL LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO..INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY
OF FARLINVILLE AND KANSAS ROUTE 7.

MOBILE HOMES ARE EASILY DESTROYED BY TORNADIC WINDS AND SHOULD BE
EVACUATED FOR A STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT
IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR
HANDS.

LAT...LON 3823 9500 3815 9500 3816 9461 3829 9462

$$

BOOKBINDER

[snoopj]

WWUS53 KEAX 010149
SVSEAX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
747 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

KSC107-010215-
/O.CON.KEAX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-070301T0215Z/
LINN KS-
747 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL LINN COUNTY IN
EAST CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL 815 PM CST...

AT 743 PM CST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO ON THE
GROUND...DOING DAMAGE. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 7 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF PARKER...OR 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF MOUND CITY...MOVING
EAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL TRACK JUST NORTH OF MOUND CITY IN THE NEXT SEVERAL
MINUTES AND NEAR PLEASANTON AROUND 815 PM.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION FOR
RURAL LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO..INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY
OF FARLINVILLE AND KANSAS ROUTE 7.

MOBILE HOMES ARE EASILY DESTROYED BY TORNADIC WINDS AND SHOULD BE
EVACUATED FOR A STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT
IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR
HANDS.

LAT...LON 3823 9500 3815 9500 3816 9461 3829 9462

$$

BOOKBINDER

[CrazyC83]

There are trained spotters all over the storm in Linn COunty KS.

Kristi

Spotters? At night?

Thank God the area is sparsely populated...

[snoopj]

New warning for Franklin County, KS:

WFUS53 KTOP 010200
TORTOP
KSC059-010245-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0004.070301T0200Z-070301T0245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
800 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
FRANKLIN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS

* UNTIL 845 PM CST

* AT 758 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 4 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF WILLIAMSBURG...OR ABOUT 19 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
OTTAWA...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WILLIAMSBURG...
PRINCETON...

THIS REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 169 AND 188.

IF A TORNADO APPROACHES...GO TO A BASEMENT OR SEEK SHELTER IN A
HALLWAY OR CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING. USE BLANKETS
OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR HEAD AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

STAY TUNED TO WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE LATEST
SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION.

LAT...LON 3852 9551 3839 9550 3839 9517 3867 9514

$$

[simplykristi]

Oh yeah they go out at all hours. I know the area around Pleasonton well.

Kristi

[snoopj]

Classic hook echo. This could easily put down an EF3 at least...

Oh wow. That baby has one hell of a hook.

--snoopj

[JonathanBelles]

"3 TORNADOES COMBINED INTO 1 WEDGE" I'm confused, 3 tornadoes merged? what is a wedge? a wedge shaped supertornado?

whats happens when a cap is broke?

sorry for the probably stupid questions.


Stay safe in KS!

Not stupid questions at all:

The three tornadoes were probably all formed within the same general circulation. They came together into one larger tornado, which would take on the shape of a wedge.

The cap is a warm layer of air aloft that prevents thunderstorms from growing high into the atmosphere. Warm air rises and as thunderstorms build, the air continues to rise and thunderstorms grow. If a cap is in place... this layer of warm air aloft prevents the thunderstorms from growing to their maximum potential... acting sort of as a lid. Thus, the word cap is used to explain this situation.

Thank you!!

[CrazyC83]

What's scariest is that this is NOT the main line!!!

[Brent]

Yikes! Potentially a 12-hour event? Gonna be a very long day.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
738 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

ALZ011>015-017>050-020138-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
738 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXTREME SOUTH LATE TONIGHT...
...MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE TONIGHT ACROSS
SUMTER...MARENGO AND PIKE COUNTIES. A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT
NORTHWARD INTO THESE AREAS OVERNIGHT. THE AIR MASS WILL
DE-STABILIZE QUICKLY AND SOME ISOLATED STRONG TO POSSIBLY
SEVERE STORMS MAY DEVELOP.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THERE IS A THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING THE THREAT OF
TORNADOES...ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THURSDAY. HIGHEST
POTENTIAL FOR ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER STARTS AS EARLY AS NOON IN
WEST ALABAMA...AND COULD LAST AS LATE AS MIDNIGHT IN EAST ALABAMA.

A WARM FRONT WILL PUSH NORTHWARD ACROSS THE STATE THROUGHOUT
THURSDAY MORNING...BRINGING A WARM AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS TO ALABAMA.
A COLD FRONT APPROACHING THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING IS EXPECTED
TO SET OFF THUNDERSTORMS...AND WITH UNSTABLE CONDITIONS AND
SUFFICIENT WIND SHEAR IN PLACE...MANY OF THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
BECOME SEVERE. IN FACT...THE COMBINATION OF INSTABILITY AND WIND
SHEAR COULD LEAD TO NUMEROUS SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING TORNADOES.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AS THE WARM FRONT
MOVES THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. A FEW OF THESE COULD BE SEVERE.
THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EARLY IN THE DAY WILL PLAY A KEY
ROLE IN DETERMINING THE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF STORMS THAT DEVELOP
THURSDAY AFTERNOON. IF THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS LINGER INTO THE
AFTERNOON...AND CLOUDS REMAIN THICK...THEN THE ATMOSPHERE WILL HAVE
LESS OPPORTUNITY TO DESTABILIZE. IF THE RAIN MOVES OUT...AND THE SUN
BREAKS THROUGH THE CLOUDS...THEN CONDITIONS WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY
UNSTABLE...INCREASING THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO RISK.

THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENT
ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA...BUT THERE IS STILL A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY IN
THE EXACT TIMING AND POTENTIAL SEVERITY. EVERYONE ACROSS CENTRAL
ALABAMA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND
STATEMENTS.

[snoopj]

Warning for Eastern Linn County/Northern Bates County, KS:

WFUS53 KEAX 010206
TOREAX
KSC107-MOC013-010300-
/O.NEW.KEAX.TO.W.0003.070301T0204Z-070301T0300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
804 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
EAST CENTRAL LINN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
NORTHERN BATES COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI

* UNTIL 900 PM CST

* AT 803 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE TORNADO 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF
PLEASANTON...OR 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF MOUND CITY. AN OFF DUTY
WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEE RECENTLY WITNESSED THIS TORNADO
DESTROY A HOME 5 MILES NORTH OF MOUND CITY. DOPPLER RADAR
SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
ADRIAN AND 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF BUTLER BY 840 PM CST.

THE TOWNS OF AMORET...AMSTERDAM AND PASSAIC ARE ALSO IN THE PATH OF
THIS TORNADIC STORM.

LARGE HAIL UP TO BASEBALL SIZE WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THIS TORNADIC
STORM.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3831 9476 3818 9477 3821 9421 3846 9420

$$

BOOKBINDER

[Brent]

AT 803 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE TORNADO 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF
PLEASANTON...OR 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF MOUND CITY. AN OFF DUTY
WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEE RECENTLY WITNESSED THIS TORNADO
DESTROY A HOME 5 MILES NORTH OF MOUND CITY. DOPPLER RADAR
SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

[JonathanBelles]

how many tornadoes is that now? i'm counting 6 or 7

[CrazyC83]

SCARY!!! Hope everyone is OK!!! :prays:

[snoopj]

That's tornado reports. This may very well be a long track storm and a single tornado doing all of this.

--snoopj

[CrazyC83]

how many tornadoes is that now? i'm counting 6 or 7

Currently assessing.

[JonathanBelles]

I know thats reports but there are at least 3 tornadoes in the wedge and i've read a couple others. Where are yall getting your reports from?

[simplykristi]

We probably won't get any reports until later tonight. That storm has destroyed a home north of Blue Mound KS. Bates County MO will be the next county in line for this storm.

Kristi

[6SpeedTA95]

I'm surprised the cap has held so well in Oklahoma.

[simplykristi]

Nasty-looking hail core over I-35 in Franklin County KS.

Kristi