Plains Tornado Outbreak 4/14-15

[Cyclenall]

Here is one right now with a hook and no warning (NW of Meers OK), some rotation on it but where can I find a legend that tells me what each symbol means? Mainly for the circular ones...I know what every other symbol is.

EDIT: Now a TVS on it with 2 TVS's and 2 hook echos...no TOR warnings . They're pretty good hooks as well.

[Bunkertor]

Check this, Cycle.

http://www.thewxpage.com/Downloads/GRlevel3Tutorial.pdf

[brunota2003]

The circles more along the lines mean that a mesocyclone/rotation has been detected, but rotation is either not strong enough or hasn't lasted long (or is too high up in the storm) enough to warrant a TVS. It's basically saying "hey! you should probably keep an eye on me!"

[brunota2003]

SRV (Storm Relative Velocity)...and it is on Grlevel2 Analyst Edition...but 3 should have it too.

I had it set to that and I didn't see anything like what your pic had...I'm pretty sure its not the colour palette either.

Well, I know the colors do differ from AE to 3 (have used both), and AE also lets you set the storm direction and motion for the SRV, versus it being preset...maybe that caused the difference? I always use the last storm direction/motion off of the latest warning for the particular cell I'm watching. You can see in the upper right of the image what I had it set to.

[Cyclenall]

Check this, Cycle.

http://www.thewxpage.com/Downloads/GRlevel3Tutorial.pdf

Thanks, I needed to see that. I'm also going to try and find that Canadian regional model thing from yesterday that you wanted to see. Quick note, there should be a keyboard short-cut to toggle off all the stuff that's on the radar images at once instead of manually clicking everything off from the top menu.

Well, I know the colors do differ from AE to 3 (have used both), and AE also lets you set the storm direction and motion for the SRV, versus it being preset...maybe that caused the difference? I always use the last storm direction/motion off of the latest warning for the particular cell I'm watching. You can see in the upper right of the image what I had it set to.

Nevermind, I just had to zoom out more. I can definitely see it on the cell I've been watching that has a clear TVS sig with no TOR warning...its had a hook for 1.5 hours now...

Near Rocky OK from eariler:

[Cyclenall]

A Canadian regional model run earlier today showed a ridiculous amount of supercell initiation for tomorrow starting at 18z!!!!!!!! It continued for a long time after that

Can you provide a link to this ?

http://wintercast.tripod.com/id13.html <--- This is all that I could find but it doesn't work on my end. Strange how the webpage title mis-spells "computer".

[brunota2003]

Some storms north/northwest of the OKC area that look pretty interesting, wouldn't be surprised if they've tried to drop tornadoes over the last hour or so...but only severe warnings for them. Looks like one could of touched down SW of El Reno (just looking at the radar, nothing confirmed).

It'll be interesting to see how things play out, could some of the convective debris stick around and hinder development somehow tomorrow? We'll see...

[Cyclenall]

Ground rotation detected on El Reno OK with a MSI of 2362...they of course got the EF5 last May.

Some storms north/northwest of the OKC area that look pretty interesting, wouldn't be surprised if they've tried to drop tornadoes over the last hour or so...but only severe warnings for them. Looks like one could of touched down SW of El Reno (just looking at the radar, nothing confirmed).

It'll be interesting to see how things play out, could some of the convective debris stick around and hinder development somehow tomorrow? We'll see...

Only severe warnings on them with hook echoes and TVS sigs...nothing much. Wouldn't surprise me to wake up to find some damage on severe warned only cells.

On your second point, I would say no. If you mean garbage convection, it still probably won't affect it much and with storms it could enhance things even more if that's possible (boundaries).

[brunota2003]

It's heading right for Piedmont, and the hook is becoming better defined...I haven't seen much better structure before, especially with there not being a TOR warning...

[Infdidoll]

I'm usually only tracking storms in the Western Pacific since I'm out in Japan, but been sitting here watching all these hook echoes forming on radar. Guess I wasn't the only one wondering if any warnings were going to be issued! Got to be a scary situation for those in the path. Have a feeling I'm going to be watching this one the rest of the afternoon here. I've got family fast asleep in Tulsa. That cell above El Reno, OK still has a possible tornado noted on doppler. Stay safe!

[Cyclenall]

It's heading right for Piedmont, and the hook is becoming better defined...I haven't seen much better structure before, especially with there not being a TOR warning...

*image cut*

Agree, I was actually on a different radar site and couldn't see the well formed hook. Could hit Piedmont directly with no tornado warning in the middle of the night. That has disaster written all over it and it doesn't have to be very strong either. I guess it fits into the rest of the evening as they say.

I'm usually only tracking storms in the Western Pacific since I'm out in Japan, but been sitting here watching all these hook echoes forming on radar. Guess I wasn't the only one wondering if any warnings were going to be issued! Got to be a scary situation for those in the path. Have a feeling I'm going to be watching this one the rest of the afternoon here. I've got family fast asleep in Tulsa. That cell above El Reno, OK still has a possible tornado noted on doppler. Stay safe!

Yep your not they only one, very concerning and if this trend continues into later today...then I fear for those people's lives.

It was funny to see issued a few hours ago a severe warning on some rain-showers (it was large too) and the disco saying damaging straight-line wind damage could occur with the rain. Never seen that before.

[brunota2003]

Wow...just...wow. Amazing structure...literally right ontop of Piedmont!





Updated image:

[brunota2003]

Someone finally woke up:

TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
224 AM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
EXTREME NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...
EXTREME NORTHEASTERN CANADIAN COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...
EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN LOGAN COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...

* UNTIL 300 AM CDT

* AT 222 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS
DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 1 MILES NORTHEAST OF PIEDMONT...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS
OF EXTREME NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA...EXTREME NORTHEASTERN
CANADIAN AND EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN LOGAN COUNTIES

Not too much on the SRV, though (these correspond to the right over Piedmont images, and then the update one, respectively):

[TwisterFanatic]

Wow. A late night supercell.

[Cyclenall]

Wow...just...wow. Amazing structure...literally right ontop of Piedmont!
Updated image:

WOW, that is a direct hit on Piedmont with NO tornado warning in the middle of the night...while the hook sig "strengthened". And then of course the tornado warning came AFTER it hit, what on earth is going on? People's lives are in great danger.

Wow. A late night supercell.

Wasn't unexpected for me at least.

[Infdidoll]

Wow...Glad they finally issued something on this one. Gives you a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach watching that forming up on doppler. Looked as textbook as they come.

[brunota2003]

The velocity was not showing much to indicate a tornado...but at the same time, with that hook, it would not surprise me if one did touch down.

Another tornado warning for another cell to the NE of that one:

TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
241 AM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
WESTERN PAYNE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...
EXTREME NORTHEASTERN LOGAN COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...

* UNTIL 315 AM CDT

* AT 239 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LANGSTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS
OF WESTERN PAYNE AND EXTREME NORTHEASTERN LOGAN
COUNTIES.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 163 AND 169.

[brunota2003]

Update for the post-El Reno/Piedmont cell's tornado warning:

OKC083-109-140800-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-120414T0800Z/
OKLAHOMA OK-LOGAN OK-
243 AM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CDT FOR
EXTREME NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA AND EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN LOGAN
COUNTIES...

AT 236 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED ALONG THE OKLAHOMA AND LOGAN COUNTY LINE OR
5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CASHION...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF
EXTREME NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA AND EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN
LOGAN COUNTIES.

[TwisterFanatic]

Not a station covering this anywhere around. Pathetic

[brunota2003]

Wide radar view of the cells:



Wide SRV: